An important element of devotional service is the regular observance of Vaishnavas’ appearance and disappearance days. On these occasions one should remember them, pray for their mercy and glorify their qualities in kirtana………………….
SreeGanga Mata Goswamini
<Appearance day 25/6/7> There was a deity of Krishna named Rasika Ray in the house of Chandra Sharma, a resident of Jaipur in Rajasthan. As a result of sevapradha, offences in the performance of service to this deity, this Brahmin had no descendants to continue the family line. Jagannatha Deva appeared to him in a dream and told him to bring the deity to Puri and give to Ganga Mata if he wished to be rid of the effects of his offences. The Brahmin did as he was told and appeared Ganga Mata’s door to offer her the service of Rasika Ray. At first she was not ready to accept, as it was impossible for her to give the kind of royal service that was due such a deity. Finally, the Brahmin simply hid the deity amongst the tulasi bushes and went away. Rasika Ray appeared to Ganga Mata in a dream and told her that he wanted her to accept and serve him. Having been so ordained, Ganga Mata joyfully took the deity in and organized a festival in his honor.
At present there are five pairs of deities in the Ganga Mata Math: Sree Sree Radha Rasika Ray, Sree Sree Radha Shyamsundar, Sree Sree Radha Madana Mohan, Sree Sree Radhavinoda and Sree Sree Radharaman. Other than these, the Damodar Shalagram Shila of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, a dancing figure of Sree Gauranga, and a Gopal deity are also present on the altar.
According to the information given by the Math, Ganga Mata was born on the Shukla Dashmi of Jayestha in AD 1601 and entered the eternal pastimes in AD 1721. Branches of her Math are found in Jagannath Puri at the Haveli Math and Gopal Math, as well as the Gopal Math in Tangi village in Cuttack district.
Devotees of Krishna may be born in any race, in any caste, or indeed in either sex. They are still to be considered the best of human beings and worshipable by all. There are many examples of women who attained the supreme achievement of pure devotional service to the Lord, such as wives of the Vedic Brahmins who due to the demands of bhakti ignored the orders of their less-advanced husbands to serve Krishna. In the Kaliyuga, also, as a result of the blessings of Hari Das Thakur, a prostitute was transformed into a renowned Vaishnavi and many great devotees went to seek audiences from her in order to receive her saintly association.
Sree Baladeva Vidyabhushan
<Disappearance day 25/6/7> Sree Baladeva when convinced of the supremacy of the Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy took initiation from Radha Damodar Goswami. He was thus initiated in Nityananda Prabhu’s line. The following is his disciplic succession: Gauri Das Pandita – Hriday Chaitanya Prabhu – Shyamananda Prabhu – Rasikananda Deva Goswami – Nayanananda Goswami – Radha Damodar Goswami – Baladeva Vidyabhushan.
Baladeva continued his studies of the Gaudiya literature under Pitambar Das and later studied the Bahgwat Purana under Vishvanath Chakravarti. He also took the Vaishnava vairagi’s dress, at which time he was given the name Ekanti Govinda Das.
Baladeva was ordered by Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakur to go to jaipur where he prayed to Rupa Goswami’s Govindaji murti for the authorization to write a commentary on the Vedanta Sutra. He then composed the Govinda-bhasya and took it to Galta where he defeated the other sampradayas in debate, preserving the reputation of the Gaudiya School. After this episode, he was given the title Vidyabhushan.
In the succession of bona fide gurus, which make up the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya-Saraswata sampradaya, Baladeva Vidyabhushan is to be remembered regularly. Simply demonstrating a connection through initiation to a family succession of initiating spiritual masters does not make one a bonafide guru. One must demonstrate complete dedication to the Supreme Truth, brahma-nishtha. Only a pure devotee can be called a bona fide guru. Therefore Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati wrote, “I pay obeisance’s to Vishvanath and all his disciples like Baladeva, Baladeva’s disciple Jagannath and his dear most follower Bhaktivinode Thakur.”