His Divine Grace Srila Sachinandan Das Goswami Maharaj, the dear and foremost disciple of Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj and the grand disciple of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada (Founder Acharya of the International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness), a pure Vaishnava Sadhu-Guru in their parampara, being blessed with the personal and intimate association of both these great souls; was an extremely simple, kind hearted, selfless, straight-forward and truthful personality.
He was a strict follower of the Vaisnava traditions and Sanatana Dharma. He was an uncompromising bold global preacher who held a magnanimous spotless character with unflinching determination.
He was born in a family with a great Vaishnava heritage, to mother Srimati Bidulata Devi and father Sri Surendranath Das on the Vedic ‘Pahili Raja’ day in 1954 at Bhubaneswar (Ekamra Kanana) near the Lingaraj Temple and was named Srutidhar Das, fondly called as Kuna.
Many saintly personalities would visit his father’s residence, who during those days was the head of the Theosophical Society of India, Odisha. Once he happened to invite an exalted satayu (100 years old) Sadhu from the Himalayas to his home for blessing his family. The Sadhu revealed a blank ‘bhuja leaf manuscript’ and asked the kid Kuna to take a bath, think of his ‘Ista Deva’ and place his hands over the manuscript. The manuscript was mystically filled with inscribed matter revealing his past, present and future which astonishingly matched comma to full stop with his whole life.
The Sadhu stated to his father that this kid was not from this material world, but had spent many lives before this one and that his next life would be the most illuminating one, it would also be his last one in this material world wherein he would be empowered by the mercy of The Supreme Lord and would possess the potency to deliver jivas by mere cast of his glance. The Sadhu mentioned that he would attain ‘Bhagavat sakshatkar’ (darshan and reciprocation with the Supreme Lord) during his childhood. He would at a young age be burdened by family responsibilities and during the later part of his life would again attain ‘Bhagavat sakshatkar’. Amongst the other wonderful events, it was also mentioned in the manuscript that the kid would grow up, get married and have two sons. The exact ‘tithi’ for the marriage was also mentioned.
His curious father, being a learned scholar in Sanskrit and astrology, had quickly calculated the Vedic marriage date from the manuscript and found it to be the 15th of December 1986. The kid Kuna exclaimed that he would not marry; much to the joy of his father who affectionately kissed his 6 years old kid for saying so. Another wonderful event particularly mentioned that, in the later part of his life, he would be instrumental in the manifestation of an inconceivable ‘Bhagavat leela-pitha’. Then it was mentioned that after his mother’s demise, he would develop true renunciation within his heart. And that during the fag end of his life while preaching ‘Dharma’ he would either be assassinated or if not, he would leave his body untimely.
As a young boy, he did his schooling in Bhubaneswar and largely associated with elderly saints and sadhus. He was thus inspired to hear and read many different Vedic scriptures along with rare palm leaf manuscripts. He would often attend 24 hours Saṅkīrtana of the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahamantra with his paternal Vaishnava grandfather Sripad Sadhu Charan Das and continued to hear the Odia Srimad Bhagavatam in the form of a poem almost every day from the lotus lips of his great Vaishnavi mother Srimati Bidulata Devi. He was largely influenced by his mother who brought him up with strong Vaishnava traditions and had also inspired him to read the Ramayana and the Odia version of the Mahabharata at a young age. Since his childhood he was too simple and not in bodily consciousness, and even at the age of 14 he would sometimes wander without clothes.
His other close associate during this time was his maternal uncle (son of Dr. Kuntala Kumari Sabat, a well known Odia poet) who guided him in yoga. Once it so happened that his yogi uncle engaged him in ‘dhyana’ wherein he began to sincerely meditate upon his Ista Deva, Sri Gopal, during the time of Brahma Muhurta. In a span of three days he experienced Divine realizations and on the third day he experienced the transcendental Brahman realization. Thereafter, his yogi uncle being wonder-struck conveyed to him:
Dear Kuna, you are not from this world and I am incapable of guiding you any further. However, if you do agree, I can arrange for you to meet my revered spiritual master (Swami Nigamananda Paramahansa) who though apparently has left his body, is still present here in his Astral form and he would personally appear in front of you to answer all your questions and give you ‘dīkṣā’ (initiation).
After hearing such proposal from his yogi uncle he said to him that only Kṛṣṇa is his Guru; which was his strong internal feeling since childhood. However, his yogi uncle after short meditation conveyed to him that:
Kuna you are saying so; but I can see your eternal spiritual master, who is right now milking cows amidst western devotees, to whom you will meet at proper time.
At 17 years of age, he (Kuna) was forced to work part time in order to carry out his family responsibilities while continuing his college degree. He started his college education at well-known SCS College, Puri and completed his graduation from the renowned BJB College of Bhubaneswar. Being inspired by his father he would arrange for free distribution of cold drinking water and yogurt to pilgrims during the famous ‘Ashokastami Ratha-Yatra’ of Lord Lingaraj at Bhubaneswar. He also would actively lead the movement named ‘Prevention of Cruelty Towards Animals’.
Once he was invited by his friend to meet a great sadhu who was said to also be that same friend’s previous school teacher. That Sadhu was H.D.G. Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj. He was deeply influenced by him and started to intimately associate with him. He gradually came to know about the desire and the instructions of H.D.G. Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupadji Maharaj (the Founder Acharya of the ‘International Society for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness) that was given to Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj which was to translate his literary work to Odia, to preach his mission and to build the temple of Sri Sri Kṛṣṇa Balaram at Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar.
During that period of intimate association, he got himself involved in various activities, out of which he would often carry Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj on his bicycle travelling many kilometers for the purpose of preaching and collecting funds.
In the year 1977, Srila Prabhupad had decided to visit Bhubaneswar to lay the foundation stone of the ISKCON Bhubaneswar Sri Sri Kṛṣṇa Balaram Temple which would happen to be his last and 108th temple project. That was the time when Kuna (Srutidhar) got to intimately associate with Srila Prabhupada in his wonderful pastimes.
He engaged himself in various loving services for Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure. A huge Pandal programme was organised for a period of 17 days where Srila Prabhupada would give classes on the Chaitanya Caritamrita. Srila Prabhuapada, out of love, would often call him the ‘funny boy’ and then encourage him to be a world preacher. The Pandal programmes that were daily led by Srila Prabhupada would invite huge gatherings.
At that time, Srila Prabhupada would sit in the front, make Kuna sit on one side, Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj on the other side and instruct him to read from the Chaitanya Caritamrita in English first. Then Srila Prabhupada would elaborate on it and deliver his lecture which would be translated by Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj in Odia.
Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj would often ask him:
…Srutidhar, you bring so many devotees to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and get them initiated. But why are you yourself not seeking initiation from Srila Prabhupada?
Revealing his heart he would humbly reply that though he has immense respect and deep love for Srila Prabhupada, but Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa is his only Guru; which was his inner feelings since childhood. However, in the year 1985 he received initiation (dīkṣā) with spiritual name ‘Sachinandan Das’ in bonafide Guru-parampara from His Divine Grace Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj when it was deeply realized by him that Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself had manifested in form of Sri Guru. Thus the words foretold by his maternal yogi uncle proved to be true, about meeting his Guru at proper time.
After changing a few jobs he then joined as a senior officer in the Tourism Department of Odisha Government where he gained lot of popularity and reputation for his sincerity, honesty, spotless character and scholarly wisdom.
His father would often host theosophists from India and abroad to their home. He too would often take great pleasure in serving the brothers of Theosophical Society from the countries like Australia, USA, Israel and the then South Vietnam etc.. This was before his father’s demise in the year 1981.
He actively involved himself in various services and preaching activities of ISKCON Bhubaneswar and also travelled both India and abroad with Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj as desired by His Divine Grace.
He was determined since childhood to remain celibate and by then had developed a strong desire to take up the ascetic (renounced) order of life for the purpose of preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness. But one day H.D.G. Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj called him and instructed something to him that was exactly the opposite of what he desired. He was instructed to enter into household life. However, initially at this point though humbly yet resolutely, he expressed his inability to accommodate such proposal. H.D.G. Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj then stated to him that it was not Guru’s business to arrange for marriages of his disciples but it was Kṛṣṇa’s desire that he should enter ‘gruhastha ashram’ and also foretold that he would have two sons where the elder son would be a great Vaishnava who once most likely will go upto the level and stature of H.D.G. Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Maharaj and the younger son would become a very rich businessman who after receipt of a jolted shock by Maya would later take shelter of his elder brother.
Also Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj mentioned that if he does not honour Kṛṣṇa’s desire and go ahead with his independent will then that would be no less of a material desire. However, when by the causeless mercy of Sri Sri Guru and Kṛṣṇa he experienced some deep realizations he begged forgiveness from his spiritual master surrendering at his lotus feet. He then entered into ‘gruhastha ashram’ following his Gurudev’s instruction and was married on 15th of December 1986 to Suchitra Devi Dasi disciple of Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj and later was blessed with two sons as also predicted by ‘bhuja leaf manuscript’ in his childhood.
As a senior tourism officer in Odisha government, he served in various districts of the state for several years. Starting from Bhubaneswar, he served as the head of the undivided districts of Cuttack, Puri and Dhenkanal; and finally Baripada of the district of Mayurbhanj. During the period when he was serving as the head of both the districts of Cuttack and Dhenkanal he had organized for the massive renovation and development of Sri Dhabaleshwar Temple at Cuttack and the great ancient archaeological Buddhist sites of Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri. Along with such services he would also be assigned various tasks from the government of Odisha and also the central government including hosting of elite delegates from different countries. In which, he would provide presentations and bring them an understanding on the greatness of India’s rich culture and heritage. He would tour them to those various sites that signified India’s archaeological, historical and spiritual greatness. Many students and researchers would take advantage of his profound knowledge on ‘Saura Tattva’ in regards to the ‘Sun Temple of Konark’.
During this period he had hosted and also gained intimate friendly relationships with renowned personalities from across the world, some of whom were the ex-French philosopher Mr. Francis Bournel, the defence chiefs of many countries including India, a few senior judges of the Indian supreme court and some senior cabinet ministers of India and various other countries like, the then USSR, UK and Vietnam.
He was also once desired by the Government of India to host Prince Charles of Britain during his visit to Odisha. Prince Charles became extremely delighted with his extra-ordinary personality and profound knowledge and had personally recommended him to the English embassy. Also locally impressed by his charismatic personality, his colleagues, senior officials, bureaucrats and the ministers of Odisha, would seek his involvement and leadership in various important events. During this time he lead the famous ‘Bali Yatra’ of the then chief minister of Odisha, Mr. Biju Patnaik, a voyage to Bali, Indonesia with around 200 senior government officials and ministers in the year 1992. His role in the government was also helpful in solving various complicated and crucial issues of ISKCON.
In the year 1986 on the occasion of the ‘500th Anniversary of Lord Chaitanya’s Appearance’, Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj had given the responsibility to him for smooth celebrations of the event in Odisha. Initially, he humbly expressed his doubts, whether he could successfully carry out such a huge responsibility as he was engaged in government service. At that time Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj said to him:
Sachinandan, you don’t consider yourself alone, just become an instrument and accept the services and you will see that by the mercy of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu everything will become successful.
Taking the words of his Guru in his heart, he then accepted the services and arranged for the huge festivities throughout Odisha. The whole event was a grand success which was actively participated by students, judiciary, government officials, intellectuals from various sections of the society and locals. It also received immense appreciation from foreign devotees, who expressed their jubilation stating that they had never experienced such unique and wonderful celebrations.
As per the desire of H.D.G. Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj he had printed and distributed booklets glorifying the sacred city of Bhubaneswar during the inauguration of ISKCON’s Sri Sri Kṛṣṇa Balaram Mandir at Bhubaneswar on the auspicious day of Sri Nityananda Trayodashi in the year 1991.
In the year 1996, along with some senior devotees of ISKCON, H.D.G. Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj had personally given him the responsibility of ‘Srila Prabhupad’s Centenary Celebration Coordinator’. As a tribute to and pleasure of the great Mahabhagavata Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupadji Maharaj he conceived four principal services from within his heart and dedicated himself with whole hearted immense endeavours for its accomplishment. The four such services were:
1. The grand and famous celebration of the four day long ‘Hare Kṛṣṇa Festival’ at Bhubaneswar which attracted tremendous appreciation and felicitation from various renowned personalities and societies.
2. The initiation of a massive forestation project, ‘Sri Jagannath Bana Prakalpa’, with over 500 acres of land located on the bank of Brutanga river near Dasapalla in the Nayagarh district of Odisha, wherein lakhs of Phasi and Neem trees were planted to fulfil the requirements for making the new Chariots every year for the grand ‘Ratha-Yatra’ festival of Their Supreme Lordships Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Devi at Sri Jagannath Puri Dham.
3. To protect and renovate old shrines and monuments related with the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In this regard a massive renovation and beautification programme of Sri Alarnath Temple at Brahmagiri, Puri was accomplished. Here, among other services a big bhajan mandap in front of the divine rock having the impressions of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a large kitchen for the Deities and a beautiful welcome gate was built glorifying Srila Prabhupada.
4. Then there was another extremely ambitious project that was greatly appreciated and encouraged by Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj. It was about the establishment of an ideal residential Vedic University, named as ‘Sri Jayadev-Bhaktivedanta Vedic University’ on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar which would accommodate upto 5000 students from all over the world. A lot of effort was put into it. A resolution was presented to be passed in the State Legislative Assembly seeking permission and necessary support for the project, 265 acres of land at the outskirts of Bhubaneswar was allotted by the government of Odisha for the project at a very low cost, eminent personalities such as Indo-US sub-commission chairperson Mrs. Mohini Han was approached, Prof. Satish Chandra, the then chairperson of U.G.C. was extremely pleased with the entire project, the courses of studies and the extensive syllabus which had also covered subjects from the age old Vedic knowledge and wisdom.
In the midst of this one day all of a sudden Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj had called him and said:
Sachinandan, The Supreme Lord Gopal out of His causeless mercy has revealed to us, as to what you are trying to do with noble desire and simplicity of heart, would eventually become a centre for power struggle, and the creeper of devotion, which is the true and ultimate goal of this rarely achieved human birth, would be lost….. put an end to this project.
This was a jolted shock he received as it came after loads of encouragement and immense endeavour. At this point of time H.D.G. Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj predicted to him:
… don’t be disheartened Sachinandan, an inconceivable and supremely merciful leela-bhumi of Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu will come your way to render services. . .
He at that time thought these statements from his revered spiritual master to be words of consolation to pacify his broken heart. Later, sticking to the instructions of his spiritual master, he surrendered the land to the government and then officially terminated the project.
Later, on 9th of February 1996, His Divine Grace Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj performed his glorious disappearance pastime, while narrating the mystery of the form of Lord Jagannath and divine pastimes of Sri Radha and Krishna. Thus after such sudden physical separation from his beloved spiritual master, he experienced great grief and desolation and at this state he also suffered his first (silent) heart attack.
Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj had received three principal instructions from Srila Prabhupada, to translate his books from English into Odia, to build a temple in Bhubaneswar, and to preach in Odisha and all over the world. For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, fulfilling his instructions Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj had established the ISKCON centre with Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Temple at Bhubaneswar, extensively preached Krishna Consciousness throughout the world and along with translations of other literary works of Srila Prabhupada, translated Srimad Bhagavatam up to 5th Canto.
Thus after the glorious disappearance of Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj for the pleasure of his Guru and Param Guru, Srila Sachinandan Maharaj aiming to continue his spiritual master’s services, translated Srila Prabhupad’s Srimad Bhagavatam (English version) to Odia and completed the 6th, 7th and 8th Canto. He translated Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj’s English book ‘The Embankment of Separation’ into Odia and published it as ‘Sri Gaura Biraha Leela’. Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj had instructed him to translate his Odia book ‘Jñāna Vijñāna’ into English, for which the translations had been completed by him ready for publication.
Then in the middle of the year 1996, an old sadhu more than 80 years of age, Srila Haridas Sen Babaji Maharaj (who was a ‘naisthika brahmachari’, a family descendant of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s associate namely Srila Sivananda Sen and the head of an old monastery of the Self manifested Deities of his beloved Sri Sri Radha Binodbihari Jiu at Mahanga, Cuttack) approached and revealed to Srila Sachinandan Maharaj about the supreme leela-bhumi of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, ‘The Dandabhanga Leelabhumi’, that was located at Chandanpur, Puri beautifully surrounded by two sacred rivers Bhargavi and Dandabhanga. He came to him with this request that he develop the pastime site and bring it to its right prominence.
However, initially after seeing the pitiable physical and social condition of the site he expressed his unwillingness for the services to Srila Haridas Sen Babaji Maharaj.
Babaji Maharaj then conveyed:
Sachinandanji, I have not come here by my own will. By the desire and direction of my Ista Deva Sri Sri Radha Binodbihari Jiu, your Guru and Param-Guru, I have been brought to you. It is the arrangement of Providence. Don’t see the external form of this place. It is an inconceivable and supremely merciful leela-bhumi of Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Take up the opportunity for rendering services. Immediately once you have started the services, you will notice the merciful reciprocation of Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
At this point of time it reminded him about the prediction of his revered spiritual master Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj, during the instruction to withdraw the University project which was exactly the same and thus created emotions in him and took up the services whole heartedly honouring it as the arrangement of Providence.
After the disappearance of Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj he was half-heartedly continuing his government service. However, after the resumption of services at Dandabhanga Dham he resigned his government service in the year 1998 opting to go for voluntary retirement to fully dedicate all his time serving the Dham. During this time he was also offered O.A.S. (Odisha Administrative Services) deputation from the government of Odisha to join as the Temple Administrator of Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri. This offer was also humbly refused by him to serve the cause of Dandabhanga Dham.
For the overall development of the site in order to facilitate for pilgrimage, taking holy dip at the sacred rivers and provide the opportunity for bhajan and rendering various services residing in the Dham to one and all, he struggled immensely and faced a lot of hardships; but in the arrangement of providence through his tireless persistent loving efforts to bring the merciful leelabhumi of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to its right prominence he inspired many senior devotees who joined him for the transcendental venture.
Many more devotees and local people started to participate and dedicate themselves to the services of Dandabhanga Dham after being influenced by his preaching and pure magnanimous personality. Then for the smooth functioning of services he formed a society and named it as ‘Sri Chaitanya Dandabhanga Leelakunjashrama’ which conducted regular temple activities, mass festivals, preaching programmes, publication of books and various philanthropic activities. Also to facilitate the stay of devotees an Ashram was established at the sacred Dandabhanga Leela Bhumi.
In the year 1999, the state of Odisha was hit by a devastating Super Cyclone, killing thousands of lives and leaving many lakhs of people starving and shelterless. Under his leadership massive relief operations were conducted along the largely affected coastal belt of the state which included distribution of food (Prasad) and clothes to the needy, where he would personally go to serve them. Along with other devotees one such relief program was conducted at Ersama, Paradeep. After seeing such massive heartily relief work at an inaccessible place in Ersama near Paradeep the then Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Pattnaik, who had also come to visit the affected areas gladly embraced him on the site expressing his deep appreciation.
On 16th March, 2000, during the auspicious occasion of ‘Nyastadanda Jayanti’, many sanyasis, sadhus, senior vaishnavas and devotees from all over India and abroad had witnessed the great foundation stone laying ceremony for the proposed temple of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev, Subhadra Devi and Sri Sudarshan Jiu at Dandabhanga Dham; where the ‘Shila Nyasa’ was performed by the honourable king of Puri His Excellency Sri Sri Dibyasingh Deb Gajapati Maharaj.
On the 31st December 2000, a grand ‘Sri Jagannath Millennium Saṅkīrtana Padayatra’ from Dandabhanga to Puri was conducted by him along with Srila Bhakti Swarup Damodar Swami Maharaj in the presence of thousands of devotees from all over the world. A huge pandal programme with cultural event and spiritual discourses by eminent personalities was organized at Puri Sea-beach (Gandhi Ghat) in the evening. Among other delegates the wonderful event was also graced by His Excellency Dibya Singh Deb Gajapati Maharaj and sadhus like Sri Chaitanya Charan Das Babaji Maharaj and Srila Haridas Sen Babaji Maharaj. The ecstatic Saṅkīrtana by devotees continued over night welcoming the Sun of new millennium on the dawn of 1st January 2001.
In the year 2007, his great Vaishnavi mother who had brought him up under the vaishnava traditions and had been an inspiration to him since childhood, left her body. After her physical departure he developed the mood of true renunciation deep within his heart and would always seek to be immersed in ‘aikāntika bhajan’.
In the year 2008, he started giving initiation to long aspiring devotees in the bonafide Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Guru-śiṣya parampara in the lineage of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj as per the injunctions of Sadhu Guru and Shastra. Also in the same year, ‘Sri Chaitanya Dandabhanga Leelakunjashrama’ was legally registered under the ‘Societies Registration Act’ of the government, with him being its Chairman. He thus remains honoured as it’s perpetual Founder Chairman.
Earlier, Srila Haridas Sen Babaji Maharaj had conveyed his desire to Srila Sachinandan Maharaj, that wherever he leaves his body he would like to be placed in Samadhi at Dandabhanga Dham. He had also said that if for any reason it gets delayed to bring his body from Mahanga, then to ensure the services of his beloved Deities Sri Sri Radha Binodbihari Jiu carry on uninterruptedly, he would like to be placed in Samadhi at Mahanga itself. Srila Haridas Sen Babaji Maharaj left his body during the night of Sri Gour Purnima in the Temple of Sri Sri Radha Binodbihari Jiu in the year 2009. After hearing this news Srila Sachinandan Maharaj reached the Temple of Mahanga but could not bring his body due to the scheduled festivities. Thus, Srila Haridas Sen Babaji Maharaj was laid to rest in Samadhi near the Temple of his beloved Deities Sri Sri Radha Binodbihari Jiu. However, Srila Sachinandan Maharaj had brought flowers from his Samadhi and thus the Pushpa Samadhi of Babaji Maharaj was laid beside his own ‘bhajan kutir’ at Dandabhanga Dham in the presence of Srila Sivaram Swami, Srila Bhakti Bhrunga Govinda Swami and many other senior devotees.
After the acceptance of disciples and while rendering unhindered devotional services, he underwent various health issues. He suffered his second heart attack and brain stroke in the year 2009. Various reputed doctors from India and abroad regularly cautioned him about the criticallity and severity of his health condition; following which in the coming years he suffered even more serious health complications and was taken to visit various places for his treatment like Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kerala. In spite of all this, to everyone’s astonishment including that of the doctors, he miraculously not only survived the ordeal by the causeless mercy of Sri Sri Guru and Kṛṣṇa but also with his broken health condition, he continued to render his selfless loving services to the Dham. He appealed to all of his God-brothers and God-sisters, well-wishers and disciples to come forward and take the opportunity/responsibility to push forward the development of the inconceivable leela-bhumi of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and to relieve him for his long cherished aikāntika bhajan.
However, his appeal remained unfulfilled, and till he was taken to the Bhubaneswar AMRI hospital for treatment in May of 2017, despite the critical health issues and his deteriorated physical condition, he still used to carry out various services such as preaching, giving classes, translating service, raising funds for maintenance and development of leela-pitha, managing day to day activities of Ashram, organising festivals, taking personal care of disciples both physical and spiritual, solving various legal and other issues of Ashram, replying to questions and queries from devotees personally via phone, messages or email; hardly taking any rest along with his uninterrupted personal bhajan.
During the Vyasa-Puja of Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaj in the year 2016, he made this humble offering to his most beloved spiritual master:
…O Gurudev, our humble prayers, that in the endeavour to ensure the uninterrupted spiritual progress of the sheltered disciples, the self volunteered suffering which we are undergoing, no matter how severe it might be, that those be received by us in this very life such that the next life may be completely bhajan oriented pure life soaked with transcendental Kṛṣṇa Prema and be able to completely dedicate ourselves to render uninterrupted pleasing services at the lotus feet of your Divine grace, H.D.G. Srila Prabhupad and The Supreme Absolute Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
While in the hospital during May of 2017 he repeatedly conveyed to his disciples, relatives and doctors about his transcendental experience that, Srila Prabhupada in his most effulgent form had personally appeared before him and said:
…within twenty days you would be relieved of all the sufferings and would start a most active life; so return back to your place of stay.
Thus he desired to be taken back to his place of stay amidst grand welcome of huge saṅkīrtana. Ten days after such revelation, he manifested his disappearance during Brahma-Muhurta on the 27th of May 2017 and was rested in Samadhi at his tapo-bhūmi Sri Dandabhanga Dham amidst the presence of various followers, disciples, sadhus, vaishnavas, relatives, well-wishers and local people from surrounding villages.
Just before placing him into Samadhi, when his abhishek was being conducted, it rained auspiciously (out of no-where with no trace of any clouds being seen in the hot clear sky, there being no rain at all for at least two weeks before and after the Samadhi), making everyone present, experience a pure sanctified feeling which moistened their hearts with deep vipralambha-bhāva (the feeling of intense separation). It also left everyone with an unexplainable transcendental feeling of his presence being noticed through his Samadhi at the Dham, providing guidance on the path of Kṛṣṇa bhakti.
Srila Sachinandan Das Goswami Guru Maharaj dedicated his entire life in the loving transcendental services of Sri Sri Hari Guru and Vaishnavas and by the supreme will of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Guru Varga was the chosen one for the manifestation and development of the Great Dandabhanga Leela Pitha. He will always be glorified and remembered by all the followers of Truth.
As the great Vaishnava Acharya Sachidananda Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has eloquently quoted in his glorification poem on Nama-Acharya Śrīla Haridas Ṭhākura:
He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die
When thou art living still in sound
The Vaisnavas die to live and living try
To spread the holy name around!
Vaiṣṇava Ṭhākura Srila Sachinandan Das Goswami Guru Maharaj Ki Jai!
Jai Sri Guru Parampara Ki Jai!
Hare Kṛṣṇa! Jai Jagannāth!