in Honor Srila Visvambhara Goswami

[Paramananda das]

rila Prabhupada and Visvambhara Goswami not sure of the year
Visvambhara Goswami told me a funny pastime that when ISKCON devotees first came to Vrindavana they used to steal from the shops and take sweets and fruits without paying ,some not all .The Vrijabasis went to Visvambhara Goswami and said can you please talk to Srila Prabhupada ,We have monkey problems daily they try to steal our fruits and sweets ,now these western devotees also are acting like monkeys'
So he went to see Srila Prabhupada this was before Krsna Balarama temple was build ..Visvambara Goswami told Srila Prabhupada of some of his disciples acting like if they where cowherd boys that used to steal from the Gopis .Srila Prabhupadas was not pleased ,and called his disciples and told them to stop acting like monkeys' .Srila Prabhupada thanked Visvambhara Goswami and told him to please always help and keep a watch out for his disciples and all ISKCON devotees and try to act as their wellwisher.Aindra Prabhu and myself got a lot of association of Visvambhara Goswami ,He was like a loving grandfather to us.In June of 1986, he told me , this Kirtananda Swami came to Radha Ramana temple today and wanted bring his dog into the temple .Why he has not been properly trained ?I apologized, I said I will report it to our ISKCON temple president.I am so sorry of this offence.(This was less than a month after Sulocana Prabhu had been murdered by Kirtanandas man on KIrtanandas order),Srila Visvambhara Goswami showed me the asana that Lord Caitanya used to sit on and given to Gopal Bhatta Goswami then he showed me a piece of cloth of Lord Caitanya send to Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami .Thus I got so much mercy from Srila Visvambhara Goswami ,he also blessed me to worship Govardhana sila.I told him no one in ISKCON that I know of worship Govardhana sila .I told him I am worshipping Salagrama Sila and Govardhana Sila daily at our Krsna Balarama temple ,he said why should you not worship Govardhana sila.?I said but I was told you are not supposed to take Giriraja out of Vraja .He said that is nonsense, you love Vraja so when ever you have Giriraja with you it also becomes Vraja so you should worship.Then I asked but you are supposed to replace the weight in gold with the Govardhana sila you take ,he said that is for materialists not for you .I said my next obstacle is you are supposed to get the blessing of a Vrijabasi to worship Giriraja.He said I am a Vrijabasi and my family have lived in Braja for the last 500 years since the time of Lord Caitanya so I bless you to worship Giriraja .Vow thanks I am so gratefull and folded my hands.I said last obstacel is you are supposed to get Giriraja from the lotushands of a Vrijabasi ,He said one day Giriraja will manifest to you and that time you will pick him up.I thanked him.I was not sure about the last instruction less than month later I was at Govardhana at Gopal Kunda where Krsna Balarama used to take prasadam daily.I saw one Govardhana sila with Tilaka mark sitting leaning against another Govardhana sila ,as if He owned the whole place and is Krsna Himself .I remembered Visvambhara Goswamis words and went and paid my obaisences and then I begged Giriraja to come with me and accept my service.This just came to mind today .This is my first Giriraja sila , later I had Him painted with eyes I worship him since 1986 and pray daily I can one day serve Krsna Balarama as they take prasadam with the sakhas and enter Their lilas .