Return to Delhi after Kārtika

After Kārtika, Śrīla Gurudeva remained in Govardhana for a few days. Then on the suggestion of Dr. Ray from the Philippines and Dr. Ravindra Prakash from Delhi, Śrīla Gurudeva was again taken to Śrī RamaṇaBihārī Gauḍīya Maṭha in Delhi. As before, there was a flux of devotees and doctors moving in and out of the temple. One day, Śrīla Gurudeva addressed the local doctor and the doctors who had come from abroad, “You are all endeavouring so hard for me,” he said. “For this I am giving you my heartfelt gratitude.” When they heard this, they replied, “Gurujī, it is our supreme fortune that you have allowed us to render some service at your lotus feet.”

“Do not take me anywhere except the dhāma”

On the advice of Dr. Ray, Śrīla Gurudeva’s personal sevakas, headed by Brajanātha Prabhu approached him with a request that he travel to Italy for further treatment. Since Śrīpada Mādhava Mahārāja did not agree with this proposal, he refused to covey this message to Gurudeva. Śrīpada Mahārāja told to Brajanātha Prabhu and Dr. Ray, "Śrīla Gurudeva ordered me 2 years back that in my last days, don't take me out of dhāma, don't take me out of India. So, if I convey this message to Śrīla Gurudeva, he will not be happy with me. Moreover, we have to arrange minimum 8-10 tickets besides Gurudeva's tickets, and also arrange for fooding and lodging. It is too much hassle out of India for so many persons." Brajanātha Prabhu request Śrīpada Mahārāja, "Okay, I'll convey this message to Gurudeva, but you have to be present with me and Dr. Ray when we convey this message to Gurudeva." They informed him about Italy for his treatment. Gurudeva replied, "Yes, what all of you think better, you can do." Getting green signal from Śrīla Gurudeva, all arrangements were made. After half an hour, Śrīla Gurudeva ordered me to call Brajanātha Prabhu. Śrīla Gurudeva said, “O Brajanātha, I have no desire to go out of dhāma, out of India, so don't take me anywhere except the dhāma. I want to leave my body in the dhāma. Take me back to Govardhana.” “But it is so cold in Govardhana,” they told him.

“Then take me to Navadvīpa,” he replied.

“But it is cold there too,” they said.

“Then take me to Jagannātha Purī,” he said. “Śrīla Bhakti Pramoda Purī Mahārāja also performed his disappearance pastime in Jagannātha Purī-dhāma, and later his sevakas brought him to Śrī Dhāma Māyāpura. Take me to Jagannātha Purī, also, and if I leave my body there, then take me to Govardhana or Navadvīpa, wherever possible." Gurudeva continued, "Do all necessary arrangement to go to Jagannatha Puri as soon as possible without delay."

It was exactly four days after this conversation that they started for Śrī Jagannātha Purī. The sevakas encountered two obstacles: first, no plane tickets were available right away; and second, tickets were only available on a date that was not auspicious. The day after giving his order to go to Purī, Śrīla Gurudeva asked, “What is happening about our going to Purī?”

His sevakas answered, “We have not been able to obtain tickets for tomorrow, and the day after is navamī, so we will go on daśamī.”

Śrīla Gurudeva replied, “Let us go the day after tomorrow.” He continued, "The western devotees, they never check any tithī or constellation for their journey, and everything is going on nicely. So I don't want to consider any tithī."

“But we have never travelled on navamī before,” they responded, “because it is inauspicious to do so.”

Śrīla Gurudeva said, “We have never travelled on navamī before. Let us travel this time and see what happens.”

We could not help but wonder what mysterious plan was hidden in his decision. The trip was arranged on navamī, according to Śrīla Gurudeva’s desire.