We can understand from the teachings of our previous teachers (Acharyas) that human beings may have many desires which they believe will help them to reach their ultimate goal, but if the desire is not appreciated by the Supreme Lord, then the desire will never become fulfilled. For example, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Gowami Maharaj, being one of the most intimate disciples of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupada and the founder President of Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math, had a desire. Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Goswami Maharaj’s (Srila Gurudeva) strong desire was to not establish any temples; therefore he spent most of his life living amongst his different God brothers in established temples until he reached 90 years of age. Beginning in 1960, one of Srila Gurudeva’s Godbrothers, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Goswami Maharaj, began regularly sending invitations to Srila Gurudeva, requesting him to attend devotional functions. On the envelope, beside Srila Gurudeva’s name, he always addressed him as the Acharya of Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math. In 1987, when Srila Gurudeva was living in Kolkata’s Sri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, he was requested by his followers Sripad Gopinath Prabhu, Sripad Bimal Krishna Prabhu, and Sripad Madhusudan Prabhu to buy a piece of land in Mayapur in order to establish a small preaching center. Although he never desired to establish any brick and motar structure himself, the Lord’s desire forced him to obey and to buy a piece of land at that time. This place was inaugurated in 1989 with the name of Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math. At that time our Srila Gurudeva’s physical body was 91 years old.
Naturally, most of the members of the Vaisnava community were unable to understand Srila Gurudeva’s activities for the service of Mahaprabhu’s Mission, considering his advanced age. However, the Supreme personality of Godhead Sri Sri Radha Krishna’s desire didn’t stop, and many temples were established around India and abroad in the name of Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math under the guidance of Srila Gurudeva, Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Gowami Maharaj. Presently, our Head Office is at Sri Dham Mayapur, Nadia (West Bengal), India. Sri Ananta Basudeva Srimandir is located in Kalna, West Bengal; Sri Jagannath Ashram is in Midnapore, West Bengal; Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math is in Behala, Kolkata; Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math is in Hotor, 24-Pargana (near Ganga Sagar). We also have three branches in Tamilnadu: Kavilpatti, Tutukorine and Uttanapalayam. We have one branch at Chakratirtha road, Puri in the state of Orissa, and two centers in Vrindavan, in the state of Uttarpradesh. Also, nationally and internationally we have many sister concern in the name of ‘Bhakti Vinodalaya’.
– Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhyan Maharaj (President of Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math)
