A prime example of humility and giving honour to others.

By Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj

I saw a devotee who was a grhastha in Kolkata but dedicated to Srila Guru Maharaj: Yadavendu Prabhu Bhakti Chandan.

Once, when my age in the Math was maybe six months, Srila Guru Maharaj needed some money, and he said to me, “If Yadavendu Prabhu can give me 1000 rupees, that will be very helpful.” I delivered this message, and Yadavendu Prabhu tried very hard to collect the money. Finally, he collected 600 rupees, gave them to me, and said, “Gaurendu Prabhu,” my name was Gaurendu at that time, “Give this to Srila Guru Maharaj. I am still trying to collect another 400 rupees, but you take this money now and give it to Guru Maharaj.”

I was surprised. I was very new, I was only a six-month-old boy, and he was an experienced man, an elderly and devoted man. Why did he believe in me? I could not understand, so I said to him, “You can give this money to Guru Maharaj yourself.” At that time, Srila Guru Maharaj was staying at Sripad Goswami Maharaj’s Math in Kolkata for a few days. “Why do you trust me with it? I could take this money and run away.” At that time 600 rupees was a lot of money, maybe it would be as much as 10,000 rupees or more now.

He replied, “I have some experience about people, and I have observed you. I have no doubt about your service or character. I know that you could never do that. So please, take this money and go to Guru Maharaj.” Then he bowed down to me, and I also bowed down to him.

He was a senior man, he was very experienced and honourable, but he treated me with humility and all his other good qualities. Later, I was his servant for one month in Vrndavan. Sometimes Srila Guru Maharaj told me, “In the evening, give him a garland.” He was a very good man, and Guru Maharaj gave him the title ‘Bhakti Chandan’.

dhrstam dhrstam punar api punas chandanam charu-gandham
(Subhasitam)

“The more you rub chandan [sandalwood], the more auspicious fragrance is released.”

Chandan is always used during worship to please the Lord. We always offer tulasi leaves and flowers dipped in chandan to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna. The position of chandan is so high, and Guru Maharaj gave him the title ‘Bhakti Chandan’: Yadavendu Prabhu Bhakti Chandan. He was very senior to me and a very experienced man, but his was very affectionate to me and other juniors.