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Om Vishnupad 108 Tridandi Swami Sri Srimat Bhakti Sravan Tirtha Goswami Maharaj ki Jai !!

Sri Bhakti Kevala, known as Pramoda Bihari from birth, was born in 1895 AD. in the Bengali month of Agrahayana, (Nov-Dec), on the eighth day of the dark fortnight, in the village of Banaripara, Barisal district. His father was Sri Saratcandra Guhathakurata and mother, Srimati Bhuvanamohini, both of which were extremely pious.

From childhood Audulomi was endowed with a calm and quiet temperament. He graduated with distinction from the Calcutta University in 1919, thereafter he studied philosophy in Varanasi for a few months and later was employed as a teacher. However, becoming interested in spiritual matters, he soon became disenchanted with his work and took shelter of Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Maharaj.

At his initiation Prabhupada Sarasvati gave him the name Patita-pavana dasa brahmacari. During his brahmacari days he was engaged in temple services, such as caring for the deity. Some years later Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati initiated him into Tridanda sannyasa, giving him the name Bhakti Kevala Audulomi Maharaja.

From that time he was engaged in preaching throughout India. He was one amongst the sannyasi and brahmacari disciples of Bhaktisiddhanta who was chosen to preach the message of Lord Cai tanya throughout the world. He was also fortunate enough to be blessed with the darshan of Bhaktivinoda Thakura, whereupon he became inspired to seriously take up the study of the sastras.

In March 1940, Audulomi Maharaj was instructed by His Guru to undertake Navadvip-dhama parikrama. Thus for seven consecutive years, Audulomi Maharaja not only led the parikrama, but also acted as the head of the entire Navadvipa mandala and Sri Caitanya Matha. In 1943 he was selected as a member of the Gaudiya Mission Paricarya committee. He also took an active part in publishing and distributing devotional books. He translated Lord Chaitanya's Sikshashtak into English.

Around this time the Acharya of Gaudiya Math, Sri Bhakti Prasada Puri gave a series of discourses on Bhakti Sandarbha at Mayapura, which Sri Audulomi attended and listened to with rapt attention. For some years, while observing Urjavrata, Audulomi Maharaja travelled and preached widely throughout Mymensingh, Naryanaganj, and Dhaka in East Bengal. After completing his vow in October 1953, and bathing in the Jamuna, he took up the garb of Paramahamsa.

At the Kumbha Mela festival held in Prayaga in January 1954, a huge sankirtana procession was organized by the Sri Rupa Gaudiya Math and the procession was led by Sri Audulomi Maharaj.
For some days afterwards Maharaja gave classes in the hall of the Math on Sri Bhakti Sandarbha.

In December 1953 the president of the Gaudiya Math, Bhakti Pradipa Tirtha Gosvami, expired.
On February 16, 1954, Bhakti Kevala Audulomi Maharaj became the next president/acarya of the Mission. At that point Sundarananda Vidyavinod resigned from the post of secretary, whereupon Srirupa Bhagavata Maharaja became the acting secretary, and Sripad Bhavavandhacchida dasa Bhakti Saurabha was appointed the joint secretary.

After taking the position of president/acarya, Bhaktikevala Audulomi visited various parts of India to
inspect the Mathas. In the course of his travels he gave instructions and diksa to many devotees.

Under his guidance and inspiration a new temple, along with a nata-mandira (congregation hall), residence for devotees, and a bhajana kutir were constructed at Cirulia village in the district of Midnapur. Similar construction work was done at Kisorapura in Vrindavan, as well as Godrumadvipa, Navadvipa, Patna, Puri, and Lucknow.

Audulomi Maharaj continuously visited various mathas to preach the teachings of Lord Gauranga,
leaving deep impressions upon the minds of his listeners. Annual Vraja mandala parikrama, introduced by Audulomi (1957-1960), is still being observed regularly.