The spiritual master of the Founder of the Gaudiya Math. He was also an intimate associate of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, the greatest Vaisnava of his time. His Samadhi Mandir is in the Chaitanya Math Mayapur.

Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji appeared almost one hundred years ago in the dis- trict of Pharidapura next to the place called Tepakhola in the village of Vagyana. In that village, which is situated on the shore of the Padma River, he was born as the son of a Vaisya named Vamsi dasa. During his boyhood his mother and father arranged his marriage and he remained in household life for almost twenty-nine years, working as a grain broker.

After the death of his wife, he left his business and approached Srila Bhagavat dasa Babaji, requesting from him the traditional paramahamsa Vaisnava Babaji dress. After accepting Babaji initiation from Srila Bhagavat dasa Babaji, who was a disciple of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, Srila Gaurkisora travelled from village to village in Vrindavana, continually performing his worship to Lord Krishna for approximately thirty years. During this time he would sometimes travel to the holy places of pilgrimage in northern and western India. He associated with Sri Svarupa dasa Babaji in Jagannatha Puri, Srila Bhagavan dasa Babaji in Kalina, and Sri Caitanya dasa Babaji in Khulia. Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji became famous among the great devotees of Vrindavana and was given the appropriate name bha- jananandi. Even though Srila Gaurakisora received such exalted honour, he never secretly endeavoured for even a drop of material sense gratification. He was totally indifferent to material enjoyment. Self-satisfied and alone, he performed his his pure, unalloyed devotional pastimes in a deep devotional mood.

In the year 1897, during the month of Phalguna (March), when the Yoga Pith (the exact birth-place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu) in Sri Mayapura Dhama was revealed, Srila Gaurakisora came to Sri Navadwipa Dhama from Vrindavana. From this time until his disappearance, Srila Gaurakisora lived in different villages in the area of Sri Navadwipa Dhama, realizing them as nondifferent from Vrindavana. He begged dry foodstuffs from the householders of the holy dhama, sometimes offering the food in his hand to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To cook, he would often collect dry wood from the paths and he would wash used earthen pots that people had discarded along the roadside near the River Ganga. To clothe himself, he would go to the shore of the Ganga and collect and wash discarded cloth that had been used to cover corpses in the burning ghats. In this way, always remaining independent from the support of others, he fulfilled his practical necessities by using items that had no value for anyone.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura would often cite the behaviour of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji to explain the meaning of nirapeksa, "indifference." He often discussed the unequalled renunciation, pure devotion, and attachment to Krishna that Babaji Maharaja displayed. Babaji Maharaja frequently visited Svananda Kunja, a place within Godrumadwipa (one of the nine islands of Navadwipa), where Bhaktivinode Thakura spent his last days in retirement. Srila Gaurakisora would come to hear Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura discourse on Srimad Bhagavatam and other topics concerning the intimate conclusions of devotional service. Babaji Maharaja would display fervent enthusiasm upon hearing these discourses.

His only possessions were the Tulasi mala he wore around his neck and the set of Tulasi mala he kept in his hand for counting. He also kept a few books, such as Narottama dasa Thakura's works, Prarthana and Prema Bhakti Chandrika. Some- times Gaurakisora dasa Babaji would wear no Tulasi mala around his neck and he would hold a torn knotted cloth in his hand for chanting his rounds. Sometimes, he would wear his kopin open and sometimes, he would wear no kopin at all. Some- times Srila Gaurakisora would utter harsh sounds of disgust for no apparent reason.

Even though Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was not learned in Sanskrit grammatical rules, still the purport and conclusions of all scriptures were luminous in his heart and character. No one could ever find an opportunity to serve him because he refused to accept any kind of service from anyone. Whenever anyone saw his un- earthly state of renunciation, they could only remember the topics of Srila Raghuna- tha das Goswami. Every kind of opulence, such as omniscience, was always waiting with folded hands to serve him. He was able to reveal the deceitful nature lying within the heart of any pretender. Even if someone was not residing in his vicinity, Babaji Maharaja could elaborately and scrutinizingly reveal that person's cheating nature, because he was in contact with the Supersoul in the heart. This opulence was not, however, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji's principal virtue. He exhibited the highest standard of devotion to the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, and because of his exemplary character, he was renowned as the embodiment of the deepest degree of separation from Lord Sri Krishna. His pure devotion distinguished him from all other Vaisnava's and eternally spread the luster of his lotus feet.