The year was 1996; the day was 25 January, Vasant Panchami, the holiest of holy days according to the Gaudiya Vaishnava Vedic Calendar; and the time was 1:15 pm—when my wife gave birth to a baby boy. I was exulted.
Five days later, when Radhanath Swami returned to Mumbai after his week long visit to Poona,
26 June 2006. My mother and I awaited Radhanath Swami’s arrival at Bhubaneshwar airport. He was flying from Mumbai and was headed to Jagannath Puri, a two hour ride from Bhubaneshwar. Bittersweet emotions churned in me. Soon I would be basking in the association of my guru Radhanath Swami on the car ride to Puri. But then, I would be missing my mother.
