From July 14 to 18, we had the honor of welcoming HH Bhakti Gauravani Goswami to Simhachalam – a longtime disciple of Srila Prabhupada who has been serving the mission with great dedication for decades. Many still know him by his brahmacari name Vedavyasa Prabhu, which reflects his foundational role in the early German translations of Srila Prabhupada’s books for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT).
After years of exemplary service as a Grihastha, raising four children and now a grandfather of seven, Maharaj has entered the sannyasa ashram and travels widely, especially across the Spanish-speaking world. We were delighted to welcome him back to Simhachalam after many years and hope to see him again soon.
Introspection, Art & Devotional Poetry – A Lecture Series with Depth
During his stay, Maharaj gave one Srimad Bhagavatam class in the morning and three evening lectures with visually captivating presentations based on the devotional songbooks he personally composed.
One of the highlights was his book “Innenschau – Leben im Schatten der Zeit” (“Introspection – Life in the Shadow of Time”), a powerful collection of devotional poems inspired by the writings of great Vaisnava acharyas. Maharaj carefully reworked and translated these songs into English, German, and Spanish, shaping them into rhythmic poetry.
Each poem reflects on the struggles of life in the material world, our inner doubts and existential questions, and finally turns the gaze upward – offering a path of hope, surrender, and connection to Krishna.
“These songs are like mirrors. They invite us to pause, reflect on who we are – and then lift our gaze toward Krishna.”
The book is a richly illustrated experience – over 300 pages, with 160 pages of original graphics created by Maharaj himself, matching the mood and message of each poem.
Honoring the Vaisnava Poets
As part of his presentation, Maharaj also introduced the poets whose songs inspired this work – including Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Narottama Dasa Thakura, Govinda Dasa Kaviraja, Vidyapati Thakura, and Locana Dasa Thakura. Their timeless insights find new life in these contemporary, multilingual renditions.
Reflections on Death & Srila Prabhupada’s Historic Arrival
In addition to his main lecture series on “Introspective,” Maharaj also presented two of his other profound works.
The first, titled “Der stille Begleiter – Wohin führt unser Weg?” (“The Silent Companion – Where Are We Headed?”), is a poetic and philosophical exploration of death and the soul’s journey. With sensitivity and depth, Maharaj reflects on life’s inevitable end – not with fear, but as an invitation to real introspection and spiritual preparation.
The second is a heartfelt tribute to Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America in 1965, based on the famous poem “Markine Bhagavata-Dharma”, which Prabhupada wrote upon reaching Boston. In this poem, Srila Prabhupada contemplates his mission: how to share the timeless wisdom of Krishna consciousness with a Western world unfamiliar with Vedic culture. Maharaj not only translated and commented on the poem, but also presented powerful visual interpretations that captured the determination, humility, and spiritual urgency of Prabhupada’s journey.
Both books reflect Maharaj’s unique gift: blending introspective devotion, poetic expression, and artistic clarity to make timeless truths accessible and deeply moving for the modern reader.
All Lectures Available Online
The full series of lectures is now available on our YouTube channel Simhachalam Live. If you missed the sessions or would like to revisit them, this is a wonderful opportunity to dive deeper.
Hoping for More to Come
We are deeply grateful to Maharaj for his visit and the inspiring, artistic, and heartfelt contributions he made to our community. We sincerely hope this will not be his last visit to Simhachalam.