SRI NAVADVIPA DHAMA PARIKRAMA – PART I

- A Compilation by Harsha Lalita Devi Dasi

TABLE OF CONTENTS
S. No. Name of The Topic Page Number
INTRODUCTION
1 Sri Navadvipa Dhama - General Information 1-6
2 Glorification of Sri Navadvipa Dhama 6-9
3 Measurement and Form of Sri Nvadvipa Dhama 9-11
4 Sri Jiva Hears About Sri Navadvipa Dhama 12-16
5 Prayers to the Islands 16-30
6 Prayers to Sri Navadvīpa Dhama 30-31
7 Sri Navadvīpa Dhama Meditations 31-34
8 Parikramā of Sri Navadvīpa Dhama 34-35
9 Different Types of Parikrama in Sri Navadvīpa Dhama 35-36
10 The Procedure for Parikrama of Sri Navadvipa Dhama 36-38
I. ANTARDVIPA
1 Sri Antardvipa 39
2 Why Is This Island Named Antardvipa? 39-44
3 Sri Mäyäpur 44-45
4 Yogapitha 45-51
5 Lord Caitanya's Pastimes at Yogapitha 51-69
6 Sri Sriväsa Angana -The Home of Sriväsa Pandita 69-84
7 Sri Advaita Bhavan 84-88
8 Sri Gadädhara Angana 88-91
9 Sri Caitanya Matha 91-102
10 Vrddha Siva (Siva Dobä) 102
GHATAS LAYOUT 102
11 Mahaprabhu Ghata 103
12 Jagai Madhai Ghata 103-107
13 Barakrona Ghata 107-110
14 Nāgariya Ghata 110-111
15 Ganganagara Ghata 112-114
16 Bharadväja Tilä 114-115
17 Sri Murari Gupta’s Home 115-124
18 Ballal Dighi/Prthu Kunda 124-126
19 Sridhara Angana 126-129
20 Isodyana (Nandana Acarya’s Home) 128-138
21 Swarupa Damodara 139
 II. SIMANTADVIPA
1 Sri Simantadvipa 140
2 Why Is This Island Named Simantadvipa 141-144
3 Simantini Mandira 145
4 Chand Kazi’s Samädhi 145-151
5 Sri Jagannätha Temple 151-160
6 Visrama Sthana 161-164
7 Sabara Dangä 164-166
8 Mayamäri 166-167
9 Belpukur 167-170
10 Sri Madana Gopäla Temple 170-171
11 Räma Tirtha (Rukumpur) 172
12 Meghera Chara 172
13 Sasthi Tirtha 172-173
III. GODRUMADVIPA
1 Sri Godrumadvipa 174-176
2 Why Is This Island Named Godrumadvipa? 176-180
3 Surabhi Kunja 180-181
4 Svänanda-Sukhada-Kunja 182-188
(Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura’s Home)
5 Suvarna Vihära 189-195
6 Amra-Ghäta (Amghat) 195
7 Harihara Ksetra and Mahäväränasi 196-198
8 Aalakanandä River 199
9 Devapalli or Narasimha palli 199-208
10 Gaura-daha 209-211
IV. MADHYADVIPA
1 Sri Madhyadvipa 212-213
2 Why Is This Island Named Madhyadvipa? 213-216
3 Hamsa-vahana Siva Temple 216-218
4 Naimisäranya 218-220
5 Lord Śiva's Lake 220
6 Brähmana Puskara 220-223
7 Uccahatta (Hattadängä) 223-225
8 Pancaveni (Mahä-prayäga) 225-226
 INTRODUCTION
1. Sri Navadvipa Dhama - General Information:
It is not proper to limit the size of the dhama as it is all-pervading and
unlimited. In Navadvipa dhāma, all the Vaikuntha planets are resting. Śrila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written that in just one portion of Navadvīpa
dhāma all the sacred places, sages, munis, demigods, Vedic scriptures, and
mantras reside. But for the benefit of our limited vision, the acāryas have
mentioned different area sizes of the dhamas.

Navadvīpa dhāma is situated at the centre of Gaura-mandala-bhūmi, which is

shaped like a 100- petalled lotus. Its circumference is 270 km (168 miles), its
diameter is 90 km (56 miles), and its radius is 51 km (32 miles). The Ganga
flows through the centre of Gaura-mandala-bhūmi. Śrī Gauranga performed
His pastimes throughout Gaura-mandala-bhūmi.

It is stated,

gauda-mandala-bhūmi, yebä jäne cintamani, tara haya vraja-bhüme vasa

One who understands the transcendental nature of Navadvīpa and its

surrounding area, where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu enacted His pastimes,
resides always in Vrndāvana. (Srila Narottama dasa Thakurа, Savarana-sri-
gaura-mahima -The Glories of Sri Gauranga, Prarthana)

There is a place called Nadia in Gaura-mandala-bhūmi. Now this area is

known as a district in West Bengal. Navadvīpa dhāma is situated in Nadia.
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The Supreme Personality of Godhead has unlimited forms, through which He
enjoys unlimited rasas and exhibits unlimited bhāvas. The 3 main bhāvas are
aiśvarya-bhāva, mādhurya- bhāva, and audārya-bhāva.
1. In Vaikuntha, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of Nārāyaņa
enjoys aiśvarya-bhāva.
2. In Goloka Vrndāvana, Lord Śrī Krsna enjoys mādhurya- bhāva.
3. In Navadvipa, the Lord in the form of Sri Gaurāņga enjoys audārya- bhāva.
Audārya means magnanimity, generosity, or overflowing mercy. By this mood
of magnanimity, the Lord enables His devotees to possess all qualities that He
Himself possesses.
Navadvipa means 9 (nava) islands (dvipa). During Mahaprabhu's time these 9
islands were more visibly distinct due to the flow of different rivers and lakes
all over Navadvipa. These rivers are no longer running, but some areas of dry
riverbeds or portions of rivers with water can still be seen. It has been
mentioned that there were 16 rivers flowing through Navadvipa, and the 9
islands were created due to the intersecting flow of these rivers.
Those 16 rivers were:
1. Yamuna
2. Bhogavati
3. Alakananda
4. Kāveri
5. Sarasvati
6. Tamraparni
7. Brahmaputra
8. Sarayu
9. Ganga
10. Manasa-Ganga
11. Krtamālā
12. Vidyadhari
13. Narmada
14. Gomati
15. Mandākini
16. Godavari

The 9 islands of Navadvipa dhāma resemble an eight-petalled lotus flower

with a whorl (karnikā) at the centre. Of the 9 islands, 4 are situated on the
eastern side of the Ganga, and 5 are situated on the western side. The 4

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eastern islands are Antardvipa, Simantadvipa, Godrumadvipa, and
Madhyadvipa. The 5 western islands are Koladvipa, Rtudvipa, Jahnudvipa,
Modadrumadvipa, and Rudradvipa.
Each island represents one of the 9 processes of devotional service.
1. Antardvipa - Represents Atma- Nivedanam, Full Surrender
2. Simantadvipa - Represents Śravanam, Hearing
3. Godrumadvipa - Represents Kirtanam, Chanting
4. Madhyadvipa - Represents Smaranam, Remembering
5. Koladvipa - Represents Pada- Sevanam, Serving the Lotus Feet
6. Rtudvipa - Represents Arcanam, Worship
7. Jahnudvipa - Represents Vandanam, Praying
8. Modadrumadvipa - Represents Dasyam, Becoming A Servant
9. Rudradvipa - Represents Sakhyam, Being A Friend

It is recommended that one performs Navadvīpa-mandala-parikrama in the

order mentioned above.

The center of Navadvipa is Antardvipa. Antardvīpa is located at the karņikä of

the eight-petalled lotus. The circumference of Antardvipa is 16 km (10 miles).
The śāstras describe that the island situated at the junction of the Ganga and
Yamuna rivers is Antardvipa, and Mäyäpur lies within Antardvipa. Māyāpur's
circumference is almost 5 km (3 miles). At the centre of Mayapur is the Yoga-
pitha, which is the central point of Navadvipa dhama and the appearance place
of Sri Gauranga.

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The 7 holy cities present in Navadvipa dhāma are:
1. Mathura
2. Ayodhya
3. Haridvara
4. Kasi (Varanasi)
5. Kanci
6. Avanti (Ujjain)
7. Dvaraka

The 12 forests, dvādaśa-vana, in Navadvipa dhama are:

1. Gokula Mahāvana - Antardvipa
2. Madhuvana and Mathura - North of Prthu-Kunda, Chand Kazi's House
3. Nandagrama - Godrumadvipa
4. Bahulāvana - Koladvipa
5. Giri Govardhana - Kuliya- Pahāda (Mountain) in Koladvipa
6. Bhadravana - Jahnudvipa
7. Bhandiravana - Modadrumadvipa
8. Kamyavana - Mahatpura in Modadrumadvipa
9. Talavana - Mayamari in Simantadvipa
10. Bilvavana - Rudradvipa
11. Khadiravana - Campahatta
12. Radha-Kunda - Rtudvipa

All incarnations of the Lord also reside in Navadvipa. During the 4

different yugas, the Lord appeared in 4 different forms in Navadvipa dhama:
1. Satya-Yuga - As Śri Nrsimhadeva, In Godrumadvipa
2. Treta-Yuga - As Ramacandra, In Modadrumadvipa
3. Dvapara-Yuga - As Śri Krsna, In Samudra Gara in Koladvipa
4. Kali-Yuga - As Śri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, In Śri Navadvipa-Dhama. He
also appeared as Varahadeva in Koladvipa.

Great demigods and goddesses like Brahmā, Rudra, Indra, and Parvati, also
came to Navadvipa dhama to perform austerities to receive the blessings of Śri
Gauranga. Great rşis and munis, like the 4 Kumaras, the 6 Gosvāmīs, and
Jahnu Muni, were also performing tapasya in Navadvipa dhāma. The ācāryas
of the 4 sampradayas - Nimbārkācārya, Madhvācārya, Vişnusvāmī, and
Rāmānujācārya also visited Navadvīpa dhāma and were blessed by Śri
Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Following the footsteps of all previous acaryas, our most beloved Founder
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Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, His Divine
Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, also accepts Sri Navadvipa
as his place of worship.

Citations from Sri Navadvipa dhama māhātmya, Parikrama-khanda:

Now hear, brothers, of the places that I will describe within the 16 krosas of
Navadvīpa dhāma.

16 rivers exist eternally within the 16 krośa area of Navadvipa. On the eastern
bank of the main flow of the Gangā are 4 islands and on the western bank
there are 5. The different tributaries of the Ganga surround these islands and
give the dhāma its splendour. The main flow of the Ganga always flows in the
middle, while other pious rivers flow in various tributaries. Near the Ganga
flows the beautiful Yamunā, and the Sarasvati flows within another river. East
of the Yamunā are the long streams of the Tamraparņi, the Kṛtamālā, and the
Brahmaputra. The Sarayu, Narmadā, Sindhu, Kaveri, Gomati, and Godavari
flow swiftly throughout the breadth of Navadvipa. All these rivers intersect to
form the 9 different islands of Navadvipa.

Following the desires of the Lord, sometimes the streams dry up, and then
again by His wish they flow with water; by the Lord's wish sometimes places
become covered with water, and by His wish they again become visible. In this
way the dhāma endlessly enacts its lila, but the same dhama remains always
manifest to the fortunate living entity. If a devotee has an acute desire in his
heart, all the islands and rivers will be visible. By devotion, the dhāma is
sometimes visible in dreams, meditation, or to the naked eye. The island which
lies at the junction of the Ganga and Yamuna is known in the śāstras as
Antardvipa. Within Antardvipa lies the holy sanctuary of Māyāpur, where
Lord Caitanya appeared. Know, devotees, that Mahāvana, in the center of
Goloka, is none other than Mäyäpur of Navadvīpa.

Śvetadvipa, Vaikuntha, Goloka, and Vrndāvana always reside in Navadvipa. By

the order of Gauracandra, the 7 holy cities: Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Māyā
(Haridvāra), Kāśi, Kāñci, Avanti (Ujjain), and Dväraka, are always present in
their own places within Navadvipa. The city of Mäyä, at Gaņgādvära, has its
original form as Mäyäpur in Navadvipa-dhāma. The glories of this place are
profusely sung in the scriptures. That person who once visits Māyāpur is
easily freed from the bondage of mäyä. One who walks throughout Māyāpur is

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freed from the influence of mäyä and the repetition of birth. (From Sri
Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya, Parikrama-khanda, Chapter 3)
2. Glorification of Sri Navadvipa Dhama: – By Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakur
All glories to Lord Caitanya, the moon of Navadvipa and son of Mother Saci!
All glories to Nityananda Raya, the Avadhuta!
All glories to Sri Advaita Prabhu, the Supreme Lord!
All glories to Sri Gadadhara and Srivasa Pandita!
All glories to Navadvipa dhama, the essence of all dhamas!
All glories to the residents of Navadvipa, the associates of Gauranga!
“Offering obeisances to the feet of all the devotees, I will now briefly describe
Sri Navadvipa dhama. Even the demigods headed by Lord Brahma do not know
the unlimited glories of Navadvipa mandala, so who can possibly describe that
dhama fully? Since the thousand-mouthed Sesa cannot describe it completely,
how can I, an insignificant living entity, do so? Even Lord Siva can find no end
to the unlimited glories of Navadvipa dhama. Nevertheless, the desire of Sri
Caitanya is powerful, and according to His wish the devotees have given me an
order. Therefore, by the mercy of the devotees, I hereby describe the glories of
Nadia.
There is one other topic I would like to mention. As it is a confidential matter, I
hesitate to disclose it. But, on the other hand, I cannot resist telling it, for Lord
Caitanya instructed His devotees to publicize the glories of His pastimes and
abode after His disappearance. Though Sri Caitanya is the most concealed of all
avataras, I know well that He is all in all. But because His confidential activities
are described ambiguously in scripture, the non-devotees are unable to realize
them. For a long time Mayadevi kept hidden the confidential scriptures that
describe Lord Caitanya's pastimes. These topics are described in both the
unmanifest scriptures, which were scattered here and there, as well as in the
manifest scriptures. Maya kept all these scriptures hidden from view by covering
the eyes of the scholars.”
After Gauranga completed His pastimes on earth, however, His obedient servant
Mayadevi, understood the desire of the Lord. She lifted the veil of illusion from
the eyes of the living entities and revealed the true nature of Sri Gauranga
within this material universe. Thus, the hidden meaning in the scriptures
became easily revealed, and the arguments inhibiting understanding Lord
Caitanya were dispelled. It was the all-merciful Nityananda Prabhu who
revealed the truth about Gauranga in the hearts of the living entities. On His

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command, Maya pulled away the covering so that the pure devotee scholars
could receive this precious treasure of the scriptures.
If one remains doubtful despite the scriptural evidence, he is most unfortunate
and useless. Why should he continue living? When Nityananda Prabhu
distributed the mercy, the fortunate living entities accepted and reached the
perfection of happiness.
Everyone should know the symptoms of the unfortunate living entity as well; it
is he who is overconfident of the power of his own intelligence. Such a person
rejects the mercy of the Lord, and by the force of false logic he falls repeatedly
into the pit of illusion. “Come, spirit souls of Kali yuga! Give up this hypocrisy
and just accept the pure ecstatic love of Sri Gauranga!” In this way Nityananda
Prabhu would call out again and again. But still the unfortunate living entities
did not accept.
Now let us consider carefully why these people do not accept such wonderful
love of God. In pursuit of happiness, living entities in the material world follow
various processes, such as logic or mystic yoga. And, in quest of happiness, some
give up the material world and go to the forest, while kings constantly wage
wars amongst themselves. Desiring happiness, others run after women and
wealth, while others take to arts and sciences. In pursuit of happiness, others
reject happiness and learn to tolerate the miseries of life, and still others simply
drown themselves in the ocean. Raising His lotus hands in the air, Lord
Nityananda exclaims, “Come, living entities! Give up the troubles of karma and
jnana. Since you are endeavouring for happiness, I will give you happiness
without asking anything in exchange. In this happiness there is no trouble, loss,
or pain. Just chant the name of Gauranga and dance without anxiety. There's
nothing equal to the happiness that I am giving. That happiness is pure, eternal
ecstasy-beyond all illusion!”
In this way, Nityananda Prabhu begged everyone to take pure ecstatic love. Still,
unfortunate persons, influenced by previous sinful activities, did not even want
it. But if such persons chant even once the names of Gauranga and Nitai, the
effects of unlimited sinful activities are destroyed. Listen, everyone, to one more
confidential topic. The most suitable thing for the souls of Kali-yuga is this
treasure of Gauranga-lila. Gaurahari is the combined form of Radha and Krsna,
who eternally enjoy pastimes in Vrndavana along with the sakhis. The truth of
Radha and Krsna's eternal pastimes and the glories of Vraja-dhama are known
by everyone through the scriptures. And the unlimited glories of Krsna's name
and abode are known through the scriptures by people all over the universe. But
still, obtaining Krsna prema is not at all common. Let us contemplate the reason
why.

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Herein lies the secret of secrets which the living entities bound by Maya cannot
discern. One who does not attain love of God after worshipping Krsna birth after
birth has certainly committed heaps of offenses. For only by chanting Krsna's
name without offenses can one attain incessant Krsna prema.
Sri Caitanya's incarnation, however, is most uncommon. By His mercy, a serious
person, though filled with offenses, can quickly obtain love of God. When
someone calls out the names of Nitai and Caitanya, Krsna prema comes looking
for him. Offenses do not hinder his progress, and he soon sheds tears of ecstasy
out of pure love of God. By the mercy of Lord Caitanya, all the offenses quickly
flee away, the heart becomes pure, and love of God fully blossoms. Because
people in Kali yuga commit unlimited offenses, which are difficult to check, there
can be no means of deliverance other than Gauranga's name. Therefore, in Kali-
yuga, I see no alternative to Sri Gauranga. This is also the proclamation of the
scriptures.
As Sri Gauracandra appeared in Navadvipa, it is therefore the crest jewel of all
holy places. Offenders are the object of punishment at other holy pilgrimage
places, but in Navadvipa dhama they are purified. The example is the two
brothers Jagai and Madhai, who committed great offenses yet still received Nitai
and Gaura. What to speak of other places, at Vrndavana the offenders are
punished. But a person who has committed hundreds of offenses can easily
receive the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu and overcome those offenses in
Navadvipa dhama. For this reason, sages endlessly praise Navadvipa of Gaura-
mandala.
He who lives in Navadvipa dhama is very fortunate, for he achieves attraction
for Krishna. He who happens to go there becomes freed from all offenses. What
one attains by traveling to all the holy places is attained just by remembering
Navadvipa. In this way the scriptures sing. He who sees Navadvipa dhama gets
ecstatic love of Krsna birth after birth. Even one who goes to Navadvipa desiring
to gain material comforts through pious activities will not take another birth.
The Sastras say that one who walks around Navadvipa attains the fruit of
millions of asvamedha yajnas at every step. And one who lives in Navadvipa and
chants mantras obtains the sound of Caitanya as his mantra and easily gets free
from maya. What yogis obtain after 10 years at other tirthas is obtained in 3
nights at Navadvipa.
That liberation attained by Brahman realization at other holy places is obtained
simply by bathing in the Ganges at Navadvipa. Thus, all types of liberation -
salokya, sarupya, sarsti, samipya, and nirvana can be obtained in Navadvipa
without speculative practice. Falling at the feet of the pure devotees in
Navadvipa, Bhukti and Mukti (personified material enjoyment and liberation)

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remain there as obedient servants. Not caring for their blessings, the devotees
kick them away, but still, they do not leave the devotees’ feet. The fruits obtained
by staying 100 years at the 7 holy cities can be attained by staying one night in
Navadvipa dhama.
In conclusion, Navadvipa is the topmost tirtha. Taking shelter of it, the living
entities can cross over Kali-yuga. At this place, taraka, the name of Rama, which
gives liberation, and paraka, the name of Krsna, which gives prema, always serve
the residents of the dhama.
Aspiring for the shade of the lotus feet of Nitai and Jahnava, Bhaktivinoda thus
sings in bliss…
3. Measurement and Form of Sri Nvadvipa Dhama: – Srila Bhakti Vinoda
Thakur
All glories to Lord Caitanya, the moon of Navadvipa and son of Mother Saci!
All glories to Nityananda Raya, the Avadhuta!
All glories to Navadvipa dhama, the essence of all spiritual abodes!
Who could describe the truth of Navadvipa?
Navadvipa dhama within Gauda-mandala is served by the Ganges and situated
in eternal splendour. This Gauda-mandala is 168 miles in circumference, with
the Ganges running through the center. Gauda-mandala takes the form of a
hundred-petaled lotus with the most beautiful Navadvipa in the center. The
circumference of the central stamen of the flower, or Antardvipa, is 10 miles, and
the circumference of the eight-petaled flower, or Navadvipa, is 32 miles. Outside
this are the 100 petals of Gauda-mandala, whose circumference measures 168
miles. According to the scriptures, the diameter of Gauda-mandala is 56 miles,
and the radius is 28 miles. The center point, situated within Navadvipa, is the
Yogapitha the sacred spiritual abode where the Lord advented.
The whole of Gauda-mandala is cintamani, or touchstone, yielding all desires.
The dhama is full of knowledge and bliss and is completely spiritual. The water,
the land, the trees-everything in the dhama is spiritual, unlike the dull matter of
this material world. Always present in the dhama are Krsna's 3 spiritual
energies-sandhini, samvit, and hladini. Krsna`s original energy, Svarupa Sakti,
manifests in these 3 divisions. Of these, the sandhini energy, which supports all
existence, finds its perfect function in manifesting the eternal dhama. In that
position, the dhama acts eternally as the base or support for the Lord's
appearance and activities. All this is the action of the inconceivable energy of the
Lord, which is anti-material and completely transcendental.

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One who sees only the activities of material nature in the dhama is a conditioned
soul under the influence of ignorance and illusion. When a person's vision is
covered by a cloud, he may think that the sun is covered, but the sun can never
be covered by a cloud. In the same way, only persons whose vision is covered by
the cloud of illusion see the transcendental form of Gauda mandala as a
transformation of the material energy.
Whoever gets the mercy of Lord Nityananda, the master of the sandhini
potency, can see that blissful dhama as fully spiritual. The holy rivers such as
the Ganges and Yamuna as well as the 7 holy cities headed by Prayaga are all
situated in various places within Navadvipa dhama. One who is fortunate can
see that this pure realm, Gauda-mandala, is directly the spiritual world.
Following the order of the Lord, Maya, the shadow of the Lord's svarupa-sakti,
spreads her influence of illusion. She covers the eyes of those living entities who
have turned away from the Lord, so they are unable to see the glories of the
spiritual dhama. Those people who always reside in Gauda-mandala are the most
fortunate in the world. The demigods in the heavenly planets see them as having
beautiful four-handed forms of blackish complexion. Within the 16 krosas of
Navadvipa dhama, the numerous residents, who are golden in complexion,
constantly engage in congregational chanting of the Lord's holy names. Brahma
and other demigods come from outer space and worship them in various ways.
Lord Brahma prays, “When will I become so fortunate to take birth as a blade
of grass in Navadvipa dhama. Then I will receive the dust from the feet of the
devotees who are engaged in serving the lotus feet of Sri Gauranga. Alas, Lord
Caitanya has cheated me, for He has placed me in charge of the management of
the universe. When will the knots of my karma be cut? When will my mind be
purified as I give up false pride? And when will the illusion that I am the supreme
authority cease as I become a pure servant under the shelter of Gauranga's lotus
feet?”
The devas, rsis, and Rudras always reside in different parts of Navadvipa.
Although they are engaged in austerities for a long time, still they do not get
Nityananda's mercy. As long as the bodily consciousness is not given up and
humility does not awaken within, one cannot obtain the treasure of Sri Caitanya
and Sri Nityananda's mercy, no matter what efforts one make, even if he be Siva
or Brahma. All this will be explained later. O brother, just hear with faith and
attention.
In these spiritual topics, one should avoid mundane logic and arguments, which
are useless and inauspicious. The transcendental pastimes of Sri Caitanya are a
deep ocean, whereas the process of mundane logic is simply troublesome, like
the sheath covering the banana flower. Whoever wants to cross the ocean of

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material existence by logic and argument will simply toil in vain. He will receive
nothing. But by giving up false arguments and taking the guidance of sadhu and
sastra, one will soon receive Sri Caitanya. For on the order of Nityananda
Prabhu, the sruti (Vedas), smrti (Puranas), and tantra sastras are continuously
singing the glories of Navadvipa dhama. By reading these scriptures and
accepting the words of the devotees, one will realize the truth of Navadvipa
dhama.
In Kali-yuga, all holy places are extremely weak, only Navadvipa is supremely
strong. By the Lord's desire, however, this tirtha was invisible for a long time
and its glories lay unrevealed. When the influence of Kali-yuga increased,
naturally the holy places lost their power. At that time, desiring the good
fortune of all living entities, the Supreme Lord thought, “Upon diagnosing a
disease, a doctor prescribes an appropriate medicine. Accordingly, a strong
medicine is given for a severe disease. Now that Kali-yuga has become terrible
and the disease is serious, there will be no relief without a strong medicine. If I
do not reveal the ‘dhama’, the name, and My form, which I have been holding
secretly for so long, how will the living entities ever recover? The living entities
are My servants, and I am their Lord. If I do not help them, they will never be
delivered.”
Saying this, Lord Caitanya appeared on earth with His name, dhama, and
associates. The Lord promised that He will always deliver the living entities
from the troubles of material existence.
Gauranga said, “Without considering who is fit and who is unfit, in this
incarnation I will freely distribute the treasure of love which is rarely attained
by even Lord Brahma. I will see how Kali can destroy these living entities! I will
manifest Navadvipa dhama and break the poison teeth of Kali by performing
congregational chanting of the holy names of God. As long as My name is sung,
Kali will be controlled.”
Saying this, Gaurahari appeared in the beginning of Kali-yuga in Navadvipa by
His own internal spiritual potency. Withdrawing the covering of illusion,
Gauracandra revealed His eternal pastimes in Gauda-mandala.
I see no one in Kali-yuga more unfortunate than that lamentable, wretched
person who does not worship such a merciful Lord as Sri Caitanya, or who
rejects such an inconceivable dhama as Navadvipa. Therefore, give up all other
desires and attractions, and simply fix your mind on Navadvipa dhama.
Aspiring for the shade of the lotus feet of Nitai and Jahnava, Bhaktivinoda
reveals these truths…

11
4. Sri Jiva Hears About Sri Navadvipa Dhama: – Srila Bhakti Vinoda
Thakur
All glories to Lord Caitanya, the moon of Navadvipa and son of Mother Saci!
All glories to Nityananda Raya, the Avadhuta!
All glories to the topmost dhama, Navadvipa, where Sri Caitanya advented!
Whatever benefits are attained by residing in all other tirthas can be achieved
by staying in Navadvipa for only one day.
Listen, O saintly people, as I sing this description of Navadvipa parikrama
referring to scripture. The statements of sastra the words of the Vaishnavas, and
the teachings of the Lord, these three are my life. Taking shelter of these three,
I will describe the rules for circumambulating Navadvipa. Listen everyone!
When Sri Jiva Gosvami as a young man left his home in Candradvipa, in great
eagerness he cried out “Nadia, Nadia!” As he travelled along the paths, he
lamented with tears flowing from his eyes like streams, “O Gauranga!
Nityananda!” You are the life of the living entities. When will You show mercy
on me and give me Your darsana? Again and again, he exclaimed, “O Navadvipa,
topmost of all dhamas, when will I see you?”
It was a startling sight to see the young, attractive form of Jiva, who was
practicing extreme renunciation. His heart was always full of ecstatic love as he
travelled along. Then after some days, he arrived at Navadvipa. Seeing the city
from a distance, he offered his dandavats and nearly lost consciousness. After
some time, he regained his composure and, trembling in ecstasy, he entered the
town of Navadvipa. When he came to Barakona-ghata he asked, “Where is
Nityananda Prabhu? Please let me see Him.”
One devotee saw the elevated emotional state of Jiva Gosvami and offered to
take him to where Nityananda was staying. At that time, Nityananda, in great
ecstasy, began roaring with laughter on perceiving that Sri Jiva was coming to
Him. As Nityananda ordered His servants to bring Jiva there, many Vaishnavas
went to call him.
Upon seeing Jiva, whose body was filled with ecstatic symptoms, they could
understand his identity. Filled with love, someone came forward to reveal the
order of Nityananda Prabhu. Just on hearing the name Nityananda, Jiva fell to
the ground unconscious.
After a few moments he got up and exclaimed, “Oh, I am greatly fortunate.
Though the lowest of men, I have received the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu.”

12
Offering his dandavats to those devotees with a glad heart, he said, “If you all
show mercy to me, then I can get the mercy of Nityananda. This is the verdict
of scriptures.”
Seeing the good fortune of Jiva Gosvami, some of the Vaishnavas took the dust
from his feet on their heads with great celebration. Then they all took him to
Nityananda's place. Nityananda was surrounded by devotees as He spoke about
Krsna. Seeing that transcendental form of Nityananda, Jiva's body was
transformed with extraordinary emotions. “What a wonderful form I am seeing
today!” he exclaimed and fell unconscious.
Swayed by great compassion, Nityananda lifted Jiva up and accepted him as His
own. Jiva was overcome with emotion. He stood with his hands folded and began
to speak to his Lord, “You are the form of the universe, the abode of the universe,
Balarama. Being an insignificant living entity, what can I know of Your
qualities? You are my eternal master; I am Your servant. My only aspiration is
the shade of Your lotus feet. That person who receives Your mercy easily attains
the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya and drowns in the water of prema. Without Your
mercy no one will get Gaura, even if he worships Gaura for a hundred lifetimes.
Sometimes Gauranga may punish someone, but You will protect him; but if You
punish someone, Gaura will never accept him. Therefore, Lord, only on the
strength of my past devotional activities, I take shelter of Your lotus feet. Be
merciful and give permission that I may receive the darsana of Gauranga and
gain attachment for Him.”
“When Gauranga came to Ramakeli and accepted my uncles, I was a young child.
At that time my eyes filled with tears as I saw Gauranga's form, which since
then always appears in my mind. I fell and offered obeisances at Gauranga's feet,
and I became filled with happiness as I touched His body. At that time, the Lord
told me to study the scriptures and, after finishing studies, go to Navadvipa,
where I would attain everything at the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu.
Although I am insignificant, I took that order on my head and acquired as much
knowledge as I could. But though I studied all the books in Candradvipa, I could
not get a suitable Vedanta teacher. The Lord ordered me to study Vedanta and
reveal Krsna-bhakti conforming with the Vedanta-sutras. So, I have come to
Navadvipa to Your lotus feet. Whatever You order, I will obey. By Your order,
I will go to Jagannatha Puri and study Vedanta under Sarvabhauma
Bhattacarya.”
Upon hearing the sweet words of Jiva, Nityananda Prabhu embraced him and,
unable to contain Himself, began weeping.
“Listen, Jiva, to these confidential words. Rupa and Sanatana know all the
philosophy. The Lord ordered Me to tell you not to go and stay in Puri.
13
Everyone knows that you and your two uncles are pure servants of the Lord.
The Lord ordered that you go to Varanasi and thoroughly study Vedanta under
Madhusudana Vacaspati. From there, go to Vrndavana, where you will get the
mercy of Rupa and Sanatana. Under Rupa Gosvami's direction, worship Their
Lordships Radha and Krsna and thoroughly discuss scriptures such as Vedanta.
You should preach that Srimad Bhagavatam is the topmost scripture and the
natural commentary on the Vedanta-sutras.”
“Previously, Lord Caitanya bestowed His mercy on Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya
and explained Vedanta to him according to the Bhagavata tradition.
Sarvabhauma then taught this carefully to Madhusudana in Puri. On the order
of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Madhusudana Vacaspati now resides in Varanasi.
Go there and meet him.”
“Externally he acts like a traditional Vedantist, and many followers of
Sankaracarya study under him. Gradually, however, he gives them mercy by
teaching them the precepts of Gauranga through the Vedanta-sutras.”
“At this time there is no necessity for a separate commentary on the Vedanta-
sutras, for the Bhagavatam explains all the sutras. When there will be need of
another commentary, Sri Govinda bhasya will be revealed. Along with
Sarvabhauma, Gopinatha Acarya heard the Lord's commentary. Later, by the
wish of Sri Caitanya, Gopinatha Acarya will take birth as Baladeva
Vidyabhusana, and he will conquer Jaipur with his philosophical commentary.
In Jaipur, he will serve Gauranga by writing the Govinda-bhasya, and thus free
all living entities from material bondage. Your two uncles, Rupa and Sanatana,
will tell you all these confidential topics.”
Upon hearing Nityananda Prabhu speak, Jiva Gosvami began weeping and fell
to the ground unconscious. Nityananda then bestowed His mercy on Jiva by
putting His two lotus feet upon his head, thereby giving him spiritual strength.
Jiva then began dancing in that assembly of Vaishnavas while chanting, “Jaya
Sri Gauranga! Jaya Nityananda Raya!”
Witnessing this display of Nityananda's mercy, Srivasa Thakura and the other
devotees present all began dancing and chanting, “Sri Gauranga! Nityananda!”
The place resounded with great spiritual vibration.
After some time, Jiva controlled his dancing and Nityananda had him sit down
nearby. Jiva stayed at Srivasa’s place, but in the evening he again came to see
Nityananda Prabhu.
As Nityananda was sitting alone, singing the glories of Lord Gauranga, Jiva
came forward and fell at His lotus feet. Nityananda was very particular to make
Jiva sit very close to Him. Jiva, however, became very aware of his own miserable

14
condition. He folded his hands and said, “Lord, be merciful to me and describe
the essential truths about Navadvipa-dhama.”
Lord Nityananda said, “O Jiva, I will tell you, but you should keep these deep
topics within your heart. Do not broadcast them here and there just yet. They
will be propagated after our Lord completes His manifest pastimes.”
“This Navadvipa is the best of dhamas. Crossing over the Viraja River and the
Brahman effulgence, beyond the Vaikuntha planets one comes to Svetadvipa, Sri
Goloka. Penetrating further, one comes to Gokula Vrndavana, or Krsnaloka.”
“That Krsnaloka exists in two states of emotion. Rasa expands there in the form
of madhurya and audarya, sweetness and munificence. Audarya exists within
madhurya in fullness, and madhurya exists within audarya in fullness. But, that
place where madhurya is the chief state is known by fortunate persons as
Vrndavana. And that place where audarya is eternally predominant is called
Navadvipa in all the Vedas. There is no difference between Vrndavana and
Navadvipa, only the different manifestations of rasa make them distinct.”
“The dhama is eternally perfect, fully spiritual, and unlimited. Those whose
intelligence is tinged with dull matter cannot approach there. But, under the
influence of the hladini-sakti the energy governing bliss, the living entities give
up material paths and by the strength of perfect knowledge attain their eternal
spiritual activity of devotional service. The whole of Navadvipa is a spiritual
manifestation, for at this holy place Sri Gauranga performed His transcendental
activities.”
“People with material vision see Navadvipa as made of material elements, for
them maya covers the eternal dhama. Maya does not exist in Navadvipa, for it
is not a material place influenced by time, nor are the living entities there subject
to material troubles. But, as the living entity becomes bound by his fruitive
activities under illusion he perceives the dhama to be a material place.”
“Thus, I have related the truth of Navadvipa dhama. O Jiva, please consider all
this with a pure heart.”
Aspiring for the shade of the lotus feet of Nitai and Jahnava. Bhaktivinoda
reveals these confidential topics…

15
 Lord Nityananda and Jiva Goswami
5. Prayers to the Islands:
The secret of pure devotional service rests in those who take shelter of Lord
Caitanya’s holy place, where my Lord Hari, His transcendental from filled with
the nectar of splendid divine love, assumes the role of Śrī Rādhā. Wandering in
Navadvīpa Dhāma is the best of all opulences, the best of all religious principles,
the best of all kinds of worship, the best of all perfections, the best of all glories,
and the best of all oceans of sweetness. (Navadvipa Sataka)
The following quotes come from Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda’s ‘Navadvīpa Dhāma
Mahātmya’ or ‘Navadvīpa Bhāva Taraņga’, unless otherwise noted.
1. Antardvīpa (Represents Atma nivedanam):
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s yogapīṭha lies in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, which is in
the center of Antardvīpa which is the middle of the 9 islands. In Dvāpara-yuga
after stealing Kṛśņa’s cows, Brahmā did penance here. Kṛśņa appeared here as
Gaurāņga and gave brahmāntara (secret) teachings about Rādhā and the
saņkīrtana movement. (Navadvipa Bhava Taranga)
Within the 32 square miles of Navadvīpa, which is Vṛndāvana, there are 9
islands, which form an eight-petaled lotus floating on the water. In the middle
of the 8 islands, which are the petals, lies Antardvīpa, and within Antardvīpa lies
the very center point, Śrī Māyāpur. The eternal pastimes of Lord Caitanya took
place within the area of Māyāpur. Because the Pañca-tattva are seated at the

16
Yogapīṭha in Māyāpur, it is the most glorious of all places. (Navadvipa Dhama
Mahatmya)

Māyāpur is non-different from Gokula Mahāvana of Vraja. In the southern

portion of Māyāpur, on the banks of the Ganges near its junction with the
Sarasvatī, is the grove called Īśodyāna. May that forest be the place of my eternal
devotions. O residents of Navadvīpa and Vṛndāvana, quickly establish me in
Īśodyāna, the abode of the Lord. That is certainly within your power, for it is
your place. I am simply a servant, and by assisting in your service to Their
Lordships, I may attain residence in the dhāma. (Navadvipa Bhava Taranga)
“When will I wander in the beautiful forests of Navadvīpa, and fall unconscious
upon beholding the wonderful, youthful form of Lord Gaura dancing happily
with His associates? My life and soul is Lord Gaura’s home in Śrī Māyāpur
where He performs His blissful pastimes of youth. The ground is soft to the
touch, and it is illuminated with the effulgence of many gems and filled with
various playful animals. Splendid trees covered with creepers and fragrant
flowers emit pleasing music from their resident birds.” (Navadvipa Sataka)
2. Sīmantadvīpa (Represents Sravanam):
Once in Satya-yuga Lord Śiva was ecstatically shouting, “Gaurāņga! Gaurāņga!
Gaurāņga!” Upon Śiva’s advice, his wife Pārvatī came to Sīmantadvīpa and
chanted Gaura-nāma. When Kṛśņa appeared before her as Gaurāņga, Pārvatī
took Gaurāņga’s foot dust and placed it on her hair part, which is called sīmanta.
Gaurāņga blessed Pārvatī, saying that she and her husband would become
Prauḍhā Māyā and Vṛddha Śiva to serve as guardians of Navadvīpa Dhāma.

17
 Lord Gauranga and Mother Parvati
3. Godrumadvīpa (Represents Kirtanam):
In some other place one may find millions of cintāmaņi jewels or receive the
personal darśana of Lord Hari. But refusing to go anywhere else, I’d rather
remain covered with the dust of Godruma. (Navadvipa Sataka)
Nārada Muni said, ‘One who chants Gaura’s name will get the mercy of Kṛśņa,
and he will be able to live in Vṛndāvana. One who worships Kṛśņa without
chanting the name of Gaura will get Kṛśņa only after a long time. But he who
takes Gaura’s name quickly gets Kṛśņa, for offenses do not remain within him.’
After Kṛśņa-līlā, Indra and the surabhi cow came here and worshiped Nimāi. By
chanting Gaurāņga’s name and crying they soon got darśana of Gaurāņga.
Indra left, but surabhi stayed here under a banyan tree (druma) worshiping Lord
Gaurāņga. Godrumadvīpa is named after the cow (go) who lived under a tree
(druma). Go also means senses or desires, and druma means kalpa-druma or
wish-fulfilling trees. Therefore, at this place the devotees’ desires are fulfilled.
Here surabhi instructed Mārkeņḍeya Ṛśi, ‘By worshiping Gaurāņga, you will
become peaceful, completely pure, and obtain the sweet fruit of Kṛśņa prema.
When prema sits in your heart, you will drown in the nectar of Rādhā-
Mādhava’s delightful pastimes. Attaining Vraja and the shelter of Rādhārāņī,
your mind will be absorbed in serving the Divine Couple.’ Godrumadvīpa is non-
different from Nandīśvara, Nanda Mahārāja’s home in Vṛndāvana.” (Navadvipa
Dhama Mahatmya)

18
 Mother Surabhi
Nṛsiṁha Pallī is the place where Lord Nṛsiṁha washed His hands and rested
after killing Hiraņyakaśipu in Satya-yuga. “When will I see the beauty of this
place? Here I will roll about the ground in ecstatic love, begging for pure love
of Kṛśņa. In my heart reside duplicity, insincerity, the desire for fame, and the 6
enemies lust, anger, envy, fear, illusion and intoxication. Therefore, I will pray
at the feet of Lord Nṛsiṁha to purify my heart and give me the desire to serve
Kṛśņa.”

Lord Nrsimhadeva of Nrsimhapalli

19
“Weeping I will beg Lord Nṛsiṁha that I may worship Rādhā-Mādhava in
Navadvīpa, free from obstacles. Although this form of the Lord is terrible for
the evil, He is exceedingly auspicious for the devotees headed by Prahlāda.
When will Lord Nṛsiṁha become pleased to mercifully speak to me, a worthless
fool, and remove my fears?”
“Dear child, stay here happily in Gaura dhāma. Worship Rādhā-Mādhava and
develop attraction for the holy name. By the mercy of My devotees, all obstacles
are transcended.” After speaking like this, “when will that Lord joyfully place
His feet upon my head? At that moment, by Lord Nṛsiṁha’s mercy, I will exhibit
symptoms of ecstatic love for Rādhā and Kṛśņa and will roll on the ground by
the door of Lord Nṛsiṁha’s temple.” (Navadvipa Bhava Taranga)
4. Madhyadvīpa (Represents Smaranam):
“May merciful Madhyadvīpa allow me to see Mahāprabhu’s majestic pastimes.
May all the sacred places there like Brahmā-kuņḍa, and the wish-fulfilling
creepers grant my wish to see Mahāprabhu’s midday pastimes at Madhyadvīpa.”
(Navadvipa Sataka)
“When in Madhyavīpa will I see that astounding long-armed golden form of
Gaura, wearing a garland of forest flowers and loudly calling out, ‘O brothers,
everyone together, chant the holy name!’”
Lord Brahmā told the Sapta Ṛśis to go to Navadvīpa and chant Gaura-nāma to
quickly get Gaura prema. Absorbing themselves in Gaura-nāma, they gave up
all eating and sleeping. At noon which is the middle (or Madhya) part of the day,
Gaurāņga and the Pañca-tattva appeared to the sages. So, the island where
Gaurāņga appeared in the middle of the day is called “Madhyadvīpa”. Today in
Kumarāhaṭṭa there are 7 hillocks representing the 7 sages who once lived here.

Sapta Rsis
20
“When will I, alone or with the devotees, drown in the waves of the ocean of
love for Lord Caitanya? Feeling destitute, I will wander in the forest of
Madhyadvīpa at midday, meditating on the emotional states of the Lord. Then
the residents of Madhyadvīpa will be merciful and show me: ‘See, here is our
Lord Gaurāņga, dancing with His associates in a grand kīrtana in
Brahmānāgara on the bank of Brahmā-kuņḍa.’” (Navadvipa Bhava Taranga)
5. Koladvīpa (Represents Pada Sevanam):
All glories to the forests of Koladvīpa which line the Ganges’ bank and are
worshiped by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva. These pastime forests of Gaurāņga
Mahāprabhu are filled with the natural opulences of many birds, animals, trees,
creepers, kuñjas, lakes, ponds, fields, hills and rushing streams. It is considered
the topmost place of Gaura-līlā. Koladvīpa is non-different from Bahulāvana in
Vraja.

In Satya-yuga a brāhmaņa worshiped Varāha here with a desire to have His

darśana. Shortly thereafter, his iśṭa-deva, Lord Varāha, appeared as an attractive
boar with a body as tall as a mountain. Lord Varāha spoke to the brāhmaņa, ‘I
previously killed Hiraņyākśa here with My tusks. By serving Navadvīpa, all
tīrthas are served; and by living in Navadvīpa, the fruit of living in all tīrthas is
attained.’ The brāhmaņa gave the name Koladvīpa Pārvata (kola- boar; pārvata-
mountain). This is Giri Govardhana of Vṛndāvana.

Lord Varaha
A 1000 years ago, Jayadeva Gosvāmī lived here in Campahaṭṭa under the favour
of King Laxman Sena, the ruler of Nadia. He wrote the Dāsa Avatāra Stotra

21
here, and worshiped Lord Kṛśņa with rāga-bhakti. Campa means campaka
flower, and therefore this place, which is full of campaka trees, is called
Campahaṭṭa. Everyday Padmāvatī, Jayadeva’s wife, would bring heaps of
campaka flowers for worshiping Kṛśņa.

Srila Jayadeva Goswami

22
One day the Lord appeared before Jayadeva with a complexion of the colour of
the campaka flower, which is radiant like molten gold. His beautiful face defeated
the shining beauty of a million moons. He had curly hair, and a flower garland
around His neck. His arms were long, and His effulgence illumined the room.
Seeing that form of Gaurāņga, Jayadeva and Padmāvatī cried streams of tears
and fainted.

Lord Gauranga in Molten Gold Form

The Lord lovingly lifted them up and spoke nectarean words, ‘Soon I will take
birth in Nadia, take sannyāsa and live in Nīlācala. There, overcome with prema,
I will continuously taste your Gītā-govinda along with My intimate associates.
Now, both of you go to Nīlācala, where you will attain love of God by
worshiping Lord Jagannātha. Then you will again take birth in Navadvīpa.’
In this village there is a campaka forest from which the gopī Campakalatā
gathers flowers to make garlands for Rādhā-Mādhava. This place is
nondifferent from Khadiravana of Vraja, where Kṛśņa and Balarāma take rest.
(Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya)

23
 Campakalata Sakhi
“O Koladvīpa, be merciful to this worthless person. Allow me to reside in
Navadvīpa amongst the devotees and give me the right to the wealth of the
pastimes of Gaurāņga, who is my Lord in life and death.” (Navadvipa Bhava
Taranga)
6. Ṛtudvīpa (Represents Arcanam):
Ṛtu means spring, and because here the attractive spring season performs
eternal service to the Lord, this island is called Ṛtudvīpa. Nityānanda Prabhu
said this is the place of Rādhā-kuņḍa. As Rādhā-Mādhava spend Their
afternoons in Vraja’s Rādhā-kuņḍa relishing the pleasures of spring (and other
seasons), Gaurāņga would come here in the afternoons, immerse Himself in
kīrtana, and satisfy everyone by distributing vraja-prema.
Remembering Kṛśņa’s pastimes as a cowherd, sometimes Gaurāņga would
loudly call again and again the names of the cows, ‘Śyāmali! Dhābali!’ Gaurāņga
would then cry as He called out for Subala and Śrīdāma.
“When will I wander in Ṛtudvīpa, seeing the beauty of the forest and
remembering the Lord’s pastimes? Then I will become stunned as the pastimes
at Rādhā-kuņḍa manifest before my eyes.”

24
Vidyānagara:
At the time of pralaya, Matsya carried all the Vedas here. Bṛhaspati left his post
as the guru of the demigods, appeared in Gaura-līlā as Vasudeva Sārvabhauma,
taught school at Vidyānagara, and left for Jagannātha Purī to get the mercy of
Lord Caitanya.
Prayer to Vidyānagara tīrtha: “May the ignorance which hides the truth of Lord
Gaura’s pastimes never cover my mind. With that veil lifted, may I always
transcend and live far beyond the realm of Māyā’s illusion.” (Navadvipa Dhama
Mahatmya)
7. Jahnudvīpa (Represents Vandanam):
Jahnu Muni did tapasya here and got Lord Caitanya’s darśana. Once Jahnu Muni
swallowed the entire Ganges River, who then came out of his thigh (jahnu) to
appear as his daughter Jahnāvi (daughter of Jahnu). The Gaura-ārati song refers
to Gaņgā devī with this name: jāhnavī-taṭa-vane jaga-mana-lobhā, Lord
Caitanya’s beautiful form on the banks of the Jāhnavī (Ganges) attracts everyone
in the universe. Jahnudvīpa is non-different from Bhadravana of Vraja.”
(Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya)

Jahnu Muni Swallowing Mother Ganga

“Birth after birth I pray to become a blade of grass in the transcendental land of
Jahnudvīpa, which is worshiped by Indra. This would be my greatest joy.”
(Navadvipa Sataka)
8. Modadrumadvīpa (Represents Dasyam):
In the branches of the trees sit cuckoos who incessantly sing the glories of Lord
Gaurāņga, Sītā and Rāma.
25
In a previous kalpa, Lord Rāmacandra, Sītā and Lakśhmaņa stayed here.
Ayodhyā is situated here. It is non-different from Bhāņḍiravana of Vraja.

SitaRama and Lakshmana

“When will I wander about observing the splendour of the forest and suddenly
see the cottage of Lord Rāmacandra. Then I will see Rāma Himself, whose body
is the colour of durvā grass, and who is dressed like a brahmacārī, sitting with
Lakśhmaņa and Sītā. Seeing Rāmacandra’s enchanting form, I will fall
unconscious in the forest. I will be overwhelmed with love and unable to speak
as I drink the beauty of His form with my two eyes.
Lakśhmaņa will mercifully come slowly forward to give me some fruit and place
His feet upon my head. ‘My dear son, please eat this fruit. Living in the forest,
this is all we have to offer our guests.’ As he says this, the vision will disappear,
and I will weep as I begin to eat the fruit. In my heart I am thinking of that
inconceivable form. Will I ever see that greenish form of Rāma again?”
“O Bhāņḍīravana, land of transcendental gems, my heart weeps without end to
leave you! At that place, on the pretext of herding cows, Balarāma and Kṛśņa
performed many pastimes. In the same way, Gaurāņga performed pastimes here
in Modadrumadvīpa, becoming drunk with the sound of kīrtana in the company
of His friends.” (Navadvipa Bhava Taranga)
9. Rudradvīpa (Represents Sakhyam):
Here the 11 Rudras become stunned with love of Gaura as they dance blissfully
and chant the glories of the Lord. Meanwhile, the demigods pour down flowers
from the sky.
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 Eleven Rudras Dancing
Sankarācārya came here and saw Lord Caitanya. Pañcamukha Śiva, Durvāsā,
Aśṭāvakra, and Daṭṭatreya Munis worship Gaurāņga here.
One area called Pāraḍāņgā is Vṛndāvana. In this place one can see Vṛndāvana
pastimes, rāsa-maņḍala and Dhīra Śamīra of Vraja. Gaurāņga and His associates
would come here and perform kīrtana describing Rādhā-Mādhava’s rāsa-līlā.
Fortunate devotees see Lord Kṛśņa eternally residing here with the gopīs. All
the līlā-sthālis of Vṛndāvana are situated here. Make no distinction between
Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa, nor Kṛśņa and Gaurāņga.
Viśņuswāmī saw Lord Śiva here. Then Mahādeva named a new sampradāya
after himself, Rudra Sampradāya, and put Viśņuswāmī in charge. (Navadvipa
Dhama Mahatmya)

Sri Vishnu Swami – In-charge of Rudra Sampradaya

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In the following quotation, Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda describes a mystical
experience he had when he came to Rudradvīpa on parikramā. Ṭhākura
Bhaktivinoda sat next to a śiva-liņga to meditate on Gaurāņga’s lotus feet.
Sāyujya, the personified goddess of impersonal liberation, suddenly appeared
and the Ṭhākura fainted. Then Lord Śiva revived him, put his feet on Ṭhākura’s
head and said:
“Devotional service to Lord Kṛśņa is the essence of life; striving for jñāna,
karma, mukti, and yoga is useless. By my mercy you will conquer Māyā and
quickly attain the shade of Gaura’s lotus feet. To the south, see Śrī Pulina, which
is so enchanting. That is Vṛndāvana within Navadvīpa. Go there to witness
Kṛśņa’s pastimes. Soon you will attain Rādhā’s lotus feet.”
“After giving his instructions, Lord Śiva will disappear. Bowing down, I will
then move on, crying all the while. Viewing Śrī Pulina for some time, I will fall
unconscious to the earth with my voice choked and throat gurgling. During that
unconscious state of samādhi, a wonderful figure will appear performing her
constitutional service. I will recognize that it is I, Kāmala-mañjarī, an eternal
maidservant of Anaņga- mañjarī, the goddess of my heart.
Anaņga-mañjarī will introduce me to our own group-leader (Śrī Lalitā-sakhī)
and will give me the service of preparing camphor for Their Lordships. She will
reveal to me the confidential pastimes of the Divine Couple. We will go near Śrī
Pulina and see the Rāsa-maņḍala, where Gopendra-nandana Kṛśņa, surrounded
by a billion gopīs, steals the hearts of all by dancing with Śrī Rādhā, the Queen
of the rāsa dance.
Such graceful dancing does not exist anywhere within the material world! By
great fortune, whoever sees this pastime at once drowns in that nectar. And
whoever sees this divine dance in their own samādhi will be unable to give up
the happiness of that astounding sight! I will be incapable of describing that
sight, so I will lock it in my heart and gaze upon it eternally. In my own grove,
while cultivating that vision within my heart, I will constantly serve under the
direction of the sakhīs.
Anaņga-mañjarī, the younger sister of Rādhārāņī, will bestow her mercy upon
me and personally show me the Dhāma. We will go west of the Rāsa-maņḍala
to Śrī Dhīra-śamīra, and then a little further to Vaṁśī-vaṭa and the bank of the
Yamunā. Rūpa-mañjarī will question my mistress, Anaņga-mañjarī, who will
reply, ‘This new dāsī (maidservant) will be engaged under Lalitā-sakhī’s

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direction. Her name is Kāmala-mañjarī, and she is fixed in devotion to Śrī
Gaurāņga. Be merciful and give her spontaneous devotion to our Lordships.’
Hearing this, Rūpa-mañjarī will touch my body with her merciful hand,
suddenly imparting to me sublime spiritual emotions, and the intense desire to
worship in her footsteps. My complexion is like lightning, and my ornaments
and dress sparkle like the midnight stars. I will appear with a camphor tray in
my hand, and I will fall flat at her feet begging for the unalloyed shelter of Śrī
Rādhā’s lotus feet.
Rūpa-mañjarī and Anaņga-mañjarī will take me to the private grove of Lalitā,
the charming mistress of Svānanda-sukhada-kuñja, who is dwelling inside
meditating on the service of Rādhārāņī’s lotus feet. I will offer full obeisances at
her lotus feet, and Viśākhā will explain to her my identity, ‘This is one
inhabitant of Navadvīpa, who wants to serve you, and thereby serve the feet of
Rādhā and Kṛśņa.’
Lalitā will be very pleased and will say to Anaņga-mañjarī, ‘Give her a place
beside yours, and carefully arrange her desired service. Take her along when
you go to perform your service, and gradually she will receive the mercy of Śrī
Rādhā. Without Rādhā’s mercy, how can the service of Rādhā-Mādhava be
attained?’
Hearing Lalitā’s words, Anaņga-mañjarī will take me to her grove and make me
her own maidservant. She will show her affection by graciously allowing me to
accompany her when she goes to serve the Divine Couple. While performing my
service I will catch a glimpse of Rādhā and Kṛśņa in the distance. Then perhaps
Śrī Rādhā will show Her mercy by giving me an order and the shade of Her
lotus feet.
Remaining always engaged in that service; I will gradually become expert.
Thus, I will please Rādhā-Mādhava, who will sometimes give me Their
ornaments as a reward.” (Navadvipa Bhava Taranga)
“O feet, please walk in Rudradvīpa! O eyes, please gaze at Modadruma’s beauty.
O tongue please chant the glories of all the holy places of Lord Gaurasundara.
O limbs, with your hairs standing erect in ecstasy, please roll in the dust of the
transcendental pastime places of Lord Gaurāņga.” (Navadvipa Sataka)
“O Navadvīpa dhāma, give me your mercy, for without your mercy, how can
anyone attain the Lord’s dhāma? Please do not consider whether I am fit or not,
particularly in the service I have just done. I simply extracted the essence of the

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instructions of Jāhnava (Anaņga-mañjarī) and Nityānanda Prabhu, the holder
of all energies.” (Navadvipa Bhava Taranga)
6. Prayers to Sri Navadvīpa Dhama:
“Oh, when will I wander here and there weeping in the shade of the trees and
creepers along the banks of the celestial Ganges River in Navadvīpa? I will cry
out “Oh Rādhe! Oh Kṛśņa!” and will completely forget about all the so-called
pleasures of the material body.”

“When will I be able to live so simply by begging some food from the homes of
the untouchables? I will drink the water of the Sarasvatī river, and in ecstasy I
will roll about of the banks of the river, raising a loud uproar of “Kṛśņa!
Kṛśņa!”

“When will I bow down to all the inhabitants of the holy land of Navadvīpa
and humbly beg for a drop of their mercy? I will smear the dust of the
Vaiśhņavas’ lotus feet all over my body and will wander around wearing the
dress of a madman.”

“When will I make no distinction between the holy land of Gaura-maņḍala and
Vraja-maņḍala? At that time, I shall be transformed into a Vrajavāsī. Then I
will see the true form of the transcendental realm opening before my very eyes,
and I will thus become one of the maidservants of Śrīmatī Rādhārāņī.” (Gita
Mala)

“When will I, with the hairs of my body erect with joy and shedding profuse
tears of great love, roll about in the dust of Navadvīpa where Lord Gaurāņga
once walked?” (Caitanya Sataka)

“Alas... what sorrow I am expressing! When will I take the name of Gaurāņga
and become disgusted with sense gratification? When will I give up all bodily
endeavours for eating and sleeping? And when will I wander from village to
village in Śrī Navadvīpa dhāma, completely giving up my false ego? I will beg
madhūkarī from the homes of the dhāmavāsīs to fill my belly. Sometimes I will
walk to the bank of the Ganges. If I feel thirsty, I will drink the sacred water
that has washed the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya. If I feel tired, I will simply fall
under the nearest tree.”

“When I feel enough strength, I will give up my fatigue and continue walking
here and there. In a mood of humble submission, I will call out loudly the
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names of ‘Gaura-Gadādhara’ and ‘Rādhā-Mādhava.’ Thus, weeping and
weeping I will wander throughout the entire dhāma. Seeing a Vaiśhņava
devotee, I will fall at his feet, knowing him to be the only true friend of my
heart. Accepting me as his servant, the most revered devotee will then reveal
to me the most confidential kīrtana for worshiping the Lord.” (Kalyana Kalpa
Taru)

“May I continually reside in a small, lonely cottage at the base of a desire-tree

in the most holy abode of Śrī Navadvīpa dhāma, which is sanctified by the
lotus feet of Śrī Śacīnandana. Such a bhajana kuṭira is perfectly suitable for
constant remembrance of, and service to the divine daily sports that are always
present in Śrī Vraja dhāma. Indeed, in contrast to this, I will never live in any
other place, even if it is hankered for with great enthusiasm by the wisest sages
and demigods. As far as all other places in this world are concerned, none can
attract me as much as my modest bhajana kuṭira in Śrī Navadvīpa dhāma
does.” (Sri Svaniyama Dvadasakam)
“In Navadvīpa every home celebrates a great festival in honour of Bhakti-devī,
the goddess of devotion. Navadvīpa is sweeter than Vaikuņṭha. My heart finds
its happiness in the transcendental abode of Navadvīpa.”
“All glories to the lamp of Navadvīpa, which, shining with the oil of
transcendental love, destroys the darkness in the cave of the heart and
illuminates the barren, thorn-filled, impassable and treacherously winding path
that leads to the swiftly flowing nectar stream of the bliss of pure love of Kṛśņa.”
(Sri Caitanya Candramrta)
“May the Navadvīpa dhama, which is the crest jewel of all holy places, and the
resting place of all demigods, ṛśis, and the Vedas, and which is the principal
manifestation of the Lord’s sandhini potency (eternal existence), upon which His
cit and ānanda potencies reside, become visible to my eyes.” (Navadvipa Bhava
Taranga)
7. Sri Navadvīpa Dhama Meditations:
Śrīnivāsa Ᾱcārya, a disciple of Śrī Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī, regularly associated
with Narottama Dāsa Ṭhākura and Śyāmānanda Prabhu. Although he was
always travelling and preaching, he was very expert in meditation.
(1) The delightful abode of Navadvīpa, where all the 6 seasons abound in
lusciousness, is loved even by the demigods like Brahmā. Navadvīpa is always
beautified by various kinds of aromatic flowers, blooming plants and creepers.

31
Cuckoos and other birds forever fill the air with pleasing songs. Within
Navadvīpa there is a wonderful place known as Śrī Māyāpur which removes all
the sorrows of life.
One day Śrīnivāsa Ᾱcārya sat in a solitary place meditating on Lord Caitanya’s
pastimes in Navadvīpa. Within his love softened mind Śrīnivāsa could visualize
Lord Gaurasundara sitting upon a gorgeous throne surrounded by His dearest
followers. Absorbed in that wonderful sight of the Lord and His companions,
Śrīnivāsa began to lovingly apply sandalwood paste to the transcendental body
of Gaurāņga. He adorned the Lord with a garland of scented flowers. Then with
his heart melting in dedication, he began to fan the Lord with a cāmara.

Śrīnivāsa became overwhelmed with Gaura-prema as he drank the nectar from

the moon-like face of Gauracandra. Tears of pure love of Godhead flowed from
his lotus eyes, and his mind moved with waves of emotion as he fell to the ground
in a swoon. Pleased by the sincere service of Śrīnivāsa, Gaurahari gave His
garland to His dear devotee. The touch of these flowers sent Śrīnivāsa
swimming in an ocean of joy.
Upon regaining consciousness of the outer world, Śrīnivāsa was surprised to
find that the garland which the Lord had given him in his meditation was
hanging around his neck! The beauty and celestial fragrance of that garland was
beyond description. Bumblebees swarmed from all directions just to smell it. To
avoid recognition, Śrīnivāsa quickly tried to hide the garland, but someone
noticed it.
Although Śrīnivāsa was always absorbed in meditation on Lord Caitanya’s
pastimes in Navadvīpa, he tried his utmost to keep it secret. In a similar way, he

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also meditated on Rādhā-Mādhava’s pastimes in Vṛndāvana, and thus floated in
the pleasurable ocean of Vraja-rasa. (Bhakti Ratnakara)
(2) Bathed by the beautiful, purifying Ganges, whose waters are filled with
waves; its golden charming shores filled with beautiful blossoming trees and
vines, and freshened by gentle breezes; swans, lotus flowers and bumblebees
abound; where there are splendid holy places studded with jewels; and the dust
is decorated with the impression of Lord Gaura’s lotus feet-- shines the most
auspicious Śrī Navadvīpa dhāma-- which is a great flood of bliss, filled with
many kinds of flowers, fruits, trees and vines, served by great souls, and
vibrating with the sounds of many kinds of colourful birds, whose sweet songs
please the ear and heart.
Many brāhmaņas and pious people have their homes in the city of Navadvīpa.
There are beautiful courtyards, groves, gardens, and splendid pastime places.
The devotees are always celebrating various transcendental festivals. In every
home the deity of Lord Kṛśņa shines with great splendor.
Lord Gaurāņga Hari’s delightful place is encircled by a golden wall which
eclipses the sun’s effulgence. The palace has a grand entrance gate, a large
saņkīrtana courtyard, a tempḷe of Lakśhmī-Nārāyaņa, a kitchen, dining room,
bedroom and a rooftop balcony. The bejewelled palace has a roof of diamonds, 4
doors with 8 jewelled panels and awnings of rubies. In the middle of the palace
is a wonderful six-petal lotus decorated with mantras and yantras (mystic
patterns).
A brilliant siṁhāsana stands in the middle of the lotus. Its base and sides are
rubies, legs of sapphires and back of lapis lazuli. Wonderful pearls and other
first-class jewels cover the throne which holds soft, silk covered cushions. The
throne rests on an octagonal golden base inscribed with an eight-letter mantra
for meditating on Lord Hari. (Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya)
(3) I meditate on Śrī Navadvīpa, which eternally shines with great spiritual bliss
on the very charming shore of the purifying Ganges in Bengal.
I meditate on Śrī Navadvīpa, which some say is the spiritual sky of Vaikuņṭha,
some say is the realm of Goloka, and they who know the truth say is Śrī
Vṛndāvana.
I meditate on Śrī Navadvīpa, where in every direction are cooling breezes, and
many trees where Lord Gaura enjoyed His noon pastimes.
I meditate on Śrī Navadvīpa, where the waves of the great Ganges playfully
splash against the golden shores decorated with golden stairs.

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I meditate on Śrī Navadvīpa, where there are numberless beautiful golden
palaces, all the eternal homes of the goddess of fortune.
I meditate on Śrī Navadvīpa, where the people are glorified by the great sages,
demigods, Siddhas, and are filled with knowledge, mercy, tolerance, the results
of all Vedic yajñas, and the 6 great opulences.
I meditate on Śrī Navadvīpa, within which is the blissful home of Jagannātha
Miśra, opulent with Lord Gaura’s pastimes of His birth.
I meditate on Śrī Navadvīpa, where golden Lord Hari, by wandering everywhere
and chanting the holy name with great love in the company of His devotees,
plunged into the brilliant ocean of ecstatic love of God.
“May one who with a joyful heart reads these 8 verses full of meditation on Śrī
Navadvīpa Dhāma attain pure love for Śrīman Śacīnandana’s lotus feet.”
(Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya)
8. Parikramā of Sri Navadvīpa Dhama:
How to do it? Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura describes that one of the symptoms
of bhāva is to have affection for the places of the Lord’s pastimes.
When a devotee performs parikramā of Śrī Navadvīpa dhāma he will inquire in
the following way. “O residents of the Dhāma! Where is the birthplace of the
dear most master of our life? By which direction did the kīrtana party of
Mahāprabhu previously pass? Please tell me at which place Śrī Caitanya
Mahāprabhu used to perform His forenoon pastimes with the cowherd boys?”
The residents of Navadvīpa dhāma will reply, “This place where we are standing
is Śrī Māyāpur. Directly in front of us on that high place surrounded by a tulasī
grove is the very place of the most precious appearance of Śrīman Mahāprabhu.
Just see the villages of Gaņgānāgara, Simuliya, Gagigarha, Majidha, and others.
The incomparable saņkīrtana party of Śrīman Mahāprabhu used to pass through
these same villages.”
Hearing these sweet, prema-saturated talks from the mouths of the residents of
Navadvīpa dhāma, the devotee’s body will thrill with horripilation, his heart will
become overwhelmed with bliss, and tears will trickle from his eyes. In this way
he performs parikramā of all the pastime places of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
within Śrī Navadvīpa dhāma. This is called tad vāsati sthale priti, affection for
the places where the Lord performed His pastimes. (Jaiva Dharma)

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Circumambulation of Navadvīpa is ancient practice begun almost at the time of
Śrī Caitanya. The circumambulation of Śrī Navadvīpa dhama is not an
antiquarian performance for showing respect to a great historical personality.
Śrī Caitanya is Godhead Himself. Śrī Navadvīpa is the eternally transcendental
divine realm. Śrī Caitanya, His realm, and His activities are eternal, and capable
of being realized as such by devout pilgrims in their performance of the
circumambulation of the spiritual sphere, by the grace of those perfectly pure
souls who serve Śrī Caitanya in the spiritual realm.
The performance of the circumambulation of Śrī Navadvīpa under the guidance
of the sādhus is thus a purely spiritual function. The spiritual realm is realizable
in and through the words of the sādhu. The spiritual realm cannot be seen by
the mortal eye or touched by the hand of flesh. One must listen to the words of
the sādhu with the conviction that the words themselves are identical with the
object which they signify. True, the description of Śrī Navadvīpa dhāma in the
literary works penned by devotees who describe the Absolute Truth, is bound
to appear to the uninitiated as apparently opposed to the evidence of one’s
senses. (Harmonist, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura)
Śrīla Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura explains how to properly do parikramā.
“Blind with intoxication from drinking the nectar of Gaurāņga-prema, when
will I wander through Navadvīpa while singing, dancing, laughing, crying,
running, rolling on the ground and falling down unconscious.”
“Wandering in Navadvīpa is the greatest opulence, the highest perfection, the
essence of all regulative principles, the best form of worship, the most glorious
and most sweet of all oceans of sweetness.” (Caitanya Sataka)
9. Different Types of Parikrama in Sri Navadvīpa Dhama:
Nityananda Prabhu said to Jiva, “The order in which we have proceeded till
now is the authorized order of parikrama with the best effect. When Śri
Caitanya brought His associates to purify the Kazi with an evening kirtana
contingent of 14 mrdangas, His starting point was Mayapur. Through the
period of one night, which extended to one night of Brahma due to the sweet
kirtana, Gauranga wandered through His land. After that, every Ekādaśī tithi
My Lord went on sankirtana, wandering over the sacred islands. Sometimes
He wandered around within the 5 krośas of Antardvipa, and sometimes,
according to His desire, within the 8 krośas.”

“From His house, He went first to Bārakoņā ghāṭa, then around Ballal- dighi,
and then to Śrīdhara's house. From there, He would go to the edge of
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Antardvipa and thus easily complete a 5 krośa tour. From Simuliya, He would
go to the Kazi's house. After talking to Śrīdhara, He would go to Gādigāchā
(Godruma), and then to Mājidā (Madhyadvipa). Crossing the Ganga at that
point, on the other bank He would go up to Pāraśāngā and Chināśāngā, on the
bank of the Ganga. Then crossing the river again, He would return home,
completing the 8 krośas.”
“The complete parikrama is 16 krośas, and if that is done, the Lord is pleased.
There is no equal to this. Within this tour you will see all the 12 forests of
Vrndāvana which extend over 16 krośas. This tour ends after 9 nights and is
thus called navaratra-parikrama in the scripture. One does the 5 krośa
parikrama in one day, and the 8 krośa parikrama is completed after 3 nights.
The first night is spent in Māyāpur, the second night in Godruma, and the
third night at Pulina, on the opposite bank of the Ganges.”

Hearing this instruction on the method of parikrama, Jiva Mahāśaya could not
contain his love.
10. The Procedure for Parikrama of Sri Navadvipa Dhama:
All glories to Lord Caitanya, the moon of Navadvipa and son of Mother Saci!
All glories to Nityananda Raya, the Avadhuta!
All glories to Sri Advaita Prabhu!
All glories to Gadadhara and Srivasa Pandita!
All glories to Navadvipa-dhama, the essence of all dhamas, which advented
along with Gauracandra.
Now hear, brothers, of the places that I will describe within the 16 krosas of
Navadvipa-dhama.
There eternally exists 16 rivers within the 16 krosa area of Navadvipa. On the
eastern bank of the main Ganges are 4 islands and on the western bank there
are 5 islands. The different tributaries of the Ganges surround these islands and
give the dhama its splendour. The main Ganges always flows in the middle,
while other pious rivers flow in various tributaries. Near the Ganges flows the
beautiful Yamuna, and the Sarasvati flows within another river. East of the
Yamuna are the long streams of the Tamraparni, the Krtamala, and the
Brahmaputra. The Sarayu, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri, Gomati, and Godavari
flow swiftly throughout the breadth of Navadvipa. All these rivers intersect to
form the 9 different islands of Navadvipa.

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Following the desires of the Lord, sometimes the streams dry up, and then again
by His wish they flow with water; by the Lord's wish sometimes places become
covered with water, and by His wish they again become visible. In this way the
dhama endlessly enacts its lila, but the same dhama remains always manifest to
the fortunate living entity. If a devotee has an acute desire in his heart, all the
islands and rivers will be visible. By devotion, the dhama is sometimes visible in
dreams, meditation, or to the naked eye.
The island which lies at the junction of the Ganges and Yamuna is known in the
sastras as Antardvipa. Within Antardvipa lies the holy sanctuary of Mayapur,
where Lord Caitanya appeared. Know, devotees, that Mahavana. in the center of
Goloka, is none other than Mayapur of Navadvipa.
Svetadvipa, Vaikuntha, Goloka, and Vrndavana always reside in Navadvipa. By
the order of Gauracandra, the 7 holy cities: Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya
(Haridvara), Kasi, Kanci, Avanti (Ujjain), and Dvaraka, are always present in
their own places within Navadvipa. The city of Maya, at Gangadvara, has its
original form as Mayapur in Navadvipa-dhama, the glories of this place are
profusely sung in the scriptures.
That person who once visits Mayapur is easily freed from the bondage of maya
One who walks throughout Mayapur is freed from the influence of maya and the
repetition of birth.
North of Mayapur lies Simantadvipa. Sadhu and Sastra have explained the rules
of parikrama. After having darsana of Mayapur in Antardvipa, learned devotees
go to Simantadvipa. Next one should go south of Mayapur to Godrumadvipa,
then one should joyfully go to Madhyadvipa. After seeing these 4 islands on the
east bank, one should reverently cross the Ganges. Having walked around
Koladvipa at leisure, then take darsarna of Rtudvipa. After seeing the most
beautiful Jahnudvipa, go see Modadrumadvipa and then Rudradvipa. Then again
cross the Ganges and walk back to Mayapur. There, respectfully enter the
temple of Jagannatha Misra and Sacidevi and take darsana of the Lord. This is
the procedure of parikrama for all times. One who follows this practice will
obtain unlimited happiness.
Everyone considers the best time for performing parikrama is from the tithi of
Makara-saptami up to the full moon, or purnima of Phalguna. After finishing
the parikrama, fortunate persons take darsana at Mayapur on the birthday of
Lord Caitanya. Nitai and Caitanya bestow Their mercy and the shade of Their
lotus feet on those persons, who thus attain the qualification to execute
devotional service.

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Result of Doing Parikramā of Sri Navadvipa Dhama:
“Whoever walks around the 168 miles of Gaura mandala and completes a
Navadvīpa dhāma parikramā and then takes darśana of Māyāpur on Gaura
Pūrņima will receive the merciful shade of Śrī Śrī Gaura-Nitāi’s lotus feet, and
quickly attain the treasure of Gaura-prema.” (Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya,
Parikrama-khanda, Chapter Three)
Desiring to obtain the shade of the lotus feet of Jahnava and Nitai, Bhaktivinoda
reveals these truths.

xxxxx

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 I. ANTARDVIPA
1. Sri Antardvipa:

This island represents the devotional process of “Atma-nivedanam, the full

surrender to the Supreme Lord.”

“Let Krsna tightly embrace this maidservant, who has fallen at His lotus feet.
Let Him trample me or break my heart by never being visible to me. He is a
debauchee after all and can do whatever He likes, but He is still none other than
the worshipable Lord of my heart.”

Non-different From Gokula:

The petal island of Antardvipa in the lotus flower of Navadvipa dhama is non-
different from Gokula of Vrndavana. And in the center of Antardvipa is
Mayapur, which is non-different from Mahavana forest, the center of Gokula. It
is the smallest island and is in the center, just as the stamen of a lotus flower is
the smallest part of the flower and rests in the center.

2. Why Is This Island Named Antardvipa?

Antardvipa’s Secret Revelation:

Antardvipa was previously known as Atopur. 5000 years ago, Brahmä came here
to worship Lord Gauränga.

Once, 500 years ego, Isana Thäkura took Sriniväsa Äcärya, Narottama däsa
Thäkura and Rämacandra Kaviräja on Navadvipa Parikramä. Very early one
morning Isäna Thäkura brought them here and gave them the following
explanation as to why this place is known as Antardvipa.

During Dväpara-yuga Lord Sri Krsna was displaying His pastimes in Vraja.
Everyone including Brahmä was bewildered by the illusory energy of Lord Sri
Krsna.

Once Lord brahma saw Krsna, small coward boy, kill Aghasura, a demon so
powerful that even the demigods fled in fear of him. Brahma then saw
Aghasura’s soul merge into Krsna’s body. After this, Krsna sat down with His
cowherd boyfriends to take prasadam together. At first Brahma was thinking
Krishna was His worshipable Lord, Lord Narayana, but when he saw Krsna

39
taking the prasadam given to Him by his friends, Brahma knew this was not
Narayana. To test who Krsna was, Brahma stole all the calves and cowherd
boyfriends of Krsna by his yogic power and hid them in a cave.

But Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, immediately knew what
Brahmä had done. Lord Krsna wanted to teach Brahmä a lesson, so the Lord
instantly created, from His own transcendental body, the same number of calves
and cowherd boys. Thus, Lord Sri Krsna destroyed the pride of Brahmä.

Defeated by the Lord, Brahmä realized his mistake. He understood that he had
committed a great offense at the lotus feet of the Lord and so offered prayers to
the Lord and begged for forgiveness.

Lord Krsna out of His causeless mercy excused Brahmä, but Brahmä was not
yet satisfied. He thought to himself, “Because of my elevated position as Brahmä
I am very proud. Therefore, I have been deprived of Krsna-premä and enjoyment
of Krsna’s sweet vraja lilä. This position of Brahmä is useless. If I would take
birth as a cowherd boy I would very easily be able to serve Lord Sri Krsna, the
husband of the gopikäs. I could not develop the proper mood, and I dared to
steal the cows and cowherd boys. Due to pride in my elevated position, I fear
that I may again commit the same offense towards the Lord when He comes as
Lord Gauränga during the next yuga, Kali-yuga.” Once Brahmä was sitting
alone thinking to himself, “I do not see anyone else who can help me except Sri
Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahäprabhu will descend

40
during the first part of Kali yuga to bless the people of that yuga. If I worship
the Lord in Navadvipa dhäma then the Lord will fulfil my desire.”
Thinking like this Brahmä came to this place known as Ätopur in Navadvipa
dhäma and worshiped Lord Gauränga very jubilantly. After the completion of a
period of bhajana, the most merciful Lord Gauracandra appeared in front of the
four-headed Lord Brahmä. The Lord appeared there in His most captivating
form, attracting the living entities of the whole world. All ten directions were
dazzled by the effulgence of His transcendental body. The beauty of His body
defeated the beauty of Kandarpa (Cupid). He had a broad chest and long arms
extending all the way down to His thighs. His whole body was decorated with
many varieties of ornaments. His eyes extended up to His ears and His glances
were very wonderful. His face was more beautiful than millions of moons and
He had a slight smile on His face. There was no one who was not attracted to
Him.

When Brahmä saw the Lord of his life, he became very ecstatic and could not
control himself. His whole body started to tremble. He began offering many
prayers to the Lord as his eyes filled with tears. Brahmä fell at the lotus feet of
Lord Gauränga.

Seeing Brahmä in this condition Lord Gauränga, the son of Saci-devi, embraced
him and spoke to him with very sweet words, “Oh, Brahmä! I am very pleased
with your worship of Me. Now I have come to you to fulfil your desire.” By
hearing the sweet words of the Lord, Brahmä opened his eyes, fainted upon
seeing Lord Gauränga in front of him and fell on the ground at the lotus feet of
the Lord. The Lord placed His lotus feet on the head of Brahmä and thus Brahmä
gained transcendental knowledge and started to offer prayers to the Lord.

Brahmä said, “I am very wretched. Due to my proud nature, I have forgotten

Your lotus feet and became engrossed in material pleasures. The scriptures
describe me, Indra, Mahädeva and all the other devas as Your servants, but we
are not so fortunate to be Your pure devotees. That is why we sometimes
become influenced by Your illusory energy. I have passed the first parärdha of
my life (half of my life). I am concerned about how to spend the second half of
my lifespan. I am worried that I will become bahirmukha (averse, turning my
face away from You). I pray at Your lotus feet to kindly accept me as Your
associate in Your manifested pastime in this Kali-yuga when You will appear in
Nadia along with Your associates. Please bless me so that my pride of thinking
of myself as Brahmä will be removed and I will chant Your glories, constantly
staying in Your association. For this, kindly give me birth in a low family. I am
very proud. Kindly punish me in such a way that people will hate me. Remove

41
my terrible mentality and allow me to develop great attachment to Your holy
name. As You have bewildered me in Your previous pastime, please do not
bewilder me in this pastime. I want constant association of Your devotees and
to meditate on You always.” Lord Gauränga was very happy to hear Brahma’s
prayer.

He replied, “Let it be so. Let your desire be fulfilled. When I next manifest My
pastimes on earth you will take birth in the house of Yavanas (persons outside
of Vedic culture). At that time, you will be completely free from any pride. You
will be a great devotee and known as Haridäsa. You will feel very fallen and
humble. You will chant 3,00,000 holy names daily and at the time of leaving
your body you will have My darsana. By the power of your sädhana you will
enter My eternal abode Navadvipa dhäma at the end of your life.”

Srila Haridas Thakur – Incarnation of Lord Brahma

Hearing this from the Lord, Brahmä offered obeisances again and again. He
spoke very gently, “O my Lord! You are independent and transcendental to
everything. Who can understand Your heart? You have exhibited many
pastimes during Your previous incarnations. I do not know which special
pastimes You will exhibit when You appear in Nadia. It is no wonder that You
will deliver all the living entities. This is a very simple task for You. Please tell
me, I wish to hear whether You have any other special purpose for manifesting
Your pastimes in Nadia.”

Hearing the words of Brahmä and looking at him, the Lord spoke from His heart
(antar), saying, “O Brahmä! Please listen, I will tell you something from the
inner core of My heart (antar) but do not describe this fact anywhere in the
scriptures. I will manifest Myself accepting the mood of My devotee and relish
the mellows of devotion. I will manifest the most secret sankirtana, giving vraja
premä to all the devotees of all My other incarnations. Everyone will be a

42
follower of vraja-bhäva in the mood of mädhurya-rasa. My heart is bound by the
love of Sri Rädhikä and I will descend accepting the mood and bodily colour of
Srimati Rädhäräni. I will relish the same pleasure which is relished by Sri
Rädhikä in serving Me. From today you are accepted as My disciple, and you
will serve Me as Haridäsa.”

While saying this, the Lord’s heart became filled with love for Rädhäräni. His
eyes became flooded with tears due to the desire to fulfil three of His unfulfilled
desires of Krsna-lilä. The Lord was merciful to Brahmä and He informed him of
these unfulfilled desires.

Sri-rädhäyäh pranaya-mahimä
kidrso vänayaivä-svädyo yenädbhuta-madhurimä
kidrso vä madiyah saukhyam cäsyä
mad-anubhavatah kidrsam veti lobhät
tad-bhävädhyah samajani saci-garbha-sindhau harinduh

“Desiring to understand the glory of Rädhäräni’s love, the wonderful qualities

in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels
when She realizes the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord Hari, richly
endowed with Her emotions, appeared from the womb of Srimati Saci-devi, as
the moon appeared from the ocean.” (Sri Caitanya-caritämrta, Ädi-lilä 1.7)

The Lord again told Brahmä that he would see His pastimes in Navadvipa. After
revealing His heart (antar) in this way the Lord disappeared (antardhäna).
Therefore, people call this place Antardvipa.

Radha-bhava Gauranga

43
When Brahmä saw the Lord disappear in front of him he immediately fainted
due to separation and fell to the ground crying, “Hä Gauränga! Hä Dina-bandhu!
Bhakta-vatsala! When will I attain Your lotus feet?” After crying for some days
Brahmä went back to Brahmaloka to perform his duties. On this island Lord
Gauränga revealed the most confidential desire within His heart (antar) to
Brahmä therefore it is known as Antardvipa.

3. Sri Mäyäpur:

tvam hi mäyä hareh sakti-durghatana-patiyasi

cin-mayam antar-ädityam äcchädayasi sämpratam
tato mäyäpura-khyätir yoga-pithasya bhü-tale
praudhä mäyä tava khyätih sarvatra vartate priye

Lord Siva said to goddess Pärvati, “You are the mäyä potency of Lord Sri Hari
who is expert in making impossible things possible. In the form of the external
mäyä potency of the Lord you hide the sun-like Lord of Antardvipa from the
vision of materialistic people. Therefore Yoga-pitha is known as Mäyäpur (the
city of mäyä) on this earth planet. Mäyäpur is covered by mäyä so that non-
devotees or materialistic people cannot see the brilliant Lord. Dear goddess, you
are therefore famous as Praudhä Mäyä everywhere.” (Navadvipa Dhäma
Mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4.27-28)

Sri Mäyäpur is situated in the center of Antardvipa. The circumference of Sri

Mäyäpur measures 3.5 miles and the diameter measures just over one mile. In
his Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura glorifies Mäyäpur as
follows:

“To the south-west of Mäyäpur, the combined Gangä and Yamunä rivers praise
their own good fortune as they flow in the form of a serpent for rendering service
to Lord Gaura, the jewel of the twice born brähmanas. Upon the banks of the
Gangä are many different landing-steps for bathing (ghätas) and numerous
temples, housing many deities such as Praudhä Mäyä and Vrddha Siva, as well
as many groves and gardens. In Mäyäpur there are countless homes of the
brähmanas, wide avenues, courtyards, forests and temples of Lord Siva. Flowing
in the south-east are the incessant currents of the Sarasvati River. Upon her
bank is the sacred area known as Isodyäna, the Lord’s Garden. Why should the
fallen rascals of Kali yuga, bound up tightly by material illusion, have the
privilege of seeing all these eternal, fully spiritual, limitless treasures of the
divine realm? Mäyä has therefore hidden the dhäma by means of the erosive,

44
ever-changing nature of the 3 rivers Gangä, Yamunä and Sarasvati. Thus, the
eyes of a materialist can see only a shadow of the real Mäyäpur.

By the mercy of Sri Nityänanda, the possessor of all spiritual powers, may that
Mäyäpur be revealed unto my eyes imbued with proper reverence. May I, this
worthless fool, become truly fortunate to behold a vision of the household
pastimes of Sri Gauränga that eternally take place in this land. In the center of
the island called Antardvipa is the village of Mäyäpur, situated as the central
whorl of the 8 petalled lotus. That transcendental abode glows with a fair yellow
aura, it is resplendent with networks of effulgence and is supremely pure. May
this place always shimmer before my eyes. Wooded groves can be seen here and
there. Among them stands a lake called Prthu-sarovara, and many pastures for
grazing the cows. Oh, how beautiful these places are to behold! There are many
water canals, partitioned grain fields, and wide main roads lined with bakula,
kadamba, and many other types of large trees.” (Navadvipa Bhäva Taranga)

4. Yogapitha:

Antardvīpa is the center of the universe and in the center of Antardvipa is

Yoga Pitha. In the center of Yoga Pitha is the house of Jagannatha Misra
where that same Krsna who appeared in Vrndāvana as the son of Nanda
Mahārāja in a vaisya community, appeared as Lord Caitanya as the son of
Jagannatha Misra in a brāhmaņa community.

The appearance place of the Lord is known as Yoga-pitha and is situated at the
very center of Mäyäpur. “Yoga” means connection; “Yoga pitha” means the place
45
where the Lord connects Himself to this earth or descends to this earth. This is
the home of Jagannätha Misra.

A Transcendental Meeting Place:

Another meaning of Yoga Pitha is 'meeting place,' for it is the place where all
the Lord's associates met with Caitanya Mahaprabhu to take part in His
Navadvipa-līlā.

Although appearing in this world in places other than Māyāpur, by the Lord's
own desire everyone gradually came here taking up their respective roles.
Elders such as His parents, Advaita Ācārya, Śrīvāsa Pandita, Śrīdhara,
Candrasekhara, etc., appeared before Śri Caitanya Mahāprabhu, whereas His
friends and contemporaries, such as Gadadhara Pandita, Murari Gupta,
Mukunda, Svarūpa Damodara, etc., appeared around the same time. This area
was the center of all of Lord Caitanya's childhood and boyhood pastimes until
the time He took sannyāsa and left Māyāpur.

In 1893, Bhaktivinoda Thakura established Yoga Pitha as the actual site of

Lord Caitanya's appearance. He personally collected the funds to purchase this
land and built a small temple here. This was completed in 1906 at which time
he also installed the deities of Gaura-Nārāyaņa and His two wives,
Lakśhmīpriyā and Vişhnupriyā. Bhaktivinoda Thākura's son and spiritual
successor, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Thakura, built the present temple in
1934. It was inaugurated on Gaura-Pūrņimā day in 1935 at which time
Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Thakura installed the remaining deities on the left

46
and right altars.

There are two reasons why Lord Gauränga was given the name Nimäi by the
neighbourhood ladies:
1. Because He took birth under a neem tree.
2. Prior to the birth of Mahäprabhu, many children of Saci-mätä were taken
away by Yamaräja (in other words, they had died). Neem tastes bitter; thus, the
ladies concluded that if they named this boy Nimäi, which is the same as neem,
then Yamaräja would not take the boy away as He would taste bitter to him.

Yogapitha Practical Guide:

Darsana Times: 8.30-11.00 a.m. and 3.30-8.00 p.m.

Directions:

Turn right outside the main gate of ISKCON and proceed down
Bhaktisiddhänta Road for 1km. Yoga pitha is on the right side of the road and
has an ornate main gate.

47
Presiding Deities:

When you enter the Yoga-pitha compound via the main gate from the road, you
will see a shrine dedicated to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura on your right side. On
the left there is a shrine dedicated to Sakhi Carana däsa Bäbäji Mahäräja, who
had helped financially with the construction of the main temple at Yoga pitha.

When you proceed further into the property, you turn left and enter the main
temple which has a 100 feet-high tower.
There are 3 altars in the temple:

1. On the left altar stand Sri Sri Rädhä-Mädhava, Sri Gauränga Mahäprabhu.

2. On the central altar there are deities of Lord Caitanya as Gaura Näräyana
with His two wives, Vishnupriyä and Lakshmipriyä, along with a small four-
armed deity of Adhoksaja Vishnu. This deity was discovered in 1934 by Srila
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkura during the excavation for the temple.
Adhoksaja Vishnu was the worshipable deity of Jagannätha Misra, and He sits
in front of the deity of Gaura Näräyana. He is black in colour and about 8 inches
tall with 4 arms holding the symbols of Lord Vishnu: disc, club, conch shell, and
lotus. On the sides of this deity are goddesses Lakshmi-devi and Bhü-devi.

3. On the right altar is the Panca tattva, and in front of Them is a deity of Lord
Jagannätha.

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 Adhoksaja Vishnu Deity

After walking straight through the darsana area, a few steps to the right of the
main altar, you will see a small hut and a neem tree towards your right. Under
this tree Lord Visvambhara took birth on the evening of pürnimä-tithi during
the month of Phälguna (February March) in 1486. This present tree is said to
be a cutting of the original tree. To mark the birthplace there is a small mud hut
next to the tree with deities of Lord Caitanya’s father, Jagannätha Misra, and
His mother, Saci-devi, holding baby Nimäi on her lap. This is a reconstruction
of Jagannataha misra’s house that Nimai grew up in.

49
10 meters (30 feet) north from the appearance place (directly behind the mud
hut) is a small temple with two Siva-lingas. The smaller one on the left is
Gopisvara Siva who admits one to the Lord’s service. The larger one on the
right is Kshetra-päla Siva who is the protector of the dhäma. It is recommended
that the devotees pray to these deities at the beginning of their parikramä (or of
their stay in Mäyäpur) that the dhäma and Gaura-premä be revealed within their
hearts.

Gopisvara-siva and Kshetrapala-siva

In front of the main temple sanctuary there is a big kirtana hall, and at the rear
of that hall are deities of Lakshmi Nrsimha and Gaura Gadädhara installed by
Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura.

Sri Lakshmi-Nrsimha Sri Gaura-Gadadhara

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Next to the temple complex, to the southern side of the main temple, is Gaura
kunda, which has been compared in its glories to Radha kunda and Syama kunda
in Vrndavana. Srila Bhaktisiddhanata Sarasvati Thakura excavated it in 1920.

Gaura Kunda
5. Lord Caitanya's Pastimes at Yogapitha:

1. His Appearance and Names:

It was 1486 in the month of Phalguna (February-March) and Nadia vibrated

with the tumultuous sound of the chanting of "Hari! Hari!" which penetrated
the material universe up to Brahmāloka and heralded the appearance of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. It was a lunar eclipse and everyone, even the
impious and atheists who had never chanted the name of God, found
themselves going to the Ganga and chanting the names of the Lord as if
compelled by some imperceptible force. By His own sweet will, the Supreme
Lord, who incarnated as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to inaugurate the
sankirtana movement, appeared amid the loud chanting of His own names.

51
The demigods danced and sang in joy beating their dundubhi drums and
blowing their conches, flutes, and horns to proclaim the arrival of the Supreme
Lord. Along with their wives, they disguised themselves as humans and
intermingled with the many Vaishnavas who came to see the newborn child of
Jagannatha Misra and Sacimată.

Nilambara Cakravarti, Sacīmātā's father, saw all the 32 divine symbols on the
body of his grandson. He read the astrological calculations for the time of birth
but became more overwhelmed the more he tried to explain the unlimited
glories he saw in the chart. An elevated saintly person was present dressed as a
brāhmaņa. He predicted, "This child is the Supreme Lord, Narayana Himself.
He will establish the essence of all religions. He will initiate a wonderful
preaching movement and deliver the whole world. Even stubborn atheists will
worship His feet."

Sacimată named her new son Nimai because He was born under a neem tree.
Sită Devi, Advaita Acarya's wife and eternal consort, also named Him Nimai to
protect Him from ghosts and evil spirits. The ladies named Him Gaurahari
because of His beautiful golden complexion and His father named Him
Gauranga. When Nimai was 6 months old, Sacīmătă noticed divine signs on
His lotus feet. Seeing this Nilambara Cakravarti immediately called all the
brahmaņas and held a festival for Nimai's nāma-karaña (name-giving)
ceremony. Recalling the extraordinary predictions in his grandson's chart,
Nilämbara Cakravarti said, "In the future this child will protect and maintain
the whole world. For this reason, He is to be called Visvambhara."

52
Childhood Games:

As a child, Nimai cried a lot and would not stop until the ladies sang "Hari,
Hari," and clapped their hands. His golden ankle bells tinkled as He kicked His
legs while on Sacimata's lap and as He took His first faltering steps while
learning to walk. Being promised sweets and kşira, the ladies coaxed Nimai to
dance for them. That same Supreme Lord who is unapproachable even by great
sages and demigods, danced awkwardly on His short chubby legs and smiled
sweetly at the ladies as they chanted "Hari" and clapped their hands.

Once while Sacimătă was resting with Nimai on the bed, she suddenly saw foot
soldiers coming into her room. Many demigods followed and they took Nimai
from her lap and placed Him on a wonderful, jewelled asana. They bathed Him
and worshiped Him and proceeded to offer Him obeisances and prayers. The
demigods chanted, "All glories to Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the universe.
All glories to the supreme maintainer. In Kali-yuga this boy will maintain us.
O Visvambhara, we fall at Your lotus feet and beg You, please bestow upon us
the rare treasure of vraja-rasa." Fearful for Nimai's safety, Sacīmātā sent Him
to His father so He could sleep peacefully and not be disturbed by what she
thought was a dream. This increased her bewilderment even more as she heard
ankle-bells ringing on Nimai's feet when He was not wearing any.

When Jagannatha Misra and Sacimâtă were out of the house, Nimai would
scatter wheat, rice, dahl. milk, etc. all around. He would then lie on the floor
and cry as if in fear when He heard His parents returning. Sacimātā would
take Nimai into her arms and in anxiety pray for His protection from the
demon who had caused such havoc in their house. There was no limit to the
joy of Sacimată as she gazed upon the beautiful golden face of her son.

53
One day Nimai saw a big snake while He was crawling around in the front
yard of the house. He grabbed it and then lay down upon the coils of the snake.
Everyone called out, "Garuda!" and prayed to Krsna to save their Nimai.
Hearing this commotion, the snake (who was Ananta-Sesa) slithered away.
Nimai tried to catch the snake again, but the ladies quickly picked Him up and
began chanting prayers for His protection.

At one year of age, Jagannatha Misra held the anna-prăşana ceremony for
Nimai to see what His tendency was. Items such as rice and gold were placed
next to the Srimad Bhagavatam. Jagannatha Misra encouraged His son to
choose whatever He wanted and became elated to see Nimai take the Srimad
Bhagavatam and hold it to His chest. Everyone exclaimed He would be a great
scholar.

Little Nimai played games with Sacimata. Hiding Himself, Nimai would call
out, "You can't see Me!" Sacimată, pretending to look elsewhere, answered
back. "I can't see You! Where are You my dear boy!" At this little Nimai would
come running out, grab Sacimata's sari and jump up and down in childish glee.
Once Nimai was angry and hit Sacimata with His little hand. Sacimată
pretended to faint and Nimai, alarmed at this, began to cry. The ladies told
Him to bring a coconut to make His mother better. Nimai immediately
appeared with two coconuts in His hands and Sacimätä was miraculously
revived. She took Nimai onto her lap and consoled Him by smothering His
golden lotus-like face with kisses.

Once Sacimată gave Nimai some nice sweets to eat but He began to eat dirt
instead. He then protested when Sacimātā tried to stop Him. He said there was
no difference between the sweets and dirt or even the body and dirt because

54
everything is just a transformation of dirt. Sacimată easily defeated this
monistic proposition. She told Nimai, "My dear boy, if we eat earth
transformed into grains, our body is nourished and becomes strong. But if we
eat dirt in its crude state, the body becomes diseased instead of nourished, and
thus it is destroyed." Nimai happily accepted this philosophical truth and
climbed onto Sacimāta's lap to drink her milk.

As Nimai grew and could walk, He moved about at will. He was so restless
that no one could catch Him. He ate whatever He saw and, along with His
friends, went into neighbouring houses to steal things, to eat some food, or if
there was nothing else to do, to pinch the baby and make it cry. People were
irresistibly attracted to Nimai and upon seeing Him would spontaneously give
Him bananas and sandesa. Nimai would then run home with these goodies to
give them to the ladies who chanted "Hari, Hari," for Him.

Another time two thieves saw Nimai running around freely, wearing golden
bangles and ornaments. They said, "Come dear child, we have to take You
home now." "Yes, let's go," replied Nimai as He happily climbed up onto the
shoulders of one of the thieves. The thieves gave Nimai some sandesa to eat as
they hurried towards their hideout assuring Him they were almost at His
home. Happy with their success, they soon arrived 'home' and put Nimai down
in great eagerness to steal His gold ornaments. But Nimãi quickly ran inside
His house to the overwhelming joy of His parents who were frantic at not
being able to find Him. Meanwhile outside, the thieves suddenly realized they
were not at their hideout but had indeed brought the child to His home. They
then fled in fear.

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One day a brahmana became a guest in Jagannatha Misra's house. The
brahmana cooked for his Gopala deity two times but each time Nimai appeared
and ate the offering. Angered by Nimai's improper behaviour, Jagannatha
Misra locked Him in a guarded room and begged the brahmana to cook for a
third time. Nimai, however, appeared before the brahmana again, and again ate
his offering but then revealed Himself to the brahmana as Krsna. Nimai said,
"You are My servant birth after birth; therefore, I have appeared before you.
No one other than My servants can see Me as I am. I have made My
appearance where the congregational chanting of Lord Krsna's holy name has
already begun, and I will initiate the propagation of that chanting throughout
the world. I will freely distribute to every house the process of loving
devotional service to the Supreme Lord which is so fervently desired even by
Lord Brahmä and other elevated personalities."

56
Jagannatha Misra had Nimai's head shaved for the first time in the traditional
Sri Cudakarna ceremony. After that, the Karna bodha ceremony marked the
beginning of His formal education. Nimai learnt the Bengali alphabet
immediately and spent many hours writing the different names of Krsna in
great joy.

Boyhood Pranks:

Nimai continued to permeate His pastimes with the sounds of His own holy
name. Sometimes He threw tantrums and would not be pacified until He heard
kirtana. One time even kirtana could not pacify Him. He cried saying He
wanted to eat the offerings of Jagadisa Pandita and Hiranya Pandita and
nothing else. These two eternal associates of Lord Caitanya were close friends
of Jagannatha Misra. They were astonished to hear of Nimai's request for they
lived a couple of miles away so how could He have known that they had just
made a special offering to their Krsna deity! Amazed at Nimai's spiritual
insight, they happily brought everything for His pleasure. Nimai ate their
prasādam in great glee, dancing and singing His own names.

Nimai played many games with His friends. In one game called markata kela,
they imitated monkeys by standing on one leg. Once while Nimai was playing
this game, Sacimâtă heard that Nimai was playing too near the Ganga. She
took a stick and rushed there to chastise Him. Nimai was standing on one leg
when He heard His mother coming in an angry mood and calling out to Him
in a threatening voice. He quickly ran away in fear and Sacimată chased Him
yelling, "Catch Him! Catch Him!" but Nimäi easily outran His mother.

In another game Nimai teased Sacīmātā by repeatedly telling her He could not
hear what she was saying. In eagerness, Sacimătă would speak louder and
louder, but Nimai kept saying He could not hear her. Finally, in utter
exasperation, Sacīmâtă chased Nimai with a stick, but He just ran away
laughing.

Another time Nimai and His friends found a litter of small puppies and began
playing with them. One boy was upset that Nimai had taken the best puppy for
Himself so when he saw Sacimätä he told her what Nimai was doing. Sacimātā
was horrified. She ran home and saw Nimai had brought one of the puppy’s
homes and was playing with it along with His friends. "Visvambhara! What
are You doing? I simply cannot understand Your behaviour. What will people
say if they see You playing with a dog? This behaviour does not befit a
brahmana's son." Upon seeing the innocent and surprised face of her son,
Sacimata's anger subsided, and she told Him to go and bathe and then come
back for lunch. Nimai tied the puppy to a chair and said, "Mother, please watch
My puppy while I take a bath." When Nima left, Sacimată untied the puppy
57
and sent it away. Returning home from bathing in the Ganga, Nimar ran to see
His puppy but saw that it was gone. Nimai was very upset and angry with
Sacimātā but He soon forgot everything when she smothered Him with sweet
words, hugs, and kisses. The puppy was later seen dancing ecstatically and
chanting "Radhe! Krsna!," its body exhibiting ecstatic symptoms. The dog then
left its body and went back to Goloka Vrndāvana on a celestial chariot.

School Days:

Each day when school had finished, Nimai led His friends in teasing the
students at other schools and quarrelling with them. The boys threw words,
ink and dust at each other during these confrontations which often turned into
fighting and wrestling with one another. Nimai looked most enchanting
covered in ink and dust. He loved to play in the waters of Ganga and spent
many hours there. He played many tricks on the young girls who came to
bathe or do pūjā there, as well as on the brahmaņas when they chanted their
Gayatri mantras.

Viśvarupa Leaves Home:

When Nimai told Sacimätä that she must follow Ekadaşı, He spoke with such
sobriety that she immediately accepted His instruction. At the same time
however, when Jagannatha Misra and Sacimată gave Nimai proper correction,
He would respond by being twice as naughty as before. This would make
Jagannatha Misra and Sacimată quite exasperated in their attempts to train
their son. Then again, in front of His elder brother, Visvarupa, Nimai always
behaved in a humble and respectful way. Višvarūpa was absorbed in devotional
service to Krsna and hearing sastra in the association of devotees, especially
from Advaita Äcărya. He knew nothing other than this and was completely
unaware of household matters. All the Vaishnavas relished Visvarūpa's
association and heard him speak krsna-kathā.

One day Visvarūpa overheard his parents making plans for his marriage which
made him very morose. A few days later he renounced material life and took
sannyāsa. He received the name of Sri Šańkaranārāyaņa. Upon receiving this
news, Jagannatha Misra and Sacimātā wailed piteously. Nimai fell
unconscious. All the Vaishnavas lamented deeply for the loss of Visvarupa's
association. Nimai now began to restrain His uncontrolled behaviour and
became serious and sober. He stayed with His parents all the time to console
them in their grief.

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Student Days - Fun and Tragedy:

Nimai was serious about His studies after Visvarūpa left home and although
this greatly pleased Sacimātā, Jagannatha Misra was very apprehensive. He
decided to end Nimai's education, reasoning that if Nimai continued He would
become like Visvarūpa and leave to take sannyāsa. Sacimätä fretted, "Who will
give their daughter in marriage if He is uneducated!" "Whatever is ordained
will happen by Krsna's will regardless of education," replied Jagannatha Misra,
"Just see, I am educated but very poor."

Free from His school duties, Nimai returned to His previous restless behaviour
and played many pranks with His friends. Sometimes they would hide one of
their friends and tell the boy's parents he had been kidnapped. While the
parents were out looking for their son, Nimai would enter their house and steal
sweets for His friends. At other times they would put a blanket over
themselves, so they looked like a bull. This 'bull' would then raid a neighbours
banana patch and enjoy eating the stolen bananas. They used to lock people
inside their houses, which would make them very angry as they could not get
out of the house, even to go and pass stool."

One day when Jagannatha Misra was away from home, Nimai went and sat on
top of the discarded clay pots that had been used for cooking. Sacimātā was
very upset. "You are a brahmana's son. You know better than/to be in a
contaminated place." At first Nimai spoke the Absolute Truth to Sacimată,
telling her that the pots were used to cook for Vişhnu so they can never be
considered contaminated. Sacimata's anger was not appeased. "You do not
allow Me to study," protested Nimai. "How can you expect Me to know the
difference between clean and unclean. It is all the same to Me. I am just an
illiterate brahmin." Nimai, most unhappy with His father's decision to end His
education, refused to move away from the dirty cooking pots until He was
allowed to resume His studies. Although charmed by the sight of her beautiful
golden son covered in black soot from the pots, Sacimätä still took hold of
Nimai and made Him go and take a bath in the Ganga. Jagannatha Misra's
neighbours were shocked to hear that he had stopped Nimai's education, and
he finally relented under the sway of their pleas.

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Now around the age of 8, Nimai joined the school of Ganga dasa Pandita.
Amongst His classmates were Gadadhara Pandita, Mukunda, Svarūpa
Damodara and Jagadananda Pandita. Nimai very quickly became the topmost
student whom no one could defeat. On His way home from school, He would
go to the different ghäțas along the bank of Ganga and challenge other
students with questions on grammar, composition and logic. After establishing
His own argument, He would defeat it and then re-establish it again based
upon different arguments. These challenges would turn into quarrels and
fights of throwing mud on each other, wild wrestling, and scuffling, making
the waters of Ganga very muddy. Returning home, Nimai would bathe,
worship Lord Vişhnu, water tulasi, eat prasādam, and then sit down in a quiet
place to study.

At 9 years of age, on the day when all the planets were favourably situated,
Nimai received His brähmana thread. The brahmanas chanted mantras, music
played and all the Vaishnavas sang the names of Krsna in great joy. With a
stick in His hand and a cloth bag hanging over His shoulder, Nimǎi went door
to door begging alms. Everyone was overjoyed to give some alms. Even
Sarasvati and Pärvati, along with the wives of great sages, came dressed as the
wives of brahmins so they could also give alms to the beautiful brahmana boy
who looked exactly like Vamanadeva.

Jagannatha Misra's heart floated in an ocean of parental love seeing His son's
incomparable beauty and charming nature, and upon seeing His son studying
His books.

One day Jagannatha Misra told Sacimata of a dream he had the previous night.
He saw Nimai wearing beautiful saffron robes of a sannyasi. Advaita Acarya
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and other devotees were dancing around Nimai and offering Him wonderful
praises. This kirtana suddenly changed and he saw millions of people following
Nimai in kirtana to Jagannatha Puri. Sacimată consoled her husband by saying
it was only a dream. A few days after this, Jagannatha Misra suddenly became
very sick and left his body. Sacimata was mortified and remained alive only
because of the attention and care Nimai gave her. Although personally
overcome from the loss of His father, Nimai restrained His grief for the sake of
His mother.

Viśvambhara Gets Married:

One day when Visvambhara was 14 years of age, He visited the asrama of Sri
Vanamali. While they were talking together in the front yard of Vanamali's
house, Visvambhara looked up and saw Lakshmipriya as she was going to
Ganga with her friends. Glancing at her, Visvambhara realized why He had
appeared. Lakşhmipriya also recognized her eternal consort and internally
accepted Visvambhara's lotus feet on her head. Meanwhile Sacimătă also
noticed that Nimai had become a handsome young man and began thinking of
His marriage. Just then, Sri Vanamali Acărya went to Sacimătă and suggested
the daughter of Vallabhācārya, Lakşhmipriya, as Nimai's wife. Everyone
accepted this arrangement, and a grand festival ensued attended by demigods
disguised as humans, brahmaņas chanting mantras, and musicians. The ladies
ululated in joy at the beautiful sight of Nimai and Lakshmipriya on their
palanquin. "They are either Indra and Saci or Lord Madhava and Rati," said
one lady. "No," commented another, "They must be Lakshmi and Narayana."
Meanwhile Sacīmātā pondered how her new daughter-in-law must be Lakshmi
devi herself as all of her previous suffering and poverty had vanished."

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Viśvambhara, The Arrogant Scholar:

The Supreme Lord relished His pastimes as a precocious scholar while keeping
His real identity concealed. Nimai, now the topmost graduate student, taught
His own students in the front yard of the houses of Mukunda and Sañjaya.
Panditas. Along with His students, He paraded all over Navadvipa in a proud
and cocky manner flaunting His unsurpassable knowledge and wit. He derided
the scholars of Navadvipa and issued challenges to them. Fearing defeat, none
dared to go near Him. The Vaishnavas, not wanting to be caught up in an
endless and non-devotional debate, would avoid Nimai by running in the other
direction whenever they saw Him. Nimai joyfully boasted to His students and
disciples, "I know why he is running away from Me. He talks only of Krsna
while I speak on mundane topics. Just wait. I will become the most famous
Vaishnava and those who are now running away will sing My glories." "

Meanwhile the Vaishnavas lamented Visvambhara's formidable pride and

arrogance and they prayed to Krsna for His deliverance. "Where are you going
now my dear epitome of vanity!" asked Srivasa Pandita. "What futile work are
you wasting Your time on instead of worshipping the Lord? What is the use of
education and knowledge if devotional service is not the goal! From now on do
not waste even a single moment in futile activities. Use all Your time for
worshiping Krsna." "O respected brahmaņa," replied Nimai offering utmost
respect to His elder, "I am sure that by your grace devotional service to Krsna
is possible even for Me."

One day, on the pretext of being sick with a wind disorder, Nimai started
rolling on the ground and behaving wildly. Sacimătă was frantic and, along
with the Vaishnavas, put different oils on Visvambhara's head to cure Him.
They prayed to Krşņa for His protection. "I am the Lord of the entire
universe," yelled Visvambhara. "I am the maintainer and holder of the
universe, and My name is Visvambhara. I am the same Supreme Personality
who is the Lord of all spiritual planets, but none of you know Me." Even after
openly revealing His real identity as the Supreme Lord, no one understood the
purport of Visvambhara's words. Now dripping in oil, Visvambhara just sat
there laughing while His devotees continued their efforts to cure Him."

Isvara Puri Defeats Viśvambhara:

Isvara Puri came to Navadvipa around this time. Although dressed as an

ekadandi (maya vadi) sannyasi, the Vaishnavas quickly recognized him as a
great devotee. Išvara Puri's heart overflowed with Krsna-prema and the
Vaishnavas burst into spontaneous kirtana being overjoyed in his association.
Nimäi met Isvara Puri every evening and they discussed and debated together.
Isvara Puri's affection for Nimai grew rapidly. "I know You are a great

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scholar," said Isvara Puri, "I have written a book on Krsna's pastimes (Krsna
Lilamrta) and I want You to check it for any mistakes." Nimai protested,
"Whatever you have written is an expression of your love for Krsna. Whoever
has the audacity to find any discrepancy in it is a great offender."

Later Nimai pointed out to Isvara Puri the incorrect use of a verb in a poem.
Isvara Puri was an erudite scholar, and he carefully checked the usage of the
verb. The next day he told Nimai that the verb was correct according to
grammar and sāstric conclusions. Visvambhara, the Supreme Lord, in His
pastime as the unrivalled king of scholars, enjoyed being defeated by His dear
devotee. Isvara Puri left Navadvipa after spending 7 months in Mäyäpur.
Krşna-prema was surging within his heart, compelling him to keep on
traveling and preaching.

Lessons in Bangladesh:

Visvambhara visited Bangladesh telling Sacimătă He was going to earn wealth

to support His family obligations. He spent 2 months there teaching the people
who eagerly flocked to hear Him. As he was about to leave, a brahmana,
Tapana Misra, approached Visvambhara. His heart was perplexed by an
unanswered question, "Of all the paths described in the sastras, which path is
the perfect spiritual path?" Visvambhara consoled him by instructing,

harer näma harer näma

harer nämaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nästy
eva nästy eva gatir anyatha

"The name of Hari, the name of Hari, the name of Hari is absolutely the only
way, the only way, the only way of salvation in this age of Kali. There is no
other way, there is no other way, there is no other way."

Meanwhile at home in Navadvipa, Lakşhmipriya found the pangs of separation

from her Lord to be too much for her. Although externally it appeared that she
died from a snakebite, internally she entered meditation on Krsna's lotus feet
and returned to her Lord. The joy of Vişvambhara's return was overshadowed
by the news of the death of His wife. After expressing His grief, Visvambhara
gave solace to Sacīmātā by explaining the temporary nature of one's existence
in the material realm.

Visvambhara continued to teach His students. After some time Sacimātā

requested Nimai to remarry. Vişhnupriya, the daughter of Sri Sanatana Misra,
was extremely beautiful, pious, and highly qualified. Everyone was most
delighted with this arrangement and so the auspicious time was chosen for the
63
ceremony. Sri Bhuddimanta Khan paid for the wedding, which was performed
in great opulence. Visvambhara personally gave out gifts and served the large
numbers of brahmaņas and other guests who included the demigods and their
wives disguised as humans.

Initiation and Krsna-Prema in Gaya:

Visvambhara travelled to Gaya-dhama to perform the sraddha ceremony for

His father. On the way, He noticed that one of the brahmanas travelling with
Him was criticizing the local brahmaņas of Gaya on account of not
understanding their customs. To teach him a lesson, Visvambhara enacted the
pastime of developing a fever. He said the only treatment was to drink the
water used to bathe a brahmana's feet. When Visvambhara did this, His fever
immediately disappeared. The brahmana, understanding his mentality was
offensive, begged forgiveness. Visvambhara instructed him by saying, "Don't
criticize the brahmanas of this country for they are worshippers of
Madhusūdana (Krsna). One cannot be a brāhmaṇa unless he worships the
Supreme Lord Krsna. The Puranas state, 'Even if a person is born of a candala
caste, if he has devotion for Lord Vişhnu, he is superior to a smarta-brāhmaņa.
But a brāhmaṇa devoid of Vişhnu-bhakti is lower than a candāla."

Visvambhara performed the last rites for His father and visited many holy
places. At Brahmā Kunda, Visvambhara took darsana of the footprint of Lord
Vişhnu.

64
 Right-foot Print of Lord Vishnu at Vishnupada Temple

He sat amongst the assembled brähmaņas and listened to them glorify the
Lord's lotus feet. He felt waves of ecstasy overtake Him. Tears flowed from His
eyes and His body shivered in spiritual bliss. Thus, Lord Gauracandra began
to manifest bhakti, devotional service to Himself for the deliverance of all of
mankind.

The next day Gauranga Mahaprabhu saw Isvara Puri and offered His
obeisances in great joy. They embraced each other in deep affection and were
overwhelmed to be reunited. Isvara Puri revealed to Lord Caitanya, "Last
night I dreamt of meeting the Supreme Lord and now, meeting You, my dream
has been fulfilled. I have not been able to think of anything else but You since I
left Navadvipa. The joy of Krsna's presence, I am now experiencing in Your
presence." Visvambhara was very pleased to hear this and they sat together
and spoke on the confidential topics of Krsna's pastimes.

Visvambhara continued visiting different pilgrimage sites and then returned to

His quarters to rest. Just as He finished cooking His evening meal, Isvara Puri
arrived. Visvambhara insisted that Isvara Puri take the meal, and He
personally served him. He massaged the feet of Isvara Puri as he rested and
served him just as a disciple serves their spiritual master. Visvambhara then
visited the birthplace of Isvara Puri and took some dust and said, "This is My
most treasured possession." The next day Lord Caitanya asked Isvara Puri for
initiation and He received the 10 syllable Gopala mantra. Lord Caitanya then
told Isvara Puri, "I have surrendered My life to you. Please always look upon
Me with a merciful glance so that I may always float in the ocean of love of
God."

65
Visvambhara stayed in Gaya for some time spreading the glories of His
spiritual master. With each passing day the mood of separation from Krsna
overtook Visvambhara's heart with increasing intensity. He rolled on the
ground crying profusely, "Where is My beloved Krsna? Where has He gone,
leaving Me?" He ran in the direction of Vrndävana to find Krşņa but stopped
after some distance when He heard a divine voice saying, "You are the
Supreme Personality of Godhead and You have come to propagate the
sankirtana movement and freely distribute the most treasured object, love of
Godhead. We, Your servants, know this is the reason for Your appearance, so
please return to Your home." Satisfied at heart, Visvambhara returned to Gaya
and then to Navadvipa. Visvambhara was no longer the proud scholar of
Navadvipa, arrogantly flaunting His insuperable logic and knowledge. Krsna-
prema was swelling within Lord Caitanya's heart and drowning Him in a tidal
wave of superlative bliss. The time had come for Lord Caitanya to reveal His
real identity as the Supreme Lord and to begin His sankirtana lila.

Spiritual Madness:

Sacimătă's joy knew no bounds and Vişhnupriya's face shone brightly upon
seeing devotees Visvambhara return. Everyone was jubilant and ran to the
Sacimätä's house to meet Visvambhara and to hear of His visit to Gaya.
Visvambhara greeted everyone with sweet words and then He took a small
group of close associates aside to tell them of His experiences. But on
attempting to speak, waves of ecstatic emotions overtook His body, torrents of
tears cascaded down His face, and He fell calling out for Krsna, the Lord of his
life. Excitement ran through the Vaishnava community as the news spread.
Nimai Pandita had become an elevated devotee of Krsna experiencing Krsna
prema. All His arrogance and pride had vanished, and He was now falling at
the feet of the Vaishnavas crying piteously, "Tell Me where is Krsna? Where
did My beloved Krsna go?"

Sometimes He roared loudly in spiritual bliss and at other times He fell

unconscious, lost in the ecstasy of separation from Krsna. Days and nights
passed as Gauracandra, Krsna Himself, drowned and resurfaced on the waves
of the ocean of Krsna-prema. Unable to speak of any topic other than Krsna,
Nimai Pandita told His students He could no longer teach them. Seeing the
Vaishnavas, Gaurasundara touched their feet, rendered menial service to them,
and received their blessings to attain unalloyed devotional service. "Lord
Krşņa is so pleased and showers His mercy upon those who serve His
devotees," He told the Vaishnavas, "It is My greatest fortune that you are
teaching Me the process of devotional service to the Supreme Lord. I know I
can become attached to the lotus feet of Krsna if I can serve pure devotees like
you." The pastimes of the Lord are completely inconceivable. One can
understand them only by His mercy.

66
The emotions of being the Supreme Personality of Godhead surcharged
Gauranga Mahaprabhu's body. He was preparing to reveal Himself as the
Supreme Lord to His devotees. At different times He cried, laughed, fell
unconscious in spiritual bliss, or roared in anger wanting to destroy the
atheists. Sacimătă was completely perplexed over her son's behaviour. Fearful
her Nimai had gone mad, she called for Srivasa and the other Vaishnavas. "So
Srivasa," asked Visvambhara, "am I suffering from a wind disorder?" "Great
wind!" replied Srivasa, "I wish I had the same affliction." Sacimata was
consoled and happy. Nimai's behaviour was indeed mad, spiritual madness in
the highest ecstasies of Krsna-prema."

Once a Saivite came to Lord Caitanya's house singing the names of Lord Siva.
Attracted by his pure-hearted glorification of Lord Siva, Caitanya Mahaprabhu
became overwhelmed, ran to the Saivite bhakta and climbed up onto his
shoulders. He called out in supreme bliss, "I am Sankara, I am Sankara." The
Saivite then ran around in great exultation with Gauracandra on his shoulders,
blowing a horn, and playing a hand tabor. Regaining His composure, Lord
Caitanya gave the Saivite some alms and he left in supreme bliss."

"Lord Krsna is so pleased and showers His mercy upon those who serve His
devotees", He told the Vaishnavas. "It is my greatest fortune that you are
teaching Me the process of devotional service to the Supreme Lord. I know I
can become attached to the lotus feet of Krsna if I can serve pure devotees like
you."

Absorbed in Kīrtana:

Another time a young foolish brāhmaņa told Lord Caitanya, "That which you
call Krsna is actually māyā." Hearing this blasphemy, Gauranga Mahaprabhu
67
covered His ears and ran to Gangă with the other devotees. Lord Caitanya
immediately jumped in with all His clothes on. "This wretched person has
contaminated My ears," said Lord Caitanya and He led everyone in kirtana,
chanting Krsna's names over and over again." Lord Caitanya now became
absorbed in kirtana to the overwhelming joy of the Vaishnavas. They chanted
and danced in ever-increasing bliss, oblivious to the passing nights or the
criticisms of the atheists who protested, "I could not sleep all night." "They
will wake up Lord Vişhnu who sleeps during caturmāsya and will bring ruin to
us all."

Kirtana is Threatened:

Navadvipa was very opulent. The city was filled with palatial buildings, and
the streets were teeming with scholars and students who all carried books
under their arms to proclaim their status. Although greatly learned, their
knowledge and recitations of sastra remained devoid of the conclusion of
bhakti, devotional service to the Lord. Bewildered by the rituals and flowery
words of the Vedas, the people were engrossed in demigod worship and
materialistic pursuits. To increase their wealth was the goal of their lives and
they spent lavishly on festivals and their children's weddings. While the
Vaishnavas felt pained at heart to see everyone wasting the valuable human
form of life in such futile pursuits, these materialists openly criticized the
Vaishnavas for chanting Hare Krsna. The Vaishnavas bore these insults
silently and prayed to Krsna to save these misguided people.

But Śrīvāsa was now in great anxiety. The local atheists had complained to the
Kazi and received an ordinance from him forbidding the loud chanting of God's
names on the plea that it was contrary to dharma. The envious materialists
eagerly told Śriväsa that the Kazi was coming with two boat- loads of soldiers
to enforce this ordinance forbidding kirtana. Śrīvāsa, in fear of the safety of the
Vaishnavas, took complete shelter of the Lord. He ran to his house and began
to worship Nrsimhadeva. Meanwhile, Gaurasundara was meandering along
the banks of Ganga like a prince. He was dressed in a beautiful flowing yellow
cloth. Flower garlands adorned His chest and His resplendent body, shining
brilliantly, was decorated with Vişhnu- tilaka and sandalwood paste.

Seeing a group of cows grazing, Gaurasundara could not control His feelings
of being the Supreme Personality of Godhead. "I am Him! roared and ran to
Srivasa's house. I am Him!" He burst into Srivasa's temple room and shouted at
him, "Who are you worshiping! That Lord who you are worshiping is now
standing before you." Lord Caitanya then sat down on the seat reserved for
Lord Vishnu and manifested His four-armed form of Vishnu. Sriväsa Pandita
trembled and remained seated in complete shock. The Lord continued to speak.
"O Srivasa, all this time you did not recognize Me? I am the same Supreme
68
Lord that you and Advaita Acarya called for so loudly. Have no fear, just go on
worshiping Me. I have come to protect the pious and to annihilate the
miscreants."

The Supreme Personality of Godhead had so far concealed His identity but
now He was ready to reveal this along with the real reason for His appearance.
He manifested Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead to all the
devotees in His mahā-prakāsā pastime and stunned Murări Gupta by
manifesting His form of Varahadeva.

Ready to release His weapon for the age of Kali - congregational chanting of
His own names, Lord Caitanya gathered all the Vaishnavas and all the people
of Mayapur and led them in a first-ever-public kirtana to the house of Chand
Kazi."

After personally teaching everyone the process of kirtana, as a loving parent

He then personally taught the ultimate conclusion bhakti, service to Himself in
loving devotion. Gathering all His devotees together, the Lord, lifting His
dhoti and tying back His hair, took a broom and shovel and asked everyone to
help clean Krşna's temple.

6. Sri Sriväsa Angana -The Home of Sriväsa Pandita:

This place is also known as Khola bhänga-dangä, the place where Chand Kazi’s
men broke a mrdanga. At Sriväsa Ängana, Gauränga and His associates started
the sankirtana movement. Mahäprabhu and Nityänanda Prabhu would dance in
ecstasy here. Every night for one year Lord Caitanya and His associates would
perform ecstatic sankirtana behind closed doors.

At Sriväsa Ängana, Lord Caitanya showed Nityänanda Prabhu His 6-armed

form holding a bow and arrow, a flute, a water pot, and a danda.

"I worship the golden-hued Sri Caitanya, whose beautiful hair is bound with a
string of glistening pearls. His moonlike face bears a gentle sweet smile, and
His powerful body, anointed with aguru and candana, is covered with beautiful
cloth. Ornaments adorn His limbs, and a fragrant, transcendental garland
hangs from His lion-like neck. Tasting the nectar of bhakti-rasa, Gauranga is
absorbed in dancing ecstatically. He is more brilliant than Cupid and is always
being served by His devotees."

69
The Birthplace of Sankirtana:

Lord Caitanya danced in the bliss of kirtana with His eternal associates at
Sriväsa Angān, the rasa-sthali of Navadvipa, in the same way that Krsna
danced with the gopis in the groves of Vraja, the rasa-sthali of Vrndavana.
Srivasa Angana is where Kışņa and Rädhäräni, in Their combined form of
Lord Caitanya, re-enact Their räsa-lilā as the sankirtana-lilä, the
congregational chanting of the holy name. Although these two lilās are non-
different, it is through His sankirtana-lilä that Krsna freely and openly bestows
upon everyone and anyone the same Krsna-prema He enjoys with the gopis in
His rāsa-lilā.

70
Śrīvasa Pandita's Identity:

In the Panca-tattva, Śrīvāsa Pandita represents the pure devotees of the Lord.
He is an incarnation of Narada Muni and Närada Muni is a şakti- āvesa
incarnation of Krsna as a pure devotee.

Srivasa Pandita – Incarnation of Sri Narada Muni

Although appearing and growing up in Sri Hatta, West Bengal, Śrīvāsa

Pandita later moved to Navadvipa with his 4 elder brothers so they could
associate with all the Vaishnavas here. They would regularly meet with
Advaita Acārya to hear Srimad Bhagavatam, and with the devotees to sing
bhajans glorifying the Lord. Śrīvāsa Pandita and his wife, Malini, were
contemporaries and very close friends of Jagannatha Misra and Sacīmātā.
They were present at Lord Caitanya's birth and Malini helped Sacimätä in
bringing up Nimai. Nimai, on His part, saw Srīvāsa Pandita and Malini as His
parents. Śrīvāsa's house was the centre of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sankirtana
pastimes until He left Mayapura to take sannyāsa.
Bliss and Fear in Kīrtana:

The Vaishnava community was in sheer bliss. Th Visvambhara had returned

from Gaya, His heart saturated with Krsna-premā. All His previous arrogance
as a scholar had disappeared and He was now a humble Vaishnava begging the
devotees for their mercy to find Krsna, the Lord of His heart. He was
completely immersed in kirtana all day and night, roaring loudly like a lion.
For the Vaishnavas it was Krsna's answer to all their prayers, but the non-

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devotees were disturbed. "That brāhmaņa Śrīvāsa is behind all this mischief,"
they complained. "I heard in the King's court that they are sending two boats
of soldiers to capture anyone who sings kirtana in Nadia. I warned you all
before to throw Śriväsa's house into the river, but now it is too late as the Kazi
is coming."

When he heard this, Śrīvāsa Pandita became anxious for the safety of the
devotees. He immediately went into his temple-room and began worshiping
Lord Nrsimhadeva. Meanwhile, Visvambhara was meandering along the banks
of the Ganga enjoying the scenic beauty. Seeing a group of cows grazing and
playing. He lost control of Himself and began shouting, "I am Him! I am Him!"
He ran to Srivasa's house, kicked open the temple doors and yelled out, "Who
are you worshiping? The person you are worshiping is here!" Sriväsa remained
seated, shaking and completely awestruck. "O Srivasa," continued the Lord,
"All this time you did not know who I was? I left My spiritual abode and came
to this material world because of yours and Advaita Acarya's loud calling. I
have come to protect the pious and punish the miscreants. There is no need for
you to worry. Just go on worshiping Me." Śrīvāsa's heart melted out of love
for the Lord and he offered many prayers. Lord Caitanya assured Srivāsa He
was personally protecting the devotees and would soon defeat the Kazi.

A Unique Vyasa-Puja:

Not long after this, Lord Nityananda arrived in Mäyäpur. He is directly the
Supreme Personality of Godhead and the original spiritual master. The day
after his arrival happened to be Guru-pürnima, the day when Srila Vyāsadeva
is worshiped, and so Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed that his vyäsa-püjā was
to be celebrated. Everyone assembled at Srivāsa Pandita's house and became
oblivious to the external world being swept up in the joy of kirtana. Lord
Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, now dancing together for the first time,
became immersed in the bliss of the eternal bond between Themselves. Lord
Nityananda was restless and unpredictable in his behaviour because of the
constant agitation of love and spiritual bliss overflowing in his heart. He
danced wildly, unable to control his spiritual ecstasies. He laughed, cried,
roared, and leaped around. Absorbed in the mood of a cowherd boy, he threw
off his clothes and dropped the water pot and stick that he carried as a
renunciate.

That day, Sriväsa Pandita was in charge of the püja and on receiving Lord
Caitanya's instruction, he began the vyasa pūjā celebrations. Srivasa gave Lord

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Nityananda a garland and told him to offer it to Srila Vyasadeva. The more
Srivasa spoke to Nityananda, the more Nityananda Prabhu just stood there
repeating, "Yes, yes, yes." Unable to get Nityananda Prabhu to do anything,
Srivasa called for Lord Caitanya. Upon seeing Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
Nityananda gave Him the garland and offered Him all the items of worship
repeating, "Nimai is my Lord and Master." Lord Caitanya then called on
everyone to celebrate with kirtana, thus completing the worship of Srila
Vyāsadeva.

"Bring Me Wine!" "Give Me More to Eat!":

In the same night, Lord Caitanya became overwhelmed in the blissful mood of
Lord Balarama and called out, "Bring Me wine! Bring Me wine!" The devotees
didn't know what to do so they brought clay pots filled with Ganga water.
Lord Caitanya drank it in full joy as if it was wine. Lord Caitanya was often
carried away in the waves of ecstasy during these all-night kirtans. One night
He became stunned, posing in the three- fold bending form of Krsna, but then,
being absorbed in the mood of a devotee, He would suddenly chase the
Vaishnavas trying to touch their feet.

On another evening, Lord Caitanya asked for something to eat. The devotees
ran and brought many items to the Lord. The Lord ate everything and then
called out, "Kichu deha" khāi Kichu deha khãi" (Give Me something to eat!
Give Me something to eat!). The devotees excitedly ran out and brought
unlimited amounts of food and again Caitanya Mahaprabhu ate everything in a
few seconds. Hundreds of barrels of sweet rice, yogurt, sandesa, rasagullās, and
condensed milk were consumed in moments and still the Lord called out
"Kichu deha' khai!" The devotees were perplexed. Suddenly someone
remembered the Lord's pastime of Govardhana Hill and they offered Lord
Caitanya some tulasi leaves. The Lord honoured the tulasi leaves and became
completely satisfied.

A Test of Faith:

Lord Nityananda stayed in Srivasa's house. One time Lord Caitanya came to
Srivasa and said, "Why are you keeping this avadhuta in your house? You
don't know anything about Him, where He comes from or His family
background. I warn you that you are being far too lenient and kind to Him. If
you want to maintain the good reputation of your family, you had better
immediately turn this avadhuta out." Sriväsa was not perturbed by Gauranga

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Mahaprabhu's words. "O Lord," he said, "It is not proper for You to test me
this way. I know Lord Nityananda is Your expansion. I am Your servant and
anyone who serves You becomes my master. Even if Lord Nityananda was a
meat-eating drunkard, and even if I were to lose everything due to His
association, still I tell you truly I would never think of anything else than
serving His and Your lotus feet." Hearing this Caitanya Mahaprabhu leaped up
and roared in joy, "Srivasa! You have understood the truth about My dear
most confidential associate."*

The Two Sides of Love:

One evening Gaurasundara arrived absorbed in the mood of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. Understanding His mood, the devotees began an
abhiseka, offering scented Ganga water, caranamita, tulasi mañjaris soaked in
sandalwood paste, fragrant oils, etc. Everyone bathed Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
and then offered Him garlands. He was then given a new cloth and a new
brahmana thread. Lord Nityananda held an umbrella over Lord Caitanya's
head, Närahari Thakura waved camara, and Gadadhara Pandita offered betel
nuts while Advaita Acarya offered pûjā. The devotees sang and danced in
supreme joy watching this most beautiful scene. They brought many items and
offered them to the Lord whom, while manifesting His opulence as the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, sat on His throne in a relaxed mood chewing
betel nuts and smiling benevolently upon His dear associates. Caitanya
Mahaprabhu said to Srivasa, "Do you recall when Devananda Pandita's
students threw you out of the Bhagavatam class? This made you very sad.
Seeing this, I descended from Vaikuntha into your heart and made you weep in
the ecstatic emotions of your love for Me."

Gaurahari then reminded Gaņgå dåsa of the night Muslim aggressors were
attacking and he was at the Ganga River with his family, unable to cross. The
Lord said, "You had decided it would be better to drown than have your family
molested. Just then a lone boatman came and took you across to safety. I was
that boatman." Caitanya Mahaprabhu then asked the devotees to bring
Sridhara saying, "He is always thinking of Me in great devotion." When
Sridhara arrived, Gaurasundara revealed His form of Krsna in Vrņdāvana.
Sridhara became unsteady in ecstasy and fainted seeing the Lord of his heart.
He prayed, "Let that same brahmin boy who stole my banana flowers and
sheaths be my eternal Lord wherever I take birth and let His lotus feet always
be manifest in my heart."

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Next, Sri Mahaprabhu Caitanya showed Murari Gupta His form as Lord Rama
along with Sītā, Lakshmana and Hanuman. Murari Gupta was so overcome he
also fainted. He prayed for the boon to always remain with the Lord and His
eternal associates as their servant wherever they would appear.

Seeing Haridasa Thakura, Lord Caitanya remembered how He could not kill
the Muslim tormentors who were beating him because of Haridasa's concern
for their well-being. "I could not strike those men who were whipping you
because you were determined to save them. Unable to tolerate your suffering, I
took the blows on My back. Just see Haridasa, see the marks on My body."
The devotees, realizing the Lord's love for His devotees, swooned and cried
out seeing the marks manifested on Gaurasundara's back. Caitanya
Mahaprabhu continued this pastime of glorifying His devotees for 21 hours
and granted all the boons they desired.

Mukunda Datta, however, was keeping himself out of sight. The devotees
asked the Lord why He was not conferring His mercy on Mukunda. "I do not
want to see the face of that spineless wretch who speaks for or against
devotional service depending on the company he is in. One who claims there is
a process higher than bhakti strikes Me with an iron rod. I do not want to see
his face." On hearing this, Mukunda broke down and wept bitterly. Being
petitioned by the devotees, the Lord relented and said he would see Him again
after 10 million births. Hearing this, Mukunda jumped up and danced wildly in
ecstatic love shouting, "I will get! I will get!" This outburst of love and faith
greatly pleased Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He smiled and said, "Bring Mukunda
here," and told him, "Mukunda, you are My dear associate birth after birth.
You lost your wealth due to bad association, but your loving devotion has
conquered Me and won Me over."

Trespassers Evicted:

One time Caitanya Mahaprabhu stopped His dancing saying He was not
feeling the same bliss as usual. "Is there anyone else in the house tonight
Srivasa?" he asked. Sriväsa suddenly felt great anxiety, fearing the Lord's
anger. He had given into the persistent pleading of a pure brahmācāri who
wanted to see the Lord's dancing. This brahmācāri was very austere and ate
only milk and fruits. Lord Caitanya was enraged, "How can you think it is
possible to attain devotional service to Me by eating only milk and fruit? I
accept only those who surrender to Me. Without any austerities, the gopis of
Vraja easily attain Me due to their surrender. On the other hand, the demons
who perform so many austerities are killed because they do not surrender to

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Me." The brahmācāri walked out of Srivasa's house shaking from the heavy
chastisement of the Lord, but very grateful for the wonderful sight he had
seen. Perceiving these devotional sentiments in the brahmacari's heart,
Caitanya Mahaprabhu happily called him back and they danced together in
ecstasy. On another occasion, Srivasa's mother-in-law hid under a basket with
a turban on her head. When Gaura-nataraja complained of a lack of joy in His
kirtana, Srivasa looked around and, finding his mother-in-law, sent her outside.
She was not qualified to stay because of her lack of devotion to the Lord.

Śacīmata's Offense:

In another night, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in the mood of the Supreme Lord, sat
on the throne of Vişhnu, putting the salagrama-silās on His lap. "I am the
Supreme Lord Nārāyana, Krsna, who in Kali-yuga appears in the form of the
holy name." He declared, "I was resting on the milk-ocean on My bed of
Ananta Sesa when the roaring sounds of Nära awakened Me. The reason for
My advent in this incarnation is to freely distribute love of Godhead. O Nära
and Śrīvāsa, ask for all you can; I am here to give." The devotees joyfully asked
the Lord for His mercy. Śrīvāsa then asked the Lord to bestow Krsna-prema
on Sacīmātā, but to everyone's amazement Lord Caitanya refused by saying,
"She has committed an offense against a Vaishnava devotee therefore she is
deprived of love of Godhead." Sriväsa was aghast with shock. "Such words
steal away our life-air, my Lord. She is our very life and soul, the Universal
Mother. O Lord, please discard your duplicity and be merciful to her."
Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "I can instruct her properly, but I am unable to
pardon her from Vaishnava- aparādha. She must be forgiven by the person to
whom she was offensive; no-one else can do that."
What was Sacimata's offense! Soon after her first son, Visvarupa, left home and
took samnyása, Visvambhara began spending most of His time with Advaita
Acarya just as Visvarupa had done. Her heart breaking out of fear of losing her
only remaining son, Sacimätä said, "To the world he may be known as advaita"
(non-dual), but to me he is dvaita (full of duplicity). He already drove out my
effulgent moon-like son and now he does not leave this one in peace. This
Advaita has deceived me."
Hearing Lord Caitanya's instructions, the devotees immediately took Sacimatā
to Advaita Acarya and told him everything. Advaita replied, "Do you want to
break my head open!! She is the mother of my Lord and Master. She is also my
mother. It is her foot-dust that should decorate my head. She is the
embodiment of devotional service, the Universal Mother. How can you bring

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yourselves to say such words?"

As Advaita Äcārya continued to extol the glories of Sacimātā, he became

overwhelmed in ecstasy and fell down unconscious. Seeing this, Sacimātā
quickly came from the inner chambers and put Advaita Acarya's foot-dust on
her head, but upon doing this, Sacīmātā also became overwhelmed in ecstasy
and fainted. The devotees erupted in joy to see this wonderful loving
reciprocation between such elevated personalities and to see Sacimātā receive
Krsna-prema. The Supreme Lord, acting as the universal well-wisher and
spiritual master, used his own mother's apparent offense to teach the world the
grave consequences for Vaishnava-aparadha.

The Unrestrained Bliss of The Two Lords:

After Chand Kazi broke the mrdanga at Srivasa's house and threatened
imprisonment for whoever dared to chant in kirtana, Caitanya Mahaprabhu led
a maha-nagara-kirtana to Chand Kazi's house and defeated him in
philosophical debate. Lord Caitanya also secured the personal protection of the
Kazi for the performance of kirtana. The devotees eagerly gathered in Srivasa's
house every evening, their hearts overjoyed to have unrestrained kirtana, for
now they were free of the Kazi's reprisals. Led by Lord Caitanya and Lord
Nityananda, they lost themselves in the unlimited ocean of bliss of the Lord's
holy names. Ecstatic symptoms overtook Gaurahari and Lord Nityananda, the
two Supreme Lords, as They submerged Themselves in the intoxicating
sweetness of Their own holy names. They shivered uncontrollably, tears
cascaded down Their faces, They laughed and roared loudly in exhilarating
bliss, or fell unconscious, crashing to the ground with such force it alarmed
Sacimâtā and the other devotees. At times They embraced each other, and at
other times They tried to touch each other's feet but, each being as clever and
quick as the other, neither could succeed. Currents of spiritual bliss raced
through Their bodies making Them dance in complete abandon and roll on the
ground forgetting both Themselves and the loss of Their clothes. At times
Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so immersed in dancing, His feet would touch His
head. The devotees, being swept up in these waves of ecstatic joy, also danced
and rolled on the ground in euphoric bliss.

An Offender Redeemed:

Only the relatives and close associates of Caitanya Mahaprabhu were allowed
into these all night kirtanas. Angry at being locked out, the envious brahmaņas
and atheists continued their tirade of criticism against the devotees. One of
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them, Gopala Capala, tried to defame Sriväsa. He put wine, meat and other
untouchable items outside Srivasa's door. Srivasa, the personification of
humility, called the devotees and showed them the paraphernalia saying it had
now been revealed that he was a worshiper of Bhavani Devi. The devotees did
not heed Sriväsa's statement but lamented the fate of whoever committed such
an offense to the Lord's pure devotee. A few days later Gopala Capála fell sick
with leprosy. After a long time, being unable to bear his suffering anymore,
Gopala Capala went to Lord Caitanya praying that as He was the deliverer
from suffering, He should also deliver him.
A Vaishnava is so uttering his name the entire universe attains the nice
association of the Lord Krsna simply

Caitanya Mahaprabhu was furious. "Go away from here! Just seeing you incurs
sin. You cannot tolerate this pain, you contemptuous reprobate, how are you
going to live through the sufferings in Kumbhipaka hell?" Lord Caitanya
continued, "A Vaishnava is so pure that just uttering his name can cleanse the
entire universe. One easily attains the inconceivable association of the Supreme
Lord Krşņa simply by serving a Vaishnava. In fact, nothing is superior to the
worship of a Vaishnava. Anyone who offends a Vaishnava or criticizes him has
to suffer terrible consequences life after life. Your actual punishment is yet to
come, being meted out by Yamarāja. Therefore, I do not even want to see
you." Humbly accepting the truth about the heinous act he committed, the
brahmaņa pleaded to Lord Caitanya he had no other shelter than Him.
At this Caitanya Mahaprabhu told the brahmana he had to beg forgiveness
from the Vaishnava he had offended. The Lord said, "This is the only means
for your reprieve. Sriväsa Pandita is very elevated and intelligent. If you beg
him, he will surely forgive you." Srivasa, a compassionate devotee of the Lord,
immediately forgave Gopala Capala releasing him from his offense and
suffering.
A Foot-Dust Thief Glorified:
Advaita Acarya often took the dust from Caitanya Mahaprabhu's lotus feet
when He was unconscious in spiritual trance. Absorbed in the mood of serving
the Lord, and wanting His mercy, Advaita Äcārya would smear the Lord's
foot-dust all over his body, put the Lord's lotus feet on his head, embrace them,
offer prayers, and bathe them with his tears. One time however, Gaurasundara
regained consciousness and resumed dancing but then suddenly stopped and
asked the devotees, "Why am I not feeling the usual exaltation today? Have I
committed an offense? Did someone take the dust from My feet?" The
devotees froze not knowing what to do or say. Everyone knew what Advaita

78
Acārya had done, but no one dared to say anything out of their deep love and
respect for him.
Advaita Acārya finally admitted he was the foot- dust thief. Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, although saying what appeared to be angry words, began to
glorify the Acarya's elevated transcendental position. "Even after you have
annihilated the entire cosmic creation, you feel not a touch of remorse. After
this total devastation only, I remain, and it seems you will be satisfied only
after you have devastated Me. You do not destroy the sages, hermits, yogis or
philosophers with your trident, but when someone approaches you seeking
your grace, you catch their feet and finish them off." Lord Caitanya then said,
"You have been stealing and you think I am unable to do the same? Just wait
and see how to steal from a thief!" Saying this, Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced
Advaita Acarya and catching his feet, turned him upside down, smeared the
dust from Advaita's feet on His own body, and placed the Acarya's feet on His
head.

Śrīvasa's Son Dies:

One night the only son of Sriväsa Pandita died. Not wanting the Lord's kirtana
to be disturbed, Srivasa told his wife and other family members to stop crying.
He explained to them that family relations come and go under the course of
time and providence and that it would be better to drown oneself in the Ganga
than disturb the Lord's ecstasy. After several hours the all-knowing Lord
stopped kirtana and told Sriväsa, "I feel something has happened here tonight."
Srivasa explained everything. Gauranga Mahaprabhu was deeply touched by
Srivasa's devotion to Him. He went to the boy who had been dead for several
hours. Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the boy, "What has made you leave
Srivasa's house?" The boy sat up and said, "My Lord, everything moves by
Your desire. The time I was destined to stay here has ended and so now I must
go to my next birth. My Lord, I offer my humble obeisances to You and all
Your associates." Everyone's heart was relieved on hearing this transcendental
knowledge. Lord Caitanya offered Himself to Sriväsa by saying, "Nityananda
and Myself are your sons, so please remove the pain of separation from your
heart."

A Glorious Master, A Glorious Household:

The glories of Srivāsa Pandita are unlimited. He is so dear to the Lord that
everyone in his household also received the Lord's direct blessings. Srivasa
Pandita's tailor was a meat-eating Muslim. One time he saw Gaurasundara's

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dancing and was pleased to have seen such a beautiful sight. Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, the omniscient Supersoul in everyone's heart, perceived this
favourable devotional sentiment and revealed to the Muslim tailor His form as
Krsna. The tailor danced and leaped about shouting, "I have seen! I have seen!"
He became a devout Vaishnava and follower of Lord Caitanya.
Duhki (which means unhappy) was Srivasa Pandita's maid, and she used to
bring many pots of Ganga water to the devotees for Lord Caitanya's abhişeka
and other pastimes. Gauraņga Mahaprabhu was very pleased with her sincere
service to His dear devotees, and He accepted it as service to Himself. He
changed her name to Sukhi (which means happy), thus removing all her
distresses and gave her Krsna-prema.
As for Narayani, Srivasa Pandita's four-year-old niece, Caitanya Mahaprabhu
blessed her with His chewed betel remnants and told her to chant Krsna's
name. She did this and began dancing wildly in the ecstasy of Kşna-prema.

Nityananda and Malini - An Eternal Pastime:

Lord Nityananda always behaved like a small boy with Malini, Srivasa
Pandita's wife. She is Ambikä, a nursemaid, in Krsna's Vrndavana pastimes.
Even though she had long ago stopped breast-feeding her own children, in the
mood of their eternal relationship her breasts became filled with the milk of
love for her eternal son. Lord Nityananda would climb up on her lap and drink
from her breasts and he would also not eat unless Malini personally fed him.
One day Lord Nityananda saw Malini crying. "Mother! What is disturbing
you?" he inquired, "Please tell Me and I will correct it immediately." A crow
had flown away with a piece of paraphernalia for worship, and she was scared
her husband would be very upset. Lord Nityananda called the crow back and
told him to return the stolen article. When the crow did this, Malini devi,
knowing well the transcendental identity of Lord Nityananda, recited many
prayers in great joy to glorify him.
Heartbreak Ending:

These nectarean pastimes continued for one year at Srivasa Pandita's house
during the all- night kirtanas. Then, by the Lord's own sweet will, He
manifested a pastime in which the local students began criticizing Him for
chanting the names of the gopis. Considering that He had appeared to save
everyone from the entrapments of material nature, such as Vaishnava
aparādha, Caitanya Mahaprabhu made a remark that no one except Lord
Nityananda could understand. Gauranga Mahaprabhu said, "The medicine

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pippalikhanda was prepared to reduce phlegm in the body, but now it is
increasing it." Realizing that Caitanya Mahaprabhu would soon leave both
Mayapur and him, Nityananda's heart broke. Gaurahari took Nityananda's
hand and spoke to him confidentially saying, "Listen dear Nityananda, I am
revealing My heart to you. The purpose of My advent is to deliver the whole
world. The people are supposed to attain salvation just by seeing Me, whereas
now their material bonds are becoming stronger. Therefore, I have decided to
shave My head and take to the sannyasa order of life. I will stand with a
begging bowl at the doors of those who wanted to attack Me. Then these
aggressors will fall at My feet and in this way I will deliver the whole
universe."

Many of the Vaishnavas, finding it too painful to remain in Mäyäpur after

Gaurasundara's departure, moved to Mämagachi in Modadrumadvipa. Śrīvāsa
Pandita and his family moved to Kumar Hatta and Lord Caitanya visited them
there during His trip to Vrņdāvana.

All glories to Srivāsa Angān, the place where the Supreme Lord inaugurated
His sankirtana-lilā for the deliverance of the whole world!

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Sri Srivasa Angana Practical Guide:

Darsana Times: 8.30-11.00 a.m. and 3.30 8.30 p.m.

Directions:

It is 250 meters north from Yoga-pitha, or 1.5 kilometres from ISKCON, going
up Bhaktisiddhänta Road. It is on the right side of the road and has an ornate
main gate.

Presiding Deities:

When you enter the compound, walk to the right to enter the temple marking
the location where Sriväsa Pandita’s house was located.

On the left altar there are deities of Rädhä-Krsna on the left, and Gaura-Nitäi
on the right.

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In the center there is a deity of Mahäprabhu in His mahä-prakäsa form. Lord
Caitanya is sitting on the throne, Gadädhara Pandita is fanning Him with a
cämara, and Sriväsa Thäkura is holding an umbrella over His head. Mahäprabhu
is in the mood of the Supreme Lord of the universe. This deity commemorates
the pastime when Lord Caitanya showed His mahä-prakäsa form by exhibiting
His different incarnations and fulfilling His devotees’ desires. While doing so
He accepted worship for 21 hours, displaying His divine form to all His devotees
in a manner just suitable for each of them. There is also a 10-inch Lord Nrsimha
deity on the central altar.

On the right altar, Lord Nityänanda and Lord Caitanya are leading all the
devotees in the kirtana that went to Chand Kazi’s palace to protest his ban on
sankirtana. This place is also known as “Khola-bhänga dangä”, the place where
the mrdanga was broken and you can sometimes see a broken mrdanga on the
right altar.

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Sriväsa Ängana was the centre of Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana pastimes, just as
Yoga-pitha was the centre of Lord Caitanya’s childhood and boyhood pastimes.

7. Sri Advaita Bhavan:

Outside the main temple at Sriväsa Ängana you can see two small temples about
30 meters away, both within the same compound. The one on your left is Sri
Advaita Bhavan. The small temple marks the place where Advaita lived and
houses the deity of Advaita Äcärya sitting at the feet of Lord Caitanya. At this
place he offered prayers imploring the Lord to descend. He would sit on the bank
of the Gangä, worship sälagräma-siläs and beg Krsna to appear.

Sri Advaita Äcärya taught his students Bhagavad-gitä and Srimad-Bhägavatam

at this place. Visvarüpa, the elder brother of Visvambhara, was one of his pupils.
At this time great Vaishnavas such as Sriväsa Pandita, Haridäsa Thäkura,
Candrasekhara, and Muräri Gupta would come and hear Sri Advaita speak about
Krsna. After Lord Caitanya accepted sannyäsa, Advaita Äcärya moved back to
Säntipura, where he was originally from.

The Lord Who Brought the Lord:

Advaita Bhavan is famous as the place where Advaita Acārya's loud heart-felt
calls to the Lord, compelled Him to appear as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and
inaugurate the sankirtana mission. Advaita Acarya lived in Santipur but kept
this bhavān for his Mäyäpur visits. He is a member of the Pañca-tattva and had
a leading role in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes. The pastimes between
Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Advaita Acārya are most blissful, being permeated

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with the joy of Advaita Acārya's effervescent personality. Those pastimes that
took place here at Advaita Bhavän are summarized below.
The Pain in Vaișhnava Hearts:

Prior to Lord Caitanya's appearance, all the devotees used to regularly gather
here to listen to Advaita Äcārya speak on Bhagavad-gitā and Srimad
Bhagavatam and to perform kirtana. His recitations, sweetened by his
explanation of bhakti, kept the devotees enrapt in bliss, thus easing their
sorrows.

Sometimes however, the devotees poured out their hearts to Advaita Acārya
expressing the deep pain they felt. The entire population of Navadvipa was
immersed in materialistic activities, taking them as the goal of life. They were
spending huge amounts of money on demigod worship for material
benedictions to increase their sensual enjoyments. And though vastly learned
in the Vedas, the so-called highly learned brāhmaņas remained ignorant of the
actual purpose of the scriptures and did not even follow the religious principles
they themselves taught. Bewildered by the illusion of material enjoyment, they
continually criticized the devotees for their devotional practices and for
chanting the names of the Lord. The devotees, pained at heart to see the
hopeless condition of the people, wept and prayed to Krsna to please save these
fallen souls.

In Advaita Acarya's heart, he also suffered the same acute pains upon seeing
everyone devoid of devotional service. He thought, "If my Lord descends, then
He can liberate everyone. I can boast of being an incarnation of Maha-vişhnu
only if I can convince the Lord of Vaikuntha, Krsna, to appear in this world. At
that time, I shall sing and dance in joy and liberate all the conditioned souls."
Advaita Acārya also remembered a verse from Srimad Bhagavatam that
explains how the Lord is eternally indebted to anyone who offers Him tulasi
and Ganga water. Thus, with unswerving resolve, the Acarya worshiped his
salagrama-sila with 8 tulasi mañjaris and Ganga water and implored the Lord
to appear.

He supplicated the Lord with heart-rending prayers and loud cries. He roared
as loud as thunder begging the Lord to come by saying, "My Lord, the people
need to understand that You are all-good, all-loving and all-merciful, but they
have no room for You in their hearts. Although the suffering of my fellow man
deeply afflicts my heart, I too am a great sinner and so I cannot help them. O
Lord, You must descend Yourself and teach them how to attain You. Only by

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this means will they learn to love You and thus end all their miseries." Being
irresistibly attracted to these prayers of Advaita Äcārya which were saturated
with his love for those suffering the pangs of material life, the Lord
immediately descended as Nimai, the son of Jagannatha Misra and Sacimätä.

Hidden Identity:

Visvarupa, Caitanya Mahaprabhu's elder brother, spent many hours here every
day with Advaita Acārya, absorbed in Krsna-kathā and relishing Advaita
Acarya's association. Lord Caitanya was a young boy at this time and on
Sacimāta's behest, little Nimai would wander over here, pull on Visvarupa's
dhoti, and tell him, "It is time to come home now. It is lunch time and mother
is calling." Advaita Acarya could not understand his deep attraction for this
little boy and would just stare in wonder as Nimai walked away holding onto
Visvarupa's dhoti. Nimai would stare back at Advaita Acarya and smile while
thinking to Himself, "Nära! It is only because of your loud calling that I left
Vaikuntha and came here. Now you do not recognize Me?"

One time when Advaita Acārya and the Vaishnavas were loudly singing and
calling out Krsna's name, Nimai, now a little older, came running here along
with His friends. Nimai ran up to everyone and said, "You are calling Me?"
and then immediately ran off with His friends. The devotees, unable to grasp
the true import of these words, thought this was just another aspect of Nimai's
wild and restless behaviour.

Nimãi Becomes A Devotee:

After receiving initiation from Iśvara Puri in Gaya, Nimai returned to

Mayapur and revealed to the devotees His transformation into a devotee of
Lord Krsna steeped in Krsna-premā. The Vaishnavas were overjoyed and came
to see Advaita Acárya who, in an ecstatic mood, revealed a dream he had the
previous night. In the dream, Visvambhara had said, "I will reveal the real
meaning of the Bhagavad-gitā sloka to you. Your worship and entreaties to the
Lord have born fruit. The chanting of Lord Krsna's holy names will constantly
reverberate in every country, town and village. By your mercy everyone will
be able to see in Srivasa Pandita's house, devotional ecstasy that is rarely
obtained even by Lord Brahma." Advaita Acarya and the devotees loudly
chanted "Hari! Hari!" in great jubilation, being overjoyed that their Nimai had
become a devotee of Krsna.

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The Greatest Cheater Is Cheated:

One time, Visvambhara and Gadadhara Pandita came to visit Advaita Acarya
here. Advaita Acarya was roaring loudly "Hari! Hari!" in great bliss, being
completely absorbed in worshiping his sälagräma-sila with water and tulasi.
Seeing Advaita Acārya 's devotional ecstasies the same devotional ecstasies
that compelled Him to appear Visvambhara fell unconscious. Advaita Acārya,
being non-different from Hari, could understand that Visvambhara was his
worshipable Lord. Advaita ācārya thought, "Today I have captured You. You
are a thief. All this time You have been hiding Your real identity from me and
everyone else. But You cannot always cheat me. I know who You are and now
I will cheat the cheater." Advaita Acarya brought all the necessary
paraphernalia and worshiped Visvambhara while crying tears of joy. When
Lord Caitanya regained consciousness, He saw Advaita Acarya offering
prayers to Him in ecstatic trance. Lord Caitanya quickly composed Himself to
hide His real identity. He touched Advaita Acarya's feet and began to glorify
him while Advaita Acarya, smiling within himself, thought, "Today I have
outcheated the biggest cheat."

All glories to Advaita Acarya whose loud calls, full of compassion and love for
the lost souls of this world, compelled the Lord to leave His spiritual abode
and appear here to liberate everyone in the whole universe!
Sri Advaita Bhavan Practical Guide:

Darsana Times: 8.30-11.00 a.m. and 3.30-8.30 p.m.

Directions:

You can see this temple from the courtyard of Sriväsa Ängana, 30 meters to the
north.

Presiding Deities:

Lord Caitanya (standing) and Advaita Äcärya (sitting and offering).

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8. Sri Gadädhara Angana:

The small temple to the right of Sri Advaita Bhavan is Sri Gadädhara Ängana.
This temple houses the deities of Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Pandita.
Gadädhara was an incarnation of Srimati Rädhäräni and a friend of Nimäi since
childhood. Sri Gadädhara Ängana is about 10 meters east of Advaita Bhavan, in
the same compound as Sriväsa Angana.

"Srimati Radharani, who is the personification of pure love for Lord Sri Krsna
and who is the Queen of Vrndavana, appeared as Sri Gadadhara Pandita, who
is very dear to Lord Caitanya. When Srimati Radhika appeared as Gadadhara
Pandita, Lalita followed Her, entering the body of Gadadhara.

Gadādhara Pandita:

Gadādhara Pandita has also been described as an incarnation of Śrīmatī

Rādhārānī's dyuti (effulgence). His father was Madhava Misra, and he grew up
here along with his younger brother, Väņinātha. As young boys, Lord
Caitanya and Gadadhara Pandita were inseparable but, in direct contrast to
Lord Caitanya, Gadadhara Pandita was quiet and sober. Gadadhara Pandita's
heart was deeply entrenched in Krsna-prema. He was always absorbed in
thoughts of Krsna and always speaking Krsna-kathā in the association of the
devotees. He was renounced and gentle in his behaviour and was dearly loved
by everyone.

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Avoiding Viśvambhara:

As they grew up, Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Gadadhara played together, ate
together, and went to Gangā dāsa Pandita's school together. After graduating,
Nimai began His delightful pastimes as a proud scholar whom no one could
defeat. Visvambhara would annoy Gadadhara Pandita by asking him many
illogical questions, so much so that even Gadadhara Pandita, who otherwise
could not be separated from Visvambhara, would avoid Him as best he could.
One time however, Visvambhara caught Gadadhara Pandita by clasping his
hands. "I hear that you study logic and are a very learned scholar. You must
tell Me the symptoms of liberation." Gadadhara Pandita answered by saying
that liberation comes only after the annihilation of extreme suffering. "Your
explanation is not up to standard," replied Visvambhara who then defeated
Gadadhara Pandita's statement in many ways, "Gadadhara, you can go home
today," continued Visvambhara, "but tomorrow we shall meet again, and you
will have another chance." Thinking only how to avoid Visvambhara's
presence, Gadadhara Pandita paid his respects and left as quickly as he could.

"Where Is Krsna?"

On seeing the symptoms of Krsna-prema manifest in Caitanya Mahaprabhu on

His return from Gaya, Gadadhara Pandita was amazed and supremely joyful.
One day when Gadadhara came to see Gaurasundara, he noticed the Lord was
hiding some betel leaves in His hand. Seeing Gadadhara Pandita, Gaurahari
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said, "Where is Krsna? Where can I find the Lord of My heart?" Gaurahari's
heart-felt cries took everyone by surprise. Gadadhara Pandita, desiring to
placate Gauranga Mahaprabhu, replied, "Krsna is eternally in Your heart."
Hearing this, Sri Caitanya began digging His fingernails into His chest in a
desperate attempt to find Krsna. Gadādhara Pandita restrained Caitanya
Mahaprabhu and pacified Him by saying He should be patient as Krsna would
come very soon. Gadadhara Pandita's control over Gaurasundara greatly
satisfied Sacimātā. She asked Gadadhara to always stay with her unpredictable
son to take care of Him.
Gadādhara's Vaişhnava Aparadha:

Gadadhara Pandita was very fond of the devotees and relished being in their
association. One time Mukunda took him to meet an elevated Vaishnava who
had just come to Mayapur. Mukunda introduced Gadadhara to Pundarika
Vidyanidhi but upon seeing the grand opulence this person was living in;
Gadadhara Pandita's heart began to doubt his position as a Vaishnava.
Mukunda, understanding Gadadhara's mind, began to sing some slokas from
Srimad Bhagavatam describing Lord Krsna's mercy upon the witch Pütana.
Hearing this, Pundarika Vidyänidhi began trembling and crying. He rolled
about in great ecstasy, completely ruining his oiled hairstyle and opulent
clothes, as well as his surroundings. Realizing he had made an offense to a
great Vaishnava; Gadadhara Pandita surrendered to Pundarika Vidyanidhi and
accepted him as his spiritual master. Pundarika Vidyanidhi is an incarnation of
Vrsabhanu, Srimati Rädhäräni's father in Krsna's Vrndavana pastime.

Gadadhara Pandita and Pundarika Vidyanidhi

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Gadadhara Pandita was a constant companion of Gauranga Mahaprabhu
throughout all His pastimes in Navadvipa. Unable to bear any separation,
Gadadhara Pandita went with Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Jagannatha Puri after
the Lord took sannyäsa.

The houses of other associates of Lord Caitanya (such as Jagadananda Pandita

and Svarūpa Damodara) were in this area but their exact location is not
known.
Sri Gadadhara Angana Practical Guide:

Darsana Times: 8.30-11.00 a.m. and 3.30-8.30 p.m.

Directions:

Go 10 meters to the right of Advaita Bhavan.

Presiding Deities:

Lord Caitanya (on the left) and Sri Gadädhara Pandita (on the right).

9. Sri Caitanya Matha:

The Forest of Vrndavana:

Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkura established Sri Caitanya Matha in

1918. He called the area of this compound Vrajapattana, which means the place
where Vrndävana is manifested. By his spiritual potency, Syama kunda, Radha-

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kunda and Gir govardhana of Vrndavana are all manifest here. This temple
was the headquarters of his preaching throughout India. During its peak time,
there were 800 devotees here to cope with the daily influx of visitors.

This is where the house of Candrasekhara was located. His wife, Mälati, was the
younger sister of Srimati Saci-devi. They had no children of their own. When
Jagannätha Misra, the father of Lord Caitanya, left this world, Candrasekhara
acted as the Lord’s father. He accepted Lord Caitanya as his son and took full
responsibility for Saci-mätä.

Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu would perform kirtana at this place. He also

performed dramas with Advaita Prabhu, Sriväsa, and other devotees in the house
of Candrasekhara. Nityänanda played Paurnamäsi, Sriväsa Pandita played
Närada Muni, Advaita Äcärya acted as Sadäsiva, Haridäsa Thäkura took the role
of a guard from Vaikuntha, and Gadädhara Pandita played Lakshmi-devi.

Sri Caitanya Matha Practical Guide:

Darsana Times: 6.00-12.00 a.m. and 4.00-8.00 p.m.

Directions:
Going down Bhaktisiddhänta Road, it is half a kilometre from Sriväsa Ängana,
or 2 kilometres from ISKCON. The first gate you approach enters from the side
of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkura’s samädhi. The second gate, a little
further down the road, is the entrance for the main temple. To see everything
without having to retrace your steps, it is best to enter at the first gate and have
your rickshaw pick you up at the second gate.

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Presiding Deities:

If you enter the main gate (the second gate when coming from the ISKCON
temple) you will see the main temple dedicated to Sri Sri Gändharvikä Giridhäri
approximately 25 meters (75 feet) ahead.

On the altar to the right of Gändharvikä-Giridhäri are two deities of Lord

Caitanya with Their right arms raised. When you walk around the deity
chamber you will see 4 altars, one for each of the Vaishnava äcäryas: Sri
Madhväcärya, Sri Vishnu Svämi, Sri Nimbärkäcärya and Sri Rämänujäcärya.

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There is a Govardhana Hill in the compound. Next to it is Rädhä-kunda. This
pond is non-different from Rädhä-kunda in Vrndävana.

Next to the Gändharvikä-Giridhäri temple is Srila Gaurakisora däsa Bäbäji’s

samädhi temple. He is the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati
Thäkura and left this world on November 19, 1915, in Koladvipa. Previously his

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samädhi was on the western bank of the Gangä in Kuliyägräma at the place
called Mutanchada in the present city of Navadvipa. In 1932, 16 years after he
attained samädhi, the Gangä rose to within a few feet of his samädhi. At this
time Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkura had his disciples move the
samädhi by boat to this place.

Inside the campus of Sri Caitanya Matha is the residence of Srila

Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkura, a two-storey building where you can see
different items used by Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Prabhupäda. If you enter
Sri Caitanya Matha from the first gate (coming from Yoga pitha), you will see
the samädhi of Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkura. It stands on the right
side of the path and is facing Syäma-kunda.

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Sri Caitanya Matha:

Presiding Deities and Places of Interest:

1. Candrasekhara Bhavan:

Candrasekhara Pandita (also known as Acāryaratna) is an intimate associate of

Lord Caitanya and this is where his house was located. He was a very close
friend of Jaganatha Misra and, as his wife was the sister of Sacimātā, he was
also the uncle of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Candrasekhara Pandita had a deep
fatherly affection for Nimai, and he brought Him here on several occasions and
played with Him on his lap. Candrasekhara took up the role of Nimai's father
and the protector of Sacimătă when Jagannatha Misra left the planet.

Pastimes at Candrasekhara Bhavan:

Rukmini In Disguise:

In 1506, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was 20 years old, He wanted to enact a

drama of Lord Krsna's pastimes. He chose the roles for everyone, and the
costumes were supplied by Bhuddimanta Khan. The pandal was set up here
and all the Vaishnavas assembled in great excitement. Gauranataraja played
Rukmini and danced so perfectly even his own mother and wife did not
recognize Him. Gadādhara Pandita played Lakşhmi devi, while Haridasa
Thakura wore a full moustache to play a guard from Vaikuntha. Śrīvāsa
Pandita played Närada Muni and Nityananda Prabhu played Paurņamāsi.
Advaita Acārya could not decide whom to play, so he played himself displaying
the mood of Lord Siva. Only the very close associates of Lord Caitanya were
allowed to see this play, which was saturated in pure unalloyed prema. It kept
everyone so enrapt in condensed bliss that no one noticed the passing of 7 days
and nights. They began to cry when the play ended, but Gauracandra
personally embraced all the devotees and consoled them.

Sannyasa and Heartbreak:

Lord Caitanya came here to tell Candrasekhara He was going to leave and take
sannyasa. Hearing this Candrasekhara fell down weeping, his heart completely
shattered. Gaurahari picked him up, embraced him, and cried tears of love onto
His dear associate. Candrasekhara was with Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He
took sannyäsa, and he reported it to all the devotees in Mäyäpur upon his
return.

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The Two Prabhupadas:

Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupāda stayed in this building.

You can see his personal quarters by asking one of the devotees here. Srila
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada mentioned in his books how he met his
spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupäda, here on
a couple of occasions and how he would hear from him and would walk and
chant with him on the verandah.

2. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Samadhi:

Born with A Mission:

Born on 6th February 1874, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thakura is the child

that Bhaktivinoda Thakura prayed to Lord Jagannatha for, wanting an able
assistant to preach Krsna consciousness. His divinity was evident from birth.
When he was born, his umbilical cord was wrapped around his body like a
brahmaņa thread. He was 6 months old when Lord Jagannatha had His Ratha
yätrå festival in Jagannatha Puri. Jagannatha's chariot stopped outside of
Bhaktivinoda Thakura's house for 3 days and Srimati Bhagavati devi,
Bhaktivinoda Thakura's wife, took this opportunity to go up onto the chariot
and present her new son to Jagannatha Gosvami. Immediately upon placing
the child in front of Jagannatha, the child grabbed Lord Jagannatha's feet, and
a garland also fell from Jagannatha onto the child. Upon hearing this,
Bhaktivinoda Thakura knew this was the child he had prayed for and so he
gave him the name Bimala Prasada, the mercy of Bimala devi.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura gave his son the harināma mahā-mantra and Nrsimha
mantra at 5 years of age. At seven, he received the Kürmadeva mantra and
began worshiping a self-manifested deity of Kürmadeva. As a child, Bimala
Prasāda inadvertently ate an unoffered mango. When asked about this by his
father, Bimala Prasada was so upset over this offense to Krsna that he took a
vow to never eat another mango. He kept this vow throughout his life. He also
kept a life-long vow of celibacy. He took this vow when he formed a club at
high school for those who wanted to avoid family entanglement. He excelled in
all subjects at school but spent most of his time reading his father's books on
bhakti. He entered the Sanksrit University in 1892 and received the honorific
title of "Siddhanta Sarasvati" in recognition of his vast knowledge of astrology
and bhakti. He then left university as he understood that if he continued this
path, he would become entangled into material life. He then spent all his time
serving his father who trained him in editing and publishing.

In 1900, while staying with his father in Godrumadvipa, he took initiation

from Gaura-kisora dāsa Bābāji and received the name Sri Värşabhānavi-Devi.
Five years later, he took a vow to chant one billion (ten crores) holy names of

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the Lord to prepare himself for preaching. It took him 10 years to fulfil this
vow, during which time he lived in a small bamboo hut chanting in front of his
deity, Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

Then, in 1918, on Gaura-Pürņimă day, he accepted the sannyasa order of life

here at Candrasekhara Bhavän and took the name Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.
He then began to preach all over India, establishing Lord Caitanya's mission
with such vigour no one had seen before. He established 64 mathas (one for
each of the 64 limbs of bhakti), initiated over 60,000 disciples, and
reestablished Vraja-mandala and Navadvipa-mandala parikramas. He also
established printing presses in Māyāpur, Delhi, Madras and other major cities.
Publishing and distributing magazines and books were the major thrust of his
preaching.

On 31st December 1936, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Thakura left his body in

Calcutta surrounded by his disciples singing bhajans. His life-size mürti is
worshiped here.

3. Syama Kunda:

This beautiful manifestation of Syama Kunda in Mayapur is in front of

Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Thakura' s samādhi.

4. Main Temple:

The main deities, Sri Sri Radha Gandharvika- Giridhari were the personal
deities of Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thakura. Next to Them are two deities of
Lord Caitanya with His right hand raised.

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Walking around the deities, you will see mürtis of the acaryas of the four
Vaishnava sampradayas. They are Sri Madhvācārya (Brahmä sampradaya), Sri
Vişnusvami (Rudra sampradaya), Sri Nimbarka (Kumāra sampradaya) and Sri
Ramanujācārya (Sri sampradaya).

5. Gaura-Kisora Dasa Babaji Samadhi:

Renunciation Personified:

Srila Gaura-kisora dāsa Bābāji Mahārāja is the spiritual master of

Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thakura. He was born into a vaisya family in a
small village beside the Padma River in Bangladesh. Following his father, he
earned his livelihood by selling grains. He was devotionally inclined from
childhood and spent many hours singing bhajans and hearing Krsna-katha. He
was married when very young but when his wife died in 1849, he immediately
left home and went to Vrndavana. He lived in Vrndavana for 30 years,
wandering around the forests and pastime places of Radharani and Krsna while
absorbed in chanting the holy names. During this time, he took initiation from
Bhagavata dasa, a disciple of Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja.

Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja was renunciation personified. He chanted

200,000 names of the Lord each day and stayed in isolated places, eating only
what would come of its own accord and sleeping wherever he found himself at
nighttime. In 1894, he heard that Lord Caitanya's birthplace had been
discovered and so he came here, knowing the two dhamas to be non-different.
In Navadvipa, he again wandered around the places of the Lord's pastimes
absorbed in the ecstasy of separation. His renunciation was intense and

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genuine. If he had nothing to eat, he would eat Ganga mud to abate his
hunger. At other times he ate rice soaked in water in a skull. He also wore
clothes taken from bodies before being cremated. Others tried to imitate
Gaura-kisora däsa Babaji's renunciation wanting to gain fame for themselves,
but they all fell away into disgrace. Babaji Maharaja encountered many
disturbances to his hari-bhajana from the materialists who sought benedictions
from him. They all received heavy instructions from Babāji Mahārāja, but very
few were able to understand that these instructions were for their eternal
benefit.

Married to A Maidservant:

A disciple of Thakura Bhaktivinoda once came to Babaji Maharaja announcing

his marriage to Krşna's maidservant. Mahārāja became very grave. He
instructed the new bridegroom against the desire to enjoy his wife, and to
never accept personal service from her. "A Vaishnava wife is very rare and
difficult to attain in this world. If one has the good fortune of acquiring one, he
should consider it a benediction from Krsna. As the wife worships the husband
as her lord and master, the husband should worship the wife because she is the
servant of Krsna. The husband can thus safeguard his devotional fervour by
not considering the wife his own maidservant, but always Krsna's servant."

Anything to Avoid Materialists:

One-time Babaji Maharaja arrived at the house of Bhaktivinoda Thakura

dressed in very expensive clothes. When asked about this, he explained people
would think he is bogus and so not come to him for benedictions. At other
times he sat on the porch of a prostitute's house to avoid people, and lived
under an upturned boat hoping no one would find him there. During the last 6
months of his life, he resided in an abandoned latrine (converted into a room)
in a dharmasālā to avoid the materialists and concentrate on chanting the holy
names.

He left this world at this dharmasala on 19th November 1915 on Utthana

Ekadasi, at the end of the Kartika vrata. Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thakura
personally prepared the samadhi of his spiritual master in Mutanchada,
Koladvipa, at that time. He also moved the samadhi to this location in 1932
when Ganga was flooding within a few feet of the original samadhi in
Koladvipa (which is now under the waters of Ganga River).

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6. Giri-Govardhana:

The manifestation of Giri-govardhana in Mayapur is another example of the

merciful mood of Navadvipa-dhama. The same spiritual benedictions one gets
for parikrama of Govardhana in Vrndavana, are bestowed in Mayapur for a
fraction of the austerity. In Vrndāvana, parikrama of Govardhana takes 8-14
hours, depending on how fast you can walk. But here, that same parikrama
takes only a few minutes. If you go for the full mercy and do a dandavat
parikrama, many months of severe austerities are reduced to 15 minutes. There
is a small blue deity of Krsna on top of this Giri-govardhana.

7. Radha-Kunda:

This kunda is the manifestation of the most sacred place in the universe in
Navadvīpa-dhāma. It used to be most beautiful with flowering lotuses on the
water.

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8. Printing Press:

This is an old printing press used for printing books under the directions of
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and his disciples.

10. Vrddha Siva (Siva Dobä):

Directions:

Near the road approaching Yoga pitha from the ISKCON temple, there is a
culvert just after the Mayapur Polyclinic. When you cross the culvert, take the
dirt road on the left. After a few meters is the place which used to be Vrddha
Siva-ghäta.

It is believed that a Siva-liìga was found in this area, which is now worshiped
behind the birth site of Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu. This Siva linga is called
Vrddha Siva, or Kshetra päla, the protector (guardian) of the holy dhäma. One
should worship the merciful Lord Siva to obtain the blessing of devotional
service to the Supreme Lord. During the time of Lord Caitanya, a temple of
Vrddha Siva existed at this place but was later covered by the Gangä. This is
where the Praudhä Mäyä energy (yoga-mäyä) eternally resides.

There are two Siva lingas at this small temple inside the Yoga-pitha campus.
One of the lingas was found near the culvert at Mayapur Polyclinic. That place
is now known as Siva Dobä.

GHATAS LAYOUT

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11. Mahaprabhu-Ghata:

Directions:

Six meters north of Vrddha Siva-ghäta is Mahäprabhu-ghäta, on a dried-up

riverbed that indicates where the Gangä used to flow.

At this place Nimäi would take bath daily and play in the water performing many
wonderful pastimes. It was also here that Gangä devi performed austerities,
desiring to see the Lord perform His pastimes in her water.

12. Jagai Madhai Ghata:

Directions:
30 meters north of Mahaprabhu Ghāţa.
adyäpiha cihna äche caitanya-krpäya ‘mädhäira ghäta bali’ sarva-loke gäya

“By the mercy of Lord Caitanya, the ruins of that place still exist, which
everyone refers to as Mädhäi-ghäta.” (Sri Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-khanda
15.94)

"Just see the difference between Vraja-tattva and Navadvipa-tattva. The

offenders of Krsna get the liberation of merging in the Lord's body, whereas in
Navadvipa, the offenders receive the rare treasure of love of Godhead. Gaura-
lila therefore may be considered the highest of all."

The Heart of Sankirtana Devotees:

This ghata was built by the famous Vaishnavas Jagai and Mädhäi. One day
Lord Caitanya expressed His feelings: "Listen Nityananda and Haridasa, travel
everywhere and tell people about My teachings. Go to every house and beg
every- one this

bolo krşna, bhaja krsna, laho krsna-nama

krsna mätä, krsna pitä, krsna prana dhana
toma-saba lagiya krşnera avatara,
heno krsna bhajo, saba chado anacara

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“Chant Krsna's name, worship Krsna and accept Krsna's holy name from
others. Krsna is your mother; Krsna is your father, and Krsna is the treasure of
your life-breath. Krsna has incarnated just for your benefit, so please worship
this merciful Krsna and give up all improper activities.”

Carrying this order of their Lord and Master on their heads, these two divine
personalities became the first preachers in Lord Caitanya's sankirtana
movement. They went out every day asking everyone to chant Krsna's name.
One day they came across two degraded drunkards rolling around in the
street. One would catch the other unguarded and pound him with his fists.
Next they would embrace each other, but then suddenly pull each other's hair
and use foul language against each other.
The local people kept a safe distance from these drunkards and warned
Nityananda and Haridāsa not to go near them. They were Jagannatha and
Mādhvananda Bandopadiya, the sons of Raghunätha Räya; who, although born
into a high-class brāhmaņa family, were later out- casted and their names
shortened to Jagai and Madhai because of their sinful behaviour of arson,
looting, raping, and even killing cows and brāhmanas. The residents of
Navadvipa lived in terror of these two bandits.
When Lord Nityananda heard this, his heart melted. He thought, "Lord
Caitanya has incarnated only to liberate and save the most fallen souls; who is
more degraded than these two? The Lord has appeared hiding His real identity
and foolish people, not knowing this, deride Him. If My Lord is merciful and
saves them, the whole world will acknowledge His Supreme potency."
Lord Nityananda and Haridasa Thakura approached the drunken Jagäi and
Mädhäi and loudly repeated the message of Lord Caitanya "Chant Krsna's
names, worship Krşņa and give up your sinful ways." Jagai and Madhai, their
eyes blood-red in rage, looked up to see who had dared to speak such words to
them. They jumped up yelling, "Catch them! Catch them!" Lord Nityananda
and Haridasa ran for their lives chanting, "Krşņa save us! O Govinda!" while
Jagai and Madhãi chased them from behind yelling abuses. Nityananda and
Haridasa quickly hid themselves. This confused Jagai and Madhai were left
running around in intoxicated circles.

Because of Lord Nityananda's desire to save Jagai and Madhai, they were
already saved. Therefore, by divine arrangement, they set up their camp of
drunkards on the bank of Ganga near to the ghata, where Lord Caitanya
frequented. Jagai and Madhai heard the kirtana of the devotees every night.
Being quite amused at themselves, they would also chant and dance all night in

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their drunken stupor. One day Madhai saw Lord Nityananda and ran up to
him demanding to know who he was.
Nityananda Prabhu replied, "My name is Nityananda Avadhūta." Madhai
became enraged hearing the word 'avadhuta'. He picked up a broken earthen
wine pot and threw it at Lord Nityananda. It hit Nityananda’s head which
started to bleed. Madhai went to hit Nityananda again, but Jagái quickly
stopped him. Lord Nityananda remained calm and meditated on Govinda while
the devotees ran to Lord Caitanya to tell Him what happened.

Unconditional Love Absolves Offenses:

Lord Caitanya immediately called a large group of devotees together and they
all went to Nityananda Prabhu. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw blood on
Lord Nityananda's face, He went into a fit of wrath and loudly called out,
"Chakra! Chakra!" The sudarsana chakra, Krsna's most devastating weapon,
immediately appeared and loomed ominously in front of Jagai and Madhai.
At this Lord Nityananda quickly ran to Lord Caitanya and begged, "When
Madhai was about to hit me, Jagai stopped him, and I was only accidentally hit.
Although You see blood on me, I am not feeling any pain. Please give them to
me."
Lord Caitanya immediately embraced Jagai saying, "You have won Me over by
protecting Lord Nityananda. From today may you be firmly situated in pure
devotional life experiencing love of God." Jagai fell down unconscious in
spiritual ecstasy. Mädhäi, now further purified from seeing all of this, bypassed
Nityananda Prabhu and fell at Lord Caitanya's feet begging for the same
deliverance as his brother. Lord Caitanya refused. "Your offense is much
greater than any demon because you hurt Lord Nityananda, My most beloved
associate. You must fall at Lord Nityananda's feet."

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Vaishnava Critics Condemned:

Mädhäi went back to Lord Nityananda and threw himself at Nityananda's

lotus feet. Nityananda Prabhu picked Mädhäi up, embraced him, and relieved
him of all his sinful actions. He told Madhãi, "If you do not commit any more
sins, then I will take responsibility for your sinful lives." The devotees roared
in jubilation shouting, "Hari! Hari!" Lord Caitanya and the devotees then took
Jagai and Madhai into the inner quarters of Srivasa's house. Jagai and Mädhäi
now danced and chanted "Hari! Hari!" along with Lord Caitanya and His
associates in the all-night kirtana normally reserved only for Caitanya
Mahaprabhu and His most intimate associates.
Jagai and Mädhäi became staunch Vaishnavas. They rose before sunrise,
bathed in Ganga and chanted 200,000 names of Krsna.
Jagai and Mädhäi praised Lord Caitanya in many choice prayers. In reply,
Gaurahari explained how miracles like this transformation of Jagai and Madhai
into glorious Vaishnavas, is possible only by the mercy of Lord Nityananda.
"This is an absolute fact," He continued, "All Vaishnavas present please now
witness that 1 am Myself taking on all the sinful reactions of these two."
Saying that, Lord Caitanya's body changed from its effulgent golden hue to
blackish. Smiling, Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, "How do I look?" "You look
like Krsna," replied Advaita Acarya. Lord Caitanya then said, "Begin kirtana
and this black shroud of sin will lift from My body and will enter into the
bodies of those who criticize My devotees.""

From Debauchee to Brahmacarī:

After the deliverance of Jagäi and Mädhäi, Mädhäi met with Nityänanda Prabhu
in a solitary place and said, “Oh, My Lord! You are present within the heart of
every living entity. I have harmed many such living entities. If I knew all whom
I have harmed then I could beg forgiveness from them, but I do not know as
there have been so many. Please tell me how all those people, against whom I
have committed so many offenses, might become pleased with me. If You are
merciful upon me then kindly advise me what to do.”

Lord Nityänanda replied, “Please listen, I will instruct you. Regularly go and
clean the bathing ghäta on the Gangä. When the people take bath there happily
then all of them will bless you. If you serve Gangä-devi who eradicates all
offenses then what more good fortune is there for you than doing this service?
You should also offer obeisances to everyone with great humility. If you do this
then all will forgive you for your offenses.”

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After receiving this advice, Mädhäi circumambulated Lord Nityänanda many
times and then left. Everyone saw how Mädhäi was preparing the bathing ghäta
on the Gangä very nicely while chanting the holy name of Sri Krsna and
shedding tears.

Mädhäi would show much respect to anyone who came to the Gangä and offer
them his humble obeisances. He would beg for forgiveness saying, “I have
committed many offenses, knowingly and unknowingly unto you. Kindly excuse
me for all my offenses and bless me.”

Everyone would cry when they saw the tears of Mädhäi and would remember
Lord Govinda. Mädhäi began performing severe austerities there and became
famous as a brahmacäri. He stayed on the bank of the Gangä absorbed in her
darsana and with the help of a kodäla (spade) he worked hard repairing the
ghäta. By the mercy of Lord Caitanya, the ruins of that place are still visible and
known by all as Mädhäi-ghäta.

All glories, all glories to the most merciful incarnations of the Supreme Lord,
Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya, who appeared to save the most fallen.
Who is there who is so unfortunate as to not surrender to such magnanimous
saviours as Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya!!
13. Barakrona Ghata:

Directions:

10 meters north of Jagai and Mädhäi Ghata.

At this place Mahäprabhu studied and discussed scriptures. He also taught

Sanskrit grammar to His students here on the bank of Gangå. During the time
of Lord Caitanya, Navadvipa was India’s eastern center for Sanskrit and Vedic
studies.

This ghäta is said to have been originally constructed by Visvakarmä, the

architect of the demigods on the order of Krsna. It was a most beautiful ghäta
with many gardens, flowering creepers and chirping birds, creating a peaceful
and transcendental atmosphere. There were 5 temples and 5 Siva-lingas here
during Lord Caitanya’s time. At this place Lord Caitanya defeated Kesava
Käsmiri.

107
Pride Defeated and A Devotee Saved:

Leading an entourage of elephants, horses, and men, Kesava Kasmiri entered

Navadvipa to either defeat in debate or accept a letter of defeat from the
scholars of Navadvipa; at the time the most important place of learning on the
eastern side of India. Kešava Kasmiri was a favoured disciple of Mother
Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and she had given him a boon that no one
could defeat him. His victory in Navadvipa would seal his title of digvijayi, one
who had defeated scholars in all directions. In fear of losing their own
prestigious positions, all the scholars of Navadvipa fled leaving Nimai, a young
boy, as the only scholar in Navadvipa. This is good they felt. If He is defeated,
then it is not a real defeat as He is only a boy and our own positions as scholars
will be saved. And if He defeats Kesava Kasmiri, then Navadvipa, and all the
scholars, will be so famous as the place where a mere boy defeated the reigning
digvijayi.

In the meantime, Caitanya Mahaprabhu was concerned how to save Kesava

Käsmiri. His great learning had given him an immense pride; a formidable
barrier to developing spiritual knowledge. Gauranga Mahaprabhu wanted to
eclipse Kesava Käsmiri's pride, but at the same time not destroy him.

By Lord Caitanya's divine will, Kesava Kasmiri came to this ghata and saw
Nimai tutoring His students. Nimai introduced Himself as a humble teacher of
Sanskrit grammar and asked Kesava Kasmiri to reveal his great knowledge by
quoting verses on Ganga devi. Kesava Käsmiri immediately composed 100
very beautiful verses praising Ganga. All the students were amazed at his
erudition. Nimai then chose one of the 100 verses, repeated it verbatim, and
after praising 5 points, revealed 5 grammatical errors in Kesava Kasmiri's
composition. Kešava Kasmiri was so confused and bewildered by this defeat, he
could not say even one word in reply. He had defeated all the best scholars in
India and now a mere grammar teacher had defeated him. Nimai quietly
dismissed His students and then gently spoke to Kesava Kasmiri saying, "It is
getting late now, and it is time for us to leave. Please return tomorrow and we
can discuss some more."

108
That night, Mother Sarasvati appeared to Kešava Kasmiri in a dream and told
him he had been defeated because Nimai was none other than her worshipable
Lord and Master, the source of all learning, the Supreme Lord Himself.

Following Sarasvati devi's instructions, Kesava Käsmiri immediately went to

Lord Caitanya early the next morning and submitted himself as a surrendered
servant. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, greatly pleased by Kešava Kasmiri's behaviour,
instructed him, "The goal of learning is not worldly fame, but to render loving
devotional service to the Lord." Such are the wonderful pastimes of Lord
Caitanya that as Nimai, He establishes Himself as the foremost scholar in India
at the young age of 15 and at the same time saves his dear devotee. Kesava
Kasmiri went on to become a pure Vaishnava in the Nimbarka sampradayä and
wrote the ‘Kaustubha-prabhu’, a commentary on the Pärijata bhasya, the

109
Nimbarka sampradaya's commentary on the Vedas. In his previous life, he was
Nimbärkäcarya who received initiation by the four Kumaras and established
the Kumara sampradaya. At that time, Lord Caitanya appeared before
Nimbarka and told him he would appear as Keşava Käsmiri and be defeated by
Him."

14. Nāgariya Ghata:

Directions:

10 meters (30 feet) north of Barakrona Ghața.

Fun with Girlfriends:

Nimai had many mischievous pastimes here while growing up. When He saw
the young girls of Navadvipa worshiping Devi to get good husbands, He told
them to worship Him instead if they wanted a rich and handsome husband. If
they did not worship Him, they would get a poor and lame husband and would
be co-wives. Some of the girls became angry with Visvambhara while others
quickly offered Him everything in fear that His words would come true.

This ghața is also where Sacimātā saw Lakşhmipriya for the first time and
selected her as the future wife of her son.

Viśvambhara, Smarter Than the Smartas:

During the two years Lord Caitanya was a student at Ganga dasa Pandita's
school, He would bathe at this ghata and engage in water sports with His
friends on their way home from school. When Nimai saw the smarta
brahmanas doing their pūjās and mantras in Ganges River, He would dive
under the water, grab a brahmana by the legs, and pull him under. This would
make the other brahmanas greatly fearful that there was a crocodile in the
water. Nimai would splash whoever was near Him with the water from His
divine feet or take Ganga water into His divine mouth and spit it on the
brahmanas, who then felt they had been contaminated. He would take and eat
their puja offerings saying He was the object of their worship, or He would
jump onto the shoulders of someone and yell, "I am Mahesa (Šiva)," and then
jump down into Ganga's waters. At other times, He would steal someone's
Bhagavad-gita or siva-linga, cause great embarrassment to the men and
women by mixing up their clothes, or else take their clothes and run away with
them.

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Clever Tricks to Avoid Chastisement:

One day the brahmaņas went to Jagannatha Misra and complained about
Nimai's incorrigible behaviour. The girls also went to Sacimată with similar
complaints. One girl told Sacimătă how Nimai had put odaka seeds (a sticky
fruit) into her hair. Another said Nimäi had told her He wanted to marry her,
while other girls reported how Nimai would sneak up behind them and then
suddenly shout in their ears, making them jump in fright. Sacimātā embraced
each girl and consoled them by saying she would bind Nimãi so He could not
do this anymore. Jagannatha Misra however was very angry. He took up a
stick and headed towards Gangå to teach Nimai a lesson. The girls took pity
on Nimai and ran ahead to tell Him what was happening. Nimai quickly ran to
the road He normally used when coming home from school.

When Jagannatha Misra saw Nimai on this road, He was covered in dust and
writing ink, and His school clothes and hair were dry. Nimai climbed up on His
father's lap. Jagannatha Misra, bewildered and overjoyed in happiness at the
sight of his son, completely forgot his anger. Sacimātā also became delighted
when Nimai ran up to her and said, "Mother, please give Me some oil. I want
to go for My bath." Nimai then returned to Gangă and His friends. They all
enjoyed hearing Nimai's clever tricks that saved Him from a heavy
chastisement.

A Favourite for Kīrtana:

Gaurasundara came here many times leading the devotees in kirtana. He also
came here with His huge sankirtana party that went to Chand Kazi's palace to
protest the ban on kirtana. That kirtana was so loud, the Chand Kazi could
hear it from his palace in Simantadvipa.

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15. Ganganagara Ghata:

Directions:
It is said this place is located in the open field next to the Sridhama Mayapur
Post Office which is on the corner just past Yoga Pitha. While this is the
location accepted as being the place, it is also said that this ghaṭa is presently
covered by Ganga. In the map dated 1500, it is shown as the last ghaṭa and
marks the border of Antardvipa with Mayapur.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura describes this town in his Navadvipa-bhäva

taranga: “To the west of here (Mäyäpur), on the bank of the River Gangä,
stands the town celebrated by the name of Gangänagara. There is the house of
Gangädäsa, where my Lord Gauränga took His young brähmana friends and
they carried out their studies.”

Gangänagara is located to the west of Prthu-kunda which is now known as

Balläl-dighi. This kunda or pond is no longer visible since it has been used as
agricultural land. It is located between Sri Caitanya Matha, Srila Bhaktisidhänta
Sarasvati Gosvämi Prabhupäda’s samädhi and Muräri Gupta’s house.

Gangänagara is the place where King Bhagiratha worshiped Gangä-devi and

where he remained until Phälguna-pürnimä to celebrate the appearance day of
Lord Gauränga. Gangänagara was subsequently washed away by the Gangä,
which has since retreated to reveal a big tract of land, largely uninhabited.
Recently though, some people have started building houses there and we hope
that very soon Gangänagara will manifest again.

Ganga Devi's Austerities:

The city of Gangänagara was established by King Bhagiratha of the Raghu

dynasty. Many years ago, Mahäräja Bhagiratha pleased Gangä devi by his
austerities and she agreed to descend to earth and deliver his ancestors who
were burnt to ashes by the wrath of Kapila Muni. Bhagiratha was leading the
way from the Himälayas down to the ocean by blowing his conch shell and
Gangä followed him, making her course towards the ocean. At one point King
Bhagiratha turned back and saw that Gangä was no longer following him. The
king searched for her and saw that she had stopped at Navadvipa-dhäma.

112
King Bhagiratha became very worried because his ancestors’ ashes were still
more than 100 kilometres away. If Gangä refused to flow any further then how
would his ancestors be delivered?

King Bhagiratha therefore started to perform tapasya to please Gangä-devi.

Seeing his severe austerity Gangä-devi was pleased and appeared in front of the
king. Bhagiratha was very happy to see mother Gangä personally and said to
her, “My dear mother! You have stopped here! The ashes of my departed
ancestors are lying more than 100 kilometres ahead. If you stop now, how will
my forefathers be delivered?”

Mother Gangä replied, “My dear son! You should wait here without anxiety for
some days. I have come to Navadvipa-dhäma during the month of Mägha
(January-February) and I will stay here until the end of the Phälguna month
(February-March). At that time, I will proceed and deliver your forefathers.
Bhagiratha! I am coming from the lotus feet of the Lord. This Navadvipa-dhäma
is the abode of my Lord and I feel much satisfaction here. The appearance of my
Lord is on Phälguna-pürnimä day. On that day I will follow a vrata here, then
only will I follow you. Do not fear.”

This place is very glorious because Sri Gauränga Mahäprabhu has danced here
many times.

Lord Nityananda, in Sri Navadvipa-dhāma Mahatmya, says, "On the Phalguna

Pürnima," one who fasts, takes bath in the Ganges here, and worships Gauranga,
will cross over the material ocean along with 1000 of his ancestors, and attain
Goloka Vrndävana after death, no matter where he dies.

The houses of Gangädäsa and Sanjaya, two associates of Mahäprabhu, were

situated in Gangänagara.

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Near Bharadväja-tilä there is a primary school beside which is a dirt road that
goes to the field. Devotees go on panca-krosa-parikramä on this road. If you
proceed about 200 meters, you will see a raised piece of land on your left which
is now used for growing rice.

This land is believed to be the residence of Gangädäsa Pandita who had a school
here at which Srimän Mahäprabhu studied for 2 years during His childhood
from the age of 8-10 years. Ganga dasa Pandita loved Nimai very much. He was
Sandipani Muni, the spiritual master and teacher of Krsna and Balarama in Their
Vrndavana pastimes.

Next to Gangädäsa Pandita’s house was the house of Mukunda Sanjaya and his
brother. Srimän Mahäprabhu opened His school in this house.

16. Bharadväja-Tilä:

Bharadväja Muni was sitting on a raised tilä (hillock) while engaged in his
gaura-bhajana, therefore this place is called Bharadväja-tilä. (Bhakti-ratnäkara)

This place is located at the end of the village called Bhärui-dangä. A monument
has been constructed there by the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust
(BVSCT).

tato gatvä bharadväja sthänam sankirtayan harim

tato mäyäpuräväsam pravivesa svayam harih

“Lord Gaurahari then went to Bharadväja-sthäna and performed hari

sankirtana. Then He personally entered the abode of Mäyäpur.” (Navadvipa
dhäma-mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4.56)

Bharadvaja-tila

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Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura wrote in his Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga: “There (in
Gangänagara), one can see the lovely hill known as Bharadväja-tilä, where the
great sage Bharadväja worshiped Lord Gaura. The sage ultimately attained
ecstatic love for Lord Caitanya and then wrote scriptural verses that bestowed
the gift of devotional service unto many materialistic people.”

Bharadväja Muni Received Darsana of Lord Gauränga:

Isäna Thäkura explained to Sri Sriniväsa that this village is known as Bhärui-
dangä. Previously Bharadväja tilä was situated here. After travelling to many
tirthas including the samudra (the great ocean), Bharadväja Muni came to a
place called Cakra-daha. It is now known as Chäkdaha and is situated on the
bank of the Gangä. From there he visited Navadvipa-dhäma. Upon seeing the
beauty of Navadvipa the muni became very ecstatic. He settled here on top of
this tilä (hillock) in a very simple and humble manner, worshiping Lord
Gauränga. Being pleased by the pure love of Bharadväja Muni, Lord Gaurahari
revealed to him His most wonderful form. The sage offered his prostrated
obeisance as well as many prayers and the Lord told him to ask for any boon he
desired. The muni replied, “O my Lord! My only prayer is that You please bless
me so that I will see Your manifested pastimes here in Navadvipa-dhäma.”

The Lord said, “Let it be so. Your desire will be fulfilled. You will have My
darsana during My manifested pastimes.” Saying this, the Lord disappeared
from the vision of the sage, who fell to the ground offering his humble
prostration to Navadvipa dhäma before continuing his pilgrimage.

17. Sri Murari Gupta’s Home:

Sri Murari Gupta:

Murari Gupta, the 21st branch of the tree of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was a
storehouse of love of Godhead. His great humility and meekness melted the
heart of Lord Chaitanya.

Intimate Associate, Intimate Pastimes:

Murari Gupta was a very intimate associate whose pastimes with Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu were steeped in the loving bond of their eternal relationship. As
an incarnation of Hanuman, Murari Gupta is as dear to Caitanya Mahaprabhu
as Hanuman is to Lord Rama. He appeared in Śri Hatta, the hometown of
Jagannatha Misra and Śrīvāsa Pandita, but became a resident of Mayapur
when he was a young boy. He was only a few years older than Lord Caitanya

115
and a close neighbour, so they shared many experiences while growing up.
Born into a lineage of Ayurvedic doctors, Murări Gupta followed that
profession, but because of his elevated spiritual potencies, he also cured the
spiritual diseases of his patients along with their physical ailments. Murari
Gupta also wrote the first biography on Gauranga Mahaprabhu named Sri
Caitanya carita.

Urinating Pastime:

Murari Gupta was a few years older than Nimai. Once Nimäi saw Murari
Gupta walking along the street discussing the yoga-sästras with some others.
Gaurahari ran behind Murari and began imitating his speech and way of
walking. "Who says this boy is well-behaved!" scolded Murări, "I recognize
Him to be the son of the brahmana Jagannatha Misra." Angry over this
reprimand, Nimäi told Murari he would realize something wonderful while
eating lunch. Murari forgot about the incident, went about his duties and then
sat down to eat his lunch. Meanwhile Gaurahari had disguised Himself by
dressing up in opulent cloth and pearl necklaces. He tied His hair in a triple
topknot, put kajal around His eyes, and ankle bells on His feet.

As Murari was about to begin his lunch, Nimai arrived and called out his name
in a loud voice. He then told the startled Murari to relax and eat his lunch.
While Murari was eating, Nimai slowly moved closer and closer and then
suddenly urinated on Murări's lunch. "Shame, shame on you!" cried Murări,
but Gaurahari was dancing and clapping His hands in glee. "Giving up the
path of devotion, you have adopted the path of yoga. You should forget about
karma and jñāna and just worship Radha and Krsna with all your heart.
Become a rasikā bhakta and you will taste the blissful mellows of loving Krsna.
Don't you understand these things?" Nimai continued, "Lord Hari is
omnipotent and full of compassion. He is the treasure and very life of the gopis
of Vrndavana. Why do you hurt the Lord by not serving Him?"

Saying this, Gaurahari disappeared and returned home. Completely perplexed,

Murari Gupta ran to Jagannatha Misra's house where he saw little Nimai
being jostled and caressed on the laps of His parents. Murari paid repeated
obeisances to Nimai and circumambulated Him offering prayers. While
Jagannatha Misra and Sacimătă were most perplexed over Murari's behaviour,
Nimäi pretended He didn't know what was happening. "Visvambhara is the
Supreme Lord of all lords and the maintainer of the universe. In the future this
boy you are raising will reveal His identity to you," proclaimed Murari. He
then left his heart bursting with joy.

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Challenges, Victory and Defeat:

Murari Gupta was in the class above Nimai in Gangă dăsa's school. Relishing
His own pastimes as a topmost student, Nimäi arrogantly challenged the other
students, including Murări, to defeat His arguments. Although a partial
expansion of Lord Siva, who is known for his quick temper, Murări remained
calm in the face of Nimai's taunting and replied, "O learned Brahmin, why are
You so arrogant? On what subject did You not get a proper answer from me?
Without asking and waiting for a reply You are flaunting me. Why do You
behave like this?" While internally very pleased, Nimai proceeded to debate
with Murari explaining everything he established in an opposite way. At other
times Nimai praised Murari being pleased with his explanations and enjoyed
being defeated by His dear associate. Murari finally accepted Nimai as his tutor
after considering there was no one more knowledgeable than Him.

A Leading Associate:

On His return from Gaya, Lord Caitanya asked for Murari to be amongst the
first devotees to witness His transformation into a devotee of Krsna
experiencing the highest ecstasies of Krsna-prema. He was also present when
Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda met for the first time. He was an expert
dancer and kirtaneer and became a leading participant in the all-night kirtanas
at Srivāsa Pandita's house. He also played the role of a guard along with
Haridasa Thakura during Lord Caitanya's drama at Candrasekhara's house.
When Murari recited slokas from Srimad Bhagavatam, they were so sweet
Gauracandra would become carried away on the waves of ecstasy.

Lord Caitanya Becomes Lord Rama:

During the manifestation of His maha-prakasa pastime, Lord Caitanya told

Murari Gupta, "Look at Me," and revealed Himself as Lord Rama along with
Sitä, Lakshmana and Hanuman. Murari collapsed on the floor, but Lord
Caitanya continued, "Hey monkey! Did you forget how Ravana burnt your face
and how you set his kingdom ablaze! I am that same worshipable Lord of
yours. Arise Murari, you are as dear to Me as My own life." Regaining his
senses, Murari asked Sri Caitanya for a boon that he always appear with the
Lord in His pastimes as His servant.

One night, during a kirtana at Srivasa Pandita's house, Gaurasundara asked

Murari to recite the verses he had written glorifying Lord Rama. This pleased
Lord Caitanya so much that He wrote 'Rama dása' on Murari's forehead and
said he would henceforth be known by that name. Caitanya Mahaprabhu praised
Murari Gupta by explaining his name as one in whose heart the Lord (Murari)
secretly (gupta) resides.

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"Boar! Boar!"

One day after hearing the pastimes of His incarnation as Varahadeva, Lord
Caitanya became overwhelmed in ecstasy and ran to Murari Gupta's house.
Murari was overjoyed to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu. While he was paying his
obeisances, Lord Caitanya quickly ran past him shouting "boar! boar!" Murari
was very perplexed and anxiously looked around but could not see any boars.
Meanwhile Gauracandra ran into the temple-room and seeing a beautiful
water-pot, lifted it up and, manifesting Himself in the form of Varahadeva,
used the water-pot to represent the earth planet.

Lond Caitanya reveals Himself as Varahadeva to Murari Gupta

"Praise Me!" ordered Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but Murări was completely

dumbfounded. "You did not know My supreme identity?" asked the Lord.

Murari Gupta composed himself and praise Gauracandra by saying only He

could understand His own glories.

A Breach of Etiquette:

Another time when Lord Caitanya was at Pandita's house, Murari Gupta
arrived and paid obeisances first to Gaurahari and then to Lord Nityananda.
Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked why he, of all people, did not follow the proper
social etiquette. Murari was somewhat perplexed and became even more so
when Gauracandra told him to leave and that all would be revealed to him
later. Murari Gupta had a dream that night where he saw Lord Nityananda,
who looked exactly like Balarama, walking in front of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Lord Caitanya then smiled at Murari Gupta and said, "Now do you
understand? 1 am junior."

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The next day Murari paid obeisances to Lord Nityananda first. Pleased to see
this, Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled and said, "Murari, because you are very
dear to Me 1 disclosed the confidential truth about Myself to you." He then
gave Murari chewed betel nut remnants from His own mouth. Murari felt his
whole body pulsate in spiritual excitement upon taking the betel nut remnants.

Embracing Murari Gupta, Gaura-nataraja then said, "Murări, you are indeed
My pure devotee and thus you have perceived the transcendental position of
Lord Nityananda. A person may claim to be My devotee, but if he holds the
slightest grudge against Lord Nityananda, I do not favour him. Go home
Murari. You have purchased Me completely." Now completely beside himself
in spiritual bliss, Murari Gupta went home and asked his wife for some food.
While mixing ghee into the rice, he began calling out, "Krsna, come eat! Eat!"
and proceeded as if feeding someone by the handful. For others, all they saw
was the rice falling on the floor. Murari Gupta's wife also called out "Krşņa!
Krsna!" in excitement seeing her husband's spiritual delusion and kept
supplying him with more and more rice and ghee.

The next morning Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Murări Gupta to get

treatment for indigestion. "What did you eat yesterday?" asked Murari. "My
dear fellow, how would you know?" replied Gauranga. "You may have
forgotten, but your wife knows. I ate everything you offered while calling out
‘Eat! Eat!’" Taking Murari's water jug, Lord Caitanya drank the water to 'cure'
His 'indigestion'. Seeing the Lord's infinite mercy, Murari could not contain
himself and fell unconscious. Everyone else wept, being overcome with
spiritual joy.

"Garuda! Garuda!":

Another time at Srivasa Pandita's house, Gauranga Mahaprabhu suddenly

manifested His four-armed form of Vishnu and began calling out "Garuda!
Garuda!" "Here I am my Lord, Your servant," replied Murari, "Have you
forgotten, my Lord, how I carried You to the heavenly planets and brought
back the pärijäta tree? Here again are my shoulders at Your service. Which
planet shall 1 take You to?" Gaurasundara climbed onto Murari Gupta's
shoulders and the whole of Srivasa's house reverberated with loud calls of
excitement as Murări ran around Srivasa's courtyard at great speed with the
Lord on his back. The Vaishnavas praised Murari for his unlimited good
fortune. His pastimes with the Lord are very confidential and can only be
understood by the devotees.

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Suicide Plan Foiled:

Murări once became perplexed over the inconceivable nature of the Lord's
pastimes. He also understood that the Lord would end His Mäyäpur pastimes
soon. Thinking he could not tolerate separation from the Lord, he purchased a
shell saw-cutter and hid it in his house intending to use it that night to end his
life. Being the Supersoul, Caitanya Mahaprabhu knew everything and
immediately went to Murari Gupta's house. Gauranga spoke with Murari
about Krsna's pastimes for quite some time and then asked Murari to fulfil a
request. "Lord, this body and soul belong to You," replied Murări. "Is this
really true?" asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and then whispered into Murari's
ear, "Give Me the saw you bought to end your life with."

Murari tried to claim this information was false, but Gaurahari corrected His
dear devotee for being so naive. He went into the house and retrieved the saw.
"Just see how you are behaving with Me Murari," continued Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. "If you should go, who will be a partner in My pastimes? I beg
you to promise to never pursue such whims." Lord Caitanya embraced Murari.
He then put Murari's hand on His own head and said, "It would be better if
you destroy My head if ever you decide to leave your body." Murari threw
himself at Caitanya Mahaprabhu's feet and held onto them tightly, sobbing
piteously. Gauracandra picked him up, wrapped His arms around him and
binding him in a tight embrace, cried tears of love for His pure devotee.

Separation and Reunion:

Soon after this, Lord Caitanya came to Murari and told him that He was going
to take sannyasa. Seeing the Lord's determination Murari knew it was futile to
try to dissuade Him, so with a heavy heart he said, "My dear Lord, You are
supremely independent and will do as You desire." After this, Murari saw
Krşņa Caitanya Mahaprabhu every year when he went to Jagannatha Puri
with all the other devotees. One time the Mayapur devotees met with Lord
Caitanya before starting their journey back to Navadvipa. Caitanya
Mahaprabhu began to glorify each one of the assembled Vaishnavas. Seeing
Murari Gupta, Gauranga Mahaprabhu remembered how He could not induce
Murari to give up the lotus feet of Lord Rama.

The Lord told the devotees, "Murari Gupta became influenced to accept Krsna
as his Lord being entreated by Me, but the thought of leaving the service of
Ramacandra was too much for him. He spent the whole night praying to Lord
Rama and hoping his life would end. The next morning Murari came to Me

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begging for mercy. He said, 'It is not possible for me to give up the service of
Raghunatha's (Lord Rama's) lotus feet. At the same time, if I do not I shall
break Your order.' I was so pleased to hear this I embraced him and told him,
'All glories to you Murari. Your worship is firmly fixed. The servitor must
have love and affection for the lotus feet of the Lord exactly like this." Krsna
Caitanya completed His praise of Murari by telling the Vaishnavas, "I accept
this Murari Gupta as My life and soul. When I hear of his humility, it per-
turbs My very life."

Sri Murari Gupta’s Home Practical Guide:

Darsana Times: 3pm to 8pm.

Devakinandana dåsa maintains this temple, the pūjā, and property on his own,
so he has given the above times for darsana. It may be possible to get darsana
at other times. If the gate is locked, try calling out.

Directions:

When you walk to the north from Yoga-pitha, before reaching Sriväsa Ängana,
there is a road on your right. Follow that road for half a kilometre and on your
right you will see a small temple. Muräri Gupta’s house was located here.

(OR take the second road on the right past the Sridhama Māyāpur Post Office.
Proceed down this road going through the local village. After approximately 5
minutes (by rickshaw) you will come to the end of the village and see cultivated
fields on the left and a wall and iron gate on the right. This is the place.)

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 Sri Murari Gupta’s Home

Presiding Deities:

In the picture you can see the original deities that were worshiped by Murari
Gupta. These Deities have unfortunately become unworshipable and are being
kept elsewhere.

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 Original Deities Worshiped by Sri Murari Gupta

Currently in the small temple are the replacement deities of Sītā, Rāma,
Lakşhmaņa and Hanuman, installed by Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati
Prabhupäda.

Present Deities at Sri Murari Gupta’s Home

There is also a black deity of four-armed Nārāyaņa that was found while
excavating the land to build this temple. This Deity dates to Satya-yuga (3
million years ago) and is therefore said to have also been worshiped by Murari

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Gupta. This deity has now moved to the Caitanya Matha and is being worshiped
there.

Narayana Deity

18. Ballal Dighi/Prthu Kunda:

Directions:
Prthu Kunda used to be in the fields on the right side of Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Marga just before Caitanya Matha. It is no longer manifest.
Prthu-kunda is situated between Muräri Gupta’s house and the Caitanya Matha.
When you leave Sriväsa Ängana and walk away from Mäyäpur on the
Bhaktisiddhänta Road, you will see a large paddy field just before reaching the
Caitanya Matha. Although no longer visible, Prthu-kunda was situated here and
later came to be known as Balläl-dighi.

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 Ballal-Dighi/Prthu Kunda

In the Parikramä-khanda of Sri Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya, Srila

Bhaktivinoda Thäkura has described Prthu-kunda as follows:

“Towards the east of Gangänagara, where the houses of Gangädäsa and Sanjaya
are located, is a very beautiful lake, now known as Balläl-dighi. This place was
very important when Prthu Mahäräja, one of the saktyävesa-avatäras of the
Lord appeared in the Satya-yuga to take care of the citizens who were
impoverished and starving after the tyrannical reign of the previous king,
Mahārāja Vena.

To make the planet more suitable for living Prthu Mahäräja had started a
project to level the surface of the earth (as some places were low and others high)
to help Mother Bhūmi (Mother Earth) produce the required crops to feed the
citizens. When Prthu Mahäräja came to Navadvipa, his workers saw a bright
effulgence emanating from the ground. They informed the king, and he
personally came and noticed it as well.

Perceiving this place to be very special, he became absorbed in meditation and

received the darsana of Lord Krsna in His form of Lord Caitanya. Lord
Caitanya told Prthu Maharaja that this place was Navadvipa, His eternal
abode. He requested him to excavate a beautiful kunda here and to also keep

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His future pastimes a secret. All of one's sins are destroyed by drinking the
pure transparent water of this kunda and by bathing here, one goes to the
supreme abode.
Later, when the Sena dynasty was ruling Bengal, King Lakşhmaņa Sena had his
palace in this area. He dug the kunda deeper, renovated it, giving it a more
pleasing appearance. He did this welfare job desiring the deliverance of his
forefathers. Lakshmana Sena’s father was Balläl Sena; thus, the name of this lake
became Balläl-dighi. Dighi means a big pond or lake.

It is also said that Jayadeva Gosvämi wrote his Sri Daşāvatāra-stotra, a beautiful
poem glorifying the 10 main incarnations of Krsna on the banks of this kunda.

19. Sridhara Angana:

sodhitvä tam kirtanädau sri-gaurasundarah prabhuh

tirtham dvädasakam tirtvä sridharasya grham yayau

“Lord Sri Gaurasundara, during the time of the first (ädi) kirtana purified Kamsa
who had taken birth as Chand Kazi and went to the house of Sridhara after
crossing dvädasa-tirtha (the 12 tirthas).” (Navadvipa-dhäma mähätmya,
Pramäna-khanda 4.35)

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura mentions in his Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga:

“In the centre of Madhuvana is the place called Visräma-sthala. There stands
the cottage of the Lord’s devotee named Sridhara and a clear pond. After
rectifying the Kazi, the Lord of the three worlds came here with His followers
and rested. When will I shout “Hä Gauränga!” at this Visräma-sthala? When
will I roll upon the ground and cry in solitude? Overwhelmed with emotions of
ecstatic love, will I ever see the beautiful Gauränga-sundara drinking water from
Sridhara’s iron pot? And when, by the power of great fortune, will my eyes
behold the young son of Saci amid a rousing kirtana along with Nityänanda,
Advaita, Gadädhara, and Sriväsa, dancing and begging for ecstatic love at the
house of Sridhara?” (Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga)

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Sri Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya (Parikramä-khanda) describes:

When Lord Nityänanda took Sri Jiva on Navadvipa-mandala Parikramä they

reached the house of Sridhara, or Kolävecä Sridhara (the banana vendor). This
personality is also known as the cowherd boy Kusumäsava in Krsna-lilä.
Nityänanda Prabhu said, “At this place Mahäprabhu would take rest after
completing His dancing and chanting. Therefore, this place is known as Visräma
sthäna or the place of rest.”

When Sridhara heard about the arrival of Lord Nityänanda, he immediately

came forward and offered prostrated obeisance. He worshiped Lord Nityänanda
and said, “O, my Lord! You are very merciful towards this menial servant of
Yours. I humbly request You to kindly take rest today at my residence.”

Lord Nityänanda said, “You are a very fortunate person. Lord Gauränga has
personally blessed you. Today all of us will stay here and take rest.” Sridhara
was extremely satisfied to hear this desire of Lord Nityänanda. Immediately he
brought all the ingredients for cooking and had a devotee brähmana cook the
feast. First Lord Nityänanda and Sriväsa Thäkura took prasäda and after they
had concluded their meal, Sri Jiva very happily honoured prasäda. When
Nityänanda Prabhu reclined on a bed after taking prasäda, Sridhara, along with
his whole family, massaged His divine lotus feet.

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Sridhara Angana Practical Guide:

Darsana Times: All the time

Directions:

Enter the mango grove at the back of Sri Jagannätha temple in Räjäpur using
the small gate at the rear of the temple. Ahead of you on the right side you will
see a small building situated amongst a cluster of trees. This is the place.

Points of Interest:

The building indicates the location of Sridhara’s house. This area is non-
different from Madhuvana forest of Vrndävana where Krsna and Balaräma had
many pastimes with Their sakhäs, cowherd boyfriends. One of these sakhäs was
Kusumäsava Gopäla sakhä who appeared as Sidhara in Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s
pastimes.

Sasthi Tirtha Kunda:

On the right side of the building, you will see a field that is dug out and
surrounded by raised edges. This was a kunda in Lord Caitanya’s time. Young
Nimäi used to play here and steal bananas from Sridhara’s nearby banana patch.

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Directions:

One of these kundas is in Chand Kazi’s village and another is here to the side of
Sridhara’s place.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura states in his Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga:

“North of Prthu-kunda is the town of Mathurä and the holy place known as
Sasthi-tirtha, which is within the exquisitely beautiful forest of Madhuvana (in
Vraja). This is a very vast area populated by many people. May my eyes become
purified by viewing this scene.”

Sri Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya (Parikramä-khanda) describes:

During the afternoon Sriväsa Thäkura took Sri Jiva on a tour. He showed him
Sasthi-tirtha (the 60 tirthas). Sriväsa explained, “Before the advent of Lord Sri
Gauränga, the demigods came to know that the Lord would very soon appear in
Navadvipa. Visvakarmä came to Nadia, realizing that Mahäprabhu would be
performing nagara-sankirtana and walking through the streets of Nadia. The
architect of the demigods understood that the Lord along with His associates
would become very thirsty. To relieve them of thirst Visvakarmä dug 60 ponds
in one night, the last one being in the village of Chand Kazi.”

Resting Place:

This place is also known as visräma-sthala (resting place) as Lord Caitanya

would take rest here after performing kirtana.

20. Isodyana (Sri Nandana Acarya’s Home):

"I offer my obeisances to anyone who understands that within or beyond the
material world there is nothing as sweet as Gauravana (Lord Gauranga’s
Forest of Navadvipa-dhama). All glories to Lord Gauranga’s Forest, which is
shining like golden tilaka, covered with the white garments of Ganges waters,
splendid with blossoming campaka flowers, filled with various rasas and
saturated with the sweetest nectar of Krsna- prema, which is forever relished
by the beloved son of Sri Jagannatha Misra."

Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes, "My Lord, Sri Sacinandana, enjoys midday

pastimes with His associates here. Seeing the beauty of this grove, I will
remember Radha-kunda. May this all be eternally visible to my eyes. Amid the

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huge trees and dense vines, various types of birds are singing the glories of
Gauranga. There is a large lake, and a golden temple covered with diamonds
as well as blue and yellow sapphires." Isodyäna is non-different to Radha-
kunda in Vrndāvana. It extends from the samadhi mandir of Srila Prabhupada
(ISKCON) down to the confluence of the Sarasvati and Gangā rivers at Hular
Ghata.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura explains in his Navadvipa-bhäva-taraìga: “In the

southern portion of Mäyäpur, on the bank of the River Gangä and very near
its junction with the River Sarasvati, is the extensive grove called Isodyäna,
the Lord’s Garden. May that garden be the place of my eternal devotion.

Sri Nandana Ācārya's Home:

Nandana Acārya is an associate of Lord Caitanya in His Navadvipa pastimes.

His house is where Nityananda and Caitanya met for the first time. Advaita
Acarya and his wife Sitä Devi also came here to hide when Advaita Prabhu
issued a challenge to Caitanya Mahāprabhu to test His claim that He was the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Gauränga Mahaprabhu also hid here for one
night, creating intense feelings of separation in His associates.
Sri Gaura Nityänanda Gaudiya Matha temple is said to mark the site where the
house of Nandana Äcärya used to stand. This temple is between the ISKCON
temple and the boat ghat to Navadvipa. The area from the confluence of the
Gangä and the Sarasvati up to the samädhi of Srila Prabhupäda is known as
Isodyäna, the Lord’s Garden. This is where Nandana Äcärya had his house.

Huge trees and dark vines appear very dense. Among the foliage there are
various types of birds singing the transcendental glories of Lord Gaura. In the
garden, there is a large lake and an extremely opulent temple glowing with pure
gold inlaid with diamonds as well as blue and yellow sapphires. The materialists,
with their eyes bewildered by the illusions of material sense perception, and who
are envious of the Lord, can never see these groves. Rather, they see only a small
piece of land covered with thorns, periodically thrown into utter disruption by
the forceful flooding of the river.” (Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga)

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 Sri Nandana Acarya Bhavan

The First Meeting:

The Meeting of Sri Gauränga and Sri Nityänanda at Nandana Acärya’s

Home:

Lord Nityananda left his childhood home of Ekacakra when he was 12 years of
age and travelled on pilgrimage for approximately 20 years. He then went to
Vrndavana where he waited for Lord Caitanya to reveal His sankirtana
pastimes. He spent his days roaming around the forests of Vraja absorbed in
the ecstasy of his previous pastimes as Balarama, roaring loudly, and rolling in
the dust of Gokula. He would often play with the local cowherd boys and their
cows. Upon hearing Caitanya Mahaprabhu was revealing His identity as the
Supreme Personality of Godhead and His kirtana pastimes, Lord Nityananda
immediately came to Mayapur and waited here at Nanda Acarya's house for his
younger brother, Gaurasundara, to find him.
jäniyä äilä jhäta navadvipa-pure äsiyä rahilä nandana-äcäryera ghare

“As soon as Lord Nityänanda realized that Lord Caitanya had manifested
Himself, He quickly went to Navadvipa. When He arrived, He resided in the
house of Nandana Äcärya.” (Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-khanda 3.123)

Nandana Äcärya was very happy to receive Lord Nityänanda at his house where
he offered Him a place to stay and arranged for His prasäda.
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Caitanya Mahaprabhu had already told the devotees that a great personality
would arrive in Mäyäpur very soon and the Vaishnava community was excited
in anticipation.

One morning after Lord Gauracandra had concluded His worship of Lord
Vishnu, He came to meet with the devotees. The Lord said, “Today I had a very
wonderful dream. A great chariot called Täladhvaja came and stopped in front
of My house. Sitting on that chariot was a great personality with a huge body.
He was holding a club over His shoulder and in His left hand was a kamandalu
pot bound to a stick. He was wearing a blue cloth, had a blue turban on His head,
and a wonderful earring was hanging from His left ear. Upon seeing this
character, I felt He had the mood of Haladhara, Lord Balaräma. He asked me ten
or twenty times, ‘Is this the house of Nimäi Pandita?’ He looked like a great
avadhüta. I have never seen such a personality. I felt very respectful to Him and
asked Him, ‘O, great personality! Who are You?’ He smiled and said, ‘I am Your
brother. Tomorrow We will meet with each other.’

From this dream I think a great person must have come to Navadvipa. I have
told you before that very soon we will meet with a great personality. O,
Haridäsa! O, Sriväsa! Please go and find out whether He has already arrived.”

By the order of the Lord both Haridäsa and Sriväsa went to search for Him all
over Navadvipa, but they could not find such a personality anywhere. After
searching for Him all over for 9 hours, they finally came back to Lord
Gauracandra and informed Him, “We searched for this personality everywhere,
in the houses of all the Vaishnavas, sannyäsis and grhasthas, even in the homes
of all the atheists, but we could not find Him anywhere. We have searched all
over Navadvipa, but we have not gone to other villages.”

Upon hearing this Lord Gauracandra smiled and explained to them how this
personality, Lord Nityänanda, is very confidential. Not everyone can find Him;
unless Lord Gauränga Himself reveals Him, He cannot be found. Lord Gauränga
said, “All of you come with Me. We will go and search for Him together.” Lord
Gauracandra along with all the devotees went to Nandana Äcärya’s house.

There they saw this great jewel among all persons. He was as effulgent as
millions of suns. He was in immense meditative bliss and was always laughing.
Mahäprabhu understood His great devotion and along with all His associates
offered obeisances to Him. All stood there with respect, no one said a word, they

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just looked on silently. Lord Visvambhara stood in front of that personality. He
recognized Lord Nityänanda, the Lord of His life.

Lord Nityänanda also recognized His Lord. In ecstasy Lord Nityänanda became
stunned and looked upon Lord Visvambhara with undeviated, focused attention
in such a way that it seemed as if He was licking with His tongue, drinking
through His eyes, embracing with His arms and smelling through His nose.

Thus, Nityänanda became silent and motionless. Everyone was surprised to see
this, but Lord Gaura Räya could understand everything. To reveal Lord
Nityänanda’s svarüpa to everyone Lord Gauracandra devised a plan. He made
an indication to Sriväsa Pandita to recite a verse from Srimad Bhägavatam.
Understanding the desire of the Lord, Sriväsa Pandita recited the following
verse:

barhäpidam nata-vara-vapuh karnayoh karnikäram

bibhrad väsah kanaka-kapisam vaijayantim ca mäläm
randhrän venor adhara sudhayäpürayan gopa-vrndair
vrndäranyam sva-pada-ramanam prävisad gita-kirtih

“Wearing a peacock-feather ornament upon His head, blue karnikära flowers on

His ears, a yellow garment as brilliant as gold, and the Vaijayanti garland, Lord
Krsna exhibited His transcendental form as the greatest of dancers as He
entered the forest of Vrndävana, beautifying it with the marks of His footprints.
He filled the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips, and the cowherd boys
sang His glories.” (SB 10.21.5)

As soon as Lord Nityänanda heard this verse He immediately fell and lost His
external consciousness. When Lord Nityänanda fainted in ecstasy, Lord
Gauränga instructed Sriväsa to recite more and more. By hearing again and
again Lord Nityänanda regained His external consciousness and started to cry.
Hearing the verse repeatedly increased His ecstasy and He started roaring like
a lion. He was jumping high in the air and falling to the ground. Everyone was
thinking that His bones would break. Even the Vaishnavas were afraid, what to
speak of others. Everyone prayed to Lord Krsna saying, “Please save Him, please
save Him!” Lord Nityänanda was rolling on the ground, His whole body
drenched with tears. He was looking at the face of Visvambhara and breathing
heavily, experiencing ecstasy within his heart and laughing loudly. Sometimes
He was dancing, sometimes He was bending down, sometimes He was beating
on his arms and at other times He was jumping which was a very amazing sight.
By seeing this most wonderful ecstasy due to madness for Lord Krsna, Sri

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Gauränga cried along with all the Vaishnavas. Constantly the happiness
increased. No one was able to catch hold of Lord Nityänanda and after their
failed attempts Lord Visvambhara Himself took Lord Nityänanda onto His lap.
As soon as Lord Nityänanda reached the lap of Visvambhara He became quiet
and surrendered His life to Him. Lord Nityänanda was floating in the water of
love of Sri Caitanya. He looked exactly like Lakshmana when he was hurt by the
sakti weapon of Indrajit, and Visvambhara looked exactly like Rämacandra,
holding His wounded brother on His lap. Lord Nityänanda fainted, pierced by
the arrows of prema-bhakti. Lord Gauracandra was crying, holding Nityänanda.
After some time, Lord Nityänanda regained His external consciousness and the
devotees started chanting “Hari, Hari” and “jaya, jaya.”

Ecstasy overwhelmed the two eternal brothers, as They beheld each other's
divine forms for the first time. Lord Caitanya embraced Lord Nityananda and
tears cascaded down Their faces as the two Lords swayed in each other's arms.
They became unsteady in spiritual agitation and rolled on the ground, their
bodies trembling in ecstacy. Gadādhara Pandita said, "They are exactly like
Rama and Lakshmaņa," while another devotee mused how they were Krsna
and Balarama. Gauracandra was completely blissful as He glorified
Nityananda-Raya as non-different from the Supreme Lord and the embodiment
of loving devotion to Krsna. "The living entities can get loving devotional
service to the lotus feet of Krsna simply by worshiping you. Even a moment’s
association with you can dissolve millions and millions of sins."

Nityänanda and Gauracandra just looked at each other without saying anything
as tears flowed from Their eyes. Then Lord Gauränga started glorifying Lord
Nityänanda by saying, “Today is a very auspicious day because I have seen
bhakti-yoga in You, which is the essence of all the Vedas. Without the energy
of Isvara how can anyone exhibit tears and other symptoms like these? By
serving You one will get Krsna-bhakti. You have come to purify all 14 planetary
systems. You are the personification of Krsna bhakti. Now I understand that
Krsna has brought You here to give Me Your association which will deliver
Me.”

After glorifying Nityänanda for some time Lord Gauränga asked fearfully,
“Kindly tell Me, where have You come from?” Nityänanda, who has a childlike
nature and was talking like a child, said, “I had set off for tirtha-yäträ
(pilgrimage). I went to see all the holy places of Sri Krsna but wherever I went
I saw only empty places without Krsna. I asked some gentlemen why this was
so, ‘Why are all these simhäsanas empty? O, my dear brothers! Please tell me in
which direction Krsna has gone?’ They replied that Krsna had gone to Gauda

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desa. ‘Just a few days ago He went to Nadia after visiting Gayä. There is a great
hari-sankirtana happening in Nadia.’ Some said, ‘Lord Näräyana has appeared
there, I heard the deliverer of fallen souls has appeared in Nadia!’ Hearing this
great news a fallen soul like Me has come here.” Mahäprabhu said, “We are all
very fortunate that a great devotee like You has arrived here. By seeing the flow
of bliss in You we have been blessed today.”

Thus, Lord Nityänanda and Lord Gauracandra met each other at Nandana
Äcärya’s house. Whoever listens to this description will become free from
material bondage and receive pure Krsna bhakti.

In This Special Place Sri Gouranga Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda

Prabhu Met for The First Time

Advaita Acarya's Challenge:

That evening, Caitanya Mahaprabhu manifested His mood as the Supreme

Personality of Godhead during the kirtana at Srīvāsa Pandita's house. He
instructed Rämãi (the younger brother of Śrīvāsa Pandita) to go to Santipur
and tell Advaita Äcārya and Sita devi to come to Mayapur immediately. The
Lord for whom he had called for so loudly, had now appeared. Rāmãi was also
to tell Advaita Acārya of Nityananda's arrival. Advaita Ācārya was beside
himself in ecstasy hearing the message from Ramai and his house reverberated
in loud calls of jubilation. Still Advaita Äcārya wanted to establish Lord
Caitanya as the Supreme Personality of Godhead beyond any doubt. To do this

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he told Rämãi that he was going to hide himself somewhere in Māyāpur and
challenged, "If He (Caitanya Mahaprabhu) really is my worshipable Lord, He
should appear before me and declare it!"

Ramai returned to Gauracandra in Srivasa Pandita's house, but before he could

say even one word the Lord became unsteady in spiritual joy and said, "Närä
knows Me well, but he always tries to test Me. He is in Nanda Acarya's house.
Go and fetch him immediately." Ramai immediately ran here and told Advaita
Acarya and Sitä devi everything in great excitement. They hastened to Lord
Caitanya offering repeated obeisances and many prayers. Advaita Acarya and
Sita Devi worshiped Gaurahari by offering ärati and many other items while
surrounded by the devotees dancing in kirtana, and also the demigods who
filled the sky wanting to see the Lord's wonderful pastime.

Krsna-Katha By Krsna:

Caitanya Mahaprabhu also spent one night hid suffered intense separation not
knowing where the Lord was, Nanda Acarya rode on the waves of ecstasy
spending the whole night with Lord Caitanya, talking on the pastimes of
Krsna with Krsna, Lord Caitanya, Himself.

Sri Isodyana Practical Guide:

Sri Gaura Nityananda Mandir:

Darsana Times: 6am to 12am and 4pm to 8pm.

Directions:
Turn left outside the main gate of ISKCON and proceed down Bhaktisiddhänta
Road towards Hulor Ghat. It is the first temple on the left side of the road and
has an ornate main gate.

Presiding Deities:

The temple is at the end of the main hall on the left just inside the front gate.

1. The center altar has beautiful big neem deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai and
Nrsimhadeva.

2. The left altar has two deities of Gauranga Mahaprabhu with Their right

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arm raised and Giri-govardhana.

3. Śrī Śrī Rādhā Vinoda Bihārī preside on the right side of the altar. It is worth
going close to see Them as They are very charming.

On the left-hand side of the main altar is another altar with the Deities
of SRI ADVAITA ACARYA and SRIMATI SITA THAKURANI (the
eternal wife of Sri Advaita Acarya), LORD SRI GAURANGA
MAHAPRABHU and LORD SRI NITYANANDA PRABHU. This is the
exact spot of Nandana Acarya’s house, where Lord Nityananda hid.

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Points of Interest:

The main hall is on your left inside the front gate. It is very nicely maintained
with painted terracotta reliefs showing the pas times of Lord Caitanya and
Krsna. From here you can see a mürti of HH Bhakti Saranga Gosvāmi, a
Bhaktisiddhānta disciple of Sarasvati Thakura who established this temple.

The Holy Samadhi of HDG Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj

On your right, just inside the front gate and up a flight of stairs, is a series of
moving dioramas showing the pastimes of Krsna and Lord Caitanya.

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20. Swarupa Damodara:

"In the morning in Navadvipa, Gaurahari is served by male servants who

massage His hair, ornament Him and assist in His dressing. Lord Caitanya
closes His eyes and enters samadhi, meditating on Vrndavana. Then Svarupa
Damodara, knowing Sri Caitanya's mind, sings a lilä-kirtana describing
Srimati Radhika's morning bath in Varsana. Or at other times, Svarūpa
Damodara will sing a different lilä-kirtana describing another pastime taking
place in Vraja while Sri Caitanya enters samadhi in Navadvipa.""

Incarnation of Lalitā Devī:

Svarūpa Damodara is also described as an incarnation of Lalita devi. He was

born in Navadvipa and was later named Purusottama Ācārya. His father's
name was Sri Padmagarbha Acārya. He lived near to Caitanya Mahāprabhu
and as they grew up, they were in the same class at school. Later he accepted
initiation from Iśvara Puri and studied the Vedas in Kāśī, but he left as he was
very unhappy with their māyāvādī interpretations. When he heard that
Gaurānga Mahāprabhu had taken sannyāsa and left Māyāpur, Purusottama
was so mortified that he also left and took sannyāsa, receiving the name
Svarūpa Damodara. He joined Mahaprabhu in Jagannatha Puri and became
one of Gaurahari's closest associates there. It was his original manuscripts
recording Mahāprabhu's pastimes in Puri that Krşņa dāsa Kavirāja consulted
for writing his Caitanya Caritāmṛta.

xxxxx

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 II. SIMANTADVIPA

1. Sri Simantadvipa:
This island represents sravanam-hearing.
simanta-dvipam äsädya tvaà hi devi sanätani
dadrastha sundaram rüpam gaurängasya mahätmanah
“O Devi! You had darsana of the beautiful form of sri Gauränga mahäprabhu in
Simantadvipa.” (Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4. 33)
Places to visit on this island are the Simantini-mandira, Chand Kazi’s samädhi,
Sri Jagannätha temple, Mayamäri and the Madana Gopäla temple. (Sridhara
Ängana is near the Jagannätha temple. There is some difference of opinion about
which island Sridhara Ängana is situated on, whether Antardvipa or
Simantadvipa. We have chosen to include Sridhara Ängana in the Antardvipa
chapter.)

This island Simantadvipa was also known as Simuliyä-gräma and is located

south of the Gangä. When Sri Nityänanda Prabhu took Sri Jiva on parikramä,
He mentioned that this island would be taken over by the Gangä. Only one place
would be visible where materialistic people would worship Pärvati known as
Simantini. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has stated in Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga,
“Northwest of Mathurä, I shall see the splendour of the island of Simantadvipa,
whose border is the bank of the River Gangä. There, goddess Pärvati-devi was
distressed and gained relief by placing the dust from the lotus feet of Lord Gaura
upon the part of her hair (simanta).”
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2. Why Is This Island Named Simantadvipa?
The reason why this island is called Simantadvipa has been described in
scripture as follows.
Once upon a time during Satya-yuga, Lord Siva started to dance chanting the
holy name of Lord Gauränga. Goddess Pärvati asked Mahädeva, “What is this
name, Gauränga, that you are chanting, and which is causing you to dance? My
heart is melting to see your wonderful dance and to hear your chanting of the
name of Gauränga. Until now all the mantras and tantras I have heard simply
give troubles and problems to the living entities. Kindly tell me about Gauränga.
I will make my life successful by worshiping Gauränga.”
Hearing these words from Pärvati, Mahädeva spoke while meditating upon Lord
Gauränga, “You are a plenary portion of Rädhä who the origin of all potency
(ädi-sakti) is. Now I will tell you a secret truth. During this Kali-yuga Lord Sri
Krsna, accepting the mood of Rädhäräni, will take birth as Gauränga in Mäyäpur
from the womb of Saci-devi. Lord Gauränga will be mad from chanting the holy
name of the Lord, näma-sankirtana. He will distribute the wealth of prema to
everyone without considering who is qualified and who is not. If a person does
not come to float in the flood of this holy name but spends his life in great luxury,
he is most unfortunate. I am floating in an ocean of love, remembering the
promise of my Lord. I could not control my mind and have left my place called
Käsi-dhäma (Väränasi). I have decided to stay near the border of Mäyäpur on
the bank of the Gangä. There I will stay in a cottage while engaging in
Gauränga bhajana.”
After hearing this from Mahädeva, Pärvati immediately came to Simantadvipa.
She started to chant the holy name of Gaura with great love, meditating on Sri
Gauränga.
After a few days, Lord Gauränga Mahäprabhu mercifully appeared in front of
Pärvati devi along with all His associates. His body was tall and the colour of
molten gold. His head was covered with gently curling locks of hair and His
limbs were very attractive. He wore a dhoti folded thrice and a beautiful flower
garland was draped around His neck.
Due to great ecstasy Gaura Räya started to speak with a chocked voice, “My
dear Pärvati! Please tell Me why you have come here?” Pärvati fell at the feet of
the Lord of the universe and informed Him about her pitiful situation.
She said, “O Lord Jagannätha! Life of the whole universe! You are merciful to
everyone except me. You have engaged me to keep all living entities who are
averse to You in the bondage of material existence. I am engaged in that service
and deprived of Your unlimited premä. People say, wherever there is Krsna,

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mäyä cannot stay. As a result, I am always distant from You. O my Lord, how
can I see Your pastimes? Unless You show me the path, I am hopeless.”
Saying this, Pärvati-devi took the dust from the lotus feet of Lord Gauränga and
very eagerly placed it on her head in the simanta (the middle portion of the hair
just above the forehead of ladies is known as sinthi or simanta).
Therefore, this island is called Sri Simantadvipa, although some people out of
ignorance call this place Simuliyä.
Being very pleased with Pärvati-devi Lord Gauränga said, “Dear Pärvati! Please
listen carefully. You are not different from Me. You are My energy. One energy
serves Me accepting two forms. As My svarüpa-sakti you are known as Rädhikä.
Rädhä has expanded in you as My external energy. Without you My pastimes
will not be perfect. You are working as yoga-mäyä in My pastimes. In Vraja-
dhäma you reside eternally as Paurnamäsi. In Navadvipa you remain as Praudhä
Mäyä along with Kshetra päla Mahädeva.” Saying this Lord Gauränga
disappeared.
Pärvati was filled with ecstatic love. She stayed in Simantadvipa as Simantini in
one form and as Praudhä Mäyä-devi in Mäyäpur in another, for the pleasure of
Lord Gauränga.
The following is a description of Simantadvipa in Bhakti-ratnäkara.
One day in Kailäsa Lord Mahesvara was feeling impatient within his heart while
chanting the nectarean names of the Lord’s devotees. He was loudly calling the
names of the different devotees of the Lord’s various incarnations who would
appear in Navadvipa. Lord Siva was chanting the glories of the devotees with
his five mouths. His whole body was in ecstasy, and he was experiencing bliss
within his heart. He was dancing very wonderfully, naked and ecstatic, causing
the entire Kailäsa mountain to shake. He was playing his musical instruments,
the sound of which was resounding through the whole universe and roaring
loudly like a madman. Upon seeing Lord Sankara in this situation, goddess
Pärvati became very perturbed as she could not understand what was
happening.
After some time Trilocana-deva (Siva) became calm and quiet. From his eyes
tears of bliss were flowing which he could not stop. He looked like a silver
mountain sitting on a skin mat. He was praising the good fortune of the age of
Kali. What a wonderful person Lord Mahesvara is! He was smiling and looking
around, happy within his heart to see Pärvati’s attempt to understand the
situation. He made her sit by his side, and she asked, “Oh, my Lord! I have never
seen the mercy you have shown today. I have never heard these names you have
just pronounced from your lotus mouth before. You are praising the good

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fortune of Kali-yuga again and again. From this I can understand that all these
great personalities will appear in Kali-yuga.”
By hearing the words of Pärvati-devi with great satisfaction, Lord Mahädeva
told her, “In this Kali yuga Sri Krsna will appear in Nadia as the son of Saci-devi.
He will accept the bodily splendour of Srimati Rädhäräni. No one can make any
comparison to that form. The whole world will become mad just by seeing His
form once. By the beauty of His body, the pride of Kandarpa (Cupid) will be
smashed. He will manifest many wonderful pastimes in Navadvipa. He will relish
the rarest vraja-premä with all the devotees of all His incarnations. He will
manifest an ocean of bliss in the sankirtana movement. By His own good
qualities, He will deliver the whole universe. During the time of this incarnation
no one will remain distressed. Whatever desires anyone has will be fulfilled.
Whatever offenses anyone has committed previously, the Lord will excuse, and
thus please everyone. He will reveal the glories of the devotees elaborately. I
must tell you there is no one who is more merciful than Him.”
Who can describe with his one mouth what Pärvati felt in her heart by hearing
this?
Then Pärvati-devi came to this place in Navadvipa to worship Lord Sri
Gaurasundara. Lord Gaurasundara was very pleased to know that Pärvati-devi
was worshiping Him. He appeared in front of Pärvati-devi, His bodily lustre
overwhelming the whole universe. His face was effulgent like millions of moons.
Who can remain patient to see the two long eyes of the Lord? His dazzling
cheeks defeated the pride of a mirror. His long arms extended down to His knees
and His chest was broad and strong. His body was decorated with many varieties
of jewellery and ornaments. His clothes defeated the pride of Madana or Cupid
and the way He walked was full of happiness. When Pärvati-devi saw the Lord,
she could not control herself any longer as tears of bliss flowed from her eyes.
Seeing Pärvati in this condition Lord Visvambhara came close to her with great
happiness in His heart and spoke sweet words, “By your worship I could not
control My heart. I promise that whatever desire you express to Me, I will grant
you.”
Hearing this from the Lord, Pärvati was extremely happy. Her whole body was
in incomparable ecstasy. She spoke to Prabhu Visvambhara with folded hands,
saying, “You will make this Kali yuga most fortunate by manifesting Your
pastimes. You will remove the threefold miseries of the whole universe very
easily. You will increase the happiness of all the living entities. You are
antaryämi, incognito, and You know everything. You know very well how my
heart always feels distress. I have committed many offenses against Your
devotees. I cursed Citraketu and therefore he became the demon Vrträsura. I

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cannot describe the good qualities of Your devotees. I committed an offense
against him but still Your devotee Citraketu was glorifying me and praying to
me. Please bless me so that all of those with whom You will have different
pastimes in Nadia will be pleased with me. Oh, my Lord! I cannot fully express
my heart’s desire to always see Your pastimes in Nadia.” The Lord replied, “All
your desires will be fulfilled. None of My activities are performed without you.”
The Lord was about to disappear when Pärvati devi fell at His lotus feet and
offered her obeisance. She then put the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord upon her
“simanta”.
Pärvati-devi became very worried, seeing that the Lord had disappeared, and
wondered when He would manifest His pastimes. Therefore, this island is
known as Simantadvipa.
This pastime took place at the Simanti devi temple located on this island. Parvati
stays here as the Goddess of Simantadvipa and stays in Mayapur as Praudha
Maya.
Sri Navadvipa dhama Mahatmya describes that during the time of Lord
Caitanya, this place was located on the southern bank of Ganga and that it was
the only place not affected when Navadvipa was flooded for 100 years soon after
Lord Caitanya ended His manifest pastimes.
Isäna Thäkura said: “Whoever sees this Simantadvipa once will have achieved
success in his life. He will very easily become free from the fear of material
existence. People still worship Pärvati devi here and by her mercy they do not
feel any suffering or experience any problems. In this Simuliyä village Lord
Gauränga had many pastimes with His unlimited numbers of associates. How
can I explain with my one mouth the happiness manifested here during the time
of the nagara-sankirtana?” (Bhakti-ratnäkara)

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3. Simantini Mandira:
Goddess Pärvati is worshiped as Simantini-devi. The exact location of Simuliyä
village is not known, but the Vaishnavas accept one place that they call
Simantini-mandira. When you walk from Belpukur along the dirt road which
joins the Mäyäpur road from Chowgacha to Hulor Ghat, you will come across a
village called Sonadangä. In this village there is a small Siva temple. All
parikramä parties stop here to discuss Simantini-devi. Although this is believed
to be the place of Simantini, there is no temple or deity of her here.
4. Chand Kazi’s Samädhi:
tat-samipe mahä-devi mathurä vidyate puri
abhavat yatra vai kamso yavanasya grhe kalau
“O Mahädevi! Near that place (Simantadvipa, where Pärvati had darsana of Lord
Gauränga Mahäprabhu) is the city of Mathurä, where in the age of Kali, Kamsa
took birth in a yavana family.” (Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda
4.34)
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura writes: “North of Prthu-kunda is the town of
Mathurä and the holy place known as Sasthi-tirtha, which is within the
exquisitely beautiful forest of Madhuvana (in Vraja). This is a very extensive
area populated by many people. May my eyes become purified by viewing this
scene.” (Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga)
The place of the Kazi is compared to the city of Mathurä. Here Gauränga
Mahäprabhu delivered Chand Kazi by giving him the jewel of Krsna. Kamsa,
from the pastime of Sri Krsna in Mathurä, now appeared as Chand Kazi.
Therefore Mahäprabhu, when He went to meet with Chand Kazi, addressed him
as uncle or mämä. Being empowered by King Hussein Shah, Chand Kazi broke
the mrdanga at the beginning of the sankirtana and thus created a lot of
disturbance. Hussein Shah was Jaräsandha during the pastime of Sri Krsna in
Dväpara yuga. Chand Kazi was his relative and thus had great power.
When Lord Gauränga Mahaprabhu appeared in front of him in the form of Lord
Narasimha, Chand Kazi was very frightened. He took shelter at the lotus feet of
the most merciful Gauränga Mahäprabhu, who gave the Kazi love of Godhead.
Only the most fortunate people hear the pastime of Mahäprabhu and Chand Kazi
and about his deliverance. Now you can see the samädhi of Chand Kazi who was
also known as Campa. At his samädhi there are two trees, a neem tree and a
campaka flower tree representing Nimäi and Campa (Chand Kazi).

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Chand Kazi Gets Krsna-Premā:

Chand Kazi (Kamsa in Krsna's Vrndāvana pastimes) was a devout and strict
Muslim who was very well versed in the Koran. As the Chief Magistrate of
Navadvipa, he kept law and order for the Hussein Shah (Jarasandha in Krsna's
Vrndavana pastimes) and was also the spiritual advisor of the Shah. Chand
Kazi was a tyrannical ruler, and the Hindus were very oppressed in their
religious practices.

Chand Kazi and Lord Caitanya:

Angry that the Hindus were not obeying his order forbidding kirtana, Chand
Kazi went with two boats of soldiers to Srivasa Pandita's house to personally
enforce his ordinance. There he terrorized the devotees by ordering his
soldiers to beat whoever they caught. He confiscated their instruments and
broke the mrdanga drum. He then threatened imprisonment and conversion
into a Muslim (the same as death in those days) for anyone who disobeyed his
order again.

Understanding the plight of the devotees, Caitanya Mahaprabhu called

everyone together and told them, "I shall perform sankirtana in every town
and village. Therefore, decorate all the streets and houses of the city and then
gather here in the early evening carrying torch lights. Let us see what kind of
Kazi comes to stop our kirtana."

Many, many thousands of devotees and citizens of Mayapur arrived in great

anticipation, each carrying their own torchlight. Gauränga Mahaprabhu
organized Advaita Acārya, Srivāsa Pandita, Haridasa Thakura, and other
senior Vaishnavas as the lead dancers for different kirtana groups. Not being
able to separate themselves from Gaura sundara, Lord Nityananda and
Gadadhara Pandita stayed on each side of the Lord. Led by the Supreme Lord
Himself, a tumultuous uproar of the holy names burst forth as the massive
ocean of people rhythmically surged towards Chand Kazi's palace in the first
ever public kirtana. For the citizens of Navadvipa it was a momentous occasion
as it was the first time they were able to see Gauranga's exquisite dancing and
His ecstatic chanting of His own holy names. Overwhelmed with spiritual
emotions from seeing Caitanya Mahaprabhu's supreme bliss, they became
captivated by the intoxicating sweetness of the congregational chanting of the
holy names. They left their homes and families unattended and spontaneously
joined the devotees in the unbounded ecstasy of chanting and dancing in
kirtana.

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The dust from rolling on the ground made Gaura nataraja's body glisten in the
rays of light from the unlimited number of torch lights that lit up the sky. At
times He became stunned and stood in the three-fold bending form of Krsna
playing His flute, revealing Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Then, in the mood of a humble devotee, He cried aloud, begging the Lord for
devotion to His lotus feet. The devotees became inebriated and danced like
madmen. Their first experience of public congregational chanting transported
them into unknown heights of spiritual intoxication. Thus Lord Caitanya,
opening the floodgates of His own Krsna-prema, drowned everyone in that
ocean and, in doing so, personally inaugurated His harinama-sankirtana
movement the only means of deliverance in the age of Kali. Unknown to
anyone else, by Caitanya Mahaprabhu's own inconceivable desire, this mähä-
harināma lasted for several yugas.

The harinama procession went along the bank of the Ganga to Madhai Ghaṭa,
Barakrona Ghaṭa and then to Nagariya Ghâṭa. The chanting of this kirtana
was so loud, the Kazi could hear it from his palace, over one kilometre away.
Proceeding through the villages of Ganga nagara and Simuliya, the crowd
expanded to millions and extended for miles. While the devotees chanted and
danced in ever-increasing heights of bliss, the Kazi's men ran away in fear of
their lives. Chand Kazi also became overwhelmed seeing the massive
procession heading his way.

Lord Caitanya's voice boomed in anger above the thunderous roar of the
kirtana, "Where is that rascal Kazi? I have advented to propagate the
congregational chanting of the holy names. If anyone so much as tries to cause
obstruction, I will annihilate him. Yet even if the lowly sinner takes part in this
chanting, I shall remember him and save him." The Kazi, shaking in fear,
quickly ran and hid himself inside his palace.

Arriving both intoxicated with the nectar of the holy name and enraged at the
Kazi's ban on kirtana, everyone began ransacking the Kazi's gardens and
palace. When Gauranga Mahaprabhu arrived, He called for the Kazi to present
himself. The Kazi finally appeared before Lord Caitanya and pacified Him by
reminding Him of their village relationship. Chand Kazi used to be a
neighbour and friend of Saci mata's father, so he addressed Lord Caitanya
saying, "Nilambara Cakravarti Thakura was my uncle, and he is Your
maternal grandfather, so You are my nephew. When a nephew is very angry,
his maternal uncle is very tolerant and also when the uncle makes an offense,
the nephew does not take it very seriously."

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Lord Caitanya engaged the Kazi in a philosophical debate and then defeated
him with a warning that meat-eaters face many thousands of years in hell for
their sin of eating cow flesh.

"My dear Nimai Pandita, all that You have said is true," conceded the Kazi.
"Our scriptures were developed only recently and contain many mistaken
ideas, but I must follow them for the sake of my community."

Pleased with the words of the Kazi, Lord Caitanya asked him, "My dear
maternal uncle, in your city there is always the tumultuous uproar of the
congregational chanting of the holy names. As a Mohammedan magistrate you
can oppose Hindu ceremonies, but now you do not forbid them. What is the
reason?"

The Kazi told Lord Caitanya, "After going to the Hindu's house and forbidding
congregational chanting, in my dreams that very night I saw a greatly fearful
lion roaring very loudly. His body was human, and His face was like that of a
lion. This lion jumped on me and with His sharp nails, He pierced my chest
and laughed fiercely. Gnashing His teeth He told me, 'I shall immediately
bifurcate your chest just as you broke the mrdanga drum. You have forbidden
the performance of My congregational chanting so I must destroy you.' Seeing
me so afraid the lion then said, 'I have defeated you to teach you a lesson.
Because you never created a very great disturbance I must be merciful to you,
but if you do the same again then I will not be so tolerant. I will kill you, your
entire family, and all the meat-eaters here. The lion then left, but just see the
marks of His nails on my chest!" The devotees were amazed to see the nail-
marks and they realized that this lion was none other than Lord Nrsimhadeva.
"That same day," continued the Kazi, "my orderlies came to me saying that
whenever one of them tried to stop kirtana, fire suddenly struck all of their
faces, and their beards burst into flames. I told them to go home and forget
about stopping the kirtana."
The Kazi then revealed his heart to Gaura candra saying, "I know that
Narayana is the Supreme God of the Hindus, and within my mind I feel that
You are that same Narayana."

Lord Caitanya smiled at the Kazi and said, "The chanting of the holy name
from your mouth has performed a wonder it has nullified the reactions of all
your sinful activities. Because you have chanted three names of the Lord, Hari,
Krsna, and Narayana, you are undoubtedly the most fortunate and pious."

Tears welled up in the Kazi's eyes. Crying, he touched Caitanya Mahaprabhu's

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lotus feet and prayed, "Only by Your mercy have my bad intentions vanished.
May my devotion always be fixed on You."

Gauranga Mahaprabhu then asked Chand Kazi, "I wish to beg one favour in
charity. You must pledge that the sankirtana movement will not be checked, at
least within the district of Nadia."

Chand Kazi replied, "To as many descendants that take birth in my dynasty in
the future, I give this grave admonition: no one should check the sankirtana
movement."

Hearing this, Gaura sundara and the devotees jumped up in joy chanting
"Hari, Hari!" and, with the Kazi joining them, Caitanya Mahaprabhu led the
Vaishnavas home in a victorious kirtana."

Supremacy of Navadvīpa-Tattva:

After describing this pastime to Jiva Gosvami, Lord Nityananda glorified

Navadvipa-lila by saying, "Just see the difference between Vraja-tattva and
Navadvipa-tattva. Those who offend Krsna are liberated by merging into the
Lord's effulgence, whereas in Navadvipa the offenders receive the treasure of
love of Godhead. Therefore, Lord Gauranga's pastimes are considered the
highest. Gauranga's abode, name, form, and qualities do not consider offense;
rather, they expertly deliver one from any offense. If the devotee has some
offense in his heart, then Krsna's name and abode will deliver him only after a

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long time. But Gauranga's name and abode immediately bestow prema on the
devotee, for offenses create no obstacle and are easily overcome." In
Vrndavana-lila, when Krsna killed Kamsa he attained liberation. But here in
Navadvipa-lilä, that very same Kamsa is not killed, but is instead promoted to
the highest possible platform of a Vaishnava devotee in Krsna-premá! How can
anyone not surrender to the unlimitedly merciful Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu who saves absolutely everyone, even the envious demons who are
against Him!
Chand Kazi’s Samadhi Practical Guide:
Darsana Times: Day time
Directions:
It is one kilometre north of the Yoga-pitha, and 3.5 kilometres north of
ISKCON. The samädhi is on the left side of the road, in the middle of the first
village after the Yoga-pitha, called Bamanpukur bazaar (market). From the road
you will see a small archway in-between some shops and a large tree in the
background.
Point of Interest:
The stone samädhi of Chand Kazi has two trees growing out of it. The campaka
tree is said to represent Chand Kazi. It is over 500 years old and therefore
witnessed the events of Chand Kazi’s pastimes with the Lord. Even though the
trunk of this tree is hollow, it is still in full bloom and gives campaka flowers all
year round, even when it is not flowering season.
The Neem tree entwined around campaka tree is said to represent Lord
Nityananda who is in ecstasy embracing the great devotee Chand Kazi. This
area is the village of Chand Kazi, which is none other than Mathura of
Vrndavana. Just by seeing this samadhi, one is released from old age and death.
Being Mathura, this place is more auspicious than Vaikuntha and by residing
here for one day, a person will develop devotional service to the Lord.

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 Chand Kazi’s Samädhi
5. Sri Jagannätha Temple:
This Jagannätha temple is situated in the Saradängä area, and the deity here
manifested 500 years ago. At present Lord Jagannätha along with Lord
Baladeva, Subhadrä-devi and Sudarsana is worshiped here under the
management of ISKCON.
Jagannatha Puri Dhāma in Navadvīpa Dhama:

This area was the capital of the Sura dynasty a very long time ago. Sri
Navadvipa-dhama Māhātmya describes how the Lord left Puri and came here
after killing the Raktabahu demon. It is also stated that this area is non-
different from Jagannatha Puri as Lord Jagannatha is eternally resident here.
Thus, the same benefits of going to Jagannatha Puri are gained by visiting this
place. Lord Jagannatha stays here with His sabara servants (tribal people
below the varnäśrama system.)

Jagannatha's Appearance in Navadvīpa Dhama:

Jagannatha Leaves Purī:

There is only one time in the very long history of Jagannatha in Puri that He
left His eternal abode. Sri Navadvipa-dhama Māhātmya reveals this pastime. A
very long time ago, a demoniac person named Raktabahu was desecrating
many temples throughout India. The servants of Lord Jagannatha, out of
concern and helplessness, prayed to Him that He please make arrangements
for His safety. Jagannatha Svämi replied to their prayers by appearing to the
head pūjāri in a dream. He told the püjäri there was no need to fear as no one
can harm Him and He would give protection to all His devotees. He also said

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they were to make arrangements to take Himself, Baladeva and Subhadra to
Bengal. The traditional system is that different sections of society have specific
services that only they can render to Lord Jagannatha. The Sabaras have the
service of carrying Lord Jagannatha at Ratha-yātrā time and when He desires
to go to other places.

When the Sabaras were told Lord Jagannatha wanted to go to Bengal the next
day, they immediately made all the arrangements to leave. They followed Lord
Jagannatha's instructions and travelled along the forest road to avoid the
Raktabahu demon. At nighttime they stopped, gathered fruit, flowers, and
leaves from the forest and worshiped Their Lordships. After resting for the
night, the Sabaras again worshiped the Lord before setting out on another
day's travel. After 12 days, they arrived in Sīmantadvipa. That night,
Jagannatha Svami told the head Sabara that He wanted to stay here
permanently as it was a most suitable and transcendental place in all respects.
The Sabaras immediately fulfilled this desire of the Lord. They served Lord
Jagannatha here for many generations and, because of their pure devotion and
love, they all attained Lord Jagannatha's eternal abode in the spiritual sky.
Even today the Sabara village, Sabara Dängā, is located nearby. In the course
of time, the temple and the Deities went out of sight. Lord Jagannatha
however never left Navadvipa-dhama, but instead re-appeared around 500
years ago through another special pastime, described below.
Jagannatha Swami Reappears:
The appearance of these deities is described in the book “The Pastimes and
History of Lord Jagannätha in Räjäpur” as follows:
At the time of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a devotee named Jagadisa Ganguli
(dasa) lived in a small village near the present day Mäyäpur. Jagadisa was a
highly elevated Vaishnava and even though he was very old, still every year he
would make the 900 km journey on foot to Jagannätha Puri in the Bay of Bengal.
He would travel with other devotees from Bengal to meet their most dear Lord
Caitanya, have darsana of Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannätha, Baladeva and
Subhadrä-devi, and participate in the ecstatic Ratha-yäträ. After four months
they would return to their homes in Bengal.
One day Jagadisa’s happiness was ruined. He was stricken with a serious disease
that left him totally blind. When he realized that he could no longer see the
divine forms of Lord Caitanya and the Jagannätha deities, he became very
depressed. Worse yet, his friends considered the annual pilgrimage to Puri too
long and too dangerous for a blind man, and they refused to take him along with

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them. Jagadisa remained in Navadvipa in constant lamentation and
despondency. Out of hopelessness he even considered committing suicide.
Then one night Lord Jagannätha appeared to Jagadisa in a dream. The next
morning, the Lord told him, when Jagadisa went for his daily bath in the Gangä,
a log would touch his head and restore his vision. The Lord told Jagadisa that
he should take that log and go to a nearby village where a devotee-carpenter
lives. The Lord explained also that the carpenter would refuse the work because
he was a leper and had deformed hands. Jagadisa would have to insist and
convince the carpenter to do this work.
On completion of this job, the Lord assured, the carpenter’s leprosy would
immediately vanish.
Upon awakening, Jagadisa was amazed at his dream. He immediately left for his
morning bath in the Gangä and became ecstatic when a log touched his head
and restored his vision. He took the wood and went to a nearby village, where
he searched and searched until he found a leper carpenter. Jagadisa implored the
leper to carve a deity of Lord Jagannätha from the wood, but the carpenter flatly
refused. He showed Jagadisa his deformed fingers and asked him, “How is it
possible for me to carve the divine form of the Lord with these hands?” But
Jagadisa insisted. He explained to the leper that his leprosy would be cured once
he finished the carving. Finally, the leper agreed.
Jagadisa stayed with the leper as he was working and saw him suffering terribly.
Blood and pus oozed from the stumps that were once his fingers and he wanted
to quit the work. But Jagadisa encouraged him and enabled him to forget his
agony long enough to finish the deity of Lord Jagannätha. The very moment he
finished; his leprosy disappeared. Jagadisa took the deity to a site near the
present Jagannätha temple and established His worship there.
A few nights later, Jagadisa had another dream. This time Lord Jagannätha
instructed him to take some nearby neem wood to the same carpenter and have
him make deities of Subhadrä and Balaräma. Jagadisa did so and installed Them
in the temple next to Lord Jagannätha.
Legend has it that after the demise of Jagadisa Ganguli, the Lord, being
dissatisfied with the neglectful state of His worship, decided to end His manifest
pastimes. Suddenly there was an outbreak of cholera. The inhabitants of the
surrounding area assembled at the temple and prayed to Prabhu Jagannätha to
have pity on them and save their lives. That night, Jagannätha came to the head
priest in a dream and said, “One of the housewives of the Ganguli family, who is
characterless, dared to dishonour Me. For this offense everyone in the Ganguli
family and the village will die if they do not leave the place.” The next morning

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the villagers found the members of the Ganguli family dead and immediately
deserted the entire area. Since there was no more worship at the temple, Lord
Jagannätha, Subhadrä, and Balaräma were forgotten, and save for the flat roof
over Their heads, the temple fell around Them and was soon covered by the
surrounding jungle.
For reasons mysterious to most, the Lord appears and disappears according to
His own sweet will. Indeed, He states that one who understands the mystery of
His appearance and activities does not take birth again in the material world.
Centuries after the demise of the Ganguli family, villagers noticed a uniquely
beautiful blue flower growing on top of the snake-infested ruin that was once
Lord Jagannätha’s temple. When they went near the mound they heard a voice
calling, “Please give Me water, I am thirsty! Please give Me water.” But because
the temple had no owner people were reluctant to go near it due to fear of
poisonous snakes and other wild beasts. The deities remained neglected. It
wasn’t until about 1958 when the Lord, who once again desired to be worshiped,
called for Jaimini Ghosh.
Jaimini Ghosh (from the nearby village of Bahadurpur) was only a young man
at that time and he recalls:
“One evening on my way to Navadvipa, I was passing along the road just outside
the Jagannätha temple, when a bamboo tree crashed across the path. Feeling an
uncanny presence, I suspected the work of some ghost, and I knew that if I
stepped over the tree, something would happen to me. Gripped by fear, I
crouched to the ground and in that terrified condition I lost consciousness.” He
awoke to an assuring voice saying, “It’s alright now, you may proceed, there is
no more danger.”
Jaimini said, “Why did you do that to me?”
“I didn’t,” replied the voice.
“I saved you; I am your friend.”
Suspicious, Jaimini replied, “If you saved me, then help me get to my uncle’s
house in Navadvipa.”
As if he were being carried, young Jaimini effortlessly sped down the jungle
path, along the main road, across the Ganges (without a boat) and arrived safely
at his uncle’s house.
Shortly after, the same voice spoke to him, revealing Himself to be Lord
Jagannätha, and told Jaimini to begin His worship by offering Ganges water,
milk, and bätäsä (sugar sweet). Jaimini called Phatik Chatterjee, who was the

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owner of the land on which the temple was situated and told him everything.
Phatik, with his son-in-law Ram and other villagers, cleared away the jungle
and lifted Jagannätha from under a termite hill. Although the deities had been
residing in the middle of a termite hill, Their wooden forms were miraculously
intact, Their bodies having been packed in frank incense. Only some parts of the
bodies of Baladeva and Subhadrä had to be repaired by a sculptor who used neem
wood from a tree in Phatik Chatterjee’s Garden.
A small temple was constructed for Them (which still can be seen at the site
next to the Siva-linga and banyan tree) and Phatik Chatterjee became the püjäri
for Their Lordships.
Jagannatha chooses ISKCON:
In 1979, the aging püjäri felt he may not be able to go on for long with the
worship of his beloved mürtis and consequently donated the temple and
property to ISKCON on Gaura-pürnimä day. By the kind contribution of various
devotees a wonderful temple has been constructed, surrounded by nice gardens
and mango groves. These historical deity forms of Jagannätha, Baladeva, and
Subhadrä have been here at least 500 years.
Lord Jagannataha’s Pastimes:
1. Lots of Nice Prasadam:
There was very little facility here in the beginning, so the offerings were made
to Lord Jagannatha by a pūjāri cycling from ISKCON every day with bhoga in
a brass tiffin. This was unknown to the management who instructed no
worship was to begin until all the land titles had been signed over. Hearing
this, the pūjāri stopped making the offerings. On the second night he had a
dream that when he went to wake up the Deities, They had gone. After
frantically looking around, he saw Them walking across the fields. He called
out to Them, "O, my Lord! What is happening? Where are You going" "We
are so hungry and weak that We are going to ISKCON (Māyāpur)," replied
Jagannatha, "At ISKCON They get nice prasādam. Lots of nice prasādam."
The offerings were immediately resumed after this."

2. Muslim's Offense and Balarama's Chastisement:

One time about 15 years ago, two rickshaw drivers came here on a snāna-yātrā
festival day. One of the drivers offered his friend, a Muslim, some Jaganatha
prasādam. The Muslim refused the prasādam, hitting it on the ground saying,
"We don't touch these things." That same night Lord Balarama appeared to
this Muslim in a dream in a very angry mood. Balarama was sitting on top of
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him and was hitting him across the face. Lady Subhadra was also there. She
was telling Balarama, "Hit him again! He refused the mahā-prasādam of My
Lord. Kill him!" The Muslim came to the temple early the next morning in a
state of shock. He prayed to Jagannatha Svämi for forgiveness and begged the
devotees to give him some of Lord Jagannatha's mahā-prasādam. "

3. The Jackfruit Thief:

Another time a local jackfruit farmer was troubled by two boys who kept
stealing his jackfruits. One day he got close enough to chase Them, but they
escaped by jumping over a fence. However, while jumping over the fence, a
piece of their cloth was torn. The farmer brought the cloth to the temple and
asked the pūjari if he knew of anyone who wore cloth like this. The pujari was
most surprised as he recognized the cloth to be from one of Lord Jagannatha's
outfits. He ran into the deity room and found that Jagannatha Svāmī's outfit
had a piece of cloth missing of the same fabric, size, and shape!

4. Balarama Protects Lady Subhadra:

About 15 years ago, a small local boy came to the temple. He became very
attracted to Lady Subhadra's brooch. He went onto the altar and was about to
remove the brooch from Lady Subhadra when Lord Balarama swung His arm
around and gave the boy a mighty slap.

5. Double Mercy for The Night-Guard:

Prahlada, the local guard, also got some mercy. Once he was sick and didn't do
his night-guard duty for two nights. The next night he dozed off while leaning
against the temple wall. Lord Balarama then appeared to him in a dream.
Grabbing Prahlada by the neck, Balarama began shaking him and said, "Why
are you not coming to protect Us? It is very dangerous around here as there
are many dacoits. You did not come to protect Us for two days, but this is your
duty." After this, the guard swore he would never again be lax in his duty to
their Lordships. Another time Prahlada was up in a tree (where it is safe from
snakes, etc.) while protecting Jagannatha's mango grove. At around midnight a
very well dressed and cultured man appeared and asked him how to get to the
temple. Prahlada showed him the way but was confused as to why such a
cultured person would be out alone so late at night. Very soon after this, he
heard a loud roaring kirtana coming from the temple with bells ringing,
conches blowing and ladies ululating."

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6. Tulasi Miracle:

One day soon after ISKCON took over the worship, the pūjāri arrived on his
bicycle with the offering for Lord Jagannatha. While preparing the plates he
found that he had forgotten to bring tulasi leaves. He was very upset to the
point of crying over his mistake in serving Lord Jagannatha. Still, he had to
make the offering, so he apologized to Lord Jagannatha and proceeded without
any tulasi leaves. Then, upon removing the plates from the altar, he saw there
was a huge twig of tulasi sitting on top of the rice.

7. "We Will Make You Better":

The author is also most blessed to have had the mercy of Jagannatha Svami in
a pastime. I was very sick with jaundice and came here to rest and recover. I
had dark purple rings under my eyes indicating how sick I was. Seeing these
dark rings was making me miserable and at times I would cry in fear that I
would be sent back to the West as I was just not getting better. But on the
fourth morning, I was putting on tilaka as usual and to my amazement I saw
that the purple rings under my eyes had completely vanished. I was elated and
went for darsana of the deities and the pujari opened the curtains. I looked at
the deities to behold Their beautiful forms and simply froze in complete shock
and astonishment. Both Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balarama were wearing
dark purple beads hanging down from Their turbans, going across Their
foreheads and under Their eyes exactly where I had the dark purple rings
under my eyes. I then heard Lord Balarama telling me, "It's all right Mañjari,
we will make you better." (Author: HG Manjari devi mataji)
Sri Jagannätha Temple Practical Guide:
Darsana Times: 7.30 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.
Directions:
Continue up Bhaktisiddhänta Road from Chand Kazi’s samädhi. Around the first
corner and up a short distance, you will see a signboard for the Jagannätha
temple on the left side of the road. Take the road opposite this signboard and
proceed until you see a beautiful lion gate on your right side (around 15 minutes
walking). From ISKCON it is approximately 4 kilometres and takes about 40
minutes by rickshaw.

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Presiding Deities:
The beautiful Lord Jagannätha, Lord Balaräma, Lady Subhadrä and Sudarsana-
cakra.

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Points of Interest:
1. Diorama Display:
This is on the left side between the main gate and the temple. It depicts the
pastime of Lord Jagannätha’s appearance in this deity form.
2. Old Temple:
The far-right end of the property is where the original temple used to be.
Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra stay here for a two-week ‘convalescence’
after Their snana-yatra pastime.
3. Kalpa Vrksha Tree:
Next to the old temple is a kalpa-vrksha (wish-fulfilling) tree. The local people
have worshiped Lord Siva and Pärvati here as long as can be remembered. It is
said that Lord Siva and Pärvati came here to perform austerities and are still
present. Many people have had their desires fulfilled by praying here and leaving
a stone hanging on the tree. Vaishnavas can pray to Lord Siva and Pärvati for
Krsna-premä.
4. Siva-linga:
Lord Siva is under this tree in the form of a large linga known as Kshetra-päla.
One day, when ISKCON first took over the temple, the püjäri was making an
offering to Lord Jagannätha. He pushed aside this stone with his leg thinking it
was an ordinary stone. Immediately after doing that he developed a heavy
headache and began vomiting. He cycled back to ISKCON but was so sick and

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weak he collapsed and fell off the bike several times. At ISKCON he was advised
to return, worship the linga, and beg forgiveness for this offense. He did that
and was immediately cured.
It is quite cool in this area and one day in the summer of 1994, a püjäri came
here to get relief from the midday heat. While resting he had a dream in which
he saw a male figure like Lord Siva. This person asked the püjäri for something
to drink saying, “I am very dry and thirsty. You should at least give me some
milk to drink.” The püjäri woke up and saw the silä was indeed very parched and
dry. Since then, the devotees offer this Siva-linga milk, tilaka, and bael leaves
every day.
5. Temple Shop:
Here you can purchase Puri style sarees, other cloth and products relating to
Lord Jagannatha.
6. Maha Prasadam:
You can make arrangements to honour the raja bhoga offering of Lord
Jagannatha by contacting the ISKCON Mayapur deity department.

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6. Visrama-Sthana:

Kolāveca Sridhara's Place:

Kolāveca Sridhara - An Eternal Playmate:

Fighting Over Bananas:

Sridhara is an eternal associate of Lord Caitanya and is very dear to Him. He

was known as Kolaveca Sridhara because he made his living by selling kola
(banana) leaves, plants, sheaths, stalks, and plates. He was so poor that he lived
in a broken-down hut and did not even have proper utensils for cooking.
Despite his impoverished condition, Sridhara faithfully spent 50% of his
earnings to worship the Ganga. He was constantly engrossed in chanting the
Lord's holy names. He chanted loudly all night, oblivious to the passing of
time. This upset his atheistic neighbours who complained, "That poor
vagabond cannot fill his belly during the day and now he is keeping us awake
at night with his pangs of hunger."

Śrīdhara always charged a fair price for his products but this did not prevent
Nimai from arguing and fighting with him to get His goods for half the price
or for free. "I am sure you have immense wealth hidden somewhere and that
you are relishing opulent food in secret," accused the Lord. "Soon I will make
this known to everyone and then we will see how you are cheating the people."

"Come to my house dear learned brahmana," invited Sridhara, "and see for
Yourself. We should not start an argument here."

Nimai countered, "I am not going to let you off so easily. Tell Me what you are
going to feed Me." "I make a simple living selling leaf cup," replied Sridhara,
"What can I offer You from such an income, respected brahmana?"

"I am not going to touch your hidden wealth now. That I will get later,"
assured Nimai, "but if you give Me some banana roots and stalks right now
without taking money, then I will not fight with you anymore."

Sridhara decided it would be his good fortune to give this restless and insolent
brāhmaņa some goods free of cost despite his own impoverished condition.
"Dear Brahmana," he said, "please take the banana roots and stalks that I have,
but please do not fight anymore."

"Yes, this is a very good agreement," said Nimai, "There should be no further
fights, but please see to it that I get good quality banana and banana stalks."
At other times Nimai would grab some of Sridhara's wares but give him only

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half the proper price. Sridhara would then snatch the goods back out of Nimai's
hands and another argument would ensue. Exasperated, Sridhara would tell
Nimai, "Are there no other suppliers besides me? Please purchase from them at
a cheaper price."

Nimai however would reply, "I cannot give up such a steady supplier as you
are so easily." In their arguments, Nimai would sometimes tell Sridhara that
He was the source of Ganga devi whom he was worshiping so faithfully.
Śridhara would cover his ears and cry out, "Vishnu! Vishnu!" so not to hear
such audacious claims. Sridhara, captivated by the Lord's charm and beauty,
could not recognize that Nimai was the worshipable Lord of his heart. The
Lord received immense joy from these love-fights and would not let a day pass
without visiting His dear devotee Sridhara.

Śrīdhara's Benediction:

Lord Caitanya revealed to His supreme form as Krsna in Vrndāvana with

Rādhārāņi during His mahā-prakāśa pastime at Śrīvāsa Pandita's house.
Mahaprabhu told him, "You have spent many lifetimes in My service and in
this lifetime you have rendered Me ample service. I have tasted your kola
countless times and often snatched things from your hands. Have you
forgotten the joking exchanges we had?" Sridhara swooned and became
unsteady in intense ecstasy. He then prayed that the pastimes and the lotus
feet of the insolent brähmana who continually stole his kolä always be manifest
in his heart.

"My Lord! What Have You Done?"

Lord Caitanya came here to Sridhara's hut with His enormous sankirtana party
after defeating Chand Kazi. Lord Caitanya was inebriated and dancing madly.
He saw one of Sridhara's few possessions, an old, broken iron water pot. Lord
Caitanya picked it up and began drinking from it. Sridhara cried out, "I am
finished! You have come to my house to destroy me!" and slumped to the
ground in intense spiritual trepidation. But Lord Caitanya, bestowing infinite
mercy upon His dear devotee and wanting to teach the world the supremely
glorious position of His devotees, drank to His full satisfaction. "My whole
being is now purified," He said. "Today I have attained devotion to the lotus
feet of Krsna simply by drinking the water from Sridhara's pot." Sridhara was
mortified. He approached Lord Caitanya with straw between his teeth and
kneeling before the Lord, entreated Him, "My Lord! What have you done?
What water have You drunk?" But the spiritual bliss of Lord Caitanya could
not be checked, and all the devotees exploded into wild dancing and chanting
upon seeing the unprecedented and unlimited mercy bestowed on Sridhara."

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Final Offering:

The night before Lord Caitanya left Mayapur to take sannyāsa, Sridhara came
and offered Him a pumpkin. Knowing He would be leaving early the next
morning, Lord Caitanya asked Sacīmātā to immediately cook it in milk so He
could relish this final offering from His dear devotee. The Lord always enjoyed
receiving Sridhara's gifts. Sridhara continued to give his goods to Sacīmātā
after Lord Caitanya left Māyāpur.

Kolāveca Sridhara's Place Practical Guide:

Darsana Times: All the time

Directions:

Enter the mango grove at the back of the temple using the small gate at the
rear of the temple. Ahead of you on the right side you will see a small building
situated amongst a cluster of trees. This is the place.

Points of Interest:

1. Sridhara's Place:

The building indicates the location of Sridhara's house. This area is non-
different from Madhuvăna forest of Vrndāvana where Krşņa and Balarama had
many pastimes with Their sakhās, cowherd boyfriends. One of these sakhās
was Kusmāsava Gopala sakhā who appeared as Sridhara in Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's pastimes.

2. Sasthi Tirtha Kunda:

On the right side of the building you will see a field that is dug out and
surrounded by raised edges. This was a kunda in Lord Caitanya's time. Young
Nimai used to play here and steal bananas from Sridhara's near-by banana
patch.

3. Resting Place:

This place is also known as viśrāma-sthāna (resting-place) as Lord Caitanya

would take rest here after performing kirtana.

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7. Sabara-Dangä:
In Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura has stated: “Further
north is the enchanting place known as Saradangä. Here the leader of the Sabara
race, out of fear of the demon named Raktabähu, secretly resides along with a
deity of the Lord of Nilädri, Jagannätha. May I always behold this place with my
very eyes.” At present this place is called Saradangä. Once the demon Raktabähu
attacked the Jagannätha temple in Puri. Jagannätha’s devotees brought the Lord
here and secretly stayed at this place.
His Grace Pankajänghri Prabhu has described this event in more detail in his
book “The Pastimes and History of Lord Jagannätha in Räjäpur.”
Lord Jagannätha of Sri Simantadvipa is not different from the Master of Sri
Niläcala-dhäma (Jagannätha Puri) Himself. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura has re-
established this truth with historical facts in his book Sri Navadvipa-dhäma-
mähätmya, “The glories of Navadvipa-dhäma.” The following story is
mentioned in that book:
Around the 7th century, one yavana king named Raktabähu appeared in the
region of Orissa. He was very sinful and irreligious and caused great
devastation, destroying temples and terrorizing the hearts of the pious people of
Orissa. When the devotees of Lord Jagannätha in Puri came to know about the
mischievousness of Raktabähu, they became very much afraid. They
immediately approached Lord Jagannätha: “O worshipful Lord,” the devotees
prayed, “we are in great anxiety knowing that a miscreant named Raktabähu is
breaking down all temples and destroying the deities inside. He is now

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proceeding in this direction. He may come at any moment and attack Your
temple. If that happens, then we will have to give up our lives, because we’ll
never be able to tolerate any action against You. Please, save us from this danger
by making proper arrangements for the protection of Your divine form and the
temple, O Almighty Lord!”
Being thus approached by His devotees, Lord Jagannätha appeared in the dream
of the head priest that night and spoke to him as follows: “My dear püjäri, I am
completely overwhelmed by perceiving the ardent love and devotion that you
devotees have for Me. You all love Me more than your own selves. This is the
symptom of a pure devotee. Nobody can harm My divine form or My temple. I
certainly need not worry about that. Just by My powerful will I can keep all
miscreants away from the place where I stay with My beloved devotees.
But to bless My devotees and to reciprocate with them, many times I accept this
kind of ‘hardship’ willingly. In this way My devotees’ love and attachment for
Me increases manifold. And since this is their desire, I establish their love for
Me in a more prominent way.
Tomorrow, therefore, please, remove the deities of Myself, Lord Balaräma, and
Subhadrä-devi and set out for Bengal. You should take the path through the
jungle so that you can easily escape Raktabähu, who is coming by the main road.
Have no fear, I will always protect you!”
The Lord then disappeared from the dream and the püjäri woke up. He
immediately broadcast the message, which stirred the devotees, and they all
started to make the proper arrangements for the Lord’s journey.
The traditional system of service to the Lord in Jagannätha Puri is that devotees
from different sections of society are assigned to various services. For instance,
brähmanas are responsible for worship of the deities. Other devotees cook for
the Lord’s pleasure. Those devotees known as the Sabaras perform the service
of carrying Sri Jagannätha, Baladeva, and Subhadrä-devi when Their Lordships
attend certain festivals like snäna yäträ, etc.
When the message reached the Sabaras that the Lord wanted to leave for
Bengal, they immediately made all necessary arrangements for departure the
next morning. They walked all day and just before dusk set in, they settled in a
suitable place. There they collected fruits, flowers and leaves from the jungle
and worshiped Their Lordships. Finally, they put Them to rest, and after
honouring the Lord’s mahä-prasäda they themselves took rest. The next
morning, after the deities had been worshiped, the Sabaras again started for their
destination. In this way they spent 11 days, and on the 12th they arrived in
Simantadvipa, one of the 9 islands of Navadvipa-dhäma. That night, Lord

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Jagannätha appeared in the dream of the head Sabara and expressed His desire
to settle in this very place, which was transcendental in all respects. At once, the
Sabara devotees made all efforts for the proper arrangements to fulfil the Lord’s
desire to stay there permanently. The Sabara Vaishnavas went on serving the
Lord for generations to come. Due to their pure love and devotion they all
attained liberation and finally went back to Godhead, to Lord Jagannätha’s
eternal abode in the spiritual sky. Till today the Sabaras’ village is located near
the Jagannätha temple and is known as Sabara-dangä, “the place of the Sabaras.”
Gradually, by the influence of time, the deities and the temple disappeared. The
Lord, however, never left that place.
8. Mayamäri:
mayamärim tatottirya drstvä räma-paräkramam
“(After visiting Sridhara’s house) Sri Gaurahari crossed the place known as
Mayamäri, having witnessed the valour of Balaräma.” (Navadvipa-dhäma-
mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4.37)
In Simantadvipa towards the southwest of the Jagannätha temple on the bank
of the Jalängi river there is a place called Mayamäri. There is a nice historical
account about this place.
Lord Balarama Re-Enacts Vrndavana Pastime:

This place is non-different from the Talavana forest of Vrndāvana where

Balarāma killed the ass demon, Dhenukāsura. In Dvāpara-yuga, Lord
Balarama went on pilgrimage to avoid the battle of Kurukshetra between the
Pandava and Kuru dynasties.
When he came to Navadvipa and stopped to take some rest, some brāhmaņas
requested his help with the Māyāsura demon who was giving them great
anxiety by repeatedly contaminating their sacrificial arenas. Hearing of the
pitiful situation of the brahmanas, Lord Balaräma, out of mercy for them, rushed
towards the demon Mayäsura and had a great fight with him in the middle of a
field. Finally, the demon was killed by Lord Balaräma and therefore this place
has been known as Mayamäri since then. Märi means killing. He then bathed in
the Sarasvati River and received the blessings of the brahmanas before
continuing his pilgrimage.
This place is non-different from Tälavana in Vraja mandala.

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Directions:
This is in the fields on the front right side of Sridhara's place near the
Sarasvati River. There is nothing specific to mark this place.
9. Belpukur:
bilva-paksam tato gatvä viprän krsna-paräyanän
premnä samplävayäm äsa känci-puram jagat-patih
“Jagat-pati Sri Gaurasundara went to Bilva-paksa and flooded all brähmanas
devoted to Krsna and Käncipuram with Krsna-premä.” (Navadvipa-dhäma-
mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4. 55)
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura states in Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga: “In the distance
I will see the forest of bilva trees (Bilvavana of Vraja) where the four Kumära
brothers remain steeped in meditation on Lord Gaura. And further in the
distance I will see the land known as Sankarsana-ksetra where Nityänanda
Prabhu performs His pastimes. This area is manifest to the learned devotees.”
Why Is This Place Named Belpukur or Bilva-paksa?
Isäna Thäkura has told the story as follows:
Belpukur has been addressed as Belpoukhera (Belpoukhariyä) in Bhakti-
ratnäkara by Isäna Thäkura. Isäna Thäkura said to Sriniväsa, “This village
which is now known as Belpoukhera (Belpoukhariyä) was previously known as
Bilva-paksa. Now I will explain to you why this place has been named Bilva-
paksa. Lord Siva was residing here. Who can describe his glories? The most
merciful Panca vaktra Mahädeva (five-headed Siva) would fulfil the desire of
anyone who asked him anything in the service of Lord Sri Krsna. Once upon a
time some ascetic brähmanas were worshiping Lord Siva to fulfil their desires.
They worshiped Lord Siva with bilva leaves for a duration of one paksa (a
fortnight). Lord Siva became very pleased with them. He looked upon them with
a very merciful glance and spoke, ‘You may ask anything that you desire.’ The
brähmanas said, ‘Please give us that which you consider to be the greatest.’ Lord
Siva said, ‘Surprisingly there is nothing greater than service to Sri Krsna.’ The
brähmanas said, ‘O, merciful Lord! If service to Sri Krsna is the greatest thing,
then kindly tell us how we can achieve it.’ Panca-vaktra Siva said, ‘Do not worry.
You will very easily get the chance to serve Lord Sri Krsna. Within a few days
the Lord will appear in this city of Nadia in the house of a brähmana. All of you
will also take birth here at the same time and give Him great pleasure in His
childhood mood. All of you will study under His guidance as His students and
thus understand Him as pürna-brahma (Complete Brahman) and sanätana-
bhagavän (the eternal Supreme Person).

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All of you, by the association of His devotees, will always be engaged in His
service with great happiness.’
By hearing this from Lord Mahädeva all the brähmanas offered prostrated
obeisances to him and before leaving they recited many prayers. Then they all
went to a solitary place to meditate upon the lotus feet of Sri Krsna.”
Isäna Thäkura continued, “By the desire of Sri Gaura-Krsna, Lord Siva remained
hidden there for some time. Because the brähmanas worshiped him with bilva
leaves during one paksa (fortnight), this place is called “Bilva-paksa” by learned
people. If someone takes darsana of this place Lord Mahädeva will, with great
pleasure, arrange for him to meet with Gauracandra which is a very rare
blessing.”
Sri Nimbäditya (Nimbärka) Blessed by the Four Kumäras:
Sri Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya, Parikramä-khanda describes:
After crossing the river Gangä Lord Nityänanda proceeded for some distance
and said to the devotees, “This most beautiful place is Bilva-paksa. Everyone
calls this place Belpukur. This Belpukur is non-different from Bilvavana of
Vraja-dhäma. Five headed Bilvakesa Mahädeva was residing here and the local
brähmanas pleased him by worshiping him with bael leaves for a period of two
weeks. Mahädeva blessed all those brähmanas to receive Krsna-bhakti. One of
them was called Nimbäditya and he worshiped Lord Siva very sincerely.
Mahädeva mercifully told him, “At the end of this village there is a forest of bilva
trees. In that forest of bael fruits, the four Kumäras are engaged in meditation.
By their mercy you will achieve transcendental knowledge. The four Kumäras
are your spiritual masters. You will receive all wealth from them.” Saying this
Mahädeva disappeared.
Nimbäditya searched for the place as directed by Lord Siva and found in that
bilva forest a beautiful platform upon which the four Kumäras were sitting. (The
four Kumäras are four rsis called Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanätana and Sanat-
kumära.) They were naked and looked very sober in their meditation. Upon
seeing them, Nimbäditya started chanting in great happiness, “Hare Krsna! Hare
Krsna.” By hearing the holy name of Lord Hari, the meditation of the four
Kumäras broke. All of them were very happy to see a Vaishnava in front of them.
Each of the four Kumäras embraced Nimbäditya one after the other. They asked
him, “Who are you? Why have you come here? Please tell us, we will fulfil your
desires.” Hearing this from the four Kumäras Nimbärka offered them prostrated
dandavat-pranäma and introduced himself.

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Hearing of his identity, Sri Sanat-kumära spoke with a sweet smile on his face,
“Knowing very well about the severe Kali-yuga, the most merciful Lord wants
to spread bhakti-yoga among the people. The Lord empowered four persons and
sent them to this material world to preach bhakti. You are one of them, the other
three are known as Rämänuja, Madhva and Vishnu Svämi. Sri Lakshmi-devi has
accepted Rämänuja, Brahmä has accepted Madhväcärya and Rudradeva has
accepted Vishnu Svämi as the äcäryas of their respective sampradäyas. Today
we have come to know you as our own representative and we wish to accept you
as our disciple. Previously we were committed to the non-dual advaita concept
of the four Kumäras the Absolute Truth but by the mercy of the Lord we are
now free from that sin. Now, understanding very well that pure devotion is the
best, we have composed a samhitä named the Sanat kumära-samhitä. You will
get initiation according to this Sanat-Kumära samhitä.” By seeing the causeless
mercy of his guru, Nimbärka immediately went to the Gangä to take bath. Upon
his return, he fell at the lotus feet of the four Kumäras and said with great
humility, “O, deliverers of fallen souls! Please deliver this most fallen soul.” The
Kumära brothers offered him the yugala-mantra and taught him how to perform
bhajana in bhäva-märga.
Sri Nimbärka Blessed by Sri Gauränga Mahaprabhu:
After receiving the mantra from the four Kumäras, Nimbärka started
worshiping at Siddha-pitha-sthäna according to the processes given by the
samhitä. Out of mercy upon Nimbärka Sri Sri Rädhä-Krsna appeared there. By
the effulgence of Their beautiful forms all directions became lit.
With a smile the Lord said, “Nimbäditya! You are very fortunate to perform
sädhana here. This Navadvipa-dhäma is very dear to both of Us. Here We both
appear in Our combined form as the son of Saci.” While saying this, Sri Rädhä
and Krsna manifested Their combined form of Gauränga to Nimbäditya.
By seeing that most beautiful form of Lord Gauränga, Nimbäditya became
enchanted and said, “I have never seen or heard about such a wonderful form.
Where does this wonderful form reside?”
Sri Gauränga Mahäprabhu said, “Do not reveal this form to the people now,
preach Krsna-bhakti to develop more faith in the worship of Sri Rädhä and
Krsna. I enjoy more when Sri Sri Rädhä-Krsna are worshiped. When I have My
manifested pastime as Gauränga we will enjoy the pastimes of learning. At that
time, you will take birth in the state of Kashmir and travel all over India as a
Digvijayi. You will be a well-known scholarly person, Kesava Käsmiri. While
traveling all over India you will reach Navadvipa-dhäma and stay at Mäyäpur
village. Very learned teachers of Navadvipa will run away just by hearing your
name. At that time, I will be engaged in vidyä-viläsa (the pastime of learning). I
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will defeat all of you and thus derive great pleasure. By the mercy of Sarasvati,
you will understand the truth about Me and take shelter of Me by giving up all
pride.
When this happens, I will give you bhakti and send you to preach this highest
knowledge. For the time being you can please Me by preaching the dvaitädvaita
philosophy and keeping this confidential information about Me hidden. When I
inaugurate the sankirtana movement I will personally preach the essence of all
your philosophy.”
Mahäprabhu continued, “I will accept two tattvas (concepts) from each of the
four Vaishnava sampradäyas. From the Mädhva-sampradäya I will take the
philosophy of refuting advaita-väda and the worship of the deity of Lord Sri
Krsna, with the understanding that the deity form is eternal and transcendental.
From the Rämänuja sampradäya I will accept ananya-bhakti and service to
devotees. From the Vishnu Svämi-sampradäya I will accept tadiya sarvasva-
bhäva (the consciousness that the Lord is everything to His devotee) and räga-
märga-bhakti (worship of the Lord imbued with transcendental feelings). From
the Nimbärka sampradäya I will accept taking the exclusive shelter of Srimati
Rädhäräni and the concept of gopi-bhäva.” Saying this Sri Gauracandra
disappeared. Nimbäditya started crying profusely with great jubilation and love.
He offered his obeisance to his spiritual master and then left to continue his
pilgrimage.
10. Sri Madana Gopäla Temple:
There is a temple with a deity of Sri Madana Gopäla in Belpukur. In the book
Sri Navadvipa dhama and Jagannatha Puri – A Practical Guide, it has been
mentioned that this deity of Sri Madana Gopäla was established and worshiped
by Nilämbara Cakravarti Thäkura, the father of Srimati Saci devi. Nilämbara
Cakravarti is said to have moved from Srihatta (Sylhet) to this village sometime
between 1475 and 1490. He came here with his wife and his daughter, Saci-devi.
This village used to be right next to the Gangä but is now about 6 km away.

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Sri Madana Gopäla Temple Practical Guide:
Darsana Times: 6 a.m.-12 p.m. and 4-7 p.m.
Directions:
Proceed down Bhaktisiddhänta Road until you come to the main road to
Calcutta. Instead of turning right in the direction of Krishna nagar and Calcutta,
go straight ahead. Take the left turning at the corner of Dhubuliä Batalä where
there is a large banyan tree. Then turn left next to a small marketplace and
proceed for approximately one kilometre. On the left you will see the Belpukur
Library, a white building in an open field. Behind this, to the left, is the Madana
Gopäla temple. This is the area of Belpukur.
Presiding Deity:
This delightful deity of Madana Gopäla was worshiped by Nilämbara Cakravarti
Thäkura, the father of Saci-mätä.

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11. Räma Tirtha (Rukumpur):
At this place Lord Balaräma killed the demon Koläsura. Then, along with the
members of the Yadu dynasty, He took bath in the Gangä.
While Lord Balaräma was visiting different holy places He came to this place.
At that time a demon by the name of Koläsura was living here.
This powerful demon had mystic powers which he was using to keep the local
people under his control.
The people approached Lord Balaräma for help and the Lord, being merciful
upon them, came to fight with Koläsura.
Koläsura attacked Balaräma by surrounding Him with thousands of elephants
and chariots from all sides. But Lord Balaräma very easily defeated all Koläsura’s
soldiers and finally killed the demon himself. If anyone takes bath at this tirtha
on the full moon day in the month of Kärtika, he will achieve 100 times the
benefit of bathing in Haridvära.
Now this place is known as Rukmapura (or Rukumpur). Lord Rämacandra also
visited this place during Tretä-yuga and Lord Nityananda, after His marriage,
stayed for some period at Rukumpur.
12. Meghera Chara:
This place is between Belpukur and Sonadangä villages. Once, Lord Caitanya
Mahäprabhu along with His devotees was passing through this place on nagara-
sankirtana. Suddenly a very dark cloud appeared in the sky. The devotees were
worried that there would be heavy rain which would disrupt their sankirtana
but Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu waved His cloth asking the clouds to disappear
and they immediately dispersed on the order of the Lord.
Directions:
Turn right after you enter the courtyard for Simantini-devi temple and take the
first road on the left. Going ahead, at the end of the village, you will see some
fields. This is the area called Sonadangä. You can continue down this road to go
to Belpukur.
13. Sasthi Tirtha:

Refreshing Waters For Kirtana:

Directions:

One of these kundas is in Chand Kazi's village and another is here on the side

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of Sridhara's place.

Knowing that Lord Caitanya would appear in Navadvipa-dhama and hold his
maha-nagara- sankirtana pastimes throughout all the villages of Mayapur,
Visvakarma, the architect of the demigods, constructed 60 large beautiful
kundas in one evening. He wanted to ensure there was a supply of cool,
refreshing water for the Lord and His devotees during their kirtanas.

Parvati and Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

"Northwest of Mathura (Chand Kazi samādhi), will see the splendour of

Simantadvipa, situated on the bank of the Ganges. This is where anxious
Parvati placed the dust of the lotus feet of Gauranga on her simanta (the part
of her hair)." As stated by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the Ganga River used
to flow here during Lord Caitanya's time.

xxxxx

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 III. GODRUMADVIPA
1. Sri Godrumadvipa:
godruma-dvipam äsädya surabhi-sevitam harih
nanarta paramävisto mrkanda-suta-sannidhau
“The Lord reached Godrumadvipa, which is worshiped by surabhi, and there He
danced in front of Märkandeya rsi in great ecstasy.” (Navadvipa-dhäma-
mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4. 39)
This island represents kirtanam-chanting.
Places to visit on this island:
1. Surabhi kunja
2. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura’s house
3. Suvarna-vihära
4. Ämra-ghäta
5. Sri Narasimha Palli
6. Harihara-ksetra
7. River Alakanandä
8. Gaura daha

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In Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura describes Sri
Godrumadvipa as follows:
“To the west of Narasimha Palli flows the Gandaki River, which is beyond the
Alakanandä River and Käsi ksetra. I shall then see Godruma ksetra,
corresponding to the place in Vraja where King Indra’s Surabhi cow worshiped
Lord Krsna.
Within the entire three worlds there is no place comparable to Godruma. It is
the forest in which the great sage Märkandeya received the mercy of Lord
Gaura. Just as Isodyäna and Rädhä-kunda lie close to the bank of the River
Gangä, similarly Godruma lies just as close to the bank of the River Sarasvati.
O my dear mind! Just worship, just worship the forest of Godruma! By this you
will very soon behold the transcendental treasure of Lord Gaura’s pastimes.
Seeing the vision of these pastimes, you will easily attain the eternally sportive
play of Rädhä and Krsna. Only this will fulfil all your desires.”
Godruma corresponds to the city of Nanda Mahäräja in Vraja known as Sri
Nandisvara, which is the residence of the cowherd folk. Here Sri Gauränga performs
various pastimes. After having a snack of milk products at a cowherd’s house in
the afternoon, Nimäi goes to tend the cows in the pasturelands accompanied by
His gopa friends.
The cowherd boys would say, ‘O brother, You are a gopäla! Dressing like a
brähmana boy does not suit You at all! Come, I’ll carry You on my shoulders
and we’ll go herd the cows. Let’s head towards Your mother’s house in
Mäyäpur.’
One gopa would show great affection and give Him curds mixed with condensed
milk, and another gopa would become agitated with love just by seeing the
wonderfully beautiful form of the Lord. Yet another gopa would place fruits and
flowers in His hand saying, ‘O brother! Please come to my house every day!’
‘You are the worshipable deity for the brähmanas, but You are also the very
purpose of life for us gopas. We cannot possibly forsake You – You are the only
object of our meditation and consciousness. Just see the cows! On sighting You,
they begin mooing and give up eating grass, even forgetting about their own
calves!’
‘Since it is now getting late, you should go home to your father’s house and
tomorrow we’ll meet again at this place. I’ll save some yoghurt, curds and
condensed milk for you, but if you come late, I’ll be very upset!’

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In this way, Sri Gaura and Nitäi play with the cowherd boys from day to day in
the divine Godruma forest. If there is enough time, Gaura Bhagavän again
bathes in the River Gangä before proceeding home to Sri Saci.
“Will such a day ever be mine? When will I see the pure love-laden Godruma
pastimes performed by the Lord in the mood of a cowherd boy playing with His
cowherd friends? With a mind fixed in the longing to serve the Lord, I will
reside at my house in Godruma.” (Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga)
The skanda purana states that, those excellent persons who live on this dvipa
are liberated from all sin and attain the supreme abode. The local name for this
place is Gadigacha.
2. Why Is This Island Named Godrumadvipa?:
Sri Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya (Parikramä-khanda) describes:
Lord Nityänanda along with Sri Jiva and Sriväsa Thäkura reached the village
called Gädigächä. He explained, “This island is known as Godrumadvipa. The
Mother Surabhi is always residing here.
Lord Indra's Dilemma:
Being angry at the cowherd people of Vrindavana for worshiping Govardhana
Hill instead of himself, Lord Indra called for the sämvartaka cloud, the cloud of
devastation, to destroy their village. Torrential rains and winds suddenly
appeared and began thrashing Vrndāvana. The cowherd folk immediately ran
to Krsna seeking His protection. Krsna lifted Govardhana Hill and brought
everyone, including all the cows, into the dry and comfortable cave
underneath. Meanwhile, Indra used all the weapons and powers at his
command to destroy Vrndāvana, but he was not able to do anything. All the
might of one small demigod is certainly no match against Krsna of Vraja, for
He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.

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Defeated and his pride broken, Indra finally came to his senses and realized
that this little cowherd boy Krsna was the Supreme Lord and that he had
committed a great offense. Indra fell at Krsna's lotus feet begging forgiveness.
The most merciful Lord Sri Krsna, the son of Nanda Mahäräja, excused Indra
for his offense.

But Indra was nevertheless very frightened. He approached Mother Surabhi to

solve his dilemma, and told her, ‘I could not understand the Lord in His Krsna-
lilä and thus committed a severe offense at His lotus feet. I have heard that in
the age of Kali Lord Sri Krsna will manifest wonderful pastimes in Nadia. I
fear that I may again become bewildered and offend the lotus feet of Sri Hari.
You know everything, my dear Surabhi-mätä. Kindly tell me what I should do
to become free from this offensive nature.’
Mother Surabhi replied, ‘Let us go to Navadvipa-dhäma. There we will
worship Nimäi.’
Indra and Surabhi then came here and engaged in the worship of Lord
Gauränga which is very easy and gives great benefit. Offenses are not present
in the worship of Gaurāņga Mahaprabhu, so the hearts of Lord Indra and
Mother Surabhi soon became flooded with premā. If someone cries, chanting
the holy name of Lord Gauränga, he will obtain darsana of the Lord. After
Indra and Surabhi performed their bhajana here Lord Gauränga manifested
Himself exhibiting His most beautiful form, smiling sweetly. His
transcendental form was very gracious, and He was the personification of the
ecstatic storehouse of all mellows.
Lord Gauränga smilingly said, ‘I know your desire. Very soon I will manifest
My pastimes in Nadia. During this pastime you will serve Me here, so that you

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will not get caught by the net of mäyä anymore.’ Saying this Lord Gauränga
disappeared.
Surabhi devi stays there eternally under the banyan tree and constantly serves
the lotus feet of Lord Gauränga. Because mother Surabhi is staying here on this
island under a banyan tree, it is known as Godrumadvipa. Go means cow and
druma means tree. All the desires of the devotees are fulfilled here. If anyone
worships Lord Gauränga residing here in a hut, he will attain His lotus feet.

Markandeya Rsi Gets Gaura Prema:

The Puränas also describe a very nice pastime of Märkandeya rsi on this island.
The son of Mrkanda rsi is known as Märkandeya rsi. He was blessed by Lord
Siva to live for 7 kalpas. At the time of annihilation, the whole earth was filled
with the waters of devastation and therefore Märkandeya rsi could not find any
shelter. He was floating around and lamenting, “Why did I get such a boon of
long life? Because of this I now must go through all this trouble.”

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While he was floating around he saw this land of Navadvipa. These 16 krosas of
Navadvipa were not flooded even during that time and were giving shelter to
all devotees. Due to being tossed around by the waves Märkandeya rsi became
senseless. Seeing him in this condition Mother Surabhi lifted him with great
care. When Märkandeya rsi regained his external senses he saw the wonderful
form of Godrumadvipa. He saw this island extending for hundreds of millions
of krosas and its surface was decorated with many rivers and reservoirs. He saw
a banyan tree that extended for one yojana (8 miles), which was where the
Mother Surabhi was residing. By that time the rsi was feeling very hungry.
He told Mother Surabhi, “O, Bhagavati, kindly give me some milk and thus save
my life.” At that time Mother Surabhi, being very kind, fed Märkandeya rsi with
her milk. The rsi began to regain some strength and said to Surabhi, “O,
Bhagavati! You are my mother; the whole universe is bewildered by your mäyä.
Without proper understanding, I accepted this boon of a long life of 7 kalpas.
But now at the time of annihilation I am suffering terribly. My dear mother!
Please tell me what I should do now. How can I become free from this suffering?”
Mother Surabhi replied, “Please worship the lotus feet of Lord Gauränga. This
Navadvipa is beyond the material nature. This abode is never destroyed. To our
naked eye in worldly vision the size of this place is 16 krosas. But this abode is
beyond the restriction of time and place. This land is Vaikuntha and always free
from any faults. Material illusory energy has no influence here. Just behold this
most beautiful Navadvipa-dhäma which is surrounded by the river Virajä. The
size of each island is sata-koti krosas, 1000 million krosas. There are 8 islands
forming the shape of an eight-petalled lotus. Antardvipa is situated in the center
as the whorl of the lotus. All holy places, all demigods and rsis are staying here
and are engaged in worshiping Gauränga. You, Märkandeya, should take shelter
of the wealth of the lotus feet of Lord Gauränga here. You should follow dharma
without any duplicity, giving up desires for bhukti and mukti. By taking shelter
of the worship of Lord Gauränga you will very soon achieve mädhurya prema
(conjugal love). When that love arises within the heart it will make you float in
the mellows of viläsa-kalä. You will receive shelter at the lotus feet of Srimati
Rädhäräni in Vraja-dhäma and your mind will always be fixed in the service of
Sri Sri Rädhä-Krsna. You should know that the pleasure of that service is
incomparable.”
Hearing all this from Mother Surabhi, Märkandeya rsi spoke with folded hands,
“When I see the lotus feet of Sri Gauränga what will happen to my destiny
(karma phala)?”
Mother Surabhi replied, “As soon as you utter the holy name of Gauränga, all
your karma will be destroyed. You will experience no more distress. You will be

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free from the cycle of birth and death. Not only will you be free from the result
of your karma, but you will also be free from the result of jnäna. You will be
engaged in relishing Gaura-rasa and worshiping Him sitting here on this
island.” Markandeya rsi’s heart overflowed with spiritual joy hearing this
explanation from Mother Surabhi. He stayed there chanting the name of
Gauranga, crying and laughing in ecstasy. (Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya,
Parikramä-khanda)
3. Surabhi Kunja:
The place where Surabhi and Indra were performing Gaura-bhajana is known
as Surabhi-kunja. Presently there is a Gaudiya Matha temple at Surabhi kunja
and the deities are worshiped in a small house. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura also
stayed at this place for a few years.
This temple is located on the bank of the Jalängi River. If you go from Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thäkura’s Svänanda-sukhada-kunja towards the boat ghat, this
temple will be on your right about 200 meters from Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thäkura’s place. This place is non-different from Surabhivana in Vrndävana. It
fulfils the desires of devotees and one who builds a cottage and worships here,
will easily become absorbed in meditation on Gauränga Mahäprabhu’s lotus feet.
Nityananda's Preaching Headquarters:
Bhaktivinoda Thakura lived here for many years before moving into his house
further down the road at Svänanda Sukhada Kuñja. It is interesting to note
that this place is where Lord Nityananda established the headquarters for his
nāma-hatta preaching in Bengal here. Then, 400 years after Nityananda
Prabhu, Thakura Bhaktivinoda, who took initiation in the line of Jahnava devi,
Lord Nityananda's eternal consort, led a revival of nama-hata preaching
throughout Bengal and other parts of India from this same area.
Surabhi Kunja Practical Guide:
Darsana Times: 9 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.
Directions:
Go to Hulor Ghat by walking 15 minutes down Bhaktisiddhänta Road, or by
rickshaw from the ISKCON main gate. Take a boat across the Sarasvati River
(Jalängi River) to Hular ghata. After getting off the boat, walk down the path
until you reach the road. Rickshaw drivers will be there, or you can walk by
turning left and proceeding down the road for approximately 15 minutes. Soon
after you make a sharp left turn on this road, you will see a signboard high up
on a building on the left side saying, “Surabhi-Kunja Gaudiya Matha.”

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Presiding Deities:
Sri Sri Rädhä-Krsna are being worshiped here.

Places of Interest:
1. Banyan Tree:
Mother Surabhi performed austerities and lived under a huge banyan tree here.
This tree is now unmanifest but tulasi plant (growing on the left side of the
courtyard) identifies the area where it used to be.
2. Cow:
There is also a very nice friendly cow in the courtyard which is not surprising
for the place of Mother Surabhi who is a desire cow from the heavenly planets.

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4. Svänanda-Sukhada-Kunja (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura’s Home):
Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Home:

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is an eternal associate of Lord Caitanya, and his

eternal spiritual form is Kamala Mañjari. He was born into a wealthy family on
2nd September 1838 in a village named Ulagrāma, in Gauramandala. His name
was Kedarnatha Datta. While still a young boy, he left Ulagrāma and moved to
his grandfather's house where he spent most of his youth. After finishing his
education, he married and held some teaching positions. He remarried after his
first wife died and had several children by his second wife, Srimati Bhagavati
Devi, including the ācārya, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Thakura. Kedärnātha
Datta later became a District Magistrate (High Court Judge) under the British
Government. This was the highest position an Indian could hold under British
rule. As the District Magistrate in Puri, he was also overseeing the activities of
Lord Jagannatha's temple. In that position he raised the standard of worship of
Lord Jagannatha and increased the offerings to 64 offerings a day.

Leading A Revival of Lost Teachings:

Thakura Bhaktivinod took dikşā initiation from Krsnānanda Datta his family
guru in the line of Jähnavā Devi, and later accepted Jagannātha dasa Bābāji
Mahārāja as his śikṣā guru. When Bhaktivinoda Thakura first encountered
Lord Caitanya's sankirtana mission, it had been degraded by various sahajiyä
sects who had distorted Lord Caitanya's teachings to justify their own
perverted sense indulgence. Consequently, self-respecting persons, especially
the educated class, did not accept Lord Caitanya's teachings as a bona fide
spiritual process. Bhaktivinoda Thakura, however, understood that Lord
Caitanya is Krsna Himself giving the highest conclusion of bhakti, devotional
service in the mood of Vrndavana. In the years that followed, he re-established
the real teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through publishing a magazine
named Sajjana Toşani and by writing many articles and books. In 1896, his
book, ‘The Life and Precepts of Lord Caitanya’, was the first of its kind to be sent
to the West. His preaching and writings gave an authoritative sastric
foundation to establish Lord Caitanya's teachings as not only bona fide but as
the quintessence of all spiritual knowledge.

Revealing the Dhama:

Bhaktivinoda Thakura's desire to be in Navadvipa-dhama was so strong that

he resigned his post as Magistrate when the British Government refused to

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transfer him to Krishnagara. At this, the British Government conceded and the
Thakura moved to Godrumadvipa and became the District Magistrate of
Krishnagara.
One night, while he was chanting on the verandah of this house, he saw a
dazzling golden effulgence emanating from the other side of the Jalangi River
(which flows in front of his house). This also happened the next night, but this
time he saw the beautiful golden forms of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda
dancing in kirtana.

The next day, he went searching in the direction of the effulgent vision and
came to an area covered in tulasi plants in a Muslim village called Meeyapour.
After extensive research and the divine confirmation of Jagannatha dasa Babāji
Mahārāja, Bhaktivinoda Thakura established that area to be the actual site of
Lord Caitanya's appearance.

Yoga-pitha
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In another vision, from the same verandah, Thakura Bhaktivinoda saw the
horizon of Mayapur light up under the effulgence of, "One exceedingly
wonderful temple which will broadcast the eternal service of Lord Gauranga
throughout the world." The site for this vision was across the Jalangi River on
the land where ISKCON has begun plans to build a magnificent temple and
city.

Bhaktivinoda Thäkura predicted that a great devotee would appear and spread
Krsna consciousness all over the world. Shortly thereafter, His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda fulfilled his prediction.
To propagate Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sankirtana mission, Bhaktivinoda
Thakura engaged in extensive preaching and writing for many years. Leaving
household life, he took babaji initiation from Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji
Maharaja. He made plans to go to Vrndāvana to end his days there absorbed in
the holy name. However, the night before leaving, Krsna appeared to
Bhaktivinoda Thakura in a dream and asked him, "Where are you going? You
have not yet finished your duty to discover the lost places of My pastimes in
Navadvipa dhama." Fulfilling the Lord's desire, Thakura Bhaktivinoda stayed
in Navadvipa and began extensive research to locate the places of Lord
Caitanya's pastimes. This research culminated in the writing of several books,
including the ‘Sri Navadvipa Dhāma Mahātmya’.
Lalita’s Grove:
Bhaktivinoda Thäkura named his house Svänanda-sukhada-kunja. It is non-
different from Svänanda-sukhada kunja, the private grove of Lalitä sakhi, located

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on the bank of Rädhä-kunda in Vrndävana. Bhaktivinoda Thäkura’s songs reveal
how he is eternally living in this kunja serving the divine couple, Sri Sri Rädhä
and Krsna. “My small cottage is shining beautifully within that most enchanting
garden called Svänanda-sukhada-kunja. Living there I will sing Lord Krsna’s
holy name and greedily hanker for the time when I will be granted the
opportunity to serve Him and His associates.” (Gita mälä)
It is said that at times the 4 äcäryas, Jagannätha däsa Bäbäji Mahäräja,
Gaurakisora däsa Bäbäji Mahäräja, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura and
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkura, would meet here and discuss the pastimes
of Gaurahari.
“On the banks of the celestial Gangä, I will dwell in a cottage at Surabhi kunja
in Godruma-dhäma. This land of Godruma is very conducive for performing
devotional worship of the Supreme Lord and is non-different from the sacred
place called Nandagräma, located in the holy district of Mathurä.” (Saranagati)
Svänanda Sukhada Kunja (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura’s Home) Practical
Guide:
Darsana Times: 6-11.30 a.m. and 3-8 p.m.
Directions:
Continue a short distance down the main road from Surabhi kunja. Bhaktivinoda
Thäkura’s house will be on your right just past a big banyan tree on the left.

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Presiding Deities:
1. The main altar has a mürti of Bhaktivinoda Thäkura and (around the corner)
his personal deities, Sri Sri Mahäprabhu and Sri Sri Gadädhara Pandita.
2. On the left, just inside the front gate, are the deities of Ksetra-päla Siva and
his bull-carrier, Nandi.

Places of Interest:
1. Place of honour:
On the left side of the main altar is a small place honouring Bhaktivinoda
Thäkura’s dedicated servant, Krsna däsa.

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2. Bhajana Kutira of Gaurakisora däsa Bäbäji:
On the right of the main altar is the place where Gaurakisora däsa Bäbäji had a
bhajana kutira. He spent many hours chanting here while visiting Bhaktivinoda
Thäkura. Previously the doorway to this hut was facing the back wall, reflecting
Gaurakisora däsa Bäbäji’s humble mood, but now it has been changed to face the
main courtyard for the convenience of visitors.

3. House:
It is on the left side of the property. Bhaktivinoda Thäkura’s room is the first
room at the top of the stairs. It has some of his personal belongings. This is
where he wrote many of his newsletters and books. The veranda outside this
room is where Bhaktivinoda Thäkura saw the visions of Lord Caitanya in kirtana
and the golden city of Mahäprabhu.

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Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thäkura’s room is next to his father’s.

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5. Suvarna Vihära:
... suvarna-sena-durge sa nanarta kirtane harih
“Sri Hari danced in kirtana at the fort of King Suvarna Sena.” (Navadvipa-
dhäma-mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4.37)
In Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura writes as follows:
“Looking east from there (Sridhara Ängana) I shall see Suvarna-vihära, the site
of King Suvarna Sena’s incomparably majestic palace. This is where the
moonlike Lord Sri Gauracandra dances along with His associates in an
enchanting golden form.
When will I wander throughout Suvarna-vihära, alone or in the company of
other devotees, weeping and sobbing piteously with a choked voice? At the lotus
feet of Gauränga I will beg for a speck of service to the Divine Couple, and then
offer my very life unto the shelter of Sri Rädhä’s lotus feet.”
King Suvarna Sena Receives Darsana of Lord Gauränga:
Suvarna-vihära is located in Godrumadvipa on the southern side of the River
Sarasvati. This river is at present known as the Jalängi.
Lord Nityänanda described this place to Sri Jiva as follows:
During Satya-yuga King Suvarna Sena was ruling here. He had ruled his
kingdom for a long time and even though he had become very old he was still
very attached to his kingly duties. He was always engrossed in material life and
once due to his good fortune Närada Muni visited his palace. The king was very
happy to see Närada Muni and welcomed the sage by worshiping him nicely. He
offered prostrated obeisance to Närada Muni, who then took the king to a
solitary place and mercifully explained to him tattva-upadesa (instructions about
tattva).
Närada Muni said, “You are spending your days uselessly only meditating on
how to increase your wealth. You should know very well that this material
wealth is useless and the cause of all suffering. The real supreme wealth is
transcendental knowledge. Please try to think about this for once seriously
within your heart. None of your family members, like your wife and children and
all your relatives, are yours eternally. At the time of your death no one will be
yours. When you die, all your relatives will put your body into river water to
float away and go back to their respective houses. If no one is a real relative of
anyone then why do you run after these false hopes, hankering for so much
material achievement? If you say that at least you are achieving pleasure in your
life and are free from suffering and that is your justification for trying to

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accumulate so much wealth. Dear king, that is also false, because this body will
be destroyed one day. It will not exist for more than 100 years. Therefore, you
should understand that the essence of everything is beyond this illusory material
world in the spiritual world, where there is no trace of suffering in the
enjoyment. In this material world some enjoyment is there but it always comes
along with suffering. One should know how to cross over material nescience.
What kind of sädhana should one follow to achieve that wonderful result of
going back to Godhead, where there is no sorrow or suffering? Not only by
renunciation nor just by knowledge can one achieve that. By knowledge and
renunciation, one may become free from material bondage and get liberation.
But by achieving that kind of liberation one does not get real pleasure. In fact,
to get that kind of liberation is the greatest loss, because material pleasure is
lost and at the same time not much worthwhile is achieved.
Therefore, the intelligent person will not accept bhukti or mukti, material sense
gratification or liberation. Rather they practice devotional service to Lord Sri
Krsna. To be detached from material things and attached to the lotus feet of
Lord Sri Krsna is everything in one’s life – sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana.
The jiva is the eternal servant of Sri Krsna. Without bhakti everything is
destroyed. The tree of bhakti, bhakti-vrksa, gives the fruit of premä. That fruit
is prayojana or the final goal of life. That Krsna-premä is our eternal wealth, in
comparison to which bhukti and mukti are insignificant. Sri Krsna is sat, cit and
änanda. He is like the sun, the jivas are like rays of the sun and mäyä is the
shadow. The jiva is the tatasthä energy of the Lord and due to his marginal
nature, when he comes in contact with mäyä she puts him in bondage. When the
jiva becomes Krsna bahirmukha or turns his face away from Krsna, he touches
mäyä. By coming in contact with mäyä the jiva falls into the bondage of karma.
Being caught by the net of mäyä the jiva moves around in the material universes
and undergoes lots of suffering. Due to his attachment to karma, he does not get
liberation even if he tries his best to be free from suffering. Sometimes the jiva
engages in karma, sometimes he engages in the ashtanga-yoga process,
sometimes he discusses brahma-jnäna. Sometimes he engages in logic. Despite
all these he ultimately remains in bondage, due to his non-acceptance of the real
wealth of knowledge about the science of the self. If the jiva, while traversing
this material world, gets the association of a sädhu then he will achieve sraddhä
or faith. In due course of time by practicing devotional service to Sri Krsna in
the association of devotees, his heart will become free from anarthas, unwanted
desires, and then he will achieve nisthä, steadiness. After continuing his bhajana,
at some time due to that nisthä, he will develop ruci or taste and then later he
will develop attachment or äsakti to the Lord. From äsakti he will attain bhäva,
which will later bring him to the platform of premä. This is the gradual process

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of achieving pure devotion. By practicing the 9 kinds of devotional service in the
association of devotees, one will achieve the wealth of Krsna premä.”
Närada Muni continued, “Oh, King! You are very fortunate to have taken birth
in Navadvipa. By residing in this Navadvipa-dhäma you have achieved great
fortune. Now you should try to develop sraddhä by the association of sädhus.
Strive to achieve premä by engaging in the chanting of the holy name of Krsna.
When Kali-yuga comes, Sri Krsna along with His associates will manifest here
for His Gauränga-lilä. One who chants the holy name of Lord Gauränga will get
the mercy of Lord Sri Krsna and will become eligible to reside in Vraja-dhäma.
One who worships Lord Sri Krsna without chanting the holy name of Lord
Gauränga will get Sri Krsna after a long time, but one who chants the holy name
of Gauränga will attain Sri Krsna immediately, because by chanting the holy
name of Gauränga he will become free from all offenses.”
While speaking to King Suvarna Sena in this way, Närada Muni became very
impatient. Due to great ecstasy, he could not control himself anymore and
started dancing, chanting the holy name of Gauränga. He was playing on his
vinä, chanting the name of Gaurahari and asking, “When will that most blessed
Kali-yuga come?” While speaking these words Närada Muni left. Just at that
moment King Suvarna Sena developed Krsna-premä and started to dance,
chanting the name of Gauränga. He was asking for Krsna-premä from all the
Vaishnavas and thus became free from all material desires.
Once when the king was sleeping, he dreamt that Gaura-Gadädhara along with
all Their associates were dancing in his courtyard. All of them were chanting
the Hare Krsna mahä-mantra and embracing the golden form of Lord Gaurahari.
When the king woke up, he became very worried and started to cry for
Gauränga.
Suddenly he heard a voice, “O, King! You will appear here again during the
manifested pastimes of Lord Gauränga. You will be one of the great associates
of the Lord. Your name will be Buddhimanta Khän. During that time, you will
serve the lotus feet of the Lord.” After hearing this daiva-väni (heavenly voice)
the king became pacified and started to worship Lord Gauränga.
As Buddhimanta Khan, King Sena served Lord Caitanya by paying all the costs
for Caitanya Mahaprabhu's wedding to Vişhnupriya, and by paying for the
costumes used by Gauränga Mahaprabhu and His associates in the drama at
Candrasekhara's house. He also helped Lord Caitanya and His associates in
their travels to Jagannatha Puri. This place is in the area known as Mahā-
Vārāņasi.

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While Lord Nityänanda was describing this subject to Sriväsa Thäkura, who is
an incarnation of Närada Muni, Sriväsa in the mood of Närada Muni fainted.
Everyone very ecstatically started to chant the nectarean holy name of
Gauränga and Sri Jiva was rolling around on the ground. All of them were
anticipating and praying for the darsana of the golden form of Gauränga.
Immediately, to their surprise, the most beautiful form of Gauränga appeared
there right in front of them and He started to dance. Nityänanda along with
Sri Advaita Äcärya began chanting the glories of Gauränga Mahäprabhu and
there was a big sankirtana with many mrdangas.
Thus, the previous sankirtana pastimes were manifested and all of them
remained there in great jubilation until the second prahara (midnight).
(Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya, Parikramä-khanda)
Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thäkura in his book Sri Bhakti-ratnäkara has
explained the pastimes at Suvarna vihära as follows:
Once Isäna Thäkura took Sri Sriniväsa on parikramä and described how this
place became known as Suvarna vihära.
In this country there was a most fortunate king who was a great devotee of Lord
Sri Krsna. Närada Muni has many disciples and grand-disciples, one of whom
came to the king’s palace one day. The king received him with great respect and
offered him prostrated obeisances. The king then asked him about the advent of
the Lord.
With very pleasing and sweet words he (the disciple of Närada Muni) explained
to the king, “The Lord will descend in Kali-yuga accepting a golden colour and
exhibit wonderful pastimes. He will be engaged in sankirtana which is rarely
witnessed by the demigods including Brahmä. The Lord will be mad with näma-
sankirtana and will make the whole world mad. Just as the Lord danced in mahä-
räsa in Vrndävana, in the same way He will dance and give pleasure to all His
devotees. All Navadvipa will be filled with happiness. No one can understand
the glories of Navadvipa-dhäma unless the associates of the Lord explain them
to him.”
After speaking in this way to the king, that great Vaishnava blessed him and
left. Hearing his words the king thought to himself, “Shame on my life, shame
on my birth as a human being. I always engaged in kingly activities. It is my bad
fortune that I never had the association of devotees. Without the association of
devotees no one achieves perfection in anything. After such a long period this
most merciful sädhu has now blessed me. Now I know this Nadia is the abode of
my Lord.”

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Considering this he felt ecstasy in his heart and started to shed tears looking
towards Navadvipa while offering prostrated obeisances to the holy dhäma. He
prayed to Navadvipa dhäma to bless him so that he could take birth at the time
when the Lord would manifest His pastimes there.
Just then a voice said, “You will take birth here in Nadia when the Lord descends
and manifests His pastimes.” Although the king was happy to hear this he was
still impatient. Bhakta vatsala Bhagavän Visvambhara, under the pretext of a
dream, revealed to the king His wonderful pastimes. The king saw thousands of
devotees playing different varieties of musical instruments and singing in a very
sweet way which attracted the whole world. Among those devotees, he saw the
moon of Nadia, Sri Gauracandra, in His most beautiful blue form of Sri Krsna
appearing like a stream of nectar. The king saw the form of Sri Krsnacandra and
immediately that blue form transformed to gold.
The king started to think, “Who is this golden form (suvarna-vigraha) moving
(vihära) in the crowd of sankirtana?” While the king was thinking like this his
dream ended. He became pacified and glorified his own good fortune. Because he
meditated on the Lord in His golden form (suvarna-vigraha) who was moving (vihära)
there, this place is named “Suvarna-vihära”.
At this very place Lord Gauränga was present in His manifested pastime. He
performed sankirtana here and many people relished seeing His dancing. With
great ecstasy people would speak to each other, “We have never seen such a
beautiful complexion. There is no comparison to it. His moving and dancing is
so wonderful that it attracts the people of the three worlds.” The mind of one
who takes darsana of Suvarna-vihära will drown in the pastimes of Gauränga.
The Vision of an Ācārya:

Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Thakura established this temple. One day, while

taking his disciples on pilgrimage from Bhaktivinoda Thakura's house to
Nrsimhapalli, Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Thakura saw this tract of land and
told his disciples to locate the owner as he wanted it.
The owner was a little perplexed. He told the devotees, "Please inform
Mahārāja that I am more than happy to give this land to him, but it is a wild
jungle with tigers and jackals, and no one dares to go there. I would prefer to
give him some other cultivated land."
Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Thakura insisted he wanted that land only and after
securing it, sent his disciples to search the place. They came back and reported
they had seen carved stones and raised areas where high walls had once stood.

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They also saw a huge celestial cobra with a shining jewel on its head. It was
protecting the ruins of a huge building.
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvati Thakura then revealed that this place was the palace
of King Survarna Sena, from the time of Satya-yuga.
Suvarna Vihära Practical Guide:
Darsana Times: 6-10 a.m. and 3-8 p.m.
Directions:
Leaving the Harihara temple return to the Ämghäta Railway Station and turn
right. Continue down the main road for a short distance. Take the road on the
left at Syämpur Bazar and turn right at the end onto a smaller dirt road. After
you go past some houses the road will become smaller and you will come to a
few small paths leading in different directions. Take the second path on the left.
You will pass a large campaka tree on the right side of the path. The temple is
at the end of this short path.

Presiding Deities:
Life-sized Lord Caitanya plus Srimati Rädhäräni and Krsna.

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Point of Interest:
Palace Ruins:
Although the ruins of King Suvarna Sena’s palace used to be visible in the nearby
mango orchard, they had to be moved near the temple as they were being
gradually stolen. If you ask the helpful devotees here, they will show you what
is left of the original ruins of the palace.
6. Amra-Ghäta (Amghat):
Ämra-ghäta is where Lord Caitanya performed the miracle of planting a
mango (ämra) seed, which immediately grew into a tree full of ripened
mangoes.
Harinama And Mangoes:
Once, while performing kirtana, Lord Caitanya noticed the devotees were
becoming tired. He stopped the kirtana and planted a mango seed in the
ground at this spot. Within minutes, a huge mango tree grew covered in big,
beautiful, red and yellow mangoes that had no skin or seeds. Caitanya
Mahāprabhu picked around 200 mangoes, one for each devotee present. He
washed the mangoes and offered them all to Krsna. Gaurasundara then ate one
mango and, after washing His hands, distributed the rest to the devotees. One
mango was enough to completely satisfy each devotee. The tree supplied
mangoes every day for one year and then, by the desire of the Lord, it suddenly
disappeared.
Daily, after kirtana with Lord Caitanya and Nityänanda Prabhu, the devotees
would hold a mango eating festival. The tree would give mangoes all year
without interruption and the fruits were all red and yellow and had neither seed
inside nor skins outside. By eating only one mango, the devotee was satisfied.
Every day for one year, Lord Caitanya and the devotees would enjoy eating
mangoes at this place. At the end of the year, the mango tree disappeared.
Amra Ghäta Practical Guide:
Directions:
Turn right outside Bhaktivinoda Thäkura’s house and continue down the same
road. You will see a railway line on the right of the road and, after a few
kilometers, a signboard for the “Amghat Railway Station”. Almost immediately
after that, on the left, is the mango grove. It is about 20 minutes by rickshaw
from Bhaktivinoda Thäkura’s house.

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7. Harihara Ksetra and Mahäväränasi:
ksetram hari-haram tirtvä käsim ca moksa-däyinim ...
“Lord Sri Hari crossed Sri Harihara ksetra and Käsi-ksetra which gives
liberation ...” (Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4.39)
Harihara-ksetra is situated in Godrumadvipa on the eastern bank of the
Alakanandä River. At present this river is not flowing but a portion of the river
is still visible.
Lord Siva - A Gaura Bhaktа:

Lord Siva is the topmost Vaishnava and is constantly rendering service to

Vişhnu. The Srimad Bhagavatam describes that after killing some demons,
Lord Krsna's sudarsana chakra burnt down Lord Siva's city of Kasi. Lord Siva
left that city and took refuge here, so this place is also known as Mahā-Kāsī or
Mahā-Varanasi.
However, "This Navadvīpa-Kāśī is superior to the other Käsi," writes Śrīla
Bhaktivinoda, "Here, Siva is always dancing and chanting the name of Gaura,
begging his followers to accept Gaura-bhakti. The sannyāsīs who live for 1000
years in Kāśī may attain liberation through the cultivation of jñāna, but here
the devotees kick away that liberation as they dance and chant the name of
Gauranga. While leaving the body here, living entities are delivered by Lord
Siva, who chants the name of Gauranga in their ears. This dhāma is thus called
Maha-Varanasi for here there is no fear of death."
Explaining the glories of this place Lord Nityänanda started to dance in ecstasy,
offering Gaura premä to all the living entities. At that time Kailäsa-pati Lord
Siva invisibly came there and offered his obeisances to Lord Nityänanda bowing
his head in front of Him. Here Lord Siva and his consort Gauri chant the holy
name of Gauränga to fulfil their desires.
Theft of Hari-Hara Foiled:

Lord Vişhnu manifested Himself in the form of Hari-Hara to show how dear
Lord Siva is to Him. Earlier, Hari-Hara was not in the temple. In July 1997
some thieves tried to steal Him. The next day, a fox came to some children
who were playing near the temple. This was most unusual, so the children
followed this fox and were led to where Hari- Hara had been abandoned in a
nearby jute field. During the investigations into this incident, a court case
arose, and Hari-Hara spent almost 4 years residing in the Krishnagar police
Station with a case number tag tied to His finger that previously held the

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Sudarshana cakra. An unknown women came every day to offer Hari-Hara
fresh water and incense.

Hari-Hara returned to the temple in May 2001 amidst a grand festival

organized by a committee of local devotees and ISKCON. Those present, saw
the immense pleasure of Hari-Hara at being back amongst His devotees.
Harihara Ksetra and Mahäväränasi Practical Guide:
Darsana Times: From 10.00 a.m. -12.00 and 4.00-6.00 p.m
Directions:
Return to the Amghat Railway Station and cross the railway lines. Go down the
small dirt road on the side of the station where the Amghat sign is. Continue
this small road passing two small roads on the left side. After passing the second
road on the left, you will make a sharp left turn. You will then see this place in
the open area on the right of the road. It is on the bank of the Alakanandä River.

Presiding Deities:
The main deity is Sri Harihara. He is half Lord Vishñu (black side) and half Lord
Siva (white side). You will see Lord Vishñu’s eternal consort, Lakshmi-devi, on
the left, and Lord Siva’s eternal consort, Pärvati devi, on the right. There is a
deity of Burho Siva or Vrddha Siva (Old Siva) with mustache and beard. You can
also see a deity of Gopäla and the footprints of Lord Gadädhara. There is also a
deity of Sitalä-devi on the floor riding on the horse.

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Right Footprint of Lord Gadadhara

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8. Aalakanandä River:
There was a very nice pastime of Mahäprabhu by the Alakanandä River, which,
as mentioned previously, is presently not visible.
Jagadänanda Pandita has described this pastime very nicely in his book Prema-
vivarta:
“One day my Lord, in a playful mood, went to the dense forest on the bank of
Alakanandä. Gadädhara and I were both there with Mahäprabhu. The Lord
playfully caught hold of a suka (parrot) from the bakula tree. Mahäprabhu said,
‘You are the son of Vyäsadeva. Please chant Sri Rädhä Krsna and increase our
happiness.’ The suka, however, did not chant the holy name of Sri Rädhä-Krsna
but instead chanted “Gaurahari”. Then Mahäprabhu threw him away pretending
that He was angry with him because the bird was not chanting the holy name of
Sri Rädhä-Krsna. Still the suka continued chanting “Gaura, Gaura” and danced
with great love.
Mahäprabhu said, ‘Oh, Suka! This is Vrndävana. Please chant the holy name of
Sri Rädhä and Krsna and let everybody hear the holy name.’
The bird replied, ‘Vrndävana has transformed into Navadvipa. Sri Rädhä and
Krsna have appeared as Sri Gaurahari. I am the suka who chants the holy name
of Sri Gaurahari and stays in this forest. You are my Sri Rädhä-Krsna. This
Gadädhara is Srimati Rädhäräni. Gadäi and Gauränga are the Lords of my life.
Nothing else comes from my mouth.’
Lord Gauränga Mahäprabhu said, ‘I am a worshiper of Sri Rädhä-Krsna. I feel
sad to hear any other name.’ Saying this Mahäprabhu caught hold of
Gadädhara’s hand and went back to Mäyäpur leaving behind the suka who said,
“You chant whatever You like. I will do my bhajana here eternally, chanting the
holy name of Gaurahari.”
9. Devapalli or Narasimha palli:
deva-pallim tato gatvä devän sürya-mukhän prabhuh
sri-krsna-kirtanänande plävayäm äsa bhämini
“Oh, Bhämini! (After visiting Suvarna-vihära) the Lord went to Devapalli. There
he drowned the demigods headed by Sürya with the bliss of chanting the holy
name of Sri Krsna.” (Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4.38)
Nrsimhadeva Fights to Save His Devotee:

Hiranyakasipu was such a powerful demon that he controlled the whole

universe, including the heavenly planets. He was virtually immortal because of

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a special benediction Lord Brahma had given him. Hiranyakasipu's avowed
enemy was Lord Vişhnu, but much to the chagrin of Hiranyakasipu, his son
Prahlada was a mahābhāgavata devotee of Lord Vişhnu. When threats failed
to turn his son against Vişhnu, Hiranyakasipu tried to kill him by using wild
elephants, poison, snakes, fire, and even throwing him off a cliff. All these
attempts failed and Prahlada, being personally protected by Lord Vişhnu, was
completely unharmed. Finally, in a fit of rage, Hiranyakasipu demanded that
his son reveal where he got his power from, for it was stronger than his own
power. Prahlada told his father there is only one source of power i.e., Vişhnu.

Hearing the name of his sworn enemy from the lips of his son made
Hiranyakasipu insane with anger. Screaming, "Where is your Vişhnu? Is He in
this pillar? Will He come and protect you now?" Hiranyakasipu grabbed
Prahlada and went to kill him with his own hands.
Suddenly a thunderous clamour shook the palace as Nrsimhadeva burst out of
the pillar and roared at Hiranyakasipu in great anger. Hiranyakasipu grabbed
his sword and attacked Nrsimhadeva with all his might. A fierce battle ensued
but ended when Nrsimhadeva picked Hiranyakasipu up as if he was an
insignificant insect, placed him on His lap, and bifurcated his chest.

The Lord says that His devotees are dearer to Him than His own self.
Prahlada, a young boy, had remained fully dependent and faithful on the Lord's
love and protection throughout severe trials. Therefore, even after killing
Hiranyakasipu, Nṛsimhadeva's fury was burning hot and would not be pacified.
Everyone, including the demigods and even Lakşhmi devi, Nrsimhadeva's
eternal consort, were too afraid to go near Him. Finally, Prahlada approached
Nrsimhadeva and offered Him a garland. Seeing His dear devotee,
Nrsimhadeva at once became placated and embraced Prahlada in great
affection. Nrsimhadeva begged Prahlada to ask for any benediction he wanted.
Prahlada did not want anything for himself, but he did want that the suffering
souls in the material realm be released from their illusory bondage to material
enjoyment.
In Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura describes Devapalli as
follows:
“Southeast of Suvarna-vihära there is Nrsimha Puri. When will I see the pure
transcendental sweetness of this place, also called Devapalli? I will roll about on
the ground in ecstatic love while visiting this residence of Lord Nrsimha.
Sincerely begging for His grace without a trace of duplicity in my heart, I will
attain Krsna-premä. Within my sinful heart the 6 enemies headed by lust

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perpetually reside, as well as duplicity, the desire for fame, and sheer cunning.
At the lotus feet of Lord Nrsimha, I hope that He will mercifully purify my heart
and give me the desire to serve Lord Krsna. Weeping, I will beg at the lotus feet
of Lord Nrsimha for the benediction of worshipping Rädhä and Krsna in
Navadvipa, perfectly safe and free from all difficulties. When will this Lord Hari,
whose terrible form strikes fear into fear itself, ever become pleased and show
me His mercy?
Even though Lord Nrsimha is terrifying towards the sinful souls, He offers great
auspiciousness unto the devotees of Lord Krsna headed by Prahläda Mahäräja.
When will He be pleased to speak words of compassion unto me, a worthless
fool, and thereby make me fearless?
He will say, ‘Dear child! Sit down freely and live happily here in Sri Gauränga-
dhäma. May you nicely worship the Divine Couple and may you develop loving
attachment for Their holy names. By the mercy of My devotees, all obstacles are
cast far away. With a purified heart, just perform the worship of Rädhä and
Krsna, for such worship overflows with sweet nectar.’
Saying this, will that Lord delightedly place His own divine lotus feet upon my
head? Suddenly I will experience sublime love for the divine couple Rädhä-Krsna
and undergo the ecstatic transformations called the sättvika vikäras. Falling on
the ground, I will roll about by the door of Sri Nrsimha’s temple.” (Navadvipa-
bhäva-taranga)
Lord Narasimhadeva’s Temple:
The following is a description of Devapalli from Sri Navadvipa-dhäma
mähätmya, Parikramä-khanda:
After visiting Suvarna-vihära Lord Nityänanda along with Sri Jiva and Sriväsa
Thäkura proceeded towards the village Devapalli. This place is also known as
Narasimha Palli. All of them took rest there as guests of the demigods and took
their lunch prasäda. Towards the end of the day Nityänanda Prabhu went on a
tour of the village.
The scriptures describe this place as very purifying. Previously there were many
hillocks there where the houses of Brahmä, Süryadeva, Ganesa and Indra were
situated. There were many tiläs where Visvakarmä built hundreds of houses out
of stone. In due course of time the River Mandäkini dried up and all the houses
were destroyed. Now only the hillocks are there but you can see many stones
lying around which are the ruins of the temples of different demigods.
It is also said that Lord Narasimha washed His hands in the pond next to the
temple. After some time, a great person or king will come and by the mercy of

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Lord Nrsimhadeva, he will build a temple for Lord Nrsimha Bhagavän here and
revive the worship of the Lord. This place marks the outer limit of Navadvipa-
dhäma which extends up to 16 krosas or 32 miles.
Lord Narasimhadeva’s Temple Practical Guide:
Darsana Times: Usually 10-12 a.m.
Directions from ISKCON:
Go down Bhaktisidhänta Road until you reach the main road to Calcutta. Turn
right onto this road. After the Krishnagara turn off and after going under the
railway overbridge, continue straight down the Navadvipa-Krishnagara
highway (do not turn left at the intersection as that will take you to Calcutta).
Narasimha Palli is just before a lake (on the left side of the road) and a sharp
right turn in the road. The distance is about 27 km. A taxi will take around 45
minutes to get there.

Presiding Deity:
Lord Narasimhadeva with Hiranyakasipu on His lap and Prahläda at His feet.
This self-manifest deity dates to Satya-yuga.

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Point of Interest:
1. The Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust built the kirtana hall here.
2. This temple is located on the eastern and southern boundaries of Navadvipa
dhäma and is known by the names Narasimha Puri and Devapalli
(neighbourhood of the devas).
It has been famous since Satya-yuga when Narasimhadeva came to rest here
after killing the demon Hiranyakasipu.
3. Next to the temple is a lake left behind by the Mandäkini River that flowed
here at that time. When Lord Nrsimhadeva arrived here, He drank the sweet
waters of this river to refresh Himself and washed the blood of Hiranyakasipu
from His hands.
4. The demigods followed Nrsimhadeva here, constructed large palaces, and
worshiped Him in great opulence. The changing course of the Mandäkini River
covered the demigod’s palaces and destroyed them and all that remains of them
now is the hills that surround this area.

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 108 Holy Names of Lord Nrsimhadev
1. Om narasimhaya namah - Obeisances unto the half-man half-lion Lord
2. Om mahasimhaya namah - Obeisances to the great lion
3. Om diyva-simhaya namah - Obeisances to the Divine lion
4. Om mahabalaya namah - Obeisances to the greatly powerful
5. Om ugra-simhaya namah - Obeisances to the terrifying lion
6. Om mahadevaya namah - Obeisances to the Lord of lords
7. Om stambha-ja-aya namah - Obeisances to One who appeared from the
pillar

8. Om ugra-locanaya namah - Obeisances to one who possesses terrifying eyes

9. Om raudraya namah - Obeisances to the angry one
10. Om sarvadbhutaya namah - Obeisances to one who is wonderful in every
way
11. Om srimanaya namah - Obeisances to the most beautiful
12. Om yoganandaya namah - Obeisances to the source of yogic bliss
13. Om trivikramaya namah - Obeisances to Lord Vamana (Who took three
great steps)
14. Om harine namah - Obeisances to Sri Hari Who takes our troubles away
15. Om kolahalaya namah - Obeisances to the roaring (Varahadeva - Varaha-
nrisimha)
16. Om cakrine namah - Obeisances to Him Who carries the disk
17. Om vijayaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who is always victorious
18. Om jaya-vardhanaya namah - Obeisances unto Him Who has ever
increasing glories
19. Om panchananaya namah - Obeisances unto Him Who is five-headed
20. Om param-brahma-aya namah - Obeisances unto Supreme Absolute Truth
21. Om aghoraya namah - Obeisances to Him Who for His devotees is not
horrible
22. Om ghora-vikramaya namah - Obeisances to him Who has terrifying
activities
23. Om jvalan-mukhaya namah - Obeisances to One Who has an effulgent face
24. Om jvala-maline namah - Obeisances to Him with effulgent garland of
flames
25. Om mahajvalaya namah - Obeisances to He Who is most effulgent
26. Om maha-prabhuhaya namah - Obeisances to the Supreme Master
27. Om niti-laksaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who possesses all good
(moral) qualities
28. Om sahasraksaya namah - Obeisances to the thousand-eyed One
29. Om durniriksyaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who is difficult to see (bzw.
difficult to look at)
30. Om pratapanaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who oppresses His enemies
with great heat

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31. Om mahadamstraya namah - Obeisances to Him Who possesses huge teeth
32. Om yudha-prajnaya namah - Obeisances to the Supremely intelligent in
battle (ready to fight)
33. Om canda-kopine namah - Obeisances to Him Who is likened to an angry
moon
34. Om sada-sivaya namah - Obeisances to the All-auspicious Lord
35. Om hiranyakasipu-dhvamsine namah - Obeisances to Him Who destroys
Hiranyakasipu
36. Om daitya-danava-bhanjanaya namah - Obeisances to He Who destroys
the masses of the race of demons and giants
37. Om guna-bhadraya namah - Obeisances unto Narasimha Who is full of
wonderful qualities
38. Om mahabhadraya namah - Obeisances to Him Who is very auspicious
39. Om bala-bhadraya namah - Obeisances to Him Who is auspiciously
powerful
40. Om subhadrakaya namah - Obeisances to the extremely auspicious One
41. Om karalaya namah - Obeisances to He Who possesses a wide-open mouth
42. Om vikaralaya namah - Obeisances to Him with very wide-open mouth
43. Om vikartaya namah - Obeisances to the Lord Who performs wonderful
activities
44. Om sarva-kartrikaya namah - Obeisances to the Lord performs ALL
activities
45. Om sisumaraya namah - Obeisances to Him Who also appears as Matsya
46. Om trilokatmaya namah - Obeisances to the Soul of the three worlds
47. Om isaya namah - Obeisances to the Lord known as the controller
48. Om sarvesvaraya namah - Obeisances to THAT supreme controller
49. Om vibhuaya namah - Obeisances to Narasimha Who is the BEST
50. Om bhaivaradambaraya namah - Obeisances to Him Who causes terror by
roaring in the sky
51. Om divyaya namah - Obeisances to That Divine Person Narasimha
52. Om acyutaya namah - Obeisances to our infallible Lord Nara-simha
53. Om kavine namah - Obeisances to the Supreme intelligent (poet)
54. Om madhavaya namah - Obeisances to the husband of Srimati Laksmi devi
55. Om adhoksajaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who is beyond understanding
(or beyond explaining)
56. Om aksaraya namah - Obeisances to the infallible One
57. Om sarvaya namah - Obeisances to He Who is the origin of everything
58. Om vanamaline namah - Obeisances to Him Who wears garland of forest
flowers (or adorned by His loving devotees)
59. Om varapradaya namah - Obeisances to the Merciful Lord Who grants
boons to the deserving like Prahlada
60. Om visvambaraya namah - Obeisances to Narasimha Who maintains the
universe
61. Om adbhutaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who is WONDERFUL

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62. Om bhavyaya namah - Obeisances to He Who determines the future (Who
IS the future for His devotees)
63. Om sri-visnave namah - Obeisances to That Narasimha Who is the all-
pervading Lord Vishnu
64. Om purusottamaya namah - Obeisances to Narasimha Who is the Supreme
Enjoyer
65. Om anaghastraya namah - Obeisances to Him Who can never be wounded
by weapons
66. Om nakhastraya namah - Obeisances to Him Who has sharp nails for
weapons
67. Om surya-jyotine namah - Obeisances to Narasimha the source of Sun’s
rays
68. Om suresvaraya namah - Obeisances to Narasimhadev, Lord of devatas
69. Om sahasra-bahu-aya namah - Obeisances to Nara-hari the thousand-
armed Lord
70. Om sarva-jnaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who is the all-knowing
71. Om sarva-siddhi-pradayakaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who awards all
perfections to the sadhakas (devotees)
72. Om vajra-damstraya namah - Obeisances to Narasimha Who has teeth like
lightning bolts
73. Om vajra-nakhaya namah - Obeisances to Narasimha Who possesses nails
like piercing lightning bolts
74. Om mahanandaya namah - Obeisances to the source of supreme bliss -
Atmananda - Narasimha
75. Om param-tapaya namah - Obeisances to the source of All austerities,
spiritual energy (and taptah - heat)
76. Om sarva-mantraika-rupaya namah - Obeisances to that Divine Personality
Who although one, he appears as the many mantrika formulas
77. Om sarva-yantra-vidaramaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who destroys all
machines (demoniac plans/arrangements/vehicles for demoniac works)
78. Om sarva-tantratmakaya namah - Obeisances to Narasimha the essence of,
and proprioter of all tantras (ritual rites - pujas)
79. Om avyaktaya namah - Obeisances to the Lord Who appears unmanifest
80. Om suvyaktaya namah - Obeisances unto Nara-simha Who for His
devotees becomes wonderfully manifest from the pillar (or when needed)
81. Om bhakta-vatsalaya namah - Obeisances to the Lord Who always has the
well-being of His devotee at heart
82. Om vaisakha-sukla-bhototthaya namah - Obeisances to That
Narasimhadeva Who appeared during waxing moon of the month of Visakha
(April-May)
83. Om saranagata-vatsalaya namah - Obeisances to The Lord Who is kind to
those surrendered to Him (like the mother lioness who is kind to her cubs)
84. Om udara-kirtine namah - Obeisances to Nara-simha Who is universally
famous

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85. Om punyatmaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who is the essence of piety
86. Om mahatmaya namah - Obeisances to That great personality, Nara-simha
87. Om candra-vikramaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who is the performer of
moonlike or great deeds, or who performs deeds that eclipse All others
88. Om vedatrayaya namah - Obeisances to the Lord of the three original
Vedas (Rg, Yajur, Sama)
89. Om prapujyaya namah - Obeisances to Narasimha Who is supremely
worshipable
90. Om bhagavanaya namah - Obeisances to Narasimha the Supreme
Personality of Godhead
91. Om paramesvaraya namah - Obeisances to He Who is the Supreme
Controller (Nara-simha-deva)
92. Om srivatsamkaya namah - Obeisances to the Lord Who is just like
Krishna, being marked with symbol of Laksmi
93. Om jagat-vyapine namah - Obeisances to Narasimha Who pervades the
entire universe
94. Om jagan-mayaya namah - Obeisances to the Supreme Mystic Who makes
the material world seem real
95. Om jagat-palaya namah - Obeisances to the protector of the universe
(Nara-simha)
96. Om jagannathaya namah - Obeisances to the Lord of Universe
97. Om mahakhagaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who moves in the air or
with the movement of the air (is everywhere)
98. Om dvi-rupa-bhrtaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who has double form
(man-lion)
99. Om paramatmaya namah - Obeisances to Him Who is the Supersoul of All
beings
100. Om param-jyotine namah - Obeisances to Him (Nara-simha) Whose
effulgence is the source of Brahman
101. Om nirgunaya namah - Obeisances to Narasimha Who possesses
transcendental qualities (not those of the material nature)
102. Om nrkesarine namah - Obeisances unto Him man-lion (or having a lion's
mane while appearing part human)
103. Om para-tattvaya namah - Obeisances to the Supreme Absolute Truth
(One Who is of the Supreme nature)
104. Om param-dhamaya namah - Obeisances to He Who comes from the
Supreme Abode
105. Om sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaya namah - Obeisances to Narasimha Whose
Form is made of eternal knowledge and bliss
106. Om laksmi-nrsimhaya namah - Obeisances unto the Man-Lion Form
together with the Supreme Goddess of Fortune Srimati Laksmi-devi
107. Om sarvatmaya namah - Obeisances unto the universal, primeval soul (the
Supreme Personality of Godhead - Narasimhadeva)

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108. Om dhiraya namah - Obeisances unto Narasimha who is always sober
(being never bewildered)

Om prahlada-palakaya namah Obeisances unto Narasimha - Who is the

protector of Prahlada Maharaja, and those of that nature - surrendered unto
Him.
Five Prayers to Lord Narasimha
Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written five beautiful prayers in "Sri Navadvipa Bhava
Taranga" for receiving the mercy of Lord Narasimha. These prayers are certainly assurance to
all sincere devotees that the worship of Lord Narasimha is purely in the line of aspiring love
and devotion to Sri Sri Radha and Krsna. Those prayers are as follows.

e dusta hrdaye kama adi ripu chaya

kutinati pratisthasa sathya sada raya
hrdaya-sodhana ara krsnera vasana
nrsimha-carane mora ei to' kamana

Within my sinful heart the six enemies headed by lust perpetually reside, as well as duplicity,
the desire for fame, plus sheer cunning. At the lotus feet of Lord Narasimha, I hope that He
will mercifully purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Lord Krsna.

kandiya nrsimha-pade magibo kakhana

nirapade navadvipe jugala-bhajana
bhaya bhaya paya yan'ra darsane se hari
prasanna hoibo kabe more daya kari

Weeping, I will beg at the lotus-feet of Lord Narasimha for the benediction of worshipping
Radha and Krsna in Navadvipa, perfectly safe and free from all difficulties. When will this Lord
Hari, Whose terrible form strikes fear into fear itself, ever become pleased and show me His
mercy?

yadyapi bhisana murti dusta-jiva-prati

prahladadi krsna-bhakta-jane bhadra ati
kabe va prasanna ho'ye sa krpa-vacane
nirbhaya karibe ei mudha akincane

Even though Lord Narasimha is terrifying toward the sinful souls, He offers great
auspiciousness unto the devotees of Lord Krsna headed by Prahlada Maharaja. When will He
be pleased to speak words of compassion unto me, a worthless fool, and thereby make me
fearless?

svacchande baiso he vatsa sri-gauranga-dhame

jugala-bhajana hau rati hau name
mama bhakta-krpa-bale vighna jabe dura
suddha cite bhajo radha-krsna-rasa-pura

He will say, "Dear child! Sit sown freely and live happily here in Sri Gauranga-dhama. May you
nicely worship the Divine Couple, and may you develop loving attachment for Their Holy
Names. By the mercy of My devotees, all obstacles are cast far away. With a purified heart,
just perform the worship of Radha and Krsna, for such worship overflows with sweet nectar."
ei boli' kabe mora mastaka-upara
sviya sri-carana harse dharibe isvara
amani jugala-preme sattvika vikare
dharaya lutibo ami sri-nrsimha-dvare

Saying this, will that Lord delightedly place His own divine lotus-feet upon my head? I will
experience sublime love for the Divine Couple Radha-Krsna and undergo the ecstatic
transformations called sattvika. Falling on the ground, I will roll about at the door of Sri
Narasimha's temple.

(Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, - "Sri Navadvipa Bhava Taranga", 36-40)

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10. Gaura-daha:
Gaura-daha is situated in Gädigächä which is in Godrumadvipa.
Srila Jagadänanda Pändita has described one pastime of Sri Gauränga
Mahäprabhu in Gädigächä in his book ‘Prema-vivarta’:
“One day Saci-mätä with great affection gave me the remnants of Sri Gauränga
Mahäprabhu. When I ate that prasäda I experienced the taste of nectar and was
very happy to honour Gauränga-prasäda. Can I ever get that sumptuous prasäda
again?
That day I proceeded towards the bank of the Gangä along with Sri Gaura
Nityänanda and Their associates. When we reached Gädigächä village the
devotees started harinäma sankirtana. Govinda was playing mrdanga and
Väsudeva Ghosa was chanting the holy name. Gadädhara Pändita and
Vakresvara Pändita were both dancing. Only the sound vibration of hari-näma
was heard and the ulu-dhvani was coming from all directions. Everyone was
mad with Gaura-premä. I do not know how to sing or dance but still I was
dancing raising my hands. In fact, Sri Gauränga was making me dance, entering
my body. I have no idea of svara or täla (tune or rhythm) but I was dancing and
chanting.
When we reached Gädigächä village and entered the cowherd people’s village
(Gopapalli), Gauracandra said, ‘Oh, devotes of Sri Krsna! Please listen. Today
we will walk on the shore of this lake and sleep under the trees. Under this
banyan tree there are many cows having fun. Today we will have pastimes with
the gopas (cowherd people.)’ Many gopas came and offered us milk, yogurt and
butter.
After eating all those milk products, we became free from our fatigue due to
walking so far. There Nrsimhänanda, Pradyumna and Purusottama Äcärya
joined us in sankirtana. By hearing the sound of the mrdanga everyone left their
houses and came to witness the näma-sankirtana. The sound of hari-näma
resounded in the sky.
In that village there was a cowherd man by the name of ‘Bhima Gopa’, who was
a very sober person. He came forward and said, ‘Please listen to my appeal. My
blessed mother Syämä Goälini is the daughter of Sädhu Goälä from
Gangänagara. She serves Saci Äi always considering her a mother. In that
relationship you are my uncle. My dear uncle! Please come to my house with
Your sankirtana group. There You may perform sankirtana with great
happiness. My mother will feed you all milk and yogurt, as much as she has in
our house, and massage Your feet.’

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When everyone insisted on going there, due to the unalloyed love of the gopa,
Lord Gaurahari went to his house. Syämä Goälini made ulu dhvani and arranged
for everyone to sit in her cowshed. Syämä asked, ‘Pandita dädä (dear brother
pandita)! How is mother doing?’ Lord Gauränga shook His body saying, ‘Fine,
fine.’ Syämä served yogurt and milk products on banana leaves and Nimäi along
with all the devotees sat down to eat.
After finishing the prasäda, Nimäi went back to the shore of the lake. Everyone
was chanting the glories of Lord Hari very softly. At one point, Rämadäsa Gopa
came and appealed, ‘Our cows do not drink the water of this lake. There is a very
fearful crocodile living inside. The cows make the sound hämbä without taking
water.’
By hearing this Gauracandra started chanting sri-näma-sankirtana loudly and
the crocodile was so attracted by the kirtana that he came out of the lake and
touched the lotus feet of Sri Gauränga. Immediately the crocodile transformed
into a deva-sisu (child of a demigod).
The deva-sisu offered prayers while crying and told the story of his suffering.
He said, ‘Oh, my Lord! I am roaming here in the form of a crocodile due to the
curse of Durväsä Muni. By seeing me everyone becomes frightened. Once,
Durväsä Muni was sleeping in Kämyavana. Due to my naughty nature, I cut off
his locks. The sage became very angry with me and cursed me saying, ‘You will
get the form of a crocodile and for 4 yugas you will remain like this due to the
result of your karma.’ Hearing this curse, I wept and pleaded with the muni
asking him how I could be free from this curse. Being merciful upon me, he called
me and said, ‘O deva-sisu! When Sri Nanda-nandana will appear as Saci-präna-
dhana in Navadvipa, you will be freed from this curse by hearing His kirtana.
Thereafter you will go back to heaven by accepting a celestial body.’
Then the deva-sisu offered prayers saying, ‘All glories to Saci-suta, the deliverer
of fallen souls. You are the shelter of poor and fallen people who have no other
shelter. The people of all 14 planetary systems are announcing Your great deeds.
You have delivered a fallen person like me. This Navadvipa-dhäma is the cream
of all dhämas. Here Kali-patita-pävana (deliverer of fallen souls of Kali-yuga) has
appeared. You will deliver the living entities of Kali-yuga by giving them hari-
näma. O Mahäprabhu, You have come to me. I offer my humble obeisances unto
You. I have been here in this form of a crocodile for 4 yugas. Now You have
delivered me as Patita-pävana Hari. The name of Hari from Your mouth is very
sweet. You have delivered many animate and inanimate living entities. Please
allow me to go back to heaven to meet with my father and mother and stay there
happily.’

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Saying this the deva-sisu offered his obeisances and left the place. Again, the
tumultuous sound of kirtana started and continued until midday. Then all the
devotees along with Mahäprabhu went back to Mäyäpur.
Whoever hears this pastime of Mahäprabhu will be free from brahma-säpa, the
curse of a brähmana. From that day that lake was known as Gaura-daha (daha
means lake), and it became just like Käliya-daha. Whoever takes darsana of this
lake and touches its water will be free from all sinful reactions and receive
devotion unto Sri Krsna.” (Prema-vivarta)

xxxxx

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 IV. MADHYADVIPA
1. Sri Madhyadvipa:
This island represents smaranam, remembering the pastimes of the Lord.
Remember the transcendental pastimes of Gaura-Gadadhara, become a devotee
of Gaura-Gadadhara, and here the pleasing instructions of Gauura-Gadadhara.
Worship Lord Chaitanya, who is like a moon shining in the groves of Godruma
forest.
Places to visit on this island are:
Hamsa-vähana temple
Brähmana Puskara
Pancaveni
Gomati River
Naimisäranya
In his Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura describes
Madhyadvipa as follows:
madhyadvipam tato gatvä …
“Lord Gaurahari then went to Madhyadvipa.” (Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya,
Pramäna-khanda 4. 40)
“South of Godruma lies the enchanting island of Madhyadvipa. It is very
beautiful to behold, filled with a radiant series of wonderful forests. There,
during the midday period of His eternal pastimes, Prabhu takes His devotees
along and comes to visit the 7 rsis.
During the midday period of His eternal pastimes, Lord Sri Gauränga and His
associates stroll throughout all these forests, overcome with madness of divine
love. While the devotees give hints of Krsna’s confidential pastimes, Gauränga
sings and dances and tastes the sweet ecstatic emotions of Sri Rädhä.
When will I, alone or in the company of devotees, float in the waves billowing
on the ocean of love for Lord Caitanya? With utmost humility, I will wander
around in the various forests of Madhyadvipa during the midday period and
contemplate the ecstatic emotional states felt by the Lord in those same places.
When will the devotees who are residents of Madhyadvipa be merciful and show
me, ‘Oh look! Here is our Lord, Gauränga Sri Hari!’ On the bank of Brahma-
kunda within the town of Brähmananagara He is dancing and chanting with His

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associates in a grand kirtana. When will I see that astounding form of Gaura
with a beautiful complexion like pure gold, wearing a garland of forest flowers,
with two long arms, and booming in a loud voice, ‘O brothers! All of you please
chant the holy name in unison!’
At that moment, all the devotees headed by Sriväsa will shout ‘Hari! Hari!’ and
begin performing sankirtana. Someone will exclaim, ‘Chant the name of
Gaurahari, dear brother! Without Gaura we cannot attain the service of Rädhä
and Krsna!’” (Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga)
2. Why Is This Island Named Madhyadvipa?:
The following is an excerpt from the Bhakti-ratnäkara:
Isäna Thäkura told Sriniväsa, “This island is now known as the Mäjidä village.
Previously it was called Madhyadvipa. Lord Gauränga Mahäprabhu performed
many wonderful pastimes on this island. Now I will tell you why this island was
previously known as Madhyadvipa.
Long ago the Sapta-rsis (7 sages) were living here, engaged in discussing the
wonderful pastimes of the Lord. They meditated upon His unlimited qualities
while exploring Navadvipa dhäma.
Some rsis were saying, ‘Just behold Navadvipa-dhäma! It is so beautiful due to
being blessed by the pastimes of the Lord. All the holy places of the world are
residing here in Nadia.’
Some rsis said, ‘The glories of Navadvipa-dhäma are unlimited. The Lord
performs so many wonderful pastimes here during His manifested and
unmanifested periods. During His prakata or manifested period everyone can
take darsana of the Lord. During His aprakata or unmanifested period only the
most fortunate souls can get darsana of His pastimes.’
Others said, ‘The Lord will appear in the house of Jagannätha Misra to bless this
Kali-yuga. In this incarnation He will accept a gaura or golden-coloured body
which has no comparison. The whole world will be mad with desire to see His
beautiful form.’
Some said, ‘This pastime of Krsna in Nadia is so wonderful that even the great
demigods like Brahmä do not know about it. Saci-nandana is free to do whatever
He wants. It is not possible to predict His actions. In Kali-yuga He will distribute
the most sought-after jewel of Krsna premä to all living entities with great care.’
Someone said, ‘Sri Gauränga Mahäprabhu is an ocean of mercy. The mercy He
will give to living entities has never been distributed in this way before. He will
take the devotees of all the incarnations along with Him, He will be madly

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absorbed in sankirtana yajna and infect the whole world with His divine
madness. Lord Gaurahari is the life of His devotees. He will take sannyäsa and
travel widely and in so doing He will fulfil the desires of the unlimited tirthas or
holy places. Finally, for the pleasure of Lord Jagannätha, He will stay in Sri
Ksetra Puri-dhäma.’
In this way the rsis would discuss amongst themselves with great pleasure,
constantly in meditation upon the lotus feet of the Lord. The rsis displayed such
great love and devotion that Bhakta-vatsala Bhagavän Gaurahari could not
control Himself anymore and appeared in front of the Sapta rsis during midday,
as brilliant as the midday sun. Who can describe that beauty? The Sapta-rsis
looked upon this most attractive form of the Lord without blinking, their bodies
shook in ecstasy and tears came to their eyes. They were all offering prostrated
obeisances to the Lord, falling on the ground again and again.
They offered many prayers and circumambulated the Lord, saying, ‘Oh Lord!
All of us have a great desire to see Your pastimes in Nadia to the full satisfaction
of our eyes. Please bless us so that we will meditate upon Navadvipa constantly
and always chant the glories of Your devotees.’ They also lamented not having
thousands of eyes with which to see this transcendental form of the Lord.
Being pleased with the prayers of the Sapta-rsis the Lord said, ‘All your desires
will be fulfilled. My Navadvipa pastimes are very confidential. If you keep this
information concealed, I will be very happy.’
Hearing this from the Lord, the rsis said, ‘Prabhu! What can we say? Is it
possible to hide the sun under the palm?’ In this way the rsis continued their
glorification of the Lord. Lord Gauracandra was smiling within, hearing the
sweet words of the rsis. After blessing all 7 rsis with great bliss Lord Gaurahari
disappeared.
The rsis became distressed in separation and all of them left that place. They
found a suitable spot near Kumära-hatta on the bank of the River Gangä and
settled there. This place became very famous and is still known as Sapta-rsi-
ghäta.
Because the Lord appeared during midday (madhyähna), just like the midday sun, this
place is called Madhyadvipa.
After the Sapta-rsis left this place, other rsis continued their tapasya here and
they all spread the glories of Madhyadvipa. Just by taking darsana of this place
all inauspiciousness is destroyed. By living here, one will achieve pure devotion.
This is a most wonderful pastime place of Lord Gauränga who made everyone
mad by giving them the rarest love of Godhead.”

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While narrating such descriptions, Isäna Thäkura slowly moved towards
Vämana Paukherä in great happiness.

The following is a passage from Sri Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya, Parikramä-

khanda:
Nityänanda Prabhu along with Sri Jjva and Sriväsa Thäkura arrived in
Madhyadvipa early one morning. Nityänanda Prabhu said, “This is the Mäjidä
village. At this place the 7 rsis were resting and worshiping Gauränga
Mahäprabhu.
In Satya yuga the Sapta-rsis went to meet their father, Lord Brahmä. They saw
that Brahmä was glorifying the holy name of Gauränga and they asked how they
could attain the eternal wealth of Gaura-premä.
Lord Brahmä was very pleased to be asked this question from his sons and he
told them, ‘All of you go to Navadvipa and chant the glories of Lord Gauränga.
Thus, you will develop this love very easily. By the mercy of the dhäma one gets
sädhu-sanga. When one performs one’s bhajana in the association of a sädhu
then one develops Krsna-premä. One who develops attachment to Navadvipa
dhäma gets the chance to live in Vraja dhäma. The sädhu’s only desire is to
reside in the transcendental abode and chant the holy name of Gaurahari.’
The Sapta-rsis, after receiving these instructions from their father, came to this
place. They started to dance, loudly chanting the holy name and glories of Lord
Hari and begging for Gaura premä. They said, ‘Oh Gaurahari! Kindly give us
Your darsana once. We have not been following true dharma and thus we are
great offenders. Finally, we have understood that bhakti alone is the essence of
everything.’ Thus, the Sapta-rsis went through the austerity of engaging
themselves in the worship of Gaurahari with steady devotion. They stopped
their eating and sleeping and constantly chanted the holy name of Gaura. After

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some time, at midday, the most merciful Lord Gauränga gave His darsana to the
rsis. Lord Gauränga appeared along with the Panca-tattva as effulgent as
hundreds of suns and attracting the minds of all yogis. He appeared very
beautiful in His golden form, wearing a garland of mallikä flowers. The
ornaments on His body increased His beauty as did the drop of sandalwood pulp
on His forehead. His cloth was folded thrice, and He wore a beautiful brahminical
thread.
When the Sapta-rsis saw that most beautiful form of Gauränga, they became
overwhelmed and approached the Lord. They said, ‘We take shelter at Your
lotus feet, kindly give us devotion unto You.’
Lord Gaurahari being very merciful upon them and hearing their prayers said,
‘Dear rsis! Please listen. Give up the desire for jnäna and karma. These are
simply bondage. It is better to discuss the Supreme Lord Krsna. Very soon in
the city of Nadia during My manifested pastimes, all of you will witness the
näma-sankirtana-lilä. You must follow My instruction and keep this subject
matter hidden for now. Do not mention this to anyone. All of you go to Kumära-
hatta and perform Krsna-bhajana there.’
Saying this Gauränga Mahäprabhu disappeared and the Sapta-rsis went to
Kumära hatta. The 7 tiläs (hillocks) where the rsis were sitting are still visible
and they match the formation of the Sapta rsi constellation in the night sky.
These 7 sons of Lord Brahma are –Atri, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Jamadagni
Kasyapa, Vasistha and Visvamitra. By residing here, one will attain Gaurahari
even without practicing the yamas and niyamas (rules and regulations).”
3. Hamsa-vahana Siva Temple:
At Hamsa-vähana there is a small temple dedicated to Lord Siva. The five-faced
deity of Lord Siva used to be kept in the Gomati River for most of the year and
only came to the temple 3 days a year, around the pürnimä (full moon) day in
the month of Caitra (March-April). The rest of the time Lord Siva was kept
underwater in the Gomati River to keep him from getting too hot.
Earlier the deity of Hamsa-vähana was stolen from the Gomati by a group of
local Muslim people who wanted to make money by selling him. This deity was
rescued in a very miraculous way and since then has been worshiped in the
Hamsa-vähana temple throughout the year as it is too dangerous to leave him
in the river.
The name Hamsa-vähana refers to Lord Siva who travelled with Lord Brahmä’s
swan carrier. Hamsa means “swan” and vähana means “one who is carried by”.
Approximately 50,000 people come every year for this festival. Previously,
before the theft of the deity, while the Siva-linga was in the temple for the 3 days

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of the festival, water was constantly poured on him to keep him from becoming
too hot. The linga becomes hot because of Lord Siva’s intense desire to see Sri
Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
This festival takes place about 3 weeks after the Gaura-pürnimä festival. For the
last few years, the püjäris of Hamsa-vähana have brought the deity to ISKCON
Mäyäpur so that devotees from different parts of the world can take darsana and
offer an elaborate abhiseka to the deity.
Hamsa vähana Siva Temple Practical Guide:
Darsana Times:
Previously 3 days each year at the time of full moon in the month of Caitra
(March-April), usually 2-3 weeks after Gaura-pürnimä. At present one can take
darsana at any time of the day.
Directions from Bhaktivinoda Thäkura’s House:
Continue down the main road a short distance and take the first road on the
right. You will pass a Gaudiya Matha temple on the right side of this road. (This
temple has a very nice diorama display of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya that is
worth a visit.) Take the first left and then the first right. Continue down this
road for about 1.5 km. On the left you will see a small hut painted yellow with a
straw roof. This is the temple. It is in an open courtyard and there is a large tree
on the right of the road.

Presiding Deity:
Lord Siva riding on Lord Brahmä’s swan carrier.

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4. Naimisäranya:
… saptarsi-mandape harih nanarta naimise tirthe sävadhütah sa-pärsadah
“Lord Gaurahari then went to Naimisa-tirtha. In Saptarsi-mandapa He danced
with His associates and with Nityänanda Avadhüta.” (Navadvipa-dhäma-
mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4.40)
In Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura describes
Naimisäranya as follows:
“There on the bank of the River Gomati is the Naimisa Forest, where the
assembled rsis are listening to recitations of the Gaura-bhägavata. To hear these
narratives about Lord Gaura, Siva and the other demigods quickly mount
Brahmä’s swan-carrier, hamsa-hatta and make haste to come. When will I
wander and wander throughout that forest and behold the wonderful vision of
this assembly of sages hearing the Gaura Puräna by the bank of the Gomati
River? On the day of Ekädasi during the most auspicious month of Kärtika, I
will listen to those stories of Caitanya-kathä. When will the audience of rsis
headed by Saunaka show me their mercy by grasping both my hands and putting
the dust of their feet upon my head? I will exclaim, ‘O residents of Navadvipa,
let us attentively drink the nectar of Sri-Gauränga-kathä in this forest!’”
(Navadvipa-bhäva-taranga)

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Lord Siva visits Naimisäranya to hear Gaura-bhägavata:
Lord Nityänanda narrated this story to Sri Jiva in the Navadvipa-dhäma
mähätmya, Parikramä-khanda:
Towards the south of Madhyadvipa there is a river called the Gomati.
Naimisäranya is situated on the bank of this river. During ancient times when
Kali became powerful, all the rsis headed by Saunaka Rsi gathered here to hear
the Gaura-bhägavata from the lotus mouth of Süta Gosvämi. Whoever recites
the Puränas, sitting at this place during the month of Kärtika, will become free
from all suffering and easily achieve Vraja-dhäma by engaging in the service of
Gauränga.
Once, while the glories of Gauränga were being spoken here in Naimisäranya,
Lord Siva desired to come and listen. He was travelling from Kailäsa to this
place, riding on his bull carrier. But he understood that he was not travelling
fast enough to arrive on time to hear the Gaura-kathä. He therefore requested
the use of Lord Brahmä’s swan carrier so that he could travel faster. Riding on
the swan very swiftly, he managed to reach Naimisäranya in time to hear the
most wonderful Gaura-kathä. Lord Siva heard the glories of Lord Gauränga and
His associates from the Puränas. All the followers of Lord Siva, the inhabitants
of Käsi, were chanting the holy name of Gauränga and dancing, surrounding
Lord Pancänana (the five-faced Lord Siva), throwing flowers in great ecstasy.
When Sri Jiva heard this description from Nityänanda Prabhu he was in such
ecstasy relishing the glories of the dhäma that he could not control himself and
started rolling on the ground. That day all the devotees along with Lord
Nityänanda stayed at Naimisäranya. The following morning all of them set off
to take darsana of Sri Puskara.
Naimisäranya Practical Guide:
Directions:
Take the first road on the left just past the Hamsa-vähana temple. From that
road, take the first road on the left. This is a dirt road that will keep getting
smaller. Continue for approximately 1 km going through mud-hut villages and
mango groves. After the mango groves, you will need to walk as a car, or
rickshaw will not be able to continue.
Today it is in the area of the trees and cultivated fields on the left side of the
path.

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5. Lord Śiva's Lake:

Mercy from The Puranas:

This is the lake where the deity of Mahādeva Siva is kept. The devotees
usually stop under these banyan trees to read the Purāņas and hear pastimes.
Śri Navadvipa dhāma mahātmya states that by reading the Puranas here
during the month of Kartika, one gets the benefits of being freed of all distress,
becoming absorbed in the pastimes of Vrndavana.
Directions:

Lord Siva’s Lake is also in Naimişārānya forest. To get there, cross the fields on
your left by going through the gap in the fence and head towards the group of
trees ahead of you. After crossing two or three cultivated fields, you will come
to a small grove of trees and some houses. There you will also see a lake (covered
in water-lily plants) and two very large banyan trees.
6. Brähmana Puskara:
tato gatvä puskaräkhyam tirtham vipra-nisevitam
brahmävartam kuruksetram plävayäm äsa kirtanaih
“The Lord went to Puskara-tirtha which is worshiped by many brähmanas and
flooded Brahmävarta Kuruksetra with kirtana.” (Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya,
Pramäna-khanda 4.41)

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Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura describes this holy place in Navadvipa-bhäva
taranga:
“South of Naimisäranya lies Brähmana Puskara. This area is the same as the holy
place named Sri Puskara tirtha, and it was visited by the best of the brähmanas
named Divadäsa. Worshiping the lotus feet of Lord Gauränga at that place,
vipra Divadäsa was consoled upon beholding a vision of the Lord’s beautiful
golden form.”
Divadäsa Received Darsana of Puskara-tirtha:
(Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya, Parikramä-khanda)
Early one morning Lord Nityänanda and Sri Jiva started their dhäma parikramä.
Lord Nityananda said, “Oh, Jiva! Just behold this beautiful village. Now people
call this place Brähmanapura but according to scripture, this place is known as
Brähmana Puskara. The secret glories of this place are very confidential.
During Satya-yuga there was a brähmana called Divadäsa. He left his house and
started travelling to take darsana of all the holy places, but he was particularly
interested in seeing Puskara-tirtha in western India. Before reaching Puskara-
tirtha, his travels took him to Navadvipa-dhäma. While he was in Navadvipa, he
had a dream in which someone instructed him to stay in Navadvipa. He was told
that by staying in Navadvipa he would gain great eternal wealth. According to
that instruction Divadäsa built a kutira at this place and lived here until his old
age. He became so old that he was not able to walk around anymore. During this
time, he again developed a great desire to go and have darsana of Puskara-tirtha
but was now unable to walk. He felt very sad and started to cry saying, ‘I will
not get the chance to have darsana of Puskara-tirtha in this life.’
By seeing his situation tirtha-räja (the king of the holy places) Puskara became
merciful upon him and appeared in the form of a brähmana to give darsana to
Divadäsa.
Puskara tirtha in his brähmana form told Divadäsa, ‘Oh brähmana, please do not
cry. Just see this beautiful pond in front of you. By taking bath once in this pond
you will have darsana of Puskara tirtha.’ Following the instruction of the
brähmana, Divadäsa went to take bath in that pond. As soon as he took bath he
received transcendental vision and saw Puskara-tirtha in front of him. Divadäsa
started weeping and told Puskara-tirtha, ‘You have taken so much trouble to
come here and give me darsana.’
Puskara-tirtha replied, ‘Oh most fortunate brähmana! Please listen. I have not
come from very far to give you darsana. Rather I have been residing here
eternally in this Navadvipa-dhäma. This Navadvipa is filled with the holy

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tirthas. All the tirthas are residing here and serving the dhäma. By my expansion
I have manifested another form in western India. Whatever result one achieves
by taking bath 100 times in that tirtha, he will also attain from taking bath here
once. Therefore, anyone who develops a desire to go to other tirthas, leaving
Navadvipa-dhäma, must be a great fool and a rogue. By travelling to all the
tirthas, one receives the blessing of residence in Navadvipa-dhäma. Just see this
high land which is non-different from Kuruksetra Brahmävarta. Two rivers and
Drsadvati flow on either side of this place and increase its beauty by spreading
piety.’
Puskara-tirtha continued, ‘Dear vipra! I would like to tell you something very
confidential. Soon great happiness will manifest here. In Mäyäpur in the house
of Saci-devi, Lord Gaurasundara will appear and distribute love of Godhead to
everyone abundantly. At this place the Lord will dance along with many
devotees performing great sankirtana. He will perform kirtana gathering the
devotees of all His previous incarnations. He will make the whole universe float
in the flood of premä. Except for the fallacious logicians, everyone will receive
this supreme love of God. Oh Divadäsa! Whoever resides in this dhäma with
great sincerity will achieve the lotus feet of Gaurahari. If mischievous persons
engage in Sri-Krsna-bhajana for millions of years they will still not develop a
taste for the holy name. But the mischievous mentality of someone who worships
Gauränga will soon be removed, and he will quickly attain Rädhä and Krsna in
Vraja-dhäma. He will achieve his siddha-deha under the shelter of the sakhis and
he will be engaged in yugala-sevä inside the kunja. Oh vipra! Stay here and
perform Gauränga-bhajana. You will attain the darsana of Sri Gauränga along
with all His associates.’ Saying this tirtha-räja Puskara left.
The brähmana heard a mystical voice saying, ‘Oh vipra, you will appear during
the manifested pastime of Lord Gauränga and swim in the ocean of Gaura-
kirtana-premä.’”
Lord Nityänanda continued, “Upon hearing this voice, Divadäsa felt pacified and
started his bhajana on the bank of this kunda.”
Original Sin Vanquished:

The Mahabharata gives a description of T Brāhmaņa Puşkara: "The holy place

of Lord Vişnu, Puşkara-tirtha, renowned in the three worlds, is situated on
this earth. Fortunate souls can enter that place. O son of the Kuru dynasty, at
Puşkara-tirtha billions of tirthas gather at daybreak and sunset. The Adityas,
Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas, Maruts, Gandharvas, and Apsaras reside there. Sins of
both men and women, including the sin that caused their birth, are destroyed
simply by taking bath at Puşkara-tirtha. Madhusudana is the original God, so

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Puskara is the original tirtha." Another name for this place is Brāhmaņapura,
but the scriptures have named it Brahmaņa Puşkara.
Puskara-tirtha Practical Guide:
Directions:
Return to the main road by the Hamsa-vähana temple. Turn left and continue
for less than 1 km. On the left you will see a large lake surrounded by a beautiful
forest. Walk down the path to the lakeside. This is the place.

7. Uccahatta (Hattadängä):
Further south is Uccahatta, non-different from Kuruksetra of Brahmävarta, which
is a place of pilgrimage for the three worlds. Here all the demigods reside,
continuously performing Gaura-sankirtana. Sometimes the present-day
residents of this area can hear that music.
A description of this holy place from Sri Navadvipa-dhäma-mähätmya,
Parikramä khanda:
After explaining the glories of Puskara tirtha to Sri Jiva, Lord Nityänanda along
with His associates entered Uccahatta in Kuruksetra. Lord Nityänanda said, “All
the demigods along with all the tirthas have come to this Kuruksetra. All the
tirthas from Brahmävarta and Kuruksetra stay here. Everyone, including
Prthüdaka, resides here and they easily engage in the service of Navadvipa
dhäma. Whatever benefit one derives by residing in Kuruksetra for 100 years,
can be achieved just by spending one night at this place.”
Nityänanda Prabhu said, “The demigods used to gather here to enjoy Gaura-
kathä, opening the market (hatta) of the holy name here. Therefore, this place is

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known as Hattadangä. Whoever takes darsana of this place achieves unlimited
love. Dear Jiva! This is the border of Nadia. Let us now go to the other side of
the Bhägirathi.”
The following is a passage from Bhakti-ratnäkara:
Isäna Thäkura, standing near the Hattadängä village, told Sriniväsa, “Sriniväsa!
This place is called Hattadängä. Previously it was known as Uccahatta. All the
demigods including Indra were staying here, absorbed in discussing the
pastimes and associates of Gauränga Mahäprabhu.
Some said, ‘This Kali-yuga is blessed because Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahäprabhu
will appear, along with Lord Nityänanda and Advaitä acärya.’
Someone else said, ‘Mahäprabhu has unlimited associates. Who can count them?
All His associates are oceans of mercy. They are friends of the most fallen
wretched people.’
Another of the demigods said, ‘Mahäprabhu, along with His associates, will be
mad with näma-sankirtana and will make the whole world mad. The river of
happiness will flow in this Nadia. Very easily all the sins of all the living entities
will be removed.’
Another said, ‘There will be unlimited auspiciousness. Only the most fortunate
people will see those wonderful pastimes. If all of us could take birth in Nadia
then our great sadness would be removed.’
Some said, ‘Of course all of us will take birth here. We will see the pastimes of
the Lord to our heart’s content. All the devotees of Navadvipa will take us with
them and engage us in the service of Sri Gauracandra.’
Speaking in this way, the demigods opened a marketplace (hatta) there. At this
raised (ucca) place they performed sankirtana loudly (ucca-sankirtana). All of
them with great eagerness, raising their hands, prayed, ‘O Lord! Do not delay
Your descent.’ Saying this the demigods started to dance very joyfully in
different postures while chanting the holy name of the Lord. Therefore, this
place is called Uccahatta.”
Uccahatta (Kuruksetra) Practical Guide:
Directions:
When coming from ISKCON:
Go down Bhaktisiddhänta Road to the end and turn right onto the main road to
Calcutta. After the Krishnanagar turnoff, you will go under a railway overbridge
and proceed into a small town where there is an intersection of roads. Take the

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road going straight ahead (Highway No. 8, Navadvipa-Krishnanagar highway).
Do not take the road to the left as it goes to Calcutta. Proceed up this highway
until a few kilometers before the Gauränga Bridge. Uccahatta is on the right of
the road.

8. Pancaveni (Mahä-prayäga):
tato mahä-prayägäkhyam panca-veni-samanvitam
tirtham sri-jähnavim tirtvä koladvipam jagäma ha
“The Lord visited the holy place called Mahä-Prayäga and the Pancaveni tirtha.
He then crossed Sri Gangä-devi and entered Koladvipa.” (Navadvipa-dhäma-
mähätmya, Pramäna-khanda 4.42)
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thäkura describes this holy place in his Navadvipa-bhäva
taranga:
“Near Uccahatta is the place known as Pancaveni (five streams). It is considered
a holy pilgrimage spot by the demigods, who come here on vacation. At this
place the 3 streams of the River Gangä (Bhägirathi, Mandäkini and Alakanandä)
along with the Yamunä and Sarasvati rivers all join, desiring to perform service
to Lord Gaura.
Here Gaurahari and His associates take bath, thereby purifying the tirtha from
all the sins left by the people of Kali yuga. Vedavyäsa and the assembly of rsis
recognize that in all the 14 worlds there is no place which could compare with
Pancaveni.
When will I bathe in the waters of the Pancaveni and thereby remember the
lotus feet of Sri Gauränga? Filling the palms of my hands with the very water
that has washed the feet of Gaura and drinking it, becoming madly intoxicated

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by topics about Lord Gaura, when will I be so blessed?” (Navadvipa Bhava
Taranga)
After leaving Madhyadvipa one must cross the River Gangä to enter the island
of Koladvipa. Lord Nityänanda explained the glories of the Gangä at this place,
known as Pancaveni. At this place 5 rivers have joined together: Mandäkini,
Alakanandä, Bhägirathi, Sarasvati and Yamunä. The Sarasvati flows here in her
hidden form. The Bhogavati is flowing along with the Yamunä on its western
side. Mänasa- gangä is also flowing here with great speed. The rsis call this place
Mahä Prayäga and they perform millions of fire sacrifices here along with Lord
Brahmä. This holy spot is also known as Brahma-satra. Anyone who takes bath here
will never take birth again in this material world. Who can describe the glories
of this holy place? No other tirtha can be compared to the dry riverbed at Mahä-
Prayäga.
Pancaveni (Mahä-Prayäga) Practical Guide:
Directions:
When coming from Brähmana Puskara and Uccahatta, continue down the
Navadvipa Krishnanagar highway until just before the Gauränga Bridge. On the
right side of the road, you will see some lakes and then the Ganga River. This is
the area of Pancaveni.

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