Nabadwip Mandal Parikrama - Day three

[Guest guest]

NMP Day 3

Thursday, February 18, 1999

 

Swarup Ganj to Navadwipa

 

Distance to cover: 12 Km.

 

Sannyassis and Prabhupada disciples on the party today included: H.H.

Jayapataka Maharaja, H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami, H.H. Kavichandra Maharaja,

H.H. Sivarama Maharaja, H.H. Lokanath Maharaja, H.H. Candra Mauli Maharaja,

H.H. Devamrita Maharaja, H.H. Bhakti Bringa Govinda Maharaja, H.H.

Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja, H.H. Param Gacit Maharaja, H.H. Nityo Dita

Maharaja, H.G. Pritu Prabhu, H.G. Krsna Ksetra Prabhu, H.G. Hari Sauri

Prabhu,H.G. Saunaka Rsi prabhu, H.G. Hunkar prabhu and H.G Kaliyaphani

Prabhu, H.G. Gaurasundar Prabhu, and H.G. Adikarta prabhu. Please forgive

me if I left someone off the list.

 

"A devotee should make a point of visiting all the places where Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu performed His pastimes. Indeed, pure devotees of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu even want to see the places He simply visited for only hours or

minutes." - Srila Prabhupada

 

The walk began from our camp at the Bhativedanta Arogya Asram in

Godrumdwipa- the island of kirtan (chanting). Then we entered Madyadwipa-

the island of smaranam (remembering). The first pastime place we visited on

today's walk was Hamsa Vahan, the place where Lord Siva rode on Lord

Brahma's swan in order to reach the place where Suta Gosvami was describing

the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Next we visited the Gomati river

which looks like a lake. It is covered with water hiacynth lilies and

leaves. Inside the lake is a Siva lingam. This is a place of Lord Siva who

is the topmost vaisnava. By the side of the lake is a huge Banyan tree with

hundreds of big size bats flying overhead. We heard from Jayapataka

Maharaja about the glories of Lord Siva and his intense desire to hear the

pastimes of Lord Gauranga.

 

During the course of the days' walk, we visited many holy places. Actually,

all pilgrimage places reside here in Navadwipa Dhama. By performing this

Navadwipa Dhama parikrama, one gets all the benefits of visiting all other

holy places. We visited Naimisaranya, Puskar, Kuruksetra, and Gaya (our

breakfast spot).

 

After breakfast, we got into the boats and traveled up the Ganges past the

Gauranga Bridge (the highest bridge in W. Bengal) and crossed onto the

island of Koladvipa where the town of Navadwipa is situated. This island

represents the devotional process of pada-sevanam, rendering service to the

lotus feet of Gauranga. This island is called Koladvipa because it is where

Krsna appeared in the form of Lord Varahadeva (Boar incarnation) and

revealed the glories of Gauranga Mahaprabhu to His devotee Vasudeva.

 

In the town of Navadwipa, we had a big Harinama Sankirtana Procession up the

main street and through the market places. The party entered Dharmesvara

(Mahaprabhu Bari) Temple. The beautiful neem deity of Gauranga Mahaprabhu

is said to be the Deity that Visnupriya worshiped for eighty years after

Lord Caitanya took sannyassa. Visnupriya was sixteen years old when

Gauranga Mahaprabhu left and she worshped this Deity as her husband until

she passed away at the age of ninety-six. There are also wooden shoes here

said to have been worn by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

Devotees performed sankirtan here for several hours featuring kirtans lead

by Bhakti Bringa Govinda Maharaja, Sivarama Maharaja and Sri Prahlad Prabhu.

Devotees took darshan of the Deity and received the shoes of Lord Caitanya

on their heards. Half the party proceeded to take darshan (to see) the

samadhi of Jagannatha Das Babaji while the rest remained at Visnupriya's

temple to continue the kirtans.

 

The party then proceeded again with kirtan through Navadwipa. As we left

Laxmi Priya's temple, Krsna Ksetra prabhu led a wonderfully sweet kirtan

while playing the mrdunga through the streets of Navadwipa to our camp at

Pratap nagar. Devotees were singing and dancing enthusiastically even after

many hours of the parikrama. The residents of the dhama were reciprocating

with us. They were smiling widely and putting their hands high in the air

and chanting with us. Many children where following the kirtan party and

dancing with us. There were no cars or airplanes. No pollution. No noise.

Just the sweet sound of the chanting of the holy names of the Lord:

 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

 

Devotees bathed in the Ganges and respected sumptuous prasadam to their full

satisfaction crying out

Gauuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Between bites.

 

Sri Krishna Sankirtanam Ki Jaya!

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!

Sri Navadwipa Mandala Parikrama Ki Jaya!

 

Hoping to become a speck of dust at the lotus feet of the devotees of

Mahaprabhu, and begging for your blessings,

 

Your servant,

Ekalavya dasa

 

Photos will be uploaded later when phone rates are cheaper.- Pancaratna das