Nabadwip Mandal Parikrama - Day one experience

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NMP Day 1

 

Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir to Nrsimhapalli

Distance: 12 Km.

 

Today the 10th Annual Navadwipa Mandala Parikrama left Maypur Candrodaya

Mandir at 6:30 am. Their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai Padakama (the Deities who

traveled by boat along the Ganga), and Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara (the

Deities from Padayatra America) along with a hand carried murti of Srila

Prabhupada presided over the Parikrama.

 

Appoximatly 800 devotees were participating. There is also a separate

Bengali party traveling one day behind us with around 600 devotees. Senior

devotees included H.H. Jayapataka Maharaja, H.H. Kavichandra Maharaja, H.G.

Hari Sauri Prabhu, H.H. Lokanath Maharaja, H.H. Candra Mauli Maharaja, H.H.

Devamrita Maharaja, H.H. Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja, H.H. Nityo Dita Maharaja,

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

More senior devotees are expected tomorrow as the GBC meetings continued

throughout the day.

 

The first stop on the Parikrama was Sri Yogapith, the birthplace of Sri

Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The party stopped there briefly for darshan

(seeing the Deities) and kirtan led by Bengali kirtan raja Manohara Prabhu.

Next, due to bad road conditions, we went for an unplanned visit to Bharat

Raja Tila. The Parikrama had not visited this place for 2 years. Bharat

Raja was practicing devotional service and received darshan of Mahaprabhu.

One our way there, we passed Jayadeva Goswami's Birthplace. Then we visited

Madhai Ghat, the bathing place constucted by Madhai (Madhava dasa) after

being transformed by Sri Nityananda Prabhu. This pastime was related by

Jayapataka Maharaja.

 

We walked back towards Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir and went out on our ISKCON

Ghat where we boarded boats bound for Godrumadwipa. The boat ride lasted

about ½ an hour and devotees were chanting Hare Krishna on the different

boats. We traveled on the Jalangi (Saraswati) river from Antardwipa,

Rudradwipa, and arrived in Godrumadwipa. We were met by many dob walas

(coconut water sellers).

 

Our next stop was Suvarna Vihara- this was the site of the capital city of

King Suvarna Sena, who later appeared as Buddhimanta Khan, an associate of

Sri Caitanya. There is a temple here where Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati

Goswami Maharaja Thakur installed Deities of Sri Mahaprabhu and Sri Sri

Radha Krishna. We had a nice breakfast here of fruit, puffed rice, rice

pullo, tomato chuttney, bal fruit juice and sweet.

 

We continued our walk dancing along to the sweet kirtan of Lokanath

Maharaja. We stopped for some time as devotees recounted the glories of

Lord Siva who resides on this island of Godrumadwipa. Whenever anyone

leaves their body here in Godrumadwipa, Lord Siva comes and chants the holy

name of GAURANGA! Into his ears. Finally, we reached our days' destination:

Nrsimhapalli. Candra Mauli Maharaja and Devamrita Maharaja took turns

leading the kirtan in glorification of Lord Narasimhadeva. Then we sat down

and heard the glories of Lord Narasimhadeva from Nityo Dita Maharaja, and

Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja.

 

The days walk culminated in everyone taking a holy dip in the Mandakini

lake. This is the lake where Lord Narasimhadeva stopped to wash His hands

of the blood after killing the great demon Hiranyakasipu. The devotees were

singing and splashing about in a joyful mood. Then we went and took a

wonderful feast.

 

In the evening, there was a pandal stage program for the local villagers.

 

Navadwipa Mandal Parikrama Ki Jaya!

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!

 

(compiled by Ekalavya das)

 

Attached photos:

 

Nrsimhadeva: The Deity of Nrsimhadeva worshiped at Nrsimhapalli.