Nabadwip Mandal Parikrama - Day five

[Guest guest]

Navadwipa Mandala Parikrama Day 5

 

Saturday, February 20, 1999

 

Vidyanagar to Belpukur

 

Distance to cover: 9 km.

 

First of all, I would like to apologize to all the matajis for not

mentioning all the senior mataji devotees that are participating in

Navadwipa Mandala Parikrama. H.G. Sitala Mataji was with the party for 4

nights. H.G. Maha Maya Mataji and H.G. Bala Gopal Mataji each visited the

party for one day. The matajis have their own kirtan party with full sound

system cart and they lead their own kirtans.

 

Senior devotees present on the party today included: H.H. Jayapataka

Maharaja, H.H. B.B. Govinda Maharaja, H.H. Kavichandra Maharaja, H.H.

Subhaga Maharaja, H.H. Lokanath Maharaja, H.H. Bhaktivibhava Maharaja, H.H.

Param Gacit Maharaja, H.H. Chandra Mauli Maharaja, H.H. Bhaktisiddhanta

Maharaja, H.G. H.G. Pritu prabhu, Kaliyaphani Prabhu, H.G. Dwibuja Prabhu,

H.G. Lad Vamsi Prabhu. Please forgive me if I have left anyone off the

list.

 

Today, the party visited the asrama of Jahnu rsi, from whom the Ganga takes

the name of 'Jahnavi'.

 

"Jahnu Muni was sitting here chanting his Gayatri Mantra, when his acamana

cup fell into the Bhagirathi and was swept away by the currents. He opened

his mouth and drank all the water in one gulp. King Bhgiratha thout, 'Where

has the Ganges gone? He concluded that jahnu Muni had drunk the Ganges.

The king was overwhelmed with anxiety and worshiped the muni for several

days. The muni then released the Ganges from his body. Because of this

incident, the Ganges is known as Jahnavi, the daughter of Jahnu, throughout

the world." (Sri Navadvipa Mahatmya by Bhaktivinode Thakur)

 

Then we visited Saranga Murari Bhavan and took darshan of the Deity of

Vasudeva Datta. The pujari here, Jagad bandhu prabhu is in his late 70's.

he has been serving here since he was 8 years old. One time he hurt his leg

and couldn't go to the Ganges to bring water for puja. At the time, the

monkeys came to his aid and brought the holy water for the worship.

 

The next place we visited was Mamgachi (Modadruma dvipa)- there is the birth

place of Vrndavana Das Thakura. Vrndavana Das Thakur is the incarnation of

Srila Vyasadeva. He compiled the Caitanya Bhagavat. The house of Malini

devi's father is there. Lord Ramachandra visited this place during Treta

yuga. We had our breakfast here.

 

After breakfast, we crossed the Ganga by boats. There was a holy dip for

most of the devotees when we reached the other side. Some opted for more

kirtan instead with H.H. Bhaktivibhava Maharaja. Then we visited Rudrapada.

This is the place where Lord Siva came to meditate. Sankarcharya also came

here. Sri Visnu Swami started the Rudra Sampradaya here.

 

We traveled along a beautiful path of soft dust of the dhama to Belpukur

which is the birthplace of Sacimata. There is the beautiful temple of

Nilambara Cakravarti's Madana-Gopala deity. The was a fired up kirtan for

several hours there led by B.B. Govinda Maharaja and Kavichandra Maharaja.

A big feast followed for all the devotees.

 

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 coming later