[Nectar] First day of Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama

[Guest guest]

8 Km walk in Godrumadvipa

Holy places visited: Amra ghata, Suvarna Bihar, Gauradaha, Svananda-

Sukhada Kunja ( House and Samadhi of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur) ,

Surabhi-Kunja

 

The second day of Parikrama started from Harihara ksetra after the

morning arthi , proceeded towards Amraghata ( Am ghata). Amraghata is

a mango grove, where once while performing Kirtana, Lord Caitanya

noticed the devotees are becoming tired. He stopped the Kirtana and

planted a mango seed in the ground at this spot. Within minutes, a

huge tree fully grown with beautiful red and yellow mangoes that had

no skin or seeds.

 

Caitanya Mahaprabhu picked around 200 mangoes and gave to each of the

devotee. After offering to Krishna, Gauranga ate one mango and

distributed the rest to the devotees. It was amazing that one mango

was sufficient to satisfy completely the devotee. The tree is so

special that it supplied mangoes everyday for one year. These pastimes

were narrated by HH Jayapataka Swami in his own dramatical way taking

the devotees to the time when it actually happened.

 

After 20 minutes walk from Amraghat, the parikrama group reached

Suvarna Bihar.

During Satya-yuga, a well-known king named Suvarna Sena lived here.

For a long time he was simply engaged in ruling the kingdom, and even

when he grew old he took no rest. The king's mind was absorbed in

material hankering, and he was always thinking how to increase his

wealth. Being merciful to the King, Narada mercifully instructed him

on the Absolute Truth.

"`You are very fortunate, for your kingdom is in Navadvipa. Now

develop your faith by associating with devotees and singing the name

of Krsna, let the sun of prema rise in your heart. Fortunate will be

the coming of Kali-yuga, for Krsna will bring His associates here and

manifest His pastimes as Gauranga. One who chants Gaura's name will

get the mercy of Krsna, and he will be able to live in Vrndavana. One

who worships Krsna without chanting the name of Gaura will get Krsna

only after a long time. But he who takes Gaura's name quickly gets

Krsna, for offenses do not remain within him.'

While saying this, Narada lost control of himself and began to dance

and chant the name of Gaura. `O Gaurahari! When will blessed Kali-yuga

come?' Saying this, Narada went off, leaving the king filled with

prema. Crying the name of Gauranga, dancing, and begging love of God

from the devotees, he became free from material hankerings. Later,

while sleeping, the king saw Gauranga and Gadadhara with their

associates dancing in the courtyard. Surrounding the golden form of

Gaura, they were all chanting `Hare Krsna!' while dancing and

embracing one another. At that time, a voice spoke `O king, when I

appear, you will be amongst My associates. Your name will be

Buddhimanta Khan. You will receive the transcendental dhama and serve

the lotus feet of Gauranga.' Hearing this, the king became composed

and began to worship Gauranga.

A nice small Radha-Krishna deities with life sized Lord Caitanya is

worshipped in this temple. The original ruins of the palace which are

still left behind are visible. HH Jayapataka Swami and HH Gopal

Krishan Goswami , HH Bhakti Siddhanta Maharaj and others narrated

these wonderful pastimes happened at this place. HH Jayapataka

Maharaja also explained that as Buddhimanta Khan, king Sena served

Lord Caitanya by sponsoring the costumes for Gauranga Mahaprabhu and

His associates in the drama at Candrasekhara Acharya's house. He also

paid all the costs for Mahaprabhu's wedding to Visnupriya.

Gauradaha is the next stop which is on the main road. It is the place

where Gauranga and NItyananda have rolled in the dust of the holydham.

The breakfast was served here .Devotees also rolled in the dust of

this place, experiencing transcendental joy.

Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur's house or svananda sukhada Kunja is the

place where Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur spent his time in

bhajana ,extensive preaching, wrote many books, From the verandah of

this house, he saw the horizon of Mayapur light up under the

effulgence of ,"one exceedingly beautiful temple will arise from where

the eternal service of gauranga will be broadcast all over the world.

Bhakti Vinod Thakur's murti and his personal deities Sri Gaur-

Gadhadhar is in the altar. His Samadhi is also here. Bhajan Kutir of

Srila Gaura Kishore das Babaji Maharaj is also inside the temple where

he spent many years in chanting. Then devotees proceeded to Surabhi

Kunja and many Maharajas spoke on different pastimes that happened

here. It is the place where Surabhi cow is eternally living here

absorbed in the meditation of gauranga under the banyan tree. Even

during the devastation of creation, Navadvipa dhama is unaffected . HH

Jayapataka Swami highlighted how Markendaya Rsi got Gaura-prema. Once

this Rsi got the benediction to live for 7 kalpas. So, during

devastation, he was tossed in the flood waters and surabhi pulled him

off onto the shore of an island. He begged for milk and surabhi

brought back his life. He asked surabhi what he should do to become

free from this benediction. Mother Surabhi advised him to reside in

Navadvipa and worship Gauranga. He stayed here chanting the name of

Gauranga, crying and laughing in ecstasy. This is also Lord

Nityananda's preaching head quarters fro nama-hatta preaching in

Bengal. We should seek the mercy of Lord Nityananda so that we may

become better preachers. HH Bhaktidhira damodara Maharaja narrated an

incident from GauraKishora babaji's life - a beautiful instruction

that the pure devotee never advertises himself and how Babaji

maharaja taught us how to be humble and a pure devotee. HH Gopal

Krishna Goswami explained the greatness of Srila Bhakti Vinod

Thakur .Taking only 3 hours rest in a day, he worked hardly to preach

the message of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and to identify the birth place of

Sri Caitanya. We are all indebted to him and as this is his place of

Bhajana, he asked everyone to pray for his mercy. HH Bhakti marg swami

said it is Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur who brought the notion of

pluralism in Krishna Consciousness into the disciplic succession. He

was so merciful and compassionate, as a pure Vaisnava, was interested

in spiritual development of others. His songs are enriched with

devotion and meant to wake up the jivas from the slumber of ignorance.

We have to make a strong appeal to Thakur Bhakti Vinoda to take up

demoniac qualities in us and give us the wealth of Krishna -prem. HH

Umapati Swami gave a wonderful definition for Saranagati or surrender.

He said to surrender to Srila Prabhupada's books, to surrender to

devotees who read his books , who live as per his instructions , guide

others as per Srila Prabhupada's desire is the true meaning of

surrender and urged all the devotees to make this type of surrender to

make their life successful. The Delhi temple devotees performed drama

on the incidents from the life of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur like

arresting the tantrik Bishkishen, praying to Lord Jagannath to send a

ray of Vishnu, how he built a temple at the Mahaprabhu's birthplace by

collecting one rupee from everyone.

The day's parikrama ended at Bhaktivedanta Arogya Ashram . The

devotees took darshan of Sri Jagannath, baladev and Subhadra mayi in

the campus and honoured prasadam.

" Wandering in Navadvipa 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-60)

 

 

Third day of Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama - 12 km walk in

Madhyadvipa and Koladvipa.

Holy places visited : Hamsavahan Siva, Naimisaranya, Brahmana Puskara,

Gomati river, Kuruksetra, Jagannathadas Babaji Samadhi , Dhameswar

Mahaprabhu Mandir and Maha Harinam Sankirtan in the streets of

Navadvipa.The parikrama started from Svarupganj, Bhaktivedanta Arogya

Ashram to first holy place in Madhyadvipa , Hamsavahan Siva temple.

Madyadvipa represents the devotional process of smaranam or

remembering the pastimes of the Lord.

HH Jayapatka Swami detailed the significance of this place. Here, Lord

Siva riding on Lord Brahma's hamsa vahan . Once, when Lord Siva heard

that Suta Goswami was about to speak on Lord Caitanya's pastimes, he

abandoned his own carrier, Nandi the bull and took up Lord Brahma's

much faster hamsa vahan. As Lord Siva is intensely burning with desire

to see Lord Caitanya, he becomes very hot and to keep him cooler,

water is continuously poured on the deity .HH Gopalakrishna Goswami

explained that madhyam means middle and this name is given to this

island because Lord Caitanya appeared here at noon time. Once the sons

of Brahma performed austerities here. They became so absorbed in the

chanting the name of Gaura , they gave up eating and sleeping. One day

at noon, he appeared here with His associates and instructed them to

engage in smaranam, discussing and hearing the pastimes of

Krishna.Rupa goswami in Nectar of Devotion concludes that the purpose

of all scriptures and knowledge is that always remember Krishna and

never forget Krishna. The parikrama party next stopped at

Naimisaranya. Srila Prabhupada Guru puja was done here. It is the

place where Saunaka Rsi and the sages heard the Gaura-Bhagavatham from

Suta Gosvami. HH Kavichandra Maharaj glorified the greatness of Sriamd

Bhagavatham as ripened fruit of vedic knowledge. In this age, even

though is full of faults, still by doing Krishna kirtan, one can get

best liberation. We are fortunate to be in Srila Prabhupada's

movement, who is kind enough to make Srimad Bhagavatham accessible to

all. Drama of Kurma Brahmin getting the mercy of Lord Caitnaya by

Russian devotee, Vacaspati das was appreciated by all the maharajas

and devotees.

A short walk for 15 minutes led the parikrama group to reach Brahmana

Puskara . Puskara is the original tirtha and considered as king of all

the holy places. All the sins are destroyed simply by taking bath at

Puskara tirtha. In Satya-yuga, a brahmana named Divadasa went on

pilgrimage. He had a strong desire to see Puskara tirtha but somehow,

he stayed at Navadvipa. Brahmana later lamented that he became too old

to go to Puskara. Puskara raja appeared and said all the tirthas are

eternally residing in Navadvipa and one must bathe one hundred times

in any other place to get the same benefit of bathing only once in

Navadvipa dhama. He instructed the brahmana to live here and worship

Lord Gauranga.

>From there, devotees proceeded to uccahatta , which means loud

assembly. The demigods reside here eternally and loudly call out the

different names of Gauranga. This is non-different from

Kuruksetra .Residing here for one night gives the benefit of living

for one hundred years in Kuruksetra. Breakfast Prasad was served at

this place.

The devotees then took a boat ride to cross over Ganges to reach

Koladvipa. This island represents pada-sevanam , rendering service to

the lotus feet of the Lord. This is called Koladvipa because it is

where Lord appeared in the form of Varahadev and revealed the glories

of Gauranga Mahaprabhu to His devotee Vasudeva. A maha Harinama

Sankirtana, a wonderful procession in the streets of Navadvipa was

performed, a truly blissful experience for all. They reached the

Jagannatha Dasa babaji Samadhi and bhajana kutira. Several Maharajas

narrated the pastimes from the life of Jagannatha dasa babaji maharaj.

He was vaisnava sarvabhauma , who confirmed the actual site of

birthplace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Delhi and Calcutta devotees drama

on the pastimes of babaji maharaj. Dhamesvara Mahaprabhu temple was

filled with the reverberating voices of the blissful devotees in

sankirtana for nearly 2 hours. HH Jayapataka Swami led a wonderful

kirtan . all the devotees dancing throughout in ectasy. The parikrama

party halted for the day at Pratapnagar.

 

 

 

On Feb 21, 10:06 am, cos... wrote:

> Written by Shyamagopika Devi Dasi

>

> 12km walk in Godrumadvipa

>

> Holy places visited : Nandan Acharya Bhavan, Pancanantala,

> Nrsimhapally, holy dip in Mandakini river, Harihara Ksetra.

> "One easily becomes freed from the bondage of maya by even visiting

> Mayapur. The power of maya will go far away and the cycle of birth and

> death will cease for one who simply walks in Mayapur" -Sri Navadvip

> Dham Mahatmya. After the Managla Aroti, devotees packed up their

> luggages, blissfully got ready for the seven day transcendental

> experience, started their Parikrama from the main gate and walked just

> few metres away from the temple to Nandan Acharya Bhavan - the

> historical meeting place of Lord Nityananda and Lord Chaitanya at

> the house of Nandan acharya.Devoteed took darshan of the deities and

> proceeded to Prabhupada Ghat. More than 8 boats accommodated all the

> devotees and proceeded to Godrumadvip. Kirtan was going on in all the

> boats After 1 ½ hour ride across Ganga and Jalangi, devotees reached

> Godrumadvip.

> Pancanantala was the place of Lord Siva , the protector of holy dham A

> huge banyan tree under which Lord Shiva is there and a small shrine is

> recently built over here.

> As this island represents Kirtanam, chanting of holy names of the

> Lord, devotees did blissful harinam with singing and dancing. HG

> Vrajendra nandan prabhu spoke about the greatness of Lord Shiva as a

> topmost vaisnava and his position as servant of supreme Lord though he

> is in touch with the material energy. He is always meditating on the

> glories of the supreme Lord and at this place, he asked the all the

> devotees to pray to Lord Siva to help to understand that we are

> eternal servant of Lord Caitanya . In the mood to offer more service

> to the Lord and Vaisnavas, we should offer our obeisences.

> HH Jayapataka Swami said that this place is one of the gateways to

> dham, protected by Lord Siva We are walking on the places where

> Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes took place and still going on. This

> island represents Kirtanam and it is mentioned even in Puranas. These

> 9 islands are never destroyed even during devastation. This is the

> extreme east of the Navadvip dham and then the devotees walked over to

> southeast to Narsimhapally.

> The morning breakfast was served at this place. The devotees proceeded

> to Nrsimhapally. The self manifested deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva with

> Hiranyakasipu on his lap and Prahlada at His feet dates back to satya-

> yuga. It is here the Lord came to rest after killing hairanyakasipu

> There is also Mandakini river flowing next to the temple where Lord

> Nrsimhadeva drank her sweet waters to refresh and washed the blood

> from His hands. The demigods followed the Lord, constructed large

> palaces and worshipped the Lord with great opulence. So, it is called

> as Devapally. HH Jayapataka Swami, HH Gopal Krishna Goswami, HH Bhakti

> purusottam swami and other vaisnavas spoke on the greatness of this

> holyplace. HH Jayapataka Maharaj said this is the place for us to

> plead for the mercy of the Lord The delhi temple devotees performed

> the Lord Nrsimha dev's appearance as a nice drama , well appreciated

> by all the devotees.

> The parikrama led to a long walk in the small muddy lane amidst nice

> rice fields and small dwellings of the locals to Harihara Ksetra. This

> place is also Mahavaranasi or Benares. Here, Lord Siva personally

> comes and chants "Gauranga" in the ears of the soul thus delivering

> them at the time of death. The main deity is Hari-hara (half Lord

> Vishnu and half Lord Siva )A deity of Gopala and footprints of

> Gadadhara Pandit are also present in the temple.. Huge tents were

> erected to accommodate the devotees. Alakananda river flows just next

> to the temple. The pastime of Jagadanandapandit, who is Satyabhama in

> Krishna lila and how the parrot revealed that Gauranga was combined

> form of Radha and Krishna., was enacted by delhi devotees . Though the

> walk was long and tedious, the devotees are never tired of hearing

> katha and doing kirtan .

 

 

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