Month: January 2018

Mayapur Nabadwip dham Vaishnava acharyas

Jagannath Das Babaji – Biography | Samadhi temple at Mayapur Nabadwip dham

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

jagannatha das babaji Srila Jagannath Das Babaji,was born around the year 1750 AD, at the remote village of Tangail, in the district of Mymensingh (situated in Bangladesh). Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaja, was the most advanced Rasika devotee of his times in all of Vrindavana, Navadvipa and Jagannatha puri.He lived for about 150 years and was a disciple in the line of Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura and Baladeva Vidyabhusana. He used to initially reside at Surya Kunda in Vrindavana, where he used to perform his Bhajana, but towards the end of his manifested pastimes, he shifted to Navadvipa dham. He was famed as Siddha Baba (perfectly realized soul) and used to chant for days altogether ,going without food, water or sleep.In the pastimes of Sri Krishna, Jagannath Das Babaji eternally serves as Rasika Manjari.

His prominent disciples were Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Bihari das Babaji, Sri Bhagavata Das Babaji, Sri Ramdas Babaji, Sri Nityananda Das babaji, Sri Hare Krishna das Babaji, Sri Ramhari Das Babaji to mention some. By the initiative of Bihari das ,the residents of Surya Kunda constructed a permanent room for Siddha baba at that place.The deities that are presently being worshipped at Gopal Bagh in Vrindavana (renowned as ‘Sonar Gauranga’), are actually the worshipable deities of Srila Jagannath Das Babaji, who had originally brought them from the Sonarundi village of Bengal (a place about 15 kms from Katwa).The six armed deity (sadbhuja) of Lord Caitanya, that is presently being worshipped at Nidhuvana (in Vrindavana), was also once worshipped by Jagannath das Babaji. Towards the end of his manifested pastimes, Siddha baba, had become bent due to old age, and could hardly keep his eyelids open.However ,with the assistance of his disciples ,he used to daily offer Tulasi leaves unto the Saligrama Sila.Due to his advanced age, he could not see or walk and had to be hence carried within a basket by his disciple Bihari Das ,from one place to the other. Yet inspite of severe physical challenges, he would dance in ecstasy on hearing sankirtana.

Mayapur Nabadwip dham

Vamsi Das Babaji – Biography | His Sripat in Mayapur Nabadwip dham

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

vamsidas babaji

“What one attains by travelling to all the holy places is attained just by remembering the transcendental abode of Navadvipa” – Navadvipa Dham Mahatmya

Srila Vamsi Das babaji, previously known as Bhairab Chandra, had appeared in the year 1859, in the village of Majeedpur.Majeedpur was formerly part of the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Sri Sanatana Mallabrahma and Srimati Sarvasundari devi had the great fortune of giving birth and parenting this exalted personality. He was the eldest of his seven siblings, and being the son of a poor fisherman, he had suffered a hard and an austere upbringing. From his very childhood, he was deeply attracted to Lord Gauranga and Sri Nityananda Prabhu. He would keep staring at the deities of Gaura-Nitai at a nearby temple, for hours altogether. Seeing this, his parents became very anxious, and got him married. But he eventually left his home, leaving behind his wife and little son, and became a renunciant. He soon received initiation in the line of the great vaishnava acharya, Sri Narottama Das Thakura. After staying back at Majeedpur for a few years, he left for an extensive pilgrimage all over India.Travelling all over the country, he finally settled down at Navadvipa, where he spent the most of his life.’The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ had the good fortune of visiting and praying at his bhajana Kutira at Navadvipa.Towards the end of his manifested pastimes, he returned to Majeedpur once more, where he left his body.

Kolkata North24Paraganas

Gadadhara das – Life and Pastimes | Ariadaha Pathbari

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

Gadadhara Das ariadaha

Sri Kavi Karnapura reveals in Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika that Sri Gadadhara Das was the combined incarnation of Srimati Chandrakanti devi (an expansion of Radharani) and Purnananda Gopi, who was a dear friend of Lord Balarama.

Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami identifies Sri Gadadhara das, to be the twenty-third branch of Lord Caitanya’s desire tree of devotional service. He has also referred to him as the ‘topmost’ (sarvopari) branch for he had inspired the Kazi (Muslim Magistrate) to chant the holy names of Lord Hari.(Sri Gadadhara das shakha sarvopari, kazi ganera mukhe yenha bolaila Hari). Gadadhara das’ Sripat is situated on the outskirts of North Kolkata, at a place called Ariadaha. Located on the bank of the Ganges, this exalted site, is exceedingly beautiful and spiritually surcharged. The place came across as very quiet, serene and a perfect escape into the realm of transcendence.Sri Gadadhara Das had resided over here at Ariadaha for many years. Finally he shifted to Katwa, where he spent his last days serving the deity of ‘Bara Gauranga’ at Gauranga Bari.’The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ has covered the details of Gauranga Bari in a separate article entitled – ‘Sri Gauranga Bari (katwa) – Where Mahaprabhu accepted Sannyasa’.

Here at Ariadaha, Sri Gadadhara Das had manifested several of his heart melting pastimes. It was here at Ariadaha that he had established the worship of his beloved Bal-gopal deity. Lord Nityananda had also spent a few days here and had performed His ecstatic sankirtana pastimes (described later in the article).The devotees who presently serve this dham are very simple bengalis who were exceedingly happy to narrate the awe-inspiring history of this place to us.

ariadaha

The temple has been managed by different authorities in the course of these last 500 years. Finally the temple was renovated in the year 1849 by Sri Madhusudana Mullick of Kolkata, who had also arranged for the deity worship to be carried out properly (refer – ‘The pious Mullicks of Bengal’).The team from ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ considers itself exceedingly fortunate to have been able to visit and smear our sinful bodies with the all-purifying dust of this holy place.

SantipurnPhulia

Haridas Thakur – Bhajana Kutira, Phulia

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

phulia haridasa thakura Lord Brahma, Prahlada Maharaja and Richika Muni’s son Mahatapa had combinedly incarnated as Haridas Thakur. Srila Haridas Thakur is the namacharya of our sampradaya and is an eternal associate of Lord Gauranga.Srila Haridas had accompanied the Lord in most of His magnanimous pastimes. He was an empowered incarnation of the Supreme Lord who had appeared just to set an example for all of us to follow. He had delivered innumerable suffering souls by bestowing upon them the nectar of the holy name. Though being born in a family of Muslims, Haridas Thakur widely propagated that the chanting of Krishna’s holy names to be the Supreme spiritual practice, and preached how the Lord and His holy names are actually non-different. Thakura Haridas teaches us, that the holy names of Krishna are actually non-sectarian and that God is one though we might call upon Him by different names. The relationship between the Lord (supersoul) and the jiva(soul) is eternal and chanting of the ‘Hare Krishna Mahamantra’ is the most effective means to evoke and revive this eternal relationship, especially in this age of Kali.The Thakura used to chant Krishna’s holy names, 300000 times a day, a practice he continued till the very end of his manifested pastimes.

The holy name of Krishna is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions for it is Krishna Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Krishna’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows.The holy name of Krishna is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Krishna Himself. Since Krishna’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with maya. Krishna’s name is always liberated and spiritual.It is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna Himself are identical – Padma Purana

Mayapur Nabadwip dham Pastimes of Chaitanya

Vishnupriya devi – Biography | Dhameswar Mahaprabhu Temple, Mayapur Nabadwip dham

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

dhameshwar Mahaprabhu vishnupriya Srimati Vishnupriya devi is the eternal consort of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. According to Sri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika, Srimati Vishnupriya devi is the incarnation of the Lord’s Bhu-Sakti, the mother of the entire universe. Her sacrifice and devotion for Lord Chaitanya shall forever be glorified in the pages of Gaudiya history. The deities of Lord Chaitanya and His footwear that she once worshiped are preserved and served till this day at the Dhameswar Mahaprabhu temple in Nabadwip. ’The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ humbly begs for Her mercy and empowerment to rewind the clock a few hundred years and pen a few lines in Her glorification.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu marries Vishnupriya devi :

After Lakshmipriya devi (Nimai Pandita’s first wife) had passed away, suffering an intense separation from her husband, Saci mata endeavored to get Nimai married for the second time.Sri Sanatana Mishra was a pious and charitable brahmana of Navadvipa. He was exceedingly educated and being a great scholar ,had received the title of ‘Raja Pandita’. The Gaura Gannoddesha Dipika reveals that Sanatana Misra was the incarnation of King Satrajit. His daughter ,Srimati Vishnupriya devi was a chaste ,beautiful woman of noble character. She embodied all the divine qualities of Lakshmi devi.

Tanra kanya aachen parama Sucharita
Murtimati Lakshmi-praya sei jaganmata
(Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata)

Saci devi used to meet Vishnupriya at the bathing Ghat of the ganges everyday.She noted the exalted qualities of the girl, and decided that Vishnupriya was the perfect match for her son Nimai.Deciding thus, Saci Mata approached Sri Kashinath Pandita, who mediated between the two families and the marriage was soon fixed.

Mayapur Nabadwip dham

Murari Gupta – Life and Pastimes | Murari Gupta Sripat, Mayapur

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

murari gupta

“What one attains by travelling to all the holy places is attained just by remembering the transcendental abode of Navadvipa” –
Navadvipa Dham Mahatmya

Situated east of Yogpeeth,on the banks of Ballal Dighi, lies the house of Sri Murari Gupta. He was born at Srihatta (Sylhet, presently situated in Bangladesh) ,the hometown of Jagannatha Misra, but moved over to Navadvipa while he was a very young boy.The residence of Murari Gupta is a stone’s throw from Srivasa Angan (house of Srivasa Pandita) and is situated hardly a kilometer from the Iskcon Mayapur temple. He was a contemporary of Lord Chaitanya and used to study in the same toll (school) as Mahaprabhu. Although he was a scholar and senior to Mahaprabhu ,yet he could not defeat Him in debates and logical arguments.Lord Chaitanya used to tease Murari by raising different topics of discussion and subsequently defeating him in them. Sri Murari Gupta was an intimate associate of Mahaprabhu and was the 21st branch of His desire tree of devotional service .At Murari Gupta’s house ,are presently worshipped the beautiful deities of Sri Ram, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanumana. We, from ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ consider ourselves exceedingly blessed to have been able to take darsana of his sripat, and smear our sinful bodies with the dust of this holy place.

Sri Murari Gupta was an Ayurvedic doctor (vaidya) by profession, but it has been mentioned in the revealed scriptures that such was the nature of his treatment, that his patients would be benefitted not only materially but spiritually as well. Sri Murari would prescribe medicines not only for the patient’s ailing body but bestow Krishna prema for his suffering soul.He regularly participated in the nightly sankirtana held at Srivasa Angan and satisfied Mahaprabhu greatly with his ecstatic singing and dancing.He was a treasure house of divine love and it is stated that his humility and meekness, melted the heart of Lord Gaurahari.

Sri murari gupta sakha premera bhandara
prabhura hridaya drave shuni dainya yanra
(Chaitanya Caritamrta , Adi,10.49)

Kalna Lord Nityananda

Lord Nityananda marries Jahnava and Vasudha, Ambika Kalna

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

ambika kalna Lord Nityananda

Kavi Karnapura writes in Sri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika, that the two wives of Lord Balarama, Srimati Varuni and Srimati Revati devi , appeared in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes as Srimati Vasudha and Jahnava, the two dear wives of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. They were the daughters of the great personality named Suryadas Sarkhel , who had been Maharaja Kakudmi in his previous incarnation.

’The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ shall try its best to narrate below the exalted pastimes of Lord Nityananda’s marriage as has been described by His dear disciple Srila Vrindavana Das Thakura, in his heart melting composition , ‘Sri Nityananda Caritamrta’. The readers are hereby requested to excuse any of our unintentional mistakes ,as we are mere fools who, not knowing our limits, are trying to delve deep into this esoteric well, to excavate the mesmerizing jewels of Doyal Nitai’s ecstatic pastimes.

Sri Nityananda Prabhu decided to marry and settle down in Bengal, after receiving Lord Caitanya’s instructions.Accompanying Sri Uddharana datta Thakura, His eternal associate, Lord Nitai set out for Ambika Kalna.Arriving at the doorsteps of Suryadasa Sarkhel, Nityananda prabhu waited outside as Sri Uddharana rushed inside to inform the residents of the Lord’s arrival.Suryadasa held a very important post in the service of the king of Gauda and was hence awarded with the title ‘Sarkhel’ (commander) .He used to earn a lot of money as his salary.Falling at Nityananda Prabhu’s lotus feet, Sri Suryadasa offered Him his humble obeisances and greeted the Lord wholeheartedly.The Lord then revealed that He had come to Kalna with a purpose and that He desired to have Suryadasa’s daughter as His wife.

Suryadasa sarkhel knew everything about the identity of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda.His brother Gaudidasa Pandita was the incarnation of the cowherd boy Subala, in Krishna’s Vrindavana pastimes. But by the influence of the Lord’s illusory energy, Suryadasa forgot everything at that particular moment and refused the Lord’s proposal upfront. He argued that it was not possible, as things had to be first considered based upon caste,stars and family background. He continued that he was a brahmana while Lord Nitai was an outcaste. Being refused,Lord Nityananda immediately left the place while Suryadasa went inside his house feeling disappointed.

Lord Nityananda North24Paraganas Vaishnava acharyas

Residence of Lord Nityananda | Kunja Vatika, Khardaha

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

kunja vatika khardaha nityananda The holy dham of Khardaha is located hardly at a distance of 20 kms from kolkata.The land of merciful Nityananda Prabhu is decorated all over with various wish fulfilling trees that readily bestow pure devotion upon all without any discrimination. Various demigods have been waiting and meditating for millions of years desiring to take birth in the transcendental abode of Khardaha, where they shall be able to associate with the Lord’s pure devotees and obtain the dust from their lotus feet.The land of Khardaha is a witness to Lord Nitai’s ecstatic pastimes, merely contemplating upon which ,one easily gains entry into the realm of transcendence. Srimati Jahnava Devi, Vasudha devi, Birchandra Prabhu have all manifested their sweet pastimes here and sanctified this holy tract of land. ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ is exceedingly blessed to have been able to visit Khardaha and take darsana of Kunja Vatika where Lord Nityananda manifests His eternal pastimes.

‘Tabey Aailen Prabhu Khardaha Grame
Purandar Panditer Devalaya Sthane
Khardaha Grame aashi Nityananda Raya
Yatah Nritya Karilen-Kahane Naa Jai ‘

– Then Lord Nityananda arrived at the residence of Purandara Pandit in Khardaha village. Here at Khardaha,He had manifested so many innumerable ecstatic dancing pastimes, that it is impossible for one to recount all of them.
(Sri Caitanya Bhagavata)

Katwa & Srikhanda Vaishnava acharyas

Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami – Life and Pastimes| Sripat Jhamatpur (Near Katwa)

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

jhamatapur Krishna das Kaviraj

Srila Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami is the author of the great bengali classic,Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, the principal work on the life and the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme personality of Godhead.Lord Caitanya had descended about 500 years back, here at Navadvipa in Bengal,in order to propagate the congregational chanting of Krishna’s holy names (refer – ‘YogPeeth, Mayapur, Navadvipa – The birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’). Sri Caitanya Caritamrta helps us relish the most heart rending pastimes of Sri Krishna Caitanya, that defy the investigative and descriptive abilities of modern psychologists and phenomenologists of religious experience. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, one of the most highly revered acharyas of our Gaudiya sampradaya, had once correctly predicted that a day would arrive when the people from different parts of the world would learn Bengali, just to relish the nectar of Caitanya Caritamrta. The prediction has indeed come to pass.The world shall ever be grateful to Srila Krishnadasa for giving us a glimpse of our rich heritage ; for giving to us Sri Gaurahari, the very lord of our lives.

Kolkata

Ha Gauranga Matha, Hatibagan – where Lord Chaitanya drank water

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

ha gauranga hatibagan

Amidst the hustling busy streets of North kolkata, quietly resides an exalted spiritual destination. Referred today as the ‘Ha Gauranga Matha’, is the sacred place where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu halted on His way to Jagannatha Puri, in order to quench His thirst by drinking some water. There is an inscription on the temple walls, which describes that after leaving Baranagar, Lord Caitanya reached here travelling through the bank of mother ganges. Here He stopped for a while to drink some water and thereby sanctified this place with the dust of His lotus feet. After He had finished, He continued on His journey and halted next at the ashrama of Sri Ananta Acharya, who then used to reside at Atisara (present day Baruipura). ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ has covered Lord Caitanya’s visit to Baruipura in a separate article entitled – ‘Sri Ananta Acharya’s Sripat, Baruipura’.