Category: Holy 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’.

North24Paraganas

Sivananda Sen and Kavi Karnapura | Krishna Raya Temple, Rathtala

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 12, 2018

krishna raya temple halisahar sivananda sen kavi karnapura

The Krishna Raya temple is one of the biggest in Bengal and is one of the most significant for the Gaudiya vaishnavas. It is situated in a spacious compound ,adorned with beautiful gardens ,with high boundary walls on its four sides. The temple today also houses a big kitchen along with residential quarters. Sri Nimai Mullick, the then prominent zamindar of kolkata, is said to have seen the broken down temple while he was on his way to Benares (refer – ‘The pious Mullicks of Bengal’). The pious zamindar thereafter reconstructed the temple and arranged for the proper worship of the deities in the year 1786 AD. Sri Krishna Raya are the worshipable Radha Krishna deities of Sri Srinatha Prabhu, the spiritual master of Kavi Karnapura, the third son of Sivananda Sen. Kavi Karnapura does not reveal the original identity of his spiritual master,Sri Srinatha Chakravarthy, in his book Sri Gaur Ganoddesha Dipika. The reason being that a disciple should not address his spiritual master by his name.

Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami highly glorifies Sri Srinatha Prabhu in his Caitanya Caritamrta and reveals that he was blessed by Mahaprabhu and that his love for Krishna mesmerized all the three worlds (Srinatha paṇḍita Prabhura kripara bhajana, yanra Krishna-seva dekhi vash tribhuvana).Srinatha Chakravarthy was a disciple of Sri Advaita Acharya.

North24Paraganas

Chaitanya Doba, Halisahar – The birthplace of Isvara Puri

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

Caitanya Doba

The birthplace of Sri Isvara Puri, the spiritual master of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is popularly known today as ‘Chaitanya Doba’. The word doba means ‘a pool of water’. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu travelled through Halisahar (kumarhatta) on His way to Puri, He showed respect for His spiritual master by picking up some earth from the place of his birth, wrapping it in His cloth and keeping it carefully with Him. He used to eat a small portion of this dust daily. Thousands of pilgrims have since followed His example, thus forming a pit that has since filled with water (as visible in picture).Just opposite to Chaitanya Doba is an ashrama (the yellow building visible in the picture), where devotees reside and serve the sacred dham.The team from ’The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ considers itself exceedingly fortunate to have been able to visit and pay our obeisances unto this ancient sacred pilgrimage site. Talking to the local devotees, we came to know that a huge festival takes place here every year, during the month of October-November, to commemorate the arrival of Lord Gaurasundara at Chaitanya Doba, who is believed to have arrived during this time of the year.

Sri Isvara Puri had been the most prominent disciple of Sri Madhavendra Puri. He spent most of his time residing at his guru’s ashram in Gaya. Caitanya Mahaprabhu met Isvara Puri at the Vishnu Temple in Gaya, and accepted Vaishnava initiation from him.

Katwa & Srikhanda Vaishnava acharyas

Lochan das Thakura – Biography | Sripat Baradanga – where he composed Chaitanya Mangala

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

baradanga lochan das

Sri Lochan Das Thakura, the dear disciple of Sri Narahari Sarkara Thakura, is renowned all over the three worlds as the author of the great bengali classic, Sri Caitanya Mangala, the beautiful musical composition of Lord Gaurahari’s manifested pastimes.It has been composed with such ecstasy and poetic rhythm ,that simply reading it is sufficient to evoke within one the emotions of divine love and attachment for Sri Krishna Caitanya, the Supreme personality of Godhead.Sri Lochan das thakura serves as Lochana sakhi in Krishna’s vrindavana pastimes. In Vaishnava acara darpana, it is mentioned that the potency of King Vrishbhanu’s niece , ‘Tara’, has also incarnated as Sri Lochan Das Thakura, in Mahaprabhu’s pastimes.

Lochan das thakura was a contemporary of Sri Vrindavana Das Thakura, the author of Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, another revered biography of Lord Caitanya’s heart melting pastimes. Sri Narahari Sarkar Thakura, who was the incarnation of the sakhi Madhumati, and who was very dear and completely surrendered unto the lotus feet of Sri Gaurasundara, once desired for a book to be composed in bengali, that shall depict the heart melting pastimes of Sri Krishna Caitanya. He desired that the biography would uphold before the world the esoteric treasures of Gaura lila and shall help the readers develop love and attachment unto the Supreme (refer – ‘YogPeeth, Mayapur, Navadvipa – The birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’). It was only to give shape to the desires of Narahari ,that Lochan das thakura had taken birth in this world.Taking shelter of his Guru, he composed the ecstatic ‘Caitanya Mangala’, thereby satisfying the yearnings of his spiritual master. ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ has covered the life and pastimes of Sri Narahari Thakura in a separate article entitled – ‘The Great Vaishnavas of Srikhanda’.

serampore Vaishnava acharyas

Kashishwar Pandita – Biography | Kashishwar pith ,Chatra, Serampore

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

chatra serampore

Sri Kashishwar Pandita was a disciple of Sri Isvara Puri, the spiritual master of Lord Caitanya. Sri Isvara Puri ,in his last days, instructed his disciples Kashishwar Pandita and Govinda to render personal service to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which they accepted with their heart and soul. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu honored Kashishwar and Govinda, as His godbrothers,and hence was reluctant to allow them to serve Him But He finally complied as those were the orders of His spiritual master, Sri Isvara puri. So in Puri, Govinda took up the role of Sri Caitanya’s personal servant, whereas Kashishwar Pandita, being a very strong man, protected the Lord from the crowds while He visited the temple of Lord Jagannatha.

Anga seva govindere dilena ishvara
Jagannatha dekhite chalena aage kashishwar
(Caitanya Caritamrta – 10.141 , Adi)

Srila Prabhupada mentions in his Caitanya Caritamrta commentary, that among the prominent devotees of Lord Caitanya in Jagannatha Puri (Nilachal), Sri Kashishwar and Govinda were the eighteenth and nineteenth branches of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s desire tree of devotional service. According to Gaura Gannodesha Dipika ,the former servants of Sri Krishna, Bhrngara and Bhangura in Vrindavana ,appeared as Kashishwar and Govinda in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes.

serampore

Sri RadhaVallav Jiu, Serampore

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

radha vallav jiu serampore

The stone that remained, after giving shape to Syamsundara jiu , was used to carve out two more enchanting deities –Sri Nandadulal jiu who was installed at swamibon (commonly referred to as saibon) and Vallavaji who was installed at Vallavapura (present serampore).
– Prema Vilasa

This is the third of the deities that was carved out of the same sila (stone) that was brought by Birchandra prabhu from the Nawab’s palace in Malda.The other two enchanting deities being Sri Syamasundara jiu of Khardaha, and Sri NandaDulal jiu of Saibon. (Please refer to the article entitled ‘Sri Sri Radha-Syamasundara temple, Khardaha’, for more historical details regarding the amazing pastime of appearance of these three deities) .

Every Year,on the day of Magh Purnima (the full moon day in the month of january-February), a huge festival takes place here at Serampore,Saibon and Khardaha ,at the site of these three deities, to commemorate their installation,500 years back. Gaudiya Vaishnavas gather from all around the world to participate in this festival. ‘Festival’ is an integral part of the ‘Gaudiya Vaishnava’ lifestyle and it provides the Vaishnavas with an opportunity to associate with elevated devotees and relish Krishna Katha.Sri RadhaVallav jiu is so beautiful that one might want to gaze at His beautiful form forever. Simply seeing His charming smile makes one forget the illusory problems of this material world.’The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ considers itself extremely blessed and fortunate to have taken darsana of Sri RadhaVallav jiu’s captivating form and to have prayed for His shelter and mercy.