Category: Holy dham

Kaliya Krishna Das – Life and Pastimes | Sripat Akaihata

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

akaihata

Sri Kaliya Krishna Das is an intimate associate of Lord Nityananda .He is the ninth of the twelve Gopalas (Dvadasha Gopalas) who have assisted Lord Nitai in manifesting His magnanimous pastimes. Within the desire tree of devotional service, Sri Kaliya Krishna is the 22nd branch to have arisen out of the trunk of Nityananda prabhu.Sri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika reveals the identity of Sri Kaliya Krishna Das as the cowherd boy Lavanga ,in Krishna’s Vrindavana pastimes. Sri Caitanya Bhagavata exclaims that one who simply remembers Kaliya Krishna das is sure to attain the lotus feet of Sri Gauranga and Nityananda.Sri Kaliya Krishna das or Kala Krishna Das , as he is often referred to, had his headquarters here at Akaihata, near Katwa. It is worthwhile mentioning, that Sri Kala Krishna das should not be herein confused with another devotee with the same name, who had accompanied Lord Caitanya in His south India tour.The other devotee, who had to be personally rescued by Caitanya Mahaprabhu from the clutches of the Bhattaharis, was a different person.

North24Paraganas

Nandadulal jiu temple , Saibon

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

saibon

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 (present saibon) and Vallavaji who was installed at Vallavapura (present serampore).
– Prema Vilasa

The abovementioned verse reveals that Sri Nanda dulal jiu was fashioned from the same stone (sila) which was brought by Sri Birchandra Prabhu from the nawab’s palace in Malda. The other two enchanting deities that were carved out from the same stone being Sri Radha Syamasundara jiu, who presently resides at Khardaha and Sri RadhaVallav jiu, who is installed at Serampore (Hooghly, West bengal). According to the hearsay,the great devotee Sri Madhu Pandita, who also hailed from Saibon, used to worship our beloved Radha Nandadulal jiu ,before he shifted to Vrindavana.Sri Madhu Pandita and Paramananda Bhattacharya, were later instrumental in discovering the deity of Gopinatha jiu in Vrindavana. The deity of Gopinatha jiu which had been originally installed five thousand years ago by Lord Krishna’s great grandson Vajranabha, and which was lost in the due course of time, was rediscovered in the holy land of Vrindavana few hundred years ago by these two stalwarts. This has been confirmed in Bhakti Ratnakara as well.

As discussed in detail in the article entitled -’Sri Sri Radha-Syamasundara temple, Khardaha’, Sri Birchandra Prabhu, the son of Lord Nityananda, and the dear disciple of Jahnava Mata, persuaded the king of Bengal to part with a stone from his palace, which happened to be a very sacred Saligrama Sila, out of which these three beautiful deities were subsequently sculpted.Please refer to that article to relish the beautiful appearance pastime of these three mesmerizing deities.

saibon

Katwa & Srikhanda

Uddharana Pur and Sakhai Bazar, Katwa – Pastimes of Uddharna Datta

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

uddharana pura

Sri Uddharana Datta Thakura is an eternal associate of Lord Nityananda. He is one of the most prominent of the twelve cowherd boys (Dvadasha Gopala) who had assisted Lord Nitai manifest His magnanimous pastimes. Sri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika reveals that Sri Uddharana Datta was the incarnation of Subahu, the intimate friend of Krishna and Balarama in vrindavana. Nityananda Prabhu, was his very life and soul and he had served his master in all possible ways.Prema Vilasa reveals that Lord Nitai used to relish the prasada cooked by Uddharana Datta. Not only He but even Sri Gaurahari enjoyed his cooking a lot. Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja reveals that Sri Uddharana datta Thakura was the foremost of the Maha Bhagavata devotees who completely engaged his mind,body and words in serving Nityananda Prabhu, his eternal Gurudeva.

Maha bhagavata sreshtha datta Uddharana
Sarba bhave seve Nityanandera carana
(caitanya caritamrta, Adi, 11.41)

Srila Prabhupada mentions in his purport, that Sri Uddharana Datta was born with the right to worship Sri Nityananda Prabhu.Sri Uddharana belonged to the caste of suvarna baniks (gold merchants) who were looked down upon in the society, in those days. Lord Nitai however stayed in Saptagram,at the house of Sri Uddharana Datta, for many months, and by His grace and association ,all the suvarna baniks (gold mercantile community) regained their stature. Sri Caitanya Bhagavata also glorifies the ecstatic pastimes that patita pavana Lord Nitai had manifested here at Saptagram in order to deliver the members these so called outcastes.

yateka banik kula Uddharana haite
pavitra haila dvidha nahika ihate
(Caitanya Bhagavata)

Surrendering his life unto the lotus feet of his spiritual master, Sri Uddharana , who had hailed from a very opulent gold mercantile family,subsequently renounced his wealth, fame ,prestige and accepted the robes of a mendicant to further the cause of Krishna consciousness.Being Nityananda Prabhu’s personal cook, Sri Uddharana received the rare fortune of accompanying the Lord wherever He travelled.

Mayapur Nabadwip dham Pastimes of Chaitanya

Srivasa Angan & Chand Kazi samadhi, Mayapur Nabadwip dham – Part 2

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

srivasa angan

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

Panca tattvatmakam krsnam bhakta-rupa-svarupakam
bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam namami bhakta saktikam

I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, who is non-different from His features as a devotee (Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu), devotional manifestation (Sri Nityananda Prabhu), devotional incarnation (Sri Advaita Acarya), devotional energy (Sri Gadadhara Pandita) and pure devotee (Sri Srivasa Pandita).

Continued from Part 1 (Srivasa Angan ,Mayapur,Navadvipa – Part 1 : where Lord Gaurahari eternally performs His ecstatic pastimes) …

For those who have not read Part1 of this article, we request them to kindly read it in order to relish the beautiful pastimes enacted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, at the house of Srivasa Pandita, 500 years ago. Here in this article, we shall try to narrate a few more of the ecstatic pastimes to have taken place at Srivasa Angan.’The Gaudiya treasures of Bengal’ would like to reiterate that the pastimes at Srivasa Angana are infinite and is impossible even for the Ananta Sesha with His thousands of hoods to describe.We ,insignificant servants are trying our best to narrate as much as we have heard from our seniors. 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 that adorn the devotees of Sri Gaurasundara.

Khol Bhanga Danga and the pastimes of Chand Kazi :

About 500 years ago, the state of Bengal was ruled by Nawab Hussain Shah. Nawab Hussain Shah was the incarnation of King Jarasandha, who had conspired and fought numerous wars against Krishna in Dwapara yuga.The magistrate unto whom the administration of Navadvipa was then entrusted ,was known as Chand Kazi (Kazi translates to magistrate in english). Chand Kazi was the incarnation of King Kamsa (Krishna’s maternal uncle) .The residence of Chand kazi was not very far from Srivasa Angana.Chand Kazi also happened to be the spiritual counsellor of Nawab Hussain Shah.

Mayapur Nabadwip dham

Sri Nilambar Chakravarti’s residence, Belpukur, Mayapur Nabadwip dham

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

belpukur Sri nilambar gtb One of the sweetest spiritual sites that ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ has come across during its vast journey across Bengal is the maternal home of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Located at a place called Belpukur within the precincts of Simantadvipa (one of the nine islands constituting Navadvipa) , this is where Sri Nilambar Chakravarti, Mahaprabhu’s maternal grandfather, used to reside along with his family 500 years ago.Sri Madana Gopala, the worshipable deity of Sri Nilambar, has been carefully preserved at this holy place and continues to accept our humble service till this day. The beautiful deities of Sri Nilambar Chakravarti and his daughter Srimati Saci devi is also worshipped over here.The temple priest ,Sri Nimai Krishna das Prabhuji, who lives and serves here, has been subsequently initiated into the Gaudiya Sampradaya by HH Jayapataka Swami Guru Maharaj.

Being His maternal home, this place is very dear to Sri Gaurahari. Infact all of us have a very special place in our hearts towards our maternal homes, and the Supreme Lord ,being a person, is also no different. In fact, a lot of His balya lilas (childhood pastimes) have taken place here at Belpukur. The dust of this holy place is thus sanctified with the lotus footprints of Little Nimai.

Mayapur Nabadwip dham Pastimes of Chaitanya Vaishnava acharyas

Srivasa Angan, Mayapur – Part 1: where Lord Chaitanya eternally performs His ecstatic pastimes

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

srivasa angan mayapur

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

Panca tattvatmakam krsnam bhakta-rupa-svarupakam
bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam namami bhakta saktikam

According to Sri Gaura Gannoddesha Dipika, Srivasa Pandita is none other than the incarnation of Narada Muni, who had appeared to assist his beloved Lord enact the heart melting pastimes of Navadvipa. Srivasa Angan, or the house of Srivasa Pandita, is a stone’s throw from Lord Caitanya’s birthplace at Yogpeeth (Refer – ‘YogPeeth, Mayapur, Navadvipa – The birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’). Here Lord Caitanya along with His confidential associates, had inaugurated the Harinaam sankirtana movement, 500 years ago. Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami reveals in Caitanya Caritamrta that Lord Gaurahari eternally resides and performs His sweet ecstatic pastimes at four holy places, and Srivasa Angan is one of them.Yogpeeth, wherever Lord Nityananda dances (nityananda nartane) and Raghava Bhavan, the house of Raghava pandita, being the other three.

saci-ra mandire ar nityananda nartane
srivasa kirtane, ar raghava bhavane
ei chari thani prabhu-ra sada abirbhava
premakrishta haya, prabhura sahaja swabhava
(Caitanya Caritamrta, Antya – 2.34-35)

Every night the Lord would meet with all His associates at Srivasa Pandita’s house and engage in ecstatic dancing and loud congregational chanting of the holy names. There are innumerable pastimes that our sweet Lord had enacted at Srivasa Angan, just by mere contemplation upon which ,can award one with the highest benediction of Krishna Prema.Though it is not humanly possible for one to recount all of these magnificent pastimes, yet ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ shall try to narrate a few of them below, for our own purification and for the sake of pleasing the devotees.

Kolkata North24Paraganas

Baranagar Pathbari – Sri Bhagavatacharya’s residence

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

pathbari entrance

Ancient Pastimes at Baranagar Pathbari :

Sri Bhagavatacharya ,the 76th branch of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s desire tree of devotional service, met Lord Caitanya on the banks of the river Ganges at a place presently known as Baranagar (which is about 8-10 kms from kolkata).

Srila Prabhupada mentions about Sri Bhagavatacharya in his commentary to Caitanya Caritamrta (Adi Lila, 10.113 purport). Sri Raghunatha Upadhyaya , as Bhagavatacharya was then called, used to reside at Baranagar ,on the bank of the Ganges, and daily recite Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) in his small hut. It so happened that once , while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was en route to Jagannatha Puri, and was passing by Baranagar, a very beautiful recitation and a sublime devotional explanation of Srimad Bhagavatam, entered His ears. Being curious, He immediately entered the cottage, where He found Sri Raghunatha reciting the spotless literature. Seeing Lord Caitanya ,Raghunatha fell at His feet, and hearing his recitations, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fainted in ecstasy. Lord Caitanya later remarked that He had never before heard such a beautiful explanation of Srimad Bhagavatam. He hence conferred the title ‘Bhagavatacharya’ upon Raghunatha and ordered him that his only duty henceforward was to regularly recite Srimad Bhagavatam. Sri Bhagavatacharya had later compiled his commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam in a book called ‘Krishna Prema Tarangini’.

Mayapur Nabadwip dham

Saranga Murari Thakur – Pastimes and Sripat, Mayapur Nabadwip dham

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

saranga murari thakura mayapur Travelling north from Mayapur, ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ reached the sacred island of Modadrumadvipa, which is non-different to the forests of Bhandirvan in Vraja. Here in Modadrumadvipa, within the village of Mamgachi, lies the residence (sripat) of Sri Saranga Murari Thakur. Sri Saranga Murari Thakur was a dear associate of Lord Caitanya and the dust of the Lord’s lotus feet are smeared all over his residence. The Thakur’s Radha Gopinath deities are carefully preserved till this day and daily worshipped with due diligence here at his sripat.

Life and pastimes of Sri Saranga Murari Thakur :

Sri Saranga Murari Thakur was a great devotee of Lord Caitanya. He used to reside here at Mamgachi in Modadrumadvipa, and would pass his days serving his deities and contemplating upon the Lord’s magnanimous pastimes. According to Sri Gaura Gannodesha Dipika , Saranga Thakur was the incarnation Nandi Mukhi devi, who was the wife of a brahmana in Vraja.Inspite of repeatedly being inspired from within, Saranga Thakur did not accept any disciple. But understanding that this was the desire of the Lord, Sri Saranga Thakur, decided one day ,that he would initiate the very first person he would meet the next morning. It thus happened that on the very next day, early morning, while he was taking bath, a dead body floated down the Ganges and touched his feet. He uttered mantra into the ears of the dead boy, following which the boy regained his consciousness. Regaining his life, the boy revealed that his name was Murari and that he had died on being bitten by a snake. From then on, Sri Saranga Thakur came to be known as Saranga Murari Thakur as he had given a new life to this boy Murari.

saranga murari thakura mayapur

Bandel Lord Nityananda

Raghunath Das Goswami – Life and pastimes | Sripat Adisaptagram (Near Bandel)

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

Raghunatha das Goswami bandel

Srila Raghunath das Goswami, is one of the six revered goswamis of Vrindavana. His renunciation and love for the supreme, is glorified all over the three worlds. Just as Srila Sanatana Goswami and Srila Rupa Goswami are known as the Sambandha and the Abhidheya acharyas, Srila Raghunath Das Goswami is referred to as the Prayojana (achieving the love of God) acharya of our sampradaya, as he had revealed ,the divine service of Srimati Radharani to be the topmost spiritual perfection. He was born 500 years ago, here at Krishnapur, a small village situated in Bandel, in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. Krishnapur back then was one of the seven villages constituting Saptagram (present day Adisaptagram). His birth and pastimes at Saptagram are a matter of great pride for us Bengalis. Sri Kavi karnapura reveals in Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika that Srila Raghunath das was the combined incarnation of the potencies of Rati Manjari, Rasa manjari and Bhanumati devi.

His love for the Supreme was so intense that Sri Radha and Krishna used to take a break from their eternal pastimes to shower their special mercy upon him. For instance when Sri Raghunath was once busy chanting his rounds ,sitting on the banks of Radha Kunda, Sri Syamasundara had Himself appeared with a stick, to protect him from the tigers who had gathered there for drinking water. Radha Kunda back then was surrounded by a jungle full of carnivorous animals.On another occasion, Srimati Radharani provided Raghunath Das with the cooling shades of Her saree’s end (aanchal), while he was busy chanting his rounds in a hot summer afternoon. She stood there perspiring profusely. Observing these sweet pastimes ,Sri Sanatana Goswami later suggested Raghunath Das to construct a bhajana kutira on the banks of Radha Kunda and chant staying inside, so that the divine couple do not have to appear again and again in order to protect him.

South24Paraganas

Ananta Acharya – Life and Pastimes | Sripat Baruipur (Mahaprabhu Tala)

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 11, 2018

ananta acharya baruipura

Sri Ananta Acharya was one of the dearest followers of Sri Advaita Acharya. Sri Advaita is one of the major branches to have arisen out of Sri Caitanya’s desire tree of devotional service. Ananta Acharya is the ninth expansion to have originated out of Lord Advaita’s branch. It has been mentioned by Srila Prabhupada in his purport that though Sri Ananta was initially a follower of Advaita prabhu, he later on became a prominent devotee of Gadadhara pandita (Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi 12.58). Caitanya Caritamrta exclaims that the body of Ananta Acharya has always been overwhelmed by the ecstasy of Krishna Prema. He was a reservoir of all good qualities and he was advanced in all respects.Not much is mentioned about Sri Ananta Acharya, but from Caitanya Caritamrta, we come to know that he had a dear disciple named Pandita Haridas (not to be confused with Haridasa Thakura), who had been the chief servitor at Sri Radha Govinda Dev jiu temple in Vrindavana. Sri Krishnadasa Kaviraja highly glorifies the vaishnava qualities of Sri Haridasa Pandita in the Adi lila of Caitanya Caritamrta (Adi 8.55) .Srila Krishnadasa recalls that Haridasa Pandita was one of the devotees who had requested him to compose Caitanya Caritamrta, the exalted biographical work on Lord Caitanya’s life and teachings. ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ has covered the pastimes of Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja in a separate article entitled – ‘Jhamatpura (Near Katwa) – Residence of Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami’

ananta acharya baruipura

Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura mentions in his anubhashya that Sri Ananta Acharya is an eternal associate of the Supreme Lord. Sudevi, one of the eight principal gopis of Vrindavana,had incarnated as Sri Ananta Acharya in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes. Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya’s house in Sri Jagannatha Puri, is today known by the name ’GangaMata Matha’. This Matha (monastery) was originally established by Sri Ananta Acharya. Ganga Mata, the princess of Puntiya (located in the Rajshahi district of the present-day Bangladesh), abandoned her home and opulence, in order to accept initiation in Ananta Acharya’s line of disciplic succession. She had later brought a deity named Sri Rasika Raya, from the king of Jaipur ,and installed Him in the house of Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. This matha(monastery) subsequently came to be known by her name.