(1/3) Remembering Chapahati

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Tarakeshwar area, noon programme
13 February 2021, part 1
Translated from Bengali

We have very little time today, but I will speak more at the evening class. Now I want to tell you two stories.

When we go for Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama, we go to Chapahati (Champahati) on the last day. It is part of the present-day Bardhaman district. Many of you may think that you will have to walk all the way to Bardhaman during the parikrama, but it is not like that – we go up to Chapahati by bus, do the parikrama from there, and when it is time to return, we also take buses and return to the temple by bus. Anyhow, I want to tell you about two pastimes, one took place in Chapahati, and the other one in Mamgachi. The two places are located on two islands, Ritudwip and Modadrumdwip. Nabadwip consists of nine islands, and on the last day, we do the parikrama of three islands: Ritudwip, Modadrumdwip and Jahnudwip.

When Bhagirath Maharaj was taking Ganga to the ocean, they were passing Nabadwip on the way, and Ganga stopped there. Ganga Devi performed austerities in Nabadwip and refused to go further. She said, ‘I will not go. My Lord will come here – He will appear in this Nabadwip Dham – so I will not go to the ocean now.’ Ganga Devi stayed in Nabadwip for one month and practised austerities. Later, she started moving again and flooded the whole area (her current was very strong when she came down to this planet). It happened so that during the flood, the current of the Ganges carried away Jahnu Muni’s pot. The sage became angry that the pot that he was using for the worship of the Lord had been taken away, so he cursed Ganga and made her dry up. After that, Bhagirath Maharaj came and prayed to the sage, and Jahnu Muni released Ganga Devi out of his thigh (jahnu). Why do you think Ganga Devi is known as Jahnavi? Because she appeared from the thigh of Jahnu Muni. When we recite the Jaya Dhvani, we always say ‘Jahnavi Devi ki jay’ – Jahnavi Devi means Ganga Devi.

So, listen carefully to the first story. Are you all hungry? I know, it is already lunch time! [His Divine Grace chuckles.] This is the first story.

During Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama, we go to a place called Ritudwip (Rtudwip). Why is it called Ritudwip? Because all seasons (rtu) reside there simultaneously. There are six seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn, pre-winter, winter. Now all the seasons are upside down, but they all are known to reside simultaneously in Ritudwip. Sometimes, around the Gaura Purnima time, it can rain, it can be cold, hot, and so on. On this island of Ritudwip, there is a place called Chapahati: because there used to grow many champa trees, this place became famous as Chapahati (or Champahati), and a gopi called Champakalata would make garlands from those flowers for Sri Radha and Krishna.

At some point, Jayadev and Padmavati came to live in this Chapahati, and it was there where Jayadev composed his famous Gita Govinda. One day, he was sitting in his house, composing Gita Govinda, when suddenly he could not remember what to write next. He took a break and went to have a bath in the Ganges. In the meantime, the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Himself came assuming the form of Jayadev. He came and told Padmavati, Jayadev’s wife, ‘I have finished bathing; now give Me something to eat.’ Thinking it was her husband, Padmavati gave Him prasad as usual. After Krishna (disguised as Jayadev) finishing eating, He went to the room where Jayadev was writing his book and finished the sloka that Jayadev could not finish. He wrote, ‘Dehi pada-pallavam udaram. I place Your tender feet on My head.’

An hour later, real Jayadev came back. He came home and asked his wife, ‘Give me something to eat.’ Padmavati was surprised, ‘What is this? You have just eaten! You ate and went to your room. You were writing something there. Why are you asking for food again?’ Jayadev was perplexed, ‘What are you saying? I did not come!’ Then, he went into his room and saw what was written.

You can understand that the Lord Himself came in disguise of Jayadev and wrote that line. I told you yesterday that Krishna can become Kali, Krishna can become Durga, Krishna can become Laksmi, Krishna can become Siva or anyone else, but, for example, Siva cannot become Krishna. So, Krishna became Jayadev and came to finish that sloka.

This is the first pastime I wanted to tell you about.

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Length: 22 min
Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Remembering Chapahati
2) Remembering Saranga Murari
3) Remembering Pastimes