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SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA-MUKTA-MALA
Madhyadwip (Smaranam: remembering)
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The purpose of Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama is to become closer
introduced to the realistic view of Nabadwip. There are many divisions in
Nabadwip Dham; mainly, nine of them are told to represent the nine sections
of devotion (sravan, kirtan, smaran,
vandan, etc.). Each of the islands has a corresponding connection with
these nine types of main devotional conceptions, so when we travel there, we
are reminded by the incidents of those holy places how such representation
comes from these places. All in all, it promotes us in understanding what is
devotion proper.
Our angle of vision is to be changed. During the dham parikrama, we hear many stories and see many sceneries – it is all meant to help us in our absolute, adjusted life. When we walk through these different holy places, we are encouraged in different conceptions of devotion by receiving local historical or eternal instructions. That is not the same as what merit-hunters from the general Hindu section do. They are also out there on pilgrimage, coming in contact with holy places and some holy association, but their main object is to get some unseen help in their present life, to satisfy their desires. They want to acquire good merit that will help them succeed in their present life according to their conceptions. This is not pure devotion. Gaudiya Math devotees’ intention is quite different and cannot be recognised in any of the different planes hunted by the present educational section who cannot even think that purely spiritual life is possible at all. Ultimately, Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama helps us understand who Sri Gaurangadev is and what He came here to give us. Parikrama will make it clearer and easily accessible and acceptable for us; it will promote us to our highest goal of life. Parikrama is meant for that. It is meant to bring Sri Gauranga nearer to our souls, nearer to us. (Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj) |
Sri Madhyadwip
In his holy scripture Sri Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur Mahasaya describes the glory of Sri Madhyadwip in this way:
Entering Sri Madhyadwip, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu said to Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu:
This is a village called Majida (Majadiya). Once in Satya-yuga, seven sages prayed to Lord Brahma to get transcendental love of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, and one day, being very pleased with their prayers, Brahma came to them and said, ‘You must go to Nabadwip. Go there, and you will easily get Gaura’s transcendental love by singing His glories. When you get the mercy of the Lord’s holy land, you will get the association of sadhus; when you practise Krishna consciousness in the association of sadhus, you will get the supreme spiritual benefit. This is the greatest happiness and the goal of life. Those who become drawn and attached to Nabadwip get the right to reside in Vraja. All sadhus (pure saints) aspire to live in this transcendental abode, Sri Nabadwip Dham.’
Following Brahma’s guidance, the sages came to Nabadwip Dham, where they started to worship Gaura, dancing and chanting His glories. Praying earnestly within their hearts for the darshan of Lord Sri Gaura-hari, they engaged themselves in severe austerities – leaving all food and sleep, they only constantly chanted the Holy Name of Gaura. One day, Gaura-hari mercifully granted His wondrous darshan to the sages. Seeing Gaura’s golden form, the sages were astonished. They prayed, ‘O Lord! We surrender at Your holy lotus feet. Please mercifully grant us devotion to You.’
In reply to their prayer, merciful Lord Gaura-hari said, ‘O sages! Give up all other desires, all knowledge and material pursuits and only speak about Krishna. You must not tell anyone what I am about to tell you. Very soon I will come to this Nabadwip Dham and reveal My pastimes – at that time you, too, will behold My pastimes. For now, go to Sri Kumar Hatta and practise spiritual life at a ghat there.’ Saying this, Gaura-hari disappeared from their sight.
Following Gaura-hari’s order, the sages came to Sri Kumar Hatta and started worshipping Lord Krishna there. You can see that there is a small hill in Sri Madhyadwip – this is the place where those sages stayed and where they attained Gaura-hari.
Having narrated this pastime, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu then showed Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu a few other places. Sri Madhyadwip is the place where the pure Gomati River and the great forest Naimisa are present. In the past, the sage Saunaka, along with many other sages, heard here about the glories of Gauranga Mahaprabhu from Sri Suta Goswami. At another time, leaving his carrier Bull Nandi, Sivji Maharaj came here on Brahma’s swan and listened to the glories of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu together with his followers from Kasi: all the devotees danced surrounding Sivji Maharaj and showered flowers.
In the south of this island, Sri Madhyadwip, there is one more enchanting place called Sri Puskara Tirtha. Located in Sri Brahmanpur, it is the place where one quite esoteric pastime took place.
In Satya-yuga, there lived a brahman called Dibdas. At some point in his life, he left his home and set off to travel to all holy places of India. One day, he came to Sri Puskara Tirtha (it is situated in the present-day Rajasthan). He was very attracted to this holy place, but after a while he continued his travel and eventually reached Sri Nabadwip Dham. When he came here, he suddenly heard a divine message in a dream: ‘O brahman, you must stay here, in this eternal holy abode.’
Following the order of the Lord, Dibdas made a small cottage (kutir) in this Nabadwip Dham and settled there. As he grew old, his mind became more and more restless as he always remembered Sri Puskara Tirtha. Being no longer able to travel, he felt very sad. He cried, thinking, ‘I will never get the darshan of my beloved Sri Puskara Tirtha!’
Taking pity on Dibdas, Lord Puskaranath assumed the form of a brahman and came to Dibdas, saying, ‘O Dibdas, do not cry. Do you see this pond here in front of you? Submerge yourself into it, and you will get the darshan of Sri Puskara Tirtha in its water.’
Dibdas did as the brahman said. He quickly went to bath in the pond, and there he got divine eyes and the darshan of Sri Puskara Tirtha. Seeing his beloved holy place, Dibdas wept and said to Puskaranath, ‘You have taken such great trouble for my sake! You have come to me from so far!’
‘Dibdas,’ replied Puskaranath, ‘you are very fortunate! I have not come from far. Actually, I live here eternally. This Nabadwip Dham is the abode of all possible holy places, so all holy places are present here. I also reside here eternally. Therefore, those who want to leave Nabadwip to travel to any other place are foolish and roguish. Having visited all holy places, fortunate souls get an opportunity to reside here, at this Nabadwip Dham. If you look over there, you will see Sri Kuruksetra and Brahmavarta. Here are the Saraswati and the Drsadvati Rivers. O Dibdas, I will tell you one secret: very soon, there will be great joy in this Nabadwip Dham because Gaurasundar will appear here and distribute transcendental love for the Lord in all four directions. Roaming all over Nabadwip Dham, He will dance and chant in sankirtan together with His devotees. He will flood the entire world with transcendental love. With the exception of staunch scholars who love arguing and exercising logic, all jiva souls will attain great transcendental love. Even having worshipped Krishna for millions of years, unfortunate jiva souls do not become attached and attracted to the Name of the Lord; but if jiva souls worship Gauranga, all their unwanted elements and faults become removed and they very quickly attain service to Radha-Krishna in Vraja Dham. O Dibdas, stay here. You will no doubt get the darshan of Gauranga Mahaprabhu and His associates.’
Saying this, Puskaranath disappeared. Presently, Dibdas heard a divine message in the sky: ‘O brahman! Blessed is Kali! You will be born in Kali-yuga and spend your life swimming in the transcendental love of Gaura-kirtan.’
As He spoke about all these ancient pastimes, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu also showed Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu a place called Uchchahatta (situated in Kuruksetra). He said, ‘All demigods have come here. All holy places that can be found in Brahmavarta and Kuruksetra are present here – they come here and serve Sri Nabadwip Dham. If you spend one night here, you will get the result of living at Kuruksetra for one hundred years. Demigods made here a market place called Hattadanga, where they come to discuss the pastimes of Gaura.’
After that, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu, together with Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu and all the devotees, crossed the Ganges and entered Sri Koladwip…
Jay Sri Madhyadwip ki jay.
Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama ki jay.
Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.
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