SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA-MUKTA-MALA

Rudradwip (Sakhyam: friendship)

Sri Rudradwip

Between Sri Antardwip and Sri Simantadwip (to the north-west), there lies one more enchanting island called Sri Rudradwip. To bestow auspiciousness upon this world, Bhagavan Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur established here Sri Rudradwip Gaudiya Math in 1936. Since then, the original temple was taken by the Ganges and later rebuilt by the devotees of Sri Gaudiya Math. We used to come here every year before, but we have not visited this place for many past years – we did not have that kind of sukriti. This year (in 2021), we have got the fortune to come here again by the mercy of Sri Gurupadpama.

This island, Sri Rudradwip, is divided by the current of the Ganges into two parts: one part of the island is on the western bank, where Nabadwip town is; and the second part, where we are sitting now, is on the eastern bank. Although, by the desire of the Lord, nobody lives in this area, the kirtan of the glories of this place is chanted eternally. There is also a famous village called Sri Sankarpur in the middle of this island (in the western part).

In ancient times, Sri Sankar Acharya was a great

preacher in this world. He is a Vaishnav and an expansion of Sivji Maharaj (Rudra), but following a special order of the Lord, when he performed his pastimes he showed that he was a servant of Maya and preached advaitavad (disguised Buddhism, or mayavad, impersonalism). When Sri Sankar Acharya came to Nabadwip to conquer local scholars and establish his universal authority, Gauranga Mahaprabhu appeared before him and spoke to him sweetly:

‘Sankar, you are My servant. Placing My order on your head, you are very ardently preaching mayavad, but this Nabadwip Dham is My favourite place, and mayavad will never have any place here. Vriddha Siva and Praudha Maya reside here and preach an artificial (imaginary) conception, but they only cheat those who are jealous of devotees. Apart from that, only My devotees live here – there is no need to preach any misconception here. Please go somewhere else. Do not worry the residents of Nabadwip.’

Understanding the nature of Nabadwip and feeling overwhelmed with devotion, Sankar Acharya left.

This Rudradwip is also the residence of many Rudras, where they dance and chant the glories of Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Seeing their dance and feeling overjoyed, all demigods shower flowers from the sky.

One time, Sri Vishnu Swami came here with his disciples desiring to conquer local scholars and establish his worldwide authority. Hearing Vishnu Swami reciting praises and prayers and his disciples chanting ‘Hari! Hari!’, seeing them all dance, Sivji Maharaj became very pleased and appeared before them. They were greatly surprised to see Sivji Maharaj and immediately fell flat on the ground, offering him their obeisances. Then, Sivji Maharaj said to them mercifully, ‘You are all Vaishnavs and very dear to me. When I see you, my heart rejoices. What boon would you like to receive from me? When Vaishnavs ask for something or need something, I can give them anything they want.’ Then, Vishnu Swami said, ‘If you desire to give us a boon, then we would like to ask you to bless us so that we may one day become established within a devotional school.’ Greatly jubilant, Rudra (Sivji Maharaj) bestowed this boon on them, and by the wish of Sri Vishnu Swami, he called that school ‘Rudra Sampradaya’.

By the mercy of Sivji Maharaj, Vishnu Swami stayed here for some time and always worshipped Gauranga Mahaprabhu. One day, Mahaprabhu came to him in a dream and said, ‘Listen, Vishnu. My devotee Rudra bestowed his mercy on you – you are very fortunate that you have got the gift of devotion in Nabadwip. However, you must preach suddhadvaita here. When I appear, you will come as Sri Vallabha Bhatta and meet Me in Puri Dham; after that, you will go to Mahavan and your sampradaya will gain renown.’ Following the order of Mahaprabhu, Vishnu Swami started to preach suddhadvaita.

In this area, Lord Sri Gaurasundar in the same way granted His darshan to Sri Ramanuja Acharya, Madhva Muni and Nimbarka Acharya, giving them comprehensive instructions on how they must preach. This is how the four Vaishnav sampradayas (schools) – Sri (Sri Ramanuja Acharya), Brahma (Sri Madhva Acharya), Rudra (Sri Vishnu Swami) and Kumar (Sri Nimbarka Acharya) – manifested in Sri Nabadwip Dham in ancient times and have since existed in this world.

When Mahaprabhu appeared in this world, He Himself accepted Sri Brahma Sampradaya. Before coming to Sri Rudradwip, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu told Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu about Sri Madhva Acharya:

When Sri Madhva Muni lived with his disciples in Sri Nabadwip Dham, Sri Gaurasundar once came to him in a dream and said with a smile, ‘Madhva, everyone knows that you are My eternal servant. When I manifest Myself in Nabadwip, I will accept Your sampradaya. As for now, please do Me a favour – eradicate all mayavad and misconception from the entire country and reveal the glory of Deity worship. Later, when I come, I will display your pure conception.’ Saying this, Gauranga Mahaprabhu disappeared, and Madhva Muni woke up and fell unconscious. When he came round, he began to cry, ‘Will I ever see this beautiful golden form of the Lord?’ Then he heard a divine message in the sky, ‘If you serve Me, you will come to Me.’ Composing himself, Madhva Acharya followed Mahaprabhu’s order and conquered all mayavadi digvijayas (great scholars of impersonalism who were accepted as absolute authority at the time).

Strolling abound Sri Rudradwip, Sriman Nityananda Prabhu showed Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu various other places, such as Sri Pulina, where Sri Rasa Mandal and Dhira Samira are manifest. Sri Nabadwip Dham is non-different from Sri Vrindavan Dham, so all the holy places are manifest here and all the pastimes are happening here, too: every day, Krishna enjoys here His ecstatic pastimes with gopas and gopis. Those who are fortunate can sometimes see this.

Sri Rudradwip ki jay.
Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.

Sri Rudradwip Gaudiya Math.

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