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"The Sun Never Sets on Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math":
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SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA-MUKTA-MALA
Simantadwip (Sravanam: listening)
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‘Although Sri Gaurasundar’s appearance day takes place every year, why is it so that many of us cannot establish the seat of Sri Gaura’s appearance within the faculty of our consciousness? Why do we not realise the meaning and magnanimity of Sri Gaura’s appearance? Why are we eager for other matters besides “Gaura”? Why are we eager to desire anything else except service to Gaura? Why are we eager to pursue any other primary or secondary goals except service to Gaura’s Name (Gaura-Nama), Gaura’s desires (Gaura-Kama) and Gaura’s abode (Gaura-Dhama)? Why do we not accept that Sri Gaurasundar’s teachings are the only path and teachings? ‘Srila Kavi Karnapur gave the solution to all these problems in his play Sri Chaitanya-chandrodaya Nataka. Somebody asked, “O learned Sir, if Sri Chaitanyachandra’s conclusions and decisions are all-good, eternal, universal, so unparalleled and liberal, then why is it so that everyone in this world always accepts all the other teachings and paths instead of accepting His teachings? They assume that all these teachings and paths are all one stairs leading to the spiritual kingdom!” The reply was, “It is not so. It is not so. The truth is one. The sun rises in the east, and only in the east. The west, the south, the north are not the east; if you come in any of these directions, you will not be able to come to the east; rather, you will end up even further from the east. Therefore, there is a reason why one must accept the one and only unparalleled conception. How can people who are captured by various desires for enjoyment, liberation, etc. ever become disposed towards this transcendental path? All other various paths are born of faith that is infested with material desires.”’ (From Gaudiya) |
Glory of Sri Simantadwip
Continuing our parikrama path, we have crossed Sri Antardwip and have entered Sri Simantadwip. Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur describes the glory of this island in his holy book Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya:
Continuing Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama, Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Jiva Goswami Prabhu reached this village called Simuliya. Coming here, Sri Nityananda Prabhu told:
This is definitely Simantadwip. Later, Ganga will capture this island and only this place here will remain visible.
One day in Satya-yuga, Sivji Maharaj started dancing, chanting the Holy Name of Gauranga. Seeing his state, Parvati Devi (Sivji Maharaj’s spouse) asked him, ‘Why are you always calling out, “O Gauranga! O Gauranga!”? Who is this Gauranga? When I see you dance and hear the Name of Gauranga, it is melting my heart. I am thinking that whatever mantras, tantras, etc. I have heard before, it is all garbage for the soul! Tell me about Gauranga. I can feel that if I serve Him, I will gain life.’
Hearing Parvati’s words, Mahadev said, ‘As you are the primaeval energy, part of Sri Radha, I will tell you everything openly. In Kali-yuga, Krishna will take Radha’s heart and halo and appear in a village called Mayapur. Intoxicated with the joy of kirtan, He will distribute the jewel of transcendental love to everyone without any discrimination. Remembering the promise of the Lord makes me feel overwhelmed with transcendental love. Unable to steady my mind, I left Kashi and came to Mayapur, where I then decided to worship Gauranga in a small hut on the bank of the Ganges.’
Hearing Sivji Maharaj’s words, Parvati Devi came to Simantadwip and started meditating on Sri Gauranga’s form. As she chanted and chanted the Holy Name of Gauranga, transcendental love sprang up in her heart. She could no longer control her mind. In the end, Gaura appeared in front of her together with His devotees. He asked her, ‘Parvati, what do you want? Why have you come here?’
Anxiously, Parvati Devi offered her obeisance at the Lord’s holy lotus feet and spoke in reply, ‘Prabhu, You are the life and soul of the world, you my Prananath, the Master of my very being. You are bestowing Your mercy, love and affection all over the world, but You are so cruel to me! You have given me such a cruel service: I am to bind the souls who are averse to you. I am doing what You told me to do, but I myself am cheated out of Your mercy! People say that wherever there is Krishna, there is no place for Maya (Maya cannot stay there): I have become completely separated from You. When and how will I be able to see Your pastimes? If You do not tell me how to reach You, I will lose all hope.’ Saying this, Parvati took some dust from the holy feet of Gauranga and rubbed it onto the parting of her hair (simanta). From that time, this place became known as Simantadwip, although ignorant people still call it Simuliya-gram.
In reply to Parvati’s words, Mahaprabhu said, ‘Parvati, you are My non-different energy. You are the Mistress of the whole world, and you always stay with Me. You have two forms: by your intrinsic nature, you are My Radhika, and externally, you are an expansion of Radha. My pastimes are not possible without you. You are always present in My pastimes as Yogamaya. In Vraja, you perform your eternal pastimes as Paurnamasi, and in Nabadwip, you live with Ksetrapal (the guardian of the dham) Sivji Maharaj as Praudha Maya.’ Saying this, Mahaprabhu disappeared.
Ever since that time, always keeping these words in her heart, Parvati Devi has been staying as Simantini Devi in Simantadwip and as Praudha Maya in Mayapur. Such is the glory of Sri Simantadwip.
Jay Sri Simantadwip ki jay.
Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama ki jay.
Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.
The parikrama party is seated at a resting spot within Sri
Simantadwip, listening to the glories of this island.
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