Mother Parvati said to Lord Siva, "O Lord, please describe exactly how and when Srimati Radhika created Navadvipa."Lord Siva explained:Absorbed in thoughts of Krishna, Radha began to think."She gathered Her sakhis (friends) together between the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers. She created there a beautiful place, decorated with creepers and filled bumblebees. Deer and buck were happily enjoying as they wondered about, and the whole area was filled with the fragrance of jasmine, mallika and malati flowers. That transcendental abode was adorned with tulasi forests. On Radha’s order, the Ganges and Yamuna with their pleasant water and banks acted as a moat to protect the garden. Radha dressed in a colorful cloth, then began to play a beautiful melody on a flute in order to attract Krishna. Attracted by that melody, Krishna appeared in that enchanting place. Radha, the attractor of Krishna’s mind, seeing that Krishna had come, held his hand and experienced ecstatic delight. Then Krishna understanding Radha’s mood spoke in a voice choked with love."Just for Me You have created this wonderful place. I will transform this place, filling it with new sakhis and groves. The devotees will glorify this place as Nava Vrindavan. As this place is like an island, or dvip the wise will call it Navavipa.By my order, all the holy places will reside here. Because you have created this place for my pleasure, I will live here eternally. O dear Radha, like Vrindavan, this place is extremely pure. If anyone comes here just once, he will obtain the results of going to all the sacred places." Lord Siva continued,"O most fortunate Parvati, saying this, Krishna, the Lord of Radha, merged with Radha’s body and began to reside there eternally. Seeing this form all the sakhis took on a male form to serve the Lord." At that time the tumultuous vibration of "Jaya Gaurahari!" filled the four directions: From that time the devotees call this form of Krishna, Gaurahari.As Radha is Gauri(fair) and Krishna is Hari, when they combine in one form they are Gaura hari.
The Glories
Lord Siva spoke to Parvati in the Urddhvamnaya Maha-tantra: "O Devi, all the Vedas glorify Navadvip as nonmaterial, spiritual, full of variety, beyond matter, the supreme eternal Brahmapura, an enchanting abode, in the form of a lotus.
The Geography
Mayapur is in West Bengal, located on the banks of the River Ganga near Navadvip,about 130km north of Kolkata.The nine islands of Navadvipa exactly resemble a lotus flower."Antardvipa, Simantadvipa, Godrumadvipa, and Madhyadvipa are situated on the east bank of the Ganges. And Koladvipa, Rtudvipa, Jahnudvipa, Modadrumadvipa, and Rudradvipa are situated on the west bank.
Flowing in various places of Navadvipa are all auspicious rivers such as the Ganges, Yamuna, Godavri, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri, Tamraparni, Payasvini, Krtamala, Bhima, Gomati and Drsadvati. These holy rivers always surround Navadvipa."O Parvati, present within this eternal Navadvipa-dhama is Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya (Haridvara), Kasi, Kanci, Avanti (Ujjain), Dvaraka, Kuruksetra, Puskara and Naimisaranya.
The four streams of the Ganges- Bhagirathi, Alakananda, Mandakini and Bhogavati.
"Actually I do not stay in Kailasa, and you also do not reside in my house there. The devatas do not reside in the heavenly planets nor do the sages stay in their respective forests. After having sung the name of Gaura, we have developed a strong desire to obtain gauranga –prema, and thus we all reside in Navadvipa on this earth planet. "O Parvati , you will not find any place comparable to Navadvipa.
The Mercy
"Lord Siva said, shaving the head, fasting, sraddha rites, bathing, and charity which are prescribed at other holy places are not prescribed in Navadvipa.If one just performs any pious activity in Navadvipa, the effect is quickly dissipitated, because all the knots of karma are cut.
Just by seeing the Supreme Lord Gaurasundara, the knots in the heart are cut, all doubts and material reactions are destroyed.O, Parvati, for this reason the sages take shelter of Navadvip and perform pure devotional service to the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna.They see the various forms of the Lord in different islands, sing the names of the Lord, and bathe in the waters of the Ganges. With great devotion they spend nine days visiting the nine islands and pass their lives in bliss while taking maha-prasada.
Living in Navadvipa for one day is better than living in Prayag, Varanasi, or any other holy place for a kalpa. Whatever results one obtains by yoga, one achieves in Navadvipa.With every step one attains the resuts of great sacrifices, and by lying down and sleeping in Navadvipa, one gets the results of offering obeisances. Just by taking an ordinary meal in Navadvipa, one gets the results of eating the Lord’s remnants.
Just by placing your first step onto the holy land of Navadvip, the mountains of sin which has been accumulated for lifetimes can immediately be turned to ashes.
Why Visit the Nine Islands
Sri Mayapur and Sri Antardvip
· It is the birthplace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
· The Eternal pastimes of Lord Caitanya take place within Yogapitha and around Mayapur.
· Because the Panca-tattva are seated at the Yogapitha, it is the most glorious of all places.
· At Antardvip Lord Brahma received darsana of Gauranga.
Sri Ganganagara
· Where the Ganges stopped to get her desires fulfilled by the Supreme Lord.
· The Ganga where all sins can be washed away.
Sri Simantadvip
· Where Gauranga appeared to Parvati and she took the dust of his feet and placed it on her simanta (part in the hair).
Sri Godrumadvip
· Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur lived here with his family and envisioned Sri Dham Mayapur from here.
· Lord Nityananda Prabhu inaugurated the "Harinama Sankirtana and "Nama – Hatta" here.
· Surabhi (the cow) came here with Lord Indra to worship Gauranga.It’s a place where devotee’s desires are fulfilled.
· Where Surabhi saved Mrkanda and delivered him to Gauranga.
Sri Madhyadvipa
· The place where the seven risis stayed for a long time and engaged in worshipping Gauranga. It is here that Gauranga appeared before them.
· See the 7 tilas or hillocks. These hillocks are arranged in the same pattern as the seven rsis in the sky (the constellation). By living here one will receive Gaurahari without having to undergo a strict process of rules and regulations.
· Whoever reads the puranas here during the month of Kartik becomes free from all distress, becomes absorbed in pastimes of Gauranga and easily attains Vrindavana.
· Here resides the incarnation of Naimisaranya tirtha.
Sri Brahmanapura
· Where Puskara mercifully appeared before Lord Brahma.
· Many tirthas have taken birth here.
Sri Koladvipa
· Where five holy rivers join the Ganges.
· This place is called Maha –Prayaga where the rsis performed millions of sacrifices along with Brahma.
· If one takes bath here , he will never take birth again.
Sri Rtudvipa
· Extremely attractive place where the bees are humming and the trees bend down their heads in respect.
· This is the place of Radha- kund.
· In the afternoon Gauranga would become immersed in singing Krishna’s glories and satisfy all by distributing prema.
· Whoever lives here or visits will get love of God.
Sri Modadrumadvipa
· This is Ayodhya.
· Ram came here with Sita and Laksman after being banished to the forest. They built a hut under a huge banyan tree and lived here happily for some time.
· It was here Lord Rama told Sita about his incarnation in Kaliyug as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sri Rudradvipa
· Here Gauranga appeared in a dream to Sankacharya when he was preaching effectively the mayavadi philosophy and blessed him.
· It was here that Sankacharya realized the truth of Navadvipa.
· The eleven Rudras reside here.
· The Rudra-sampradaya was named here by Lord Siva as a boon to Visnusvami.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment