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Next
we go to Patal Mahadev, Yameswar Siva, which is a large
Siva Temple located under the normal road level; then on
to Sveta Ganga, 'White Ganga,' where she manifested in Puri
Dham in the form of a kund. This latter is located just
near to Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's house, where the
Lord manifested His six-armed Form.
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Patal Mahadev and Sveta Ganga are visited. |
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The Sankirttan party first heads towards the ocean
to pay respect to where Mahaprabhu bathed daily, then
doubles back up the road towards the Jagannath Temple
in the opposite direction.
We
stop at Sri Haridas Thakur's Samadhi Mandir, where after
circumumbulating and chanting we have seated kirttan
and a short class in Bengali. From here, the next place
we visit is the Siddha Bakul.
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devotees begin the second day's parikrama at the
ocean and continue to visit the places related
to Haridas Thakur's Pastimes. |
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This
holy tree was planted by Mahaprabhu Himself from a used
Jagannath toothpick, to provide shade for Haridas Thakur
to chant 300,000 Names of God daily. The party also
stops here for a while to tell some stories relating
to this holy place.
From here it's only a short distance to the Jagannath
Temple, and all the devotees move swiftly forward, dancing
and chanting. The Indians go inside while the Westerners,
being from a non-Hindu background, have to wait outside.
Such crowds are here that the party re-emerges fragmented.
As we wait for everybody to gather, the group sits down,
chanting outside the temple gate.
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party waits outside the Jagannath Temple, then
continues Sankirttan up the road towards Gundicha,
with the Ratha Yatra cars in the background. |
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From
here we start moving towards the Gundicha Temple where
Jagannath resides for seven days after the Ratha Yatra
festival, before being brought back to His usual residence.
On the way, we stop shortly at a temple that stands
where Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupad was
born, and then a few metres along to Ramananda Ray's
garden. However non-Hindus are also not allowed to enter
this latter place either.
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devotees come out of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati
Thakur's birthplace performing incessant Sankirttan,
and visit Ramananda Ray's garden. |
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At
Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's house we stop for some
time, listening to the Pastimes related to this
place, related in Bengali by Sripad Bhakti Kiran
Giri Maharaj, and the equivalent in English by Sripad
Bhakti Amul Paramahamsa Maharaj.
As
we sit, listening attentively in the courtyard of
the original house where the Pastimes were manifested,
we take darshan of the five sets of Deities of Radha-Krishna
in the house: Radha Madan Mohan; Radha Rasik Raj;
Shyam Sundar; Radha-Raman and Radha-Vinod, while
the Pujari looks on.
Our
next visit is attempted at Gambhira, where Sriman
Mahaprabhu lived for the last eighteen years of
His manifest Pastimes. However several other parties
are there, and unfortunately it is impossible for
all our group to enter and see the place.
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last stop for story-telling is Sarvabhauma
Bhattacharya's house before the devotees return
to our Puri temple performing a lively Sankirttan. |
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On
the way returning to the Math, the Sankirttan becomes
increasingly energetic and fast-paced, with several
karatals, a very enthusiastic mrdanga player and
heartfelt chanting and dancing. The mood is awesome,
and when we finally arrive at our temple, we circumumbulate
Sri Sri Nitai-Chaitanyadev while chanting the glories
of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda
Dev-Goswami Maharaj, followed by Tulasi Arati.
Back
at the guesthouse, devotees excitedly exchange impressions
and experiences of the day, and shortly after, Prasadam
is served.
What a beautiful day, the first day in Puri Dham!
7th
July 2005 - Puri, 2nd Day
This is the second day in Puri and only the day
before the Ratha Yatra. The pilgrimage continues,
starting off from the temple at 8:00am after breakfast
Prasadam.
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Sri
Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip