All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga


Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama

Day Three


Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip

Day One | Day Two | Day Three | Day Four

1 March 2007

The devotees stop first at Sri Surabhi Kunj, where Sripad Bhakti Kiran Giri Maharaj spoke in Bengali, followed by Sripad Yudhamanyu Prabhu who read in English from Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, where Sri Nityananda Prabhu relates the significance of this place to Srila Jiva Goswami:

"This place is called Godrumadwip. Surabhi, the desire-cow of Indra, resides here eternally. When Indra, the king of demigods and lord of rain, was overwhelmed with illusion and pride, he flooded Gokula with rain. At that time Sri Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill and protected Gokula. His pride crushed, Indra recognised Krishna as the Supreme Lord and fell at His lotus feet to beg forgiveness. Sri Krishna, the son of Nanda, being an ocean of mercy, forgave Indra, but Indra continued to be fearful of the sin he had committed.

"Approaching Surabhi, he said, 'Because I could not understand Krishna's Pastimes I committed a great offense. I have heard that in the kali-yuga, Krishna, the son of Maharaj Nanda, will perform wonderful Pastimes in Nabadwip. But I hesitate to approach Him for fear of again falling into illusion and offending Him. As you are a surabhi, a desire-cow, you know everything. Kindly help me solve this dilemma.'"

Nityananda continued: "Surabhi answered Indra by saying, 'Let us go to Nabadwip Dham and worship Nimai Pandit. He is Krishna appearing in His most magnanimous feature as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.' Arriving in Nabadwip, Indra and Surabhi began to worship Sri Chaitanya. Since the worship of Sri Chaitanya is very easy, its results are easily attained. By constantly repeating His Name, tears of ecstasy filled their eyes, and soon they received a visit from the Lord.

"The Lord's beautiful transcendental form was full of charm and wonder. He was laughing and bubbling over with the nectar of divine love. Sri Chaitanya said, 'I know your wish. Very soon I will appear in Nabadwip. At that time you will serve Me, and the net of illusion will no longer bind you.' The Lord vanished, but Surabhi remained here beside a banyan tree, constantly serving the lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya. Therefore, the place is called Go-druma-dwip (cow-tree-island)."


The morning began cold and rainy but soon cleared up.

The devotees stop at Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur's Samadhi Mandir at Sri Swananda Sukhada Kunja.

Breakfast.

The devotees next offer respects at the Temple of Hari Hara.


Next is Suvarna Bihar, where Narada Muni instructed King Suvarna Sen and converted him into a devotee of the Lord.

A short extract from Sri Nabadwip Dham Mahatmya, Chapter Seven.

"One day, by some great fortune, King Suvarna Sen was visited by Narada Muni. The king received him lavishly and offered opulent worship to Narada. Narada bestowed his mercy on the king by personally instructing him in the highest spiritual truths. Narada told him: 'O king, you are uselessly passing your days thinking only of riches and profits. You should know that your 'wealth' is worthless. Divine knowledge is supreme wealth. For once, consider this deeply: neither your wife, sons, nor friends belong to you. At death no one owns anything. When you die and your ashes are scattered in the river, you will be forced to leave behind everything you have gathered in your house. Why maintain false hopes for happiness in this temporary world? A mirage cannot quench one's thirst. If you can tell me how I can become happy in this world without suffering any pain, I will certainly join you in your quest for wealth. But the promise of material happiness is a lie, my dear king. This mortal life is short and barely lasts a hundred years. Know this to be essential: you must go beyond this world of illusion to the place where there is no pain -- only happiness.'"

The pilgrims stop last at Nrsimha Palli, to offer respects to Sri Nrsimhadev.
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