SRI NABADWIP DHAM MAHATMYA-MUKTA-MALA

Antardwip (Atmanivedanam: self-submission)

nindantam pulakotkarena vikasan-nipaprasunachchhavim prodhvikrtya bhuja-dvayam hari-harityuchchhair-vadantam muhuh nrtyantam drutamasru-nirjharachayaih sinchantamurvitalam gayantam nija-parsadaih parivrtam sri-gaurachandram numah

(Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati)

‘As Mahaprabhu became completely intoxicated, relishing the nectar of Srimati Radharani’s divine mood, the hairs on His body stood on end and thus His divine form would look just like a kadamba flower. Raising His arms and pointing towards Goloka, He would walk about and cry, “Hari! Hari! Hari bol! Hari bol!” When He danced, the ground would become moist from the tears falling from His lotus eyes. He is surrounded by His associates – Sriman Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Gadadhar Pandit, Sri Advaita Acharya, Srivas Thakur, Namacharya Haridas Thakur, Sri Mukunda, Sri Murari Gupta and others. All devotees would wander throughout the length and breadth of Sri Nabadwip Dham together with the Lord. We bow in obeisance at the holy lotus feet of this Sri Gaurachandra.’

(By Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj)

Sri Ganganagar

By great fortune and by the inconceivable mercy of our Sri Gurupadpadma, devotees and Vaisnavs, we have again got an opportunity to circumambulate this supreme Sri Nabadwip Dham, as each previous year. Our first day is the parikrama of Sri Antardwip.

When Sriman Nityananda Prabhu circumambulated Sri Nabadwip Dham together with Srila Jiva Goswami, He first showed him Sri Ganganagar, which is situated on the outskirts of Sri Antardwip. Following His holy lotus feet, remembering His divine words and praying incessantly for the holy foot dust of all residents of this holy abode, we also begin our Sri Nabadwip Dham parikrama by first entering Sri Antardwip. ‘Gaura amara ye saba sthane karala bhramana range, se saba sthana heriba ami pranayi-bhakata-sange. In the company of loving devotees, I will behold all the places my Gaurasundar visited during His ecstatic pastimes.’

Crossing Sri Ganga Mayi, we have come to Sri Ganganagar that was founded in ancient times by Bhagirath Maharaj. One time, Bhagirath Maharaj had been performing severe austerities for many years to please Sri Ganga Devi. In the end, Sri Ganga Devi appeared before him, saying, ‘Maharaj, I am pleased with the austerities you have performed. Tell me, what boon do you want to receive from me?’ Bhagirath Maharaj replied, ‘O Devi, if you could come down to the earth together with me, my relatives and all the residents of the earth would get liberation. I have no other way to accomplish this unless you come.’ Despite Bhagirath Maharaj’s plea, Sri Ganga Devi did not agree to come. She said, ‘I will not go there! If I come to this earth, all sinners will bath in my water, and I will become polluted and go to hell! What benefit is it to me?’ Bhagirath Maharaj assured her, ‘Why are you saying this, dear Mother? The Lord Himself rests in the hearts of pure sadhus who are devoid of any material desires or attachments – when these sadhus bath in your water, the Lord will remove all the sins of other people from you. You will always remain pure.’ In the end, merciful Sri Ganga Devi agreed to come with Bhagirath Maharaj.

Bhagirath Maharaj went first, blowing a conchshell, and merciful Sri Ganga Devi went behind him. When they were passing this Sri Nabadwip Dham, Ganga Devi suddenly stopped. After a while, Bhagirath Maharaj noticed that Ganga Devi was not following him anymore – feeling suddenly scared, he turned back to look for her. Finding Ganga Devi, he saw that she did not want to move any further. ‘Oh no! What will happen now?’

There was no way out, so Bhagirath Maharaj sat down here in this Ganganagar (Mayapur) and started meditating and performing austerities again. Satisfied with his tapasya, Ganga Devi came to him to speak. Bhagirath Maharaj prayed to her, ‘O Mother, if you do not continue the way, my ancestors will never get relief. Please come with me.’ Ganga Devi replied, ‘Listen to what I shall say, dear child. O great hero Bhagirath! Stay here for a few days. We have come to this Sri Nabadwip Dham in the month of Magh (January/February)! When the month of Phalgun (February/March) finishes, I will again come with you. Try to understand it – I have come to the holy abode of the One whose feet I wash; therefore, I want to stay here to fulfil my deep longing. My Lord’s appearance day is on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun, and I want to observe this day. After that I will come with you, do not worry.’

So, Bhagirath Maharaj stayed here in Ganganagar for one month.

It is said in the scriptures that if you stay in Ganganagar, bath in the Ganga, fast and worship Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu on the full moon day in the month of Phalgun, you will cross this material world and reach Sri Goloka, and thousands of generations of your ancestors will also go to Sri Goloka Dham with you. Such is the glory of this Sri Ganganagar.

Jay Srila Guru Maharaj ki jay.
Sri Ganga Devi ki jay.

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