Sri Navadvipa Dhama: Special glories of Sri Navadvipa Dham

March 1, 2008

(the altar at the Sri Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Math in Koladvip)

The following are excerpts from a class given by Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja at Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math on 21 March 2005

First of all I offer millions of obeisances to the lotus feet of my most worshipable Gurupada-padma, nitya-lila pravistha om visnupada Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. Then my siksa-gurus, nitya-lila pravistha om visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, to Srila Bhaktivedanta Vamana Gosvami Maharaja and Srila Bhaktivedanta Trivikrama Maharaja. I offer millions of obeisances at their lotus feet. I also offer appropriate respects to my god-brothers, and to all the tridandipad sannyasis, Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis.

Today we are very fortunate. We have assembled in Navadvipa-dhama. This dhama (abode of the Lord, manifested in this world) is very remarkable, but not everyone can understand its glories. Fulfilling the desire of Srila Prabhupada Sarasvati Thakura, my Gurudeva established this Devananda Gaudiya Matha – replete with nine spires and the deity of Koladeva (Varahadeva). It is located in the very place in which the smarta-brahmanas who were opposed to Srila Prabhupada had made their headquarters.

Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati reveals the secret of Navadvipa-dhama in his Navadvipa Satakam (verse 78):

aradhitah nava-vanah vraja-kananah te
naradhitah nava-vanah vraja eva dure
aradhito dvija-suto vraja-nagaras te
naradhito dvija-suto na taveha krsnah

“If you worship the nine islands of Navadvipa, you are actually worshiping Vrndavana and can easily gain entrance into that confidential place. If you don’t worship and take shelter of Navadvipa-dhama, Vrndavana will be very far away from you. If someone will worship dvija-suta (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu), the son of the brahmana Jagannatha Misra, that person will attain vraja-nagara Sri Krsna in Vrndavana. If one worships Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is actually Krsna Himself, in Navadvipa, one is performing complete worship of Krsna. Worshiping Sacinanadana Gaurahari in Navadvipa is as good as worshiping Krsna in Vrndavana. If one does not worship dvija-suta Gaurahari, Lord Krsna will be very far away.”

Navadvipa-dhama is especially noteworthy for the confluence of five rivers – Panca-veni. If one dives into Panca-veni, one will surface in the Yamuna River at Kesi Ghata in Vrndavana. Gaurangera sangi gane, nitya-siddhe kori mane, se jaya vrajendra-suta pasa – and if one understands that Mahaprabhu’s associates are eternally perfect, one will attain the lotus feet of Vrajendra-nandana Syamasundara.

Yet, even though Navadvipa-dhama is non-different from Vrndavana, there is some speciality:

‘krsna-nama’ kare aparadhera vicara
krsna balile aparadhira na haya vikara

(CC Adi 8.24)

“If someone will chant krsna-nama but at the same time commit the ten offenses, he will not experience melting of the heart and tears flowing from his eyes.” However:

gaura-nityanande nahi esaba vicara
nama laite prema dena, vahe asrudhara

(CC Adi 8.31)

Gaura-nityananda-nama does not consider any offense. If someone chants their names, his heart will melt and tears will flow from his eyes. Thus, gaura-nama is more merciful than krsna-nama. Gaura-dhama also, for the same reason, is more merciful than Krsna-dhama, Vrndavana. Lord Indra, who had committed a grave offense to Sri Krsna, came to Navadvipa with Surabhi, and here Mahaprabhu completely forgave his offense. Indra had previously approached Sri Krsna in Vrndavana, but he had to come here to get full relief.

One may say he already knows Navadvipa-dhama and there is no need to hear anything further about it. Please don’t think like this. Its glories are very deep. To enter into the secrets of this dhama, we must discuss its many different aspects. We also pray to Navadvipa-dhama that it will reveal its profound glories to us.

Our goal is not Krsna. Love of Krsna and service to Krsna is our goal. If one has no love for Lord Sri Krsna’s lotus feet, one cannot serve Him. Kamsa and Jarasandha were both with Krsna, but they had no love and affection for Him. Thus they were unable to relish the bliss of service. So our goal is krsna-prema.

(…)
One should come to Navadvipa-dhama, take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and be very careful to observe trnad api sunicena taror iva sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniya sada hari. Always chanting and dancing, give respect to others. Don’t demand respect from others. Tolerate all difficulties and consider yourself more insignificant than a blade of grass. If you will do this, you will very easily attain Krsna-prema.

vancha kalpa tarubyas ca krpa sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah