Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Part 12

BY: SUN STAFF - 28.11 2024

Sarvabhauma Math in Vidyanagara Ritudvipa

Eighteen chapters describing a complete tour of the land of Navadvipa, as traversed by Lord Nityananda. Written by Thakur Bhaktivinoda in Bengali, 1890.

Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya

Parikrama-khanda

Chapter Twelve
Description of Ritudvipa and Radha-kunda

All glories to Sri Caitanyacandra and Prabhu Nityananda! All glories to Advaita and Gadadhara! All glories to the devotees headed by Srivasa! All glories to the house of Jagannatha Misra! All glories to Navadvipa, the topmost abode!

When night lifted, the devotees raised their bodies and called out "Nitai Gaura!" Then, leaving Campahatta behind them, they blissfully went on.

From this point, Vaninatha accompanied Nityananda, saying, "When will that day come when I shall have the pleasure to accompany Nityananda on parikrama to Gauranga's house in Mayapur?"

They came to Ratupura and saw the beauty of that town. Sri Nityananda said, "We have now come to Ritudvipa. This place is extremely attractive. The trees are bending down their heads in respect, the breeze is blowing gently, and the flowers are blooming everywhere. The humming of the bees and the fragrance of the flowers intoxicate the travelers' minds here."

As He was saying this, Nityananda became like a madman and exclaimed, "Quickly, bring My horn! The calves have gone far off, and Krishna is fast asleep and won't come. He is acting like a baby. Where are Subala and Dama? All alone I cannot go and herd the cows!" Shouting, "Kanai! Kanai!" Nityananda jumped a few yards.

Seeing His state, the devotees immediately supplicated at Nityananda's feet, "O Prabhu Nityananda, Your brother, Gauracandra is no longer here. He has taken sannyasa and gone to Nilacala, leaving us poor beggars."

Temple of Gaura Nityananda, Vidyanagara

Upon hearing those words, Nityananda became dejected and fell to the ground crying, "You have put us in such sorrow, Kanai, My brother! You have taken sannyasa and left us to go to Nilacala. I will not continue My life. I will jump in the Yamuna River!" Saying this, Sri Nityananda lost consciousness.

Sensing Nityananda Prabhu's elevated state of spiritual emotional, they began to chant the holy name. After two hours had passed, Nityananda still did not rise. Finally, when the devotees began chanting the glories of Gauranga, Nitai awoke.

"This is the place of Radha-kunda!" He exclaimed. "Here in the afternoon, Gaurahari would perform kirtana with His associates. Look at the brilliance of Syama-kunda, which attracts the minds of everyone in the universe! And look, here and there are the sakhis' groves. In the afternoon, Gauranga would become immersed in singing Krishna's glories and satisfy all by distributing prema. Know that in the three worlds there is no equal to this place, where the devotees worship the Lord. Whoever lives here will get love of God, which will soothe the burning fire of material life."

That day the devotees stayed there and drowned in love of God as they called out Gauranga's name. Staying there in Ritudvipa, they passed the whole day and night worshiping the moonlike Lord Caitanya. The next day Nityananda Prabhu, dancing all the while, came to Vidyanagara, a splendid place attractive to munis. This gladdened the devotees.

Holding the devotees' feet and begging from them the treasure of Krishna-bhakti, this worthless and unqualified Bhaktivinoda, whose only wealth is the lotus feet of Nitai and Jahnava, sings the glories of Nadia.