English
Japa Talk : 15 March, 2024
Speaker: H. G. Acharya Dasa
Theme: Sri Navadvipa Mandal Parikrama
Sub Theme: Introduction
These are the deities of the Parikrama known as “Gaur Nitai”. These deities accompany us – for the All India Parikrama. We perform Their shringar and Mangal Arti.
Hare Kṛṣṇa!
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Theme: Island I “Sri Antardwipa”
In Vrindavan, when we perform the 84 kosi Parikrama, there are 12 forests. Similarly, Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikram has 9 islands. We have covered 4 islands so far. The first day we were at Sri Antardwipa – where our ISKCON Mayapur Temple is situated.
From there we went to Koladvipa, then reached Rudradwipa. Yesterday, we were at Simantadwipa.
Today we are heading towards Godrumadwipa.
Each of the islands (dwipas) has its different glories.
Yesterday, H. H. Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaj mentioned that at Antardwipa the internal or confidential conversations takes place.
We have heard the pastimes of Brahmaji in Vraja. He had stolen the calves and he thought that Lord Kṛṣṇa was an ordinary person. Hence, in order to test the Supreme Lord, Brahmaji performed this pastime.
Lord faced some inconvenience or anxiety. Brahmaji performed an offence at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. Brahmaji is the – first living being and he too committed an offence. Brahmaji is not an ordinary living being. He begged forgiveness from the Supreme Lord.
After this pastime, in Dwarpar yuga, Brahmaji begged the Supreme Lord that when I descend in Kali yuga. I will be born in a low caste family, not in an aristocratic family. I donot want any type of false ego or arrogance within me. Hence Brahmaji was born in an Islamic family. He performed a lot of bhajans and he was beaten also. Haridasa Thakura faced many difficulties in his life. He had an intense inner desire to serve the Lord. Hence the island is known as Antardwipa. He performed a lot of bhajans at Antardwipa.
Theme: Island II “Sri Simantadwipa”
Simantini Devi is Goddess Parvati. She is like a guardian goddess. Goddess Parvati is not an ordinary person.
In Odisha, Bihar and Bengal matajis apply kunkum on their hair partings. (It is red in colour). This is known as Simanta. Goddess Parvati applied kumkuma on her head by taking – the kumkuma from the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Hence, this island is known as Simantadwipa. We stayed at this island yesterday.
Earlier during the – time of Srila Prabhupada – we visited the islands by bus and returned the same day. Now, due to the causeless mercy of our beloved Gurumaharaj, he has created a system by which we can stay one day at each island.
Earlier we used to return to Mayapur the same day, hence we were not able to experience the required joy and happiness. Due to the causeless mercy of Gurumaharaj the devotees can now walk – and stay at each island.
Yesterday we stayed at Simantadwipa. During the night we halted at Rajapur Jagannath Temple. Yesterday, H. H. Bhakti Purushottam Swami was there with us. He told us that Simantadwipa is a combination of two dhamas namely : Navdvipa and Sri Jagannath Puri.
Sub-Theme: History of Jagannatha temple at Simantadvipa
There was a devotee named Ganguli. He would often visit Jagannath Puri - later when he was old, he could not visit Jagannath Puri. Even Lord Jagannath cannot stay without taking the darshan of his devotees and the devotees also cannot stay without the darshan of Lord Jagannathji. When he was old – he desired to give up his body. Lord Jagannathji appeared in his dream and told him – “Please do not worry. Please go to the Ganges tomorrow to take a bath and I will come as a log of wood. You please take it and carve dieties out of it. I will take your darshan in the form of these dieties and will accept your devotional service.”
This pastime is similar to the pastime which had taken place earlier at Jagannath Puri. At the break of dawn Jagadish woke from his dream and marveled at it. Eagerly he readied himself for his daily bath. A log of wood touched his leg. Enlivened by the Lord’s shower of mercy, he took the log and quickly proceeded towards the nearby village. After many hours, an exhausted Jagadish found the leper carpenter, who flatly refused to carve the Deity.
He showed his deformed fingers and asked his expectant customer, “How is it possible for me to carve the divine form of the Lord with these hands?” An intense exchange followed, each devotee speaking his mind. Finally, the leper agreed to carve Lord Jagannatha.
The process of Nabakalebaram takes place at Jagannath Puri, but such a process doesnot take place at Simantadwipa.
You can take darshan of the deities, they are 500 years old. The deities have not been changed here since then. They are as it is. They performed devotional services for some years and then it was neglected.
Since, inception the deities of Jagannathji were kept below a peepal tree in Rajapur. The deities are 500 years old. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taken darshan of these dieties. These deities were kept below the soil for some months. But it did not develop any cracks. Taking darshan of these deities one gets the same benefit of seeing or taking the darshan of Lord Jagannathji at Puri.
We stayed at this place and Maharaji (H. H. Bhakti Purushottam Swami Maharaj) shared many pastimes. There was a Hindu auto driver and many Muslims. The Hindu driver gave Prasadam to the Muslims. They refused and threw it away. They made fun of the Prasadam.
They went home and slept. Inspite of they being Muslims – Lord Jagannathji appeared in their dreams. Jagannathji did not beat him, but Baladevaji beat him. Subhadra told – “You threw the remnants of my brother. Beat him more”.
Next day early morning he came with ingredients like various kinds of dal, rice, vegetables and he requested the pujari to offer it to the Lord and give him the Prasadam. Pujari told yesterday you threw the prasadam and now you are asking for prasadam. Please go away.
He told the pujari – “Please hear me. Yesterday, night your Supreme Lord who is black in color had come in my dreams alongwith the ones in white and yellow. The one in white beat me a lot. The yellow one said – “Beat him more. He refused my brother’s prasadam. But the black one said – please do not beat him”. Pujari said I am practicing devotional service and am a sanyasi since the last 35 years. But Lord has never come in my dreams.
Lord appeared in the dreams of a Muslim person and being merciful towards Him Lord beat him. This is the pastime of Jagannathji. He is present now also.
Earlier this place was not under ISKCON. Once the deities ran from here to the Radha Madhav temple. These deities appeared in the dream of a pujari and told them – please give us to the devotees of ISKCON. Now the devotees of ISKCON perform – the devotional service here.
Now, we have crossed the Simantadvipa and reached the Jalangi river. Jalangi river has triveni sangam.
Theme: Island II “Sri Godrumadwipa” –Story of Suvarna Sen
We have crossed Jalangi river and are proceeding towards Godrumadwipa. Suvarna Bihar is the palace ruins of a Satya-yuga King named Suvarna Sen. He remained absorbed in acquiring material wealth. He was the king of Navadwipa dham and not an ordinary king. We see in the pastime of Jagannath Puri – the king who was a devotee was such a big king. By his good fortune, Narad Muni appeared before him and instructed him the science of Bhakti Yoga. Narad Muni explainedto Suvarna Sen how fortunate he was as he had his kingdom in Navadvipa dham. The eternal abode of Lord Gauranga. Lord’s name is very compassionate and merciful. When one chants Lord Gauranga’s name He personally appear before them. Narad Muni also informed him that Lord Kṛṣṇa would descend as Lord Gauranga and perform His pastimes at Navadwipa – at the beginning of Kali-yuga and he further said that “You will appear in Kali-yuga and your name shall be Buddhimanta Khan.
After Satya yuga, treta yuga and dwapar yuga, Suvarna Sen appeared as King Buddhimanta Raja here.
In the pastime of Lord Gauranga, Buddhimanta Khan was one of his intimate associates. He had borne the entire expenses for Mahaprabhu’s marriage with Vishnupriya Devi.
Please read Chaitanya Charitamrita to understand how Buddhimanta Khan served and pleased Mahaprabhu.
Suvarna Sen had built a temple of Gauranga Mahaprabhu in Satya yuga. One can see this residue of this temple while doing the Nabadvipa Mandal parikrama.
Sub-Theme: History of Narsimha Temple at Narsimha Palli (Mayapur)
We will reach this place in the next half an hour and take the darshan of Their Lordships and from there we will go to Narsimha Palli Temple. We had taken our Pada yatra some days back to this temple with Gurumaharaj. We had walked 25 km by foot as we donot use boats when we are on Pada Yatra. Deity of Lord Narsimhadeva at Narsimha Palli temple dates back to Satya-yuga. It was here at Narsimha Palli, in the waters of Mandakini river that Lord Narsimha deva had washed his hands stained with Hiranyakashipu’s blood in Satya yuga.
Knowing that Lord Narsimha Deva had come to take rest here, all the demigods headed by Brahmaji set up their residences here and engaged themselves in the loving service of the Lord.
