Mayapur Parikrama Day 2 , 27th February, 2012.
Today is the second take of the Parikrama. We started a bit late from the
temple and headed to the Russian party. But after the (bumpy!) ride when we
reached Naimisarnya where GM was supposed to speak to the Russian party, we
saw that they haSukad mSoved ahead and were on their way to Panca Veni.
H.H. Bhakti Chaitanya Maharaj saw GM entering and greeted him. So, GM
decided to goto the International party who were having darshan at
Gauradaha which is only 10-15 min drive from Naimisaranya.
Gauradaha is a very beautiful place, full of mango groves similar to those
where Srila Prabhupada would have prasadam while travelling between
Calcutta and Mayapur. As GM came in a tremendous kirtan was on led by H.H.
Maha Vishnu Maharaj. Several other senior devotees as H.H Bhakti Dhira
Damodar Maharaj, HH Bhakti Vinoda Maharaj, H.G. Rajendranandan Prabhu
were present.
GM spoke about the significance of the place and described how Lord
Chaitanya had delivered a crocodile who in his previous life was a Deva boy
but he playfully had cut Durvasa Muni’s hair and was cursed to become a
crocodile for 4 yugas. But at the end he would get a chance to witness Lord
Chaitanya’s past time and be delivered. So seeing Lord Chaitanya there
singing, the crocodile came out the pond (opposite to Gauradaha) and
touched his lotus feet and regained the form of a Deva boy.
GM said if we can get even a drop of the water from the lake we can obtain
Gauranga Prema (Provided we can get it from the dried lake!). After that we
had the Round 2 of competition of Ulu and Hari Dvani and was followed by GM
meeting some devotees from the international group. The devotees also began
their breakfast of upma, pakora, tomato chutney, bel juice and rasogula!
From here at 10 Am, we headed off to the Panca Veni for the second time to
meet the Russian party. They too had just arrived and GM decided to speak
as they honored prasadam on the shining banks of confluence of 5 rivers
where Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda sported. H.H. Bhakti Chaitanya Swami
and H.H. Kavichandra Swami were leading this team.
GM said it was our extreme good fortune to sit and honor prasadam in this
place as it has Lord Chaitanya’s foot dust in it. And the Panca Veni is so
purifying that even if we can’t bath here and just take the water on our
head it would free use from all offenses, karma and help us progress
towards unalloyed devotional service.
He also mentioned that as the party would be entering Navadwip town, we
should be even more careful on the way we conduct ourselves as people there
would be watching and we need to set the best example we can. And in
Navadwip we can have the darshan of the seat where Srila Jagannath Das
Babaji realized his siddha deha. The Siddha Deha is not dependent on one’s
material body and can be different.
As we were ready to leave the, Russian devotees were also getting ready
and were seen getting on to the boat. From here, GM travelled to the third
group- Hindi who were at Champahatti. As we arrived, H.H Loknath Maharaj
and H.H. Navayogendra Maharaj were on their way to the next party.
Today the Hindi party was being led by H.H. Bhakti Purusottama Maharaj,
H.H. Gauranga Prema Maharaj and H.H. Prabodhananda Saraswati Maharaj.
GM, here first narrated the pastime of how Srila Gadhadhar Pandit’s
brother wanted Gauranga and Gadhara to always stay with him here and when
they expressed their inability, he wanted a carved Deities of them. And
when the Deities were ready he said as it was non-different from them. The
Deities can go and preach! So finally he had the Deities of Gaura Gadhadhar
to worship. GM also used this opportunity to take darshan of Lord Gaura
Gadadhara(Gaur Gadai) -In His class He mentioned that Srimati Radharani was
very dissatisfied being born in female form which was restricting her from
associating with Lord Krsna freely especially during the day time. The
gopas do not have such restriction on them. So in order to associate with
Krsna like how the gopas do, she desired to take birth as Gadadhara (male
form) during Caitanya Lila. Here in Champahatti Gaur and Gadai are always
together showering their mercy.
After Darshan, GM travelled to Narasimhapalli for the final stop of the
day to meet the Bengali group. Today was more easy to speak there as the
Kirtan that was on yesterday wasn’t taking place, after darshan we reached
Mayapur back at 3.30 Pm.
Yudisthir Govinda Das