Why is this island name Madhyadvip?
The following is an excerpt from the Bhakti-ratnakara: IsanaThakura told Srinivasa, “This island is now known as the Majida village. Previously it was called Madhyadvipa. Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu performed many wonderful pastimes on this island. Now I will tell you why this island was previously known as Madhyadvipa. In Satya-yuga, the seven great sages (saptarshis) – namely Marici,Atri, Angira, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastha and Vasishtha – approached Grandsire Brahma and talked with him about Sri Gaurahari, who would appear in the coming Kali-yuga. They discussed His method of bhajana, and how He would distribute to everyone, even the dog-eaters, the prema that even the demigods rarely attain. When they requested Brahma to tell... Read More
The following is an excerpt from the Bhakti-ratnakara: IsanaThakura told Srinivasa, “This island is now known as the Majida village. Previously it was called Madhyadvipa. Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu performed many wonderful pastimes on this island. Now I will tell you why this island was previously known as Madhyadvipa. In Satya-yuga, the seven great sages (saptarshis) – namely Marici,Atri, Angira, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastha and Vasishtha – approached Grandsire Brahma and talked with him about Sri Gaurahari, who would appear in the coming Kali-yuga. They discussed His method of bhajana, and how He would distribute to everyone, even the dog-eaters, the prema that even the demigods rarely attain. When they requested Brahma to tell... Read More
Hamsa Vahana Shiva Temple
At Hamsa-vahana there is a small temple dedicated to Lord Siva. The deity used to be kept in the Gomati River for most of the year and only came to the temple three days a year, around the purnima(full moon) day in the month of Caitra (March-April). The rest of the time Lord Siva was kept underwater in the Gomati River to keep him from getting too hot. Last year the deity of Hamsa-vahana was stolen from the Gomati by a group of local Muslim people who wanted to make money by selling him. This deity was rescued in a very miraculous way and since then has been worshiped in the Hamsa-vahana temple throughout the year as it is too dangerous to leave him in the river. The name Hamsa-vahana refers to Lord Siva who traveled with Lord Brahma’s swan carrier....Read More
At Hamsa-vahana there is a small temple dedicated to Lord Siva. The deity used to be kept in the Gomati River for most of the year and only came to the temple three days a year, around the purnima(full moon) day in the month of Caitra (March-April). The rest of the time Lord Siva was kept underwater in the Gomati River to keep him from getting too hot. Last year the deity of Hamsa-vahana was stolen from the Gomati by a group of local Muslim people who wanted to make money by selling him. This deity was rescued in a very miraculous way and since then has been worshiped in the Hamsa-vahana temple throughout the year as it is too dangerous to leave him in the river. The name Hamsa-vahana refers to Lord Siva who traveled with Lord Brahma’s swan carrier....Read More
Naimisharanya
… saptarshi-mandapeharih nanartanaimishetirthe savadhutahsa-parshadah “Lord Gaurahari then went to Naimisha-tirtha. In Saptarshi-mandapa He danced with His associates and with NityanandaAvadhuta.” Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Pramana-khanda 4.40) In Navadvipa-bhava-tarangaSrila BhaktivinodaThakura describes Naimisharanya as follows: “There on the bank of the river Gomati is the Naimisha forest, where the assembled rishisare listening to recitations of the Gaura-bhagavata. In order to hear these narratives about Lord Gaura, Siva and the other demigods quickly mount Brahma’s swan-carrier and make haste to come. When will I wander and wander throughout that forest and behold the wonderful vision of this assembly...Read More
… saptarshi-mandapeharih nanartanaimishetirthe savadhutahsa-parshadah “Lord Gaurahari then went to Naimisha-tirtha. In Saptarshi-mandapa He danced with His associates and with NityanandaAvadhuta.” Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Pramana-khanda 4.40) In Navadvipa-bhava-tarangaSrila BhaktivinodaThakura describes Naimisharanya as follows: “There on the bank of the river Gomati is the Naimisha forest, where the assembled rishisare listening to recitations of the Gaura-bhagavata. In order to hear these narratives about Lord Gaura, Siva and the other demigods quickly mount Brahma’s swan-carrier and make haste to come. When will I wander and wander throughout that forest and behold the wonderful vision of this assembly...Read More
Pancaveni (Maha Prayag)
tatomaha-prayagakhyam panca-veni-samanvita tirthamsri-jahnavimtirtva koladvipamjagama ha “The Lord visited the holy place called Maha-Prayaga and the Pancavenitirtha. He then crossed SriGanga-devi and entered Koladvipa.” (Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya,Pramana-khanda 4.42) Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes this holy place in his Navadvipa-bhavataranga: “Near Ucchatta is the place known as Pancaveni (five streams). It is considered a holy pilgrimage spot by the demigods, who come here on vacation. At this place the three streams of the River Ganga (Bhagirathi, Mandakini and Alakananda) along with the Yamuna and Sarasvati rivers all join together, desiring to perform service to Lord Gaura. Here Gaurahari and His...Read More
tatomaha-prayagakhyam panca-veni-samanvita tirthamsri-jahnavimtirtva koladvipamjagama ha “The Lord visited the holy place called Maha-Prayaga and the Pancavenitirtha. He then crossed SriGanga-devi and entered Koladvipa.” (Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya,Pramana-khanda 4.42) Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes this holy place in his Navadvipa-bhavataranga: “Near Ucchatta is the place known as Pancaveni (five streams). It is considered a holy pilgrimage spot by the demigods, who come here on vacation. At this place the three streams of the River Ganga (Bhagirathi, Mandakini and Alakananda) along with the Yamuna and Sarasvati rivers all join together, desiring to perform service to Lord Gaura. Here Gaurahari and His...Read More
Brahmana Pushkara
tatogatvapushkarakhyam tirthamvipra-nishevitam brahmavartamkurukshetram plavayamasakirtanaih “The Lord went to Pushkara-tirtha which is worshiped by many brahmanas and flooded BrahmavartaKurukshetra with kirtana.” (Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Pramana-khanda 4.41) Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes this holy place in Navadvipa-bhavataranga: “South of Naimisharanya lies Brahmana Pushkara. This area is the same as the holy place named Sri Pushkaratirtha, and it was visited by the best of the brahmanas named Divadasa. Worshiping the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga at that place, vipra Divadasa was consoled upon beholding a vision of the Lord’s beautiful golden... Read More
tatogatvapushkarakhyam tirthamvipra-nishevitam brahmavartamkurukshetram plavayamasakirtanaih “The Lord went to Pushkara-tirtha which is worshiped by many brahmanas and flooded BrahmavartaKurukshetra with kirtana.” (Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Pramana-khanda 4.41) Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes this holy place in Navadvipa-bhavataranga: “South of Naimisharanya lies Brahmana Pushkara. This area is the same as the holy place named Sri Pushkaratirtha, and it was visited by the best of the brahmanas named Divadasa. Worshiping the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga at that place, vipra Divadasa was consoled upon beholding a vision of the Lord’s beautiful golden... Read More