Publisher’s Note

Translated from the 1988 Bengali edition of

Sri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya

By the boundless grace of our great-grand Gurudev, Om Visnupad Srila Thakur Bhakti Vinod, our long-standing desire to publish Sri Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya has been fulfilled. Sri Nabadwip Dham is Gupta Vrndavan [Hidden Vrndavan]. Circumambulating the thirty-two miles of Sri Vrndavan Dham is a deeply cherished devotional practice for greatly enthusiastic devotees, yet Sri Gaura’s devotees circumambulate Sri Nabadwip Dham for the satisfaction of Sri Sachi Nandan Gaurahari with even more enthusiasm and attain eternal good fortune. This circumambulation takes place unfailingly every year in an organised way from the chief original Math — Sri Chaitanya Math, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, and other ashrams. In particular, assembled devotees from all corners of the world participate in the circumambulation of Sri Nabadwip Dham arranged by Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math — which was established by Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj in Kolerganj, Nabadwip — and attain the highest fortune. By their earnest request, and for the benefit of all devotees who circumambulate the Holy Dham, we have published this holy book which bestows the highest fortune of revelation of the Holy Dham; we are thus greatly fortunate.

Srila Narottam Thakur has written,

śrī-gauḍa-maṇḍala-bhūmi yebā jāne chintāmaṇi
tāra haya vraja-bhūme vāsa

[«One who knows the holy land of Gauda to be made of wish-fulfilling gemstone resides in the land of Vraja.»]

The true form of the Dham manifests only in the hearts of fortunate souls who are established, by the grace of Sri Guru, in the spiritual land of dedication with proper sambandha-jnan [understanding of their relationship with the Lord]. Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu’s verse atah Sri-Krsna-namadi* clearly teaches us this principle. So, awakening and increasing our propensity for dedication (seva) is our one and only necessity, and this is possible only by attaining the grace of Sri Guru and the sadhus. Thus, our one and only duty is to adhere to the practice of living a life of resolute faith and subservience to Sri Guru and the sadhus.

dīkṣā-kāle bhakta kare ātma-samarpaṇa
sei kāle kṛṣṇa tāre kare ātma-sama
sei deha kare tāra chid-ānandamaya
aprākṛta-dehe tā̐ra charaṇa bhajaya

[«At the time of initiation, devotees fully surrender themselves, and Krsna accepts them. Krsna makes their body spiritual and joyful, and in that supramundane body they serve Krsna’s feet.»]

The Lord’s Name, Form, Qualities, Pastimes, Associates, and Glory are all supramundane. Only by Sri Guru’s grace can a surrendered soul see the Lord’s supramundane Dham with eyes free from maya and attain the fortune of service there. May the nature of the Holy Dham — chintamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vrksa-laksavrtesu surabhir abhipalayantam [«the abode made of wish-fulfilling gemstone covered by millions of wish-fulfilling trees where Sri Govinda tends His cows»] — be realised by reading this book. This is my earnest prayer at the holy feet of Sri Guru, the Vaisnavas, and the Lord of the Dham, Sriman Mahaprabhu. Enough verbosity.

Publisher

The humble and fallen,

Sri Bhakti Sundar Govinda
(in the pen name of Sri Krsna Saran Brahmachari)

*ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ
sevonmukhe hi jihvādau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ

[«Although Krsna’s Name, Form, Qualities, and Pastimes cannot be grasped by the material senses, through the spirit of dedication they manifest themselves on the tongue and to the other senses.»]

Publisher’s Note

Translated from the 1988 Bengali edition of

Sri Navadvipa-bhava-taranga

First, I faithfully offer my obeisance to our society’s present Acharya, Parivrajakacharya Srimad Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, the dearmost associate of our beloved Gurudev, Om Visnupad Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, by whose mercy our endeavour to print and propagate Sri Navadvipa-bhava-taranga by Sri Gauranga’s associate Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur has been possible. Our Srila Guru Maharaj has said that the influence of maya will decrease to the extent that Thakur Bhakti Vinod’s books are preached throughout the world. If we are able to provide true help to even one conditioned soul in this way, then the true ideal of kindness towards others (jive daya) will be realised. His divine message is our only prospect and hope. May this endeavour satisfy the devotees and please Thakur Srila Bhakti Vinod as well. This is my prayer.