Sunday, December 22, 2013

IT'S ALL ABOUT ME, ME, ME, ME, ME


If we want to know what pure devotees of the Lord are doing:

We can see they are serving Krishna and glorifying Krishna. They are not glorifying themselves and talking about themselves. 

This is very subtle. Because the desire to be adored and praised, which is subtle sex desire, is there even when the person talks about service to Krishna because the focus is on themselves. How Krishna is working through them. Look at me. Look at what a great devotee I am. Krishna is so great and He is working through me. See me. Praise my service. Praise me. Me. Me. Me.

It can be very subtle. 

But if we study the writings, teaching and lectures of the pure devotees we do not see this. The focus is on Krishna. Then automatically the devotee is glorious. They become as good as Krishna and Krishna works through them.

The false ego is very stubborn. 

Dear Lord, please free me from this false ego. Let me find the ecstasy of chanting Your Holy Names. Let me find the ecstasy of hearing your pastimes. Let me find the devotees who have developed a taste. 

Sunday, December 8, 2013

BACK TO GODHEAD


     I have a slaughterhouse book distribution story that's not made up... 
     Traveling in the early '80's with Brahma sampradaya prabhu in Virginia it was late, 10:30 pm or so and we were really just looking for a place to rest for the night. But we saw a factory of some sort with all it's lights on. So we pulled over. 
     It was a chicken slaughterhouse. Needless to say it was horrible. The smells, the sounds, everything. Just horrible. There was a truck unloading chickens who were more dead than alive just from the transport. Stuffed too many in cages piled high on the truck. The workers had aprons stained with blood and very wild looks in their eyes. Two workers were playing at a knife fight in the parking lot near the truck. One chicken tried to escape but the unloader had a stick with a crook at the end. Like a cat he toyed with the poor bird trying to run away but finally caught it.
     The birds were placed upside down fastened by their feet on conveyors as their wings fell open from the force of gravity and their weakened condition as they rotated high in the air on the way to the examining room and then the end of their journey in a chicken body. 
     The smell was so horrible I can still smell it. It was break time and the workers were deciding what kind sandwiches they wanted from the vending machines. We were able to distribute Back To Godhead magazines to everyone, blood stained aprons and all. 
     I couldn't sleep that night. I tossed and turned from the horror. Finally I had somewhat of a realization that what I had seen what the workings of the modes of nature at they direct the karma of the jivas. The workers were headed for a fate much like their victims and the victims had no doubt acted in a way that got them into the situation they were in. The only solution for the suffering and the unbreakable cycle of karma was devotional service to Krishna. 
     There they were blood stained aprons and giving a donation for Back to Godhead magazine. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

TAKING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT'S DUE

By Rupanuga das, ACBSP

The revised and enlarged edition of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is (BGAII), as published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) 1983, disregards the academic community's protocols or standards governing the revised editions of the books. According to the guidelines now widely accepted and practiced by publishers and academicians, the names of editors and co-authors of such newly revised editions are to be included along with dates. This distinguishes such a 2nd edition from a publication which is only a second printing of an author's original first edition.

A controversy was created because Srila Prabhupada, the author, was not present to consult with or personally authorize a re-edit of the book, which was first published as an unabridged, "complete edition" in 1972 by the Macmillan Company. From 1972 until 1977, the year Srila Prabhupada passed away, the book had been constantly studied by his disciples, widely distributed to the public and often favorably reviewed. During this time there were no proposals from anyone, nor an explicit authorization from Srila Prabhupada to revise the book then or in the future.

The editors of the 1983, 2nd edition, attempt to circumvent their lack of direct or explicit authorization from Srila Prabhupada by assuming and asserting that his authorization was implicit in his verbal and written approval of Jayadvaita Brahmachari's editorial work -- although during Srila Prabhupada's time there was no expectation that Jayadvaita or anyone else would be extensively re-editing the BGAII in the future. Srila Prabhupada had noted only a few, easily rectified changes to be made in the book. Had a proposal been made to him in 1977 (the sixth year of its publication) for an extensive revision, it wouldn't be very hard to imagine the strength of his refusal. There would be nothing equivocal about it, especially in the light of his remarks during his now famous "rascal editor" discussion recorded June 22, 1977 in Vrindavan, just five months before his disappearance.

In fact, it was Srila Prabhupada himself who created an issue about changes then being made to his books without his permission and the possibility of it happening in the future. He wanted his disciples to resolve the issue during his presence. There was no controversy, or two sides to the issue; it was a major problem to be solved and a future disaster to be avoided. Actually, since 1975 Srila Prabhupada had been giving periodical hints, guidelines and instructions along these lines to his BBT Trustee and production manager in Los Angeles and the artists as well. Unfortunately, such information was not carefully compiled, passed on or seriously implemented after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance. Without such important guidelines in place, editors and trustees have gradually filled the gap with policies and standards which have become controversial, especially regarding the editing of books and paintings published during Srila Prabhupada's lifetime.  (See The Change Disease and Windows to the Spiritual Sky).

Since an extensive revision of the BGAII was actually published in 1983, there has been and will continue to be a disagreement about it amongst Srila Prabhupada's followers and admirers. But what is to be avoided, and what Srila Prabhupada wanted to avoid, is controversy about his books amongst the general public, especially the scholars, educators, librarians, et. al. Opinions from intelligent people regarding his books were important to Srila Prabhupada and should not be minimized as only the complicated prejudices and speculations of so-called "non-devotees". With this in mind, the ongoing controversy may be examined here a bit more from the viewpoint of academia, at the same time keeping out in front the main objective of propagating, perpetuating and protecting Srila Prabhupada's teachings.

According to the current Chicago Manual of Style, if 20% of a first edition has been revised, it becomes a second edition -- not just a second printing -- requiring the date and names of the editors. Additionally, to quote from the Modern Language Association's Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing: "The publisher when planning a new edition of the work, may obtain revisions from a third party expert if the author refuses to make them or disagrees about their necessity... the contract... should provide that the original author and the revising author be given separate credits." Of course the BBT editors assert that they were not new authors of the book, but merely bringing it closer to the original author's words as referenced in available fragmental recordings or transcripts. The predominating difference is, obviously, that Srila Prabhupada was not present to consult with or agree or disagree. Nevertheless, whatever lends more weight to a closure or sealing of the book from further editing is in order. Following the prevailing academic protocols in the next printing would set a precedent signaling more finality than the present practice of editorial anonymity.

As is the cases of the Bible and Koran, over time sectarian scriptures are extensively revised. In the case of the Bhagavad-gita, there are already dozens of them in different languages, all edited according to various authors' and editors' preferences and personal philosophies of life. Unlike the Bible and Koran, the Bhagavad-gita truly presented as it is by Srila Prabhupada is universal, which makes it even more subject to spectacular speculations. Interestingly, although the Bible has gone through many variations, or versions, the King James version is the most widely accepted as authoritative.

Similarly, it is imperative that the BGAII remains center stage as the most complete, definitive version. In this connection, it would be naive to assume that in one or two hundred years BBT editors could not fall prey to the change disease, perhaps in response to social or cultural demands. Therefore, a permanent sealing or closing of further editing of the BGAII must be attempted, even though the extensive revision of that book is already a strong precedent. Besides, it won't be long according to present copyright law, about forty-five years, when the BGAII will be in the "public domain". By that time it must be considered to be the most authoritative, above all other renditions. Ultimately, the BGAII is designed and destined to be the most universally accepted scripture in the world. Translated from the English, it was printed in numerous languages during Srila Prabhupada's time. The English edition remains the most important because English is fast becoming the equivalent of the world's second language. In any country, especially amongst the more educated, people are fluent in English.

Initially, the BBT's 1983 edition included the phrase "revised and enlarged" in place of "complete edition" originally found beneath the title on the face page of the first or 1972 edition. Also the "Note On the 2nd Edition" was previously included in the revised edition, wherein the editors took credit for their work and explained their qualifications and purposes in rendering the revision, although they remained anonymous. But the editing continues, and the above items were edited out in later printings. The later printings also omitted Professor Dimock's Forward, although the same literary reviews as well as Srila Prabhupada's 1971 signature at the end of his Preface are carried over from the original 1972 edition to subsequent 1983 versions. Almost all of the illustrations from that 1st edition have been gradually eliminated or replaced and there are many changes and additions to the original text throughout the book. In other words, there is no doubt the 2nd edition meets the academic criteria for being genuinely designated as a new edition.

A reader of that revised edition might notice that there is no endorsement or acknowledgement by the original author, which is often found in such a scholarly publication. But such a reader would have no way of learning that the author, Srila Prabhupada, had passed away in 1977, since there is no such indication in a section "about the author", or other biographical information. The original first edition reviews from "some of the world's leading scholars" are reprinted in the second edition, explaining the special significance of the book and the outstanding qualifications of the author, as if he were still present and endorsing the revised edition.

Be that as it may, Srila Prabhupada's present pristine reputation as authoritative author must be preserved. As he cautioned in Vrindavan on July 17, 1977, four months before his disappearance: "And people are recognizing that I am great. Don't make me small." Now, with Srila Prabhupada-vani in the shape of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, we are blessed with the most definitive single volume of essential spiritual knowledge published in the West since the invention of the printing press. And Srila Prabhupada has proven to be the greatest world-wide exponent of Krsna consciousness. Actually, Srila Prabhupada is already famous all over the universe, as documented by the visitation of Lord Brahma and Narada Muni, both of whom came to attend evening aratis when Radha-Londonisvara were installed in 1969. This has been confirmed by Sriman Padmalocana das, who was instructed by His Divine Grace to make two small vyasasanas for the altar in anticipation of their continuing visits. It remains the task of his followers to assure His Divine Grace's spotless fame spreads here on Earth.

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is named after Srila Prabhupada because it is responsible to present his unalloyed teachings to the world. As the BBT continues to claim not only to be the bona fide publishers of Srila Prabhupada's books but of books by other genuine Vaisnava authors as well, they will come under closer scrutiny from professionals and general readers alike. So the standards set by the publishing and academic communities should be taken seriously and followed, because Srila Prabhupada was always concerned that his books be respected in learned circles as up to standard.

Considering the current editors' obvious confidence and conviction in their ongoing work, their somewhat mysterious policy of anonymity appears unnecessary, even contradictory. Yet, by following the standard etiquette or protocols widely in practice as mentioned hereinbefore, any apparent mystery is solved. Such an endorsement would be similar to acknowledgements found in the previous publications listed below:

1. Mukunda-Mala-Stotra, subtitled The Prayers of King Kulasekhara, published by the BBT in 1992, 157 pages, under Srila Prabhupada's name "And His Disciples".

2. Narada-Bhakti-Sutra, subtitled The Secrets of Transcendental Love, published by the BBT in 1991 and 1997, 213 pages, 10,000 copies. Authored by His Divine Grace "And His Disciples".

3. The last Cantos, 10th, 11th and 12th, of the BBT's Srimad Bhagavatam, authored "by disciples of" His Divine Grace. The names of the editors are listed following the face page.

4. The Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the Macmillan Company abridged edition of 1968, with Preface by Rayarama Brahmacary (Raymond Marais), designated as the editor.

The last example was personally approved by Srila Prabhupada. (Please note the quotation from Rayarama's Preface at the end of this essay). So the precedent is there for Srila Prabhupada's disciples to acknowledge when their input is integrated into his books, sometimes as editors, sometimes as authors, but always as assistants or subordinates. Because no disciple, no matter how advanced, can be a hidden co-author with Srila Prabhupada. Such equality is not possible.

Presently the Movement continues to be chronicled by a number of parties, especially as more and more information becomes available on the Internet. According to Statcounter.com, a large web traffic analysis company, there are over two and a half billion Internet users worldwide, 70% of whom use the Net everyday, representing a 566% increase from 2000 to 2013. So far, as an author, Srila Prabhupada has personally escaped serious criticism and his reputation remains intact. However, every precaution can be followed to maintain the continuous good reputation of Srila Prabhupada-vani, especially his books. We look forward to the day when Srila Prabhupada will be so famous that people will clamour for his books. No doubt the BBT should have that expectation, as it's influence and recognition increases as a respected publishing house. Reputation is important. The reputation of the Macmillan Company, both in the US and England and its endorsement of Srila Prabhupada's BGAII was a major selling point, especially for the BBT Library Party and the college preaching programs.

So it is imperative that any dispute over the authenticity of books published by the BBT or its licensee, Krsna Books, Inc. (KBI), not be in public doubt. One certain way to help the reputation of the BBT as an authentic publishing house, as well as quell some devotee criticism, would be to comply with protocols recognized by the academic community, such as those outlined in the Modern Language Association (MLA) Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing and the Chicago Manual of Style. In this connection, we are again reminded how Srila Prabhupada was always concerned about how his books were to be viewed by the scholarly community. The protocols currently in customary practice, as mentioned herein, are not at all contrary to Srila Prabhupada's publishing policies. This is demonstrated, for example, by his approval of Rayarama's credentials as the bona fide editor of the abridged BGAII. Indeed that publication, along with the Preface by Rayarama, was reprinted by the BBT in 2002. This example, as well as the others, suggests that the editors take credit for their work. There is no need to continue the anonymity.

As far as ISKCON members are concerned, the editors are confident that most of them will choose to read the revised edition. The general public deserves the same option; in other words, to be informed that the second edition is a different one from the first. The editors should also be confident that the general public will also prefer a new, revised and enlarged edition. Otherwise, does not continued
anonymity imply the editors' lack of such confidence, leading them to appear surreptitious, like hidden co-authors? Of course, when it comes to Srila Prabhupada's books, no one has a right to an extensive anonymous editing of a completed manuscript, anymore than Rayarama did when he extensively abridged the original manuscript for publication in 1968.

Unlike the examples herein of disciples finishing something which Srila Prabhupada had started, the 1983 BGAII is a thorough re-editing of a book Srila Prabhupada considered completed during his lifetime. He acknowledged only some errors and no one proposed anything more. Therefore, the editors of the revised 2nd edition are obligated to take credit where credit is due.

Controversies can take on a life of their own and both the 1st and 2nd editions of the BGAII are going on. But there is a difference. The first edition, still in print, clearly states it to be licensed by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and "is a reproduction of the book first published by Collier Books and the Macmillan Company in 1972". This statement meets the standard protocols. Whereas the 1983 edition is now identified merely as a current printing of a "2nd edition", without noting it to be revised (or enlarged), yet still includes the 1972 copyright of the 1st edition. There is no mention of the editors who did the revision or that there ever was one. This is not at all standard procedure and should include the normal protocols in the next printing. Besides protocols there are copyright laws also. Compliance will avoid any potential for Srila Prabhupada as an author, or his books to be marginalized, sidelined, or mixed up with categories of mundane books of dubious value.

Afterall, the people in general are the true beneficiaries of this Movement and the preliminary benediction from Srila Prabhupada has been the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, his most widely printed, distributed, reviewed, read and quoted book. And come what may in this hell-bent world -- enchanted by electronics and manipulated by corporate cyber-space cadets-- fortunately, one needs only some daylight or candlelight to read Srila Prabhupada's transcendental books!


It won't be long before Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita will be in the public domain. Well before that happens, we want Srila Prabhupada to be recognized as the only truly authentic authorized translator and commentator. Hare Krsna.






Saturday, November 23, 2013

HOW LONG?

    


     My God, how long I have been working on the following realization and still chipping away at the rough edges... If I were to die today or drop this body I would be grateful to have realized this one insight that conquers the mind's propensity to criticize others, which begins with finding fault with one's own self. 
     Everyone has some fault, blind-spot or deficiency in this world, (including the best gurus) no matter how much we put them on a pedestal in a glass case, however, everyone is serving according to their personal capacity. Acknowledging, appreciating the service they are doing and neglecting the faults that the mind generally loves to dwell on causing us and others to feel miserable, is the key to personal blissful happiness. It is the cause of others being able to receive our personal association and contributions. It is an attribute of real humility. One naturally is transformed into a genuine encouraging friend and peacemaker to all in this world still very much of a mentality divided against itself. 

unknown author

Thursday, November 14, 2013

PLATO'S CAVE

The following exchange took place as a discussion relating to 
a previous post Reflection of a reflection

Deepak Srivastava Hare Krishna Mata ji, Profound philosophy in so few words. Merry-go-round was my favorite amusement ride as a child. It was fun sitting on the monkey or the bird or the giraffe. However I never realized that the merry-go-round reflects the numerous cycles of birth and death that we go through till the time we get back to the Godhead.
Meena Devi Dasi Plato wrote about how people were simply seeing shadows of images in his analogy of the cave. People have been fascinated by Plato's analogy of the cave and speculated about it's meaning for centuries. So now we can see from the carousel what Plato was trying to describe. Video Plato's Cave Analogy 
Deepak Srivastava Hare Krishna Mata ji, The link has confused the hell out of me. I thought that your poem is trying to convey the many forms that we go through till the time we attain liberation. My interpretation seems wrong.  Could you, at your convenience, elaborate on points 8 to 11 of the link with some more examples.
Meena Devi Dasi A poem may not be easily deciphered. Sometimes there are several layers. There is a dream like quality to them. They defy the grammatical rules of prose and have their own grammar. What I was trying to express is something like this: The carousel reflects the material situation of life of after life birth after birth in the material world. The material world itself is also a reflection of the spiritual world. So it is like a reflection (the carousel) of a reflection (the material world) of the actual eternal world. Hope that helps. Hare Krishna
Meena Devi Dasi Plato's cave also has that reflection of a reflection theme. As far as his realizations took him he could perceive that people were enamored of things with no real substance, Shadows on the wall. But even the objects that were casting the shadows had no real substance. They were being cast by fire light. It wasn't until one of the people was freed and could actually experience the sunlight that the whole situation could be seen as it is. Hare Krishna. There is an added twist to Plato's analogy, when the person who was freed and enlightened tried to give the good news to those that were still bound they rejected him, probably as being crazy. Hare Krishna...

Saturday, November 9, 2013

ALL AROUND WAS DARK

  

   
     After dark last night I had to go to the back of the house to adjust something. There is a small Tulsi garden there. It is southern Florida and very warm year round so the climate is nice for Tulsi. The sky was overcast and there had been rain off and on all day and now also into the night. 
     To my amazement Tulsi was glowing. All around was very dark, but there was a beautiful soft yellow-green light emanating from Her. She seemed to shimmer. Each leaf and flower was distinctly visible. 
     There are several other plants all around, papayas, a banana grove, hedges, bougainvilleas, etc. But they were all dark, hardly even visible in the darkness. 
     Breathtaking. 

REFLECTION OF A REFLECTION


The carousel
Round and round
Life after life
Sometimes a bird
Sometimes a dog
Sometimes a giraffe
Sometimes an insect

A fun ride?
We do not see
The carousel
A reflection of our reality
Our reality a reflection of
True reality,
Krishna's reality. 

Sunday, November 3, 2013

SIMPLE FOR THE SIMPLE


     Last night I had to opportunity to read from Chaitanya Bhagavata by Vrndavana das Thakur. Madhya Khanda Chapter 13, the glories of Nityananda prabhu. Sri Krishna Chaitanya ordered Nityananda prabhu and Haridas to go door to door in Nadiya with a very simple instruction for everyone, "Go to every home with this request, 'Please chant Krishna's name, worship Krishna, and teach others about Krishna.' Don't tell them anything else. Make them chant. At the end of the day come back and tell Me what has happened." (Texts: 9,10)
     The people responded in different ways. Some were happy to hear this and fully agreed to do it. Others became annoyed and hurled abuse and threats at Nityananda and Haridas. Nityananda and Haridas thought it great fun to follow this order of Lord Chaitanya. People said things like, "Why would religious people act like that? If they come again I will take them to the king's court."(Text 28) And some even threatened, "Kill them! Kill them!"(Text 26)
Hearing words like this again and again, Nityananda and Haridasa laughed. Because of the power of Lord Chaitanya's order, they did not become afraid. (text 29) They would return to Lord Chaitanya and tell him of the day's activities. 

    There is a neighbor here who stops to talk sometimes. The conversation this morning was very blissful. The usual, "How are you? How's your health  yada, yada..." then I just introduced Krishna out of the blue. Just said loud and clear, "Hare Krishna" like they were supposed to know what that was.       

     They immediately responded, "Hare Krishna?" Loud and clear. 
     I realized these are the pastimes of the Lord in His manifestation as the Holy Name. 
     The neighbor asked, "So, what is that?" 
     I told them," Krishna is the Personality of Godhead." 
     Of course there was resistance at this point. They were sure to tell me they were Jewish but if I wanted to worship Krishna that was my business. And then lectured me on their religious values. But they couldn't stop saying Krishna. They were resisting Krishna but Krishna was winning. They must have denied the existence of Krishna while chanting His Holy Name at least 50 times in the ten minutes we spent together. 
     I realized what a wonderful conversation that had been. Every other word was Krishna. 
     Remembering what I had read the night before about the glorious pastimes of Nityananda prabhu and Haridas I marveled at the extra ordinary mercy of Lord Chaitanya's sankirtana movement. I will be doing this every chance I get. Simply introducing Krishna into conversations. If they are inimical that is what chanting Hare Krishna is all about, defeating nirvisesa (voidism) sunyavadi (impersonalism). Krishna awards liberation even to the really dangerous demons so what to speak of the innocent and the ignorant
     Philosophy is there. And it is entirely relishable by the devotees. But we see from this pastime in Chaitanya Bhagavata that devotional service to the instructions of Lord Chaitanya and the Holy Name of Krishna is very simple and very sublime.

Friday, November 1, 2013

THE MIRACLE OF LITTLE WAYS


Krishna Srivatsa Subha Visalam  Dear Meena Devi Dasi, I can feel the excitement with which you shared this incident. (BREAKING THE WALL OF SILENCE) Its amazing..the little ways through which we can get connected to Krishna...Krishna is everywhere... Hare Krishna... 
Meena Devi Dasi Thank you Krishna Srivatsa Subha Visalam prabhu. It is true. Small or little has no bearing in devotional service. Devotion is not measured in quantity. Devotion is measured in quality. Krishna is realized through devotion only. Not by work, nor penance, nor austerity, nor knowledge... none of these practices in and of themselves will make the connection to Krishna. When they are enhanced by devotional attitude then the Lord may be pleased to reveal something of Himself. The devotional energy of the Lord is completely different from the material energy of the Lord. Even the tiniest exposure to the devotional energy is so powerful that a person can become completely transformed. In a sense it can be compared to poison... a tiny drop of poison can kill the body. So a tiny drop of devotional energy can kill the material illusion.

THE MISSING LINK


Ashok Kumar  "Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be." It is simply because the the existence "I' or Source is eternal, timeless and immeasurable.Everything out there is a manifestation of this eternal principle. How can the principle die? The verse does not apply to the individual souls. This is the purport of the verse. Thank you 

Meena Devi Dasi  Krishna is quite explicit. He says individual souls do not die. 

Deepak Srivastava  Very true Mataji. Individual souls are eternal due to their eternal relationship with the eternal 'I' referred to in the verse.

Madhusudan Attaluri  Pranaam Mataji. This becomes the beginning sloka of Gita. Bhagwan is Great. In a single couplet He embedded the entire route map of Karma and Atma science. All that follows is an elaboration of the same. Sometimes I doubt whether the Gita is Bhagawan's words or Srila Vyasa Bhagawan's writing. 

Ananthakrishnan Krishnan  So why to worry and become sad. Do our karmas without any attachment or expectation. All are for Krishna arpanam.

Meena Devi Dasi That's the idea. Easier said than done for most of us. Without actually developing love and appreciation for the Personality of Godhead by hearing about Him from Pure devotional sources and also serving Him. Hearing submissively is devotional service but there are many processes of devotional service, praying, chanting, worshiping, and so on.., simply realizing our eternal nature is incomplete. We must be able to repose our loving propensity in Krishna otherwise we will again become attracted to something other than Krishna Himself, which is His illusory energy. Hearing from pure devotional sources is the missing link.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

WOW


     I woke up from the night's sleep and the first thing I thought of... like it was a flash of light in front of me, "I'm never going to die. No one can kill me. I'm eternal." So if someone doesn't like me, well too bad, or if I don't like someone else, too bad. NONE OF US EVER DIE!!!!! We simply change bodies.


na tv evāhaṁ jātu nāsaṁ
      na tvaṁ neme janādhipāḥ
na caiva na bhaviṣyāmaḥ
   arve vayam ataḥ param

     Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be. BG 2:12 
  

Saturday, October 26, 2013

BREAKING THE WALL OF SILENCE


I had to visit a relative who's in the hospital. These hospitals are very intimidating places. There's a whole hierarchy from the doctors down to the nurses…the attendants and there's the specialists and the surgeons and then there's the administrative people. It's like a whole little world in these places and the people are very, very busy. Everyone is running and scurrying here and there trying to take care of people whose bodies aren't working properly. And some of the people are in critical condition. They may be leaving their bodies because it's become nonfunctional. Maybe they were in an accident or they have a disease or a heart attack or for whatever reason. And so everyone is trying to fix the bodies of these people. 

And it is all about the body…the material body. When, in fact, none of these people can really do anything to help anyone without the sanction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And a lot of the maladies, actually we can say all of them, are the results of karma. The results of something the person did that violated the natural laws and so now suffers reaction in the form of an accident or a disease or something. 

It's quite an atmosphere in there. It’s intimidating. They have all big fancy equipment, the latest technology, everything is computerized and immediately into the bodily concept of life. Needless to say, I wasn't happy with this.

And my poor relative, also completely absorbed, "I am this body." I had to do something because if I didn't, I'd get sucked into the bodily concept too and I certainly didn't want that. So I went out into the hallway near the elevators and made believe I was waiting for an elevator. But I was actually chanting on my beads. I was quite visible standing there chanting. Everyone was running all around me with stretchers and blood samples and dinners for people. But I was chanting Hare Krishna, "Where is Krishna?" "Krishna please help, this environment is so materially surcharged with we are these bodies."

One of the employees, maybe a person who takes blood samples, was there waiting at the elevator and a visitor was trying to find a certain room. They asked this person, "Where is room such and such?" They told them, "Down the hallway."

I thought let me ask them, "Where's Krishna?" I'm going to do it. I'm going to break the silence about Krishna here. I've got to get Krishna's Name out there somehow. Connect with someone here about Krishna. I have to, I just have to. It’s my own personal survival. So I asked her, "Where's Krishna?" Just like the person that asked, "Where's room such and such?" 

So I asked, "Where's Krishna?" Like she was supposed to know and say, "Oh down the hallway to the right." She looked at me and smiled very nicely, eyes wide open and said, "Krishna?" So nicely, she said.  Innocent! And that was it! The silence was broken in that whole gigantic hospital. Krishna had appeared in the form of His Holy Name. 

I know that sounds like "Well, you're really exaggerating." No it isn't ... It's not an exaggeration! Krishna's Holy Name is as powerful as Krishna himself because He is incarnated in Holy Name. He's there. 

She said, "Krishna?"and I held my beads up and chanted so she could hear, "Hare Krishna." She smiled. I didn't have to explain. Somehow she knew, "Oh this is something to do with God."

Things progressed from there. From then on out it was like there had been a solid wall that nothing could get through and then that little incident and the whole thing shattered. More opportunities opened up to say something about Krishna or to bring up spiritual topics. So it became a very good afternoon.

I don't know if this has anything to do it or not but when they brought the relative that I was visiting their dinner my relative all of a sudden decided they didn't want the meat that was in their dinner. Now this relative is an avid meat eater. They can’t go for even one meal without meat. Out the blue, they wrapped up the piece of meat in a little piece of plastic and told the attendant they didn't want it. I told the attendant, "Maybe someone in the kitchen has a dog…glancing at my relative on the word dog (like this is not proper food for humans)…that would like this." My relative smiled. He seemed to be glowing. He was glowing. He had somehow been able to sacrifice a little sense gratification and Krishna was pleased. So he had a vegetable plate and was very happy, with cookies and milk for dessert. To me these things are miracles. 

Friday, October 25, 2013

IF


If the Pure Devotee embodies devotion,
the non devotee embodies demonic spirits.

If the Pure Devotee is filled with light,
the non devotee is filled with darkness.

If he Pure Devotee has life eternal,
The non devotee has repeated birth and death.

If the Pure Devotee gives knowledge of Krishna,
The non devotee gives ignorance of Krishna.

If the Pure Devotee gives love of Krishna
The non devotee gives hatred of Krishna.

We are spirit...marginal energy of Krishna... which means
To associate with is to take on the qualities.

Like air when it travels...sometimes over a rose garden sweet and refreshing
or sometimes over a nasty putrid place where something is rotting.

Oh My Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya, 
since I have but once tasted the fragrance of love of God
emanating from the Lotus Feet of Your Pure devotees 
I no longer have any attraction for anything else.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

KILLER OF DEMONS


Dear Lord Krishna, I don't want to see the demons. They are so ugly and nasty. I only want to see You.

Crying for You is sweet, blissful and gives life. Crying because of a demon's torment is misery and death. 

There are demons in my father.
Waving the piece of meat he was eating on his fork in my face
saying, "Sure you don't want some."
His face was horrible.
Smiling like he must have smiled when I was child
And had held the same meat in front of the child... eat.

As my father sat there in the hospital bed with catheter
and wired to heart and blood monitors,
a demon, now the king of all, babbling incoherently and complaining about the service...
not being served exactly the way he expected.

A demon peered out of my father's face and
laughed at me for "mumbling to myself"
as I took shelter of the Holy Names of God softly
chanting quietly on my beads.
The demon didn't like it because he wanted me to give full
attention to his nonsensical meanderings and 
demands for agreement with his every statement.
Right or wrong, always right. Right!

Demon possessed. 
They're not always visible.
A demon would get my father 
to beat me violently at different times.
It was very confusing. 
Because my father is very kind and gentle and loving
and it is natural to be drawn to him and trust him.
But then in that trusting open condition
The demons appear and make my father become cruel. 

The demons likes to enter me too 
and give me horrible nightmares
Make me angry and disturb me sexually.
They are my father's demons. 
I had to run away from home many times
growing up to get away from the demons
But now I am stuck. My father is old and 
there is no one else to care for him.

Today, I fell for it. I got too close. I trusted my father.
And now the demons are trying to take me over.
I've been here so many times. Maybe this is the time I get free.
To identify a problem is 99% of solving it.
Since recently conquering fault finding which was such a huge 
problem for so long I was wondering what the next
anartha (unwanted thing) to be relieved of would be.
I had no idea it was would be my father's demons.

Jaya Sri Krishna. The killer of demons.(1)
Killer of Putana. 
Killer of Trnavarta. 
Killer of Aghasura. 
Killer of Bhakasura. 
Killer of Kesi. 
Killer of Aristhasura. 
Killer of Vatsasura. 
Killer of Dhenukasura. 
Killer of Kamsa (the king of the demons)

Jaya Sri Krishna. The lover of Srimati Radharani. 

I wonder what the next anartha is going to be?
Hare Krishna. 

(1)KRISHNA BOOK SUMMARY STUDY 10TH CANTO SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM

GAINING ACCESS


MADHUSUDAN ATTALURI: Meena Devi Dasi Ji. Pranaam Maatha. Gratitude for sharing such a precious knowledge. I request you to be in reach of the SPEAKINGTREE seekers for guiding them with your compassionate words.

Yesterday I was at Tirumala (Tirupathi) to take darshan of Balaji. One foreigner innocently enquired my son that where the footwear are deposited? Where is the entrance to Sanctum Sanctorum? My son felt compassion towards the helplessness of the foreign seeker. Whereas we were struggling for the past two days to get entry pass to the Temple. What to say and how to guide him?

May God grace the visitor.

MEENA DEVI DASI: The visitor became fortunate by meeting you and your son. The benefit of pilgrimage to holy places is to contact the saints and devotees who are there. By their mercy we gain access to the Lord.

There is an account of a great Vaisnava saint who was giving darshan. He is in line of succession from Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Bhaktidsiddhanta Saraswati Goswami. He actively preached to expand Krishna consciousness in the early part of 20th century. So he was giving darshan. Pure devotee. Empowered with pure devotion to Lord Krishna. The aratika conch shell blew and the sound of the pujari's bell-ringing could be heard. Many of the people in darshan excused themselves to view the deities. Maharaja commented, "What will they see? Simply eye exercise." The living representative of the Lord was there before them but they could not recognize.

We do not go directly to the Lord. He will be forever blocked from our view in that way.

One day we will cry when we think of the pastime of Sri Krishna Chaitanya and the woman who was so eager to have darshan of Lord Jagannatha that the Lord allowed her to stand on the Lord Himself in His incarnation as a devotee of the Lord.  CHAITANYA CHARITAMRTA ANTYA LILA 14:23

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

MAKING THE UNFORTUNATE FORTUNATE


SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM CHAPTER 9 TEXT 7 (1)
daivena te hata-dhiyo bhavataḥ prasaṅgāt
sarvāśubhopaśamanād vimukhendriyā ye
kurvanti kāma-sukha-leśa-lavāya dīnā
lobhābhibhūta-manaso ’kuśalāni śaśvat

TRANSLATION
O my Lord, persons who are bereft of the all-auspicious performance of chanting and hearing about Your transcendental activities are certainly unfortunate and are also bereft of good sense. They engage in inauspicious activities, enjoying sense gratification for a very little while.

PURPORT
(A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
The next question is why people are against such auspicious activities as chanting and hearing the glories and pastimes of the Lord, which can bring total freedom from the cares and anxieties of material existence. The only answer to this question is that they are unfortunate because of supernatural control due to their offensive activities performed simply for the sake of sense gratification. The Lord’s pure devotees, however, take compassion upon such unfortunate persons and, in a missionary spirit, try to persuade them into the line of devotional service. Only by the grace of pure devotees can such unfortunate men be elevated to the position of transcendental service.


OUR DISCUSSION
In a previous blog (2) we cited the story of Parvati, Siva and the beggar. How the beggar was unfortunate and so was not able to access the large amount of money Lord Siva had hidden in the watermelon.

The deep meaning of that story is illuminated in this verse. This is one of a series of prayers Lord Brahma in his darshan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is offering for creative energy. Lord Brahma very nicely cites the unfortunate position of those who have access to chanting and hearing about the Lord but who are distracted by temporary material sense gratification.

In his commentary A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami further elaborates by questioning why such persons are unfortunate and cannot take advantage even though they may have access. The answer is given. They are not allowed to due to their sinful activity.

This is where we see the super excellent position of the pure devotees of the Lord. The pure devotees try to make the unfortunate fortunate by aligning their activities in devotional service.  How fortunate is this!! How valuable is such association!! That they make an effort to reach out to those who are blocked from access. It is simply by their mercy.

Although many people have access to study and read scripture the meaning remains hidden from them. Krishna says, I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.(3) 

By the mercy of the pure devotee of Krishna the path of devotion is revealed. And it is only by undivided devotional service that the Lord can known as He is.(4)

Without the mercy of pure devotion the real meaning of the Vedas and all scriptures remains a mystery. 

(1) SB 3.9.7
(2) SIMPLY UNFORTUNATE
(3) BG 15.15
(4) BG 11.54

Sunday, October 20, 2013

SIMPLY UNFORTUNATE


     Some people are so unfortunate. Because they are so overly attached to sense gratification, specifically sex they end up offending the Pure Devotee. Blinded. It is always very disturbing to meet them. They are full of poison and nonsense ideas that they have concocted in their minds. They are so unfortunate. They have the opportunity to actually get the Mercy of the Lord but they cannot recognize their good fortune.

     It's like the incident with Parvati, Lord Siva and the beggar (1). Parvati was insisting that Lord Siva give a beggar something. Lord Siva told her it would not make any difference because this particular beggar was so unfortunate he would not be able to utilize a gift. She insisted so Lord Siva put a large amount of money inside a watermelon and gave the melon to the beggar. The beggar thought, "What do I want with a melon? Let me sell it and get some paisa (like pennies). So that was his misfortune. He had the opportunity but could not take advantage of it. So these poor unfortunate people come into contact with Sri Krishna Chaitanya's sankirtana but they cannot take advantage.

(1) BREAD, WATERMELON, FATE AND INTERPRETATION

DESIRING DESIRELESSNESS


DESIRING DESIRELESSNESS

Experiencing the sufferings caused by desiring material sense gratification and fruitive activity on the material plane,
the desire for freedom from desire arises.

But simply desiring desirelessness is not a strong position.
At any time such a state can be shaken by the insurmountable forces of the illusory energy of the Lord.

A state of desiring desirelessness is in fact itself an illusory state,
like holding the breath underwater thinking, "Now I have solved the drowning problem. I've stopped taking in water which was choking me."

To desire desirelessness is still to desire something.
Desiring desirelessness. Desire cannot be stopped.
It can only be held in check for a while.

Therefore it should be clear that to desire such liberation is not true liberation. A devotee of Sri Krishna Chaitanya is not interested in such liberation or desirelessness. They do not desire desirelessness.
These two negatives do not make a positive.
They make a state of zero activity.

The only positive solution is to desire to reestablish a
loving relationship with the Cause of all Causes, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, through devotional service... purified desire for the Truly Desirable.

Then the three modes of material nature have no jurisdiction.
Then the sufferings caused by desiring material sense gratification
and fruitive activity on the material plane are avoided.






Friday, October 18, 2013

YOUR VOICE


Oh gurudeva, Srila Prabhupada (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami)

What is so special about your books?
Your voice.

How are your books different from your taped lectures,
Or taped kirtans and bhajans? They are also your voice.

Your books are like sheets of music.
When we read them aloud we sing the songs you have written,
Songs of love of God.

If we sing them then we also taste love of God.
If we sing them enough we develop love of God.

These songs enter deep into our heart and make it also sing.
Not just our lips and tongues.
This is the secret of hearing and chanting.

I pray we all taste the nectar that is there.
Dear god brothers and god sisters and everyone, please read Srila Prabhupada's books.
Not just silently, but out loud.

Even if no one (that we can perceive) is there.
Srila Prabhupada is there. Krishna is there. Radharani is there. Lord Chaitanya is there.

Hear and chant. Prabhupada has given us the sheet music.
Let us all become Krishna’s symphony orchestra,
Srila Prabhupada the great composer and director.   






Friday, October 11, 2013

2013 ANNUAL SRI KSETRA JAGANNATHA PURI DHAMA PARIKRAMA

2013 Annual Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama Parikrama
Organized by ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)

Every year during the month of November/December, few days after the end of Kartik masa (month) ISKCON organizes Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama Parikrama. This year’s Parikrama will be from 19 to 23 November 2013. More details are on: www.mayapur.com/serve-mayapur/sri-ksetra-parikrama-2012/

Please contact HG Ananga Mohan Das (Ananga.Mohan.tkg@pamho.net) or HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami Maharaj (bpssecretary@pamho.net /bps@pamho.net) for more details.

SRI KSETRA JAGANNATHA PURI DHAMA
SRI PURUSHOTTAMA KSETRA JAGANNATHA PURI DHAMA

The waves pounding on the beach, the refreshing sea breezes, the colossal hand-carved 12th century stone temple, the relaxed and happy ambience of the local folk, the bright red, yellow and blue cloth appliqué, and that bewitching pair of big smiling eyes looking out from every wall, every billboard, every poster, every calendar, every wedding invitation, every sticker, every button, every bead bag, every taxi and rickshaw, every windshield, every t-shirt, every shoulder bag - “This is Jagannatha Puri Dhama”, one of India’s most popular pilgrimage sites located in Orissa, 300 miles south of Kolkata and 60km from Bhubaneswar.

In Skanda-Purana (Utkala-khanda) it is mentioned that this most beautiful Sri Ksetra is spread over 10 yojanas (128km or 80 miles) and surrounded by sands. Utkala is another name of Orissa. Utkala is described in scriptures as the most holy place on this planet. Utkala is divided into four parts which represent the weapons of Lord Visnu. These four ksetras are known as Sankha-ksetra (Puri town), Padma-ksetra (Konark), Cakra-ksetra (Bhubaneswar) and Gada-ksetra (Jajapura, where the Viraja Devi temple is). Within this area of 10 yojanas, Puri is known as Sankha-ksetra because its shape resembles a conch shell. This Puri-ksetra covers an area of 5 krosa, 3 of which are immersed under the ocean, and 2 on land. This land is covered with golden sands and decorated with a blue mountain. The Lord Himself in His arca-vigraha form is residing here on the bank of the ocean atop the blue mountain. Sankha-ksetra spreads from east to west. Its head is towards west where Lokanatha Mahadeva resides.

Puri-dhama is known by different names: Purusottama-ksetra, Sri Ksetra, Nilacala-dhama, Jagannatha-dhama, Yamanika-tirtha, Martya Vaikuntha, Nilagiri, Sankha-ksetra, Dasa-avatara-ksetra and Nrsimha-ksetra. Glories of Sri Purusottama-ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama are mentioned in different Puranas: Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, Vamadeva Samhita, Kapila Samhita, Padma Purana and Niladri Purana.


Relationship of Three-Dhamas: (teen dhama sambandha) - VRINDAVAN, NAVADVIPA-MAYAPUR and JAGANNATHA PURI
It is generally thought that,
Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama represents the Aisvarya (opulence, power & grandeur) of Dvaraka and Kurukshetra.
Sri Navadvipa-Mayapur Dhama represents Audarya (compassion).
Sri Vrindavan Dhama represents Madhurya (sweetness).

·         - Jagannatha Puri and Navadvipa-Mayapur are two bhajana-sthalis for sadhaka cultivating Krishna-prema because they contribute two important ingredients.
·         - Navadvipa-Mayapur Dhama gives the mercy of Sri Krishna’s Holy Names and Gaura-Nitai kindly remove anarthas and aparadhas from the heart.
·         - Jagannatha Puri embodies the mood of separation - awakening deep longing and yearning to be with Sri Krishna - which forcefully carries one into Krishna’s association. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu displayed this mood in Jagannatha Puri. Through the door of Gauranga’s Puri pastimes, one can enter the land of eternal enchantment, Sri Vrindavan Dhama.

LORD GAURANGA MAHAPRABHU’S TIME IN SRI JAGANNATHA PURI DHAMA
After taking sannyasa, Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu made His headquarters in Jagannatha Puri at the request of His mother, Sri Sacidevi, and was based there for remaining 24 years of His manifest pastimes. However, Mahaprabhu’s first visit was cut short because He immediately left for a South India yatra which lasted 2 years (1510-12).

Ages 24-30: All India Preaching
Gauranga Mahaprabhu continuously travelled to and from Jagannatha Puri. He toured South India, Vrindavan and Bengal distributing love of God by ecstatic dancing and chanting the Holy Names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||
He met all big religious teachers, debating with them and established Krishna-prema as the sublime goal of human life. He based His arguments based on Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam and He firmly established His Hari-prema-Nama Sankirtana movement throughout the sub-continent. 

Ages 30-36: Puri Preaching
After travelling to and from Jagannatha Puri for 6 years, Gauranga Mahaprabhu fixed His residence at Jagannatha Puri for remaining 18 years of His life. Every year, the devotees visited Puri and stayed with Him for 4 months (catur-masya) enjoying Lord’s company. Lord relished various pastimes including cleansing the Gundica Temple, Rathayatra, ecstatic kirtans in Jagannatha Temple, water sports in Narendra Sarovara and Deity festivals like Dola Yatra. He spent these 6 years mainly chanting Holy Names and dancing with His many devotees, thus inducing everyone to love Krishna by this simple process.
Through His personal behaviours, Lord instructed all living entities in the science of Bhakti. A person advanced in Krishna Consciousness always feels separation from Krishna. Lord Caitanya taught how, with a feeling of separation one can develop his dormant love of Krishna. These feelings develop in time when a person seriously engages in devotional service.

Ages 36-48: Gambhira & Internally relishing Krishna
For last 12 years of His life, Gauranga Mahaprabhu was continuously overwhelmed, night & day by separation from Krishna. Associating mainly with Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and Ramananda Raya, Mahaprabhu tasted the blissful divine songs and verses from Krishna Karnamrita, Gita Govinda, Srimad Bhagavatam and Jagannatha Vallabha Nataka. Mahaprabhu relished Sri Krishna’s sweet beauty, fragrance and mellow as if He were touching Krishna hand to hand.
In the mood of Vraja-gopis, Sri Caitanyadeva was always experiencing the pastimes of Krishna in separation within His heart. When Krishna left the gopis and went to Mathura, they cried for Krishna the rest of their lives, torn by the pangs of separation from Him. Gopis’ ecstatic feelings of separation were specifically advocated by Lord Caitanya through His actual demonstrations. Tossed by the waves of separation, Mahaprabhu appeared mad day and night. Sometimes He laughed, sometimes cried, sometimes danced, and sometimes He chanted in great sorrow. Mahaprabhu saw Jagannatha Swami with the same feelings of separation that Vraja-gopis experienced when they saw Krishna at Kurukshetra after long separation.

Lord Caitanya now taught everyone to taste the transcendental mellow ecstasy of Krishna-prema by tasting it Himself. Advanced devotees always feel separation from Krishna. Gauranga taught how, with a feeling of separation one can develop his dormant love Krishna. Such feelings develop in time when a person seriously engages in devotional service.

SRI KSETRA JAGANNATHA PURI DHAMA PARIKRAMA
Places to visit:
1. Gambhira (the small room in which Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lived during His 18 years in Jagannatha Puri);
2. Sri Tota Gopinatha Mandira (most unique Krishna Deity in the world “sitting down”);
3. Sri Siddha-Bakula (Bhajana Kutir of Namacarya Srila Haridas Thakura); 4. Gundica Temple (Rathayatra culminates here);
5. Lord Nrsimhadeva Temple (unique ancient Temple of Santa- Nrsimhadeva and Ugra-Nrsimhadeva); 6. Jagannatha Vallabha Garden (Lord Caitanya used to take rest here after Rathayatra);
7. Birthplace of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura8. Narandera Sarovara (Lord Jagannatha comes here for Nauka-vihar (boat-pastimes) duringChandan Yatra Mahostav);
9. Srila Haridasa Thakura Samadhi10. ISKCON Bhakti Kuti (Srila Bhakivinoda Thakura spent his last 4 years here); 11. Cataka Parvata Sand Dunes;
12. Bhajana Kutir of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura13. “Mahodadhi” - A Great Ocean;
14. Satasana Bhajana Sthali15. Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya house (Lord Caitanya showed His Sadbhuja (six-armed) form here);
16. Sweta Ganga17. Indradyumna Sarovara18. Markandeya Sarovara19. Visakha Math20. Bali Math21. Mausi Maa Mandir;
22. Ahulya Math (home of Lord Nityananda and Sri Advaita Acarya at Jagannatha Puri)23. Cakra Tirtha24. Bedi Hanuman Temple25. Atharnala bridge;
26. “SRI MANDIRA” - LORD JAGANNATHA TEMPLE (eternal abode of Lord Jagannatha)

1. GAMBHIRA
“Gambhira”, the small room in which Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lived during His 18 years in Jagannatha Puri. This is located on Svargadvara Road, the main street running by the Lion Gate toward the ocean. It is 5 mins walk to the Jagannatha Temple. Sign above the entrance gate reads, “Sri Sri Radha Kanta Math Gambhira”. When Mahaprabhu came to Jagannatha Puri after taking sannyasa, He stayed at Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya’s House. But After he toured South India, on His return to Puri he then stayed at Kashi Mishra’s House. Kashi Mishra was Rajguru of King Prataparudra, and King had gifted him a house with a large garden near the temple. King Prataparudra was a great Devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; He suggested to Sarvabhauma that Mahaprabhu can stay in Kashi Mishra’s house.

The word gambhira means deep, inscrutable, hidden or secret. Mahaprabhu stayed in Gambhira constantly for last 12 years of His manifest pastimes. During this time He was feeling intense separation from Krishna and was manifesting His viraha-bhava. Room is “deep” inside the house. When Mahaprabhu stayed here the room had mud walls and sunken floor, which has been raised in the course of time. By looking through a small barred window one can see a box holding the kamandalu (clay water pot), paduka (wooden shoes) and a quilt given to Him by Mother Saci. On marble throne there is a Deity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wrapped with a  cloth so that only His beautiful face is visible. On wall above is a terracotta bas-relief of Gauranga Mahaprabhu flanked by Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya on His right and left. Govinda Dasa, personal servant of Mahaprabhu, stands below holding Mahaprabhu’s kamandalu. There are dioramas upstairs depicting the pastimes of Sri Caitanyadeva.

Main DeitiesSri Sri Radha Kanta is worshipped in Kasi Mishra’s house. King Prataparudra’s father, Sri Purusottama Deva, conquered the king of kanchipura in battle and returned with three deities: Radha Kanta, Sakshi Gopala, and Bhada GaneshaBhada Ganesha is still worshipped in an inner courtyard just behind Jagannatha temple. It is said Radha Kanta was also worshipped inside the Jagannatha Mandir for some time. But in dream Lord Jagannatha informed the King Prataparudra to remove Radha Kanta deity Because He is taking all nice items from his bhoga plate and so king requested to his Gurudev Kashi Mishra to take the Radha Kanta to his house.

LORD CAITANYA’S ROOM AT GAMBHIRA

LORD CAITANYA’S ORIGINAL PADUKA (wooden shoes),
KAMANDALU (clay water pot), and a QUILT to Him by Mother Saci

THEIR LORDSHIPS SRI SRI RADHA-KANTA AT KASI MISRA’s HOUSE, GAMBHIRA

LORD SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU at GAMBHIRA

2. SRI TOTA-GOPINATHA TEMPLE
Sri Tota Gopinatha is exquisitely beautiful Deity of Lord Sri Krishna. Tota Gopinatha is also a most unique Deity because He is the only Krishna Deity in the world “sitting down”. Moreover, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu concluded His manifest pastimes here by entering the Gopinatha Deity.

Main Deities: Sri Tota Gopinatha graces the centre altar with Sri Radhika playing vina and Lalita sakhi playing flute on His left and right. Being deeply absorbed in syama-rasa - the mellow of satisfying all of Krishna’s conjugal desires - Radhika and Lalita-sakhi appear black. Holding Herkacchapi-vina, Srimati Radharani curiously stands in a three-fold bending form dancing in time with Her beloved syamam tri-bhanga-lalitam. The left altar features Lord Balaram with Revati and Varuni on His left and right. On right altar are Deities of Gaura-Gadadhara and Sri Sri Radha Madana-mohana installed by Mamu Thakura. He is the nephew of Sri Nilambara Cakravati, Lord Gauranga’s grandfather.

Sri Tota Gopinatha has such a charismatic bewitching quality that draws one to His darshana over and over again. Srila Vrindavana Thakura extols His power: “Even an extreme atheist will be changed upon seeing the Deity of Gopinatha.”

At 7am during darshan time, upon request, the pujari can show a small golden streak on Gopinatha’s right knee where Mahaprabhu entered the Lord.

Appearance of Tota Gopinatha:
Gopinatha temple is situated in an area named Yamesvara Tota. While residing here in this peaceful garden of trees and creepers, Gadadhara Pandita recited Srimad Bhagavatam every afternoon. Mahaprabhu attended regularly and heard recount the stories of Dhruva and Prahlada Maharaj 100 times.

One day here, Sri Caitanyadeva experienced immense separation from Krishna. Crying out, “Where us My Prananatha,” Gauranga started digging the earth to search of His Lord. Feeling the carved stone mukuta of a murti below the ground, Gaurahari declared, “Gadai, I have found a most precious treasure here. Would you like to accept it?” Noticing the head of a murti emerging from the sand, Gadadhara helped Gauranga uncover a most beautiful Deity of Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. Mahaprabhu named the Deity, Gopinatha, and because He appeared in a garden (tota in Oriya) the devotees called Him, Tota Gopinatha. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu engaged Gadadhara Pandita in Gopinatha’s service by awarding him ksetra-sannyasa.

Why Tota Gopinatha is sitting down?
The Deity of Sri Tota Gopinatha was previously in standing form and was being worshiped by Gadadhara Pandita. But after the departure of Mahaprabhu, Gadai (Gadadhara) felt devastated. His body got bent over from intense agony of separation from his beloved Gaura. Although he was only 47 years old, Gadadhara became lean and thin like an old man. Incapable of lifting his arms, Gadai could neither dress Tota Gopinatha nor offer Him candana and flower garlands. Gadadhara thought it best to engage another pujari in worshiping the Lord. In a dream that night, Sri Tota Gopinatha appeared and said, “Why do you want to engage another pujari in My seva? I only want you to serve Me.”

Gadadhara replied, “O Prananatha! Due to my condition, I can no longer stand up and serve You properly.” Lord Gopinatha said, “No, I insist that you alone serve Me. If you are finding difficulty, then from tomorrow I will become shorter.” Next morning when Gadadhara entered the Deity room to serve Gopinatha, he saw an amazing sight. The most merciful Lord had sat down in order to receive service from his hands.

SRI SRI TOTA-GOPINATHA - Most Unique Krishna Deity in the world in “Sitting” posture.
Sri Tota Gopinatha graces the centre altar with Sri Radhika playing vina and Lalita sakhi playing flute on His left and right. Being deeply absorbed in syama-rasa - the mellow of satisfying all of Krishna’s conjugal desires - Radhika and Lalita-sakhi appear black. Holding Her kacchapi-vina, Srimati Radharani curiously stands in a three-fold bending form dancing in time with Her beloved syamam tri-bhanga-lalitam.

Sri Tota Gopinatha has such a charismatic bewitching quality that draws one to His darshan over and over again. Srila Vrindavana Thakura extols His power: “Even an extreme atheist will be changed upon seeing the Deity of Gopinatha.”

LORD BALARAMA (centre) with SRIMATI REVATI and SRIMATI VARUNI
The left altar at Sri Tota Gopinatha Temple features Lord Balarama with Revati and Varuni on His left and right.

On right altar are Deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhara and Sri Sri Radha Madana-mohana installed by Mamu Thakura. He is the nephew of Sri Nilambara Cakravati, Lord Gauranga’s grandfather.

3. SRI SIDDHA-BAKULA
Bhajana Kutir of Namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura
Siddha Bakula is located near Gambhira Temple on Bali Sahi road. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally arranged for Srila Haridasa Thakura to reside at this place. This is the place where he performed his daily bhajana of chanting 192 rounds (3,00,000 names) of Hare Krishna maha-mantra:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare |
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||
Since Haridas could not enter the Jagannatha Temple, being of a Muslim family, Sri Caitanya requested Haridasa, "Remain here and chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. I shall personally come here to meet you daily. Remain here peacefully, and look at the cakra on top of Lord Jagannatha's temple and offer obeisances. As far as your Prasadam, I shall arrange to have that sent here." In order to provide shade for Thakur Haridasa, Sri Caitanya planted a used tooth stick of Lord Jagannatha. All of a sudden it grew up and appeared as a great shade tree. When Srila Rupa Goswami visited Jagannatha Puri, Mahaprabhu allocated him a residence here with Thakura Haridasa. Rupa Gosvami recitedLalitha Madhava and Vidagdha Madhava under this tree before Sri Gauranga and his followers. During his stay Sanatana Gosvami also lived here. Haridasa Thakur left his body here.

There is a small temple featuring a murti of namacarya Srila Haridas Thakura in a sitting pose chanting japa. The site has extraordinary bakulatree winding and climbing around the courtyard. Tree looks like it exploded or it appears like petrified wood; completely dead. Yet it is wonderfully flourishing with lush green leaves and fragrant flowers. In another temple altar is Sadbhuja Gauranga (six-armed Gauranga) in the middle and Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Acarya. There is also a Deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva.

SRI SIDDHA-BAKULA -
the place where Srila Haridas Thakura performed his daily bhajana of chanting 192 rounds (3,00,000 names) of Hare Krishna maha-mantra:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||


4. GUNDICA TEMPLE
Every year the Rathayatra culminates at this temple which is surrounded by lush gardens and tall cooling coconut trees. Fragrant flowers and shady trees create a Vrindavan atmosphere which Lord Jaganantha enjoys for 7 days before returning to Sri Mandira. This temple is located at the opposite end of main road about 3 km northeast of the Jagannatha Temple. The temple at Gundica is called Sundaracala and Jagannatha Temple is called Nilacala. During  Rathayatra festival, Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra along Sudarshan, leave Jagannatha Mandira for nine days: one day for travelling to Gundicha, Seven days spent there, and one day to return home. This Journey is known as to Gundica YatraNava Dina Yatra (“nine days Journey”), or Ghosa Yatra. It is most auspicious to have darshana of Lord Jagannatha at this time.

Gundica Mandira is called the “birthplace” of Jagannatha Svami because here on a special platform called the mahavedi, a celestial carpenter carved the daru that manifested the Deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra during the reign of King lndradyumna. It is said that the wife of lndradyumna, the king who originally established the temple of Jagannatha, was known as Gundica. The cleansing of the Gundica Temple - Gundica-marjana - takes place the day before the Rathayatra festival as mentioned in Caitanya-CaritamritaDarshan of Jagannatha during His stay at Gundica temple is known as Adapa Darshana. It is said in scripture that darshan of the Lord Jagannatha at Gundica temple is equal to ten darshan at Nilachala Temple (main temple). This place is compared to Vrindavana.

GUNDICA TEMPLE - Rathayatra culminates at this temple

5. LORD NRSIMHADEVA TEMPLE
This is a very ancient temple, next to Gundica Temple. There are two Deities of Lord Nrsimhadeva, one behind the other. Santa Nrsimhadeva (peaceful) is in the front. Santa Nrsimhadeva has human-like features: a sharp nose, curvy moustache and an outstretched tongue. By seeing Santa Nrsimhadeva one will feel cool and relaxed; all anger, anxiety and frustration will vanish. Once a Muslim marauder named Kalapahad ransacked Puri and broke many Deities. Upon seeing Santa Nrsimhadeva, his anger subsided and he did not touch the Deity. Deity behind is Ugra Nrsimhadeva (ferocious) and may be seen with pujari’s lamp.

6. JAGANNATHA VALLABHA GARDEN
This a very important place of pilgrimage because several wonderful pastimes enacted here, after the Rathayatra when Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subdhara relaxes in the Gundica Temple, Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu took rest here for 9 days.
v   
v  Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu used to meet Sri Ramananda Raya who was His very dear and confidential associate. A great-devotee and King, King Prataparudra was delivered by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu here. Towards the later part of Mahaprabhu’s life, when He was feeling intense separation from Lord Sri Krishna, He came to this garden on a full moon day during the month of Vaisakha, along with His associates. Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami has explained this pastime very nicely in Caitanya-Caritamrta Antya 19-76-100.
v   
v  The wonderful pastime of Mahaprabhu’s Bhojan Lila (Mahaprabhu’s honouring of Prasada) took place here. A great pandita Pradyuma Misra came here to learn to look beyond the material covering and he heard Bhagavata-Katha from Ramananda Raya,

This large garden, full of coconut trees and cooling pond, is very dear (vallabha) to Lord Jagannatha because it produces varieties of flowers and fruits for His service. Lord Jagannatha’s utsava murti, festival Deity, come here on different auspicious functions and relish many spectacular festivities performed here. It is believed that this garden existed since the construction of Lord Jagannatha’s Temple.

Immediately to the left entrance of the garden is Jagannatha Vallabha Matha, which is said to be established by the Sri Visnuswami Sampradaya. Inside the temple there are 3 altars. In one, Sri Radha Gopala murtis are worshipped. These Deities are extraordinarily beautiful. The Gopala murti has four hands: in two hands He holds sankha and cakra, and in other two His celebrated flute. Second altar has Deities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in sannyasa dress sitting before Ramananda Raya. Third altar houses large Deities of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subdhara and Sudarsana Cakra.

This temple is half km walk up the Grand Road towards Jagannatha Mandira. Garden has distinctive dark red boundary wall. Above main entrance gate there is a colourful diorama of Lord Visnu lying on Ananta Sesa.

LORD SRI CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU and SRILA RAMANANDA RAYA at Jagannatha Vallabha Matha
Srila Ramananda Raya and Srila Svarupa Damodara were two most confidential associates of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.


7. BIRTHPLACE OF SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI THAKURA
Birthplace of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura is located near to Jagannatha Vallabha Garden. Proceed towards the Jagannatha Mandira. Until on the right side the big pink Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math temple with a sign above the entrance gate saying, “Birth Place of Prabhupada 108 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Thakura”. Present day temple is located on the former site of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s house, where he lived while acting as the Puri District Magistrate and Jagannatha Temple Administrator.

Main Deities: A gorgeous black Krishna and most attractive, charming golden Srimati Radharani named Sri Sri Radha-Nayana Mani Jiu grace the centre altar. The words nayana mani mean, “Krishna-the jewel of Radha’s lotus eyes”. Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra are also here. A murti of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura is being worshiped in the far right altar. This is the exact spot where he appeared. It is said that while digging the earth during the temple construction, a sweet sandalwood smell emanated from the ground where Sarasvati Thakura took birth. While doing the Mandira parikrama, one will see the four sampradaya acaryas: Visnuswami, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka and Ramanuja, and beautiful diorama of various pastimes of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

BIRTHPLACE  OF SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI THAKURA

8. NARANDERA SAROVARA
This large tank is located north-east of Jagannatha’s temple. This pond is also known as Sri Chandan Pukur, because Lord Jagannatha comes here every evening for 21 consecutive days during Chandan-yatra, from Aksaya-trtiya (in month of Vaisakha or April/May) up to Suklastami-tithiin the month of Jyestha (May/June) to enjoy His Nauka-Lila (boating pastime).

Jagannatha Swami’s Chandan Yatra and Nauka-Lila: Before coming here, Lord Jagannatha’s festive Deity (utsava murti) of Madan Mohana along with His consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi bathe in sandalwood water and are decorated with fragrant flowers. All the Deities travel here on 7 different palanquins. Madan-Mohana, Sri and Bhu-devis arrive in one palanquin; Sri Rama Govinda on a second palanquin; and 5 more palanquins transport the Panca Mahadevas (five Siva linga Deities): Lokanatha, Janesvara, Kapal-mocana, Markandesvara and Nilakanthesvara. Entire length of the procession route from Jagannatha Mandira to Narendra Sarovara is lined with white canopies strewn with forest leaves, flower and fruits. In Narendra-sarovara two nicely decorated boats are used for Chandana-yatra: one boat Sri Madan-Mohana and other boat for Sri Rama Govinda and Panca-Sivas. While the Lords ride in Their boats around the pond, throngs of devotees line the banks chantingHarinam-Sankirtan and relishing most spectacular pastimes of the Lord. After a certain point all the Deities are brought to the temple in the middle of the pond and receive worship from the pujaris. After the festivities the Deities go back to their respective temples in their palanquins.

NARANDERA SAROVARA - Chandan Yatra Mahotsava

9. SRILA HARIDASA THAKURA’S SAMADHI
Srila Haridasa Thakura Samadhi is located on the oceanfront in the area of Svargadvara opposite to ISKCON Bhakti Kuti. At time of Mahaprabhu it was just sandy beach. Here Lord Caitanya put the body of Srila Haridasa Thakura into Samadhi with His own hands.

Towards the west of the Samadhi there are three alter where the deities of Lord Gauranga, Lord Nityananda and Sri Advaita Acarya are worshipped. After the disappearance of Srila Haridasa Thakura, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu would come daily after taking bath in the ocean, offer Prasada to Haridasa Thakura's Samadhi, and do Nama Bhajana for some time. Thus all the Deities are in sitting posture and doing Nama Bhajana. Srila Haridas Thakura was residing in his Bhajan kutir behind Gambhira, at the place known as Siddha Bakula. Haridas Thakura left his body in the presence of Mahaprabhu, who lifted Haridas Thakura in His arms and carried his transcendental body to the oceanfront in a Harinama procession. There his body was placed in the Samadhi.

SRILA HARIDASA THAKURA’S SAMADHI

10. ISKCON BHAKTI-KUTI
Bhakti-Kuti is the name that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gave to his bhajana kutrir, which was located beside the sea just opposite Haridasa Thakura’s Samadhi. This the place where illustrious Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura spent his last 4 years on earth (1910-14) before entering Samadhi. In 1908, Thakura left household life and entered renounced order by accepting babaji-vesa from Srila Gaura-kisora Dasa Babaji Maharaj. In 1910, Thakura stayed inside the Bhakti-kuti performing solitary bhajana. He absorbed himself in uninterrupted meditation uponasta-kaliya lila and rendering mental service to the Divine Couple Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. Millions of years ago, the Sapta-rsis performed Hari-bhajana in this area.

When the Government declared that any Vaishnava Society can undertake it’s responsibility, ISKCON took its responsibility and built a temple for the presiding deities Sri Sri Radha Giridhari & Caitanya Mahaprabhu. On the outside wall is a marble plaque with the following verse written in Bengali by Bhaktivinoda Thakur himself:
gaura-prabhoh prema-vilasa-bhumau
niskincano bhakti-vinoda-nama
ko’pi sthito bhakti-kutira-kosthe
smrtvanizam nama-gunam murareh
In this land, Lord Gaura enjoyed His prema-filled pastimes. One desire less sadhu named Bhaktivinoda stays in a small room in his Bhakti-kuti, constantly remembering the name and qualities of His Lord Murari throughout the night.”

HIS DIVINE GRACE SACHIDANANDA BHAKTIVINODA THAKURA at ISKCON BHAKTI-KUTI

11. CATAKA PARVATA SAND DUNES
All the hilly sand dunes in this area are known as Cataka Parvata where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu enjoyed ecstatic pastimes. One day while Mahaprabhu was going to bathe in the ocean He mistook the sand dune named Cataka-parvata to be Govardhana Hill and ran toward it while uttering verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 10.21.18: “Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Krishna and Balarama, along with Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities — water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krishna and Balarama, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.”

Sri Caitanyadeva’s personal servant Govinda followed but he failed to catch the Lord. Svarupa Damodara Goswami, Jagadananda Pandita, Gadadhara Pandita, Ramai, Nandai and Sankara Pandita roared tumultuously as they ran after Mahaprabhu. Bhagavan Acarya, who was lame, trudged along very slowly. Although Gauranga was running at the speed of wind, He suddenly became stunned in ecstasy (stamba-bhava) losing all power to move.

Within seconds, Sri Caitanyadeva manifested all asta-sattvika vikara, 8 transformations of divine ecstasy- stupor (stamba), perspiration (sveda), horripilation (romancha), choking of the voice (svara-bhanga), trembling (vepathu), changes in color (vaivarnya), profuse weeping (asru), and loss of external consciousness (pralaya). Gaura’s transcendental body flushed with thrill bumps and His bodily hairs, standing on end (romancha), appeared like kadamba flowers. Blood and perspiration (sveda) flowed incessantly from every pore of Gauranga’s body. He could not speak a word but simply produced a gargling sound within His throat (svara-bhanga). Unlimited tears poured from Mahaprabhu’s eyes like Ganga and Yamuna flowing into the sea. Mahaprabhu’s golden form turned white like a conch shell, and He trembled like the waves in sea and then collapsed on the ground. Upon seeing the divine rapture visible in Mahaprabhu’s body, Svarupa Damodara Goswami and all the devotees became struck with wonder and cried. Devotees performed loud kirtana and wasked Gauranga’s divine body with cold water. After listening for a long time, Mahaprabhu suddenly stood up and chanted, “Haribol!”. Upon returning to half external consciousness, Mahaprabhu spoke: “Who has brought Me here from Govardhana Hill? I was seeing Sri Krishna’s pastimes, but now I cannot see them. Today I went from here to Govardhana Hill to find out if Krishna was tending His cows there. I saw Sri Krishna climbing Govardhana Hill and playing His flute, surrounded on all sides by grazing cows. Hearing the vibration of Krishna’s flute, Venunanda, Radha Thakurani and all Her gopi friends came there to meet Syama. They awere all very nicely dressed. When Krishna and Srimati Radhika entered a cave together, the other gopies asked Me to pick some flowers. Just the, all of you made a tumultuous sound and carried Me from there to this place. Why have you brought Me here, causing Me unnecessary pain? I had a chance to see Krishna’s pastimes, but I could not see them”. Saying this, Mahaprabhu wept and then so did the Vaishnavas upon seeing Gauranga’s condition. [Caitanya Caritamrta Antya Lila 14.84-119]

CATAKA PARVATA SAND DUNES

12. BHAJAN KUTIR OF SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASVATI THAKURA
Kutir is on top of the hill behind Purusottma Gaudiya Math, which stands on the hilly sand dune known as Cataka Parvata on the road leading to Tota Gopinatha temple. Main temple houses Deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhara and Radha-Vinoda Madhava Jiu. Inside the bhajana kutiraare Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s bed and personal effects. There is also a murti of Srila Vedavyasa and Madhvacarya. Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada once stayed here for a few days.

Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhara and Sri Sri Radha-Vinoda Madhava Jiu

13. “MAHA-TIRTHA” or “MAHODADHI” - A GREAT OCEAN
Like holy Ganga and Yamuna rivers, the ocean at Puri is a purifying sacred place of pilgrimage. Ocean here is not just a pilgrimage place; it is a maha-tirtha, a great pilgrimage site. During Nama-acarya Srila Haridasa Thakura’s samadhi ceremony, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bathed his transcendental body in the sea and declared, “From today onwards, this sea has become a great pilgrimage site, samudra ei maha-tirtha.” Every day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would bathe in the ocean and take darsana of the nila-cakra of Lord Jagannatha’s temple, offering obeisances to it. He also instructed His devotees to follow His example and perform these practices.

“MAHODADHI” - A GREAT OCEAN

14. SATASANA BHAJANA STHALI (SAT ASANA MATHAS)
On the road next to ISKCON Bhakti-kuti and Srila Haridas Thakura’s samadhi one will find Sat Asana Mathas, which are actually only 4 temples honouring 7 sitting places (sat asana) established by the Sapta-rsis, who once did bhajana here. Sapta-rsis are 7 potent Brahmin sages amongst demigods who assist in universal affairs: Kasyapa, Atri, Vasistha, Visvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja.

One day during his samudra-snana (sea bath), King Indradyumna saw 7 exalted sages doing bhajana in a lonely place on the beach. When asked about their identity, they remained silent, absorbed in meditation. That night, Lord Jagannatha told King Indradyumna in a dream, “They are the universally famous Sapta-rsis. You must give them some land and daily send My maha-prasadam.” Although the king offered land, the rsis refused saying, “We are detached sadhus only interested in bhajana. But if you desire, you may send Lord Jagannatha maha-prasadam everyday.” In time, 7 mathas (temples) were established to honour the 7 sitting places of these exalted saints. Today however, only 4 temples remain.

15. SARVABHAUMA BHATTACARYA’S HOUSE (GANGA MATA MATH)
When Lord Caitanya first came to Puri, He fainted in front of Deity of Lord Jagannatha and Sarvabhauma took Him to his home. Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya spoke to Lord Caitanya in his house about the impersonal doctrine for several days and finally Lord Caitanya defeated all his impersonal conclusions and bestowed His causeless mercy upon him by showing His Sadbhuja rupa, or six-armed form, a combined form of Lord Krishna, Lord Rama and Lord Caitanya. The house is located opposite to the Sveta Ganga tank. There is Radha Krishna Deities called Sri Sri Radha-Rasikaraja in this house worshipped by Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. There is a hidden tunnel in the house that is said to lead in two directions, one to the sea and another to the Jagannatha Temple. It is said that this tunnel was used by Sri Caitanya.

SAD-BHUJA GAURANGA (Six-armed Gauranga) -
A combined form of Lord Krishna, Lord Rama and Lord Caitanya.
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bestowed His causeless mercy upon Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya by showing His Sadbhuja rupa.

16. SWETA GANGA
This large sacred bathing tank is located just opposite Ganga Mata Math. Puri residents say that Ganga-devi personally resides here in the form of Sweta Ganga so that she can regularly take darsana and serve Jagannatha Swami. Being non-different from the Ganga, Sweta Ganga never becomes dry. Even if all the water is pumped out for some reason, it automatically refills. Remarkably, its water level rises or falls at the same rate as the Ganga river. Sweta Ganga is one of the Panca Mukti Tirthas of Sri Ksetra Dhama. After cremating the deceased, Puri residents bath here and perform the sraddha ceremony.


SWETA GANGA -
Non-different from Ganges river. Sweta Ganga never becomes dry.
Even if all the water is pumped out for some reason, it automatically refills.

17. INDRADHYUMNA SAROVARA
This water tank is half km from Gundica temple. Mahaprabhu took water from here to cleanse Gundica temple. There are 3 main temples here: Indradyumna Maharaja’s temple on left side near tank, a large Saksi Gopala temple on right side and Nilakantesvara Mahadeva Siva temple mid way down the stairs leading to the sarovara.

Mother Cow creates a huge lake: Millions of years ago during Satya-yuga, King Indradyumna performed asvamedha-yajna (horse sacrifice) here. At that time he honoured the assembled Brahmins by donating 1000’s of cows. While all those heavy cows were standing here, their hooves made a deep depression in the earth; creating a large lake. Lake became filled with water and cow urine. Since then it became a tirtha, a purifying place of pilgrimage. Skanda Puranasays that this is the best of all tirthas. Chandana Yatra and Sitala-sthali festival are pompously celebrated here.

18. MARKANDEYA SAROVARA
This large tank is located south-west of Jagannatha Mandira in Markandeshwar-sahi area. Great Vaishnava sage Markandeya Rsi resides here worshipping Siva Deity named Markandesvara Mahadeva. Sri Madana-mohana, Lord Jagannatha’s utsava-murti, enacts His Kaliya-mardana-lila (crushing Kaliya serpent) in this holy tank. If one bathes in Markandeya Sarovara and then takes darshan of Markandesvara Mahadeva, he obtains the pious result of performing rajasuya andasvamedha-yajnas.

19. VISAKHA MATH
This extremely small holy spot is only 5 mins from Markandeya Sarovara. Madhava Chandra Dasa worships the Deities in a make ship Deity room next to the original temple which is now severely rundown. It is said that Sri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, an eternal associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, installed and worshiped 5 feet tall, blissfully dancing neem wood Deities of Gaura-Gadadhara here. Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra and many salagrama-silas share the altar.

SRI SRI GAURA-GADADHARA WORSHIPPED BY NARAHARI THAKURA

20. BALI MATH
This is in Markandeshwar-sahi area behind Bada Oriya Math, 5 mins from Markandeya Sarovara. It is said that Srila Abhirama Thakura (Abhirama Gopala) who is Sridhama in Krishna-lila, established this classic temple, which now desperately needs renovation. Deities are Sri Sri Radha-Krishna, Sri Sri Radha Madana-Mohana vijaya-vigraha, Patita-pavana Jagannatha Deva, many salagrama-silas and a murti namedAbhirama Gopala.

Deities worshipped by Abhirama Thakura

21. MAUSI MAA MANDIR
In Orissa “Mausi Ma” means aunty. Temple is situated almost the mid-way of the Grand road, a small temple of the Goddess Ardhasini otherwise called asMausima of Lord Jagannatha. She is maha-saktis who also help protect Puri Dhama. According to local stories, once Lakshmi Devi left Sri Mandira, and thusJagannatha and Baladeva becomes poor. They had nothing to eat for a long period of time and so they had to go out begging. When Jagannatha and Baladevawere out during that time, Subhadra Devi was forced to stay here at Mausi Ma, or aunty's house. During return of Rathayatra all chariots stop here at Mausi Ma Mandira and the Deities are offered Poda Pitha, a kind of cake.

22. AHULYA MATH
This important place is the Puri home of Lord Nityananda and Sri Advaita Acarya. It is difficult to locate this place because this is in a private home and very unfortunately the owners have removed sign-boards for this very important place. It on the other side of Grand Road, 5mins walk from Gaudiya Math temple. Coming from Gaudiya Math, go down Heragohiri-sahi road toward Daitaparha-sahi area. Go past Jaduani library and Temple passing police station. On the chowk (intersection), just opposite to chemist shop, a private home with green color small entrance door is the spot. Present day, unfortunately, this very important spot is in a very deprecated and neglected state.

AHULYA MATH
Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu stands in the centre flanked by Sri Advaita Acarya and Srimati Sita Thakurani (the eternal wife of Sri Advaita Acarya) on His left, and Sri Nityananda Prabhu on His right. Small Deities of Jagannatha, Radha-Krishna and salagrama are also on the altar.

23. CAKRA TIRTHA (CAKRA NARAYANA TEMPLE)
It is located on Cakra Tirtha road at the beach on the east side of Puri, 3km from Jagannatha Mandira. Temple is a small white building with a red stripe, off Cakra Tirtha road, behind Z hotel down the beach near the ocean. There are 3 Deities: Nrsimhadeva, Cakra Narayana and Adi Narayana. A brown stone shaped like cakra is worshiped here as Cakra Narayana. Nearby is a small temple of Jagannatha’s father-in-law, Varuna-deva, the father of Laksmi-devi. Inside here are Deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra and Garuda holding Visnu.

CHAKRA TIRTHA

24. BEDI HANUMAN TEMPLE
This small temple with red-granite roof is on Cakra Tirtha road, across the street from Z hotel, 2 mins from Cakra Tirtha temple. This temple is dedicated to a tall black stone Deity of Hanuman, now covered in red sindhur, who serves Lord Jagannatha by protecting the holy dhama. Word bedi means chain.

Puffed Rice Can’t Match Ladoos: Puri residents of yore complained to Lord Jagannatha that cyclone whipped sea often washed away the town. Lord Jagannatha posted Hanuman here to protect Puri and prevent future inundations. The faithful were daily offering some puffed rice and jaggery to Hanuman but he longed for laddoos. One day Hanuman leaped to Ayodhya to see his beloved Lord Rama and received some delicious laddoo maha-prasadam. Angry seas took advantage of Hanuman’s absence and once again flooded the town of Puri. When Hanuman returned, Lord Jagannatha promised to daily give him laddoos. But just to make sure that this mischievous monkey would not leap away again, Lord Jagannatha bound Hanuman’s leg with a heavy steel ball and chain. Henceforth, Hanumanji was called Bedi Hanuman.

25. ATHARNALA SETU (BRIDGE)
This is 6 km from Jagannatha Mandira at the entrance of Jagannatha Puri Dhama on the main road to Bhubaneswar. There is a small pink domed temple with green doors beside Atharanala road, marking the place where Mahaprabhu rested before crossing Atharanala Bridge. Inside there is a marble plaque enshrining the lotus footprints of Gauranga Mahaprabhu (mahaprabhu pada-pitha).

ATHARNALA SETU (BRIDGE)

26. “SRI MANDIRA” - LORD JAGANNATHA TEMPLE
Eternal abode of Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra

Jagannathah swami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me
“O Lord of the universe, kindly be visible unto me.”
Jagannatha means “Lord of the Universe”. Jagannatha Swami is a unique Deity form of Lord Sri Krishna, who has especially appeared in Kali-yuga to deliver the most fallen souls. Merciful Lord Jagannatha accepts worship from one and all. Padma Purana states:
Samudrasyottare tire, aste sri-purusottame
Purnananda-mayam brahma, daru-vyaja-sarira-bhrt
“At Sri Purusottama [Jagannatha Puri], on the northern shore of the ocean, resides the Supreme Absolute Truth. Full of ecstatic bliss, He has assumed a transcendental body that appears wooden.”

Jagannatha Svami is called daru-brahman because He is the Absolute Truth in wood (daru), and because He destroys (daranat) the miseries of material existence. Daru Brahman means the Deity form of God, the Supreme Brahman, Parabrahman. It means the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna who cuts away all sufferings and miserable material attachments, and then rewards one an eternal life of endless bliss in the spiritual world; He is Lord Jagannatha or Daru Brahman.

Being absolute, Lord Jagannatha is identical in person, form, picture, kirtana and all other circumstances. If one thinks that the form of Lord Jagannatha is an idol made of wood, he immediately brings ill fortune into his life. Lord Jagannatha is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, just as the body of Krishna is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. A pure devotee who knows the science of Krishna Consciousness makes no distinction between Lord Jagannatha and His body. Lord Jagannatha is identical with Sri Krishna (Krsnera ‘atma-svarupa). But in Jagannatha Puri, He appears asdaru-brahma, a non-moving entity (sthavara-svarupa). Thus Lord Jagannatha and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, although appearing as two, are one because They are both Krishna, who is one alone. The supreme desire to deliver the entire world meets in both Mahaprabhu and Jagannatha, and for that reason also They are one and the same. To deliver all the materially contaminated people of the world, that same Krishna has descended in the moving form (jangama rupa) of Gaura. (Caitanya Caritamrta Antya Lila 5.148-151)

Beauty of Jagannatha Svami: Lord Jagannatha has extraordinary form. Pilgrims in Puri often ask, “Why does the Deity of Jagannatha Deva have such an unusual form?” Answer is simple: God wants to appear like this, in this most unusual form, to establish religion in this most unusual age of Kali. Vamadeva Samhita and Skanda Purana state that Lord Sri Krishna appears in this covered wooden form out of His independent will and due to prayer of Brahma Ji. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very thirsty to see the Deity of Lord Jagannatha. Gauranga’s eyes became like two bumblebees drinking the honey from the lotus-like eyes of Lord Jagannatha who is Krishna Himself.
The eyes of Lord Jagannatha conquer the beauty of blossoming lotus flowers and His neck defeats the luster of a mirror made of blue sapphires.
The chin of Jagannatha Svami, tinged with a buff color conquers the beauty of bandhuli flower. This increases the beauty of Jagannatha’s mild smiling, which is like lustrous waves of nectar.
Luster of Jagannatha Deva’s beautiful face increases at every moment, and the eyes of 100’s and 1000’s of devotees drink its honey like bumblebees.
Feeling such great pleasure upon seeing the face of Lord Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu forgot everything. (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 12.210-19)

Temple Architecture:
Main temple of Jagannatha Svami soars 214 feet high. Temple complex comprises an area of 10.7 acres and is enclosed by 2 rectangular walls. Outer enclosure is called Meghananda Prachira (665 x 640 feet). Walls are 6 meters high. Inner wall is called Kurmabedha (420 x 315 ft). This ancient temple combines two styles: South Indian (Dravidian) and North Indian (Nagara). King Anangabhima Deva completed the temple in 1200 AD. Within the boundary walls of the Jagannatha temple there are 30 different temples. Outer wall has opening in four directions. East and main gate, Lion Gate (Simha-dvara) has two crouching stone lions. South gate, Horse Gtae (Aswa-dvara) has a pair of galloping horses carrying Jagannatha and Baladeva on backs with all Their martial glory. West gate, Tiger Gate (Vyaghra-dvara) has two stone tigers, and north gate, Elephant Gate (Hasti-dvara) has a huge stone elephant.

Cakra & Flags: The cakra (Sudarsana disc) above Lord Jaganantha’s temple is called “Nila-Cakra” (blue wheel). Nila-cakra is made of an alloy of 8 different metals. It is 11 feet 8inch high and has circumference of 36 feet. On every Ekadasi a lamp is lit near the wheel. Daily around 6:30pm, the Garuda Sevaka (a pujari flag bearer) fearlessly climbs up 214 feet to the Nila-cakra and fastens a number of flags to the mast fixed to Nila-cakra. Flags, which are bright red, white or bright yellow in color, are embroidered with a crescent moon and a sun in the middle, signifying that Lord Jagannatha is our ever-watchful, loving guardian both in the day and night. It alsom means that Lord Jagannatha rules the universe wherever the sun and moon shine. Nila-cakra sevaits, begin this hereditary service from age of 8, get the ability to perform this very difficult service by the mercy of Garuda, whose name they chant while scaling the shikara.

In front of main gate is a pillar 11m high called Aruna Stambha. On top of this single-stone pillar is Aruna, the charioteer of the sun god. In passage room of main gate is a Deity of Lord Jagannatha called Patita Pavana (saviour of the most fallen). It is visible from the road. One can stand behind Aruna Stambha and respectively gaze at the Nila-Cakra, flags billowing atop Jagannatha’s temple and Patita Pavana Jagannatha in front, and then offer humble obeisances. Seeing Nila-Cakra, flags and Patita Pavana Jagannatha is equal to direct darshana of Lord Jagannatha in the temple. (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 11.195 purport)

Transcendental ambience within sacred space of the Supreme Lord Jagannatha:
While approaching innermost sanctuary (Garbha Grha) of the Jagannatha Temple through the various halls and past many pillars and carved panels, a devotee is subtly influenced by sacredness of the architecture. He finds himself enclosed with the Supreme Lord in a dim, soothing atmosphere. His eyes find rest after fierce light of the day outside. Not only is lighting dim, but the air is filled with scent of flowers, burning oil lamps and incense coming from the sanctuary. Gradually his mood calms and his spiritual feelings are awakened as he approaches the Deities.

Garuda-stambha: Garuda-stambha (pillar) stands along east back wall of the Jagamohana. It supports murti of Lord Narayana’s eagle carrier Garuda, who is admiring the Deity of Jagannatha Deva from this vintage point. Devotees regularly hug this pillar and offer prayers while seeing Lord Jagannatha. By doing this they feel blessings of Lord’s direct embrace. Gauranga Mahaprabhu used to stand here and offer obeisances and prayers while reeling in ecstatic bliss gazing upon saksat Vrajendranandana Jagannatha Svami. Mahaprabhu’s divine finger prints are imprinted on the wall behind the Garuda-stambha. Srila Krishna dasa Kavriraj Goswami describes:
Staying near the Garuda-stambha, Gaura-raya gazed upon the Lord Jagannatha. What can be said about the strength of that love? On the ground beneath the column of the Garuda-stambha was a deep ditch, which filled with the water of Gauranga’s tears.” (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 2.54)

Kitchen & Maha-Prasadam of Lord Jagannatha:
·         Temple has largest kitchen in the world and feeds thousands of devotees every day. Kitchen can prepare prasadam for 100,000 people one day, and 250,000 is normal on a festival day.
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·         Kitchen has astounding 752 wood-burning stoves, each 3’x4’ spread over one acre in the south east corner, far left inside the Lion Gate.
·         600 cooks and 1,000 devotees work daily in the kitchen.
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·         Chillies, onion, garlic, carrots and widely available “new-world” ingredients such as cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflowers are not used in any preparation. Wide variety of locally available organic produce such as beans, tubers, squashes, melons, leafy greens, local spices like mace, cumin, fennel, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, mustard seed and black cumin is used.
·          
·         Without electricity or machines, skilled chefs work under oil lamps over open wood fires. Every day they prepare more than a 100 different dishes and offer them to the Deities. Given only 1 day notice the chefs can prepare a full meal for up to 10,000 guests at a sitting.
·          
·         Every day, a fire sacrifice is performed in the temple kitchen. Afterwards, the cooks take embers from that sacrificial fire to ignite their individual stoves.
·         All bhoga is cooked in earthen pots. Nine clay pots full of bhoga are cooked simultaneously upon one oven with 9 burners. Every pot of bhoga is placed before Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, unlike most temples in India where only small portions of the entire meal are offered before the Deities.
·          
·         Everyday Lord Jagannatha is offered 56 items (chappana bhoga) for His pleasure: 9 rice preparations, 14 subjis & curries, 9 milk preparations, 11 sweets, 13 cakes, pancakes and patties.
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-          Jagannatha Temple kitchens are exemplary in many ways. Three things are of special significance: Preservation of ancient cooking standards, Training program for temple priests and Highly efficient system for distribution of temple prasadam.

Ananda Bazaar: Near the northeast corner, after climbing 22 stairs from Lion Gate on right side is where one can get Jagannatha maha-prasadam and experience the bliss (ananda) of tasting Lord’s unprecedented mercy remnants. There are 36 traditional communities (chatisha niyaga) who render a specific hereditary service to the Deities. Temple has as many as 6000 priests.

Deity Dresses (vesa) of Lord Jagannatha:
Lord Jagannatha is regularly dressed in silk or cotton outfits enhanced with lots of pretty flowers, tulasi garlands and manjaris. Only sweet smelling flowers of white, yellow, gold, orange and pink colors are offered to Jagannatha Svami. Jasmines, marigolds and pink and white lotuses are Jagannatha’s favourites. Some devotees adore Jagannatha Svami as Sri Krishna, the majestic, opulent Lord of Dvaraka. Others see Him as Vrajendranandana, the simple, carefree cowherd of Vraja. This combination of simplicity and grandeur is prominently visible in the varieties of Lord Jagannatha’s outfits.

Nava-kalevara-yatra (or ritual of transformation):
Since the Deities are made from wood, each 12 years Nava-kalevara-yatra (or ritual of transformation) is held. After elaborate preliminary preparations, the right trees are found, Deities carved, transformation made and old Deities buried in the ground. Though as much as half million people attend the festival, most of the procedures are conducted in secret and no other than few appointed priests and servants can be present. First of all the special trees with the symbolic marks of chakra, conch shell, mace and lotus have to be found. The search party consists of exact numbers of man belonging to specific families and casts. After several stops they will reach village Kakatpur 80 km from Puri. The oldest member of Dayitapati family has to sleep in the temple of Goddess Vimala or Mangala, meaning "Auspicious One". He must have a dream during this stay in which goddess tells him the exact location where the trees can be found. The tree for each of the four Deities will be in a different place (the fourth Deity is Sudarsan). When the search party locates the places, they may find many trees, but the sacred symbols will be found on only one of them. The Siva's temple and pond has to be nearby. Very rare types of trees must be growing beside: The Varuna tree, which can protect you from snakes. It is said that this tree has the power to destroy all anger and pride. People today often carry a piece of Varuna bark with them if they must meet a bothersome person. The Sahada tree, which gives the power to forget oneself. The Vilua tree, which has the power to cure any disease, even heart disease, cancer and leprosy The cure is obtained by chewing its leaves. All three trees are very rare, whereas the Neem tree is very common. When the trees are found, they must construct a small hut nearby in which they will now reside. A great fire sacrifice is performed there to invite all demigods to give their blessings and cutting of the tree can start. First only the golden axe can touch the tree, then silver and after that iron axe can finish the work. 108 names of the Lord are chanted continuously. Neem wood will not decay for more than thirty years and it is one of the longest-lasting types of wood in India. Since "Neem" is called "daru" Jagannatha Deity is also called "daru-brahman". Only members of the Dayitapati family have the right of carrying the huge log back to Puri and the descendant of the original carver can carve the Deity. Only few precisely designated servants can participate in the rites of transformation. Old Deities are placed in front of the new ones and three oldest members of Dayitapati family transfer "Daru-brahman" to the new Deities Not even the head priest can be there during this time. Nava-kalevara-yatra is actually this transformation ceremony during which all present have very intense experiences as they blindfolded transfer "life force" to the new Deities. Old Deities are buried in a place known as Koili Vaikuntha. Koili means "burial ground" and Vaikuntha means "Heaven".

Non-Hindus tread the Humble Path: Although many western born convert to Hindu thought and Gaudiya Vaishnavism in particular visit Puri, they cannot enter temple to see Lord Jagannatha because temple law forbids entrance of “non-Hindus”. Srila Prabhupada speaks sympathetically, “We should not feel sorry about this, as long as we engage in chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Krishna Himself associates with with devotees who are chanting His holy name, and there is no need to be unhappy over not being able to enter a certain temple. Such dogmatic prohibitions were not approved by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Those who were thought unfit to enter Jagannatha temple, Srila Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, Haridasa Thakura, were daily visited by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and this indicates that Mahaprabhu did not approve of the prohibitions. To avoid unnecessary turmoil, however, these great personalities did not enter the Jagannatha temple.” (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 1.63)

Out of His infinite compassion, Jagannatha shows Himself in 3 wonderful forms:
§  Patita Pavana Jagannatha, Nila-Cakra & flags: Everyday Lord Jagannatha sits just inside Lion Gate as Patita Pavana Jagannatha smiling and glancing lovingly toward anyone who peeks in from the street, and also gaze at Nila-Cakra & flags atop Jagannatha’s Temple. Seeing Nila-Cakra, flags and Patita Pavana
§   
§  Jagannatha is equal to direct darshana of Lord Jagannatha in the temple. (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 11.195 purport)
§  Jagannatha maha-prasadam: He arrears in His most relishable form as Jagannatha maha-prasadam for everyone to see by tasting. In the form of maha-prasadam He reciprocates very intimately with all His worshipers.
§   
§  Snana-yatra, Rathayatra & Ulta-Rathayatra: Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra come out in full public three times a year - Snana-yatra, Rathayatra & Ulta-Rathayatra. At these times everyone can directly see their benevolent Lord, worship and pray to Him, pull Jagannatha’s chariot and relish His beautiful darshana to their heart’s content.

In addition, Sri Murari Gupta, an eternal associate of Lord Gauranga as confirmed in Sri Krishna Caitanya Carita Maha-kavya 3.4.39: “Whatever benefit is achieved by having direct darshan of Lord Jagannatha, the master of Purusottama Ksetra, one can obtain simply by regularly reciting the pastimes of Gaurahari.”


“SRI MANDIRA” - LORD JAGANNATHA TEMPLE
Eternal abode of Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra

PATITA PAVANA LORD JAGANNATHA
In passage room of main gate is a Deity of Lord Jagannatha called Patita Pavana (saviour of the most fallen). It is visible from the road. One can stand behind Aruna Stambha and respectively gaze at the Nila-Cakra, flags billowing atop Jagannatha’s temple and Patita Pavana Jagannatha in front, and then offer humble obeisances. Seeing Nila-Cakra, flags and Patita Pavana Jagannatha is equal to direct darshana of Lord Jagannatha in the temple.(Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 11.195 purport)

LORD JAGANNATHA RATHAYATRA

Phandi Ceremony of Lord Balabhadra (also known as Bada Thakur), the elder brother of Lord Jagannatha, during the l Rathayatra.
Lord Balarama (Balabhadra) coming out of Sri Mandira. Phandi is the ceremony of Deities coming out of the Temple to the Rathayatra Chariot. Lord Balabhadra is bulkiest of the three.
Floral crown is known as ‘Tahia’ is prepared by Raghava Math and is brought to the Temple early in the morning. Elaborate flowers are beautifully decorated on a bamboo frame. Flowers are lotus flowers, champaka, malati flowers and Tulsi leaves. These decorations have been going on since ages in a very traditional manner. Totally 16 Tahia’s are worn. Two large Tahia’s when Lord comes out of the Sri Mandira, Two large Tahia’s when Lord enters Gundica Mandira. Two small Tahia’s when coming out of Gundica Mandira during the return-tourney and Two small Tahia’s before entering the Sri Mandira. Lord Balaram is fanned by chamara called ‘arota chamara’. The head is covered with red cotton cloth.
There is blank color umbrella in front. For Lord Balabhadra umbrella is black color, for Lord Jagannatha it is white color and for Subdhara Devi it is red & black color.

Phandi Ceremony of Sister Subhadra Devi

Phandi Ceremony of Lord Jagannatha

KHAJA - LORD JAGANNATHA’S FAVORITE SWEETS!
  Places to visit near Jagannatha Puri:
#1) SAKSI GOPALA: This is 20km west of Jagannatha Puri in a town called Saksi-Gopala. It is easily reachable by taxi, bus or train. Vrajranabha (Sri Krishna’s great-grandson) installed two Gopala Deities in Vraja Mandala: Saksi-Gopala and Madna Gopala (Madana Mohana). The Saksi-Gopala Deity here, being 5000 years old, is exceptionally special one.

#Pastime: Lord Testifies for His Devotee
Once two brahmins, a young and old one, left their homes in Vidyanagara, South India, and visited many holy places before coming to Vrindavana. Satisfied with the service of the young brahmin and feeling grateful, the old one promised him before the Gopala Deity of Vrindavana to offer his youngest daughter in marriage. Hence, Gopalji acted as a witness. When the two brahmins returned to Vidyanagara, the old brahmin, due to family constraints, reneged on his promise; flatly denying that he had ever made such a promise. The younger brahmin, upset and dejected, returned to Vrindavana and told everything to the Gopala Deity. Out of love for His devotee (bhakta-vatsala), Gopalji, followed the young brahmin to Vidyanagara in South India to act as witness (saksi). All the way, that fortunate brahmin heard the joyful, tinkling sound of Gopalji’s ankle bells. In Vidyanagara, all the senior brahmins listened as Gopalji testified to the promise of the elderly brahmin. Thus the marriage was rightfully performed.
Full story: Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila Chapter 5; http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/5/en

#2) DANDA-BHANGA: This sacred place is where Lord Nityananda Prabhu broke Gauranga’s sannyasa danda in three pieces. When Sriman Mahaprabhu went alone to visit the temple of Lord Siva known as Kapatesvara Mahadev, Lord Nityananda, taking advantage of the absence of Mahaprabhu, broke His danda (staff) into three pieces and threw it into the sacred waters of river Kancha (the tributary of river Bhargavi).
Importance:
danda-bhanga-lila ei parama gambhira sei bujhe
dunhara pade yanra bhakti dhira    (Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Madhya Lila, 5, 158)
The devotees could not understand why Nityananda Prabhu broke the staff, why Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu permitted him to do so, or why, after permitting Him, Caitanya Mahaprabhu became angry. This Dandabhanga pastime, of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu, is supremely deep, supremely grave and supremely hidden. Only to him, who is unflinchingly surrendered and soberly fixed at the Divine Lotus Feet of the two Lords, in his heart of hearts, can the immeasurable glories of this great eternal pastime be revealed.

Danda Bhanga is located in the village of Candanpur on main road to Bhubanesvara, 10km, from Sri Jagannatha Puri Dhama. After the occurrence of this wonderful pastime, the river subsequently came to known as river Dandabhanga, meaning breaking of the staff. This unique pastime place of Gaura-lilaSri Caitanya Danda Bhanga Lila Kunja, is being developed by ISKCON under the guidance of Sriman Sacinandana Das, a disciple of nitya-lila-pravista His Holiness Gaura Govinda Swami.

Danda Bhanga lila: www.dandabhanga.com (very informative site)
Danda Bhanga pastime: Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya Lila Chapter 5, text 140 to 158 - http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/5/140/en

#3) ALALANATHA VISNU Temple: Lord Alalanatha is an ancient four-handed Visnu Deity installed by one of the Alvars. This temple is 1 hour taxi ride from Jagannatha Puri.

#4) ISKCON Bhubaneswar: ISKCON Bhubaneswar was the last founded project of Srila Prabhupada's worldwide established temples and the 108th temple of ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada stayed here continuously for 17 days in a humble cottage in Jan-Feb 1977. His Divine Grace finished the English translation of 9th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam and started 10th Canto Srimad Bhagavatam translation here. Bhubaneswar is only 2 hours from Puri. http://www.iskconbbsr.org/

#5) GOPAL JIU, Gadaigiri: Gadaigiri is a small village situated in the Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa, about 2 hours from Bhubaneswar. Gadaigiri houses exceptional Deity of Gopal Jiu which came from Vrindavan. ISKCON has guesthouse facility at Gadaigiri.

#6) CHOTI, Kendrapara, Orissa: Choti is famous for as the home of ancestral Deities of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote hundreds of songs glorifying the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. His songs capture the essence of Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy. One song, “Jaya Radha-Madhava”, was a favorite of Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who would sing it every day just before his public lectures. This song paints a beautiful picture of the Vrindavana pastimes of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s beloved Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. Further details on Choti are avaialble in book: “Choti: The Native Place of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura” by Gopal Jiu publications.

#7) REMUNA (Gupta Vrindavana): Famous temple of Ksira-cora Gopinatha, the Krishna Deity who stole condensed milk (ksira) for His dear-most devotee, Sr Madhavendra Puri, lies in a small pastoral village named Remuna in the Balasore (Baleshwar) district of Orissa. Balasore is halfway between Puri and Kolkata, is the nearest railway junction to Remuna. Remuna is called Gupta Vrindavana because Gopinatha had many pastimes here in the mood of Vrindavana with His intimate vraja-madhurya premi bhaktas.

Between 5am-7am visitors can have full darshana of the Deity while the pujari baths and dresses Gopinatha. One can clearly see cows, cowherd boys andasta-sakhis carved in black stone bas-relief Deity of Ksira-cora Gopinatha. On Gopinatha’s right & left are black stone Deities of Govinda and Madana-Mohana brought. There are also Deities of Radha-Rasabihari, Lord Jagannatha and Mahaprabhu. All Vaishnavas are welcome here for Gopinatha’s special darshana, and the indescribably mouth-watering milk sweet known as amrta-keli, prepared from condensed milk, cream, sugar and a smidgen of raisins.

How Sri Gopinatha became Ksira-cora Gopinatha?
This very wonderful pastime is described in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 4.21: http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/4/21/en

#8) NILA-MADHAVA: This is a small village in the interior hilly region of Orissa state, about 6-7 hours from Jagannatha Puri. Very nice pastime about Nila-Madhava took place here. Local devotees at ISKCON Puri temple can tell more on this.

#9) VARAHA-KSETRA, Jajpur: In Satya-yuga Lord Varaha dev appeared here who killed demon Hiranyakhya. In other kalpas also different Varahadev appears here, and because of that this is called Varaha Ksetra. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed here for a day or two and offered worship to Lord Varaha on his way to Puri in the first decade of 16th century. Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya’s Lotus foot print by the melting of stone at varaha kshetra inside Varaha temple. Jajpur is very close to Kapilesvara, the birthplace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s grandfather. It is the place from where His grandfather’s family had moved to Bengal. This is one of the four most holy places (Char Dhams) in the religious tradition of Vaishnavism located in Orissa. According to the tradition, Lord Vishnu after killing the demon Gayasura (at Gaya city of Modern Bihar), to commemorate the glory of His victory, placed his Sankha (Conch) in Puri, Chakra (Disc) in Bhubaneswar, Gada (Mace) in Jajpur and Padma (Lotus) in Konark and they were later known as Sankha Ksetra, Chakra Ksetra, Gada Ksetra and Padma Ksetra respectively in spiritual and religious tradition.

Any devotee interested to visit or help the new Namahatta centre at Varaha Ksetra can please contact H.G. Krishna das. E-mail: daskrsnadas@yahoo.co.in
More details on Varaha Ksetra are on website: www.dandavats.com/?p=9783

#10) SRIDHAM MAYAPUR: The Appearance Place of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Jagannatha Puri to Sridham Mayapur is little more than overnight tourney by train via Howrah. www.Mayapur.com

#11) EKACHAKRA DHAMA: The Appearance place of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Ekachakra Dhama is about 4 hours tourney (165km) by taxi from Sridham Mayapur. Accommodation is available at the ISKCON guesthouse. Please contact Mayapur Tourism office for taxi and accommodation bookings (mtd@pamho.net ) for Ekachakra Dhama.

Annual Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama Parikrama
Organized by ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)

Every year during the month of November/December few days after the end of Kartik masa (month) Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama Parikrama organized by ISKCON. Please contact HG Ananga Mohan Das (Ananga.Mohan.tkg@pamho.net) or HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami Maharaj (bps@pamho.net) for more details.





WONDERFUL KIRTAN IN FRONT OF LORD JAGANNATHA TEMPLE

Every evening during Parikrama there is Jagannatha-katha by transcendentalists and various cultural programs

Offering Obeisances to Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama

Directions to reach Sri Jagannatha Puri Dhama:
Sri Jagannatha Puri Dhama is well connected by air, rail and road to different parts of India. 

Air: Nearest airport is Bhubaneswar, 60 km from Puri. Bhubaneswar is well connected by flights to Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and other Indian cities. One can take a pre-paid taxi from the airport to Puri, which will take about an hour to reach Puri. 
Rail: Many fast trains link Puri to different parts of India. Puri is overnight tourney from Howrah (Kolkata) station. A number of overnight trains run from Howrah to Puri which are very convenient. Once a week (on Friday - #15644 Kyq Puri Express) a direct train from Nabadwip Dham goes to Puri.

MAP OF ORISSA and HOLY PLACES

Valuable references:
A. Sri Caitanya Caritamrta by Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami: http://vedabase.net/cc/
B. Book: Sri Ksetra Parikrama by HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami
C. Hidden Identity of Lord Jagannatha, Sri Krishna Kathamrita magazine annual addition, Gopal Jiu Publicationshttp://www.gopaljiu.org/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=32&category_id=3&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=86&vmcchk=1&Itemid=86
D. Patita-Pavana Jagannath, Sri Krishna Kathamrita magazine annual addition, Gopal Jiu Publicationshttp://www.gopaljiu.org/index.php?page=shop.product_details&product_id=33&category_id=3&flypage=flypage.tpl&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=86 
E. Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu fortnightly e-magazine, Gopal Jiu Publications (free subscription): http://www.gopaljiu.org/bindu
F. Sri Ksetra Parikrama songs, Gopal Jiu Publications
G. Book: “Gopal Jiu” beloved Deities of HH Gour Govinda Swami at Gadeigiri, Gopal Jiu Publications
I. Book: Practical Guide to Puri and Navadvipa Dhama by Jada Bharata Das

Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama video: http://vimeo.com/43239393

Jagannatha Puri City of Lord Caitanya (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPvrXLZT-48

Live Rathayatra Telecast from Sri Jagannatha Puri Dhama (achieve):
Jagannatha Puri Rathayatra 2013 Live Telecast recording: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0C4qxBfjfY


SRI JAGANNATHA SWAMI KI JAI!!!
SRI PURUSHOTTAMA KSETRA JAGANNATHA PURI DHAMA KI JAI!!!
NITAI-GAURA PREMA-ANANDI!!!

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