All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga
You are cordially invited to attend
Sri Navadvipa-mandala Parikrama 2012
Conducted under the guidance of
Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja
Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha
M. Kolerdanga Road (near the Ganga Bridge)
Navadvipa, West Bengal
Phone: +91-9153125442 / 9734825362 (Madhusudan das)
Dear Devotees,
In Govardhana, just before the end of Sri Vraja-mandala Parikrama 2010, Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja personally invited all of us to attend Sri Navadvipa-mandala Parikrama in the holy land of Sri Navadvipa-dhama for the rest of our lives.This parikrama will be very special, for it will only be the second one without the physical presence of our most beloved Srila Gurudeva. We will share many remembrances of his glories and the Harikatha that forever emanates from his lotus mouth. Please do not miss this opportunity and try to be with us.
This year, the festival will be inaugurated on March 2nd with the devotees observing sankalpa, or a vow to ensure the success of their parikrama. The last day of the festival will be March 9th.
Parikrama
On March 3nd, we will begin our five-day Sri Navadvipa-mandala Parikrama, a pilgrimage to each of Navadvipa's nine incomparably beautiful islands. As we wind our way through these islands, we will chant compelling and surcharged kirtanas that we will cherish forever, reverentially touch our head to the dust of the numerous holy places related to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes, and hear nectarean harikatha that will change our lives and strengthen our commitment to the path of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Our pilgrimage will be completed on March 7th.
Gaura Purnima
On March 8th, we will celebrate the divine appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The temple room will resound with kirtana, and harikatha will be given in both Bengali and English. Many devotees honor Mahaprabhu's appearance by taking bath in the Ganga early in the morning. Devotees are encouraged to fast on this day. In the evening, just at the time of dusk, there is an abhishek of the deity of Mahaprabhu, accompanied by an extraordinarily sweet kirtana, followed by Ekadasi maha-prasadam.
Festival of Sri Jagannatha Misra
Overjoyed with the birth of his dearmost son, Sri Jagannatha Misra held a grand festival the day after the child's birth. On March 9th, we will observe that festival with a delicious prasadam feast. On behalf of Sri Jagannatha Misra and mother Saci-devi, who have made all arrangements, Srila Gurudeva is inviting us to participate. The festival will be held at our temple, Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha.
Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha
According to Srila Gurudeva's desire, the construction of a beautiful lake-side temple is almost completed. Furnished with two large prasadam halls, a massive kirtana hall, and three guesthouses, this grand temple complex is very impressive and beautiful. Now plans are underway to construct a most beautiful Samadhi and Samadhi Mandir for Srila Gurudeva.
Included within the festival fees
A traditional Bengali-style tent camp of bamboo sticks, canvas, and straw mats will be set up on a strong foundation. There is adequate toilet and shower facility. If you prefer to bring your own tent, sleeping mat, and mosquito net, you are most welcome. Such simplicity helps to remind us how Sri Navadvipa Parikrama was performed in earlier times.
Cost
A minimum contribution of Indian Rs. 2,500, US$ 50, or EU 40 per person is requested in order to cover the most basic expenses of the festival. This payment covers prasadam, electricity and water, the rental of the pandal and sound system, payment for various workers, cleaning costs, and facilitation of the many poor pilgrims from India.
We humbly request you to remember that this fee is a wonderful opportunity to facilitate the inconceivable benefit of hearing the harikatha of elevated Vaisnavas, and performing parikrama under their guidance. All this is offered to us by the causeless mercy of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. In fact, we would not be able to repay this in countless lifetimes.
For an extra cost
The minimum contribution described above provides devotees with camp-style accommodations on the temple grounds and use of the common bathrooms with the Indian pilgrims. Devotees arriving from the West may find it easier to stay in a room. There are two choices for room accommodations.
First, there are hotel rooms at varying distances from the Matha. Their charges also vary.
Second, there are also simple rooms available for rent in the houses of the local residents. The average charge is between 150 and 200 rupees per room per day, depending on the facilities offered. If you desire take advantace of these facilities please communicate with Sulata didi (
Registration
To register for this festival, submit a completed participation form and give your contribution (in rupees, dollars, or euros) to Akhilesh prabhu at the entrance of the temple gate. There you will find Sulata dasi, Savitri dasi, Vrinda-devi dasi, and other devotees responsible for accommodating you inside or outside the temple complex.
The facilities on Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha grounds will only be available from February 29th onward. If you decide to arrive in Navadvipa-dhama before this date, you will need to make your own arrangements for accommodation and prasadam. We trust that all of you will cooperate with the festival managers in this regard.
Please visit the Gaura Purnima 2012 Festival web page for more details about traveling to the dhama, how to maintain good health during your visit, and other practicalities.
For further information, please contact Vrinda-devi dasi at
Please inform us by e-mail about your participation, especially if you will come with a group. In this way we can arrange suitable accommodations for everyone.
Directions
By Taxi: To arrange a taxi to pick you up from the airport, train station, Barddwan, Kolkata, or other places, you can contact our reliable local taxi service at
By Train: From the Howrah train station in Kolkata you can catch a train to Navadvipa for about Rs. 60. Our Matha is about 10 minutes away from the Navadvipa train station, which should cost you no more than Rs. 15 by rickshaw. For those who prefer to come by train, our advice is to be careful and watch your luggage during the train journey.
Sri Gaura-dhama Parikrama and Janmotsava 2012
SCHEDULE
Friday, 2 March 2012
Arrival in Navadvipa-dhama and Adhivasa Festival of Sri Navadvipa-dhama Parikrama (Festival that marks the beginning of the annual seven-day parikrama). Sankalpa (taking of vows) at the Ganga.
Saturday, 3 March 2012
(1) Sri Antardvipa ("atmanivedanakhya") – Sri Gaura Janmabhita in Sridhama Mayapura, Srivasa Angan, Sri Advaita Bhavan, Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Matha (Sri Candrasekhar Bhavan), Samadhi Mardha of Jagad-guru Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, Sridhara Angan, Sri Murari Gupta pata, and Chand Kazi's Samadhi. Lunch prasadam Sri Candrasekhar Bhavan.
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Fasting for Sri Ekadasi
(2) Sri Rudradvipa ("sakhyakhya") – Rudrapada, Sankapura, Idrakapura and Gangeradariga.
(3) Sri Simantadvipa ("sravanakhya") – Simuliya, Saradanga, Meghara Cada, Belapukura, Samadhi darsana of Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja in the town of Navadvipa, Paudamatala (Praudha-maya-sthana). Ekadasi lunch prasadam at Sri Kesavji Gaudiya Matha, Navadvipa.
Monday, 5 March 2012
Break fast for Ekadasi from 5:55 am till 9:51 am.
(4) Sri Godrumadvipa ("kirtanakhya") – After touching the Ganga and offering obeisances to Sri Gaura-Yogapitha in Sridhama Mayapura, there will be a procession to Swarupaganja, Gadigacha, Surabhi-kunja, Svananda-sukhada-kunja, Suvarna-vihara, Harihara-ksetra and Narasimha Palli. Prasadam and rest.
(5) On the way back: Sri Madhyadvipa ("smaranakhya"), Majida, Hatdanga, Anandavasa, Vamanapura and Hansvahana.
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
(6) Sri Koladvipa ("padasevanakhya") – Gadakhalir Kola, Tegharira Kola, Koleramada, Kolera Ganga, Kolera Daha, Samudra Gadha and Campahati.
(7) Sri Ritudvipa ("arcanakhya") – Ratupura.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
(8) Sri Jahnudvipa ("vandanakhya") – Jannagara (Jahnumimisthan) and Vidyanagara (Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya pata).
(9) Sri Modrumadvipa ("dasyakhya") – Mamagachi (Sri Vrindavana dasa Thakura pata). Noon prasadam and rest. On the way back – Arkatila and Ekadala and Matapura (Panca-pandavera-ajnatvasa).
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Fasting for SRI GAURA-PURNIMA. Sri Gaura-jayanti and sankirtana festival. Fasting till moonrise, then Ekadasi preparations only. Holi.
Friday 9 March 2012
Break fast for Sri Sri Gaura-jayanti from 5:25am-09:22am. Festival of Sri Jagannatha Misra. Prasadam distribution and Vaisnava-homa yajna (Fire sacrifice and honoring the Vaisnavas). Departure.
