Sri Navadvipa Dhama Parikrama 2017
6-13 March
and
Installation Festival of the Divine Vigraha of
Srila Gurudeva
(vigraha praktya mahotsava)
Sri Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha
M. Kolerdanga Road (near the Ganga Bridge)
Navadvipa, West Bengal
Phone: +91-9153125442 / 9734825362 (Madhusudan das)
All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga
Srila Gurudeva's Invitation to All
In Govardhana, at 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. On his behalf, we therefore humbly invite you to attend Sri Navadvipa-dhama Parikrama 2017.
This year, the festival will be inaugurated on 6 March, with the devotees observing sankalpa, or a vow to ensure the success of their parikrama. The festival will end 12 March.
On 7 March, we will begin our five-day Sri Navadvipa-mandala parikrama, a pilgrimage to each of Navadvipa's nine incomparably beautiful islands. During this period, we will hear, chant and remember the beautiful pastimes of Sri Sri Gaura-Nityananda and Their eternal associates, and reverentially touch our head to the dust of the numerous holy places that will change our lives and strengthen our commitment to the path of bhakti. Our pilgrimage will be completed on 11 March.
On 12 March, we will celebrate the divine appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Many devotees honor Mahaprabhu's appearance by taking bath in the Ganga early in the morning. Gurudeva always encouraged to fast on this day. In the evening, just on dusk, there will be a glorious abhishek of the deity of Mahaprabhu, accompanied by a kirtana that is always extraordinarily sweet. After this, Ekadasi maha-prasadam will be served.
Friday 10 March 2017
Festival Installing the Divine Vigraha of Srila Gurudeva
With the sincere and dedicated efforts of the Bhakta Bandhava team and devotees all around the world, the basic construction and interior of Srila Gurudeva’s samadhi has been completed. On 10 March, Srila Gurudeva’s vigraha will be installed. The presence of his divine vigraha in the samadhi can nourish our mood of separation from him and thus bless us with success in bhajana.
Sri Navadvipa-dhama is non-different from Sri Nityananda prabhu who is akhanda-guru-tattva (the undivided principle of sri guru) and the abode of nitya-ananda (eternal bliss). Without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu one cannot attain the service of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. Hence, when we visit Srila Gurudeva's samadhi, automatically we are approaching entire guru-parampara.
It is the special mercy of Srila Gurudeva that we can take darsana of his samadhi in Sri Navadvipa dhama, that place which is full of magnanimous mercy and which eradicates offences.
Once, on March 7th, 2006, two days before the Navadvipa-dhama parikrama was officially about to begin, Srila Gurudeva said to the assembled international pilgrims, "Here in Navadvipa, I am remembering my Gurudeva, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja. After the disappearance of his Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, preaching entered a dark period, and thus there was practically no more parikramas of Vrindavana or Navadvipa. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura then appeared to my Gurudeva three times in dreams, at which times he told him, ‘Our preaching has practically stopped. You must take sannyasa, the renounced order of life, and preach everywhere.’When I see that you have all come here from all over Bengal and around the world, I am reminded of his mercy. By his mercy, he restarted Navadvipa and Vrindavana parikramas.
“My Gurudeva always used to say that guru-nistha, strong faith in the bona fide, self-realized guru, is the backbone of devotion to Sri Krsna. Without faith in the lotus feet of the siksa and diksa-guru, we cannot perform bhajana. We cannot be properly absorbed in devotional practices. By great fortune we have achieved this human form of birth, and now we have the opportunity to realize that we are eternal souls, servants of Lord Sri Krsna. By the influence of maya, however, we have forgotten that. Now, by doing this parikrama, we can re-establish that relationship by the mercy of Gurudeva.
“We are also reminded how, here in Koladvipa, my Gurudeva kept his own life in his hands [risked his life] in order to save the life of his Guru Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Some dacoits in the shape of caste brahmanas and others tried to kill Sarasvati Thakura here, but by the insistence of my Gurudeva, he took the red cloth and danda of his Guru Maharaja and gave him his own white cloth. In this way the dacoits would not know who was who. By this exchange he was actually being given sannyasa, and he later took formal sannyasa initiation from Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Maharaja in Katwa. There are so many pastimes to remember.
“How can we manage such a big parikrama? We have no ability whatsoever; so we have to raise our hands and pray for the mercy of Sri Nitai-Gaura. They can make this parikrama successful; otherwise it is impossible for anyone. We also remember how our guru-parampara, and especially Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, preached in all the foreign countries and in India, and by their mercy many people are coming to Sri Navadvipa-parikrama.
“What is the purpose of doing Navadvipa-dhama parikrama? Krsna enjoyed four rasas when He was present in Vrndavana 5,000 years ago, but He could not give the process to achieve Vraja-prema. In the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu He was able to do so. By performing Navadvipa-dhama Parikrama, people not only learn about this, but they can also relish this sublime truth.”
In his foreword to Sri Navadvipa dham Mahatmya, Srila Gurudeva explains, “Sri Gaura and Sri Krishna comprise an identical spiritual principle (tattva); there is no difference whatsoever between Them. Sri Krishna, the personification of sweetness (madhurya vigraha), is none other than Sri Gaurasundara Himself, who is the personification of munificence (audarya-vigraha), and vice versa. Sri Krishna’s abode, Sri Vrindavana, is similarly identical in all respects to Sri Gaura’s abode, Sri Navadvipa, which is actually called Gupta Vrindavana, the hidden Vrindavana. In this way, both the divine principles (tattvas) and holy abodes (dhamas) are eternal and not affected by mundane considerations such as time, place and circumstance.
“Krsna-nama kare aparadhera vicara [Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 8.24]. Even if he is chanting the name of Krishna, a person who is committing offences will not be able to attain love for Krishna (krsna-prema) in millions and millions of lifetimes. However, gaura-nityanandera nahi e saba vicara, nama laile prema dena, bahe asrudhara, Sri Gaura and Sri Nityananda do not consider any offences. When one chants Their names, prema will awaken in the heart and torrents of tears will begin to flow from the eyes. Like Sri Gaurahari Himself, His abode is supremely liberal and the most magnanimous.
“Without worshipping and attaining the mercy of Sri Gaurahari and His abode, Sri Navadvipa, it is impossible to obtain darsana (a vision) and the mercy of Sri Vrindavana. Sri Krishna’s dhama, Vrindavana, and Sri Gaura’s dhama, Navadvipa, are non-different. Therefore, the perimeter of Sri Navadvipa dhama extends to sixteen kosas (approximately thirty-two miles), just like the perimeter of Sri Vrindavana. All the places of Sri Vrindavana, such as Sri Yamuna, Sri Govardhana, Sri Rasasthali, Sri Radha-kunda, Sri Syama-kunda and various sub-forests, also exist eternally in a concealed form in Sri Navadvipa-dhama. Sri Gaurasundara sports eternally in this abode. Fortunate living beings can experience Sriman Mahaprabhu’s eternal pastimes by performing nama-sankirtana under the guidance of His pure devotees.”
And in Sri Navadvipa-dhama, Srila Gurudeva writes, “In conclusion, Sri Navadvipa dhama is as supremely magnanimous as Sri Gaurasundara Himself. Navadvipa dhama consists of nine islands [nava means "nine" and dvipa means "island"], namely, Antardvipa, Simantadvipa, Godrumadvip, Madhyadvipa, Koladvipa, Ritudvipa, Jahnudvipa, Modadrumadvipa and Rudradvipa. Furthermore, Sri Navadvipa dhama is the abode of the nine types of devotional service as follows:
“Sri Antardvipa – fully surrendering one’s very self to the Lord; Sri Simantadvipa – hearing; Sri Godrumadvipa – chanting; Sri Madhyadvipa – remembering; Sri Koladvipa – serving the Lord's lotus feet; Sri Ritudvipa – worshiping (arcana); Sri Jahnudvipa – offering prayers; Sri Modadrumadvipa – engaging as a servant, and Rudradvipa – serving as a friend.”
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, one of the most important Acaryas of our Sampradaya, writes in his Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya:
The result of staying only one day in Navadvipa –
sarva-tirthe vasa kari 'jei phala päi navadvipe labhi tähä ekadine bhäi
“O brother, the result one obtains by residing at any of the other holy places for many days will be received by residing for only one day in Sri Navadvipa.”
Therefore, all are cordially invited to take part in the parikrama of Sri Navadvipa-dhama 2017.
Practicalities
Registration:
To register for this festival, you will be asked to fill in the participation form and give your contribution (in Rupees, Dollars or Euros) to the devotee in charge in the registration office at the entrance of the temple gate. There you will find other devotees responsible for accommodating you inside or outside the temple complex.
Registration Fee
A minimum contribution of Indian Rs. 4500, US$ 70, or EU 60 per person is requested in order to arrange delicious maha-prasadam and to cover the most basic expenses of the festival: the rental of the pandal and sound system, electricity and water, paying various workers, cleaning costs etc.
Accommodation:
Accommodation is available in- and outside our temple property. If you like to rent a room in one of our guest houses, and don’t mind to share with other devotees, or prefer a room at the local houses near our Math, you can write Vrinda-devi dasi for more information -
Taxi Details
For renting a taxi to pick you up from the airport, you may contact our taxi services:
When to Arrive:
The facilities on Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha grounds will only be available from 4 March 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.
More information:
Please visit the Gaura Purnima 2017 Festival Traveling to India web page on purebhakti.com for more details about traveling to the dhama, how to maintain good health during your visit, and other practicalities.
Temple management:
Madhusudan das + 91-9153125442 / 9734825362.
Kitchen:
Sri Pradyumna Babaji Maharaja & Sriman Radesh das
Over-all management:
Sriman Ramchandra das + 91-9810192540
Parikrama Schedule
Monday, 6 March 2017
Sankalpa (taking of vows) at the Ganges.
Tuesday, 7 March 2017
Sri Antardvipa: Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math, Sri Gaura Janmasthan (birth place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu) in Sridhama Mayapura, Srivasa Angan, Sri Advaita Bhavan, Sri Gadadhara Angana, Sri Caitanya Matha (Sri Candrasekhar Bhavan), Samadhi Mandir of Jagad-guru Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, Srila Gaur Kishora Das Babaji Maharaja Samadhi Mandir, and Chand Kazi's Samadhi.
Wednesday, 8 March 2017
Fasting for Amalaki Ekadasi. Sri Jahnudvipa : Jannagara (Jahnu muni's place) Sri Modrumadvipa : Mamagachi (Sri Vrindavana dasa Thakura Birthplace)
Thursday, 9 March 2017
Fast Break time: 05:41am - 09:43am
Sri Godrumadvipa: Swarupaganja, Surabhi-Kunja, Svananda-Sukhada-Kunja, Suvarna-Vihara, Harihara-Ksetra, Sri Narasimha Palli.On the way back: Sri Madhyadvipa: Vamanpada and Hamshavahan
Friday, 10 March 2017
Manifestation of Srila Gurudeva’s vigraha. Sri Koladvipa:
Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math. Sri Simantadvip: Simulia. Sri Rudradvipa: Praudhamaya, Sri Jagannath Das babaji Maharaja's bhajan kutir and samadhi mandir, Nidaya Ghat.
Saturday, 11 March 2017
Sri Koladvipa: Samudragadha, Campahatti.Ratupura (Radha Kunda), Kowala, Sri Ritudvipa: Vidhyanagar (Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya's Birthplace). Matapura (Panca-Pandav-agyatvasa).
Sunday, 12 March 2017
Fasting for SRI GAURA-PURNIMA. Appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Maha-abhishek in evening and kirtan festival.
Monday, 13 March 2017
Festival of Sri Jagannath Mishra and Sacimata
Fast break time: from sunrise until 9:45 am. Departure.
End of Sri Navadvipa dham parikrama 2017.
