ALL GLORIES TO SRI SRI GURU & GAURANGA
You are invited to attend
Sri Navadvipa-mandala Parikrama 2008
Conducted under the guidance of
Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaj
Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha,
M. Kolerdanga Road (near the Ganga Bridge),
Navadvipa, West Bengal
Phone: +91-3472.244.090 (It cannot be guaranteed that an English speaking person will answer the phone.)
+91-9333.222.775 (Sripada Harijana Maharaja)
E-mail:
Dear Devotees,
Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja is personally inviting you all to attend Sri Navadvipa-mandala Parikrama in the holy land of Sri Navadvip-dhama.
This year, the festival will be inaugurated on March 15th, with the devotees taking sankalpa, or a vow to ensure the success of their parikrama. It will end on March 22nd.
Parikrama
On March 16th we will begin our five day Sri Navadvipa-mandala parikrama, a pilgrimage of to each of Navadvipa’s nine incomparably beautiful islands. As we wind our way through these islands, we will chant in surcharged and compelling kirtanas that we will cherish forever, reverentially touch our head to the dust of the numerous places related to Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes, and hear such hari-katha that will change our lives and strengthen our commitment to the path of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Our pilgrimage will be completed on March 20th.
Gaura Purnima
On March 21st 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 honour Mahaprabhu’s appearance by going to bathe in the Ganga early in the morning. Devotees are encouraged to fast on this day. In the evening, just on dusk, there is an abhishek of the deity of Mahaprabhu, accompanied by an extraordinarily sweet kirtana, followed by anukalpa Maha-prasadam.
Festival of Sri Jagannatha Misra
Overjoyed with the birth of his dear most son, Sri Jagannatha Misra held a grand festival, the day after the child’s birth. So, on March 22nd, we will observe that festival with a delicious prasadam feast. On behalf of Sri Jagannatha Misra and mother Sacidevi, who have made all arrangements, Srila Maharaja is inviting us to participate. The festival will be held at our temple, Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha.
Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha
According to Srila Maharaja’s desire, a beautiful lake-side temple is presently under construction. Furnished with a large prasadam hall, a massive kirtana hall, beautiful gardens, and two guesthouses, this grand structure is already impressive, even in its early stages of construction.
Included within the festival fees:
Because building is still going on, 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 serves to remind us how Navadvipa Parikrama was performed in previous times.
For an extra cost:
Here you have two choices. There are hotel rooms at varying distances from the Matha. Their charges also vary.
There are also simple rooms available for rent in the houses of the local residents. The average charge is between 50 and 200 rupees per day, depending on the facility offered.
Cost
A minimum contribution of Indian Rs. 1,500 (US $40 or EU 30) per person is requested in order to cover the most basic expenses of the festival. This payment covers prasadam; fire-wood for cooking, electricity and water; the rental of the pandal and sound system; payment for various workers; cleaning costs and facilitating of sannyasis and brahmacaris, and many poor pilgrims from India.
We humbly request you to remember that this fee is a wonderful opportunity to facilitate the inconceivable benefit to be received from hearing the hari-katha of a spotlessly pure Vaisnava and performing parikrama under his guidance. In fact, we would not be able to repay this in countless life times.
Registration
You can register and give your contribution at the entrance of the temple gate. There you can contact Rama-krsna Prabhu, Tilaka-raja Prabhu, Vrinda-devi dasi, or other devotees responsible for accommodating you inside or outside the temple complex. The facilities on Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha grounds will only be available from March 14th onwards. If you decide to arrive in Navadvipa-dham before this date, you will need to make your own arrangements for accommodation and prasadam. We trust all will cooperate with the festival managers in this regard.
Please visit the Gour Purnima 2008 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 contact Brajanath dasa 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 accommodation.
SCHEDULE
Sri Navadvipa-dhama Parikrama and Janmotsava
(Appearance Day Festival of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu)
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Arrival in Navadvipa-dhama and observance of the ceremony that marks the beginning of the entire seven-day festival. This is known as the Adhivasa Festival.
Sankalpa (taking a vow) at the Ganga
Parikrama to the Samadhi of Srila Trivikrama Maharaja
Sunday, 16 March 2008
(1) Sri Antardvipa (This island corresponds with the limb of bhakti known as atmanivedanam, or the full surrender of one’s body, words, actions and soul. ) We will visit the birth place of Sri Gaura, known as *Janmabhita in Sridhama Mayapura. We will also go to *Srivasa Angan, *Sri Advaita Bhavan, *Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Matha (Sri Candrasekhar Bhavan), *Samadhi Mandira of Jagad-guru Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, *Sridhara Angan, *Sri Murari Gupta pata, and *Chand Kazi’s Samadhi
Lunch prasadam Sri Candrasekhar Bhavan
Monday, 17 March 2008
Fasting for Sri Ekadasi
(2) Sri Rudradvipa (corresponds with sakhyam, or friendship with the Lord) – *Rudrapada, *Sankapura, *Idrakapura and *Gangeradariga
(3) Sri Simantadvipa (sravanam, or hearing) – *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
Tuesday, 18 March 2008
Break Ekadasi fast between 6.35 a.m. and 9.46 a.m.
(4) Sri Godrumadvipa (kirtanam, or chanting the names of Krsna))
After touching the Ganga and from there offering obeisances to Sri Gaura-Yogapitha in Sridhama Mayapura, we will proceed to *Swarupaganja, *Gadigacha, *Surabhi-kunja, *Svananda-sukhada-kunja, *Suvarna-vihara, *Harihara-ksetra and *Narasimha Palli. Prasadam and rest
(5) On the way back we will wander through Sri Madhyadvipa (smaranam, or remembering) going to *Majida, *Hatdanga, *Anandavasa, *Vamanapura and *Hansvahana.
Wendesday, 19 March 2008
(6) Sri Koladvipa (pada-sevanam, or serving the lotus feet of the Lord)
*Gadakhalir Kola, *Tegharira Kola, *Koleramada, *Kolera Ganga, *Kolera Daha, *Samudra Gadha and *Campahati
(7) Sri Ritudvipa (arcanam, or worship) – *Ratupura
Thursday, 20 March 2008
(8) Sri Jahnudvipa (vandanam, or offering obeisances and prayers) – *Jannagara (Jahnumimisthan) and *Vidyanagara (Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya pata)
(9) Sri Modrumadvipa (dasyam, or serving)) – *Mamagachi (Sri Vrindavana dasa Thakura pata)
Noon prasadam and rest. On the way back we will wander through *Arkatila, *Ekadala and *Matapura (Panca-pandavera-ajnatvasa).
Friday, 21 March 2008
Fasting for SRI GAURA-PURNIMA. Sri Gaura-jayanti and sankirtana festival. Fasting till moonrise, and then breaking the fast with Ekadasi preparations only
Holi
Saturday 22 March 2008
Full break fast for Sri Sri Gaura-jayanti after sunrise and before 9:00 a.m.
Festival of Sri Jagannatha Misra. Prasadam distribution and Vaisnava-homa yajna (Fire sacrifice and honoring the Vaisnavas). Departure from Sri Navadvipa-dhama.
Saturday 22 March till 25 March
Meetings for members of Advisory Board and trustees of Bhaktivedanta Trust International
27- March – 01 April 2008
Hari-katha festival by Srila Gurudeva in Shiliguri, West Bengal. (You will need to bring your own bedding.)
