Glories of Godrumadvip (Hindi)
Harikatha, Sreela Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
The Lord disappeared, and Surabhi remained here beside a banyan tree, constantly serving the lotus feet of Gauranga. Therefore, this place is called Godruma [go-cow; druma-tree]. At this place the devotees' desires are fulfilled. One who builds a cottage and worships here will easily become absorbed in Sri Chaitanya's lotus feet.
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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings are topmost. There was no strength or having the ability to understand them and a dark age prevailed after his disappearance. People were bereft of the actual teachings of Mahaprabhu and dark ignorance prevailed in society. No worldly person can help us in understanding these transcendental teachings. Understanding this Sri Chairanya Mahaprabhu sent his personal associate in this world. Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakur himself revealed his identity as Kamalmani Manjari. Externally, we see that he was in the gṛhastha-āśrama. Since his childhood, he exhibited uncommon qualities, his life biography is not like an ordinary man of this world. In order to teach the worldly people, he accepted gṛhastha-āśrama to show how a gṛhastha should lead his life. This was one of his objectives. He has given medicine to gṛhastha. There used to be a childhood marriage concept during that time, he did not deny it. He followed the custom. He was exhibiting vallabhi bhav, like an arranged marriage he got married (that time groom bride were not knowing each other, but as per parents wishes they used to get married). He was observing the activity like an ordinary common man to give medicine to them. He was not an ordinary gṛhastha, he possessed full of divine energy. He refuted all ignorant practices and established the teachings of Mahaprabhu. He has written more than hundreds of books. The place we are visiting is the one where he used to live and perform his bhajan in Mayapur. You all know about Swananda Sukhada Kunja at Radhakund in Govardhan. This place (Gurudev is referring to Bhaktivinoda Thalkur’s place at Godruma Dvipa) is non-different to Swananda Sukhada Kunja. Lalita Sakhi serves Rupa Manjari and Bhaktivinoda Thakur serves Lalita Sakhi (He follows the lineage of Rupa Manajri). With his blessings, Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Goswami appeared in this world as his son. Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Goswami is also a personal associate of Lord, he was an erudite scholar, no one could dare to stand in front of him. We cannot imagine the tough situation at that time. That has given a ready platform to us for preaching. They refuted all the ignorant preaching practices and made a platform for us of which benefit we are taking. They (Bhaktivinoda Thakur and Saraswati Prabhupad) performed difficult spiritual hard work. In today’s age, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur is the root of Mahaprabhu's teachings. He brought Saraswati Prabhupad to this world. He provided many spiritual books. All the diving pastimes of Navadvip Dhama which we are relishing, Bhaktivinod Thakur is the original source. We must be very grateful to Bhaktivinoda Thakur. Without him all the Gaudiya Sampradaya is nothing, ZERO. Nityanand Prabhu along with Srivas Pandit, Jiva Goswami and other devotees visit several places of Navadvip Dhama and narrate glories of it. Here, Indra’s wife's name is also Sachi, so he is called Sachipati. You all are aware of Krishna and Devaraja Indra’s pastime. Indra could not recognize Krishna as Supreme Lord. In order to teach lessons to Indra and take away his ignorance as well as establish the Krishna worship (Govardhan puja pastime). Nanda Maharaj and other Gopas used to perform Indra puja, in order to please him so that they would get regular rains and livelihood. All the beings (gopas—cowherd boys, cows etc ) will get their food. Hence to please Indra they were to perform yajña, Indra’s worship. You all know this. But when Krishna stopped the yajña and started worshipping Govardhan puja lila, Indra became furious. He vowed to inundate the Vraja with torrential rains and thundering. Indra was furious towards Krishna , considering Him as a gvāla-bāla (who tenders the cows and calfs) and how he dares to stop my yagya. Indra wanted to teach a lesson to Krishan on what danger He would experience if He stops his worship, that is if He stops worshiping him, Indra will make the life of vraja-vāsi’s miserable for not following their duty to worship him. Indra started torrential rains as thick as the trunk of an elephant and inundated Vraja Dhama. Vraja-vasis started praying to Krishna as He is the only shelter for them in such a situation. Krishna told them not to fear, leave their houses and bring belonging and come to Him. Krishna then lifted and held Giriraja Govardhan on top of the little finger of his left hand for seven days and seven nights. He started protecting them , None was aware where all the water was going. Seeing this Indra, approached Brahma Deva and started comparing about Nandanandan Krishna, “Krishna is so much puffed with pride and stopped my worship , hence to teach him a lesson with torrential rains I have inundated the Vraja Dhama. But I am surprised, where all the water is going. With amusement Brahma asked Indra that you also made a mistake. Krishna is not a gvāla, ordinary cowherd boy but He Himself is the supreme personality of godhead. Indra understood his big mistake and started shivering out fear of punishment by the Lord. Brahma said I also made the same mistake and committed offense at Lord’s feet. Brahma advised Indra to approach the Lord for His mercy. Then Devaraja Indra along with Surabhi cow approached Lord Krishna. Indra thought as Krishna loves the cow, hence by seeing Surabhi he will be calmed down, hence he took Surabhi with him. He approached the Govinda Kunda, where cows used to offer milk to Govinda and the milk of that abhishek formed Govinda Kunda. Madhavenra Puri Pad established the deity of Govinda Deva there. Krishna reproaches and advises Indra not to be puffed up with ignorance and make such mistakes again. Indra could not recognise Krishna, now out of fear he thought when the Lord will appear as Gauranga Mahaprabhu, I should not commit the same mistake in Kaliyuga. He came prepared and approached Surabhi cow and requested her to accompany him to Navadvip Dhama and we will perform bhajan there. At the Godrum Dvipa under the pipal tree, Surabhi cow took shelter and started doing bhajan. Godrum means ‘go’ and ‘drum’ means (pipal) tree, a combination of both is Godrum. That is how this place is named as Godrum Dvipa. They stayed and performed Gaurang Mahaprabhu’s bhajan. Bhajan of other forms is very difficult but Gaurang bhajan is the simplest one. Gaurang Mahaprabhu appeared to deliver all sinful and ignorant people. By uttering His name one attains the highest prema. He does not discriminate jivas based on their āśrama, color, or occupation, nor the eligibility to receive mercy. Only taking shelter at His lotus feet and uttering His Holy Name everything can be achieved. His Bhajan is so simple. Indra got the divine darshan of Mahaprabhu here and he became immersed in ecstatic kirtan of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu told Indra that I will appear in Navadvip Dhama and you can watch My pastime without any mayājala and disappeared. Surabhi cow and Pipal tree also resided here till Mahaprabhu performed Navadvip pass time. This is Godrum dvipa lila.
Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya
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