Godrumdvip

This island embodies the devotional mellow of kirtana, chanting the holy names of the Lord. This is the third island of Navadvipa Dham. It is on the eastern side of the Ganges. It goes from Devanalli to the Jalangi river. This island is located on the other side of the Jalangi river from Mayapur. The local name for Godrumadvipa is Gadagachi.
In Dvapara yuga there was a holy banyan tree here. A surabhi cow and Indra, the king of heaven, performed austerities and worshiped Lord Caitanya under this tree. Surabhi stays in Godrumadvipa eternally. Therefore this place is called Godrumadvipa. Go means “cow,” druma means “tree under which austerities were performed,” and dvipa means “island.” There is a tree close to Bhaktivinoda’s house (about 100m away) that is said to mark the location of this tree.
Godrumadvipa is nondifferent from Nandisvara, the home of Nanda Maharaja and the cowherd men. Gada Gacha is considered non-different from Surabhi Kunda next to Govardhana Hill and Nandagrama in Braja Mandala.

Story of Godrumadvipa
When Indra became overcome by Krishna’s illusory energy he showered rain on the residences of Braja. Krishna protected the residences by holding up Govardhana Hill for seven days. To relieve himself of this offense he fell at the feet of Lord Krishna, who forgave him. Indra was still fearful and he went to the surabhi cow and told her that he had committed a great offense because he could not understand Krishna’s pastimes. He said that he had heard in Kali yuga Krishna would perform pastimes in Nadia. He feared that he might again fall into illusion and commit more offenses.

They went to Navadvipa and performed Gauranga bhajana because offenses are not considered while chanting Gauranga’s names. By chanting the names of Gauranga they received the darshan of Lord Gauranga.

He told them that He would appear in Nadia and would perform His pastimes. Upon seeing these pastimes maya will not be able to touch you. Lord Caitanya left and Surabhi remained there under a large banyan tree to continuously worship Lord Gauranga.

Story of Markandeya
Markandeya had the benediction to live for seven kalpas. One kalpa is one day of Brahma or one cycle of the four yugas, which is 4,320,000 years. Seven kalpas is 30,240,000 years. While Markandeya was meditating at the end of one of the kalpas, the time of material dissolution came. At this time the entire universe was filled with water and the sage Markandeya got tossed by the waves. There was no land any where. He said, “Why did I get such a benediction from the Lord, to remain alive for seven kalpas.”

Markandeya submerged into the water and became unconscious. Eventually his body arrived at Navadvipa Dhama. Navadvipa Dhama remains unaffected by the inundation, therefore giving shelter to the devotees.

When he regained consciousness he saw a beautiful island with brilliant streams and rivers every where. There were birds singing the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This was the island of Godruma.

He saw a large banyan tree with a Surabhi cow under the tree. The muni approached the cow and asked for some milk and Surabhi fed him. Markandeya told the Surabhi cow that he was unhappy with his benediction and asked her how he could get real knowledge. Surabhi told him that this is Navadvipa Dhama and it is not part of this material world. To the material eyes it is sixteen krosas (32 miles), but actually all the Vaikuntha planets and all the tirthas, rishis and demigods reside here. So just worship Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and chant the names of Gauranga. Markandeya asked her what would be his destination if he did this. Surabhi told him, “In Gaura bhajana there is no consideration or deliberation. When you call out the name of Gauranga all karma is destroyed and there is no more distress.” Markandeya then started chanting the name of Gauranga and began to worship Him.

Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s House (Svananda Sukhada Kunja)
This is the bhajana kutir of Bhaktivinoda Thakur. While staying here Bhaktivinoda wrote the Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya, which describes the glories of Navadvipa Dhama. He also discovered Lord Caitanya’s appearance place while living here. Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s samadhi and Gaura Kishora Das Babaji’s bhajana kutir are also here.

Upstairs in the main house is the bedroom of Bhaktivinoda Thakur. There is a temple next to the original house where Gaura Gadadhara, the original Deities worshiped by Bhaktivinoda are located.

Bhaktivinoda Thakur predicated that a great devotee would appear and spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. Shortly afterward His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appeared and spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. He also saw that one day there would be a great spiritual city in Navadvipa. At the present time a city is being build in Sri Dhama Mayapur.

How To Get There To get to this house you go to Hoolar Ghat and then take a boat across the Jalangi river to Swarupa Ganj, Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s house is located in this area. Hoolar ghat is near where you get the boat to Navadvipa. When you get across the river all the rickshaw drivers know how to get there. The house is about a twenty minute walk from the ghat.

A more pleasant way is to walk about five minutes past the ISKCON gurukula and goshala to the Jalangi River. During the Gaura Purnima festival a boat (Rs 1 to Rs 5) will usually be there. From there Bhaktivinoda’s house is on the other side of the river, just across the street.

Quotes from Bhaktivinoda Thakur
“My small cottage is shining beautifully within that most enchanting garden called Svananda Sukhada Kunja. Living there, I will sing Lord Krishna’s holy name and I will greedily hanker for that time when I will get the service of Him and His associates.” (Gita-mala)

“On the banks of the celestial Ganges, I will dwell in a cottage at Surabhi Kunja in Godruma Dhama. This land of Godruma is very conductive for performing devotional worship of the Supreme Lord and is nondifferent from the sacred place called Nandagram, located in the holy district of Mathura (Saranagati).”

Suvarna Bihara (Vihar)
This place is also called Maha-Varanasi This is the site of the palace of King Suvarna Sena, a fabulously wealthy king who ruled this area during the Satya-yuga. He ruled his kingdom for a long time. Even after he grew old he continued to work hard to increase his wealth. Narada Muni came to see him and instructed the king.

Narada told the king that he was uselessly spending his time acquiring wealth. “You are engrossed with your body and family. Know that this wealth has no value. But you are lucky because you are living in Navadvipa.” He told him if he chanted the names of Gauranga he would attain the perfection of life. He then left the king.

That night Suvarna Sena had a dream in which he saw Lord Caitanya and His associates performing sankirtana. The king then heard a voice from the sky that told him that he would take birth in Navadvipa Dham and take part in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya.

During Caitanya-lila he took birth here as Buddimanta Khan. Buddimanta Khan paid for the marriage of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Vishnu Priya Devi. He also paid for the costumes for the drama that Lord Caitanya and His associates did at Candrasekhar’s Bhavan. He also provided assistance to Lord Caitanya and His associates when they traveled to Jagannatha Puri.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja established the Suvarna Bihari Gaudiya Math temple here. There are Deities of Lord Caitanya, Srimati Radharani, and Sri Krishna in this temple. In the mango orchard near this temple some ancient walls can be seen if one looks very closely.

How To Get There You first cross the Jalangi River. From Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s house, Suvarnabhihar is about 3 km, going towards Narasimha Palli, close to the village of Amghata. You can take a bus or bike rickshaw from Swarupa Ganj. You can also take a taxi from Mayapur, which will take about an hour.

Amra Ghata (Amghata)
Amra Ghata is where Lord Caitanya performed the miracle of planting a mango (am) seed, which immediately grew into a tree full with ripened mangoes. The devotees immediately picked about 200 mangoes and then offered them to Lord Krishna to eat. Daily after kirtana with Lord Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu, the devotees would hold a mango eating festival. The tree would give mangoes all year without interruption. The fruits were all red and yellow and had neither seeds inside nor skins outside and by eating only one the devotee was satisfied.

Every day for one year, Lord Caitanya and the devotees would enjoy eating mangoes at this place. At the end of one year, the mango tree disappeared.

How To Get There This place is located in the village of Amghata. There is no set place that marks where the mango tree was located. To get to this village you can go by taxi (about an hour) from Mayapur and also visit Narasimha Palli at the same time. From Bhaktivinoda house it takes about 20 minutes to reach this place by bike rickshaw.

Hari-Hara Ksetra
There is a Deity here who is half Vishnu (Lord Hari) and half Siva (Lord Hara). The Lord manifested Himself in this form to show how dear Lord Siva is to Him. Lord Siva is the best of the Vaishnavas. There is a temple here with the Deity of Hari-Hara, Laksmi, Burha Shiva, Maha Vishnu, Sitala Devi and the footprints of Gadadhara.
The glories of this place are millions of time better than that of Kasi (Varanasi) and Kailash combined. If one leaves his body at this place Lord Siva comes personally and chants the name of Gauranga in the dying person’s ear at the time of death and thus transports them to the spiritual world.

How To Get There This place is on the bank of the Gandaki River. It can be visited at the same time you visit Narasimha Palli.

Maha Varanasi
This place is also called Maha Kasi. Kasi is another name for the city of Varanasi. The Kasi in Navadvipa is superior to the other Kasi. At this place Lord Siva is always dancing and chanting the names of Gaura and requesting his followers to also do so. This place is called Maha Kasi because at this place there is no fear.

How To Get There This place is near Hari-Hara Ksetra.

Narasimha Palli (Deva Palli, Deva Para)
This is where Lord Narasimha rested after killing Hiranyakasipu. There is a lake here where the Lord washed the demon’s blood off His hands. In the time of Lord Narasimhadeva the Mandakini river flowed passed this place. Lord Narasimha came and drank water from the Mandakini to refresh himself.

At this time hundreds of demigods came here to perform worship of Lord Narasimha. Visvakarma came and built a palace for Lord Narasimha and hundreds of palaces for the demigods. After some time past the Mandakini changed its course and the palaces got covered over. Now only hills mark the places where these palaces were once located.
In the temple is a very ancient Deity of Narasimhadeva, said to date back to Satya-yuga (over three million years ago), with a decapitated Hiranyakasipu. Prahlada Maharaja is taking shelter directly under the foot of the Lord Narasimha.
Lord Caitanya and His associates used to come to this place.

How To Get There You can take a taxi to here from Mayapur which takes about an hour. You can also take a boat across the Jalangi River to Swarupa Ganj. From there you can take a bike rickshaw (about a half hour).

Story of Narasimhadeva
Lord Narasimha torn apart the body of the great demon Hiranyakasipu, the older brother of Hiranyaksa. Lord Vishnu appears in this form as a half-man, with a lion head to kill the king of the demons Hiranyakasipu.

Hiranyakasipu became very powerful and thought himself to be immortal by the benediction given him by Lord Brahma. He received this benediction after doing extreme austerities. He asked to be immortal, but this was not awarded. He got the benediction that he would not be killed by any man or beast or demigod, any kind of weapon, or by hands, that he would not die in the air, water or on the ground, nor be killed either inside or outside and would not die either during the day or during the night.

The Lord assumed the incarnation of a half-man and half-lion and killed Hiranyakasipu. He killed him on His lap, so that he was not killed either on the land, on water, or in the sky. The demon was torn apart by Narasimha’s nails, which were not a weapon or hands. He was killed at dusk, which was neither day nor night. He was killed on a porch which is neither inside a building nor outside.
Prahlada Maharaja was the son of Hiranyakasipu, and because the boy was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, his father tortured him. To save His devotee Prahlada Maharaja, Lord Narasimha appeared to kill Hiranyakasipu.

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