Sri Kaliya Krishna Das is an intimate associate of Lord Nityananda .He is the ninth of the twelve Gopalas (Dvadasha Gopalas) who have assisted Lord Nitai in manifesting His magnanimous pastimes. Within the desire tree of devotional service, Sri Kaliya Krishna is the 22nd branch to have arisen out of the trunk of Nityananda prabhu.Sri Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika reveals the identity of Sri Kaliya Krishna Das as the cowherd boy Lavanga ,in Krishna’s Vrindavana pastimes. Sri Caitanya Bhagavata exclaims that one who simply remembers Kaliya Krishna das is sure to attain the lotus feet of Sri Gauranga and Nityananda.Sri Kaliya Krishna das or Kala Krishna Das , as he is often referred to, had his headquarters here at Akaihata, near Katwa. It is worthwhile mentioning, that Sri Kala Krishna das should not be herein confused with another devotee with the same name, who had accompanied Lord Caitanya in His south India tour.The other devotee, who had to be personally rescued by Caitanya Mahaprabhu from the clutches of the Bhattaharis, was a different person.
When we visited Sri Kaliya Krishna Das’ Sripat, here at Akaihata, we found the atmosphere to be highly spiritually surcharged. An old lady, serving here ,took us around the place. Just adjacent to the temple hall is located the Nupur Pukur (‘Nupur’ means anklet,and ‘Pukur’ translates to pond in bengali) .This pond had been created on impact when Sri Raghunandana’s anklet hit the ground here, five hundred years ago. Sri Raghunandana’s anklet flew from His feet while He was ecstatically dancing with Sri Abhirama Gopala ,several kilometers away at Baradanga. ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ has covered this pastime in a separate article entitled – ‘The Great Vaishnavas of Srikhanda’.
Kala Krishna das used to perform his bhajan ,sitting by the side of this sacred pond. There is also a very ancient sacred madhavi tree that graces the temple compounds.The samadhi tomb of Sri Kala Krishna das is situated just beside the temple altar, here at Akaihata dham.However, Sri Kala Krishna das’ installed deities and the anklet of Sri Raghunandana Thakura, are presently being worshipped at Karui, a place not very far from Akaihata. The Bhakti Ratnakar records that Sri Kala Krishna das was one of the devotees who attended the disappearance festival of Sri Gadadhara Das prabhu, at katwa.Sri Gadadhara Das used to serve, at Sri Gauranga Bari , the sacred place where Sriman Mahaprabhu accepted His Sannyasa initiation.Sri Gauranga Bari and Akaihata are hardly 15 kilometers apart from each other.‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ has covered the sannyasa initiation of Lord Caitanya in a separate article entitled – ‘Sri Gauranga Bari (katwa) – Where Mahaprabhu accepted Sannyasa’.The disappearance festival of Sri Kala Krishna das is held at Akaihata every year, on the twelfth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Caitra (March-April).
What to See :
- Nupur Pukur – This pond had been created on impact when Sri Raghunandana’s anklet hit the ground here, five hundred years ago. Sri Raghunandana’s anklet flew from His feet while He was ecstatically dancing with Sri Abhirama Gopala ,several kilometers away at Baradanga.
- The samadhi of Sri Kaliya Krishna das.
- The sacred Madhavi tree which adorns the temple compounds.
We worship the lotus feet of our spiritual master ,whose causeless mercy has empowered us ineligible fools ,to gain entrance and take up service in this exalted abode of Akaihata. We seek shelter of this holy land, and pray that its glories remain forever imprinted in our heart.‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ offers millions of obeisances and humbly prays to Sri Kaliya Krishna Das that we advance in our Krishna consciousness, develop attachment unto the lotus feet of Nitai Gaura and are able to serve Sri Guru & Vaishnavas, by our honest and sincere efforts. We seek his blessings and compassion , in successfully rendering this humble service of reciting the pastimes and revealing the pastime places of the Supreme Lord and His beloved associates.We shall consider ourselves greatly fortunate and our existence meaningful if Lord Gaurahari and our dear spiritual master are kindly pleased with our endeavours.
How to Reach:
The place is very near to Dainhat Railway station , which is located a few stoppages before the katwa Railway station. One can get down at Dainhat and hire a local cab to directly reach the Sripat of Sri Kala krishna das at Akaihata.
Accommodation – One can choose to stay at Hotel Srabani in Katwa which is owned and governed by the local municipality.Dainhat and Katwa are quite near to each other. Or else, Navadvipa is hardly an hour and a half ride from Dainhat. So the devotees can also choose to stay at Navadvipa / Mayapur and then travel to take darsana of this exalted dham.
If one stays in Katwa, one can avail prasadam at the ‘Gauranga Bari temple’. Else if one stays in Navadvipa, then he/she can honor prasadam at Iskcon Mayapur or any of the Gaudiya Mathas.
Nearest major airport – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata)
Nearest major Railway station – Dainhat
(Please note that we neither necessarily recommend these hotels/accommodation centers mentioned above nor do we guarantee that they will provide the required facilities/services to the visiting pilgrims. We are not in any way related to the governance of these hotels/accommodation centers. The visiting pilgrim is advised to choose an accommodation as per his own discretion)