Sri Ganga Narayan Chakravarti is considered to be the foremost of Narottama Das Thakura’s disciples. He appeared at a place called Jiaganj, which is situated a few stops from the Murshidabad station. Jiaganj was previously known as Gambhila and is renowned all over the world, as the sacred place where Narottama das Thakur subsequently merged into the Ganges and disappeared from this world. Sri Ganga Narayan was a very rich and famous person. He was a renowned scholar. He used to impart education unto hundreds of students daily. The great stalwart Sri Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakura was also one of his dedicated students.
‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ has presented the life and pastimes of Narottama das Thakura in another of our articles entitled – ‘Kheturi, Rajshahi (Bangladesh) – Sripat of Sri Narottama das Thakura’. In this article, however, we are going to focus on Ganga Narayan Chakravarti and the Sripat of Gambhila.
Life and Pastimes of Ganga Narayan Chakravarti
Before surrendering himself unto Narottama das Thakura, Ganga Narayan Chakravarti was a puffed up scholar who used to look down upon Narottama. The reason being that Narottama, although belonging to a lower caste, initiated people who sometimes were even Brahmanas. Not only Ganga Narayan, but several people of that time, who failed to gauge the exalted position of Narottama das, indulged in his criticism.
But later on, seeing his close friend Ramakrishna Acharya accepting initiation from Narottama das and noticing the sudden change in his friend’s spiritual consciousness, planted the seeds of faith in Ganga Narayana’s heart. He could understand that Narottama was a great soul.
He also began to lament that he had once looked down upon Narottama das Thakur and thereby offended him. He thought that perhaps if he could obtain initiation from Narottama, it would reduce some of his grave offenses. Lamenting thus, he went to sleep with a heavy heart. Narottama das Thakur appeared in his dream and spoke as follows :
Aichhe kata khed divaratri gongaila
Sesh ratri haite kichu nidra akarshila
Swapne dekha dilen thakura mahasaya
Karuna nirmita murti maha-tyejamaya
Manda manda hashi kahe Ganga-Narayana-e
Tumi mor kinkara , koroho khed kene
Sab manoratha siddhi haibe tomar
Kaali ganga-snane dekha paibe amar
Kheturi haite ami ailam etha
Snan-kaale tomar sahith kahiba sab katha
(Narottama vilasa)
Translation –
(Translated by ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’)
Throughout the entire day, Ganga Narayana lamented his misfortunes (of offending Narottama)
Towards the end of the night, he could get some sleep
Narottama das Thakura appeared in his dream,
His form was full of compassion and splendidly effulgent
Smiling gently, he spoke to Ganga-Narayana
‘Why do you lament? You are my servant
All your desires shall be fulfilled
You will get to meet me tomorrow while bathing in the Ganges
I shall come over here (Gambhila) from Kheturi
We shall talk more tomorrow (while bathing in the Ganges)’
Ganga Narayan Chakravarti quickly woke up, and after finishing his morning duties, started off for the Ganges (This tributary of the Ganga/Padma that flows over Murshidabad, is now known as ‘Bhagirathi’). Seeing Thakura Mahasaya ,Ganga Narayana Chakravarti immediately fell unto his lotus feet. He begged Narottama Thakura to accept him as his disciple and grant him initiation. Narottama das Thakura initially declined Ganga Narayana, saying that Ganga Narayana was a brahmana whereas Narottama was a Kayastha (lower caste) and it would create a controversy if he were to initiate a brahmana. The other Brahmanas would criticize Narottama as well as Ganga Narayana and create a problem. Ganga Narayana then replied that one who obtained the mercy of Narottama becomes fearless and does not care anymore for the social conventions or criticisms of those who are devoid of any devotion. Observing Ganga Narayana’s determination and dedication, Narottama das Thakura became very pleased. He soon initiated him on an auspicious day.
Mantra diksha diya mahasaya harsha haila
Sri Krishna-Caitanya pada-padme samarpila
Narottama mahasaya bhakti avatara
Ganga-Narayane kaila svashakti sanchara
(Narottama vilasa)–
Narottama das was very pleased to give initiation unto Ganga Narayana,
He offered Ganga Narayana unto the lotus feet of Sri Krishna Caitanya,
Narottama das Thakura is an incarnation of devotional love,
He imbued Ganga Narayana with his devotional prowess
Ganga Narayana Chakravarti began studying the scriptures of the Goswamis and incessantly engaged himself in Harinama sankirtana. He became more effulgent and filled with ecstatic love. Many brahmanas criticized Ganga-Narayana for having accepted initiation from a lower caste Narottama. But these had no effects on Ganga Narayana who had finally discovered the objective of his very existence. These brahmanas who had then criticized Ganga Narayana later accepted initiation from him.Just as Narottama had initiated and rescued innumerable fallen souls, similarly it has been mentioned that Ganga Narayana had countless disciples. He was very dear to residents of Vrindavana. His wife ,Narayani devi, and daughter, Vishnupriya devi, were exalted devotees and assisted him in his services.
Sripat Gambhila – Bodo Govinda Bari
Sripat Gambhila, the residence of Ganga Narayan Chakravarti, is the sacred site where Narottama das Thakura used to often come and stay with his dear disciple.At this exalted dham lies scattered the dust of Thakura Mahasaya’s lotus feet.
It was also over here at Gambhila that Narottama das Thakura subsequently disappeared from this world in the year 1611 AD, merging with the waters of Bhagirathi (the tributary of Padma that flows through Murshidabad). The Bank of Bhagirathi where Narottama das Thakura entered the river and vanished just as milk dissolves in water, is now known as ‘Dudhghat’ (Dudh translates to milk in bengali) and is an exalted place of pilgrimage for the Gaudiya vaishnavas. The localites sometimes also refer to this river bank as ‘Neemtala ghat’, owing to a beautiful Neem tree that adorns this place.We noticed that ‘Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust’ has constructed a beautiful gate on this river bank, to commemorate this auspicious pastime.The residence of Ganga Narayana Chakravarti ,however, is situated a few Kilometers from Dudhghat and has since come to be renowned as ‘Bodo Govinda Bari’. Bodo Govinda bari is only a few minutes ride from the Jiaganj Railway station.
The Golden Gauranga deity at Bodo Govinda bari :
At Bodo Govinda Bari rests today the enchanting Golden Gauranga deity, that was once worshipped by Narottama das Thakura. There is a very interesting pastime regarding how Narottama das Thakura discovered this Gauranga deity. In the province of Gopalpur, there lived a pious brahmana whose name was Bipradasa. Mahaprabhu revealed to Narottama das Thakura in his dream one night that his beloved Gaura Vishnupriya deities were presently resting at the house of this brahmana. These deities laid hidden in his huge container of paddy. Actually, when Mahaprabhu left Bengal for Puri, after accepting His sannyasa initiation, He manifested these enchanting deities and hid it inside the Ganges. In the course of time, they landed up in the house of this brahmana, but this brahmana was completely unaware of this fact.
So when Narottama das Thakura arrived at the house of this brahmana the next day and wanted to look into his huge mound of paddy, the brahmana warned him that a huge venomous snake lived in it and it was not safe to go near it. Regardless, Sri Narottama entered the paddy container, and immediately the huge snake appeared and walked out of the mound. All present were very filled with wonder. Soon Thakura Mahasaya discovered his beloved Gaura Vishnupriya deities from the paddy and grabbed them dearly. The onlookers began loudly glorifying Narottama das and shouted Haribol! Haribol ! in ecstasy.
Gola haita Priyasaha Sri Gaurasundara
Krore aila haila sarva nayana gochara
(Bhakti Ratnakara, 10.202)
Wherever Narottama das Thakura went, he carried his beloved Gauranga deity along with him. Narottama das was mad in ecstatic love with his beloved Gauranga. So when Narottama das Thakura arrived at Gambhila, at the residence of Ganga Narayana, for the final time before he merged with the Ganges, he had carried this golden Gauranga (‘sonar Gauranga’) deity along with him from Kheturi. This beautiful deity has remained at ‘Bodo Govinda Bari’ ever since and attracts innumerable pilgrims from all over the world.
The disappearance of Narottam das Thakur at Gambhila:
Narottama das Thakura was absorbed in singing the glories of Lord Gauranga and Nityananda day and night. By the mercy of his lotus feet ,several atheists, agnostics, offenders, demigod worshippers, dry logicians, speculators, etc were delivered. Hearing the terrible news of the disappearance of Sri Ramachandra Kaviraja,who was his very dear friend, Narottama plunged into an ocean of grief. The spiritual master of Ramachandra, Sri Srinivas acharya, who was also a very dear friend of Narottama Thakura ,soon passed away as well. Arriving at Gambhila, Narottama das Thakura ordered his disciples Sri Ramakrishna and Ganga Narayan Chakravarti to arrange for his bathing in Padma. He entered the waters after repeatedly paying his obeisances. Standing there in the water ,he then ordered his disciples to wipe his body. Then, as Ganga Narayan and Ramakrishna, were cleansing the body of their spiritual master, Sri Narottama merged into the waters of Padma and vanished from worldly view. His disappearance was just as milk vanishes in water. It is believed that Thakura Mahasaya wrapped up his earthly Leela and manifested his disappearance pastimes in the year 1611 AD. This bank of Bhagirathi (the tributary of Padma that flows over Murshidabad) where this pastime took place has come to be renowned as ‘Dudhghat’.Sri Narottama das Thakura’s tirobhava is celebrated on the Kartiki Krishna panchami tithi.
Ajna kaila Ramakrishna Ganganarayan-e
Mor anga marjana karoho dujone
Donhe kiba marjana kariba parashite
Dugdha-praya mishaila Gangara jalete
Dekhite dekhite shighra haila antardhan
Atyanta durgeyo iha bujhiba ki aan
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 Gambhila. 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 Ganga Narayan that we advance in our Krishna consciousness, develop attachment unto the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga 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.
What to see :
- The enchanting deity of Lord Gauranga, which was once worshipped by Narottama das Thakura. This mesmerizing deity has stolen away our hearts and been our object of vision ever since we obtained His blissful darsana.
- The deities of Sri Radha Ramana jiu, which is also believed to have been originally brought from Kheturi and was previously worshipped by Thakura Mahasaya.
- The Worshipable Radha Gopinatha deities of Ganga Narayan Chakravarti
- Radha Govinda deities – worshipable deities of Ganga Narayan Chakravarti
- 44 salagram Silas are served and worshipped over here. It is also widely believed that the salagram sila which Mahaprabhu had gifted to Raghunatha das Goswami is also present among these 44.
- A few Kilometers from the Bodo Govinda Bari is situated Dudhghat (also known as Neemtala ghat), where Narottama das Thakura merged with the waters of Bhagirathi.
The temple is currently administered and maintained by the descendants of Ganga Narayan Chakravarti. The devotees at this place were very gracious and cordial. One of the elderly matajis, who looks after the temple, mercifully showed us around the place. She even took us inside the house and allowed us to take photographs of the deities, even though the altar was closed and the deities were resting at the time.
How to Reach :
Murshidabad is well connected to Kolkata via roads and railways and it takes hardly a few hours for one to reach Murshidabad from Kolkata. Jiaganj is situated a few stops from the Murshidabad city. ‘Bodo Govinda Bari’ is hardly a few minutes drive from the Jiaganj station. The temple is situated near the locality of Begamganj. The temple is quite renowned in the locality and is situated amidst a busy marketplace.Dudhghat (locally renowned as the Neemtala ghat) is hardly a ten minutes auto ride from the ‘Bodo Govinda Bari’ temple.
Accommodation – One can choose to stay at any of the prominent hotels of Murshidabad city. Jiaganj is hardly a half-hour drive from Murshidabad city.
Nearest major airport – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (Kolkata)
Nearest major Railway station – Jiaganj
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