Category: orissa

Tota Gopinath temple, Jagannath Puri

Post author By gaudiya
Post date November 16, 2021

tota gopinath

After Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had taken His Sannyasa, He shifted from Bengal to Jagannatha Puri. Sri Gadadhar Pandita accompanied the Lord to Puri as well and engaged Himself in the service of Tota Gopinatha. Sri Tota Gopinatha is an exquisitely beautiful Deity of Lord Krishna. Tota Gopinatha is also the most unique as He is the only deity of Krishna who manifests the posture of sitting down. This enchanting deity of Tota Gopinatha jiu was unearthed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu when He started digging the ground one day, feeling intense separation from Krishna, the Supreme Lord. Crying out “Where is my Prananath? ” Lord Gauranga started digging the ground in divine ecstasy and in the process discovered this enchanting deity. Sri Gadadhar had dedicated Himself unto the service of this deity ever since. Mahaprabhu named the Deity Gopinath, and because the deity appeared in a garden (garden is called ‘tota’ in Oriya) the devotees refer to Him as Tota Gopinath. Sri Vrindavana das Thakura mentions in Chaitanya Bhagavata, that the heart of even the most demoniac atheist would soften upon taking darsana of this mesmerizing deity of Tota Gopinatha. Every day, at the temple of Tota Gopinatha, Sri Gadadhar Pandita would recite Srimad Bhagavatam and Lord Chaitanya, along with His associates, would often visit to relish the nectar.

gadadhar bhavane mohana Gopinatha
achene, ye hena nanda-kumara saksat
apane Chaitanya tare kariyachena kole
ati pasandi-o se vigraha dekhe bhule
dekhi sri-murali mukha angera bhangima
nityananda ananda asrura nahi sima
(Sri Chaitanya-Bhagavat, Antya, chapter 7)
–
In the house of Gadadhar Pandita was worshiped the most enchanting Gopinath jiu. He is none other than the son of Nanda Maharaj. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had Himself danced with this deity of Gopinath placing it on His lap. Even the heart of the most demoniac atheist would soften upon taking the darsana of Gopinatha jiu. Beholding Gopinath jiu’s posture and the way He holds His flute, Lord Nityananda had shed incessant tears.

Jagannath Puri

Siddha Bakul – Haridas Thakur’s bhajan Kutir, Jagannath Puri

Post author By gaudiya
Post date November 13, 2021

siddha bakul

After Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had accepted His sannyasa, and shifted to Jagannatha Puri, Srila Haridas Thakur followed Him as well. Despite being a stalwart Vaishnava, Srila Haridas had always considered himself to be low-born and exceedingly abominable. Hence, out of his sheer humility, he never entered the premises of the Jagannatha Puri temple. At Puri, Lord Chaitanya had arranged a place for Haridas’s stay, positioned just behind His own residence at Gambhira. The residence of Srila Haridas is renowned today as ‘Siddha Bakula’ (Siddha means perfect). The sacred place has derived its name from a Bakula tree that grows over here. This fortunate tree is over 500 years old and it used to provide its cooling shade under which the Thakur chanted his rounds peacefully. Lord Chaitanya had personally planted a used tooth-stick of Lord Jagannatha into the ground at this place, which immediately grew up and blossomed into this Siddha Bakul tree. To this day, anyone visiting this place can take darsana of this sacred Bakula tree. The tree looks like it has exploded or it appears to be completely dead. The tree has no marrows but only survives through its skin. Yet it is wonderfully thriving with lush green leaves and fragrant flowers.

Jagannath Puri

Haridas Thakur Samadhi, Swargadwar, Jagannath Puri

Post author By gaudiya
Post date November 12, 2021

haridas thakur samadhi

About 500 years ago, namacharya Srila Haridas Thakur breathed his last and wrapped up his earthly pastimes at Siddha Bakul in Jagannath Puri. He yearned to pass away while beholding the moonlike face of Lord Gauranga. Lord Gauranga, the Supreme Lord, granted the wish of Haridas, His beloved servant. Holding the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya upon his heart and drinking the nectar of the Lord’s moon-like face, Haridas incessantly chanted the holy name of Sri Krishna Chaitanya in ecstasy. While chanting thus, he left his body, entering the eternal abode of the Supreme Lord. Witnessing the wonderful passing away of Haridas, everyone remembered the passing away of Bhishma on the battlefield of Kurukshetra who also left his body at will. Raising the body of Haridas Thakur with His own hands, Lord Chaitanya began dancing in divine ecstasy. There was a tumultuous roar and all the devotees joined in the Harinama sankirtana. The Vaishnavas are never too morose when a fellow devotee passes away. They realize that the devotee who had passed away must have achieved the Supreme spiritual destination and reunited with his beloved Lord. Besides, it is of no use crying over a dead body when the soul has already left it. The knowledge of matter, spirit, and the controller of both (Supreme Lord) is the key to interpreting the emotions and actions of a Vaishnava.

Jagannath Puri Lord Jagannath spiritual stories

Jagannath Puri temple history (Part 2) – Neela Madhava disappears

Post author By gaudiya
Post date October 27, 2021

jagannath

In the previous article, we described how in Satya Yuga, King Indradyumna, ruler of Malav, was apprised of the glories of Purusottama Kshetra (Jagannath Puri) by an exalted saint who had previously visited the holy dham on pilgrimage. King Indradyumna had then sent Vidyapati, brother of the royal priest, in search of Sri Neela Madhava. After traveling for days, Vidyapati arrived at the Nilgiri hills where he met with an exalted Vaishnava named Biswabasu. Biswabasu showed him around the place and with his help, Vidyapati finally attained the darsana of Lord Neela Madhava. Request you to browse through the earlier article for a detailed description of these mysterious events. This article is a humble attempt to present the subsequent developments.

Jagannath Puri Lord Jagannath spiritual stories

Jagannath Puri temple history (Part 1) – King Indradyumna searches for Neela Madhava

Post author By gaudiya
Post date October 24, 2021

jagannath puri temple history

#1 In Satya Yuga, there was a King named Indradyumna who ruled over a Kingdom identified as Malav. He was of exemplary character and a great devotee of Vishnu, the Supreme Lord. He belonged to the same lineage as Lord Brahma and was his twenty-fifth descendant.

#2 King Indradyumna once asked his royal priest if there was any holy place in this world where he could behold the Supreme Lord with his own eyes.

#3 The temple priest then summoned numerous people who had undertaken extensive pilgrimages to holy places. He placed before them the same question that the king had asked him the other day. One of the pilgrims exclaimed that he indeed knew of a place where one could behold the Supreme Lord.

#4 Alluding to the present Indian state of Orissa, the pilgrim described that towards the south of this state, on the shores of the ocean, existed Sri Purusottama kshetra (the land of Purusottama – the Supreme Lord). Within Purusottama Kshetra lies a mountain named ‘Nilgiri’ and it is encircled with dense forests on all sides. On the top of this mountain, exists a giant banyan tree that is sometimes also referred to as ‘Kalpa-vata’. To the west of this place, is a beautiful lake called ‘Rohini-Kunda’ whose blessed waters grant liberation to whoever touches it. To the east of the Nilgiri mountains, Lord Vasudeva is worshiped in His enchanting deity form (Neela Madhava) that is embellished with blue gems. The blue Deity is exceedingly effulgent and beautiful. Anyone who bathes at Rohini Kunda and then beholds this beautiful deity achieves freedom from this material world. Towards the west of this deity lies an ashram called ‘Sabara Deepak’.

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) Jagannath Puri Lord Jagannath

Jagannath Puri Dham & its 13 glories

Post author By gaudiya
Post date October 17, 2021

jagannath puri dham

Jagannath Puri dham is addressed by various names. Some of these names are Sri Kshetra, Purushottama kshetra, Nilachala dham, Jagannath dham, Samanik tirtha, Uddiyan pith, Marta-Vaikuntha, Nilgiri, Niladri, Sankha kshetra, Bhu-svarga, and Nrsimha kshetra. Jagannath Puri is one of the most prominent spiritual sites of India (Bharat). It is said that the Supreme Lord bathes at Badrinath (situated in North India), changes His clothes at Dwarka (situated in West India), accepts His food at Jagannath Puri (situated in East India) and then proceeds to take rest at Rameshwaram (situated in South India). Here at Jagannath Puri, the Supreme Lord resides in His deity form. Anyone who takes His darsana attains liberation from this material world. By visiting Jagannath Puri, one attains the pious credit of visiting all the other holy places of pilgrimage. Below are listed some of the unending glories of Jagannath Puri dham.

Balasore Medinipur and surroundings others Vaishnava acharyas

Syamananda Pandita – Biography | Sripat Kanupur (Near Balasore)

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 13, 2018

balasore Sri Syamananda Pandita, the dear disciple of Sri Hridaya Caitanya, is one of the great stalwart Vaishnavas to have graced the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya. Showering his causeless mercy, he has been instrumental in delivering countless fallen souls. Sri Prema Vilasa reveals that Sri Syamananda Pandita eternally serves as Kanaka Manjari in Krishna’s Vrindavana pastimes. His spiritual master, Sri Hridaya Caitanya, was the incarnation of Sudhira Sakhi. Hridaya Caitanya, in turn, was the dear disciple of Gaudidasa Pandita, the intimate friend of Lord Gaurahari and Nityananda Prabhu. Gaudidasa was the incarnation of Subala, Krishna’s dear cowherd friend. ‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ has covered in detail the pastimes of Gaudidasa Pandita in the article entitled – ‘The worshipable deities of Gaudidasa Pandita, Ambika Kalna’.

yam loka bhuvi kirtayanti hridayanandasya shishyam priyam
sakhye shri-subalasya yam bhagavatah preshthanushishyam tatha
sa shriman rasikendra-mastaka-manish citte mamaharnisham
shri-radhapriya-narma-marmasu rucim sampadayan bhasatam

Translation – Sri Syamananda was known in this world as Hridaya Caitanya’s dear disciple; He was the grand-disciple of Subala sakha, the most dear friend of the Supreme Lord; he was the crest-jewel of the enjoyers of sacred rapture. May he appear day and night in my mind, bringing an appreciation for the essence of the joys of the beloved of Sri Radha.
(Syamananda-shataka)

Balasore Medinipur and surroundings others

Khirachora Gopinath Temple, Balasore – History | Why did Gopinath steal Khira?

Post author By gaudiya
Post date January 13, 2018

khirachora gopinatha

‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ offers its respectful obeisances and heartfelt gratitude to Sri Khirachora Gopinath jiu, whose blessings and mercy enabled us to relish the exceedingly deep and sweet reciprocations between the Supreme Lord and His dear devotees. We shall humbly try to recite to the best of our ability, the sweet pastimes of Khirachora Gopinatha Jiu, as was narrated by the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya Himself, while He had visited Remuna.

On His way to Sri Jagannatha Puri, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu along with His associates had halted at Remuna, a place which is presently located within the Balasore District of Orissa. Mahaprabhu along with all His associates offered His prostrated obeisances to Sri Gopinatha jiu, who possesses a very enchanting form. While Lord Caitanya was offering His obeisances to the deity, the helmet of flowers that adorned the crown of Sri Gopinatha fell onto Sri Caitanya. Receiving the blessings of Sri Gopinatha, Lord Caitanya began singing and dancing in ecstasy. The local devotees at the temple became amazed seeing the intense love, the beautiful form, and the transcendental qualities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Caitanya rested for the day at the temple because he longed to taste the sweet ‘Khira’ (a preparation of sweet rice) prasadam prepared over here, as He had heard a lot of glories of it from His spiritual master, Sri Isvara Puri. This ‘Khira’ offered over here, tastes as good as nectar, and hence it is also called Amrta-keli. Resting for the night, Lord Caitanya began narrating the story of how Lord Gopinatha jiu had become so famous and how He had come to be known as Khirachora Gopinatha.