Audarya Dhama: The Most Munificent Abode
BY: PADMALOCHAN DAS
Jun 12, 2012 — SRIDHAM MAYAPUR, WEST BNGAL (SUN) — Compiled by Sriman Padmalochan dasa; Revised Edition (1992).
INTRODUCTION
The journey to Vrindavan is long. First one must gain control of his senses, such as the eyes, ears and tongue, and then the mind and the subtle attraction for name and fame. At this point, one may begin his journey to Vrindavan. One will first pass through the heavenly world, where the residents live for thousands of years, with full strength of their body and senses until their death. If one is not attracted to stay in the heavenly sphere, then he will next pass through Tapaloka, Janaloka and Brahmaloka, where the residents are endowed with mystic powers, experience no misery and live for millions of years.
If one still wishes to continue his journey to Vrindavan, then at this point one crosses over the Viraja river and enters into the Brahman effulgence, where there is complete freedom from birth and death and one can remain in a state of simply being, with neither happiness or distress. But if one still wishes to continue his journey, he will next arrive at Vaikuntha, where all the inhabitants enjoy eternal life full of bliss and knowledge, with the Supreme Lord Narayan, in a serving mood of awe and reverence.
If one is still not completely satisfied, then he can continue his journey and enter into Goloka, where Vrindavan and Navadvipa are situated. At this place on can have a loving relationship with the Lord. The following description of this place is given in the Brahma-Samhita:
"I worship that transcendental seat, known as Svetadvipa where as loving consorts the Laksmis in their unalloyed spiritual essence practice the amorous service of the Supreme Lord Krsna as their only lover; where every tree is a transcendental purpose tree; where the soil is the purpose gem, all water is nectar, every word is a song, every gait is a dance, the flute is the favorite attendant, effulgence is full of transcendental bliss and the supreme spiritual entities are all enjoyable and tasty, where numberless milk cows always emit transcendental oceans of milk; where there is eternal existence of transcendental time, who is ever present and without past or future and hence is not subject to the quality of passing away even for the space of half a moment. That realm is known as Goloka only to a very few self-realized souls in this world."
(Brahma-Samhita 5:56)
Of course, to obtain Vrindavan is very difficult, for just to gain control over the tongue, belly and genital is an almost impossible task. But the following alternative has been given by Lord Nityananda to get out of this place of repeated birth and death.
"Navadvipa and Vrndavana are one principle, neither one less or greater than the other. Vrndavana is the receptacle of rasa, the goal of the living entities, but one who is not qualified cannot receive the nectar. Therefore, by its mercy, that same Dhama has become Navadvipa, where the living entities can attain qualification for that nectar. In other words, to enter into is transcendental pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna, the highest goal for the living entities, but immediately one has no right. Only after many lifetimes of austerity does one reach the stage of knowledge. When knowledge matures one inquires after this rasa. But as there are many obstacles at all times, to obtain the great treasure of that nectar is very rare indeed. Therefore, everyone who goes to Vrindavan does not get that rasa. Rather, because of offenses, that sweet nectar turns sour.
Furthermore, because during terrible Kali yuga offenses are continuous, the body is shortlived, and because the troubles are many, even if one wants the Vrindavan rasa, it is not attainable. The only method of getting that rasa is to get the mercy of Krsna.
Sri Sri Radha and Krsna have given that mercy by appearing along with Vrindavan in the single form of Gaura Hari in Navadvipa. In that form He has given the process for qualifying for the rasa) even the initial presence of many offences does not bar one from attaining quickly the goal of prema, if one takes to the worship of Gauranga.
Therefore, if one takes residence in Navadvipa and takes shelter of the name, the offences will cease and the qualification for the fasa will come. Quickly love of Krsna will shine and topics of Radha and Krsna will prevail. In this way the living entity, by earning the mercy of Gauranga, obtains entrance into the holy land of Vrindavan, the land of the nectarean pastimes of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.
Listen, O Jiva. Both Vrindavan and Navadvipa are the shelter of countless blissful devotees. Purified living entities, having crossed over material nature, live there as associates of Krsna. That Dhama is eternal, non-material, and fully conscious, completely opposite to the material world. You should know that the houses, doors, rivers and the streams, the forests and courtyards, are all completely spiritual and intensely attractive. That it is a blissful place, transcendental to material nature, resting of Krsna's inconceivable and supremely magnanimous sandhini energy.
By that energy that Dhama has descended here in Nadiya, for the greatest desire of Krsna is the deliverance of the living entities. But since no material thing or person is ever situated in the Dhama, a film of dull matter has spread over this Dhama to keep it covered from the materialist. The people who have no relationship with Sri Krsna Caitanya simply live on top of that covering, blind to the real truth. Though one is thinking, "I am in Navadvipa", Prauddha Maya happily keeps the Dhama far away from that person. "But if by some great fortune one receives the association of a devotee, that relationship (sambandha) with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will come to him."
Though Navadvipa Dham is generally covered from the view of the materialist, still the pure devotees of the Lord are so kind upon the living entities, trapped in this world of birth and death, that they come into this world and distribute their causeless mercy to everyone. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedananda Svami Prabhupada appeared in this world for some time and revealed the glories of Navadvipa Dham and the Lords of Navadvipa, Sri Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu and thus made it possible for everyone to enter into Navadvipa simply by chanting the names of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates
sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda sri advaita
gadadhara srivasadi gaur bhakta vrnda,
And the sweet names of Radha-Krsna.
Hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare.
one's heart will become purified and one will be able to see Navadvipa Dham as it is.
(To be continued…)
