Mangalore's Guide to Jagannath Puri Dham

MANGALORE
Booklet with
Places and Pastimes

www.iskconmangaluru.com
Glories of
Jagannath Puri
The Caitanya-bhagavata describes the glories of Puri dhama as follows:
Sri Krsna smiled slightly and spoke kindly, "Listen. My dear Siva, I am giving you a very beautiful place.
Live here with all your associates and followers. This place is known as Ekamrakavana. In this idyllic
surrounding, you will appear and be worshipped. This place is in every way as captivating as Varanasi.
Besides, this place is also extremely elevated spiritually; but few know of this truth. Today, I will reveal to
you the esoteric significance of Ekamrakavana, which is dear to Me.
"On the shores of the ocean, covering a very large area, is the place known as Nila cala. This is also known
as Purusottama ksetra, the abode of the Supreme Person. It has a most pleasing and peaceful atmosphere.
Even at the time of the comic annihilation this place remains intact, unscathed. I reside there eternally, and
daily receive opulent offerings of foodstuffs. Purusottama-ksetra is spread over eighty square miles, and
within this area all living entities possess four-handed forms, though this is visible only to the demigods
and their equals. The demigods glorify this place as the most auspicious of all places of pilgrimage. The act
of sleeping here is equivalent to deep meditation, samadhi. Similarly, simply taking a lying posture here
accrues the same pious result as offering obeisances to the Deity. Simply walking about here is the same as
circumambulation, pradaksina, and all speeches here are the equivalent to, glorification of the Supreme.
These glories are all enumerated in the Vedas. This place is very dear to Me; hence, it is known by My name
and all the residents are of My equal.
Lord Hari never leaves this place. He says in Skanda Purana,
satyam satyam punah satyam
satyam etad bravimi te
prasada-bhange tat sthanam
na tyajami kadacana
I am telling you as real truths for the times that I never leave this place even if my temple is destroyed.
Sankha-ksetra spreads from east to west Its head is towards the west where Lokanatha Mahadeva resides.
On the east side of Sankha-kṣetra, Lord Nilakantha Mahadeva is residing. The belly portion of Sankha
ksetra is situated beneath the ocean. Towards the end of this conch-shaped kṣetra, Sri Nilakantheśvara
Mahadeva resides
In Kapila Samhita it has been mentioned:
saksat vaikuntha-rupam tam
kenanam sri purushottamah
ksetranam api kṣetram ca
tirthanam api yad varam
That tract of land which is known as Sri Purushottama-kshetra is a direct manifestation of Vaikuntha. It is
best among all kshetras and tirthas.
In Chaitanya charitamrta it has been explained:

yadyapi paravyoma sabakara niya-dhama
tathapi brahmande karo kanho sannidhana
Although They all have Their residences eternally in the spiritual sky, some of Them are situated within
the material universes
Jagannath Puri Dham
1. Śrī-kṣetra— The word Śri refers to the internal potency of Bhagavan Sri Kṛṣṇa known as Śrimati
Radharani, the source of all Kṛṣṇa’s saktis or powers. Thus the tract of land predominated by śri-
sakti or Rādhārani is named Śrī-kṣetra. Madhurya-bhaktas see this as the place wherein the sweet
charm of Sri Rādhā’s madhurya-rasa manifests. For this reason, Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed here
relishing rādhā-bhāva. Whenever He took darsana, Mahaprabhu saw Lord Jagannatha as
Syamasundara and cried out, “O Prānanātha, beloved of My heart!” Jagannatha shows His
Syamasundara form only to one in rādhā-bhāva and no one else. If one is feeling acute pains of
separation from Kṛṣṇa upon entering the temple, he will also see Jagannatha Swami in His
supremely beautiful Syamasundara form. Śrī-kṣetra is the place where the sweetness of śri-prema,
rādhā-prema, was displayed in its most intense form as madanakhya-mahabhāva. It is also
interesting to note that they refer to the main temple of Lord Jagannatha as Sri Mandira not
Jagannatha Mandira.
2. Sri Purusottama Dhama (Ksetra)—Puri is called Sri Purusottama-dhama because lila-

purusottama Bhagavan Sri Kṛṣṇa resides here in His archa-murti called Sri Jagannatha Deva. This
holy dhama is non-different from Purusottama Himself.
3. Jagannatha Puri Dhama—Sri Kṛṣṇa is the master Lord and supreme controller of the three
worlds. Therefore, He is called as Jagannatha and His sacred abode is known as Jagannatha Puri
Dhama.
4. Śri Śaṅkha-kṣetra—Puri is called Śaṅkha-kṣetra because the land area that it encompasses
resembles the shape of a conch shell. Lord Visnu’s four weapons are represented in four places in
Orissa: Śaṅkha-kṣetra (conch)—Jagannatha Puri; Padma-kṣetra (lotus)—Konark; Cakra-kṣetra
(disc)—Bhubanesvara; and Gada-kṣetra (club); Jājapura. Of these four kṣetras, Śaṅkha-kṣetra is
the best because the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His Deity form as Sri Jagannatha Swami
resides here with all His majesty, beauty and sweetness. The Skanda Purana says one should
commence parikrama (circumambulation) of Śrī-kṣetra in Margasirsa month (Nov-Dec.) on the fifth
day of the waning moon, which is the appearance day of Lord Narayana’s Pancajanya conchshell.
5. Nilacala Dhama—There is a small mountain (acala) located in the middle of Sri Ksetra which is
bluish (nila) in color; hence the name Nilacala Dhama. Previously, Orissa was inhabited by
aboriginal tribes, whose civilization was quite distinct from the Vedic Aryans. The Puranas state that
Jagannatha was originally a Deity of the Śabaras (tribal woodsmen) and was known as Nila
Madhava. The deity was made of some exotic effulgent blue stone. Later, the Lord manifested in
the form of four wooden Deities (Daru Brahma) that are presently worshiped here. In ancient times,
there was a dense forest here where the tribal Sabaras worshiped a charming Deity called Nila
Madhava, whose complexion was more dazzling than crores of blue sapphires (nilamani). The
present day temple is situated on this mountain; hence, Prabhu Jagannatha is sometimes called
Nilacala Candra. The following bhajana is often sung during Ratha-yatra parades:
nilacala candra amar prabhu jagannatha,
jai jagannatha! jai jagannatha! vrndavana
candra amar prabhu jagannatha,
jai jagannatha! jai jagannatha! jai jagannatha!
jai jagannatha! jai jagannatha,
swami, jai jagannatha!
The Kapila Samhita states, “This tract of land called Purusottama-ksetra is a direct
manifestation of Vaikuntha (saksat vaikuntha rupam tat). It is the best of all the
ksetras and tirthas.”
PROGRAMS
Jagannatha means "Lord of the universe." It is said that the present temple was begun by King
Chodaganga Deva and Completed by his descendant Anangabhima Deva The main temple structure
is 65 metres (214 ft.) high and is built on elevated ground, which makes it look even larger than it is.
The temple complex comprises an area of 10.7 acres and is enclosed by two rectangular walls. The
outer enclosure is called Meghananda Prachira (665 x 640 feet). The walls are 6 metres (20 feet)
high. The inner wall is called Kurmabedha (420 x 315 ft.). The walls are said to have been built
during the 15th or 16th century.
This temple is said to have the largest kitchen in the world and feeds thousands of devotees every
day. The kitchen can prepare food for 100,000 people in one day, and 250,000 is normal on a festival
day. There are thirty-six traditional communities (chatisha niyaga) who render a specific hereditary
service to the deities. The temple has as many as 6,000 priests. There is a wheel on top of the
Jagannatha temple made of an alloy of eight different metals. Known as Nila Chakra (blue wheel), it
is 11ft 8in high and has a circumference of about 36ft. On every Ekadasi a lamp is lit near the wheel.
Daily a flag is tied on a mast attached to the Nila Chakra. The main temple is surrounded by thirty
different temples. The Narasimha temple adjacent to the western side of the Mukti Mandapa is said
to have been constructed before the present temple. In front of the main gate is a pillar 11m high,
called Aruna Stambha, which used to be in front of the Sun Temple in Konark. It was brought to Puri
during the 18th century. The figure on top of the pillar is Aruna, the charioteer of the sun god. In the
passage room of this gate is a deity of Lord Jagannatha called Patita Pāvana (saviour of the most
fallen). It is visible from the road, so "non-Hindus" can take darśana of the Lord.
The four gates are the eastern Simha-dvāra (lion gate), the main entrance to the temple on Grand
Road; the southern Aśva-dvāra (horse gate); the western Vyaghra-dvāra (tiger gate); and the
northern Hasti-dvāra (elephant gate). There is a carving of each form by the entrance of the
respective gate. Inside the Lion Gate, in front of the altar of Lord Jagannatha, is a column called the
Garuda Stambha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu usually saw Lord Jagannatha from a distance from
behind this column. Behind that column is a ditch, which was filled with the tears of the Lord
Caitanya, and Mahaprabhu's handprint is melted into the column.
The main deities in the temple are Lord Jagannatha and His brother Baladeva and sister Subhadra
Devi. "Being absolute, Lord Jagannatha is identical in person, form, picture, kirtana, and all other
circumstances. If one thinks that the form of Lord Jagan natha is an idol made of wood, he
immediately brings ill fortune into his life. A pure devotee who knows the science of Krsna
consciousness makes no distinction between Lord Jagannatha and His body. He knows that they are
identical, just as Lord Krsna and His soul are one and the same." (Caitanya-caritamṛta Antya-lila
5.118 purport)
The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu are unlimited, and so many books glorify these most
relishable pastimes. The following is just a few of the Lord's pastimes that took place inside
Jagannatha Mandira:
The next day, Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went with His personal associates to Lord Jagannatha when
Lord Jagannatha arose early in the morning. After seeing Lord Jagannatha, Śri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu began His all-encompassing sankirtana. He formed seven groups, which then began to
chant. In each of the seven groups was a principal dancer, such as Advaita Acarya or Lord
Nityananda. The dancers in the other groups were Vakreśvara Pandita, Acyutananda, Pandita
Śriväsa, Satyaraja Khan and Narahari dasa. As Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu walked from one group to
another inspecting them, the men in each group thought, "The Lord is within our group."
The congregational chanting made a tumultuous roar that filled the sky. All the inhabitants of
Jagannatha Puri came to see the kirtana. Accompanied by his personal staff, the King also came
there and watched from a distance, and all the queens watched from the elevated parts of the
palace. Due to the forceful vibration of the kirtana, the entire world began trembling. When everyone
chanted the holy name, they made a tumultuous sound. In this way the Lord had congregational
chanting performed for some time, and then He Himself desired to dance. The seven groups began
chanting and beating their drums in seven directions, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began dancing in
the center in great ecstatic love. Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu remembered a line in the Orissan
language and ordered Svarupa Damodara to sing it. "jagamohana pari-munda yau: Let my head fall
at the feet of Jagannatha in the kirtana hall known as Jagamohana." Simply because of this line. Śri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu was dancing in greatly ecstatic love.
People all around Him floated in the water of His tears. Raising His two arms, the Lord "Chant!
Chant!" Floating transcendental bliss, the people responded by chanting the holy name of Hari. The
Lord fell to the unconscious, not breathing. suddenly He stood making a loud sound. The hairs on His
body constantly stood up like the thorns on Simula. Sometimes body was swollen, sometimes lean
and thin. He bled perspiration from every pore of His body. He faltered. Unable to say the properly,
He uttered only "jaja gaga mumu." All His teeth shook, as each separate from the Indeed, they
seemed about to fall to the ground. His transcendental strength increased at every moment.
Therefore even mid-afternoon the dancing had not ended.
Then Lord Nityananda found a way to end kirtana. He
gradually stopped all the chanters. Thus only one continued
chanting Svarupa Damodara, and When there was no longer
tumultuous sound, Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to
external consciousness. Then Nityananda Prabhu informed
Him of fatigue of the chanters dancers. Understanding fatigue
of devotees, Caitanya Mahaprabhu stopped congregational
chanting. Then bathed in the accompanied by all. Then
Caitanya Mahaprabhu took prasadam with all of them and
then asked them to return to dwellings and take rest.
Maha Sagara
The Puri Beach
The ocean here is known as Mahodadhi. In the Puranas it has been explained that this tract of land
north of the ocean is known as Utkala Desa. On the bank of this nila-sagara (blue ocean) there is a
mountain called Nilacala. In the nila-kandara (blue cave) of this mountain the Lord is residing in the
form of Nila-Madhava.
The Lord initially floated in the form of a log of wood to the shores of Mahodadhi at a place called Banki
Muhana. Formerly a river flowed between Lord Jagannatha's temple and Gundică temple; at the point
where the river met the ocean is Banki Muhāna. When Haridasa Thakura departed this world, Śri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu carried his transcendental body to this Nila-samudra and washed him in
preparation for samadhi. Mahaprabhu then declared that from that day on. Mahodadhi was maha-tirtha.
Every day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would bathe in the ocean and take darsana of the nila chakra of
Lord Jagannatha's temple, offering obeisances to it. He also instructed His devotees to follow His
example and perform these practices. When devotees from Bengal came to Puri-dhama, Mahaprabhu
would order them to do so. Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then addressed all the Vaishnavas and requested
that they listen to Him. He said, "Now you can go to your respective residential quarters. Go to the sea
and bathe and look at the top of the temple. After so doing, please come back here and take your
lunch."
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to His residence after taking a bath in the sea, all the
devotees, headed by Advaita Prabhu, went to bathe in the sea. After bathing in the sea, Advaita Prabhu
and all the other devotees returned, and on their return they saw the top of the Jagannatha temple. They
then went to the residence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to take their luncheon.
Mahaprabhu enters the Ocean

Thinking it is Yamuna
Lord Caitanya mistakes the ocean for the river Yamuna and jumps in.
While wandering near the temple of Aitoa, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu suddenly saw the sea. Brightened
by the shining light of the moon, the high waves of the sea glittered like the waters of the River
Yamuna. Mistaking the sea for the Yamuna, the Lord ran swiftly and jumped into the water, unseen by
others. Falling into the sea, He lost consciousness and could not understand where He was. Sometimes
He sank beneath the waves, and sometimes He floated above them. The waves carried Him here and
there like a piece of dry wood. Meanwhile, all the devotees, headed by Svarupa Damodara, lost sight of
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Astonished, they began searching for Him, asking, "Where has the Lord
gone?" Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had run off at the speed of the mind. No one could see Him. Thus
everyone was puzzled as to His whereabouts. "Has the Lord gone to the temple of Jagannatha, or has
He fallen down in madness in some garden? Perhaps He went to the Gundica temple, or to lake
Narendra, or to the Cataka-parvata. Maybe He went to the temple at Konark." Talking like this the
devotees wandered here and there looking for the Lord. Finally they came to the shore, accompanied
by many others. While they were searching for the Lord the night ended and thus they all decided,
"Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has now disappeared."
Passing along a beach they saw a fisherman approaching with his net over his shoulder. Laughing,
crying, dancing and singing, he kept repeating the holy name, "Hari, Hari." Seeing the activities of the
fisherman everyone was astonished. Svarupa Damodara therefore asked him for information. "My dear
fisherman," he said, "why are you behaving like this? Have you seen someone hereabouts? What is the
cause of your behaviour? Please tell us." The fisherman replied, "I have not seen a single person here,
but while casting my net in the water, I captured a dead body. I lifted it with great care, thinking it was a
big fish, but as soon as I saw it was a corpse, great fear arose in my mind. As I tried to release the net I
touched the body and as soon as I touched it a ghost entered my heart. I shivered in fear and shed tears.
My voice faltered, and all the hairs on my body stood up. I do not know whether it was the ghost of a
dead brahmana or an ordinary man, but as soon as one looks upon it, it enters his body."
Svarupa Damodara said to the fisherman, "My dear sir, the person whom you are thinking of as a ghost
is not actually a ghost but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Because of ecstatic love the Lord fell into the sea and you have caught Him in your net and rescued Him.
Simply touching Him has awakened your dormant love of Krishna, but because you thought Him a ghost
you were very much afraid of Him. Now that your fear is gone and your mind is peaceful, please show me
where He is." The fisherman replied, "I have seen the Lord many times, but this is not Him. This body is
very deformed." Svarupa Damodara said, "The Lord's body becomes transformed in His love for God.
Sometimes the joints of His bones separate, and His body becomes very elongated." Hearing this the
fisherman became very happy. He brought all the devotees with him and showed them the body of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Lord was lying on the ground, His body elongated and bleached white by the
water. He was covered from head to foot with sand. His body was stretched and His skin was slack and
hanging loose. To lift Him and take Him the long distance home would have been impossible. The
devotees removed His wet undergarment and replaced it with a dry one. Then, laying the Lord on a cloth,
they cleaned the sand from His body. They all performed sankirtana, loudly chanting the holy name of
Krishna into the Lord's ear. After some time the sound of the holy name entered the ear of the Lord who
immediately got up making a great noise. As soon as He got up, His bones assumed their proper places.
With half-external consciousness the Lord looked here and there. The Lord remains in one of three
different states of consciousness at all times: internal, external, and half-external. When the Lord is
deeply absorbed in internal consciousness but He nevertheless exhibits some external consciousness,
devotees call His condition ardha-bahya, or half-external consciousness. In this half-external
consciousness Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu talked like a madman. The devotees could distinctly hear Him
speaking to the sky. "Seeing the river Yamuna," He said, "I went to Vrndavana. There I saw the son of
Nanda Maharaja (Krishna) performing His sporting pastimes in the water. Lord Krishna was in the water
of the river Yamuna in the company of the gopis headed by Srimati Radharani. I saw this pastime as I
stood on the bank of the Yamuna in the company of the gopis. One gopi was showing some other gopis
the pastimes of Radha and Krishna in the water. All the gopis entrusted their silken garments and
ornaments to the care of their friends and then put on fine white cloth. Taking His beloved gopis with
Him, Lord Krishna bathed and performed very nice pastimes in the water of the Yamuna

Siddha Bakula
Siddha Bakula is located behind Kashi Mishra house. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally
arranged for Srila Haridasa Thakura to reside at this place. Siddha Bakula is the bhajana kutir of
Haridasa Thakura, the place where he chanted 3,00,000 names of Krishna daily.
Devotees from Gaudadeśa came to Puri to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu during Ratha yatra.
Mahaprabhu welcomed everyone as they arrived in Puri, but He could not see Haridasa. Haridasa had
not approached Mahaprabhu, but rather had stayed on the main street, offering his obeisances from far.
The devotees ran to Haridasa to inform him that the Lord was asking for him. Haridasa replied, "I am
fallen and low-born. I am not qualified to go near the temple. If I can get some place in the garden then I
will spend my time there chanting my rounds. I do not want the servants of Jagannatha to touch my
body. They will be contaminated by touching me."
Devotees went to Mahaprabhu and told Him these things. Mahaprabhu was very happy to hear of the
humility of Haridasa.
At that time Kasi Mishra and the superintendent of the temple came to meet Mahaprabhu. They had
arranged accommodation and prasada for all the devotees who had come from Gaudadeśa.
Mahaprabhu said to Kasi Mishra, "Near My place there is a flower garden. In this garden there is one
solitary house. Can you give Me that house? I would like to sit there alone and perform nama-smarana."
Kasi Miśra replied, "My Lord, everything belongs to You. Why do You have to ask me? Whatever You
need, just use instruct."
After making the arrangements for accommodation and prasada for all the devotees, Mahaprabhu then
came to meet Haridasa Thakur. Haridasa was chanting the holy names in great ecstasy, and as soon as
he saw Mahaprabhu, he immediately fell at the lotus feet of the Lord and offered his prostrated
obeisances. Mahaprabhu picked him up and embraced him. Both were crying with great love for each
other. Haridasa said, "O, Lord! Do not touch me. I am fallen, low-class, an untouchable and the greatest
sinful person."
Mahaprabhu said, "I am touching your body so that I may become purified. I am not as pure as you. At
every moment you are taking a bath in all tirthas. At every moment you are performing yajña, tapa, and
charity. Constantly you study the Vedas. You are more pure than brahmanas and sannyasis."
Mahaprabhu then took Haridasa Thakura to the flower garden behind His own room, and instructed
Haridasa Thakura to reside in that most secluded place and perform hari nama-bhajana. Mahaprabhu
said, "I will come here every day to meet with you. From here, take darshana of Nila-chakra. Every day
your prasada will be brought for you."
At this time, the place Mahaprabhu secured for Haridasa's residence was known as Mudra Matha. Nila-
chakra was visible from the courtyard of the matha, but now, due to the many buildings surrounding the
matha, it can no longer be seen.
Siddha Bakula
The History of the
Siddha-bakula
Every morning during avakāśa period, the sevakas offer three twigs as toothbrushes for Jagannatha,
Baladeva, and Subhadra. This twig usually comes from a tree called Kumbhatua. One morning before
the offering it was discovered that one of the twigs was missing. The pujari hastily arranged one more
twig from a bakula tree and offered it to the Lord. Everyday Mahaprabhu would go to the temple of
Jagannatha for darsana. That day the pujari, after offering the twigs as toothbrushes, gave one as maha
prasada to Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
It was Mahaprabhu's regular practice to visit Srila Haridasa Thakura after taking darsana of Jagannatha.
Mahaprabhu saw that Haridasa chants and does bhajan under hot sun. That day Mahaprabhu was in
ecstasy, having received the toothbrush of the Lord. He planted the twig in the ground near Haridasa's
bhajana-kutira. The twig grew into a large tree that offered shade to Haridasa Thakura where he would
perform his bhajana under the tree.
After disappearance of Haridasa Thakura, the King of Orissa ordered his officers to cut down the tree
here in order to construct Lord Jagannatha's Ratha yatra cart. Big amount of wood is needed, since the
carts are about 13 m high and each year new ones are constructed. They come to cut this tree but Srila
Jagannatha Goswami objected, informing them that the tree had been planted by Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu for giving shade to Haridasa Thakura. But they refused and decided to cut this tree in the
next day. Overnight, the tree becomes hollow. The trunk remained standing, but its insides were empty.
The next morning when the royal officers came they found the tree hollow and returned without
cutting it. We should not forget that, under this tree Haridas Thakur Chanted 3 Lakhs Names of
Lord everyday.
Gambhira is situated south east of the Jagannatha temple in Bali Sahi, on the way to Svargadvara. This
place is also known as Kashi Mishra’s house or Radha Kanta Matha.
When Mahaprabhu came to Jagannatha Puri after taking Sannyasa, He stayed at Sarvabhauma
Bhattacharya’s House. But After he toured South India, on His return to Puri he then stayed at Kashi
Mishra’s House. Kashi Mishra was Raj guru of King Pratap Rudra, and King had gifted him a house with
a large garden near the temple. King Pratap Rudra was a great Devotee of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu;
He suggested to Sarvabhauma that Mahaprabhu can stay in Kashi Mishra’s house.
Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya informed the king about the glories of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who
was Lord Krishna Himself in His sannyasa Lila. The king was impressed by Sarvabhauma words and
accepted Gauranga as Krishna Himself. Sarvabhauma said to the king, "Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
has gone to South India and very soon will re turn to Puri. He needs a place to stay that is both solitary
and close to the temple".
Then king suggested Kasi Mishra's house. Sarvabhauma informed Kasi Mishra, who was glad to hear
this proposal and said, "I am very fortunate that Mahaprabhu will stay in my house." Thus Kasi Mishra's
house became the place of residence for Mahaprabhu.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in Kashi Mishra’s house in a very small room called Gambhira. He
stayed in Gambhira constantly for the last twelve year of His manifested pastime.
Inside the room there is a box which holds the Kamandalu, Paduka and quilt of Mahaprabhu.
Sri Radha Kanta is worshipped in Kashi Mishra’s house. King Pratap Rudra's father, Sri Purusottama
Deva, conquered the king of Kanchipuram in battle and returned with three deities: Radha Kanta, Sakshi
Gopala, and bhada Ganesh. Bhada Ganesh is still worshipped in an inner courtyard just behind
Jagannatha temple. It is said Radha Kanta was also worshipped inside the Jagannatha Mandir for some
time. But in dream Lord Jagannatha informed the King Pratap Rudra to remove Radha Kanta deity
Because He is taking all nice items from his bhoga plate and so king requested to his Gurudeva Kashi
Mishra to take the Radha Kanta to his house.
During the Kashi Mishra’s time only Sri Radha Kanta was worshipped here. Later, when Gopala Guru
became the Mahanta of the Matha, he installed a deity of Srimati Radharani on the left side of Sri Radha
Kanta and a deity of Sri Lalita Devi on the right side. He also established the deities of dancing
Gauranga and Nityananda on the left and right side of Radha Kanta.
Mahaprabhu stayed in Gambhira constantly for the last twelve years of His manifested pastimes. During
this time He was feeling intense separation from Krishna.
Shweta Ganga is non different from Ganga Devi. Shweta Ganga is a holy pond situated south of
Jagannatha Mandira, Walking away from Jagannatha temple towards Svargadvara on Bali Sahi Road,
you will find this pond opposite the house of Sarvabhauma Bhatracarya, in a small lane off Bali-sahi
Road
Shweta Ganga is one the Pañca-tirthas in Puri-dhama. It is said in Sastra that if one takes bath in
Shweta Ganga and takes darshan of Shweta Madhava and Matsya Madhava, he will be freed from all
sins, in particular the offense of inadvertently stepping over Jagannatha prasada.
In the Puranas this pond is described as akrsna, meaning "not black". Shweta means white. People
here say that once a year, for a brief moment, the water of this pond turns as white as milk.
According to Skanda Purana (Utkala khanda) there was a king who ruled during Treta-yuga. His name
was Shweta. He was a great devotee of Lord Jagannatha and served the Lord by faithfully following all
the rules and regulations as laid down by King Indradyumna. Daily he would prepare one bhoga
offering to Jagannatha.
Early one morning the king was observing the paja offered to Jagannatha. He saw thousands of
demigods offering many nice articles to the Lord. The King thought to himself. "The Lord has been
offered these wonderful gifts from the demigods What can I offer my Lord from this earthly planet that
might please Him as much as the gifts of the demigods?" While thinking thus the king offered his
obeisances and left the temple room. However, before he turned away at the doorway to the temple, he
saw Laksmi Devi serving the food he had prepared for Lord Jagannatha. The Lord, along with His
vijaya vigrahas, was relishing the food. The king felt blessed to see this incident, satisfied that he had
offered something to the Lord that pleased Him. The king engaged in the service to Lord Jagannatha
for many long years. The Lord was pleased with his sincere service and gave him a boon that he would
in future be known as Shweta Madhava and be worshipped next to Adi-avatara Lord Matsya. As the
devotee is very dear to the Lord Jagannatha, He put King Shweta's name before His own, and thus
King Shweta was worshipped as Shweta Madhava.
The people of Puri say that Ganga Devi lives in Puri in the form of Shweta Ganga to take darshan of
Lord Jagannatha and engage in His service. Although the pond is named with Shweta (White), it is said
that the water is normally blue, but gained its name from annual event of turning into milk (as
previously explained).
Previously there was a sevaka of Lord Jagannatha

by the name Talachu Mahapatra. He developed a
great desire to take bath in Ganga. But due to bad
health, he could not and expressed his desire to
the Lord, he diiped into the water of Shweta Ganga.
When he came out of the water he saw that he was
standing at Manikarnika Ghat on the banks of
Ganga(Varnasi). He was surrounded with
thousands of people who were bathing in Ganga
and in great ecstacy he offered his respects to Devi
Ganga and again dipped into ganges. When he
came out again he found himself in the water of
Shwetha Ganga. He realised its the mercy of
Jagannath and Devi Ganga and chanted the names
of Lord in great ecstacy and offered prayers to Lord
Jagannatha with all respects.
Sri Sachi Devi left Vrindavan and returned to Jagannatha Puri.(Sachi Devi mentioned is here is not the
mother of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu). On the order of her Gurudeva, she went to the house where
Sarvabhauma Pandit had once stayed. There she engaged in bhajan and began giving classes on the
Shrimad-Bhagavatam. The old house of Sarvabhauma was dilapidated and crumbling. For a long time
no one had lived there. No one remained there to worship the Damodara Salagrama that had once been
worshiped by Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya himself. Sachi Devi established first-class worship of the
Salagrama according to the traditional rules and regulations of the Shastra. In order to hear her faithful
Devotees would come to Sarvabhauma's house day after day. In a short time her Bhagavatam classes
became very famous, and people would come from miles around just to hear her.
One day, the king of Jagannatha Puri, Mukund Deva, came to hear the Bhagavatam from Sachi Devi.
Hearing her original explanations of siddhanta, the king was completely astounded. He thought to
himself that he would like to make a nice offering to Sachi devi, out of appreciation for her devotion to
Krishna. That night he had a wonderful dream. Lord Jagannatha came to him in his dream and ordered
him, "Offer Sachi devi a place on the banks of the Ganges." The following day king Mukunda Deva went
to Sachi devi. King Mukunda Deva explained how the Lord had instructed him to construct a place by
the Ganges for Sachi devi. Shri Sachi devi was not disposed to accept any sort of wealth or comfortable
situation and wanted to refuse. But the king kept pressing his wishes again and again. At that time, not
wanting to violate Lord Jagannatha's order, King Mukunda Deva issued a decree naming a holy ghat by
the side of the White Ganges after Shri Sachi devi. (White Ganges is Shweta Ganga)
Sachi Devi wanted to go to the Ganges to bathe. But Sachi devi's gurudeva had forbidden her ever to
leave Jagannatha Puri. Remembering the order of her gurudeva, Sachi devi gave up her desire to bathe
in the Ganges. That night, Jagannatha came to her in a dream and said, "Sachi, don't think like that –
the day when Varuni will take bath that day you must go and bathe in the White Ganges. Ganga devi
has been praying for your association. So you must go to the White Ganges."
In the middle of the night, Sachi devi went to the White Ganges to bathe. As she bathed at Sweta
Ganga, the current of Ganga devi picked her up and began moving along. The waters of the Ganges
overflooded the pond, and the current ran before her in a flood until she arrived at the Jagannatha
Mandira. Seeing this, thousands and thousands of the dhambhasis in Jagannatha Puri became ecstatic
and took their bath in the ganges. In the midst of the commotion the guards at the gate of the
Jagannatha Temple awoke. Hearing all the noise, the king had also awakened. Anxious to see, the king
ordered the gates to the Temple opened. At this, the gates were opened. By some miracle, Sachi devi
was standing there, alone, inside the Temple of Jagannatha. The servants and pujaris of Jagannatha
concluded that she must be a thief who has come to steal the valuable ornaments of Jagannatha.
Immediately Sachi devi was imprisoned.
Late that night, King Mukunda Deva saw Lord Jagannatha in a dream. Jagannatha angrily told him:
"Immediately release Sachi devi from your prison. It was because I wanted to personally arrange
for washing her holy feet that I had the Ganges bring her to my Temple. If you want your life to be
auspicious, then you had better make the pandas and pujaris bow at her feet and pray for
forgiveness. You yourself must take initiation from her." her."
King immediately went to Sachi devi, he told Sachi devi of how Lord Jagannatha had ordered him to
accept her as his guru and take mantra initiation from her.
Understanding all these things to be the pastimes of Lord Jagannatha, Sachi devi became extremely
joyful. Her heart filled with divine love for Krishna. Placing her hand on the king's head, she gave him
her blessings.
When Lord Chaitanya first came to Puri, He fainted in front of Deity of Lord Jagannatha and
Sarvabhauma took Him to his home. Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya spoke to Lord Chaitanya in his house
about the impersonal doctrine for serve days and finally Lord Chaitanya defeated all his impersonal
conclusions and bestowed his causeless mercy upon him by showing His Shadbhuja rupa, or six-armed
form, a combined form of Lord Krishna, Lord Rama and Lord Chaitanya. The house is located opposite
to the Sveta Ganga tank. There is Radha Krishna deities called Radha-Rasikaraja in this house
worshipped by Sarvabhauma Bhattacharaya.
History tells that, when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Jagannath Puri temple for the first time and while
taking darshan of Lord Jagannatha, evoked deep ecstatic symptoms and he fell into a trance. Lord
Chaitanya fell down in the temple and the temple guards could not comprehend the highest feelings of
love and devotion he was experiencing and considering this to be show of some sort, wanted to throw
him out of the temple. Sarvabauma Bhattachary who was present there, immediately took noticed of the
effulgent, golden complexioned young sanyasi. Because, he was well versed with the scriptures and
noted that the ecstatic, uncommon symptoms displayed by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are not ordinary. He
made all the checks like, feeling the life symptoms, pulse etc. and could see that all the life symptoms
like, breathing, heart beat are suspended and could only see a slight movement of cotton placed near
the nostrils of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, ordered the temple guards to carry the young sanyasi to his home
through an underground tunnel from the temple to his home.
After, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu regained his consciousness and after exchange of pleasantries,
Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya started explaining the Vedanta philosophy continuously for seven days.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, listened without asking any question or saying single word. Finally, frustrated
Sarvabhauma asked Chaitanya, if he is able to comprehend what he is speaking. What followed was a
wonderful discourse and explanation of Vedanta sutra by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu where he showed the
fallacy and convoluted interpretations of Vedanta sutras by Sarvabhauma. Chaitanya explained that the
Vedanta sutras originally given by Veda Vyasa are themselves very clear and showed how they are
being misinterpreted. Finally, he spoke the famous Atmarama a verse from Srimad Bhagavatham,
atmaramas ca munayo nirgrantha apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukim bhaktim ittham-bhuta-guno harih
"Those who are self-satisfied and unattracted by external material desires are also attracted to the
loving service of Sri Krsna, whose qualities are transcendental and whose activities are wonderful. Hari,
the Personality of Godhead, is called Krishna because He has such transcendentally attractive features"
While, Sarvabhauma explained this verse in 9 different ways, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu explained the
verse in 18 different ways. Finally, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu showed him the four-handed form and
then appeared in the form of Krishna.
Coming back to my visit, I proceeded towards the house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. The front
portion of the house is demolished and grounded. Apparently, they are rebuilding it. We went inside paid
our respects to the deities in the small temple. Few, steps away was the place where Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu was sitting at that time and the entrance to the underground tunnel. I remained there for
few moments reminiscing the amazing pastime of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And, took some pictures
of the place with old paintings on the wall, which remain as a testimony to the history.
Tota Gopinatha temple is situated in Yamesvara Totă next to Cataka Parvata. Towards the south of
Yamesvara Mahadeva temple there is a small forest. Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered this tota (garden)
to Śrila Gadadhara Pandita as his place of residence. (Caitanya Mangala 15.183)
Gadadhara Pandita would read Bhagavatam every day and Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would come to
listen. Once Mahaprabhu came here after taking darśana of Lord Jagannatha. When He saw
Jagannatha He would see His Syamasundara form. Sometimes Lord Chaitanya would experience the
mood of being in Kurukshetra, and feel separation from Krsna. When Mahaprabhu went to Yamesvara
Tota, He experienced the same feelings as He would in Vrindavana. He saw Cataka-parvata as Giri
Govardhana, the ocean as Yamuna Devi, and the banyan tree as Vamsi-vata, where Lord Sri Krsna
played His flute to attract all the gopis. Mahaprabhu would cry, "Where is My Prananatha?" In this mood
He would start to dig the soil to search for His Lord. One day when Mahaprabhu was digging in the soil,
He suddenly saw the top portion of a deity. He said to Gadadhara, "I have found the most precious
thing here. Would you like to accept it?" Out of curiosity, Gadadhara looked at the place Mahaprabhu
was digging, and saw the top of the deity's head. Together they removed from the sand a very beautiful
deity of Lord Sri Krsna.
Mahaprabhu named the deity Gopinatha. Because the deity appeared in this garden, which is called
tota in Oriya language, devotees started to address this deity as Tota Gopinatha. Mahaprabhu gave the
responsibility of Tota Gopinatha's service to His most dear Gadadhara Pandita.
This deity is very beautiful. Vṛndāvana Dāsa Thakura describes Tota Gopinatha's beauty in his Sri
Caitanya-bhāgavata as follows:
gadadhara bhavane mohana gopinatha
ächena, ye hena nanda-kumara säkṣät
apane caitanya täre kariyächena kole
ati paşandı-o se vigraha dekhe bhule
dekhi śri-murali mukha angera bhangima
nityananda ananda asrura nahi sima
(Antya 7-114)
In the house of Gadadhara there is the most attractive Gopinatha. This deity looks exactly like the son
of Nanda Himself is sitting there. Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself had held Him in His lap. Even most
atheistic people will be changed to see this deity. By seeing the posture of the body and face with flute
Lord Nityananda sheds tears of bliss limitlessly.
Wonderful Pastimes of Tota Gopinatha

It has been said that this deity of Gopinatha was in a standing form and taller than He is now. Gadadhara
Pandita was worshipping this deity. When he became old he was not able to dress the deity and put
candana and garlands on Him. One night Gadadhara decided that the next day he would arrange a pūjāri
to do seva to the Lord. But Gopinatha came in his dream and said "No, I want only you. If you find it
difficult to reach me to dress, then from tomorrow I will become shorter so that you can reach Me easily."
And next morning He was in sitting posture.
There is a black deity of Srimati Radharani standing to the left of Gopinatha. She has become black by
thinking deeply about Krsna. On the right of Gopinatha, Lalita Devi is playing on a flute.
On another altar left of Tota Gopinatha is the deity of Balarama, with Revati and Varuni on each side.
On a third altar to the right of Gopinatha are the deities installed and worshipped by Mamu Thakura.
These deities are Gaura-Gadadhara and Radha Madan-mohan. There is also a deity of Gopeshvara
Mahadeva before entering the temple on the north east corner.
It is understood that when Mahaprabhu finished His manifested pastimes on this planet He
entered into the deity of Gopinatha. There is a crack on the thigh of the Gopinatha deity, and it is
believed that Lord entered into the Gopinatha through this crack. If you visit this temple during
morning arcana time it is possible to have darsana of this crack.
Haridas Thakur Samadhi CC Antya 11.1
namāmi haridāsaṁ taṁ
caitanyaṁ taṁ ca tat-prabhum
saṁsthitām api yan-mūrtiṁ
svāṅke kṛtvā nanarta yaḥ
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Haridāsa Ṭhākura and his master, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who
danced with the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura on His lap.
And he (Haridas
(Haridas Thakura)
Thakura) pressed those feet with his two hands upon his heart, and
gazed at Lord Gaurachandra’s lotus face. His eyes were like two bumblebees drinking
the nectar of the moon-like face of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And with tears
streaming from Haridasa Thakura’s eyes, gazing at the Lord he repeatedly chanted
with deep emotion. “Shri Krishna Chaitanya. Shri Krishna Chaitanya.”
\In the assembly of Devotees, by Lord Chaitanya’s grace, Haridas Thakur’s life air left
his body at that moment. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's spiritual rapture and ecstasy
went seemingly beyond control. The entire Kirtan became tumultuous. The mrdanga,
kartals, the enthusiasm and the love in the Devotees’ voices cried out Krishna’s Holy
Names. Mahaprabhu, maddened by His love, lifted up Haridas and embraced him to
His heart and began to dance!
Srila Haridas Thakur's Samadhi is situated on the oceanfront in the area of Svargadvara. At the time of
Mahaprabhu this place was just a sandy beach and part of it was used as a crematorium. Here Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu put the body of Srila Haridasa Thakur into Samadhi with His own hands. The actual samadhi is
seen in the courtyard as a small tomb.
Towards the west of samadhi there are three altars where deities of Lord Gauranga, Lord Nityananda, and
Sri Advaita Acharya are worshipped. After the disappearance of Haridasa Thakura, Lord Chaitanya would
come here everyday after taking bath in the ocean, offer prasad to Haridasa's Samadhi, and do nama-
bhajana for some time. Thus all deities are in sitting posture and doing nama-sankirtan Srila Haridasa
Thakura was residing in his bhajan kutir behind Gambhira at the place presently known as Siddha- Bakula.
Haridas left his body at this place in presence of Mahaprabhu, who lifted Haridasa in His arms and carried
his transcendental body to the oceanfront in the harinam procession. There his body was placed in samadhi.
In Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya-līlā Chapter 11) this pastime is described in this way: The body of Haridāsa
Ṭhākura was then raised onto a carrier that resembled an airship and taken to the sea, accompanied by
congregational chanting. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced in front of the procession, and Vakreśvara
Paṇḍita, along with the other devotees, chanted and danced behind Him. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed
the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura in the sea and then declared, “From this day on, this sea has become a great
pilgrimage site." Everyone drank the water that had touched the lotus feet of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and then
they smeared remnants of Lord Jagannātha’s sandalwood pulp over Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s body. After a hole
was dug in the sand, the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura was placed into it. Remnants from Lord Jagannātha,
such as His silken ropes, sandalwood pulp, food and cloth, were placed on the body.
Your paragraph text All around the body, the devotees performed congregational
chanting, and Vakreśvara Paṇḍita danced in jubilation. With
His transcendental hands, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
personally covered the body of Haridāsa Ṭhākura with sand,
chanting “Haribol! Haribol!” The devotees covered the body of
Haridāsa Ṭhākura with sand and then constructed a platform
upon the site. The platform was protected all around by
fencing. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced and chanted all
around the platform, and as the holy name of Hari roared
tumultuously, the whole universe became filled with the
vibration.
Haridas Thakura Samadhi
(CC. Antya 62-70) www.iskconmangaluru.com
PROGRAMS
Alarnath Temple
Sri Alarnath Temple is a very important temple of Visnu near Jagannath Puri (23 km) at Brahmagiri,
Orissa. Lord Alarnath is the representative of Lord Jagannatha at Puri. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed
at this temple during anavasara, the two-week period after Snana-yatra when Lord Jagannatha rests in
seclusion before the annual Rathayatra (chariot festival) in Jagannatha Puri. Lord Caitanya couldn't
bear staying in Puri without seeing His beloved Lord, and at Alarnath He would reveal the highest
spiritual emotions, pining in ecstatic separation. While doing the Temple’s Parikrama, one can take
darshan of the incredible prema-sila (stone slab) of Lord Caitanya, on the right side of the temple when
entering the main gate from the road. This stone slab bears impressions from Lord Caitanya's body.
When Lord Caitanya first lay in full obeisance before Lord Alarnath, the stone beneath Lord Caitanya
melted from His ecstatic touch. Lord Alarnath is an ancient four-handed Visnu Deity believed to be
installed by one of the Alvars. He is presently worshipped by the Jagannatha Mandira pujaris. At His
feet kneels Garuḍa, His eagle-carrier with his hands folded in prayer. Lord Alarnath’s consorts Sri and
Bhu Devi also accompany Him. The temple also features small Deities of Sri Krishna’s queens Rukmini
and Satyabhama. Bas reliefs of Lord Brahma and Lord Siva grace the ceiling of one of the halls leading
up to the main chamber. The positioning of the four Visnu symbols on this ancient Deity seems to
indicate that he is Janardana Visnu or AdiVishnu - the original form of Lord Visnu. But unlike Lord
Janardana, Alarnath holds his right hand in the abhaya mudra; granting fearlessness and security to
whomever takes His shelter. This mudra is only shown by Lord Krishna Deities and not murtis of Visnu
or Narayana. This temple was built by King Madan Mahadev in 1128 AD. The temple also holds a deity
of Lord Caitanya known as Sad-bhuja, or "Six-armed," signifying Lord Caitanya's identity with both Lord
Krishna and Lord Ramacandra. To reach Alarnath, Lord Caitanya would walk along the beach. Temple
becomes crowded during the Krishna paksha of Ashadha month, after the Snana Yatra when Lord
Jagannatha cannot be seen in Puri. During this period, popularly known as Anasara or Anavasara
(literally meaning no opportunity to see the lord of Puri), instead of having darshan in Jagannath
Temple, local devotees believe that Lord Jagannatha during this time manifests as Alarnath Deva, at the
Alarnath temple in Brahmagiri. The brahmanas from about fifty families take turns serving the Alarnath
deities. Each family specialises in one aspect of the deity service, the tradition passing from generation
to generation. Some families cook for the deities, while others offer the deities their meals, worship
them, decorate them, and so on. The temple owns about sixty acres of land, some used for the deities
and some for their servants.
Near the Alarnath temple is the Brahma Gaudiya Math, established by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura in 1926. The temple houses deities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Sri Radha-Krishna (Gopi-
Gopinatha), and a small Lord Alarnath. A priest of the Alarnath temple had found the small deity during
excavation and had installed Him in the temple. One night the deity appeared to the head priest in a
dream and told him that He wanted to be worshipped by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. The next day
the priest presented the deity to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, who happened to be staying at the Gaudiya Math
temple. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, who was born in Puri, loved Alarnath. He said that the place is the
same as Vrindavana Dhama and that the small lake there on whose banks Lord Caitanya would rest is
the same as Radha-kunda, the most sacred of lakes. In 1929 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
arranged renovation of the Alarnath temple and construction of a boundary wall. He also placed
sculptures of Vamana, Nrsimha, and Varaha (three incarnations of Lord Krishna) in alcoves in the
temple's outer walls.
Sakshi Gopal Temple
Once there were two Brahmins (priests) from Vidyanagara in South India, who decided to make a long
tour of the various holy places of pilgrimage in Northern India. After a long time the two pilgrims reached
Vrindavana. They together with all arrived at a great temple where gorgeous worship of the Gopala Deity
was performed. The young man, out of love and respect, had rendered menial service to the elderly man.
The elderly Brahmin was so grateful for this reverential attitude, which he had never encountered even
from his own family members, that he announced his intention to hand over to the young Brahmin his
daughter in marriage. The young man immediately objected. “Sir, I have rendered service to you only for
the satisfaction of Lord Krishna, for the Lord is pleased by service rendered to the Brahmins. “My dear
boy, I will give you my daughter, and I will neglect the position of others! Don’t doubt me in this regard;
just accept my proposal!” The young Brahmin replied, “If you really have decided to give your young
daughter to me, then say so before the Gopala Deity.” In those days it was the custom to honour any
promise made in front of the Deity, no one would dare tell a lie before the Deity. So, entering the temple
of Lord Gopala and coming before the Deity, the elderly Brahmin said, “My dear Lord, please witness that
I have given my daughter to this boy.” Then the young Brahmin addressed the Deity, saying, “My dear
Lord, You are my witness. I shall call for You to testify if it is necessary later on. The two Brahmins
arrived back in Vidyanagara. After a while the elderly Brahmin remembered his promise, and with some
anxiety he called together all his relatives and friends, They said, “When people hear of this, they will
make jokes and laugh at you. If you give your daughter to that boy, we shall give up all connection with
you.” "His son replied, “The Deity may be a witness, but He is in a distant country. How can He come to
bear witness against you? Simply say that you do not remember what you said, and I shall take care of
the rest.” The next day the young Brahmin came to the house of the elderly Brahmin, but his son took a
stick and chased him away. The young Brahmin then called the village people together, and they in turn
summoned the elderly Brahmin to their meeting place. “This gentleman promised to hand over his
daughter to me in marriage”, explained the young Brahmin. Doubt entered the minds of the village
people, and the young Brahmin protested his innocence. The elderly Brahmin immediately said, “If
Gopala personally comes here to bear witness, I shall surely give my daughter to the young Brahmin.”
With full faith in Gopala, the young Brahmin started at once for Vrindavana, and upon his arrival he
narrated everything to the Deity. “My dear Lord, I am not thinking to become happy by getting the
daughter as a bride. I am simply thinking that the Brahmin has broken his promise, and that is giving me
great pain. You are very merciful and You know everything. Therefore, kindly be a witness in the case.”
Lord Gopala smiled, and said, “ My dear Brahmin, just listen to Me. I shall walk behind you, and in this
way I shall go with you. Do not try to see Me by turning around. As soon as you see Me, I shall remain
stationary in that very place. You will know that I am walking behind you by the sound of My ankle bells.
Cook 1 kilo of rice daily and offer it to Me. I shall eat that rice and follow behind you.” The next day the
Brahmin started for his country, and Gopala followed him step by step. The Brahmin became very
pleased to hear the tinkling sound of Gopala’s ankle bells, and every day he cooked first class rice for
Gopala to eat. The Brahmin walked and walked in this way until he eventually arrived outside his village.
Then he thought of going home and tell all the people that the witness has arrived. Thinking this, he
turned to look back, and saw that Gopala was standing there, smiling. The Lord said, “Now you can go
home. I shall stay here and shall not leave.” When the townspeople heard of Gopala’s arrival they were
struck with wonder. They went to see the Lord and offered their respectful obeisances to Him. People
were very pleased to see Gopala’s beauty. Thus in the presence of the people, Lord Gopala bore witness
that the elderly Brahmin had indeed offered his daughter to the young Brahmin. When the King of that
country heard of this wonderful story, he also came to see Gopala, and constructed a nice temple for the
Lord. Although some time later the Deity of Lord Gopala was moved from Vidyanagar to the town of
Cuttack in Orissa, He is still visible for all to see, and is famous as Sakshi-Gopala (the witness
Gopala).
Lingaraj Temple
Bhubaneshwar is the capital city of Odisha and is also the city of temples. Many of these temples are
important from an architectural point of view. The largest of these temples is the Lingaraj temple, which
is an outstanding specimen of the Odisha style of temple building. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva
and enshrines a 55-metre-tall statue of his made of granite. The temple has four components – vimana
(structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-
mandapa (hall of offerings) – each one taller than the earlier one. The lofty walls of the temple are
constructed using solid red sandstone, lending it the look of a fortress, from the exterior.
This is an eleventh century shrine, devoted to the worship of Harihara (a combined form of Vishnu and
Shiva) in the form of a Linga and His consort Bhubaneshvari. The Deity is also known as
Tribhuvaneshvara (or Bhubaneshvara), the Lord of the three worlds.
A multitude of temples are situated around the Bindusagar lake in Bhubaneshwar. The Lingaraja temple
is located in an expansive courtyard covering over 250000 square feet and is surrounded by fortified
walls. Its tower rises up to 180 feet with elaborate carvings.
The Shiva linga which is 8 feet in diameter is at the sanctum of the Lingaraja temple. The linga is
bathed daily with water, milk and bhang. To the northwest of the courtyard is the Bhagawati temple. The
thirteenth century tradition of providing meals to 51 priests and 51 underprivileged persons everyday
continues even now. Several other shrines and temples dot this vast courtyard. Every year, the Deity of
Lingaraja is taken in a procession to the Jalamandir in the center of the Bindusagara lake.
Bhubaneshwar is sixty kilometres from Puri and there are several trains and buses from Puri.
Indradyumna Sarovara is spread over five acres of land near Gundicha temple. In this area King
Indradyumna first came and performed Thousand Ashwamedha yagnas, during that time thousands of
cows were donated to Brahmanas. These cows stood at this place and their hooves created holes in the
earth, creating one large pond. The pond was filled with cow urine and water which King Indradyumna
used for the Sankalpa ceremony. Thus it became a Tirtha, and it is believed that all Tirtha reside in this
pond. If one takes a bath here he becomes free from sin. In Skanda Purana this pond is glorified:
natah parataram tirtham|
hayamedhanga-sambhavat |
indradyumnasya sarasah |
syad va tripathagā sama ||
On the bank of Indradyumna Sarovara Nilakantheśvara Mahadeva is residing. Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu had also water sports in this pond. Caitanya-caritamṛta describes the following pastimes
between Mahaprabhu and His devotees in Indradyumna-sarovar: There were many gardens near the
Gundica temple, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees in Indradyumna-sarovar: There were
many gardens near the Gundica temple, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees used to
perform the pastimes of Vṛndavana in each of them. In the lake named Indradyumna, He sported in the
water. The Lord personally splashed all the devotees with water, and the devotees, surrounding Him on
all sides, also splashed the Lord. While in the water they sometimes formed one circle and sometimes
many circles, and while in the water they used to play cymbals and imitate the croaking of frogs.
Sometimes two would pair off to fight in the water. One would emerge victorious and the other defeated,
and the Lord would watch all this fun.
The first sporting took place between Advaita Acarya and Nityananda Prabhu, who threw water upon
each other. Advaita Acarya was defeated, and He later began to rebuke Nityananda Prabhu, calling Him
i'll names. Svarupa Damodara and Vidyani dhi also threw water upon each other, and Murari Gupta and
Vasudeva Datta also sported in that way. Another duel took place between Śrīvāsa Thakura and Gad
adhara Pandita, and yet another between Raghava Pandita and Vakreśvara Pandita. Thus they all
engaged in throwing water. In deed, Sarvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya engaged in water sports with Sri
Ramananda Raya, and they both lost their gravity and became like children. When Śri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu saw the exuberance of Sarvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Rāmānanda Raya, He smiled and
spoke to Gopinatha Acarya. "Tell the Bhaṭṭācārya and Ramananda Raya to stop their childish play
because they are both learned scholars and very grave great personalities."
Gopinatha Acarya replied, "I believe that one drop of the ocean of Your great mercy has swelled up on
them. A drop from the ocean of Your mercy can drown great mountains like Sumeru and Mandara. Since
these two gentlemen are little hills by comparison, it is no wonder that they are being drowned in the
ocean of Your mercy. Logic is like a dry oil cake from which all the oil has been extracted. The
Bhaṭṭācārya passed his life in eating such dry cakes, but now You have made him drink the nectar of
transcendental pastimes. It is certainly Your great mercy upon him."
After Gopinatha Acarya finished talking, Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled and, calling for Advaita
Acarya, made Him act like the Sesa Naga bed. Lying down on Advaita Prabhu, who was floating on the
water, Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu demonstrated the pastime of Seṣasayi Viṣnu. Manifesting His personal
potency, Advaita Acarya floated about on the water, carrying Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After sporting in
the water for some time, Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to His place, accompanied by His devotees.
(Madhya 14.75-91)
The day before Ratha-yatra Śrīmān Mahaprabhu
goes to Gundich with all the devotees to clean the
temple. They bring water from Indradyumna-
sarovara to use for cleaning. The deities from here
are described in the chapter in this section entitled
"Gundica Mandira."
King Indradyumna Deity
Gundicha Temple
Gundicha mandira is north east of the Jagannatha temple at the end Badadanda Grand Road. It is around a
kilometre (one mile) from Jagannath temple. Gundicha temple is where the deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva,
Subhadra appeared during the time of King Indradyumna. This is recognized as the "birthplace" of Lord
Jagannatha, and is named after the King Indradyumna's wife, Gundicha Mahārānī. In this area King
Indradyumna performed one thousand aśvamedha-yajñas. Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi,
along with Sudarshana, leave Jagannatha Mandira for travelling to Gundicha, seven days spent there, and one day
to return home. This journey is known as Gundicha-yātrā. It is said that when Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra
manifested, King Indradyumna was offered boons by the Lord. One of these boons was that he would not have any
sons, so that no descendents could lay claim to Jagannatha's temple. When Jagannatha agreed to this blessing,
Queen Gundicha felt very sad to know that she would never give birth to a son. Then Lord told Gundicha she
should not be sad, and promised to act as her son. It is said that even to this day a ceremony takes place where
Jagannatha performs the śraddha ceremony for King Indradyumna and Queen Gundichă. The Lord told
Gundicha, "For your pleasure I will come once a year here to your temple." The place where Gundichă temple is
situated is known as Sundaracala. Sundaracala is compared to Vṛndavana, and Nilacala, where Jagannatha
resides, is compared to Dväraka. During Ratha-yatra, Lord Jagannatha comes to Vrndavana, as the devotees are
in the mood of the residents of Vrndavana, begging the Lord to return with them.
The Cleansing of the Gundica Temple

On the day before Ratha-yatra, Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates would clean the Gundică temple.
Śrila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvāmi has given an elaborate description of this event in Caitanya-caritämṛta: Madya
Lila 12.72-136. When Mahaprabhu learned that Jagannath Rath Yatra was soon going to happen, he called a
meeting in which he called Kashi Mishra, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya and the president of the temple. Mahaprabhu
told everyone, “After some time, Jagannath will go to Gundicha temple, then we all will clean that temple very well.”
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also ordered all the devotees, “We will clean this Gundicha temple because it is
confidential Vrindavan where Lord Jagannath, Baladev, and queen Subhadra themselves are coming to stay.”
When devotees heard about this matter, they were very excited and started speaking Hari Bol to participate in this
service. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu applied sandalwood paste on the foreheads of all the devotees and garlanded
them before the service began. Devotees started cleaning the Gundicha temple with a broom because the temple
had been closed for one year, so a lot of dust, straw and grass had gathered there. All the devotees served with
great pleasure, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was very emotional and, while doing the rituals, started praising the
name of Hari loudly, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama
Hare”. The golden radiance of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s body looked even more beautiful when he was covered
with dust; Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was in emotion with his tears washing the temple. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
was cleaning the temple, it seemed as if he had 100 hands. For those devotees who were not able to clean
properly, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu explained to them that they should serve well. Mahaprabhu told the devotees who
were serving very well and told them that they should also teach other devotees. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was
taught that he is a leader, but the job of a leader is not only to give orders but also to obey them. As the devotees
were cleaning, hills of dust were formed. Not only the temple but the outer courtyard, the terrace and all the rooms
were cleaned by the disciples of Mahaprabhu. Even after the formation of many dust hills, Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu was not satisfied. He asked everyone to cleanse the temple again, and this time none of the dust
particles had remained. After this, the devotees made a very long queue from Indradyumna Sarovar, from which
they brought pots full of water and were first cleaning from the terrace. None of the devotees were doing gross
talks. Gross talk means any such topic or discussion which has no relation to Krishna. Not only gross talks, but no
other topic was also being discussed. If anyone wanted a pot or wanted to give one, they addressed each other by
using hand gestures and saying, Krishna Krishna. And everywhere, only one sound was heard in Gundicha temple
“Krishna Krishna Krishna Krishna”. It seemed a huge sankirtana was being organized in Gundicha temple. After the
devotees cleaned this way, the Gundicha temple started shining like a mirror.
PROGRAMS
Konark
Temple
The Konark Sun Temple, a stunning monument; a masterpiece of architecture of religious significance is
at Konark. King Narasimhadeva-I of the Ganga dynasty built this temple with the help of 1200 artisans
in a time span of 12 years.
The temple is designed in the shape of a huge chariot drawn by seven horses with 12 wheels, carrying
Surya, the sun god, across the heavens. It is about 35 kms from the Jagannath temple in Puri and 65
kms from Bhubaneshwar, the capital city of Odisha. The name Konark is an amalgamation of 2 words
— Kona means corner and Arka means the Sun. Which means to convey that the Sun god
worshipped in Ark Kshetra is called Konark. Legend has it that after vanquishing the demon Gayasura,
Lord Vishnu placed His belongings at several places to celebrate the victory. He placed the conch at
Puri, Disc at Bhubaneshwar, Mace at Jajapur and finally the Lotus at Konark.
Puranas say that Lord Krishna’s son Samba had leprosy due to a curse. He undertook severe
austerities for twelve years at the confluence of Chandrabhaga River with the sea at Konark and
succeeded in pleasing Lord Surya, the healer of all skin ailments. To show his gratitude for being cured,
he erected a temple in honour of Lord Surya at Konark. When bathing in the river the next day, Samba
found an image fashioned out of Surya’s body by Vishwakarma. He installed this image in the temple
built by him and since then, this place has been revered. In olden times worship of Sun god was
practiced along with the worship of mother Earth as Dharitri Mata. The Sun god is regarded as the
supreme lord of the universe and the prime object of life-giving energy, being the healer of diseases.
Among the five prominent religious kshetras which are located in Odisha, Konark was considered to be
one, the other four being Jajpur, Puri, Bhubaneswar and Mahavinayak.
There are many smaller shrines situated around the Sun Temple – Tribenishwara, Rameshwar,
Chitreshwara and Utpaleshwar – all Shiva-lingas. Khileshwari, Ramachandi Rudrani, Chitreshwari,
Charchika – various forms of Goddess Durga.
Konark Temple was designed in the form of an elegantly decorated huge chariot mounted on 24 wheels
that are three meters wide, and drawn by seven sturdy horses. The stone wheels, pillars, etc., are all
elaborately carved. The wheels of the temple are sundials which can be used to calculate time precisely
to a minute including day and night.
Presently the ruins of the temple include the audience hall, dance hall and dining hall. No worship is
being performed in the temple now. Eminent classical dancers across India get together every year in
December to pay tribute to a master piece in stone – the Sun temple at Konark.
This is one of the famous pond in Puri. Narendra-sarovara is situated to the north-east of Jagannatha temple
next to Jagannatha-vallabha Garden; walking along Grand Road towards Gundichã, it is on the left side.
Narendra-sarovara is 873 feet long and 743 feet wide. This pond was created during the thirteenth century by
Narendra Mahapatra. He was minister to Kavi Narasimha Deva. Some say that great personality (Narendra)
King Indradyumna made this pond for Lord Jagannatha's pleasure during His Chandana yatra, and that later
it was renovated, enlarged, or rediscovered by another king.
This pond is also known as Śri Chandana Pukur, because the Lord comes here for Chandana-yatra.
Candana-yatra starts on Aksaya-trtiya and continues for twenty-one days. Every after noon different deities
come to Narendra-sarovara, riding in seven different palanquins. They arrive in a procession down Grand
Road: Sri Madana-mohana, Śri Laksmi Devi, and Sri Sarasvati Devi arrive on one palanquin; Sri Rama
Govinda on a second palanquin, and in the last five palanquins the Pañca-Mahadeva deities: Śri Lokanatha,
Śri Janesvara, Kapala-mocana, Śrī Märkandesvara, and Śri Nilakantheśvara. The length of Grand Road, from
Jagannatha Mandira all the way up to Narendra-sarovara, is decorated with pandals to give shade. The
pandal roofs are strewn with different leaves, fruits, and flowers. When the Deities come in procession for
Chandana-yatra they stop at these places to accept offerings, and at this time different dances and bhajans
are performed for the Lords' pleasure.
In Narendra-sarovara two nicely decorated boats are used for Chandana-yärra: one boat for Sri Madana-
mohana, Sarasvati Devi, other for Śri Rama Govinda and the Pañca-Śivas. The people of Goti-pura claim that
Mahaprabhu said Devadasis can perform dances before Śrī Madana-mohana, but not in front Lord Siva, so
boys dance for Him. While the Lords ride in Their boats around the the devotees stand on the banks and
chant, relishing the most spectacular pastimes of the Lord.
After some time all the deities are brought to the temple in the middle of the pond and receive worship from
the pūjārīs. After the festivities the deities go back to their respective temples in their palanquins. The festival
is observed for twenty-one days, and daily Śri Madana-mohana wears a new dress.
Gadadhara Pandita used to sit on the bank of this pond and

speak Bhagavata-katha. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His
associates enjoyed water sports here, and those pastimes are
described in both Caitanya-caritamrta and Caitanya-bhāgavata:
All the Vaisnavas from Bengal went to Jagannatha Puri. By
chance, they arrived on the day when Lord Jagannatha
performs pastimes in the water. Boarding a boat in the water of
Narendra-sarovara, Lord Govinda performed His water pastimes
with all the devotees. Then Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived
with His personal associates to see the jubilant pastimes of Lord
Jagannatha in Narendra-sarovara. At the same time, all the
devotees from Bengal arrived at the lake and had a great
meeting with the Lord. All the devotees immediately fell at the
lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the Lord lifted and
embraced every one of the.
The Gaudiya sampradaya, consisting of all the devotees from
Bengal, began congregational chanting. When they met the
Lord, they began to cry loudly in ecstatic love, Because of the
pastimes in the water, there was great jubilation on the shore,
with music, singing, chanting and dancing creating a tumultuous
sound, and created a sound vibration that filled the entire
universe. Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered the water with His
devotees and began His pastimes with them in great jubilation.
Vaishnava Bhajans
Jaya Jaya Jagannatha
LYRICS:
(1)
jaya jaya jagannātha sacīra nandan
tribhūvana kore jār caraṇa vandan
(2)
nilācale sańkha-cakra-gadā-padma-dhar
nadīyā nagare daṇḍa-kamaṇḍalu-kar
(3)
keho bole purabete rāvaṇa badhilā
goloker vaibhava lilā prakāśa korilā
(4)
śri-rādhār bhāve ebe gorā avatār
hare kṛṣṇa nām gaura korilā pracār
(5)
vāsudeva ghoṣa bole kori joḍa hāt
jei gaura sei kṛṣṇa sei jagannāth
TRANSLATION
1) All glories, all glories to the dear son of Jagannatha Misra and Saci Devi!
All the three worlds offer prayers unto His lotus feet.
2) In Nilacala He holds the conch shell, disc, club, and lotus flower, while in
the town of Nadiya He holds a sannyasi staff and water pot.
3) It is said that in olden times, as Lord Ramacandra, He killed the demon
Ravana. Then later, as Lord Krsna, He revealed the splendrously opulent
pastimes of Goloka.
4) It is He who has come. He has come! Oh, from Vraja He has come to
Nadiya. Accepting the mood and luster of Sri Radha, He has come from
Vraja to Nadiya. He has come! Now Lord Govinda, the cowherd boy, has
come as Lord Gauranga. He has come distributing the Hare Krsna
Mahamantra!
5) Vasudeva Ghosa says with folded hands, “He who is Gaura is He who is
Krishna is He who is Jagannatha.”
Jagannathastakam
(1)
kadācit kālindī-taṭa-vipina-saṅ gītaka-ravo
mudābhīrī-nārī-vadana-kamalāsvāda-madhupaḥ
ramā-śambhu-brahmāmara-pati-gaṇeśārcita-pado
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
(2)
bhuje savye veṇuṁ śirasi śikhi-piccham kaṭi-taṭe
dukūlaṁ netrānte sahacara-kaṭākṣaṁ vidadhate
sadā śrīmad-vṛndāvana-vasati-līlā-paricayo
(3)
mahāmbhodhes tīre kanaka-rucire nīla-śikhare
vasan prāsādāntaḥ sahaja-balabhadreṇa balinā
subhadrā-madhya-sthaḥ sakala-sura-sevāvasara-do
(4)
kṛpā-pārāvāraḥ sajala-jalada-śreṇi-ruciro
ramā-vāṇī-rāmaḥ sphurad-amala-paṅ keruha-mukhaḥ
surendrair ārādhyaḥ śruti-gaṇa-śikhā-gīta-carito
(5)
rathārūḍho gacchan pathi milita-bhūdeva-paṭalaiḥ
stuti-prādurbhāvam prati-padam upākarṇya sadayaḥ
dayā-sindhur bandhuḥ sakala jagatāṁ sindhu-sutayā
(6)
para-brahmāpīḍaḥ kuvalaya-dalotphulla-nayano
nivāsī nīlādrau nihita-caraṇo ’nanta-śirasi
rasānando rādhā-sarasa-vapur-āliṅ gana-sukho
(7)
na vai yāce rājyaṁ na ca kanaka-māṇikya-vibhavaṁ
na yāce ’haṁ ramyāṁ sakala jana-kāmyāṁ vara-vadhūm
sadā kāle kāle pramatha-patinā gīta-carito
(8)
hara tvaṁ saṁ sāraṁ druta-taram asāraṁ sura-pate
hara tvaṁ pāpānāṁ vitatiṁ aparāṁ yādava-pate
aho dīne ’nāthe nihita-caraṇo niścitam idaṁ
(9)
jagannāthāṣṭakaṁ punyaṁ yaḥ paṭhet prayataḥ śuciḥ
sarva-pāpa-viśuddhātmā viṣṇu-lokaṁ sa gacchati
TRANSLATION
1) Sometimes in great happiness Lord Jagannatha makes a loud concert with His
flute in the groves on the banks of the Yamuna. He is like a bumblebee tasting the
beautiful lotus like faces of the cowherd damsels of Vraja, and great personalities
such as Laksmi, Siva, Brahma, Indra, and Ganesa worship His lotus feet. May that
Jagannatha Svami be the object of my vision.
2) In His left hand Lord Jagannatha holds a flute, on His head He wears peacock
feathers, and on His hips He wears fine yellow silken cloth. From the corners of His
eyes He bestows sidelong glances upon His loving devotees, and He always
reveals Himself through His pastimes in His divine abode of Vrndavana. May that
3) On the shore of the great ocean, within a large palace atop the brilliant, golden
Nilacala Hill, Lord Jagannatha resides with His powerful brother Balabhadra and
His sister Subhadra, who sits between Them. May that Jagannatha Svami, who
bestows the opportunity for devotional service upon all godly souls, be the object
of my vision.
4) Lord Jagannatha is an ocean of mercy and as beautiful as a row of blackish rain
clouds. He is the storehouse of bliss for Laksmi and Sarasvati, and His face
resembles a spotless full-blown lotus. The best of demigods and sages worship
Him, and the Upanisads sing His glories. May that Jagannatha Svami be the object
of my vision.
5) When Lord Jagannatha moves along the road on His Rathayatra car, at every
step large assemblies of brahmanas loudly chant prayers and sing songs for His
pleasure. Hearing their hymns, Lord Jagannatha becomes very favorably disposed
toward them. He is the ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the worlds. May
that Jagannatha Svami, along with His consort Laksmi, who was born from the
ocean of nectar, be the object of my vision.
6) Lord Jagannatha, whose eyes resemble full-blown lotus petals, is the ornament
on Lord Brahma’s head. He resides on Nilacala Hill with His lotus feet placed on the
heads of Anantadeva. Overwhelmed by the mellows of love, He joyfully embraces
Srimati Radharani’s body, which is like a cool pond. May that Jagannatha Svami be
the object of my vision.
7) I do not pray for a kingdom nor do I pray for gold, rubies, or wealth. I do not ask
for a beautiful wife as desired by all men. I simply pray that Jagannatha Svami,
whose glories Lord Siva always sings, may be the constant object of my vision.
8) O Lord of the demigods, please quickly remove this useless material existence I
am undergoing. O Lord of the Yadus, please destroy this vast, shoreless ocean of
sins. Alas, this is certain Lord Jagannatha bestows His lotus feet upon those who
feel themselves fallen and have no shelter in this world but Him. May that
9) The self-retrained, virtuous soul who recites these eight verses glorifying Lord
Jagannatha becomes cleansed of all sins and duly proceeds to Lord Visnu’s abode.
Sri Damodarashtakam
(1)
namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukhalad dhavamanam
paramrishtam atyantato drutya gopya
(2)
rudantam muhur netra-yugmam mrijantam
karambhoja-yugmena satanka-netram
muhuh svasa-kampa-trirekhanka-kanthasthita-
graivam damodaram bhakti-baddham
(3)
itidrik sva-lilabhir ananda-kunde
sva-ghosham nimajjantam akhyapayantam
tadiyeshita-jneshu bhaktair jitatvam
punah prematas tam satavritti vande
(4)
varam deva moksham na mokshavadhim va (5)
na canyam vrine ’ham vareshad apiha idam te mukhambhojam atyanta-nilair
idam te vapur natha gopala-balam vritam kuntalaih snigdha-raktais ca gopya
sada me manasy avirastam kim anyaih muhus cumbitam bimba-raktadharam me
manasy avirastam alam laksha-labhaih
(6)
namo deva damodarananta vishno
prasida prabho duhkha-jalabdhi-magnam
kripa-drishti-vrishtyati-dinam batanu
grihanesha mam ajnam edhy akshi-drisyah
(7)
kuveratmajau baddha-murtyaiva yadvat
tvaya mocitau bhakti-bhajau kritau ca
tatha prema-bhaktim svakam me
prayaccha
na mokshe graho me ‘sti damodareha
(8)
namas te ’stu damne sphurad-dipti-
dhamne
tvadiyodarayatha visvasya dhamne
namo radhikayai tvadiya-priyayai
namo ’nanta-lilaya devaya tubhyam
Translation:
(1) To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence,
knowledge, and bliss, whose
shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the
divine realm of Gokula, who
[due to the offense of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into
butter and then stealing
the butter that was kept hanging from a swing] is quickly running from the wooden
grinding mortar in fear
of mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him
with greater speed—to
that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.
(2) Seeing the whipping stick in His mother’s hand,] He is crying and rubbing His
eyes again and again with
His two lotus hands. His eyes are filled with fear, and the necklace of pearls around
His neck, which is
marked with three lines like a conchshell, is shaking because of His quick breathing
due to crying. To
this Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, whose belly is bound not with ropes but with His
mother’s pure love, I offer
my humble obeisances.
(3) By such childhood pastimes as this He is drowning the inhabitants of Gokula in

pools of ecstasy, and
is revealing to those devotees who are absorbed in knowledge of His supreme
majesty and opulence that He is
only conquered by devotees whose pure love is imbued with intimacy and is free
from all conceptions of awe
and reverence. With great love I again offer my obeisances to Lord Damodara
hundreds and hundreds of times.
(4) 0 Lord, although You are able to give all kinds of benedictions, I do not pray to
You for the boon of
impersonal liberation, nor the highest liberation of eternal life in Vaikuntha, nor any
other boon [which may
be obtained by executing the nine processes of bhakti]. O Lord, I simply wish that
this form of Yours as
Bala Gopala in Vrindavana may ever be manifest in my heart, for what is the use to
me of any other boon
besides this?
(5) 0 Lord, Your lotus face, which is encircled by locks of soft black hair tinged
with red, is kissed again and again by mother Yasoda, and Your lips are reddish
like the bimba fruit. May this beautiful vision of Your lotus face be ever manifest in
my heart. Thousands and thousands of other benedictions are of no use to me.
(6) 0 Supreme Godhead, I offer my obeisances unto You. O Damodara! O Ananta! O

Vishnu! O master! O my Lord, be pleased upon me. By showering Your glance of
mercy upon me, deliver this poor ignorant fool who is immersed in an ocean of
worldly sorrows, and become visible to my eyes.
(7) 0 Lord Damodara, just as the two sons of Kuvera—Manigriva and Nalakuvara—
were delivered from the curse of Narada and made into great devotees by You in
Your form as a baby tied with rope to a wooden grinding mortar, in the same way,
please give to me Your own prema-bhakti. I only long for this and have no desire
for any kind of liberation.
(8) 0 Lord Damodara, I first of all offer my obeisances to the brilliantly effulgent
rope which binds Your belly.
I then offer my obeisances to Your belly, which is the abode of the entire universe.
I humbly bow down to Your most beloved Srimati Radharani, and I offer all
obeisances to You, the Supreme Lord, who displays unlimited pastimes.
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Mangalore's Guide to Jagannath Puri Dham

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Mangalore's Guide to Jagannath Puri Dham

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MANGALORE

In Chaitanya charitamrta it has been explained:

2. Sri Purusottama Dhama (Ksetra)—Puri is called Sri Purusottama-dhama because lila-

Mahaprabhu enters the Ocean

The History of the

Previously there was a sevaka of Lord Jagannatha

Wonderful Pastimes of Tota Gopinatha

King Indradyumna Deity

The Cleansing of the Gundica Temple

Gadadhara Pandita used to sit on the bank of this pond and

(3) By such childhood pastimes as this He is drowning the inhabitants of Gokula in

(6) 0 Supreme Godhead, I offer my obeisances unto You. O Damodara! O Ananta! O

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Vamana Sudama Seva

Narasimha Sudama Seva Parashuram Sudama Seva

Krishna Sudama Seva

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