Tours



		2004- Keshava's Annual Kartika tour: In 2004 we joined Keshava Prabhu from Melbourne, and his wife Veda priya, to participate in their annual Kartik tour of the three sacred places - Mayapura, Jagannath puri and Sri Vrindavana dham. The tour was very enlivening for all.Here are some photos from these places. ____________________________________________________________ Mayapura: Our tour begins in Mayapura. Fifteen devotees came on our small tour. We met together and went to the temple for Damodastakam. The evening arotika was candlelit and very exquisite.. Sri Radha Madhava looked beautiful. ---- The PancaTattva were also illuminated only with large candles Every evening thousands of pilgrims took darsan of the deities. ------------------------------------------------------------ Navadwipa Dham During our short stay we visited some special places within Navadwip dham, Yoga Pita This is the birth place of Lord Caitanya. He appeared under a nim tree. Devotees worship this neem tree which reminds us of that sacred advent. Nim tree Birth place Saci, Nimai, Jagannatha Misra Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura first discovered this sacred spot. The wonderful temple here was later constructed by one of his son, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura's disciple Relief paintings glorify this happy event ----------------- Srivas Angan and Gadadhara bhavan Srivas Angan is the residence of Srivas pandit. This was the place where Lord Caitanya and His devotees held kirtan every evening. When envious people complained, the Kasi sent his men who broke a mrdunga drum and threatened to stop the kirtan . Next to Srivas Angan is Gadadhara Bhavan, the residence of Gadadhara Pandit who always accompanied Lord Caitanya. From here we walk to the Sri Caitanya Math where Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura was placed in Samadhi.This was also the headquarters for his preaching work. Srila Prabhupada recalled having taken his darsan here during Srila Prabhupada's household years. We also took darsana of Srila Gaur Kishore dasa Babaji in his Samadhi. Thus first we visited the main temples in Sri Mayapura. The next day we went to Godrumadwip to visit Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura's house. ----- Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura Without doubt there is a special connection between Srila Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura. It was Srila Prabhupada, who amongst all the exalted disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, was destined to bring the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu out of India and spread them all around the world. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura predicted this happening. For me personally Svananda Sukada Kunja the house and place of bhajan of Bhaktivinode Thakura is one of my favorite and most inspiring places. His Gaura Gadadhara deities are here, and also his samadhi Sri Sri Gaura Gadadhara Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura's bed ----------------- Modadruma dwip by boat on the Ganga One day we travelled about one hour by boat from Mayapura to see the temples of this area of Navadwipa. everyone enjoyed this outing We chanted all the way to the temples there. Srila Vrindavana das Thakura was born here. ------------ Nrsimhapalli There is a temple beside a large lake. This deity of Lord Nsimhadeva in this temple is very ancient. We took darsana of Lord Nsrimhadeva there, and bathed in the refreshingly cool waters of that lake. When we returned to Mayapura we were fortunate to attend arotika and take darsan of Lord Nsrimhadeva in our temple. ----------- Koladwipa Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja On our last day we visited the samadhi of Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja in Koladwipa. We met an old babaji there who was well over 100 years old. He spoke to us about the wonderful qualities of Jagannatha dasa Babaji The next day we left Mayapura for Calcutta and took the overnight train to Jagannatha Puri ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jagannatha Puri Sri Vrindavana Dham ‹ GOVARDHANA RETREAT 2005 up Jagannatha Puri › Printer-friendly version