Sastra Caksusa

seeing through the eyes of scriptures

Navadvipa Dhama Pramana Khanda
by
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

PAMHO
AGTSP
I want to share this with devotees as this is not much read and understood .

Chapter One

Introduction

TEXT 1

Offer respectful obeisances to the youthful couple of Vraja and to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the same as They, and please hear this anthology of scriptural evidence describing the glories of Sri Navadvipa-dhama.

TEXT 2

What the Sruti-sastra has said about Sri Navadvipa I will now assemble for the pleasure of the saintly devotees.

TEXT 3

O saintly one, with faith and without duplicity please hear what is said in the Chandogya Upanisad about Sri Navadvipa. This passage of the Upanisad actually describes Sri Navadvipa.

TEXT 4

In that scripture is described a wonderful spiritual city in the shape of an eight-petal lotus.

Note : In 1989 I read a good translation of Chandogya Upanisad translated from sanskrit by former Rohini Kumara Swami disciple of Srila Prabhupada , it contains for example a pastime where Indra and Virocana the son of Prahlada Maharaja went to see Lord Brahma at the end of Satya yuga and ask him about Divya jnana or sankya yoga , now Virocana was not Krsna consciouss like his father Prahlada Maharaja which is bewildering to most of us, of course the grandson Bali Maharaja was a pure devotee. So Lord Brahma tests Indra the leader of the demigods and Virocana the leader of the demons race in atma tattva understanding the self, Virocana being a fool accepts the body as his own self wheras Indra learn properly from Lord Brahma and realize his true self is being the spirit soul 1/10.000 part the tip of the hair similar to what is stated in Katha Upanisad and also quoted in Srila Prabhupadas purprots in second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita

Chadogya Upanisad are mostly used by Mayavadis or Brahma Vadis to interpret that they are Brahman spirit :http://www.consciouslivingfoundation.org/ebooks/13/CLF-chhandogya_u...

TEXT 5

In the heart of that lotus is Mayapura, the transcendental abode of Sri Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the middle of Mayapura is the place called Antardvipa.

My notes : Srila Bhaktivinoda thakuras interprets Cahdogya Upanisad as an Eight Petal Lotus that is the 8 differing Islands of Navadvipa and the whorle of the Lotus is Antardvipa or Mayapure where Lord Caitanya took is Transcendental birth and performed His childhood pastimes

TEXT 1

Hari. Om. In the heart of this spiritual city is a lotus abode. The internal part of that abode should be sought. That part one should desire to know.\

the spiritual city here refers to Antatdvipa or Mayaoure

TEXT 2

If they (the students) ask: What does it mean that in the heart of this spiritual city is a lotus abode, the internal part of that abode should be sought, and that part one should desire to know? . . .

TEXT 3

. . . then he (the guru) may say: As in the external world there is a sky, so inside this heart there is also a sky. In both the external world and within this heart there are heaven and earth. In both are fire and air. In both are sun and moon and lightning and stars. Whatever is in the external world and whatever is not in the external world is present in this heart.

my notes : what this means is what is externally situated is also internally as all elements the Universe is made of also exist in our material bodies , in the center of the material Universes is Navadvipa

TEXT 4

If they say: If in this spiritual city all material elements and desires are assembled, then when the body reaches old age or is destroyed at death, what remains after that?. . .

TEXT 5

. . . then he (the guru) may say: It is not withered by old age. It is not killed by death. This spiritual city is eternal. Within it are all desires. The soul is free from sin, old-age, death, lamentation, hunger, and thirst, and its desires and thoughts ar all automatically fulfilled. As by following good advice people attain their desires, so the spiritualists also attains their desires.

Note the Spiritual city refered to is Navadvipa and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakuras meditation is that Navadvipa is situated externally but also internally in his heart

TEXT 6

Just as the fruits of work in this lifetime are all utimately destroyed, in the same way the benefits in the next life are also all ultimately destroyed. One who does not understand the nature of the soul remains unfulfilled and unsatisfied, even though he may obtain all his desires. He does not attain the spiritual world on the death of the body. One who understand the nature of the soul remains becomes satisfied and fulfilled. He obtains all his desires in this world. He attains the spiritual world on the death of the body.

note : So this is like many verses in the 1st Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam like the Atma Rama Sloka taught by Lord Caitanya to Sarvabhuama Bhattacarya in Madhya lila of CC :https://www.vedabase.com/en/cc/madhya/6 and Srila Prabhupada elaborated on it in TLC

TEXT 7

If he desires to got to Pitrloka, simply by that desire alone the Pitrs appear before him, they take him to Pitrloka and he becomes happy.

so by taking shelter of Lord Caitanya one can attain any planet in this Universe if that is your wish

TEXT 8

If he desires to go to Matrloka, simply by that desire alone the Matrs appear before him, they take him to Matrloka and he becomes happy.

TEXT 9

If he desires to go to Bhratrloka, simply by that desire alone the Bhratrs appear before him, they take him to Bhratrloka and he becomes happy.

TEXT 10

If he desires to go to Svasroka, simply by that desire alone the Svasrs appear before him, they take him to Svasrloka and he becomes happy.

TEXT 11

If he desires to go to Sakhiloka, simply by that desire alone the Sakhis appear before him, they take him to Sakhiloka and he becomes happy.

TEXT 12

If he desires to go to Gandhamalyaloka, simply by that desire alone the Gandhamalyas appear before him, they take him to Gandhamalyaloka and he becomes happy.

TEXT 13

If he desires to go to Annapanaloka, simply by that desire alone the Annapanas appear before him, they take him to Annapanaloka and he becomes happy.

TEXT 14

If he desires to go to Gitavaditraloka, simply by that desire alone the Gitavaditras appear before him, they take him to Gitavaditraloka and he becomes happy.

TEXT 15

If he desires to go to Striloka, simply by that desire alone the Stris appear before him, they take him to Sriloka and he becomes happy.

TEXT 16

Whatever he desires appears simply by his desiring it. In this way he becomes happy.

Note Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura states what ever one wishes what ever planet one desires to go to within the materia word one can go there an be happy if one takes shelter of Lord Caitanya and Navadvipa the abode of Lord Caitanya, really if you are Lord Caitanyas pure devotee it will not matter where you go you wlll always be happy

TEXT 17

When the real spiritual desires of the soul are covered by false material desires, the soul is not able to meet the Supreme Personality of Godhead after death.

Now this important therefore Lord Caitanya has prayed Na Dhanam Na janam na sundarim etc in Siksastakam ,there for Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised one should chant 100.000 names of the Mahamantra and becoem free from material desires 64 rounds daily rounds daily and not maintaining any of the 10 offences in chanting Hare Krsna ,Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Harinama CIntamani has stated not only 64 rounds but one should shoot for 192 rounds daily ,he is telling us clearly in that book to become a Babaji and just chant Hare Krsna and preach the glories of the holy name purely, if you think I am lying read Harinama Cintamani carefully for yourself and see ,I know very different from Srila Prabhupadas chant 16 rounds minimum and distribute my books and read my books

TEXT 18

Both in this life and the next, they who desire something other than spiritual happiness never attain the fulfillment of their desire. Their real, spiritual desires are covered by material illusion. They are like persons searching for buried treasure. Not knowing the location of the treasure, they walk over it again and again, but material illusion prevents them from entering it.

Note : Lord Caitanya also gave the example of looking for buries treasure in the Cc the real treasure is in love of Krsna ,the treasure is found when we chant Hare Krsna purely as everything is contained in the Hare Krsna Mahamantra, Srila Narayana Maharaja used to tell me only a fool thinks 16 rounds is enough to chant daily ,the more we chant Hare Krsna and avoid the 10 offences the more we realize Lord Caitanya and Radha Krsna

TEXT 19

The Supreme Personality of Godhead resides in the hearts of the living entities, and for this reason He is known as Hrdayam, which means The person (ayam) in the heart (hrd). A person constantly aware of the Lord’s presence in his heart attains the spiritual world.

Now this vers makes a devotee ecstatic :Krsna says Isvaram sarva bhutanam , you properly all know this sloka Gita 18.61
īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
hṛd-deśe 'rjuna tiṣṭhati
bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni
yantrārūḍhāni māyayā
SYNONYMS
īśvaraḥ—the Supreme Lord; sarva-bhūtānām—of all living entities; hṛd-deśe—in the location of the heart; arjuna—O Arjuna; tiṣṭhati—resides; bhrāmayan—causing to travel; sarva-bhūtāni—all living entities; yantra—machine; ārūḍhāni—being so placed; māyayā—under the spell of material energy.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.

TEXT 20

When such a soul leaves the present material body, he enters the effulgent spiritual world. His original spiritual form is manifested there. He is named soul. He is immortal and fearless. He is named satya (the truth).

Hari Hari Bol what more need to be said ? I will comment later on the rest of these verses by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura :

TEXT 21

The word satyam contains three syllables: sat, i, and yam. Sat refers to the immortal Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always free from the cycle of repeated birth and death, and i refers to the individual spirit soul, who may becomes subject to the cycle of birth and death. Yam refers to the process that brings the individual spirit soul into contact with the Supreme Person. A person aware of these facts, attains the spiritual world.

TEXT 22

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the controller of all the worlds. He is the eternal boundary which day, night, old-age, death, lamentation, piety, and impiety do not cross. Sins turn from Him. He is free from sin. A blind man crossing the boundary into His spiritual realm becomes free from blindness. A person wounded by material sufferings becomes free from them, and a person burning in the pain of repeated birth and death also becomes free from suffering by crossing the boundary into His realm. Crossing beyond the days and nights of material time, the spiritual realm of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is eternally manifested.

TEXT 23

By practicing celibacy the spiritualists attain the spiritual world, where all desires are fulfilled.

TEXT 24

What is called sacrifice is actually celibacy, for by the sacrifice of celibacy one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead. What is called Supreme Personality of Godhead in celibacy, one personally meets Him.

TEXT 25

What is called self-protection is actually celibacy, for by celibacy one protects the interest of the eternal spirit soul. What is called silence is actually celibacy, for by celibacy one directly perceives the Supreme Personality of Godhead and meditates on Him in silence.

TEXT 26

What is called deathlessness is actually celibacy, for by celibacy one understands the spirit soul, which never dies. What is called living as a hermit in the forest (aranyayanam) is actually celibacy, for by celibacy one attains the third realm of Brahman, where are the two oceans Ara and Nya, the Airamadiya Lake, the Somavasana asvattha tree the city Aparajita, and the opulent abode of Brahma.

TEXT 27

By practicing celibacy one travels to the Ara and Nya oceans in Brahmaloka. In this Brahmaloka all one’s desires are fulfilled.

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