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"Quickly, bring my horn. My friends have gone far off and Krsna is fast asleep and won't come. He is acting like a baby. Where are Subala and Dama? All alone I cannot go and herd the cows!"

Shouting for Krsna, Nityananda jumped a few yards.

Seeing his state, the devotees immediately supplicated at Nityananda's feet.

"Oh Prabhu Nityananda, your brother, Gauracandra is no longer here. He has taken sannyasa and gone to Nilacala, leaving us poor beggars."

Upon hearing those words, Nityananda became dejected. Crying he fell to the ground.

"You have put us in such sorrow, Kani, my brother, for you have taken sannyasa and given up all of us. I cannot continue my life. I will jump in the Yamuna River!"

Sri Nityananda lost consciousness.

Sensing the elevated spiritual emotional state of Nityananda Prabhu, they began to chant the Holy Name, but four dandas passed and Nityananda still did not rise. Finally, when the devotees began chanting the glories of Gauranga, Nitai awoke.

"This is the place of Radha Kunda!" he exclaimed.

"Here in the afternoon, Gauranga would do kirtan with His associates. Look at the brilliance of Syama Kunda, attracting all the minds of the people of the universe, and look at the groves of the sakhis here and there. Here in the afternoon, Gauranga, immersed in singing Krsna's glories, would satisfy all by giving prema. Know that such a place as this, where the devotees worship the Lord, can be found nowhere in the universe. Whoever lives here will get love of God. This will soothe the burning fire of material life."

In this place the devotees stayed, calling the name of Gauranga, drowned in love of God. There in Rtudvipa they spent the night.

The next day Nityananda Prabhu, dancing all the while, came to Vidya Nagar, a splendid place attractive to munis. This gladdened the devotees.

Bhaktivinode, worthless and unqualified, whose only wealth is the lotus feet of Nitai and Jahnava, sings the glories of Nadiya. He holds the devotees' feet and begs from them the treasure of Krsna bhakti.

Chapter Thirteen

Vidya Nagar, Jahnudvipa.

Glory to Gaura, Nitai, Advaita and Gadadhara, Glory to Srivasa, to Navadvipa, an ocean of kirtana.

Coming to Vidya Nagar, Sri Nityananda Raya explained to Jiva Gosvami its significance.

At the time of the pralaya, Navadvipa, the eternal Dhama, remains situated in the pure form of an eight-petalled lotus. All the avatars and all the fortunate living entities stay somewhere in that lotus at that time. Matsya avatara carried the Vedas to Vidya Nagar of Rtudvipa. Since all knowledge is contained in the Vedas which came to this place, it is called Vidya Nagar.

Then, when Brahma, with the intention to start creation again, glanced fearfully upon the devastated earth, the Lord showed mercy to him here. Brahma began praising the Lord. When Brahma opened his mouth, Sarasvati was born from his tongue. With her assistance, Brahma happily praised the Lord. At the time of the creation, maya crosses over the Viraja and spreads out her three gunas everywhere. The great rsis with great effort revealed knowledge within this universe. Taking shelter of this abode of Sarasvati, the rsis conquered over ignorance. After having received lessons on the sixty-four branches of knowledge, the rsis set themselves up at various places throughout the world. But all the respective branches of knowledge of the respective rsis are situated eternally at this holy spot. Valmiki came here and by the mercy of Narada received the Ramayana, Dhanvantari received the Ayurveda here and Visvamitra and others received the teachings of the Dhanurveda. Here Saunaka and the rsis read the mantras of the Vedas and Siva discussed tantra. At the request of the rsis Brahma here produced the four Vedas. Living here, Kapila created Sankhya philosophy and Gautama brought forth logic and the process of argument. Kanubhuk produced the Vaisesika philosophy here and Patanjali the Yoga Sutra. Jaimini wrote the Mimamsa Sastra here and Vedavyasa wrote the Puranas. The five rsis headed by Narada wrote the Pancaratra here to teach the people about practical devotional service.

In this forest, the Upanisads have all been worshipping Gauranga for a long time. Invisible to their eyes, Gauranga said, "Your philosophy of no form (Nirakara) has spoiled you all. In the form of sruti you do not recognize Me, but when I shall appear in the form of My devotee on earth, you will see My lila with your own eyes. At that time you will sing loudly at the top of your voice My glories, the glories of God with qualities and form."

The srutis became dumbfounded on hearing this. Secretly they stayed here waiting for the time. Blessed is this Kali yuga, the topmost of yugas, for at this time appeared the Gauranga avatara!

Hearing that Gauranga would perform His educational pastimes here, Brhaspati came in the form of Vasudeva Sarvabhauma and took great care to please the Lord. Knowing that the Lord would perform pastimes of education in Navadvipa, he became indifferent to the abode of Indra. With his associates he rejected that place and happily took birth on earth.

At Vidya Nagar, Sarvabhauma made his school and taught knowledge. But thinking that he would drown Gauranga in all his dry knowledge and thereby cheat him, he performed one lila. Before Gauranga was born, Sarvabhauma left Nadiya, leaving his students behind. He thought, "If I am the servant of Gauranga, He will certainly be merciful to me and come to me." Thus Sarvabhauma went to Puri and became powerful in knowledge of mayavadi philosophy. In the guise of a logician, the Lord fooled everyone. He would come to Vidya Nagar as a young student and defeat all the pupils of Sarvabhauma, who, defeated, would flee. Whoever hears the educational pastimes of the Lord in Vidya Nagar will become freed from ignorance.

Jiva Gosvami, filled with bliss at this place, became choked up with prema. Then he asked Nityananda Prabhu, "Please cut down this one doubt. If sankhya and logic are inauspicious, why do they have a place in the eternal Dhama?"

Nityananda embraced Jiva and said affectionately, "There is nothing inauspicious in the Lord's Dhama. Logic and analysis are not independent or powerful here. They simply depend on bhakti. They are the servants of bhakti. However, by fault of bad activities, the wicked men turn everything backwards and upside-down. Bhakti, devotion, is the Goddess here, and all others are servants. They only serve to reveal bhakti. The residence of nine-fold bhakti is in Navadvipa. Here, karma and jnana serve bhakti. Materialists take scripture and twist it with their evil minds, but the pure devotees take this same scripture and find its teaching of Krsna bhakti.

"Praudha Maya is the servant of Gauranga and the presiding deity here. She stays here through all yugas and serves Gauranga. She blinds that person who by his sinful activities has come to envy Vaisnavas, and gives him all types of sorrow and sufferings, by taking on the form of Maha Maya. But here, in the form of actual truth, Praudha Maya dissolves all sin and karma. Even if there is some offense in a Vaisnava, she removes that and releases him from all the troubles of karma. On the other hand, those who envy the Vaisnavas, the men may study to attain knowledge at Nadiya, but never do they receive the treasure of prema at Krsna's feet. They just receive ignorance, lack of knowledge, the shadow of real knowledge. Never do they see the opulences of Nadiya and Gauranga.

"So real knowledge is not inauspicious, but its shadow, ignorance, is. Jiva Gosvami, by the mercy of Gauranga, you will reveal all this. By the desire of the Lord, you will write scriptures. By you scripture will be revealed. Now let us go to Jahnu's residence."

Having come to the hermitage of Jahnu Muni, Nityananda Prabhu explained.

This is called Jahnudvipa. This enchanting place is also called Bhadravana. At this place Jahnu Muni underwent penance, and received the visit of Gauranga.

Here Jahnu Muni was sitting saying his Gayatri when along came the Ganga gushing down in torrents, flooding everywhere. He opened his mouth and drank up all the water in one gulp. King Bhagiratha thought, "Where has the Ganga gone?" He concluded that Jahnu Muni had drunk the Ganga. In great anxiety, the king worshipped the muni for several days. The muni then spread his leg and the Ganga came forth. Because of this incident the Ganga is called Jahnavi, daughter of Jahnu Muni, by the common people.

Some time later, the son of the Ganga, Bhisma, came here to see Jahnu. Jahnu was very pleased with Bhisma and kept him here many days. At this place Bhisma learned the highest knowledge, which he in turn taught to Yudhisthira at Kuruksetra. By living in Navadvipa, Bhisma attained devotional service, and is therefore considered among the great Vaisnavas. Therefore this dvipa is the greatest deliverer. Whoever lives here is very fortunate.

That day Nityananda stayed at a devotee's house with his associates, and early the next morning, taking the devotees, he went to Modadrumadvipa.

Bhaktivinode Thakur, whose only pride is the lotus feet of Jahnava and Nitai, sings the glories of Navadvipa.

Chapter Fourteen

Modadrumadvipa and Rama Lila.

All glories to the soul of the Panca Tattva, Gauranga, All glories to Navadvipa Dhama, topmost abode.

Arriving at Mam Gachi village, Nityananda explained to Jiva Gosvami.

Here, in Modadrumadvipa is Ayodhya. In a previous kalpa when Rama was banished to the forest, with Laksmana and Sita he came to this place. He built a hut under a huge banyan tree and for some time lived here happily. Seeing the effulgence of Navadvipa, the son of Raghu began laughing to himself.

How attractive was that form, green as new grass, lotus-eyed, with graceful bow in hand! Wearing the dress of a brahmacari, on his head piled matted locks, he attracted all living entities. Seeing the laughing of Rama, the daughter of Janaka, Sita, asked him the reason.

"Listen, Sita, here is one very secret story. When Kali yuga comes to Nadiya, I will be seen in yellow complexion." Upon saying that he immediately wanted to take birth in the womb of Saci in Jagannatha Misra's house.

"I will give to all those fortunate souls who see my childhood pastimes the supreme gift of prema. For my dear devotees I will perform educational pastimes and then reveal the glories of the Holy Name. Taking sannyasa, I will then go to Puri, and my own mother will weep, with my wife in her arms."

Hearing this, Sita asked, "Oh lotus-eyed one, why will you make your mother cry? Why will you give up your wife and take sannyasa? What happiness is there in giving sorrow to your wife?"

Sri Rama said, "Oh dear one, you know everything. But you have become ignorant just to teach the living entities. Prema bhakti in relation to me that the devotees relish comes in two ways. Just listen. In union with me they enjoy what is called sambhoga, and in separation from me they experience the happiness of vipralambha. My eternal associates desire sambhoga, but in mercy I give them vipralambha. The sorrow in vipralambha that centers around me is actually the topmost bliss. This is how the devotees understand this. After separation, when union occurs, so much greater than before--a hundred thousand times multiplied--is the bliss they feel. That is the explanation of how there can be happiness in separation. You should accept it, for this is the word of the four Vedas.

"Who is now mother Kausalya will become Saci in Gauranga lila, and you, Sita, will serve me as Visnupriya. In separation you will worship my murti and spread my glory. Separated from you, I will worship a golden Sita murti in Ayodhya village. But this topic is very confidential, Sita. Do not reveal this to the people now.

"This Navadvipa is my dear place, and even Ayodhya is not equal to it. When Kali yuga comes this huge banyan tree will disappear from vision, but will stay in unmanifested form."

Thus did Rama pass his time here with Laksmana and Sita. Later he went to Danda Karanya to complete his activities. Observe here the place where his hut stood.

Rama's friend Guhaka, at the desire of the Lord, took birth here in a brahmana's family. His name was Sadananda Vipra Bhattacharya. He knew nothing in the three worlds except Rama. He was present in Jagannatha Misra's house when Gauranga was born. At that time all the devas came to see the child. By this Sadananda knew that his Lord had taken birth. In great delight he went to his house. In meditation on Rama, he saw Gaurasundara.

Gauranga was seated on a throne, surrounded by devas waving camaras. Then he saw Ramacandra, green as grass, and beside him Laksmana, the abode of Ananta. On the left was Sita, and facing him was Hanuman. Seeing this, the vipra understood the truth about the Lord. In bliss the vipra made his way to Mayapur, and unseen by anyone feasted his eyes on the form of Gauranga.

"Blessed am I, blessed indeed! Ramacandra is present before me as Gauracandra!"

Later, when the sankirtan movement started, Sadananda took part.

Oh Jiva, here the pure devotees see the Bhandira forest.

Hearing the topics and seeing the places in the eternal Dhama, the devotees surrounded Nityananda and danced. Jiva's body took on the symptoms of ecstasy, while he shouted the name of Gauranga.

That day Nityananda stayed in the house of Narayani. Narayani, who was the mother of Vrndavana Dasa Thakur (Vedavyasa), pure and chaste, did service to the Vaisnavas. The next day, early in the morning, after walking some distance, they entered Vaikuntha Pura.

To carry out the order of Jahnava and Nitai, the worthless wretch sings the glories of Nadiya.

Chapter Fifteen

Vaikuntha Pura, Ramanuja and Madhva, Vallabha Acarya's house, Ananta's house, Rudradvipa, Sankar Pura, Visnu Swami, Rasa Mandala, Dhira Samira.

Glory to Gauranga and the Panca Tattva, Glory to Navadvipa, the abode of Sri Caitanya.

Coming to Vaikuntha Pura, Nityananda Prabhu spoke to Jiva while laughing softly.

At one side of the eight-petalled Navadvipa is this Vaikuntha Pura. Listen now. This Vaikuntha Pura, situated in the spiritual sky, is the abode of Narayana. It is found to exist beyond the river called Viraja, beyond the influence of maya. Sri, Bhu, and Nila energies serve the Lord here. The effulgence radiating from this place, a land of pure consciousness, is called the Brahman. However, with material eyes, the common people see only the material world. Narada saw this spiritual abode with his own eyes. He saw Narayana become Gaurasundara.

There is one more confidential story. A great acarya came to Puri and pleased the Lord with his verses. Jagannatha appeared before him and said, "Go and see Navadvipa Dhama, for soon I shall appear there in the house of Jagannatha Misra. Navadvipa is My very dear Dhama, situated in one place in the spiritual sky. As My eternal servant and a leading devotee, you should see Navadvipa. Let your students, who are absorbed in dasya rasa, stay here, and you go alone. Any living being who does not see Navadvipa has been born uselessly. Just one portion of Navadvipa contains Ranga, Venkata and Yadava Acala. Therefore go to Navadvipa and see the form of Gauranga. You have come to the earth to preach bhakti, so let that birth be successful with the mercy of Gaura. From Navadvipa, go to Kurma Sthana, and there join again with your disciples."

Joining his hands, Ramanuja made a request to Jagannatha.

"You have mercifully mentioned Gauranga, but exactly who He is I do not know."

The Lord answered, "Everyone knows the master of Goloka, Krsna. That Sri Krsna, whose vilasa murti is Narayana, is the supreme truth, residing in Vrndavana. That Krsna is fully manifested in the form of Gauranga, and Navadvipa Dhama is the same as Vrndavana. This Navadvipa is the topmost abode, situated beyond the material universe, and in that place Gauranga stays eternally. By My mercy that Dhama has come to exist within Bhu Mandala, yet remaining unaffected by maya. This is the verdict of scripture. And if you think that Navadvipa is only a material location, then your devotion will perish. By My will, My inconceivable energy preserves this fully transcendental Dhama within the material world. Simply by reading scriptures one will not get the highest truth, for the highest truth surpasses all reasoning power. Only the devotees, by my mercy, can understand."

Hearing this, Ramanuja was moved with prema.

Lord, Your lila is truly astounding. The scriptures cannot know Your opulences. Why is not Gauranga lila described clearly in the scriptures? When I closely examine the sruti and Puranas, I find some hint of the Gauranga Tattva only. Now, however, I am ready to serve Your order, for all doubts are gone. If it is Your desire, I will go to Navadvipa and preach Gaura lila throughout the three worlds, giving evidence from the hidden scriptures to all the people, converting all to devotional service to Gauranga. Please instruct me."

Jagannatha said, "Ramanuja, do not broadcast like this. Keep the esoteric Gaura lila secret. Only after He has finished His lila will the general public receive it. Preach for Me on the level of dasya rasa, while in your heart worship Gauranga constantly."

Taking the advice of the Lord, Ramanuja secretly cultured his attraction for Navadvipa. Narayana, being merciful, led Ramanuja to Vaikuntha Pura, and there showed him His transcendental form served by Sri, Bhu, and Nila. Ramanuja thought himself fortunate to obtain this darshan, but instantly the figure changed to that of Gaurasundara, the son of Jagannatha Misra. Ramanuja swooned at the brilliance of the form. Gauranga put His lotus feet on his head. Ramanuja, divinely inspired, recited prayers of praise.

"I must see Gaura's actual lila on earth. I can never leave Navadvipa!"

Gauranga said, "Your wish will be fulfilled, son of Kesava. When the Nadiya lila will be revealed in the future, you will take birth here again."

Gauranga disappeared. Ramanuja, contented, resumed his journey. After some days he arrived at Kurma Sthana and with his disciples saw the place. During his life he preached dasya rasa throughout the south of India, while internally he was absorbed in Gaura lila. By Gauranga's mercy, he was later born in Navadvipa as the devotee Ananta.

The party came to Vallabha Acarya's house, and saw the radiance of Laksmi Gauranga deities there.

"See the house of Ananta, where many Narayana bhaktas gathered. It is well known that the kings of that time established Narayana worship here."

Then the devotees saw Nihsreyasa Forest in great bliss. This lies on the bank of the Viraja River. While reciting many stories, they arrived at Mahat Pura. Nityananda explained.

Here, there is a nice forest called Kamyavana, as in Vraja. Look upon it with devotion. There used to be five banyan trees here in ancient times, but these have now disappeared. The place is now called Mata Pura, but according to scripture the name is Mahat Pura. When the five Pandavas and Draupadi during exile came incognito to Bengal, Yudhisthira had a dream at Ekacakra. The glories of Navadvipa were revealed to him and he became anxious to see the place. Happily they all came here. Seeing the splendor of Nadiya, they praised the great fortune of the residents. Living here for some time they killed many demons. See, there is Yudhisthira Tila (hillock), and there is Draupadi's Kunda. Aware of the glory of the place, Yudhisthira stayed for some time. One day he had a dream of Gauranga, who shone radiant in all directions and whose form was extraordinary. Smiling, Gauranga spoke.

"See My rare form. At your house I am Krsna, the son of Nanda, and I always stay with you as a friend. This Navadvipa will be revealed in Kali Yuga, driving out all darkness. As you have all been my servants for a long time, when My lila takes place, you will again take birth. On the bank of the Sindhu in Orissa, I will stay with you. Please go now to Orissa, purify the place and eliminate the suffering of the living entities."

Yudhisthira explained this dream to his brothers. After deliberation they all went off to Orissa. It was painful to leave Navadvipa, but the order of the Lord had to be obeyed.

Here also Madhva and his disciples stayed for some time. Gaurasundara appeared to him in a dream.

"Everyone knows that you are My eternal servant. Appearing in Navadvipa, I will accept your sampradaya. Go everywhere and carefully uproot all the false scriptures of the mayavadis, and reveal the glories of worshipping the murti of the Lord. I will broadcast your pure teachings later on."

Gauranga disappeared. Madhva, awaking was dumbfounded. "Will I ever see that beautiful golden form again?" he cried.

In reply there came a voice from the sky. "Worship Me secretly, and you will come to Me."

With this instruction, Madhva went on with great resolution to defeat all the mayavadi philosophers.

While relating these stories, the party arrived at Rudradvipa and looked around.

Rudradvipa has been cut in two pieces by the Ganga. See how this western island has now moved to the east bank. No one lives on this side now. From here see Sankara Pura. Even from a distance, how it beautifies the bank of the Ganga. When Sankara Acarya went out to defeat all opponents, on his way to Navadvipa, he first arrived here. At heart, he was a Vaisnava, but externally he played the role of a mayavadi, a servant of maya. Actually he was an empowered portion of Siva, and was expert at preaching a covered form of Buddhism. This was by the Lord's desire.

When he came here, Gaurasundara showed to Sankara Acarya His divine form, and then spoke.

"You are My servant. Following My orders, you are preaching effectively the mayavadi doctrine. But as this Navadvipa Dhama is very dear to Me, the mayavadi philosophy has no place here. On my behalf Vrddha Siva and Praudha Maya spread the imaginary impersonal interpretations of scriptures, but only to those people who envy the devotees of the Lord. In this way I cheat them. Since this Navadvipa Dhama is generally a place for My devotees, not for the envious, perform your particular service. Do not contaminate the inhabitants of Navadvipa."

Realizing the truth about Navadvipa, and with devotion instilled in his heart, he went elsewhere.

In this Rudradvipa live the eleven Rudras, who chant Gauranga's glories. Here Siva and his followers constantly dance in bliss. Seeing this the devas shower flowers from the sky.

At one time Visnuswami came here during the course of his tour to defeat opposing philosophies. With his followers he stayed the night in Rudradvipa. The disciples began dancing and singing. Visnu Swami recited verses from sruti and smrti. Pleased by the discussion of bhakti, Siva showed himself. Upon his arrival in the assembly, Visnu Swami became startled. He folded his hands in prayer and recited appropriate praises. Siva spoke to him.

"All of you Vaisnavas are dear to me. Your discussion of devotion has pleased me. Ask a boon, and I shall grant it. There is nothing I will not give to the Vaisnavas."

Paying his dandavats, Visnuswami, filled with spiritual love, said, "Give to us this one gift: that henceforth we shall perfect a sampradaya teaching devotional service."

In great bliss Rudra consented and named the sampradaya after himself. Thus Visnuswami's sampradaya is called the Rudra Sampradaya. With the mercy of Rudra, Visnu Swami stayed here, and desiring love of God, took to the worship of Gauracandra.

Gauranga appeared in his dream.

"By Rudra's mercy you have become My bhakta. Being very fortunate, you came to

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