Godrumadvipa
Process of Devotional Service: Kirtanam (Chanting)
Devotee Who Attained Perfection Through This Process: Śukadeva Gosvāmi
By adopting only one of these nine principles, the following renowned devotees of the Lord were able to achieve the highest perfection: …. (2) Just by glorifying the Lord, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the speaker of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, attained his perfection.
(Śrī Īśopaniṣad 17)
The independent Lord Nityananda then walked with the devotees to Gadigachā village. When they arrived there, He smiled and said, “This island is named Godrumadvīpa. Surabhi stays here eternally. When Indra was overcome by Krsna’s illusory energy, he proudly flooded Gokula with rain. The Lord, however, carefully protected Gokula by lifting Govardhana mountain. Thus Indra’s pride was crushed, and he understood Kṛṣṇa’s identity. He therefore fell down at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet to mitigate his offense. The son of Nanda mercifully forgave Indra and pacified him.
“Still, Indra remained fearful, so he approached Surabhi and said, I cannot understand Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, and for that reason I committed a great offense. I have heard that in Kali-yuga Vrajendra-suta will perform wonderful pastimes in Nadia. But I fear that I will again fall into illusion and commit offense. As you are Surabhi, a desire cow, you know everything. Kindly tell me what I should do now.’
“Surabhi answered, ‘Let us go to Navadvipa-dhāma and worship Nimai.’
“They came here and worshiped Lord Gauranga. Since the worship of Gauranga is easy, the results are easy to attain. By chanting Gauranga’s name, tears of love filled their eyes and they quickly attained Gauranga’s darsana.
“How extraordinary was His charming form! Gauranga was gently smiling and His voice was choked with love, for He was a reservoir of nectar. The Lord said, ‘I know your wish. I will soon appear in Nadia town. At that time you will serve Me, and the net of māyā will no longer catch you.’
“The Lord vanished, and Surabhi remained here beside a banyan tree, constantly serving Gauranga’s lotus feet. Therefore this place is called Godruma [go—cow; druma tree]. At this place the devotees’ desires are fulfilled. One who builds a cottage and worships here will easily become absorbed in Śrī Caitanya’s lotus feet.
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Chapter 8)
In the Skanda Purāna, concerning Godruma it is said: “Those excellent people who live in the Lord’s place named Godruma are liberated from all sin and attain the supreme abode.”
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Pramana-Khanda, Chapter 3)
Going to the west of Devapalli, I will pass the Gandaki River. the Alakananda River, and Kāsī-kṣetra. Then I will see the very pure Godruma, where Indra’s surabhi cow worshiped the Lord.
In the three worlds there is no place comparable to Godruma. where Markandeya received the Lord’s mercy. Just as Isodyāna. nondifferent to Radha-kunda, lies close to the bank of the Ganges. so Godruma lies close to the bank of the Sarasvati.
O mind, just worship the groves of Godruma! Then very soon you will see the full wealth of Gauranga’s pastimes. Seeing these pastimes, you will easily attain the pastimes of Radha and Kṛṣṇa. thereby fulfilling all your desires.
Godruma is nondifferent from Nandisvara, home of Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd men. Gauranga performs various pastimes here. Having taken some milk products at a cowherd’s house, Nimai would go and herd the cows with His gopa friends.
(Sri Navadvipa Bhava-taranga)
Bhaktivinod Thakur has written this song “Yadi Te Hari Pada Saroja Sudha”. The official Name for this song is Sri Godruma Candra Bhajanopadesa. Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes the glories of Sri Caitanya. It is because of mahaprabhu we got the Hare Krishna Mantra. We are so indebted to Him because He showed us how to worship Sri Krishna and chant the names of Govinda Hare. Because of His mercy we can get the shelter of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
1) If you want you heart to be always absorbed in drinking the ambrosial mellows of the lotus feet of Lord Hari, then give up household life, which is full of quarrels and strife, and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
2) Material riches, youth, long duration of life, and royal happiness — none of these are eternal. At any moment they may be destroyed. Give up all useless topics of mundane conversation and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
3) O Friend, ultimately the pleasure to be had in the company of beautiful young women turns to fearfulness and distracts one from the real goal of life. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers with your mind intoxicated by the nectarine mellows of the holy name.
4) The taste of mundane poetry does not afford the sweet taste of actual poetry. The sweet mellows of true poetry are found in descriptions of Lord Caitanya, the savior of all souls in the Kali yuga. Enough with the study of any other topics! Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
5) Krishna, the transcendental paramour, stands on the banks of the Yamuna with Radha, the daughter of Vrsabhanu, on His left side. He is absorbed in the pastime of playing soft, melodious songs on His flute. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers, Lord Caitanya, who is non-different from the son of Nanda.
6) He is Lord Hari, shining like molten gold and surrounded by His loving devotees in the midst of hari-kirtana, He is the only ocean of mercy for the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
7) Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers — Lord Caitanya, who along with His beloved wife Visnu-priya is glorified by all demigods and saintly persons. His home, Navadvipa, is surrounded by the river Ganga, the daughter of the Himalayas. He is the Lord of Navadvipa and the stealer of the hearts of all sannyasi’s.
8) Lord Gauranga is like a powerful hammer which smashes the sin and oppression of the mad-dog of the Kali-yuga. He is absorbed in distributing the holy name of Krishna, which is the greatest medicine to release one from the material existence. His transcendental form is beautiful, and His heart is full of compassion for the suffering, fallen souls of this world. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
9) Compassion which is free from the duality of “Friend” and “enemy” is always manifest of his lotus face. He is the son of Maharaja Nanda — Krishna, who has appeared in a golden form in the land of Navadvipa. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
10) In this world and in the Upanishads He is celebrated as the all-pervading Supreme Lord. He appeared as the son of a brahmana and is Lord Hari Himself, with a shining complexion of molten gold. In His own abode He sports with His cowherd boy friends. Just worship this Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
11) He is the most wonderful of all avataras because He is the source of all other expansions of God. He is the Supreme Truth, enjoying His pastimes here in this world. He is the embodiment of the most confidential flows that exist in the ocean of rasa.
12) Without strong devotional worship and service, mere mundane scholarship, high family lineage , wealth and so on are not effective for invoking the causeless mercy of the Lord. O friend, just worship Lord Gaura, the beautiful moon of Godruma’s forest bowers, by the path of unmotivated devotion.
13) In His appearance as Hari, the Lord liberated Gajendra, the king of elephants, from the grasp of the crocodile in the lake, and in His appearance as Sri Caitanya, He delivered King Gajapati Prataparudra from the jaws of the kali-yuga crocodile who was lying in the lake of politics. Lord Sri Caitanya is unborn, possesses inconceivable power ,and is likened to an auspicious desire tree. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
14) Lord Krsna, who was pleased with the penances and austerities of Indra and the Surabhi cow, appeared in this world as Lord Caitanya, possessing a golden complexion. He is eternal happiness and the captivator of the intelligence of all learned sages. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
15) Give up all worldly desires, monistic meditation and relative conceptions of inauspiciousness and auspiciousness. In a favorable mood, with loving devotion, just engage yourself in just worshipping Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
16) Remaining devoted to the service of the Vaisnava’s, being addicted to drinking the sweet nectar of the name of Hari, and with a mentality endowed with modesty, humility, and compassion, just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.
17) Always worship Lord Gaura, the beautiful moon of Godruma’s forest bowers, and call out to the Lord,” O Yadava, ! O Madhava O Krishna, O Hari, O Rama O Janardana, O Keshava, O beloved Lord of Radha!”
18) Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers and call out to the Lord “O Lord of the Vrndavana forest, which lies along the banks of the Yamuna! O Lord of Govardhana Hill! O sun of the forest of Gokula! O giver of life to the rasa dance! O Gaurahari!
19) Go to Navadvipa, the land of Lord Caitanya, Read and recite with great joy the wonderful pastimes of Lord Gaurahari. Roll about in ecstasy on the banks of the Ganges, which are marked with the footprints of Lord Caitanya, and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers. Remember the wonderful pastimes of Gaura and Gadadhara.
20) Remember the pastimes of Gaura and Gadadhara. Become a servant of Gaura and Gadadhara. Listen to the beautiful narrations concerning Gaura and Gadadhara and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.