NABADWIP DHAM PARIKRAMA 2003

Sri Nityananda Prabhu auspiciously inaugurated the first parikrama of Sri Navadwip Dham 500 years ago by benevolently guiding Srila Jiva Goswami throughout the nine islands of this most Holy Dham. The original guru, Nityananda Prabhu himself who is non-different from Sri Balarama, the first expansion of the Supreme Lord Krishna, blissfully and mercifully toured the transcendental land of Sri Navadwip Dham in the role of a devotee. By initiating this most auspicious and sacred event Sri Nityananda Prabhu set the example and benedicted all the worlds.

Following in the footsteps of Sri Nityananda Prabhu; Ishana the personal servant of Sacimata, the mother of Sri Krishna Caitanya; also guided Srinivas Acharya, Narottam Thakur and Ramachandra Kaviraj throughout the transcendental land of Sri Navadwip Dham.

From these two illustrious examples it is crystal clear to see that one must be properly guided by a qualified Vaisnava throughout the transcendental land of Sri Navadwip Dham if one is to receive the rare mercy and taste the sublime nectar that is exclusively and uniquely to be relished here. In 1920 His Divine Grace Om Vishnupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada most mercifully revived Sri Navadwip Dham Parikrama again. Leading a parikrama party of thousands of devotees and pilgrims with literally hundreds of mridangas and karatals; Srila Prabhupada joyfully glorified Sri Krishna Caitanyas Holy Land and his eternally, radiant pastimes. All the great acarya's in the Gaudiya Vaisnava parampara have also with great joy and great exuberation enacted this wonderful pastime.

After Srila Prabhupada finished his pastimes here on earth, Sri Navadwip Dham Parikrama was continued by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktiprajnana Keshava Maharaja one of Srila Prabhupada's foremost disciples and the sannyasa guru of His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the founder-acharya of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness.

Following in the tradition of the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya parampara, for the past 42 years His Divine Grace Narayana Maharaja has been humbly executing the instructions of his guru, his Divine Grace Srila Bhaktiprajnana Keshava Maharaja, by annually guiding devotees and pilgrims through the transcendental land of Sri Navadwip Dham.

Sri Navadwip Dham Parikrama traditionally has always been enthusiastically attended and humbly appreciated by all true devotees of the Vaisnava culture, as one of the principle limbs of devotional service to be performed each year during the nine days before Gaura Purnima in the month of Phalguna.

Krishna Caitanya's Holy Land, Sri Navadwip Dham Parikrama with His Divine Grace Narayana Maharaja is a sojourn to another world. The sublime, transcendental world beyond all our conceptions, bestowing prema bhakti on the surrendered souls who make pilgrimage here, by its unfathomable, causeless mercy. Gaura Premanande! Hare Krishna!