22. Benefits of Residing in Navadvīpa dhāma

22. Benefits of Residing in Navadvīpa dhāma:

“All glories to the topmost Dhāma, Navadvīpa, where Śrī Caitanya advented. By staying there only one day, one attains the results of staying at all other holy places.” (Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya)

“One who lives in Navadvīpa dhāma is very fortunate, for he attains attraction for Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. One who goes there becomes freed from all offenses. Simply by remembering Navadvīpa, one receives the same results that one attains by traveling to all the holy places. Seeing Navadvīpa dhāma gives ecstatic Kṛṣṇa-prema birth after birth. What the yogīs obtain after 10 years of practice is attained in 3 nights in Navadvīpa.

“In Navadvīpa, bhukti (material enjoyment) and mukti remain as obedient servants of the pure devotees. Not caring for their blessings, however, the devotees kick them away. But bhukti and mukti remain fixed, waiting to give their blessings if required. Therefore, whatever one gets at the 7 holy pilgrimage places by staying 100 years can be attained by staying one night in Navadvīpa.

“In conclusion, Navadvīpa dhāma is the topmost tīrtha. By taking shelter of Navadvīpa the living entity can cross over the dangerous ocean of Kali-yuga. At Navadvīpa, the name ‘Rāma’ which gives liberation, and the name, ‘Kṛṣṇa’ which gives love of God, constantly serves the devotees of the Dhāma.” (Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya)

“By staying for a single day in Navadvīpa one attains the results of living for a kalpa at Prayāga, remaining a very long time at Vārāṇaṣi, or serving all other holy places. By merely living in Navadvīpa one attains the result of practicing yoga in any other holy place. In Navadvīpa walking is like performing great yajñas, and lying down is like offering repeated daṇḍavats. Even ordinary eating there becomes honoring prasāda.” (Urdvamnaya Tantra)

Trees and plants living beside rivers naturally become strong and luxuriant. Similarly, the bhakti-latā (creeper of devotion) of devotees living in Navadvīpa dhāma becomes stout and healthy. “Sincerity and depth in devotion grow in one who lives near sacred rivers like the Ganges, or in places of the Lord’s pastimes.” (Jaiva Dharma)

“They who in the age of Kali take shelter of Māyāpur and worship Me, become free from all sins and attain the supreme destination.” (Skanda Purāṇa)

“Māyāpur is the destroyer of sins.” (Gargā-saṁhitā) 

“The success of life, especially for the Vaiṣhṇavas, is to stay in Navadvīpa and worship the Lord by following the path of the people of Vraja. In other holy places shaving the head, fasting, offering śrāddha, performing ritual bathing, giving charity and other duties are mandatory, but in Navadvīpa there is no rule that must be done. Whatever past karma there may be at once perishes in Navadvīpa, for the knot of karma is cut.” (Urdvamnaya Tantra)

“One easily becomes free from the bondage of Māyā by even once visiting Māyāpur. The power of Māyā will go far away, and the cycle of birth and death will cease for one who simply walks in Māyāpur.” (Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya)

“One who is completely determined to live in Navadvīpa until he gives up his body has already executed all kinds of devotional service. He has already attained the greatest most worshipable of all desirable goals.” (Navadvipa Sataka)

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura makes a provoking point about the necessity of living in the dhāma. “The service of the holy name, who is the life and soul of transcendental knowledge, is not possible unless and until one takes up residence here in Śrī Dhāma. And the service of the holy desire of Kṛṣṇa is not possible without the method of successfully serving Kṛṣṇa’s holy name.” (Sri Caitanya's Teachings)

It is a fact that Śrī Dhāma means the specific transcendental place (Māyāpur, Vṛndāvana, or Jagannātha Purī) wherein Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, manifests Himself and displays His blissful pastimes. These transcendental abodes are especially empowered to bless and elevate devotees. In this quotation, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura glorifies the incredible effect of living in the all-merciful Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur. Devotees fortunate enough to live in the Lord’s personal abodes can certainly achieve a wonderful result if they act sincerely and purely serve the holy name.

However, the word dhāma also refers to a place that is spiritual, blissful, self-effulgent, and free from envy and mortality. To live in ISKCON Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa temple, which Śrīla Prabhupāda said is Vaikuṇṭha, also means to live in a holy dhāma. Therefore, devotees can attain “service of the holy name and service of Kṛṣṇa,” by faithfully and purely chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy names while living in the dhāma of ISKCON’s Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa temples worldwide. Although Śrīla Prabhupāda wanted a Vedic city of 50,000 devotees in Māyāpur, he did not want the members of ISKCON to close their temples around the world and move to Māyāpur. The service of the holy name can also be attained by those devotees who regularly visit and serve Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur.

“My heart felt light and at ease. Although I am not qualified to enter Kṛṣṇa’s relationship with the gopīs, here in Māyāpur it is thrust upon you in a grand way, and you can respond according to your realizations. It all has to do with that safety which I felt is in Māyāpur.” (Satsvarūpa Dāsa Goswāmī, Mayapur Journal 6.4)