23. Residents During Lord Caitanya’s Advent

23. Residents During Lord Caitanya’s Advent:

“All glories to the moon of Navadvīpa, the son of Śacī. All glories to Nityānanda Rāya, the Avadhūta. All glories to Śrī Advaita, the Supreme Lord. All glories to Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita. All glories to the Dhāma of Navadvīpa, the essence of all dhāmas. All glories to the residents, and the associates of Śrī Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu.” (Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya)

“Navadvīpa was inhabited by brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇhavas. The people were virtuous, gentle, noble, broad minded, industrious, and learned in all scriptures. There were also many doctors, laborers, and traders who lived in Navadvīpa. They were all honest, religious and educated. They all looked like demigods and Navadvīpa was like Vaikuṇṭha.” (Bhakti Ratnakara)

“Śrī Navadvīpa was an abode of happiness. Navadvīpa was a wonderful place where brahmacārīs, gṛhasthas, vānaprasthas, and sannyāsīs all lived together peacefully. A new festival was held every day, and the residents, who all possessed the 8 mystic powers, served humbly in the temples. The people of Nadia were not concerned with dharma, artha, kāma or mokṣa.

“They were beyond the three-fold miseries, and because they carried the light of devotion within them they were always calm, quiet, and full of love. The houses of Nadia were beautiful, and the entire district was surrounded by the “Suradhuni” (Ganges). Just like Vṛndāvana, the beauty of Navadvīpa was ever-fresh, as though the 6 seasons were simultaneously present there. The ever-increasing glory of Nadia extended throughout the universe, yet its true glory was beyond the comprehension of any living being.” (Caitanya Bhagavata)

“Will Śacī’s son, who accepted the people of Bengal as His own, and like a father instructed them, ‘Please chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra a fixed number of times daily,’ again walk on the pathway of my eyes?” (Stavāvali)