3. Name & Identity

3. Name & Identity:

“Let me offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Gaurāṅga’s transcendental abode of Śrī Navadvīpa Dhāma which gives Rādhā-Govinda prema to anyone who sees, touches, glorifies, remembers, worships, or bows down to it from far away.” (Caitanya Sataka) 

The dhāma is a manifestation of the spiritual world on this planet. One who understands and appreciates the Lord’s holy dhāma will make rapid advancement in devotional service. The holy dhāma is an expansion of Kṛṣṇa’s sat [existence] potency, which provides the basis or foundation for the Lord to reveal His transcendental forms, qualities, and pastimes. 

“The name of Navadvīpa is famous in the world because here the nine methods of devotion to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, namely, hearing, chanting, remembering, serving His lotus feet, worshiping Him, offering prayers, becoming His servant, serving him in friendship, and surrendering everything have all taken form. 

The real identity of Navadvīpa is also stated by Śrī Prahlāda in the seventh canto of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. He states that by sincerely executing these nine methods of devotional service one can attain pure love of Kṛṣṇa. 

Audarya-dhāma:

As Vṛndāvana Dhāma is called mādhurya-dhāma, Navadvīpa is called audarya-dhāma. In Mādhurya Kadambini, Śrīpad Viśvanātha Cakravartī lists audarya as Lord Kṛṣṇa’s 6th transcendental quality which He reveals to His prema bhaktas. 

The word audarya means generosity, magnanimity, or overflowing grace. It refers to the state where all the Lord’s qualities such as beauty, fragrance, sound, touch, and taste forcefully manifest at once to His devotees’ five senses.

Even though previous ācāryas like Jagannātha Dāsa and Gaura Kiśora Dāsa Bābājī resided many years in Vṛndāvana, they felt the need to reside mainly in Navadvīpa Dhāma. Vṛndāvana Dhāma demands surrender and inflicts severe punishments on imitators and offenders. For the unqualified, the precious jewels of prema-bhakti are kept deep within the ground of Vraja; never to be revealed. But in Navadvīpa Dhāma there is no consideration of qualification or eligibility. 

Navadvīpa is the embodiment of mercy, compassion, and magnanimity. Navadvīpa Dhāma overlooks offenses and gives prema to one and all. Following the ācāryas, one should take full shelter of the holy names and the most merciful Navadvīpa Dhāma.

“Some learned devotees say that Navadvīpa is identical with the land of Vṛndāvana. Others say that Navadvīpa is the spiritual planet, Goloka. Others opine that Navadvīpa is the spiritual sky of Vaikuṇṭha. All glories to the wonderfully glorious land of Navadvīpa.” (Gaura Ganoddesa Dipika) 

“The whole of Gaura-maṇḍala is cintāmaṇi [touchstone], fulfilling all desires. The Dhāma is full of knowledge and bliss. Everything is completely conscious including the water, land and trees. Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s svarūpa-śakti, which contains the three spiritual potencies [sandhinī, samvit, and hlādinī], resides within the Dhāma to manifest the entire spiritual realm. Specifically, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s sandhinī-śakti, the existence potency, manifests the eternal Dhāma, which provides the base or support for Lord Caitanya’s transcendental appearance and pastimes within this world. Navadvīpa Dhāma is eternally pure and completely transcendental. Navadvīpa is manifested by the inconceivable spiritual energy of the Lord.” (Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya) 

“In Kali-yuga all the holy places are extremely weak. Only Navadvīpa is supremely strong. When the influence of Kali-yuga increased, naturally the holy places lost their power. Feeling compassion for the diseased living entities of Kali, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya revealed Himself on earth along with His name, dhāma, and His associates. At this time, Lord Gaurāṅga said, ‘Seeing how Kali is destroying these living entities, I will appear in Navadvīpa and freely distribute the chanting of the holy names of God to everyone regardless of qualification. As long as My name is sung Kali will be controlled.” (Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya)