32. Vṛndāvana Equals Navadvīpa

32. Vṛndāvana Equals Navadvīpa:

“One should also know that Gaura-maṇḍala-bhumi--those places in Bengal where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed--are equal to Vrajabhūmi, or Vṛndāvana. There is no difference between the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana and those of Gaura-maṇḍala-bhūmi, or Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur.” (Cc. Madhya 5.113) 

“Vṛndāvana within Mathurā-maṇḍala is identical with Navadvīpa within Gaura-maṇḍala. These dhāmas are but two manifestations of one principle which is infinite and purely spiritual. Only for the reasons of different pastimes of the Lord has the dhāma taken the form of two abodes. By that one infinite, inconceivable, spiritual potency, acintya-śakti, the Lord has brought these two dhāmas into the material world, to liberate the living entities dwelling here. This is simply the mercy of Kṛṣṇa!” (Navadvipa Bhava Taranga)

“Navadvīpa is the best of dhāmas. After crossing the Virajā, the brahmajyoti, and the Vaikuṇṭha planets one comes to Vṛndāvana, or Kṛṣṇaloka. Kṛṣṇaloka exists in two states of emotion. Rasa expands there in the form of mādhurya and audarya, or conjugal and munificent love. Audarya exists in mādhurya in fullness, and mādhurya exists in audarya in fullness. However, that place where mādhurya is the chief state is called Vṛndāvana, blessed with all auspiciousness. That place where audarya is eternally predominating is called Navadvīpa. This is the conclusion of the Vedas.

There is no difference between the two. Only the different manifestation of the one rasa makes them distinct.” (Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya) 

“Lord Gaurāṅga addressed Ᾱnanta Śeṣa, “Navadvīpa is equal to Vṛndāvana. To show mercy to the living entity, Śrī Rādhā created it long ago. As I stay in Vṛndāvana with Śrīmatī Rādhikā, so I also stay in Navadvīpa, eternally embracing Śrī Rādhā. As I never leave Vṛndāvana to go to any other place, so I never leave Navadvīpa.” (Ᾱnanta-saṁhitā) 

“In the morning in Navadvīpa, Gaurahari is served by male servants who massage His hair, ornament Him and assist in His dressing. Lord Caitanya closes His eyes and enters samādhi, meditating on Vṛndāvana. Then, Svarūpa Dāmodara, knowing Śrī Caitanya’s mind, sings a līlā-kīrtana describing Śrīmatī Rādhikā’s morning bath in Barṣānā. Or at other times, Svarūpa Dāmodara will sing a different līlā-kīrtana describing another pastime taking place in Vraja while Śrī Caitanya enters samādhi in Navadvīpa.” (Gauranga Lilamrta) 

“Their Lordships Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are none other than Lord Gauracandra, and Śrī Navadvīpa Dhāma is that very same Vṛndāvana dhāma. If you consider this to be the most essential truth, then you will receive eternal treasures.” (Gītā-māla) 

Once when Ṭhākura Bhaktivinoda was in Tarakesh (West Bengal) he had a dream. Lord Caitanya appeared and asked him why he wanted to go far away to live in Vṛndāvana, where Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa performed His pastimes? Doesn’t he realize that the same Lord appeared again in Navadvīpa to perform His saṅkīrtana pastimes? Lord Caitanya then asked Bhaktivinoda to rediscover these places in Navadvīpa Dhāma and spread their glories all over the world. Greatly inspired by the Lord’s words, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura began researching and writing extensively to inform the world about the various holy places in Navadvīpa Dhāma connected with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (Subhaga Swami, Mayapur Journal)