Parikrama to Dhamesvara Mahaprabhu Temple in Navadvipa

article by Krishna-kripa dasa, illustrations by Sarvabhauma dasa

	The Saturday parikramas to local pilgrimages sites are one of several great additions to this year's Bhakti Sastri and Bhaktivaibhava courses. Other new features this year include a great line-up of senior devotee teachers, especially for the Men's Bhakti Sastri course, regular thematic discussions led by senior devotees for the Bhaktivaibhava course, and sponsored lunch prasadam on weekdays for all students, teachers, and staff. On Saturday, November 11, MIHET students went on parikrama to the Dhamesvara Mahaprabhu temple in Navadvipa. Kadamba Kanana Swami led harinama sankirtana to Navadvipa for two hours with amazing enthusiasm. We started at the ISKCON main gate, walking to Hulor Ghat, continuing on the boat, and finally through the streets of Navadvipa to the temple. There we saw Vishnu-priya's tall, yellow Deity of Lord Caitanya. The kirtana continued and so many devotees danced for the Lord with such eagerness it was beautiful to see. Several devotees liberally purchased maha-prasadam from the temple and distributed it to the other devotees after the kirtana. Then Kadamba Kanana Swami spoke for half an hour or so on Lord Caitanya's pastimes:
Vishnu-priya, who was the second wife of Lord Caitanya, worshiped the form of Gauranga in this temple for 80 years, in great separation from her beloved Lord, who took the renounced order of life when she was 16 years old. He took sannyasa to work fulltime for the spiritual emancipation of all living beings. When Sri Caitanya left to take sannyasa, the devotees were in shock. They did not know where he went. They lived by the hope that Lord Caitanya would return. The people noticed a few other of His associates were gone, such as Lord Nityananda and Acaryaratna. Three days later Acaryaratna came back to Navadvipa, lamenting that he obeyed Lord Nityananda's order and left Lord Caitanya's association. He was reluctant to tell those who inquired about Lord Caitanya. Finally with his hand over his mouth he said, much to everyone's dismay, “Lord Caitanya took sannyasa.” Nityananda Prabhu had, however, sent a message with him: “Come to Advaita Acarya's home in Navadvipa. I will bring Lord Caitanya there.”
	When devotees came across the river to see Lord Caitanya, the boats were overfilled with people, but they did not sink. Because there were not enough boats, some people floated on pots. Others cut down banana trees and floated on them, but nobody drowned. Q: How can a sannyasi leave his dependents without being inconsiderate? A: Because he surrenders completely to the Lord. He asks the Lord to take care of his former family, since he has given up everything for the Lord's service. “In this way, the sannyasi is completely free”, Kadamba Kanana Swami said, smiling with realized enthusiasm.
Devotees returned to Mayapur in different groups. My group had the sound system but no instruments. I made sure we chanted sankirtana the whole way home, although accom-panied by clapping of hands and nothing more. Next time I will bring my karatalas, just in case I get separated from the instruments. Hari-nama sankirtana ki, jaya!

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Krishna-kripa Dasa took the Bhakti-sastri course at MIHET in 2005-2006 and received high honors. He fell in love with Mayapur dhama, where he wants to spend several months each year. He goes on harinama and the Polish festival tours, answers questions for Krishna.com, writes devotional poetry in his free time, and has an online travel journal.

For MIHET he is doing correspondence, curriculum development, web page development, and a seminar on modern science and Krishna consciousness. He is continuing his studies and hopes to do some teaching in the future.