Champahatti
In “Chaitania Charitaamrita” (Adi lila, 10.114, purport), linking to the words of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, Srila Prabhupada writes that Vaninatha Vipra lived in Champahatti, in the village in the areas of Burdvan, not from Navadwipa. Temple of this place was not maintained properly but in 1921 it was repaired by the efforts of Paramananda Brahmachari – one of the disciples of Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, who reestablished seva puja and gave the responsibility over the Temple to Sri Chaitania Math in Sri Mayapur dhama. Nowadays at this Temple worship to the Deities of Gaura Gadadhara is strictly done according to the scriptures. The village Champahatti is situated in 3 kilometers from Samudragarh and the railway station of Navadwipa east railways.”
This place is situated in the south east of Koladwipa. Bhaktivinod Thakur says this place is not different than that of forest Khandiravan in Vraj, where Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama performed lots of Their wonderful pastimes.
Sometimes ago there used to grow champaka flowers from which Gopis of Vraja used to make garlands and offer them to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.
In the age of Kali native vaishas opened there a bazaar in which they used to sell flowers which were collected from residents of a village. Because of that this place is known as Champahatti – bazaar of champaka flowers.
Sometimes ago here used to flow the River Manasi Ganga separating Koladwipa and Ritudwipa. But now it is not visible.
In the age of Satya there used to live one Brahmana in the champak flower fields, who worshipped Deities of Radha – Govinda offering to Them wonderful flowers. Being satisfied with his worship Lord Gaurasundara appeared before him. He told him about the His future Avatar and also told that brahmana also will take role in His pastimes.
This Devotee is the eternal resident of Vraja who is Kamalaka sakhi then later appeared as dvija Vaninatha Vipra – the junior brother of Gadadhara Pandit.
ISKCON had built a small room attached to the Temple so that Devotees who are traveling might get opportunity to stay there for night.
Gaura Gadadhara in Champahatti (Navadwipa)
Gadadhara Pandit was one of those whom Lord Chaitania informed that He will soon accept sannyasa. Some times before that Lord Chaitania along with Gadadhara Pandit came to the house of Vaninatha Mishra and he accepted Them with great joy, offered to Them Prasadam and arranged all other comforts. When he understood that Lord Chaitania will accept sannyasa soon and that Gadadhara Pandit also will leave with Him he felt to the lap of Lord and told Him not to leave. He wept and begged:
“Not seeing You I will die.”
Lord Chaitania and Gadadhara Pandit as an answer to his eager requests made for him Their Deity forms from wood. And Lord told:
“Whenever You worship Them You will see Us. We personally will accept Your offerings. We never ever leave you. In the form of Goura Gadadhara we always will remain here, in Champahatti.
Deities are now here since that time. It is well known that in the first Navadvipa Mandala parikrama Lord Nityananda and Jiva Goswami visited here and took darshan of Deities. They rested in the house of Vaninatha and then moved forward.
After when Lord Chaitania completed His pastimes on Earth this Temple emptied. As a result Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur bought this land, built a Temple and started the worship to Gaura Gadadhara and requested one of his disciples – Nayananda brahmachari to take care of the worship. Maharaja ordered him to worship Them for whole life because of that he should remain as a brahmachari; that the Deities will be his only life and soul.
This Devotee worshipped Goura Gadadhara for 75 years. Becoming very old he took title of babaji and soon left this world. Up to the end of his life he was very humble, polite Vaishnava, who always was eager to serve to the Devotees and to Krishna katha.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and Srila Prabhupada in Champahatti
(From the memories of Nayananda Brahmachari)
The last year of his life Gurudev (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur) organized Navadwipa mandala parikrama. In our Temple united thousands and thousands of pilgrims. Pilgrims with their tents filled everywhere around this place. The last evening Maharaj gave a lecture. In the afternoon of that day one of our God brothers – Bhakti Sharanga Goswami Maharaj arrived from London. He arrived in the ship and directly came to Navadwipa. He tried to preach in the west but was not successful in that. Maharaj used to tell about his great desire of preaching the glories of Lord Chaitania’s teachings in the west. He remembered that this desire also was in Bhaktivinod Thakur and he also strongly believed that it will happen. And this was also the last wish of his mother – Srimati Bhagavati Devi before her departure from this world.
At that moment I mentioned that something amazing happened. Guru Maharaj started to gaze to the crowd of people and especially to the sides of sannyasis and brahmacharis in saffron. But later he turned his sight to my side. For a long time he gazed upon someone and silence filled the hall. And I turned back and could see that Guru Maharaj was exchanging with sights with Abhay Charanaravinda Prabhu. I thought that they are looking to each other strangely. Then Maharaj again looked to his front and told:
“But I am predicting. I am predicting, that the next disciple of mine, who will cross the ocean – but it will not be soon, I won't be able to see it – this Devotee will bring here the whole world.” And I remember this happening and thinking that Srila Prabhupada did everything as he already predicted.
