Dhameshvar Mahaprabhu’s Temple
A big Temple with enough huge altar is situated in Navadvipa not far from the Temple of Prauddha Maya. Lord Chaitaia’s Deity form with hands stretched forward is the main Deity of this Temple.
There are three types of Deities of Lord Chaitania. One is when His both hands are up which represents devotion. This posture inspire devotees to beg Lord for mercy. The second form is when one hand is up other one is not. This indicates the dance of Lord Mahaprabhu. The third form is when His both hands are stretched forward as like in this Temple. It represents the mood of great generosity of Lord, audaria. As if Lord is requesting a Devotee to come back to Him, showing that He is ready to accept him:
“Please, come to Me, I will give You love for Krishna!”
This Deity is carved from the Neem tree which was worshipped by Vishnu Priya, consort of the Lord, after Lord’s acceptance of Sannyasa order of life. She started to worship Him when she was sixteen years old up to the end of Her life, and according to some sources it says that She lived around 96 years. Later on the worship was given to the servant of Vishnu Priya – Vamshivadan Thakur which is considered as an incarnation of a flute of Krishna. He brought Lord to that Temple after his master’s departure. There are also flip-flops of Lord Gouranga which He used wear just in the Altar. In far front of the altar as per ancient traditions is installed the Deity of Garudaji.
In his “Navadvipa dhama mahatmya” Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur writes a short story about this Deity:
“There is one very beautiful Deity of Lord Gauranga, which belongs to Vishnu Priya, which in the future will be moved to Sittakaru by the brahmanas from family of Jaganatha Mishra. And after 400 years later from the departure of Lord Gouranga, this Deity will be worshipped in very high standards.”
In the end of XX century the Temple was repaired by the efforts of “Bhaktivedanta Charity Trust”.
Srimati Vishnupriya
In “Navadvipa dhama mahatmya” is written a story of how Lord Ramachandra revealed a secret to His wife about His future Form in the Form of Lord Gauranga. Also He told that out of separation from Her He will worship to Her golden From of Sita in Ayodhya (this happened after Lord Rama came to the Kingdom and Mother Sita was sent to the ashram of Valmiki Muni). And You out of separation from Me (in the form of Lord Gauranga) will worship to My Deity Form and glorify My fame”. Srimati Vishnupriya, being the incarnation of Sita felt great heaviness of these words of Lord Rama. In the mood of separation She worshiped the Deity of Dhameshvar Mahaprabhu for over 80 years.
Marriage
First wife of Lord Chaitania was Lakshmipriya. When Lord Chaitania was in His trip to East Bengal, in 1502, She departed from this world out of separation from Him.
Then Sachimata was concerned about second marriage of Her Son. Near by their place there used to live one Brahman Sanatana Mishra who was very pious, compassionate and nicely devoted to Lord Vishnu. For his knowledge of scriptures he took the title of Raja Pandit.
Sanatana Mishra had a daughter who was as beautiful in qualities also as Lakshmipriya. The moment when Sachimata saw Her She decided that there is no one in this world other than Her who can become a wife of Her Son.
From her childhood this girl used to bath 2-3 times in the Ganges. She was obedient to her parents and was not interested with anything except devotional service to Krishna. All the time when she saw Sachimata she used to pay her obeisance unto her.
And Sachimata always used to bless her saying let Krishna give you a nice husband.
Once Sachimata called Kashinta Pandit to her home and told to him so that if he could go to the house of Raja Pandit and ask his daughter’s hand for the marriage for her Son.
Kashinatha went to the house of Raja Pandit and told the request of Sachimata. Hearing this Raja Pandita informed his wife and all other relatives and they in one voice told that there is no one better for Vishnupriya as a husband other than Sri Gouranga.
Being satisfied Kashinath told about everything in details to Sachimata. And she became very happy and started to arrange a wedding.
All the students of Namai were happy also for the next marriage of their Teacher. And one of His students Buddhimanta was very rich and he promised that he will give all financial aid to the marriage. The wedding festival was celebrated very grandiosely and even the richest people in Navadvipa used to tell to each other that never ever they saw such like opulent marriage.
In this way Lord Chaitania married to Vishnupriya and it was in 1505.
Sannyasa
Once Vishnupriya felt that very sad thing is awaiting in her life. Honoring His dinner Lord Gauranga appeared in their room for taking rest. Seeing Him Vishnupriya paid obeisance to His feet.
Lord got up and asked her if why she was crying.
He made Vishnupriya to sit on His lap and touching her soft face He started to speak to her. But Vishnupriya again felt to His feet and catching them tightly to her chest she shed tears not being able to speak a word. At least she started to speak with hard breathing:
“Oh Lord of my life! I heard that You are going to accept sannyasa and that news broke my heart. All my life, wealth, beauty, jewelries, my visions and actions are only for You! If You leave me then what will be the use of those things?
I do not know anything except Your lotus feet. To whom You are leaving me? Your Mother Sachi is weak and old. How can You leave her? What will You achieve leaving those Devotees who are very dear to You- Advaita, Srinivas, Murari and others? How will You be able to leave them and accept sannyasa? Is it true that You are leaving me just because of such like insignificant soul like me who is trying to keep You bound in this material world? If it is so then let me once look at You and drink a poison! Then only You will be able to stay at home happily. Oh my Lord, please beg You do not leave! I do not have anything except You! When I look to Your face mine burns in fire, feeling unavoidable separation.
Saying these Vishnupriya stopped to speak. Smiling slightly Lord again made Vishnupriya to sit on His lap. Wishing somehow remove her pain He did a small joke:
“Who told You that I am leaving home? I always share with my plans with You. Do not be disturbed without any reason”. Saying this Lord Gauranga softly kissed Vishnupriya.
In these talks passed away one night.
Soon there was sunrise but the heart of Vishnupriya was still in great pain.
Gazing to the face of her beloved Gauranga she put His cool and soft hands to her chest and told:
“Please, do not lie. I see You want to lie to me. You are Supreme and no one can control You. You can act in whatever way You wish. Please accept sannyasa, but please tell me the truth. Are You going to accept sannyasa?”
“Please hear me my dear,” told Lord Gauranga “sons, husbands, mothers, fathers, men, women – all these are only temporary designations. Is there anything so dear to the hearts of living beings other than the lotus feet of Lord Krishna? Whatever You see in this world are only His external energies. Please, do not regret about which is not there. Become free from bad feelings and start to worship Lord Krishna.
Wishing to move away pains of His wife Lord showed to her His 4 handed form but even though seeing that form she still considered Lord Gauranga as her beloved husband. She felt to His feet and sobbed:
“Why should I suffer so much?”
Not being able to tolerate her pain Lord Gauranga also cried. He again put her in His lap and again spoke:
“Please hear me Vishnupriya, do not think about where I will go. If You will keep thoughts about Me in your heart, if you will always think of My lotus feet, then you will never ever be far away from Me. I promise You this.
Vishnupriya thought for a while and spoke:
“Oh my Lord, You are free to do whatever You wish. Who will be against Your will?!”
Lord Gauranga did not reply anything back. Vishnupriya turned her head down so that He won’t be able to see her tears. Gauranga feeling the great pain in her heart which is seemed to be burned soon He again spoke with softness…in this way it was the last night at His home. And in the sunrise He left His home.
Life in separation
Vishnupriya stayed back in Navdwipa along with Sachimata, serving to her with humility. Besides she did great austerities. She used to chant one round of Maha Mantra and put a side one grain of rice. And in the evening she used to collect those rice grains, cook and offer it to the Deity of Lord Gouranga and eat it and it was all her food for whole day. She worshiped that Deity up to the end of her life, up to 96 years old. Residents of that place say that Vishnupriya is always with that Deity of Lord Dhameshvar Mahaprabhu in the form of the jewelry in His nose.
Further life of Lord Dhameshvar Mahaprabhu
In “Bhakti ratnakara” it is explained the condition of Mayapur after the departure of Vishnupriya. It seemed that the whole dham emptied. The society of Vaishnavas were growing in other places like Vrindavan and in other places but here the worship started to Durga Mata – shaktas.
In his “Jaiva – Dharma” Bhaktivinod Thakur writes about the Deity of Dhameshvar Mahaprabhu. He says that after the departure of Vishnupriya the care of the Deity will be taken by Srila Vamshivadananda Thakur who is believed to be the expansion of the flute of Krishna. He moved the Deity form Mayapur to Kuliya in Paharpur.
Those days people started to forget about worship to Lord Chaitania in Navadwipa. In the house where He appeared worship was forgotten at all. The Deity of Lord Chaitania used to be moved form one pujari to another. Pujaris were the descendents of Raja Pandit. As usally they were not rich and because of that they could not afford to built a Temple for Him and maintain a regular service.
In the second part of eighteenth century the fan of Durga Mata – Maharaja Krishnachandra moved to Navadwipa and started to organize grand worship to her. In his surrounding used to stay shaktas, caste brahmanas, learned panditas, and Vaishnavas were afraid of his sudden attacks to the worship of the deity of Lord Dhameshvar Mahaprabhu. For great sadness those days became fame. Caste brahmanas informed Maharaja Krishnachandra that these people are worshiping ordinary man as a God, and that it should be stopped immediately.
Pujari who heard about it immediately hide Lord Dhameshvar under ground where he made a hole. That place was kept in secret.
Soon happened a wonder.
King of Manipur Sing had a dream.
Sing was in depended situation to king Krishnachandra but he was connected to English people where as Krishnachandra was under the protection of Muslim king. He was a gaudiya Vaishnava, which was coming down trough parampara from Narottama das Thakur.
In his dream he saw that native pundits are trying to induce king Krishnachandra to stop the worship to the Lord Dhameshvar Mahaprabhu in Navadwipa. King Manipur felt that he should immediately go to the Navadwipa. And at that time the voice told to him: “Prove that Lord Chaitania is God”. By the order of Supreme king Singh had to go to Navadwipa and reestablish the worship to Lord Mahaprabhu.
Totaram das Babaji Maharaj in Vrindavan also had a dream. Totaram das babaji was brahmana from South India. He arrived to Navadwipa in order to learn the logic then started to learn the science, then accepted the life style of a renounced Vaishnava and left to Vrindavan dhama, where he lived for many years. In his dream Lord Chaitania appeared to him and ordered him to take care of the Deity of Vishnupriya.
Then Totaram das Babaji came to Navadwipa and told to king Krshnachandra that his people are considering Lord Chaitania as an ordinary man but he came here from Vrindavan in order to prove that He is Lord Himself.
In the meeting with native panditas in the king’s place Totaram proved that Yuga dharma for this age of Kali was loudly chanting of the Holy Names and that Lord Chaitania was the Yuga avatara whose mission was to spread the glories of the Holy Names of Krishna in the whole Earth planet.
Panditas were not able to be against these statements and the accepted their failure.
Soon king Singh arrived to Navadwipa Dham and told to the king that he wants to rent a land. But being pleased by the preaching of Totaram das Babaji king Krishnachandra sacrificed to him as much land as he wanted. In that place king Singh built a Temple and installed the Deity of Lord Chaitania.
That time pujaris who were the personal servants of the Deity of Dhameshvar Mahaprabhu knowing that the danger was gone removed the Deity under ground and told to king Singh for his protection. Maharaja with great pleasure gave the worship of the Temple to the descendents of Vamshivadana Thakur.
From that time in this Temple it is worshipped to the two Deities:
One is the Deity of Vishnupriya and another One is the Deity which was installed by king Anumahaprabhu. By the efforts of Totaram das Babaji Maharaja the service at the Temple became regular. There are even some notes from 1785 in which it says that this land was given to the hand of Totaram das Babaji and it was not obliged with taxes.
Worship is done by descendent pujaris of Sanatana Mishra – the father of Vishnupriya. This duty is given by the inheritance. Different families are responsible for the worship of different times in a year.
(Reference: information is translated from Russian into English from the web site: http://dhama.dayalnitay.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72:koladvipa&catid=52:navadvip&Itemid=64)
(if any mistakes or something to add please feel free to contact Bhaktin Maral Your advices will be accepted with gratefulness.)
