Indradyumna Sarovara

Indradyumna Sarovara is spread over five acres of land near Gundicha temple. In this area King Indradyumna first came and performed Thousand Ashvamedha yagnas, during that time thousand of cows were donated to Brahmanas. These cows stood at this place and their hooves created holes in the earth, creating one large pond. The pond was filled with cow urine and water which King Indradyumna used for the Sankalpa ceremony. Thus it became a Tirtha, and it is believed that all Tirtha reside in this pond.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had also water sporting in this pond. It is described in Caitanya Caritamrita as follow:


There were many gardens near the Gundicha temple, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees used to perform the pastimes of Vrindavana in each of them. In the lake named Indradyumna, He sported in the water. The Lord personally splashed all the devotees with water, and the devotees, surrounding Him on all sides, also splashed the Lord.

While in the water they sometimes formed a circle and sometimes many circles, and while in the water they used to play cymbals and imitate the croaking of frogs. Sometimes two would pair off to fight in the water. One would emerge victorious and the other defeated, and the Lord would watch all this fun.

The first sporting took place between Advaita Acharya and Nityananda Prabhu, who threw water upon one another. Advaita Acharya was defeated, and He later began to rebuke Nityananda Prabhu, calling Him bad names. Svarupa Damodara and Vidyanidhi also threw water upon one another, and Murari Gupta and Vasudeva Datta also sported in that way. Another duel took place between Srivasa Thakura and Gadadhara Pandita, and yet another between Raghava Pandita and Vakresvara Pandita. Thus they all engaged in throwing water. Indeed, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya engaged in water sports with Sri Ramananda Raya, and they both lost their gravity and became like children.

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw the exuberance of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and Ramananda Raya, He smiled and spoke to Gopinatha Acarya. "Tell Bhattacarya and Ramananda Raya to stop their childish play because they are both learned scholars and very grave and great personalities."

Gopinatha Acarya replied, "I believe that one drop of the ocean of Your great mercy has swelled up upon them. "A drop from the ocean of Your mercy can drown great mountains like Sumeru and Mandara. Since these two gentlemen are little hills by comparison, there is no wonder that they are being drowned in the ocean of Your mercy. "Logic is like a dry oil cake from which all the oil has been extracted. Bhattacarya passed his life in eating such dry cakes, but now You have made him drink the nectar of transcendental pastimes. It is certainly Your great mercy upon him."

After Gopinatha Acharya finished talking, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled and, calling for Advaita Acharya, made Him act like the Sesa Naga bed. Lying down on Advaita Prabhu, who was floating on the water, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu demonstrated the pastime of Sesasayi Vishnu. Manifesting His personal potency, Advaita Acharya floated about on the water, carrying Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After sporting in the water for some time, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to His place at Aitota, accompanied by His devotees.

The day before Ratha Yatra Sriman Mahaprabhu goes to Gundicha with all the devotees to clean the temple. They bring water from Indradyumna Sarovara to use for cleaning Gundicha Mandira (Madhya 14.75-91).