Jaganatha Das Babaji’s & Vamsidasa babaji’s bhajan kutir
It is a place where great Vaishnav did his worship to Krishna. The Vaishnav whom Bhaktivinod Thakur called as a Vaishnava – Sarvabhauma (head of all Vaishnavas of Vrindavan, Puri and Navadvipa) – Srila Jagannatha das Babaji. His Samadhi is also situated here.
At the present time here there is a Temple with installed Deities of Sri Sri Goura Nitay, Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Giridhari.
Sometimes back river Ganges used to flow near by this place and Jagannatha das Babaji used to chant his japa on her shores.
In this place one can pray to Jagannatha das Babaji as an embodiment of materially renounced but spiritually attached to the Holy Names. Also one can pray for getting better understanding of the Holy Dhama – not only by hearing but also pray for the ability of seeing the real dhama.
Jagannatha das Babaji in Navadvipa
Sri Srimad Vaishnava sarvabhauma Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja for a long time did his bhajans in the holy land of Vrindavan. But in 1880 moved to Bengal where he stopped in a small village called Amalajoja, nearby Burdvan. And there Bhaktivinod Thakur meet him and got from him lots of spiritual advices.
When he wanted to move to Navadwipa dhama his servant asked if where they will stay in Navadvipa. And as a choice servant offered him to stay in a big ashram “Bada – akhara”. But Maharaja answered:
“No, we won’t stay in any ashrama but will live under a tree”.
And they started to reside under a tree. Then later a Devotee named Sri Madhava Datta bought a land nearby the tree and gifted it to Babaji Maharaja. A year later Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur built there a small houses. Later Radharshi Sri Vanamali Rai, famous landowner, built there 3 more houses along with walls and one rich lady in middle ages took the responsibility of making arrangement for making a well there. Babaji lived there 32 years.
Sometimes he used to visit the house of Bhaktivinod Thakur in Surabhi Kunj. In 1888 he confirmed the correctness of Bhaktivinod Thakur’s discovery which was the real birth place of Lord Gauranga. For some time he along with Bhaktivinod Thakur spent some time at the Yoga pitha. There he once cured the skin disease of Thakur’s one of sons by telling to roll in the dust of the holy land – appearance place of Lord.
Sometimes Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur also used to visit his place. Being in his youth ages Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja was very expert in astrology and Babaji Maharaja requested him to make a Vaishnava calendar in which there were all the details of appearance days of Lord Chaitania’s associates.
Some stories about Jagannatha das Babaji Maharaja:
Heavy Rupee
His servant was Bihari – who was very strong. He used to carry his master in the basket on his back because he was too old and was not able to walk independently. Once when Maharaja was travelling like that, a rich man gave to him a rupee and Maharaja gave it to Bihari and told to save it. But after when they passes some kilometers Maharaja told to Bihari to move back to that rich person and gave back money to him. And told to the man:
- I know that You have lots of money. I was not able to carry one rupee, how do you carry so heavy thing?
Goat in Vrindavan
Once very famous land owner – Srinath Rai and some of his family members visited Babaji Maharaja. Not recognizing him they asked him if he knows where stays a great siddha – baba. Srila Babaji Maharaja told:
- I do not know. I live here but I am an ordinary living being as you are all.
That time Srinath Rai understood that he was talking to Babaji Maharaja and that he did not have any desire for prestige and fame. With humility they requested him to show to them some miracles. To which Maharaja replied with sadness:
- I do not know how to perform miracles.
After these words he took a stick and in started seemingly to beat the ground. The landowner becoming scared of offending a Vaishnava requested him not to get upset to him for asking such like improper request to which Babaji Maharaja replied that he is not angry with him but he is only kicking away the goat which was eating the leaves of Tulasi Maharani in Srila Lokanatha Maharaja’s house in Radha Kund.
Ray was very surprised for this and immediately sent a telegram to Radha Kunda. Next day answer came which really confirmed that the goat ate the leaves of Tulasi.
Knowing his mistake Rai came to Babaji Maharaja and paid his humble obeisance to his feet.
Sickness of Bihari
Once Bihari became very sick. He had severe fewer, all the time he used to fell unconscious. Doctor from Kolkata told that the sickness became too strong and no chance for getting cured from it. He told that Bihari won’t survive up to morning. Then babaji Maharaja sat nearby his dear servant put Tulasi leave on his tongue and started to chant the Holy Names. After half an hour Bihari was completely healthy. He got up from the bed and went to the kitchen to cook because he knew that his Gurudev also fasted for several days and he used to eat only the food prepared by his servant Bihari.
The last trip to Navadvipa
Usually Babaji Maharaja used to live for 6 months in Vraja and other 6 in Navadvipa. When in his 146 years, was getting ready to move to Radha Kunda in Navadwipa many residents and Vaishnavas came to him and asked if why he was leaving Vraja Dham in his very old age. Maharaja replied:
“All you can live in Varaj Dahama, because you are all pure Vaishnavas. But I always commit offenses, because of that for me it is better if I live in Navadvipa. Sri Sri Goura Nitay do not accept any offenses, since they appeared n order to give love to everyone.
This was his last trip to Navadvipa. After some months later, in the month of Phalguna, 2 weeks before the appearance day of Gouranga Mahaprabhu he rejoined the lilas of the Lord.
