Simantadvipa
This island represents the devotional process of Sravanam, Hearing the Lord’s pastimes:
“The Chanting of the name in the association of the pure devotee is identical with the performance of the amorous service of the Gopis. The amorous service relishable as the transcendental word to the spiritual ear of the soul. There is no way of having such access to the Gopis’ love as long as Krishna does not relieve us from our perverse conditioning. We will understand the actual meaning of the Gopis’ love for Radha and Krishna by hearing about the pastime of Sri Krishna Caitanya from realized souls.”
This island Simantadvipa was also known as Simuliya-grama and is located south of the Ganga. When Sri Nityananda Prabhu took Sri Jiva on Parikrama, He mentioned that this island would be taken over by the Ganga. Only one place would be visible where materialistic people would worship Parvati known as Simantini.
Why is this island named as Simantadvipa?
It is described in Sri Navadvipa Dham Mahatmya, Once upon a time during Satya-yuga, Lord Shiva started to dance chanting the holy name of Lord Gauranga. Goddess Parvati asked Mahadeva, "What is this name, Gauranga, that you are chanting and which is causing you to dance? My heart is melting to see your wonderful dance and to hear you’re chanting of the name of Gauranga. Until now all the mantras and tantras I have heard simply give troubles and problems to the living entities. Kindly tell me about Gauranga. I will make my life successful by worshiping Gauranga.” By seeing her Spiritual ecstasy lord Shiva described how the lord would appear in Kali Yuga as Lord Caitanya accepting the mood of Srimati Radharani. He will take birth in Mayapur from the womb of Sachi Devi. Lord Caitanya will spread the Nama Sankirtana and will distributed the Krishna Prema Without considering any qualification. He said “I am floating in the ocean of love remembering the promise of my Lord. I could not control my mind and have left my place called Kashi dhama (Varanasi). I have decided to stay near the border of Mayapur on the bank of the Ganga. There I will stay in a cottage while engaging in Gauranga Bhajana."
After hearing this from Mahadeva, Parvati immediately came to Simantadvipa. She started to chant the holy name of Gaura with great love, meditating on Sri Gauranga. After a few days, Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu mercifully appeared in front of Parvati Devi along with all His associates. His body was tall and the color of molten gold. His head was covered with gently curling locks hair and his limbs were very attractive and with radiant smiling face Lord Gauranga asked, "My dear Parvati! Please tell Me why you have come here?" Parvati fell at the feet the Lord Gauranga and Said “You have engaged me to keep all living entities who are averse to You in the bondage of material existence. I am engaged in that service and deprived of Your unlimited Prema. People say, wherever there is Krishna, Maya cannot stay. As a result I am always distant from You. 0 my Lord, how can I see Your pastimes? Unless You show me the path, I am hopeless."
Saying this, Parvati Devi took the dust from the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga and very eagerly placed it on her head in the Simanta (the middle portion of the hair just above the forehead of ladies is known as Sinthi or Simanta).
Gaurasundara was very pleased with Parvati and told her how as Yogamaya, she was non-different from Him and essential for His pastimes in the material realm. "In Vrindavana you are personally present as Paurnamasi, and in Navadvipa you are present as Praudha Maya along with Ksetrapala Shiva, the guardian of the dhama."
This pastime took place at the Simanti Devi temple located on this island. Parvati stays here as the goddess of Simantadvipa and also stays in Mayapur as Praudha Maya. Sri Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya describes that during the time of Lord Caitanya, this place was located on the south bank of the Ganga and that it was the only place not affected when Navadvipa was flooded for 100 years soon after Lord Caitanya ended His manifest pastimes.
Places to visit on this island are:
