मध्यद्वीप की महिमा

यह द्वीप वर्तमान काल में ‘माजिदा’ के नाम से प्रसिद्ध। यह स्मरण-भक्ति का क्षेत्र है। इस स्थान पर एक समय मरीचि, अत्रि अङ्गिरा, पुलह, पुलस्त वशिष्ठ और क्रतु – इन सप्त-ऋषियों ने श्रीगौरहरि के गुणों से मुग्ध होकर, उनके दर्शनों की प्रार्थना की थी। सप्त-ऋषियों की साधना व लम्बे समय तक श्रीगौरहरि जी के श्रीपादपद्यों का चिन्तन करने पर भक्तवत्सल प्रभु ने एक दिन मध्याह्न के समय उन्हें दर्शन दिया था। चूंकि मध्याह्नकाल में यह घटना हुई थी; इसलिये इस स्थान का नाम ‘मध्यद्वीप’ हुआ।

श्रीभक्तिरत्नाकर’ बारहवीं तरङ्ग में वर्णन हुआ है-

श्रीनिवास-प्रति कहे ए माजिदा ग्राम।
कहये प्राचीन पूर्वे मध्यद्वीप नाम॥
प्रभुर परमाद्भुत लीला मध्यद्वीपे।
मध्यद्वीप नाम यैछे कहिये संक्षेपे॥
एथा सप्तऋषि प्रभुगुणे मग्न हइया।
नानाकथा कहे नवद्वीप निरखिया॥
ऐछे महानन्दे कत कहि’ परस्पर।
प्रभु – पादपद्य – चिन्ता करे निरन्तर॥
अति अनुरागे ऋषिगण आराधय।
भकतवत्सल प्रभु अधैर्याऽतिशय॥
मध्याहेर सूर्यसम मध्याह कालेते।
हइला साक्षात् शोभा के पारे वर्णिते॥
भुवनमोहन भङ्गि करिते दर्शन।
हैल अनिमिष ऋषिगणेर नयन॥
व्यापिल पुलक अङ्ग, नेत्रे अश्रुधार।
भूमि पड़ि’ प्रभुरे प्रणमे बार- बार॥
करिल अनेक स्तुति कहिले ना हय।
करि’ प्रदक्षिण पुनः प्रभुरे कहय॥
ओहे प्रभु, बहु अभिलाष मो सबार।
नेत्रे भरि’ देखि एइ नदियाविहार॥
नवद्वीप ध्यान येन करिये सदाइ।
निरन्तर तोमार भक्तेर गुण गाइ॥
ऐछे कत प्रभु आगे कहि’ ऋषिगण।
प्रभुके देखिते वाञ्छे सहस्रलोचन॥
ऋषिस्तुतिवशे प्रभु कहे ऋषिगणे।
हइवेक पूर्ण सबे ये करिला मने॥
नवद्वीपलीला मोर अति गोप्य हय।
राखिबे गोपने इथे मोर सुखोदय॥
शुनि’ ऋषिगण कहे — कि बलिब प्रभु।
करतले सूर्य कि आच्छन्न हय कभु॥
ऐछे ऋषिगण कत कहये उल्लासे।
शुनि गौरचन्द्र प्रभु मने – मने हासे॥
ऋषिगणे मनेर आनन्दे कृपा करि।
हइलेन अन्तर्धान प्रभु गौरहरि॥
प्रभु अदर्शनेते व्याकुल ऋषिगण।
एथा हैते मध्याहन करिला गमन॥
गंगातीरे कुमारहट्टेर – सन्निधाने।
देखिया अपूर्व स्थान रहे सेइखाने॥
यथास्थिति कैला ताहा प्रसिद्ध आछाय।
सप्तऋषिघाट अद्यापिह लोके कय॥
ओहे श्रीनिवास मध्यद्वीपेर प्रसङ्ग।
अल्पे जानाइनु’ एथा हइल महारङ्ग॥
मध्याह्नेर सूर्यसम मध्याह्न – समय।
देखा दिला प्रभु, तेञि ‘मध्यद्वीप’ कय॥

श्रीईशान ने श्रीनिवास के प्रति कहा – यह ‘माजिदा’ ग्राम है। प्राचीनकाल में पहले इसे ‘मध्यद्वीप’ नाम से कहते थे। श्रीमन्महाप्रभु की जैसी परमाद्भुत – लीला मध्यद्वीप में हुई थी, उसे संक्षेप में कहता हूँ। यहां सप्तऋषिगण ने प्रभु के गुणों में मग्न होकर नवद्वीपधाम को देखा था।

इस प्रकार सप्तऋषिगण महानन्द में परस्पर भगवद्-गुणगान करते हुए निरन्तर प्रभु – पादपद्मों की चिन्ता करते थे। अति अनुराग के साथ ऋषिगण आराधना करने पर भक्तवत्सल प्रभु अतिशय करुणा करके मध्याह्नकाल में सूर्य के समान तेजस्वी रुप में प्रकट हुए। उस शोभा को कौन वर्णन कर सकता है? भुवन मोहन के हाव-भाव के दर्शन करके ऋषिगणों के नयन खुले के खुले रह गये। उनके अङ्गों में पुलकावली व्यापने लगी, नेत्रों से अश्रुधारा बहने लगी भूमिपर पड़कर महाप्रभु जी को बारबार प्रणाम करने लगे। उन्होंने अनेक प्रकार से स्तुति की व प्रदक्षिणा करके पुनः प्रभु को कहने लगे – हे प्रभो! हम सभी की बहुत अभिलाषा है कि हम नेत्र भरकर आपके नवद्वीप धाम का दर्शन करें। आपके श्रीनवद्वीप का सदा ध्यान करें एवं निरन्तर आपके भक्तों के गुण गाते रहें।

इस प्रकार ऋषिगण ने प्रभु के पास बहुत कुछ कहा एवं प्रभु के दर्शन करने हेतु, सहस्रलोचन की वाञ्छा करने लगे। ऋषियों की स्तुति के वश में होकर महाप्रभुजी कहने लगे,हे ऋषिमुनिगण! तुमने मन में जो सोचा है, वह सब पूर्ण होगा। मेरी नवद्वीपलीला अति गोपनीय है, मेरे सुख के लिये तुम सभी उसे गोपन रखना।

यह सुनकर, ऋषियों ने कहा- क्या कहा प्रभो! क्या भला हाथों के द्वारा भी सूर्य कभी आच्छादित हो सकता है ?

इस प्रकार ऋषिगणों ने उल्लास से बहुत कुछ कहा जिसे सुनकर, श्रीगौरचन्द्र प्रभु मन-मन में हँसे। ऋषिगणों को आनन्द मन से कृपा करके श्रीगौरहरि अन्तर्धान हो गये। महाप्रभु जी के अदर्शन से ऋषिगण व्याकुल हो गये एवं तभी वहाँ से चले पड़े तथा गंगा के तीर पर कुमारहट्ट के निकट एक अपूर्व स्थान देखकर वहीं रहने लगे। जहाँ ठहरे थे वह स्थान आज भी सप्तऋषिघाट के नाम से प्रसिद्ध है। हे श्रीनिवास! श्रीमध्यद्वीप का प्रसङ्ग संक्षेप मे मैंने आपको बताया है, जहां मध्याह्न के समय श्रीगौरहरि ने सप्तऋषिगण को दर्शन दिया था, इसलिये इसे ‘मध्यद्वीप’ कहते हैं।

Glories of Madhyadvipa

The Lord was as brilliant as a hundred suns, and He attracted the minds of the yogis. He appeared with the Panca-tattva. How extraordinary was that form! His form had a beautiful golden hue. Around His neck was a garland of flowers, and His glittering ornaments illuminated all directions. His glance was beautiful, His hair was long and curled, and a dot of sandalwood decorated His forehead. He wore three-folded cloth, a shining thread, and His neck was decorated with a beautiful jasmine garland. Seeing this form, the rsis were enchanted and they humbly petitioned, ‘We surrender to Your lotus feet. Please give us devotion.’

All glories to Lord Gauracandra and Prabhu Nityananda! All glories to Gadadhara and the devotees headed by Srivasa! All glories to Navadvipa, the topmost abode of devotees!

When night had ended, Sri Nityananda, intoxicated with songs of Gaura, went off with the devotees. They were absorbed in love of God and distributed that supreme bliss along the way. Coming to Madhyadvipa, Nityananda smiled and said, “This is Majida-grama. The seven rishis stayed here a long time and engaged in worshipping Gauranga.”

In Satya-yuga, the rishis began singing the glories of Gaura in their father’s presence. Completely absorbed, they begged for the eternal treasure of gaura-prema. Lord Brahma was pleased with his seven sons and told them, ‘Go to Navadvipa and sing the glories of Gaura, then you will easily attain prema. Whoever gets the mercy of the dhama, gets the association of devotees. Then, by worshipping in the association of devotees, you will become absorbed in krsna-prema. That is the supreme activity. Whoever gets attraction for Navadvipa will receive the benediction of living in Vraja. To live in the spiritual dhama and recite the name of Gaura is the only aspiration of the devotees.

The seven rishis took their father’s instructions to heart and came to this place. When they arrived, they engaged in dancing and chanting the name of Hari. They begged for gaura-prema while singing the Lord’s glories in a loud voice, “O Gaurahari, be merciful and reveal Yourself to us just once! Being offenders, we have followed many paths, but now we are taking to the path of devotional service.”

The rishis underwent austerities and became firmly situated in devotional service by worshipping Gauranga. They completely gave up eating and sleeping and simply recited the name of Gaura. Around noon (madhyahna), the all-merciful Lord Gauranga appeared before the rishis.

The Lord was as brilliant as a hundred suns, and He attracted the minds of the yogis. He appeared with the Panca-tattva. How extraordinary was that form! His form had a beautiful golden hue. Around His neck was a garland of flowers, and His glittering ornaments illuminated all directions. His glance was beautiful, His hair was long and curled, and a dot of sandalwood decorated His forehead. He wore three-folded cloth, a shining thread, and His neck was decorated with a beautiful jasmine garland. Seeing this form, the rishis were enchanted and they humbly petitioned, ‘We surrender to Your lotus feet. Please give us devotion.

Hearing the rishis prayer, Gaurahari replied, “Listen rishis. Give up all desires, the chains of jnana and karma, and just discuss topics of Krsna. Within a short time will unfold My lila in Navadvipa. Then you will see My pastimes of nama-sankirtana. But now, keep this subject a secret. Worship Krsna at Kumarahatta at the ghata made by you.”

When Lord Gauranga disappeared, the seven rishis went to Kumarahatta. At this place now you see seven tilas, or hillocks. These seven hills are arranged in the same pattern as the seven rishis in the sky (the constellation). By living here one will receive Gaurahari without having to undergo a strict process of rules and regulations.

To the south of this see one stream, the very pure Gomati River. Beside it is Naimisaranya. At the beginning of Kali-yuga, the rishis headed by Saunaka heard about Gauranga from the mouth of Suta. Whoever reads the Puranas here during the month of Kartika becomes free from all distress, becomes absorbed in the pastimes of Gauranga, and easily attains Vrndavana. Giving up his bull carrier, Siva once mounted Sri Hamsa-vahana, Brahma’s swan, and came here to hear the recitation of the Puranas. Along with his followers, he sang the glories of Gaura. While singing and dancing, the followers surrounded Siva, and shouting the name of Gaurahari, threw heaps of flowers all around.

On hearing the words of Nityananda, Jiva became spiritually excited and began rolling on the ground in ecstasy as he tasted the influence of the dhama. The devotees spent the day there in the association of Nityananda and the next day they went to take darsana of Puskara.

Bhaktivinoda, within whom the ever worshipable Jahnava and Nitai have appeared, sings the glories of Nadia and the sweetness of the devotees while tasting transcendental flavors.

In the current Manu’s reign, the seven sages are: Kasyapa. Atri. Vasistha, Visvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, and Bharadvaja.

Lord Nityananda continued on with the devotees while chanting, “Hari, Hari!” Because of ecstatic love, Nityananda Prahhu tottered as He walked and mumbled as he talked. Tears streamed down His face, and in agitation He cried out “Gaura, Gaura!” All His ornaments glittered and His divine form illuminated the ten directions. Srivasa, along with Jiva, repeatedly wept and danced. And the other devotees all danced along.

As they approached Alakananda. Lord Nityananda, immersed in bliss, said, “Starting to the west of Hilvapaksa village (Bel Pukur), the Mandakini River comes and surrounds Nadia. At Suvarnavihara, the Alakananda River leaves the Mandakini. On the eastern bank of the Alakananda River, at Harihara-ksetra, a beautiful Deity will be discovered in the future, amidst a lovely forest.”

To the west of the Alakananda River see Kasi, where the followers of Siva and his consort endeavor for liberation. This Navadvipa Kasi, however, is superior to the other Kasi. Here, Siva is always dancing and chanting the name of Gaura, begging his followers to accept gaura-bhakti. The sannyasis who live for a thousand years in Kasi may attain liberation through the cultivation of jnana, but here the devotees kick away that liberation as they dance and chant the name of Gauranga. While leaving the body here, living entities are delivered by Lord Siva, who chants the name of Gauranga in their ears. This dhama is thus called Maha-Varanasi, for here there is no fear of death.

At that moment Nityananda Prabhu began dancing, and He asked Jiva to accept gaura-prema. Invisible to everyone, Siva came forward arid bowed at Nityananda’s lotus feet. Lord Siva and his consort, Gauri, achieved all their desires by always singing the name of Gauranga.

From Bhaktivinod Thakur’s book, Navadvip Dham Mahatmya.