Godrumadvipa

Process of Devotional Service: Kirtanam (Chanting)

Devotee Who Attained Perfection Through This Process: Śukadeva Gosvāmi

By adopting only one of these nine principles, the following renowned devotees of the Lord were able to achieve the highest perfection: …. (2) Just by glorifying the Lord, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the speaker of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, attained his perfection.
(Śrī Īśopaniṣad 17)

The independent Lord Nityananda then walked with the devotees to Gadigachā village. When they arrived there, He smiled and said, “This island is named Godrumadvīpa. Surabhi stays here eternally. When Indra was overcome by Krsna’s illusory energy, he proudly flooded Gokula with rain. The Lord, however, carefully protected Gokula by lifting Govardhana mountain. Thus Indra’s pride was crushed, and he understood Kṛṣṇa’s identity. He therefore fell down at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet to mitigate his offense. The son of Nanda mercifully forgave Indra and pacified him.
“Still, Indra remained fearful, so he approached Surabhi and said, I cannot understand Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, and for that reason I committed a great offense. I have heard that in Kali-yuga Vrajendra-suta will perform wonderful pastimes in Nadia. But I fear that I will again fall into illusion and commit offense. As you are Surabhi, a desire cow, you know everything. Kindly tell me what I should do now.’
“Surabhi answered, ‘Let us go to Navadvipa-dhāma and worship Nimai.’
“They came here and worshiped Lord Gauranga. Since the worship of Gauranga is easy, the results are easy to attain. By chanting Gauranga’s name, tears of love filled their eyes and they quickly attained Gauranga’s darsana.
“How extraordinary was His charming form! Gauranga was gently smiling and His voice was choked with love, for He was a reservoir of nectar. The Lord said, ‘I know your wish. I will soon appear in Nadia town. At that time you will serve Me, and the net of māyā will no longer catch you.’
“The Lord vanished, and Surabhi remained here beside a banyan tree, constantly serving Gauranga’s lotus feet. Therefore this place is called Godruma [go—cow; druma tree]. At this place the devotees’ desires are fulfilled. One who builds a cottage and worships here will easily become absorbed in Śrī Caitanya’s lotus feet.
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Chapter 8)

In the Skanda Purāna, concerning Godruma it is said: “Those excellent people who live in the Lord’s place named Godruma are liberated from all sin and attain the supreme abode.”
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Pramana-Khanda, Chapter 3)

Going to the west of Devapalli, I will pass the Gandaki River, the Alakananda River, and Kāsī-kṣetra. Then I will see the very pure Godruma, where Indra’s Surabhi cow worshiped the Lord.
In the three worlds, there is no place comparable to Godruma, where Markandeya received the Lord’s mercy. Just as Isodyāna, which is nondifferent from Radha-kunda, lies close to the bank of the Ganges, so Godruma lies close to the bank of the Sarasvati.
O mind, just worship the groves of Godruma! Then very soon you will see the full wealth of Gauranga’s pastimes. Seeing these pastimes, you will easily attain the pastimes of Radha and Kṛṣṇa. thereby fulfilling all your desires.
Godruma is nondifferent from Nandisvara, home of Nanda Mahārāja and the cowherd men. Gauranga performs various pastimes here. Having taken some milk products at a cowherd’s house, Nimai would go and herd the cows with His gopa friends.
The cowherd boys tell Nimāi, “O brother, You are a gopāla. Your form as a brāhmaṇa boy does not suit You. Come, I will carry You on my shoulders, and we will go herd the cows. We will head towards Your mother’s place in Māyāpur.” One gopa affectionately gives curds mixed with condensed milk, and another gopa becomes unsteady just by seeing the wonderful form of the Lord. Another gopa gives fruits and flowers, saying, “Come to my house every day.”
“You are worshiped by the brāhmaṇas, but You are also the Lord of us gopas. We cannot give You up. You are the object of our knowledge and meditation. Look, even the cows give up their calves and grass and begin mooing on seeing You. “Since it is late now, go home to Your father’s house, and tomorrow we will meet here again. I will keep yogurt, curds, and condensed milk for You, but if You are late, I will become upset.” In this way Gaura and Nitāi would daily play with the cowherd boys in the Godruma forest. Then, if not too late, Gaurāṅga would bathe in the Ganges before proceeding home. When will I see these pure love-filled pastimes of Gaurāṅga in Godruma? Will such a day ever be mine? Aspiring to serve the Lord in the company of the gopas with their sentiments, I will reside in a cottage in Godruma with a fixed mind.
(Sri Navadvipa Bhava-taranga)