Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math
The Spire of Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math, Nabadwip, West Bengal
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictNadia
Location
LocationTeghori Pada
StateWest Bengal
CountryIndia
Geographic coordinates23°23′55″N 88°21′47″E / 23.398649°N 88.363059°E / 23.398649; 88.363059
Architecture
TypeHindu temple architecture
CreatorSrila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja

Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math[1] (Matha, Mutt) is situated at Teghori Pada in Sri Nabadwip dham of district Nadia in the West Bengal state of India, and is a prominent holy place of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. It is located in the middle of the place earlier known as Koladvipa. The Math has been continuing as a famous religious spot thronged by thousands of devotees every year.

History edit

In 1940,[2] after jagad-guru Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada entered aprakata-lila, one of his intimate associates, Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja, established Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti (GVP) [3] in a rented building. He later purchased an extensive piece of land on which he established a matha with a beautiful temple.

Inside the Temple edit

The following deities preside in the five chambers of the temple and samadhi mandir respectively:

Temple

Samadhi

Nava-vidha Bhakti edit

The temple's nine towers each represent one limb of nava-vidha-bhakti, the nine types of devotional service.

  • Hearing,
  • Chanting,
  • Remembering,
  • Serving the Lord's lotus feet,
  • Worshipping,
  • Offering prayers,
  • Engaging as a servant,
  • Serving as a friend, and
  • Completely surrendering oneself.

Nava-vidha Khandas edit

 
The deities of the Mandir - Gauranga and Sri Radha-Vinoda-bihari, Nabadwip, West Bengal

The matha is divided into the following nine parts (khandas):

  • Paramartha-khanda - the printing press where devotional literature and magazines are produced.
  • Kirtana-khanda - the place where sankirtana, lectures on Bhagavatam and other scriptures take place.
  • Upasya-khanda - the temple where the deities of Srila Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, Sri Gauranga, Sri Radha-Vinona-bihari and Sri Koladeva are worshipped.
  • Sevaka-khanda - the place where the residents of the matha live.
  • Bhoga-khanda - the storehouse and kitchen.
  • Govardhana-khanda - the cow shed.
  • Vaisnnava-granthagara-khanda - the library.
  • Udayana-Khanda - the garden.
  • Jnana-khanda - the bathrooms and latrines.

These sections are divided on the basis of activities favourable to bhakti, which are to be accepted and those unfavourable which are to be avoided. Jnana and karma which are devoid of bhakti are always to be rejected just as one rejects stools. For this reason the bathrooms and latrines of the matha are called Jnana-khanda.

It was Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami's long-held desire that a deity of Sri Koladeva be established on the Ganga's western bank in the old Kuliya-nagara. To fulfill this desire, Srila Bhakti Prajnana kesava Gosvami Maharaja has manifested the service of Sri Koladeva at the place.

The Past and the Present edit

(Pre-ISKCON and sannyasa guru of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.[4])

  • Srila Bhakti Vedanta Bamana Goswami Maharaja - Next Acharya.
  • Srila Bhakti Vedanta Paryataka Maharaja - Present Acharya.
  • Srila Bhakti Vedanta Acharya Maharaja - Present Secretary.

The Photo Gallery edit

References edit

  • Maharaja, Swami Bhaktivedanta Narayan (2008). Sri Navadvipa-dhama - page 171. Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti (GVP). ISBN 8186737561.

External Links edit

See Also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Maharaja, Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana (2005). Sri Navadvipa-dhama and Prominent Holy Places of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas in Sri Gauda-mandala. @ Gaudiya Vedanta Publications. p. 143-145. ISBN 81-86737-56-1.
  2. ^ Bryant&Ekstrand, 2004. p. 118-122
  3. ^ Bryant&Ekstrand, 2004.p 76-80
  4. ^ Måns Broo, As Good as God. The Guru in Gaudiya Vaisnavism. ISBN 83-85527-56-7, [1](Åbo: Åbo Akademis Förlag 2003).