September 19-21, 2008.
I had no idea about the holiness of Nasik until recently. And until I went there, I had no idea about just how holy it is. And its only after coming back from there that I am beginning to realize just how fortunate I was to visit the holy dham of Nasik. Krishna willing, it will not be long before I visit it again, this time with a more proper consciousness, that of reverence, that comes along with more knowledge about the dham. That Lord Sri Gaura Sunder Himself visited all those places is more than enough for a Gaudia Vaishnava to visit them again and again.
Around 21 devotees, most of us counselees of H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu and H. G. Yashoda Rani Mataji, started off in a 25-seater at around 1800 from the Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari Temple, Pune. It was raining quite a bit and incessantly for most of the journey. Along the way we got quite a few phone calls warning us that Nasik is under water! The news channels were flashing “Maha-pur (literally - huge flood) in Nasik!” along with graphic pictures. But a few devotees told me that they were quite unconcerned despite such usually disturbing news. Sometimes people tend to think that the bad things of life will not happen to them. In this ignorance, such people proclaim their fearlessness by doing dare-devil acts. However, sooner or later, typically after the youth has fled away, the false sense of fearlessness and invincibility evaporates, replaced by a nagging fear of death and misfortunes. On the other hand, the devotees are never under the illusion that this material world is safe. However, still, because of taking shelter of the Supreme Lord Krishna, the devotees experience true fearlessness. More than personal safety, devotees were praying that they get darshan of the various holy places.
Sri Sri Radha Gopinath and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai of Nasik Temple
We reached Nasik at around 0100 at night and checked into a hotel that we had booked before hand. At least there was no flooding in that area of Nasik. However, all night it was raining. A few of us attended the Mangal Arati in the Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple (ISKCON) which was a 5 minute walk from the hotel. It was still raining during the whole morning program. The ISKCON temple is almost a replica of the Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple of Chowpatty. The devotees are very simple and humble and they won over my heart. The deities, Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, are most beautiful, reminding one of their namesakes in Chowpatty. And so are the Sri Sri Gaur Nitai deities. The local Nasik devotees told us that it will be impossible for us to visit some of the holy places. But H. G. Jai Narsimha Prabhu and other devotees had a strong desire to be able to visit all the places. As if miraculously, the rain had stopped completely at the end of the morning program at around 0900. We all honored prasadam at 1000 and around 1100 we were off! Rohit Prabhu, a resident devotee of the Nasik temple, kindly accompanied us to guide us.
Raam Kunda, over flooded!
First of all we visited Raam Kunda. Its on the banks of the sacred Godavari River. I will not go into the details of all the many pastimes associated with that place. Actually the whole area in and around Nasik is the well-known Dandakaranya forest area where Lord Sri Ramachandra spent so much if His time while in exile. In fact, this place got its name Nasik because Lord Lakshman had cut off Shurpanakha’s nose (called nasika in Sanskrit) at this place. The previous day the Godavari had flooded over and its water level rose 10-15 feet above the road level! All the dwellings on the banks were deluged and quite a lot of property was damaged. I heard that around 10 people lost their lives too. Fortunately for us the water level had reduced and we could relatively safely take the darshan of the Ganges of the South, the Godavari, and bathe in its strong current. One could definitely feel the spiritual vibrations in that place even though the Raam Kunda, and the accompanying Lakshmana Kunda and Sita Kunda are all very much in the middle of the city. Due to the over flooded Godavari, all these Kundas and the river had become just one big body of water. We visited the nearby Kapaleshwar Lord Siva temple too and saw from outside (couldn’t go in due to the aftermath of the flooding) the Lord Balaji Temple which Lord Chaitanya Himself had paid a visit. Srila Prabhupada had also visited this place.
Nearby is the Sita Gufa (Sita Cave) where Lord Ramachandra had hid Mother Sita while He single handedly fought and destroyed 14,000 rakshasas. There are 5 banyan trees around there which are said to be existing since Lord Raam’s time, and which give this place the name Panchavati. Then, our bus took us to Tapowan whose strong spiritual vibrations were unmistakable. There is a temple of Lord Lakshman in that place, the only temple in the world where He is presiding without Lord Ramachandra being present. Nearby was the confluence of the Godavari and the Kapila Ganga, which we visited. On the way back to the hotel, we paid a running visit to the Sunder Narayan Temple which is on the bridge that runs over and across the Godavari. From that vantage point we were met with a sight that touched our hearts and filled it with love and affection for the Lord. We could see that the ghat on which we had bathed just a few hours ago was once again under 2-3feet of water. The first thought that struck us was that this was surely the mercy of the Lord! It was as if He had arranged that when we came to the river bank, the water level was low enough for us to have a proper bath, and as soon as we were done, the water level started rising again, so much so that it over flooded the ghats once again.
That evening we were invited by a glorious Krishna Conscious family, that of H. G. Jugal Kishore Prabhu. It was in his house that Krishna Consciousness took roots in Nasik. For the last 10 years, he and his family host a weekly program. Their deities are one of most gorgeous house deities I have ever seen. They resemble Sri Sri Radha Madhava of Mayapur, and to some they also resembled Sri Sri Radha Gopinath of Chowpatty. The next day morning a few of us attended the Mangal Arati in the Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple. After the morning program, we honored delicious prasadam. All our meals in the Nasik temple were sumptuous and delicious. Nasik devotees told us that none of them is an actual cook, but from the prasadam, it was not at all apparent.
Trayambakeshwar
Around 35kms from Nasik is a gorgeous temple of Lord Siva – Trayambakeshwar. It is one of the Jyotirlingas. Lord Chiatanya had visited this temple. Nestled amidst beautiful hills, with a huge courtyard, the temple is a pleasing sight to behold. We were standing in the queue for Darshan for about an hour and all the time we worshipped Lord Siva by loudly singing Hari Naam Sankirtan. Surely Lord Siva was pleased. A lot of other visitors were joining in the kirtans! We also managed to distribute 9 books. Nearby is the small pond which is the source of the Godavari. I will not go into the detailed pastime. After packing our luggage and checking out from the hotel, we visited Taket on the way back to Pune. This is the place where Lord Jatayu, the great devotee of Lord Raam, had given up his life fighting Ravana trying to release Mother Sita from the demon’s clutches. Lord Raam had performed his last rites personally at this place. Unfortunately, around 1 km from the actual temple, the road was submerged in 2-3 feet deep flowing water that flowed across the road. We decided not to cross it. Thus, we will have to visit this temple in our next trip. We heard that it’s a must-see temple! Apart from this temple, we could not visit the Brahmagiri hill, which also Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had personally visited, and we also could not visit the place where Lord Kapila, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, instructed His mother Devahuti in the devotional Sankhya philosophy. I did not know before going to Nasik that it is such a holy place. Next time, I will go with a better consciousness and try to soak in the dham as much as possible.
Pond which is the source of the Godavari
näsike tryambaka dekhi’ gelä brahmagiri
kushävarte äilä yähän janmilä godävari
Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu then visited Näsika, where He saw the deity of Tryambaka [Lord Siva]. He then went to Brahma-giri and then to Kushävarta, the source of the river Godävari.
CC Madhya lila 9:317
Sunset at Taket
On the way back to Pune, in the bus, just like the journey from Pune to Nasik, we engaged ourselves in a lot of Krishna Conscious games. The devotees are so wonderful and sweet that despite being so senior they are eager to serve every other devotee. This is the proof of their advanced Krishna Consciousness. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to associate with such gems. Actually, I do not have any doubt that our Nasik trip was a success despite the heavy floods only because of the strong desires of the Vaishnavas. And I, just by the dint of being with them, obtained the same good fortune. This is the effect of Vaishnava association. I pray to Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai that they always keep me in such exalted association so that one day even I may attain that supreme destination, Krishna Prem.
Your servant,
Abhijit.
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