Table of Contents
Agradvipa - a town about six miles south of Katoya (Katwa). It
is situated on the west side of the Ganga, about 26 miles northwest of Mayapura,
in the Barddhaman district. Sri Govinda, Sri Madhava, and Sri Vasudeva Ghosa
lived here. The samadhi of Sri Govinda Ghosa is located in Agradvipa.
Govinda Ghosa Thakura established the Deity of Sri Gopinatha on the east bank
of the Ganga near Agradvipa.
Alakananda - one of the four great branches of the river Ganga
(the others are the Bhagirathi, Mandakini, and Bhogavati). When the Alakananda
meets the Bhagirathi in northern Uttara Pradesh, the river becomes known as the
Ganga. It again divides in Bengal. In Bengal, one branch of the Ganga, which
has now dried up, was called the Alakananda. This Alakananda formerly flowed
south through Navadvipa-mandala. The bed of this river lies directly across the
Ganga from the present town of Navadvipa, where it runs east for two miles and
then turns south. From this point it runs between Godrumadvipa and Madhyadvipa.
Ambika-Kalna - a place about 30 km south of the present city of Navadvipa.
This is where Sri Gauridasa Pandita, Sri Hrdaya Caitanya, Sri Paramananda
Gupta, and Sri Suryadasa Pandita lived. It is situated on the west bank of the
Ganga directly across from Santipura, where Sri Advaita Acarya lived. Sriman
Mahaprabhu used to visit the house of Gauridasa Pandita in Kalna.
Amraghata - a village in Godrumadvipa also known as Amghata. It is
on the east side of the Ganga, about midway between Svarupaganja and Devapalli.
Once while Sriman Mahaprabhu was per-forming sankirtana with His
associates, He arrived at this place. After
several hours of sankirtana, the devotees’ hunger and thirst was
aroused. Sri Mahaprabhu planted a mango seed which immediately grew into a tree
full of ripened mangoes, which had neither seeds nor skins. The mangoes were
fragrant and their taste was sweeter than nectar. Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sri
Nityananda Prabhu relished those fruits along with Their associates. This place
is thus known as Amghata, the place of mangoes.
Antardvipa - one of the nine islands of Navadvipa. This place
embodies the devotional practice of atma-nivedanam, surrendering one’s
very self to Sri Krsna. Antardvipa is situated in the antar (heart or
middle) of the eight-petaled lotus of Navadvipa. At the center of Antardvipa is
Sri Mayapura, and at the very core of Mayapura is Yogapitha, the place where
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared.
Lord Brahma felt despondent after disturbing Krsna’s pastimes in
Vraja by stealing His cows and cowherd friends. He performed austerities in
Antardvipa, knowing that Gauranga would descend there in Kali-yuga. Gauranga
manifested before Brahma and gave him the benediction that Brahma would appear
as the great bhakta, Haridasa Thakura. Taking birth in a Yavana family,
he would not be disturbed by pride. Because Mahaprabhu revealed His internal (antar)
feelings to Brahma at this place, the island is known as Antardvipa.
Baragachi - also known as Bahiragachi. It is situated two miles
from
the Muragacha railway
station, which is about 20 km north of Krsnanagara
on the east side of the
Ganga. According to Caitanyabhagavata
(Antya 5.710-711),
this place is famous for its connection
with Sri Nityananda Prabhu:
visese sukrti ati badagachi-grama
nityananda-svarupera viharera sthana, badagachi
gramera janeka
bhagyodaya taha kabhu
kahite na pari samuccaya – “The
village of Baragachi is especially virtuous because Nityananda Prabhu performed
many pastimes there. It is simply impossible to describe the great fortune of
this village.”
Bhagirathi - another name for the Ganga River. The river Ganga is
a celestial river. Because this river was brought to the earth by the austerities
and prayers of King Bhagiratha, she is also known as Bhagirathi. Initially,
where the Ganga starts near Gangotri, she is known as the Bhagirathi. When the
Bhagirathi meets the Alakananda, she becomes known as the Ganga. In West
Bengal, the Ganga divides into the Padma River and the Bhagirathi. The Bhagirathi
flows south through Navadvipa and on to the Bay of Bengal. Some distance south
of Santipura, the Bhagirathi becomes known as the Hugli.
Bharata-varsa - one of nine tracts of land which form the divisions of
Jambudvipa. It is named after King Bharata, the son of Rsabhadeva. India is now known as Bharata, although in
the ancient histories this appellation referred to the entire earth plant.
Bhuh - (Bhu-loka) the planet earth.
Bhuh-mandala - the middle planetary system within the universe.
Bhuvah - (Bhuvar-loka) the second of seven divisions of
planets:
Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svarga,
Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka, and Satyaloka. This planet is situated between
the earth and the sun planet. It is attained by siddhas and munis.
Bilva-puskarini - also known as Bael-pukura. Sri Nilambara Cakravarti,
the maternal grandfather of Sriman Mahaprabhu, lived at this place. It is
situated near the northern border of Simantadvipa and forms part of the area
known as Simuliya.
Brahmaloka - the planet of Sri Brahma situated above Tapoloka at the
upper limit of the universe. This planet is also known as Satyaloka.
Brahmana-puskarini - presently known as Bamana-pukura. According
to Sri Narahari dasa’s Parikrama-paddhati,
the place now known
as Bamana-pukura was formerly
called Brahmana-puskara: bamanapukure
punya-grama, brahmana-puskara e vidita purva nama.
According
to a book named Citre
Navadvipa, part of Bamana-pukura is included in Antardvipa and part in
Simantadvipa. Bamanapukura is presently situated north of the Yogapitha and
east of the Bhagirathi. From the description in the beginning of Chapter Twelve
it appears that Brahmana-puskarini was situated just south
of Bilva-puskarini, and together these two areas made up the district known as
Simuliya. This must have been the case either at the time this book was written
(1896) or at the time the story is set (c.1600). On the 1916 map of Sridhama
Navadvipa, however, we see that there is a considerable distance between Bael-pukura
and Bamana-pukura, and Bamana-pukura is south of the Bhagirathi. This type of
shift of the land and modification of the names of places is a common feature
of the Navadvipa area, largely due to the ever-changing course of the Ganga and
its branches flowing through Navadvipa-mandala.
Campahatta - a place in the southwest part of Rtudvipa, also
known as Campahati. It was formerly known as Campakahatta because there was a
market (hatta) there that sold the flowers of the Campaka trees that
grow profusely in this area. It is considered non-different from the
Khadiravana forest of Vrndavana. The great poet Jayadeva Gosvami wrote the Gita-Govinda
while residing in Campahatta.
Devapalli - a town three miles south-west of Krsna-nagara in Godrumadvipa
where all the devas resided. In Satya-yuga, Lord Nrsimhadeva rested at
Devapalli after killing Hiranyakasipu. This place is also thus known as
Nrsimhapalli. There is an ancient Deity of Nrsimhadeva at this place, said to
date back to Satyayuga.
Gadigacha - often equated with the entire region of
Godruma-dvipa. In Citre Navadvipa,
Sriyukta Sarad-indu Narayana Raya has stated that Godruma is called Gadigacha
in the Apabhramsa language. In Chapter Ten of this book, Gadigacha is referred
to as a small area within Godruma-dvipa where the Vaisnavas of Pradyumna-kunja were
living. On the 1916 map of Sridhama Navadvipa, Gadigacha is also portrayed as a
small area of Godrumadvipa.
Ganga - derived from the verbal root gam (to go)
meaning Go! Go! or ‘swift goer’. The
holy river, Ganga, which flows southeast from the Himalayan Mountains to the
Bay of Bengal; also known as the Ganges, Jahnavi, Bhagirathi, and Alakananda
(see these entries in this Glossary).
Gauda-bhumi - the land of Gauda. According to the Sakti-sangama Tantra
this corresponds to West Bengal, and includes some parts of modern day
Bangladesh and Orissa (extending as far as Bhuvanesvara). In ancient times the
residents of this tract of land were known as Gaudiyas. After the appearance of
Sri Gauranga, the term Gaudiya was especially applied to the devotees of Gauranga,
for almost everyone in this land had become His bhakta.
Godruma - one of the nine islands of Navadvipa, situated east
of the Bhagirathi and south of the Jalangi. It is bordered by Simantadvipa on
the north side and by Madhyadvipa on the west.
This place is so named because Surabhi, a cow (go) of divine
origin, worshiped Sri Gauranga here under the shade of a large banyan tree (druma).
Each of the nine divisions of Navadvipa embodies one of the nine principal
practices of bhakti, such as hearing about, chanting, and remembering
the names, form, qualities and pastimes of Sri Krsna. Godrumadvipa personifies
the practice of kirtanam, chanting.
Goloka Vrndavana - the highest realm of the spiritual world. This is
the abode of Sri Krsna where He is manifest in His original and topmost feature
as a cowherd boy, surrounded by His intimate and loving servitors, the gopas
and gopis of Vraja.
Gora-hrada - a pond near the Gadigacha area where Sri Gora
(Go-Govinda, Ra-Radha) sported.
Govardhana - a sacred mountain situated in the middle of
Vrajamandala about 26 km north-west of Mathura. This mountain is also known as
Sri Giriraja (the king among mountains). He is identical with Sri Krsna and is
also known as haridasa-varya, the best devotee of Sri Hari, for
He facilitates Sri Krsna’s pastimes with His intimate friends and especially
the most sacred pastimes with the gopis. Govardhana Hill lies in the
shape of a peacock, with Radha-kunda and Syama-kunda as His eyes.
Indraloka - the planet of Indra in the celestial planets (svarga);
a place of great opulence and heavenly pleasure.
Indrapuri - the capital city of Indra in svarga, the
celestial planets.
Jahnavi - a name for the Ganga, which reveals her connection
with Jahnu Rsi. Jahnu Rsi was sitting by the Ganga chanting his gayatrimantra,
when his acamana cup fell into the river and was swept away by the
current. Out of anger, Jahnu Rsi opened his mouth and drank all the water in
one gulp. King Bhagiratha, who had endeavored with great difficulty to bring
the Ganga to earth to deliver his deceased relatives, was overwhelmed with
anxiety and worshiped the sage for several days. Jahnu Rsi then released the
Ganga from his body. Because of this incident, the Ganga is known as Jahnavi, the
daughter of Jahnu.
Jahnudvipa - one of the nine islands of Navadvipa. This place
embodies the devotional practice of vandanam, offering prayers and obeisances.
It is non-different from Bhadravana in Vraja. Jahnu Rsi performed penances and
meditation here and obtained darsana of Sri Gauranga (see also Jahnavi
and Jahnu-nagara).
Jahnu-nagara - the place where the sage, Jahnu Rsi, performed
meditation and swallowed the Ganga River. This area is also known as Jahnudvipa
and Jan-nagara.
Jambudvipa - the innermost of seven concentric islands which form
the divisions of Bhu-mandala. Jambudvipa is itself divided into nine varsas,
or tracts of land, the most famous of which is Bharatavarsa (India). According
to some opinions, this roughly corresponds to Asia (Gaudiya-Vaisnava-Abhidhana).
Janaloka - a planet situated above Maharloka. It is obtained by
the naisthika brahmacaris, those who accept a life-long vow of celibacy (unlike
the upakurvana brahmacaris who enter the grhastha-asrama after
completing their studies). At the time of the partial devastation of the
universe, occurring at the end of Brahma’s day, the three worlds, Bhu, Bhuva,
and Svarga, are consumed by flames. Although Maharloka, the planet immediately
above Svarga, is not destroyed, the residents
of Maharloka are afflicted by the heat which is raging below, and thus they go
to Janaloka. The residents of Janaloka are not troubled by the flames which
destroy the lower planets at the time of partial annihilation, yet they do
experience unease when witnessing the devastation that takes place on the planets
beneath them.
Kalna - see Ambika-Kalna.
Kancana-palli - also known as Kancra-para. This is the place where Sri
Vasudeva datta Thakura and Kavi Karnapura (the son of Sivananda Sena) used to
live. The parents of Sivananda Sena’s wife are also from this village. It is
located on the east side of the Ganga, approximately parallel to Saptagrama.
Kasi - ‘the city of light’; another name for Varanasi. This
ancient city is located on the bank of the Ganga between Delhi (710 km) and
Calcutta (680 km). Kasi is 125 km downstream from Allahabad. It is a famous place of pilgrimage,
especially for the devotees of Lord Siva. Kasi is celebrated as a place of
learning and is a center of Sanskrit scholarship, and particularly of advaita-vedanta
and mayavada philosophy.
Khola-bhanga-danga - the place where the Chand Kazi’s men broke a mrdanga
and prohibited the performance of sankirtana.
Koladvipa - one of the nine islands of Navadvipa. Much of
Koladvipa is situated on the west bank of the Ganga, but a small portion is located
on the east bank. This place embodies the devotional practice of pada-sevanam,
serving the Lord’s lotus feet. It is also known as Kuliya Paharpura. Koladvipa
is so named because Krsna’s boar incarnation, Sri Varahadeva (also known as
Koladeva), manifested here to a brahmana who was worshiping Him.
Kuliya - also known as Kuliya-grama and Kuliya Paharpura. It
is situated in Koladvipa on the West bank of the Bhagirathi. The present day
city of Navadvipa was formerly known as Kuliya-grama. Sri Madhava dasa Cattopadhyaya (Chakauri Cattopadhyaya) lived in
this village. He was the father of Srila Vamsivadanananda Thakura. This place
is also called aparadha-bhanjana-pata, the place where offenses are destroyed. When Sriman
Mahaprabhu came to Kuliya on the way from Puri to Vrndavana, He stayed at the
house of Madhava dasa for seven days. During that time, He delivered two great
offenders, Gopala Cakravarti and Devananda Pandita, as well as many others who
came to see Him.
Madhyadvipa - one of the nine divisions of Navadvipa situated on the
east side of the Bhagirathi. It is bordered by Koladvipa on the west side and
by Godrumadvipa on the north and east sides. It was here that in Satya-yuga,
the seven rsis (Bhrgu, Marici, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and
Vasistha) worshiped Gauranga with austerities and prayers on the order of their
father, Brahma. Being pleased with their prayers, Sri Gauranga appeared before
the rsis at mid-day (madhyahna). This place is thus known as
Madhyadvipa. Madhyadvipa embodies the
devotional activity of smaranam, remembering sri-hari-nama, His
form, qualities, and pastimes. Maharloka
- a planet situated above Svargaloka. This place is obtained by upakurvana
brahmacaris, students of the Vedas who honor their teacher with a
gift after completing their studies and before becoming grhasthas. The maharsis
(great sages) who are progenitors of the universe reside on this planet.
One obtains this planet by performing sacrifices, undergoing the yoga discipline
and other similar practices which are far superior to the pious activities by which
one becomes eligible for Svargaloka. When there is a partial devastation of the
universe at the end of Brahma’s day, the three worlds, Bhu, Bhuva, and Svarga,
are destroyed, but the higher planets beginning from Maharloka remain intact.
Mayapura-dhama - the appearance place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
situated in Antardvipa within the greater region of Navadvipa. Mayapura is
located on the east bank of the Ganga. Navadvipa
forms an eight-petaled lotus. In the whorl of this lotus lies Antardvipa, at
the very center of which is Mayapura. The actual appearance place of Sri
Caitanya is situated within Mayapura and is known as Yogapitha, the seat of the
Lord’s eternal transcendental pastimes.
Mithila - the ancient state ruled by King Janaka, the father of Sita.
This state extended from Camparanya to the Gandaki river. It is now part of Nepal and includes the
present city of Janakapura, the birthplace of Sita. Janakapura is said to be
the site of Sri Rama and Sita’s wedding.
Modadrumadvipa - one of the nine islands of Navadvipa. Modadrumadvipa is situated on the west side
of the Bhagirathi to the north of Jahnudvipa. This place is also known as
Mamgachi and as Mahapata. Narayani (the mother of Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura),
Sri Vasudeva datta, and Sri Saranga Murari used to live here. Sri Vrndavana
dasa Thakura, the writer of Caitanyabhagavata, took birth in
Modadrumadvipa.
In Satya-yuga, Sri Rama along with Sita and Laksmana came here
during Their exile. Sri Ramacandra built a hut here underneath a large banyan
tree and they lived happily for some time.
This place is therefore known as Modadrumadvipa, the place where Sri
Rama lived with great delight under a banyan tree (moda means happiness
or delight and druma means a tree). Sri Rama disclosed to Sita that in
Kali-yuga He would appear in Navadvipa with a splendid golden complexion as the
son of Saci Mata and that she would appear as His wife, Sri Visnupriya. This
place embodies the devotional practice of dasyam, becoming a servant of
the Lord.
Nadiya - a large district which encompasses the nine islands
of Navadvipa.
Nandagrama - the village of Nanda Maharaja, the father of Sri Krsna.
It is situated about sixty kilometers northwest of Mathura. Nanda Maharaja and his community lived there
before Krsna’s appearance. Prior to Krsna’s appearance, they moved to Gokula. When Krsna was seven years old, the family
moved back to this place and built their house on top of a large hill known as Nandisvara-parvata
(Lord Sivaji, the Lord of Nandi, in the form of this hill). Krsna lived there
from the age of seven until He was ten.
Nandana-kanana - Indra’s heavenly garden of paradise.
Navadvipa - the village (or town) of Navadvipa. This is one
village within the greater area of Navadvipa-mandala (see below). In this book
both the village of Navadvipa and Navadvipa-mandala have been referred to
simply as Navadvipa. Therefore the reader must apply discrimination according
to context to understand when the author is referring to the village and when
he is referring to the territory of Navadvipa. In Chapter Eleven the village of
Navadvipa is called Pracina (Old) Navadvipa. There it is said that Pracina
Navadvipa was situated across the Ganga from the village of Kuliya. Similarly
in Chapter Seven it is said that Kuliyagrama was across the Ganga from
Navadvipa. In Chapter Eleven it is said that Kuliya was situated on the western
bank of the Bhagirathi in the Koladvipa district of Navadvipa-mandala. From these
descriptions it is clear that Pracina Navadvipa was located on the east bank of
the Ganga and therefore corresponds to the present-day site of Sri Mayapura.
Kuliya-grama, situated on the west bank of the Ganga, corresponds to the
present town of Navadvipa (see Kuliya for further confirmation of this point). Therefore, wherever the village of Navadvipa
is mentioned in this book, it refers to Pracina Navadvipa and not to the
present town of Navadvipa.
Navadvipa-mandala - the sacred nine-island region about 130 kilometers north
of Calcutta, where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s early pastimes were manifest.
Navadvipa consists of nine islands which resemble an eight-petalled lotus
flower. Antardvipa is at the center of this lotus. Each of the nine divisions
of Navadvipa represents one of the nine primary angas of bhakti.
These divisions and their corresponding angas are as follows: (1)
Antardvipa (atma-nivedanam, surrendering one’s very self), (2)
Simantadvipa (sravanam, hearing), (3) Godrumadvipa (kirtanam,
chanting), (4)
Madhyadvipa (smaranam,
remembering Sri Krsna’s transcendental names, form, qualities, and pastimes),
(5) Koladvipa (padasevanam, serving Sri Krsna’s feet), (6) Rtudvipa (arcanam,
worshiping), (7) Jahnudvipa (vandanam,
offering prayers and obeisances), (8) Modadrumadvipa
(dasyam, becoming a servant), and (9) Rudradvipa
(sakhyam, becoming a friend).
Nrsimhapalli - see Devapalli.
Pracina Navadvipa - the old village of Navadvipa, located on the east
bank of the Ganga. This corresponds to the present site of Sri Mayapura (see
Navadvipa for clarification).
Purvasthali - this is a place located in the western part of Rudradvipa.
Radha-kunda - ‘the pond of Sri Radha’, situated 26 km northwest of
Mathura. Considered to be the most sacred place of pilgrimage for all Gaudiya
Vaisnava, Radha-kunda is the direct embodiment of Srimati Radhika. The most
confidential pastimes of Radha and Krsna take place here.
Rtudvipa - one of the nine islands of Navadvipa. Rtudvipa is
situated west of both the Ganga and Koladvipa, and south of Jahnudvipa. This
place embodies the devotional practice of arcanam, worshiping Sri Krsna.
The word rtu means season. The six seasons headed by spring manifest
here in personified forms and, on the pretext of conversing among themselves,
they worship Sri Gauranga in order to broadcast His transcendental pastimes. Rtudvipa corresponds to Sri Radha-kunda in
Vrndavana. As Radha and Krsna go daily
to Radha-kunda to enact Their midday pastimes, Sri Gauranga and His associates
come to Rtudvipa daily to perform their noon pastimes.
Rudradvipa - one of the nine islands of Navadvipa. According to the
1916 map of Sridhama Navadvipa, Rudradvipa is divided in three by the
Bhagirathi. This place embodies the devotional mood of sakhya,
friendship with Sri Krsna. It is so named because the eleven Rudras (expansions
of Lord Siva) reside here. Sri Visnusvami, the acarya of the Rudra
sampradaya, visited this place, and both Lord Siva and Sri Gauranga appeared
before him. Sri Siva gave Visnusvami the benediction that he (Visnusvami) would
propagate a pure sampradaya, which would be named after himself.
Mahaprabhu gave him the benediction that at the time of His own appearance as
Sri Gauranga, Visnusvami would take birth as Sri Vallabhacarya.
Samudragarh - a place in the southwestern side of Rtudvipa. It is located
on the southern-most border of Navadvipa-dhama. Dvaraka-puri and Ganga-sagara are directly present here. The great
king and bhakta of Krsna, Samudra Sena, had his capital here. When Bhima
was touring east India on behalf of his brother, Yudhisthira, to collect
tributes for the Rajasuya sacrifice, Samudra Sena opposed him, knowing that if
he put Bhima into difficulty, Sri Krsna would come to his rescue. Krsna did
appear, not to Bhima but before the King on the battlefield, first in His
original form and then as Sri Gauranga. The ocean (samudra) also
traveled to this place through the medium of the Ganga to have darsana of
Sri Gauranga.
Santipura - the city where Advaita Acarya, Sri Harsa, and Gopalacarya
lived. It is situated on the east side of the Ganga about 20 kilometers south
of Krsna-nagara, which is about 12 kilometers due east of the present town of
Navadvipa. Directly across the Ganga from Santipura is Kalna. After taking sannyasa,
Sriman Mahaprabhu went to the house of Advaita Acarya in Santipura, after being
misled by Nityananda Prabhu into thinking that He had arrived in Vrndavana.
Saptagrama - an ancient mercantile city about 50 km north of Calcutta
on what is now the bed of the Sarasvati River.
Saptagrama is located west of the Ganga and south of Ambika-Kalna. As
the name suggests, this city encompasses seven settlements: Saptagrama (or, in
the opinion of some, Sabdakara), Vamsavati, Sivapura, Vasudevapura, Krsnapura
(or, in the opinion of some, Candapura), Nityanandapura, and Sankha-nagara (or
Baladaghati). The village of Triveni is also included in Saptagrama. Sri
Uddharana Datta Thakura lived here. His father, Srikara Datta, was a wealthy
gold merchant. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami lived in Krsnapura, Kalidasa lived in
Sankha-nagara, and Balarama Acarya and Yadunandana Acarya lived in Candapura.
Sarasvati a sacred river which flows in several different
branches. It is said to mix with the Ganga and Yamuna at Prayaga. The Sarasvati
formerly flowed through the area known as Saptagrama to the south of the
present town of Navadvipa, but it has now dried
up (Gaudiya-Vaisnava-Abhidhana).
Simantadvipa - one of the nine islands of Navadvipa. This place is also
known as Simuliya. It is situated east of the Bhagirathi and north of the
Jalangi, and it is at the northern border of Navadvipa. This place embodies the devotional practice
of sravanam, hearing the glories of Sri Krsna’s names, forms, qualities,
and pastimes. In Satya-yuga, Parvati worshiped Sri Gauranga here on the
inspiration of her husband, Lord Siva. When Gauranga appeared before her, she
took the dust from His feet and placed it on the part in her hair (simanta).
As a result, this place became known as Simantadvipa.
Simuliya - another name for Simantadvipa, or a section of Simantadvipa
extending from Brahmana-puskarini to Bilvapuskarini. This area is situated in the north of Navadvipa-mandala on the
east side of the Bhagirathi.
Srivasa-angana - the courtyard of Srivasa Thakura situated in Mayapura
just next to the birth place of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After Mahaprabhu received diksa from
Srila Isvara Puri in Gaya, He returned to Navadvipa and began the sankirtana
movement. During this time He
performed ecstatic kirtana every night with His intimate associates at
Srivasa-angana. Srivasa-angana of navadvipa-lila is non-different
from the rasa-sthali of vrndavana-lila.
Sva - (Svarga-loka) the heavenly planets (see
svarga-loka).
Svarga-loka - the heavenly planets which are characterised by material
opulence, enjoyment, and duration of life far exceeding those of the planet
earth. Svarga is attained by strictly carrying out the pious activities
recommended in the karma-kanda section of the Vedas.
Syama-kunda - ‘the pond of Sri Syamasundara’, situated just next to
Sri Radha-kunda. This pond is the direct embodiment of Sri Krsna. This place is
also known as Arista-kunda, because it was the pond Krsna made at the
instigation of the gopis after He killed the Arista (bull) asura.
The gopis accused Krsna of being impure because of having killed a bull.
First Sri Krsna dug a small hole with His heal
then He called all the sacred rivers throughout the universe, and at once they
came together and entered to form this pond. Afterward, the personified deities
of those rivers prayed to be accepted in Radha’s kunda also. Radha-kunda
and Syama-kunda are considered to be the eyes of Govardhana, which lies in the shape
of a peacock. They are together the site of the topmost pastimes of Radha and
Krsna and are superlative among all holy places.
Tapoloka - a planet situated above Janaloka. Topmost sages like
the four Kumaras reside on
this planet which is obtained by
naisthika- brahmacaris.
Vaikuntha - the spiritual world. The majestic realm of the
spiritual world which is predominated by Lord Narayana or His various expansions.
All the residents of Vaikuntha have eternal, spiritual bodies. They possess
four arms and a darkish complexion like that of Bhagavan and are fully engaged
in His service in pure devotional love. Their sense of intimacy with Sri
Bhagavan is somewhat hampered, however, due to their aisvarya-bhava.
Superior to this is Goloka Vrndavana, the topmost planet of Sri Krsna, which is
characterised by madhurya and intimacy.
Vairagi-danga - a place situated in Sridhama Mayapura close to Khola-bhanga-danga.
Because many renounced Vaisnavas were living in this place, it became known as
Vairagi-danga. Varanasi - see
Kasi.
Vikramapura - a famous place in Bangladesh in the district of Dhaka.
Living here were Canda Raya and Kedara Raya, who were among the twelve feudal
princes governing Bengal during the Muslim regime. At first they were saktas
(worshipers of Durga), but later they became disciples of Srila Narottama
Thakura.
Vraja-dhama - the one hundred sixty-eight square mile tract of land
where Sri Krsna enacted His earthly pastimes.
Vrndavana - ‘the forest of Vrnda’; the famous place where Sri Krsna
enacted many of His enchanting lilas. Vrndavana is situ-ated approximately 12
kilometers northeast of Mathura, along the western bank of the Yamuna river. It
is one of the twelve forests of Vraja and within it are twelve smaller forests:
Atalavana (mountain forest), Korarivana (osprey forest), Viharavana (pleasure pastime
forest), Gocaranavana (cowherding forest), Kaliyadamanavana (subduing Kaliya
forest), Gopalavana (the cowherds forest), Nikunjavana (bower forest),
Nidhuvana (treasure forest), Radhabaga (Radha’s garden), Jhulavana (swing
pastime forest), Gahvaravana (secret forest), and Papadavana (forest of harsh mountains).
Yamuna - a sacred river flowing through Vraja-mandala. She is considered
the holiest of rivers because Krsna performed many sublime lilas in her
waters with the gopis and gopas. In this world she appears at
Yamunottari in the Himalayas.Yamuna is described as an expansion of Visakha
Devi: visakhorasi ya visnor yasyam visnur
jalatmani nityam nimajjati pritya tam
saurim yamunam stumah – “Lord Visnu daily immerses Himself and plays with
great pleasure and affection in the water of Yamuna, the liquid form of Visakha
Devi. Thus I offer prayers to Yamuna Devi, the daughter of Surya.”
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