Bhaja – Nitai Gour Radhe Shyam, Japa – Hare Krishna Hare Ram, Hari Bol

I was always wonder about the origin of following words and their actual meanings but at last due to Kripa of Shyam Sundar, I got the answers:

·         Nitai Guar

·         (Bhaja) Nitai Gour Radhe Shyam, (Japa) Hare Krishna Hare Ram

·         Hari Bol

Nitai Gour

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared on this earth in 1486 AD., is considered to be joint incarnation of both Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna in one body. He introduced Harinam Sankirtan and preached to the people to perform such Kirtan in whatever time and whichever place they are. He said that power of the Holy name of God, one may developdeep love for God which may even be to the extent of love that the Gopies have for Shri Krishna. In His multivarious activities, both religious and social, Shri Chaitanya was assisted by His closest companion Shri Nityananda Prabhu.

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu realized true feelings expressed in Vedas, Upanishads, ShrimadBhagavatam, epics and other religious books. His realization made him a great scholar as well as great social reformar. He declared that within the physical bodies of all living beings, dwells the soul which is an infinitesimal part of God Himself and therefore all the living beings are basically equal. He preached that one should leave the path of pride and be polite to such extent to think himself even lower than a blade of grass. One should be tolerant like a tree.

About five hundred years ago, Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally came to the very place presently known as Sri PathBari Ashram Kolkata, and was thrilled to listen to the discourse on Srimad Bhagavatam presented by Sri Raghunatha Upadhaya. Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took great pleasure in conferring the title Sri Bhagabatacharya on Sri Raghunath Upadhaya then and there. Today Sri PathBari Ashram is not only a temple but also an important institution for the students of Sanskrit and Vaishnava Philosophy.

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu disappeared at the young age of forty-eight only. Shri Radharaman Charan Das Babaji with his divine power revived the Sankirtan chanting about three hundred fifty years after the disappearance of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He sincerely followed the teachings of Shri Chaitanya and revived many of the activities or Lila of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, which people has already forgotten by then. He was a living embodiment of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's universal religion of love. He carried Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's message of love from place to place, door to door and person to person, singing and dancing, laughing and weeping in raprurous ecstasies like Mahaprabhu Himself. He told us how all our sufferings could be easily removed and we could attain the highest goal of life-the attainment of the lotus feet of the lord and his loving service only through Sankirtan or the congregational chanting of His name (Bhaja) Nitai Gour Radhe Shyam, (Japa) Hare Krishna Hare Ram. Since we, the jives of kali, would not easily believe him, he mercifully took it upon Himself to demonstrate to us the inconceivable power of the Divine Name by curing diseases, melting stones, making the tree dance and animals behave like Vaishnavas devotee, and even by bringing the dead back to life through the chanting of the Name "Bhaja Nitai Gour Radhe Shyam, Japa Hare Krishna Hare Ram". He taught both by example and by precept the religion of pure Bhakti. He stands out prominently before us as the very embodiment of truth.

A Brief History of Baranagar Pathbari Radha Krishna Temple, Kolkata

The history of this place would take us back almost five hundred years. On his way to Puri, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was moving along the Ganges downstream from Panihati, till a sweet reading of the Bhagavata entered his ears. He looked for its origin, to find a brahmin in his tiny cottage reading the text, his cheeks flooding with ecstatic tears. Shri Chaitanya resided at the hut for three days, consulted philosophy with the brahmin, listened to his reading of Bhagavata, and rendered him the title of Shri Bhagavatacharya. The place boasts in keeping the wooden sandals of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

The place remained undiscovered untill some two hundred years back, a Vaishnavite Saint named Ramdas Babaji rediscovered it and set up an ashrama or hermitage there. At his death bed, he had commanded his disciples to chant the holy names. Since then, for twenty four hours round the clock, they have been chanting the sacred name of Hare Krishna.

Apart from this the ashrama also takes pride in its library, the largest of the Vaishnavite ones of the state. It boasts a collection of almost all the original manuscripts of Shri Chaitanya's first desciples, including Rup Goswami and Sanatan Goswami.

How to Go to the Barahnagar Path Bari?

Board any bus from the Shyambazar Five Point Crossing / Dum Dum Chiriamore that is going to Sinthee More. Alight there. If you are not a North Kolkatan, you would definitely be puzzled by the huge congregation of auto rickshaws. Ask which one is bound to Banerjee Para. Alight at the Jhulan Tala stop. Now ask someone the direction, the ashram is only a few paces from there.

If you are coming from Barrackpore / Dunlop More / Barahanagar Rail Station, reach Sinthee More by bus or auto.

From Dakshineswar, you can either come to Dunlop More or hire a cycle rickshaw to get you directly to Pathbari. You can get a rickshaw from Dunlop More as well. Nevertheless, it would cost you more than going by bus or auto. The average rickshaw fare from Dunlop and Dakhsinswar from Sinthee More must not exceed 15-20 rupees; but you can never tell for sure what they are going to claim once they recognise you to be a newcomer to the locality!

Miscellaneous Information about Baranagar Patbari, Kolkata

The ashram remains open all day long. Nevertheless, the temples and the library timings are 7 a.m. to 12 noon and 4 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. [Except on their Festival Days].

It is difficult to find good hotels or restaurants close to the ashram, so better have a nice meal befoe you set out. If you cannot, take some refreshments in Sinthee More / Dunlop More / Dakshineswar.

*Parking place is availble inside the premises.

*You can also visit the Mahamilan Math near Dunlop on your way.

Story Source: www.bengalspider.com & www.nitaisundar.com