By Acarya Dasa (Padayatra leader)
This year was special for all of us padayatris as we celebrated Gaura-purnima at Mayapur dham, the land of Gauranga. We reached Ekachakra gram first to have the mercy of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.
As it’s said in a bhajan written by Narottam Dasa: heno nitai bine bhai, radha-krishna paite nai, dridha kori’ dharo nitair pay – Unless one takes shelter under the shade of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, it will be very difficult for him to approach Radha-Krishna. If one actually wants to enter into the dancing party of Radha-Krishna, he must firmly catch hold of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda.
We took darshan of the most merciful Lord Nityananda and then proceeded towards Mayapur. Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar were welcomed in His land with sankirtan and arati by Nama-hatta devotees, the former padayatris in Mayapur dham, and the temple devotees. It was like the Lord had returned home after preaching for ten years all over India.
We all joined the kirtan mela then the Navadvipa-mandala Parikrama. It was a wonderful experience to do yatra in the holy dham with the Lord Himself. Carrying the Lord with us we took darshan of all His places of pastime.
Then came the most auspicious day for all the padayatris, the appearance day of Gauranga. Gaura-purnima mahamohatsava ki jai.
We were very fortunate to be in Mayapur on this occasion. And we had a very special gift for the Lord this year. By the mercy of Guru and the Vaishnavas we offered a new chariot to our Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar Lordships on His appearance day.
Following all rituals and svastii vachan, Their Lordships were installed on the new chariot and Radharaman Maharaja performed the first arati of Their Lordships. Many other sannyasis and senior devotees were present for the inauguration programme.
Then abhishek of Their Lordships was performed of Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar, the assembled devotees also doing the abhishek.
We will now move towards Jagannath Puri after staying one month in this area. We prayed to the Lord for blessings so that we could serve and please Guru and Gauranga eternally.
Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar ki jai.
