Sri Navadvipa-Dham Mahatmya: The Glories of Sri Navadvipa Dham
Title: Sri Navadvipa-Dham Mahatmya: The Glories of Sri Navadvipa-Dham
Author: Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura / Translation: His Holiness Bhanu Swami / Preparation: Sriman Pundarika Vidyanidhi Dasa
Publisher: Temple of Vedic Planetarium (TOVP), Mayapur
Publication Date:
Language: English (translated from the original Bengali)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 168
Śrī Navadvīpa-dhāma Māhātmya, written by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in 1890, is a poetic work in Bengali comprising 18 chapters. It narrates Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu guiding a young Jīva Gosvāmī on a sacred pilgrimage across the nine islands of Navadvīpa-dhāma, recounting the divine pastimes associated with these holy sites. The text is preceded by a Sanskrit prayer of 20 verses, Śrīman Navadvīpa-dhāma Vandanā, also composed by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura.
This work is presented in its original three sections: Parikrama Khanda, Pramana Khanda, and Navadvipa Bhava Taranga. Readers are guided on an extraordinary journey through the nine islands of the Holy Dham, led by Sri Nityananda Prabhu and accompanied by Jiva Goswami. Along the way, they will explore the sacred pastimes and locations of Navadvipa, discover its glories through scriptural references, and immerse themselves in the ecstatic spiritual waves of Navadvipa.
The book is considered the definitive guide to the spiritual geography of Navadvipa.
Narrative: It follows Sri Nityananda Prabhu as he reveals the nine islands—representing the nine processes of devotional service (navadha-bhakti)—to a young Jiva Goswami.
Spiritual Equation: Bhaktivinoda Thakura equates the entire Navadvipa mandala to Vrindavana, establishing it as the "crest jewel of all holy places" where offenses are purified and love for Krishna is easily awakened.
The "Adbhuta Mandir" Prediction: The text is famous for a prediction in Parikrama-khanda (Chapter 4) where Nityananda Prabhu states that an "astounding temple" (adbhuta mandir) would appear in Mayapur, a prophecy often associated with the construction of the TOVP itself.
