The making of Advaita
paat , Babla (W.B.) : A journey from foundation to revival
If
we look 500 yrs back from this day and try to have a look into our inward eye
there flashes a very mournful situation of the human society with full of miseries.
The eternal Hindu religion was at stake. Everywhere in the society there was
the supremacy of the barbarian with their sinful activities. The entire
religious texture of the eternal religion were on the way to lapse especially for
the whole “vaishnabas” community who were then totally under suffocation. They
were made insignificant and somehow managed to live in excile. Everywhere there
was the tendency to get weaker section of people to alter their own religion
forcefully and the intellectual classes of people were turned by giving
attractive packages.
Being
disturbed by this panic and afflictable situation of the society and endless
miseries of the people at large and most particularly observing the people
living apart from the part of true religion, and thus with a view to rescue and
revive the exploited and afflicted people, Sri Sri Advaitacharya, the most
worshipped and truely a complete instituition himself for the entire Vaishnava
community, started for strong mission of prayer, sitting on the bank of river Jannabi. It is
only his strong religious austerities with an appeal with a roaring voice and
prayer for God’s advent, Lord Srikrishna in the form of Sri Sri Chaitanya
Mahapravu appeared on the world along with his intimate colleagues, to refill
the soul of the affected people with spirit of love and devotion with the
weapon of Naam Sankirtan. Gouranga Mahapravu had flooded the entire cross-section
of people in eastern India with the joy of Naam Sankirtan which not only
remained restricted to Indian sub-continent but also established its solid
foundation in the materialistic countries like Europe, Russia and America. The revolutionary
momentum of Naam Sankirtan not only made the Vaishnavas significant but also
inspired the other communities like Shaivas, Shaktas etc. with the fountain of
joy of Sankirtan to be performed by their respective way.
During
50 yrs of his life Advaita Pravu had a tour of all over India and was waiting
for God’s advent on the earth. It was Advaita Pravu, the incarnation of lord
mahavishnu who almost forced God to appear on the earth in the demanding
situation of dark period of world history after the downfall of Buddhist
religion in eastern India totally under the cover of the black art of tantra,
worship of evil spirit and oppression of the pure theme of love and devotion of
the vaishnavas.
Sitting
on the particular spot of the bank of river Ganga where from Pravu Advaita started
his mission for god’s advent on earth with his strong religious austerities accompanied
with the prayer in a roaring voice. This sacred place as an epicentre of love,
devotion and prayer was well known as Advaita Pravu’s temple which got
recognition as Advaita Paat after the disappearance of Advaita Pravu and the
place was referred as Babla by the local people. The specific spot on which the
austerities that performed by Advaita Pravu was popular as Panchavati very
close to the Advaita temple. During the mortal life of Advaita Pravu the river
was at proximity of the Advaita temple. Within 100 yrs after the disappearance
of Advaita Pravu , Shantipur and nearby villages were submerged in river Ganga
and Goswami families of Shantipur scattered into different families and started
to live separately as their own way installing the deity of Shyamsundar in
their own places of living. In this way Advaita Paat gradually came into ruin
due to lack of proper care and reformation. At that time the Panchavati , the
place of religious austerities of Advaita Pravu surrounded by several herbs was
left only as a place of devotion, prayer under the sacred Tamal tree as
ruminants of Sri Advaita Paat. The holy imprints or the place where Pravu
Chaitanya , Pravu Nityananda and Pravu Advaita took rest after lunch, some trees
of Panchavati, and the spot of mohotsava of the temple on that time were
remained in the name of khapra-danga.
The present temple of Advaita Paat at Babla, Shantipur, (W.B.) was revived after being engulfed by the Ganga. On that time, mahatma Sitanath, a brahmin vaishnava, during his pilgrimage while came to stay at the village of Nayabazar near Baleswar, received a divine order from Advaita Pravu through the process of meditation to restart the regular religious practices at Advaita Paat, Babla. Mahatma Sitanath soon after this direction from Advaita Pravu came to Shantipur and met members of Goswami families and on following a dream at one night he actively started to discover the ancient spot of Advaita Paat at Babla. Due to his strong emotional prayer and with the help of a unknown boy, Mahatma found the particular place where from Advaita Pravu performed his religious formalities in a very unpleasant situation. He at once cleaned the surface covered with various herbs and soon reformed the spot and started the religious practices on a regular basis staying at that spot.
Due
to religious sanity and persuing nature of that Vaishnavas there started the
gathering of devotees day after day. Gradually Mahatma ji on that land
installed wooden idol of Advaita Pravu, idol of Sri Sri Radha Krishna, Sri Sri
Gopal jiu etc. In this way, gradually the present shape of Advaita Paat of
Babla is resurfaced with help of donation of the devotees and other visitors.
The
most notable and eminent religious legend of Shantipur, Sadguru Pravupada Sri Sri
Bijoy Krishna Goswami during his stay at Shantipur, often visited the temple of
Advaita Paat and spent a long time alone or accompanied with his followers. Sri
Sri Bijoy Krishna Goswami also discovered some ancient belongings of Advaita
Pravu at Babla Advaita temple with the help of a dog by name ‘Kele‘ (the story
in details not mentioned here). At present the descendents from the lineage of
Advaita Pravu from the branch of Balaram Goswami are the priest and beneficiary
of this temple.
Advaita
Paat, Babla is situated half mile away from Shantipur railway station. Among
the important festival of Babla are death anniversary of Sripad Madhabendra
Puri, seventh day of celebration of Dol yatra, celebration of birth anniversary
of Advaita Pravu etc. Thousands of devotees use to gather in time of the
celebrtation of the festivals.
Spiritual and Social Importance:-
Advaita Paat at Babla, Shantipur (WB) is important from various perspective in
the contemporary period of time from the past. It is in fact the basic
foundation for the rise of whole Vaishnava Community with the weapon of Naam
Sankirtan. This is the particular spot which is the original source for the
advent of Lord Srikrishna in the form of Sri Chaitanya Mahapravu followed by a
strong and determined appeal as well prayer by the Vaishnava icon Sri Advaita
Pravu. This is the place where Advaita Pravu roared his voice and demanded with
the spirit of joy after the birth of a new born baby of Sri Hadai Pandit and
named the boy as Nityananda, the most intimate companion of Sri Chaitanya. This
is the place where assimilation of Sri Chaitanya, Sri Nityananda and Sri
Advaita , three everlasting iconic in the field of spiritualisation took place.
On this particular spot the great
vaishnab Haridas Thakur got initiation from Advaita Pravu. This is
obviously the spot where from the mission of Naam Sankirtan initiated by Sri
Chaitanya, Sri Nityananda and Sri Advaita along with their followers. The Naam
Sankirtan is the only way to unite people irrespective of caste, creed and
community till today. The Naam Sankirtan is a national resource of whole
Vaishnaba community as well as the entire class of Bengali people. This is the
spot where Srimanta Shankardeva of Assam got inspiration from Advaita Pravu and
preached his Vaishnavism in Assam. The Advaita temple or Advaita Paat is the
residence of Advaita Pravu and ‘Panchavati’ was his place of Saadhan (religious
austerities). Sri Chaitnya along with Pravu Nityananda and other spent at this
spot for a long period of ten days with
splendour touch of Sankirtan. Most obviously this is the place where Advaita
Pravu cursed Mahapravu on the tenth day during his stay at this place when Sri
Chaitanya declared to move for Puri dhaam neglecting the request of Advaita Pravu
and others to stay there for some more days. The curse against Mahapravu was
that he had to come again in his lineage as tenth descendent. It is worth
mentioning here that the appearance of the glory of Shantipur Mahatma Sri Sri
Bijoy Krishna Goswamiji is genuinely proves the appropriation of the curse (Advaita
Avisampaat) into reality. Thus it is evident from above that this Advaita
temple and entire area surrounding the temple in Balba is of great importance
in the field of spiritualization as well as for the society as a whole to
establish the interfaith dialogue generating the feeling of oneness with the
weapon of Naam Sankirtan. This is the place from where the reformation of the
eternal religion got its momentum breaking the evil prejudices of the black
history of 500 yrs back. It is one of the most esteemed place of entire
Vaishnava community as well as recognised as the holiest place of pilgrimage.
Although the Hindu religion is divided into various communities at present but
it cannot be avoided that the particular place was the labour room for the
entire hindu religion to exist at present in various form throughout the world.
It is only the centre to be enriched with proper vaishnavism. The fragrance of
the Naam Sankirtan now in practice throughout the world actually got originated
from this place only. Now-a-days also thousand of devotees use to come to the
temple every year from various parts of the country and abroad. Although
Advaita Paat, Babla still in practice of various religious activities through
the years , still there is a necessity of a large level of reformation in different
sphere to provide a good accommodation as well as development of the temple
which is left incomplete due to lack of funding. Thus it is our appeal to
government of W.B. and govt. of India to firmly give the temple an
international recognition considering the majesty of the temple. At the same
time all the devotees and visitors are addressed to co-operate with us for the
entire development of temple so that those who come here can stay without any
trouble and can refill his soul with ecstasy.
To keep the revived glory of Sri Advaita Paat , Babla and
to continue with its progressive development, the person who is struggling his
best to give it a better shape in the World’s Map is none other than Jubarraj
Sri Braja Kishore Goswami, the 5th descendent of Sri Sri Bijoy
Krishna Goswami from the lineage of Sri Advaita
Pravu.
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Sri Sudip Bhattacharjee, +919854551368 (daaruk74@gmail.com)
Sri Sudip Bhattacharjee, +919854551368 (daaruk74@gmail.com)
Sri Soham Gupta, +919874314002