The making of Advaita paat , Babla (W.B.) : A journey from foundation to revival

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 5^th descendent of Sri Sri Bijoy Krishna Goswami  from the lineage of Sri Advaita Pravu.

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