Meanwhile in Bhubaneswar

C hapter 11 t he G lories of B hu B aneswar

This is how Lord Çiva came to reside in this famous place, Bhubaneswar.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Visits Bhubaneswar

Lord Caitanya knew the significance of the Bindu-sarovara Lake situated in Bhubaneswar and that it was Lord Çiva’s favourite. He took His bath in this lake and further increased its auspiciousness. The liìga form of Lord Çiva that is worshipped here, the Lingaraja, was self-manifested. Lord Caitanya went to see that liìga and mingled with the crowd of Çiva devotees, who were loudly chanting the glories of Lord Çiva. Small ghee lamps, set in rows, offered by the visiting devotees, surrounded the Lingaraja. Lord Caitanya was pleased to see the opulence of His beloved devotee Lord Çiva. The Lord’s associates were also very happy in that devotional atmosphere. Lord Çiva is always immersed in meditation on the Supreme Lord, which makes him relish the nectar of devotion, and inspires him so much that he cannot keep from dancing. That same Supreme Lord Gauracandra, his master, was dancing ecstatically in front of him in order to teach everyone that Lord Çiva is very dear to Lord Kåñëa. He was now practically demonstrating all the instructions of Lord Kåñëa as they are found in the Puräëas and other Vedic scriptures. Clapping His hands and dancing, He sang, “Çiva Räma Govinda” and then offered worship to Lord Çiva with all His devotees. The Supreme Lord is the supreme instructing spiritual master. One who does not follow His instructions makes a grievous mistake and suffers because of it. The Lord took His disciples and went around Bhubaneswar, visiting the different temples of Lord Çiva.

A lwAys E mbr A c E d by K åñë A

End Note

That ‘out of the way place’, the ‘dust of Orissa,’ a place that is ‘only good for agricultural land...’

It seemed that within the ISKCON society, there were only two persons that new the tattva (truth) behind the glories of Bhubaneswar and the Surrounding Areas: Çréla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda and his dear disciple Çréla Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja; For this reason, they were the only ones positive about the project. No one else was really in favour of the project, as they were unaware of the glories of Bhubaneswar and the Surrounding Areas.

As has been noted, above Bhubaneswar [Ekämra Känana] is the gateway to the Puré-dhäma. Bhubaneswar is the abode of Lord Çiva, the kñetra-päla, or guard, of this holy place, and it is the place where the Çrémad-Bhägavatam was first spoken. In ancient days, Bhubaneswar was called Ekämra Känana, the place of a giant mango tree. In his commentary on the Çré Caitanya-bhägavata, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura Prabhupäda writes that this mango tree extended for two miles, (3.2 kilometres). As already quoted in this volume, that out of the way place, the dust of Orissa, a place that is only good for agricultural land, is actually a very famous place, a very auspicious place and a very important place for Vaiñëavas!*

* For quotes from Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura Prabhupäda on this topic please see the publication The Glories of Sri Bhubaneswar and Bindu-sarovara: https://issuu.com/tvpbooks/docs/book_bbsr_web.