Brāhmaṇa Puṣkara

 

When the darkness lifted, Nityānanda Rāya took Jīva and continued on pilgrimage. He explained as follows: “See this enchanting village. Now everyone calls this place Brāhmaṇapura, but in the scriptures it is named Brāhmaṇa Puṣkara. The mysteries of this place are very confidential.
“In Satya-yuga, a brāhmaṇa named Divadāsa gave up family life and went on pilgrimage. Puskara-tīrtha was very dear to him, but during his wandering he came to Navadvipa. While here, he dreamt that if he stayed he would receive a great treasure. The brāhmaṇa built a cottage and lived here till he became old. Though he wanted to see Puskara, he found it impossible to move about. In this situation he began to weep, ‘Now I will never see Puskara!’ “The personality of Puskara then mercifully appeared before Divadasa in the form of a brāhmaṇa and said, ‘Do not cry. Before you is a splendid pond. Take bath there once, and you will see Puskara before your eyes.’ “The brāhmaṇa took his bath in the pond and received transcendental eyes to see Puskara before him. The brāhmaṇa cried and said to Puskara, I have given you so much trouble.’
Puskara replied, Listen, fortunate brāhmaṇa. I am not coming from far off, for I am present here. This Navadvipa is the embodiment of all tirthas, which reside in and render service to Navadvipa. I have exhibited one form in the west, but I myself always reside here. The results one attains by bathing one hundred times there are achieved by one bath here. Therefore, whoever gives up Navadvipa with the desire to go to other holy places is a fool and a rascal. If one attains the fruit of travelling to all the holy places, then he may reside in Navadvipa. See that raised area that resembles a market. Kurukṣetra and Brahmavarta are present there. Sarasvati and Drṣadvati flow on its two sides. It is splendid and gives much punya.
“O brāhmaṇa, I will tell you a very secret thing. In a short time, ecstasy will be given out here. Gauranga will appear at Māyāpur in Sacidevi’s house, and He will freely distribute prema. In all these places the Lord and His devotees will dance madly in the ecstasy of sankirtana. The Lord will perform kirtana along with the devotees of all His previous incarnations. The whole universe will drown in the flood of prema. Other than the false logicians, everyone will receive that gift of love.
“O Divadāsa, whoever lives in the dhama with firm faith will attain the feet of Gaura. Although the evil-minded may worship Krsna for millions of years, they will not get attraction for the holy name. But if one worships Gauranga, all one’s wicked sentiments will be uprooted and very soon one will attain Radha and Krsna in Vṛndāvana. That person will attain his spiritual body and serve the divine couple in a secluded grove under the shelter of the sakhis. O brāhmaṇa, stay here and worship, then you will see Lord Gauranga with His associates.’
“Saying this, Puskara Rāja departed. Then a voice from the sky said, “The glorious age of Kali is coming. At that time you will again take birth and swim in the ocean of Gauranga’s kirtana.’ Hearing this, the brāhmaṇa was freed from anxiety and stayed on the shore of the pond worshiping the Lord.”
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Chapter 10)

In the Mahabharata, concerning Brāhmaṇa Puskara, it is said: “The holy place of Lord Visņu, Puskara-tirtha, renowned in the three worlds, is situated on this earth. Fortunate souls can enter that place. O son of the Kuru dynasty, at Puskara-tirtha billions of tirthas gather at daybreak and sunset. The indityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas, Maruts, Gandarvas, and Apsaras reside there. Sins of both men and women, including the sin which caused their birth, are destroyed simply by taking a bath at Puskara-tirtha. As Madhusudana is the original God, so Puskara is the original tirtha.”
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Pramana-Khanda, Chapter 3)

South of Naimisaranya lies Brahmana Puskara, nondifferent from Puşkara. The brāhmaṇa Divadasa worshiped Gauranga here and was consoled by seeing the Lord’s golden form.
(Sri Navadvipa Bhava-taranga)

One who controls his mind, fasts at the holy places Puṣkara, Mathurā or Dvārakā, and studies this scripture will be freed from all fear.
(SB 12.12.61)

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