vaikuntha-pura-madhye tu
drishtva nihsreyasam vanam
brahmanim viraja-pare
gatavan sri-mahatpuram
sthanam ca pandu-putranam
kamya-nama-vanam subham
drishtva panchavatin catra
sri-sankara-puram yayau

“The Lord took darsana of Nihsreyasavana in Vaikunthapura and Brahmaninagara on the bank of the Viraja and then went to Sri Mahatpura. Then He visited Kamyavana, the most pious place of the five Pandavas, and Pancavati. He then traveled to Sri Sankarapura.” (Navadvipa-dhama-mahatmya, Pramana-khanda, 4.47 – 48)

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the following description in Navadvipabhava- taranga: “I will offer obeisance at the lotus feet of Suryadeva and proceed to Mahatpura. This Mahatpura is nondifferent from Kamyavana of Vraja where Sri Krishna performed so many pastimes. At this Mahatpura, devotees of Lord Gauranga chant the holy name of Lord Krishna making a tumultuous sound. The five Pandavas, headed by Yudhishthira, along with Draupadi, spent a few days in this forest. They brought Vyasadeva here to hear the Gaura Purana from him. Then all of them engaged in worshiping Lord Gaurahari very intensely. Even now devotees see the assembly of Yudhishthira along with rishis like Bhauma, Suka, Devala, Cyavana and Garga Muni. They all cry, immersed in gaura-katha sitting under the tree. When shall I go to that assembly and take my seat, offering my obeisances from afar. I will breathe heavily in ecstasy, hearing the history of Gauranga Mahaprabhu delivering all the atheists. After some time I will no longer see that assembly, and roll on the ground, crying as I chant the holy name of Lord Gauranga. During midday when I am very hungry, I will collect fruits to eat. At this time Draupadi-devi, the wife of the Pandavas, will come to me carrying rice and spinach in her hand. She will tell me, ‘My dear son! As you are my guest, please accept these few handfuls of the rice prasada of Lord Gauranga.’ My tongue will be blessed to relish this wonderful rice and spinach offered to Lord Gauranga. Any living entity who receives the blessings of maha-prasada will definitely attain Krishna-bhakti. Let me be blessed in this way so that I can be free from the bondage of maya.”

Once, Acarya Lakshmana (Ramanujacarya) came to Jagannatha Puri. He pleased Lord Jagannatha by offering many prayers to Him. Lord Jagannatha mercifully appeared in front of him and told him, “You should go to take darsana of Navadvipa-dhama. Very soon I will appear in Nadianagara in the house of Jagannatha Misra. Navadvipa is very dear to Me. The entire spiritual sky exists in one portion of this Navadvipa-dhama. You are My eternal servant and great devotee so you will definitely see Navadvipa-dhama. Your disciples are engaged in My service in the mood of servitude. Let them all stay here in Nilacala while you go to Navadvipa alone. O, Ramanuja! If a person does not take darsana of Navadvipa-dhama, his human life is useless. Sri Rangakshetra and Sri Venkatacala are plenary expansions of Sri Navadvipa-dhama. For this reason you must just go to Navadvipa and take darsana of Sri Gauranga. You have come to this earth to preach about bhakti. Let your life be worthwhile (sarthaka), or meaningful, by the mercy of Sri Gauranga. After seeing Navadvipa go to Kurmasthana. There you will meet with your disciples.” Hearing all this from Lord Jagannatha, Ramanujacarya replied with folded hands, “O, Lord ! By Your mercy only have I heard gaura-katha, but I do not know which tattva this Gauracandra is.” Lord Jagannatha mercifully explained, “Everybody knows that Sri Krishna is the Lord of Goloka. Narayana is the vilasa-murti of Sri Krishna. That Krishna is the para-tattva. His abode is Vrindavana. That Krishna in His complete form is eternally manifested as Sri Gaurahari. That Vrindavana-dhama is also Navadvipadhama. In Navadvipa I reside eternally as Gaurasundara. Navadvipa is the greatest dhama in this entire cosmic manifestation. By My mercy this dhama is present in Bhu-mandala. All scriptures mention that maya does not touch this dhama. There is no trace of maya there. If one thinks that these dhamas in this material world are inferior because they manifest in Bhumandala, one’s bhakti will reduce day by day. By My inconceivable potency the transcendental dhamas exist even in this illusory material realm.Scripture is unaware of some truths which are beyond argument. Only My devotees can understand these truths by My mercy.”

By hearing the words of Lord Jagannatha, Sri Ramanuja became very restless and eager. He said, “O, my Lord! Your pastimes are very wonderful. Veda-sastra does not know Your opulence! O, Lord Jagannatha! Why does sastra not mention the pastimes of Lord Gauranga more elaborately? Only if I search the sruti and the Puranas very deeply, I occasionally get a sphurti (revelation) of gaura-tattva in my heart. Now by Your order I am free from all doubts and gaura-lila-rasa has arisen within my heart. If You order me then I will go to Navadvipa and preach the pastimes of Gauranga in the three worlds. I will reveal the secret truths of the scriptures and inform everyone. Let me make everyone in these three worlds a devotee of Sri Gauranga.” By seeing the enthusiasm of Ramanuja, Lord Jagannatha said, “Ramanuja! Do not speak like this. Gaura-lila is very confidential. Please keep it hidden. Only when these pastimes become unmanifest, will everyone be informed about their glories. Now preach about Mydasya-rasa, but within yourself worship Gauranga constantly.” Having been instructed by the Lord, Ramanuja secretly came to Navadvipa. Feeling apprehensive that gaura-lila may be exposed to people in general prematurely, Vishvaksena took Ramanuja to paravyoma, Sri Vaikunthapura. Ramanuja was very pleased to see this place. The merciful Paravyoma-pati Narayana, served by Sri-devi and Bhudevi, gave His darsana to Ramanuja. Ramanuja felt blessed to see his ishtadeva, the worshipable Lord Narayana. But after just a moment Ramanuja saw the molten-gold-colored form of the Lord as the son of Jagannatha Misra, who was very attractive. By seeing that most gorgeous form of the Lord, Ramanuja fainted. Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu placed His lotus feet on the head of Ramanuja, who offered prayers with his transcendental knowledge, requesting the Lord to bless him with darsana of His confidential Nadia pastimes. Saying this Ramanuja Swami cried in ecstasy, saying, “I will not go anywhere, I cannot leave Nadia.” Sri Gaurahari mercifully said, “O, Kesava-nandana! Your desire will definitely be fulfilled. When I manifest My Nadia pastimes you will take birth in Navadvipa.” Sri Gaurahari vanished and Ramanuja then departed. After some days he reached Kurma-kshetra, where he met with all his disciples. In South India Ramanuja preached dasya-rasa-bhakti while meditating on Navadvipa and Sri Gauranga within his heart. By the mercy of Sri Gauranga, Ramanuja appeared as Sri Ananta in this eternal Navadvipa-dhama. He went to Vallabha Acarya’s house, where he saw the marriage of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Lakshmipriya. This is the place of Sri Ananta. The kings of that time introduced Narayana-seva at this pitha-sthana, while many devotees of Lord Narayana were living here on the border of the River Viraja. Devotees experience immense happiness by visiting this place. 

The following is an excerpt from the Bhakti-ratnakara. Long ago, when Narada Muni visited Vaikunthapura and had darsana of Lord Gauranga (as previously described), there was a great, qualified king who was ruling this country. He introduced the worship of Lord Sri Narayana. After some time this village became almost hidden, then slowly people started to live here again. At that time one old vipra was living here. He used to perform worship with the Lakshmi-Narayana mantra. He had unalloyed undeviating love for Lakshmi and Narayana. Occasionally he would visit Vallabha Misra’s house and serve Lakshmi-Narayana in a private place. That vipra had developed great affection for Vallabha Misra, who in turn respected the vipra as his guru. The vipra was present at the marriage ceremony of Lord Gauranga and Lakshmipriya. Upon seeing this Lakshmi-Visvambhara form of the Lord, he started dancing and chanting “Lakshmi-Narayana!” His eyes were filled with tears of bliss and his body was exhibiting symptoms of ecstasy in the form of pulaka (hairs standing on end). After some time by the desire of the Lord, the vipra was pacified and became calm. He stayed there that night and the next day went back to his simple cottage under a tree. The vipra entered his humble kutira and started crying profusely, feeling great ecstasy of love as he remembered Lakshmi and Gauracandra in the house of Vallabha Misra. The vipra was convinced that Lord Narayana had come in the form of Gauranga, the son of Saci-devi. “The daughter of Vallabha Misra is Lakshmi-devi Herself. Both Lakshmi and Narayana have appeared on this earth. Would the Lord of my life Gauracandra who is Lakshmi-prana-natha, bless a fallen and ill-minded person like me?” While the vipra was praying to the Lord in many ways, the Lord Himself appeared in his kutira, manifesting the most opulent Vaikuntha pastimes. Sri Gauranga in His most attractive form was sitting on a ratna-simhasana along with Lakshmi-devi. His auspicious body was decorated with a variety of ornaments. There was no comparison to the beauty of Their forms. The vipra was surprised to see Gauracandra immediately transform into the fourhanded form of Lord Narayana. The vipra fell at the lotus feet of the Lord and offered many prayers. The Lord, who is controlled by His devotee, smiled and said, “Life after life you are My dear servant. You are fully qualified to see My pastimes but please do not reveal what you have seen now. Whatever you wish your desire will always be fulfilled.” The Lord placed His lotus feet on the head of the vipra. Inconceivable pastimes manifested in this vipra’s kutira. Saci-kumara along with His associates performed many pastimes here in Vaikunthapura.

Isana Thakura said, “Narada Muni, after declaring the news everywhere, finally came back to this place in Navadvipa. The sage was thinking to himself, ‘I wonder if I will be so fortunate to see the same thing here that I witnessed in Dvaraka?’ Thinking like this he looked all around and immediately saw the opulence of Dvaraka in Nadia. He saw that Gauracandra was sitting on a ratna-simhasana. With the beauty of His form He was attracting even Kandarpa. It is not possible to describe how Narada Muni felt after seeing that beautiful form of the Lord. The Lord spoke to Narada Muni with very sweet words, ‘Now you will see My manifested pastimes here in Nadia. Your desire for removing the suffering of all living entities will be fulfilled in all respects.’ 

After saying this and giving His blessings, Lord Sri Gaurahari vanished. Being deprived of the Lord’s darsana, Narada Muni felt great separation. He spent a few days here at this Narayanapitha and then left for traveling. Because this is the place where Narada Muni received darsana of Narayana it is known as Narayana-pitha. All the opulence of Vaikuntha manifests here, therefore this place is also famous as Sri Vaikunthapura.”