Isana Thakura continued, “On the arrival of Narada Muni in Dvaraka, Rukmini-natha Sri Krishna looked at him in great ecstasy. Sri Krishna satisfied Narada Muni by receiving him nicely and asked, ‘Where have you come from?’ Narada Muni replied, ‘I have just come from Navadvipa.’ Having said this, sage Narada became silent. Understanding the mind of Narada Muni, the most merciful Sri Krishna transformed Himself into His most attractive Gauranga form. After seeing Lord Gauranga, the moon of Nadia, Narada Muni could not maintain his composure. Tears started to flow from his eyes and indescribable ecstatic transformations took place on his body. Immediately Narada Muni saw the Lord’s form change from that of Gauranga to the beautiful blue form of Sri Krishna. Narada Muni kept that most valuable form of Gaura- Krishna hidden within his heart. He constantly meditated upon this most extraordinary beauty with undeviating attention. Lord Sri Krishna was happy to see the condition of Narada Muni. After pacifying Narada and helping him to regain composure, Lord Sri Krishna spoke softly, ‘Go to Kailasa to meet with Siva. Inform everyone about My appearance in Navadvipa. The time has come. There is no need to delay any longer.’ Thus, after hearing the sweet words from Sri Krishna, Narada Muni took leave. Very soon he reached the Kailasa Mountain while chanting the glories of Gaura-Krishna and playing his vina. He offered his obeisances to Siva and informed him about everything Sri Krishna had told him. Mahadeva was very much overwhelmed to hear the news from Narada Muni. He put Narada on his lap and started to cry in happiness. One cannot describe the amount of happiness manifested on Kailasa Mountain after the news was announced.” 

The following is a description of Vaikunthapura from the Navadvipadhama- mahatmya, Parikrama-khanda. Nityananda Prabhu said, “This place, which is situated in one corner of Navadvipa-dhama in the shape of an eight-petalled lotus, is undoubtedly Vaikunthapuri. Lord Narayana resides in this Sri Vaikuntha, which is situated in the spiritual sky, paravyoma. Vaikuntha lies beyond the Viraja River. Maya or illusion has no influence upon this place. Here Lord Narayana is served by Sri-devi and Bhu-devi, and the brahmajyoti is the effulgence of this spiritual land. With their material vision, people cannot understand the transcendental nature of this place. In this Narayana-dhama Narada Muni once saw the Lord with his transcendental vision. Narada saw the Narayana form turn into the form of Gaurasundara. After seeing this, Narada Muni stayed here for some time.” This event has been described in the Bhakti-ratnakara more elaborately. Sri Isana Thakura along with Srinivasa and Narottama went to Vaikunthapura from Maugachi. He said, “This place is known as Vaikunthapura. Now I will tell you the glories of this place and why it is called Vaikunthapura. One day Narada Muni came from Vaikuntha to Kailasa Mountain to meet with Lord Siva. At that time Lord Siva was sitting on a skin asana, surrounded by his associates, and was describing the pastimes of Sri Krishna with his five mouths. As soon as Narada Muni saw Sri Mahesa from a distance, he fell on the ground to offer obeisances in great ecstasy. Lord Trilocana embraced Narada and asked, ‘Where have you come from?’ Narada replied with great happiness, ‘I have just taken darsana of Lord Narayana. Vaikuntha-natha was discussing Navadvipa with His associates. In Bharata-varsha there is a most beautiful place called Navadvipa and the Lord was very happy to go there along with His associates. After seeing this scene, I have come here. I do not know what blissful pastimes will take place in Nadia.’ After hearing the words of Narada Muni, Deva Mahesvara smiled and manifested the symptoms of love over his entire body. He was looking at Narada Muni and shaking his head. He was roaring while exhibiting various fantastic bodily postures. Sri Kailasa-girisvara, Lord Siva, was so overwhelmed that tears were flowing from his eyes and soaking all of his white-colored body. Narada Muni could understand from the actions of Lord Siva that the time had come for the manifestation of pastimes in Navadvipa. After witnessing this event Narada Muni left the Kailasa Mountain. Narada then traveled to this place and saw the beauty of Navadvipadhama and so thought to himself, ‘This Navadvipa-dhama is the source of all dhamas. All the Lords of all the dhamas are eternally engaged in their pastimes here in Navadvipa. I have just come here after seeing Sri Vaikuntha-natha Narayana. Will I see Sri Vaikuntha-natha here again?’ As soon as Narada Muni developed such a desire, he immediately saw Lord Narayana along with His associates in Vaikuntha manifest in front of him. Narada became overwhelmed with the ecstasy of love. He could not stop shedding tears and offered many prayers to Navadvipa-dhama. He then went to Dvaraka to take darsana of Lord Sri Krishna.” 

vaikuntha-pura-madhye tu
 drishtva nihsreyasam vanam
 brahmanim viraja-pare 
gatavan sri-mahatpuram

“The Lord took darsana of Nihsreyasavana in Vaikunthapura and Brahmaninagara on the bank of the Viraja and then went to Sri Mahatpura.” (Navadvipa-dhamamahatmya, Pramana-khanda 4. 47) 

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in his Navadvipa-bhava-taranga: “From Modadrumadvipa I will slowly go to Sri Vaikunthapura where I will see the Nihsreyasa forest filled with abundant opulence. At that place, Lord Narayana, the Lord of paravyoma (Vaikuntha), who is worshiped by all the demigods, resides along with His three energies eternally. Even if my Lord Sri Krishna is endowed with the highest sweetness, as Isvara He is also the storehouse of all opulence. Vrajendranandana Sri Krishna is never bereft of opulence, but this opulence does not manifest to His pure devotees. Out of His supreme mercy, that Lord of all lords, hiding His opulence, manifested His Gauranga form to please the heart of Narada Muni. Upon seeing that form I will drown in the ocean of bliss and cry loudly.”

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes in his Navadvipa-bhava-taranga: “After crossing the Viraja River and leaving behind Brahmana- nagara I will climb upon Arka-tila. There I will worship Sri Gaurahari solitarily with great attention. Arkadeva (the sungod), being merciful upon me, will appear in front of me with his reddish complexion, wearing saffron-colored cloth, his whole body smeared with sandalwood and tears flowing from his eyes while he chants the holy name of Gaurahari. 

He will tell me, ‘My dear son! You are a devotee of Lord Gaurahari. Therefore I have appeared in front of you. We are servants of the lotus feet of Lord Gauranga. We love the servants of the servants of Lord Gaurahari. By my blessings you will develop devotion unto Sri Krishna. You will be empowered to reside in the dhama and chant the holy name of the Lord. Please always come to me chanting the nectarine holy name and thus give me pleasure.’ I will offer obeisance at the lotus feet of Suryadeva and proceed to Mahatpuradhama.” Navadvipa-mandala Development Trust has acquired the land at Arkatila. We hope that very soon this place will be developed and devotees will be able to live there and perform bhajana.