The river Ganges occupies the pride of the place. Situated on its banks is Ambika –Kalna. In all probability it was previously known as Ambika only. Mention of Ambika is found in Ain –e–Akbari authored by Abul Fazl the renowned courtier of Mughal Emperor, Akbar. Under the Satgaon Sarkar from 1582 A.D there were 53 Parganas and Ambika's name figured first on the list. Ambika and Kalna were close to each other and a large portion of the sub division of Kalna being within the periphery of Ambika. Pargana, at one time Ambika became more prominent. Later Ambika became subdued and Kalna was well known, so much so that even the rail station was named Kalna Court.With the spin of the wheel of time it was renamed later as Ambika-Kalna.
One of the DWADASA GOPALS and a close associate of SRI CHAITANYA and NITYANANDA PRABHU was Gouridas. After taking permission from his elder brother Suryadas, he shifted his residence from his native place Shaligram to Kalna. At that time the area was more popularly known as Ambika. This fact is authenticated by the famous historical treatise on Gaudiya Vaishnavism "BHAKTIRATNAKAR" penned during the middle ages. Muragacha is a rail station on the Eastern Railway on the Sealdah – Berhampore Court line. From Muragacha one proceeds to Dhan-nada – a small hamlet. On the North East of Dharmada lies Shaligram.
Gouridas's presence at Ambika is also mentioned in " SRI CHAITANYA PARISHAD JANMANIRNAY" and "CHAITANYA SANGITA".
Apart from these three books, Gouridas Pandit's name and his exploits are mentioned in SRI CHAITANYA BHAGWAT, SRI CHAITANYACHARITAMRITA, CHAITANYAMANGAL authored by Jayananda, ADWAITA PRAKAS by ISHAN NAGAR, VAISHNAVA ABHIDHAN, DWADASPAT NIRNAY, ANANTASANHITA, SUBALMANGAL, GOURGANODDESH DIPIKA, BHAKTAMAAL, VAISHNAVAACHAR DARPAAN and VAISHNAVA VANDANA penned by Daibaki Nandan. Gouridas Pandit also finds mention in Brindaban Das Thakur's VAISHNAVA VANDANA. Incidentally, NITYANANDA PRABHU had profound influence on Brindaban Das Thakur and he was also the last disciple of NITYANANDA PRABHU.
Gouridas Pandit's birth as mentioned in scriptures was in 1485 A.D.He was more or less the same age as SRI CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU. His father was Kansari Misra and mother Kamala Devi. They were six brothers, namely Damodar, Jagannath, Suryadas, Gouridas, Krishnadas, and Nrisinhachaitanya. Their original surname was Ghosal (Sarkhel).
To lead a secluded life, Gouridas left Shaligram and settled on the banks of the River Ganges at Ambika. He took along with him the shalgram shila (black stone being the symbolic representation of Lord Vishnu), Damodar which he worshipped daily. It appears from his traits that since his childhood he was oblivious of this material world and had a holistic approach towards life. On the opposite bank of Ambika Kalna was Santipur – the home of Adwaita Acharya. It can be assumed that Gouridas Pandit must have heard about Adwaita Acharya and Chaitanya Maharabhu. But not for once did he go to visit them.
Shibananda Sen was a well known aide of Sri Chaitanya Mahaparbhu. His son was born dumb but as a toddler, he sucked the great toe of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and regained his power of speech. Later on he became to be known as KabiKarnapur the author of the famous " Gourganoddesh". In this book he proclaimed that Gouridas Pandit was the incarnation of Subal. This is further supported in the books "Vaishnavachardarpan","Ananta Sanhita", "Bhaktamal", "Vaishnavabandana", "Adwaltaprakash","Chaltanyasangita". In Vrindaban, the close associates (Sakha) of Lord Krishna were divided in four categories. Namely Sakha, Suhrid, Priyasakha and Priyanarmasakha. Amongst the Priyanarmasakha, the role of Subal was the most illustrious,. This was authenticated by Sri Rupa Gowasmi in his book "Ujjwalnilmani" where he states that only Subal had abundant access to Lord Krishna during His most intimate moments.
This further strengthens the belief that Subal was indeed favoured by the Lord.
Subal, later on incarnated himself in the form of Gouridas Pandit . Now with even more conviction and maturity. This has been amply ilustrated in the life of Gouridas Pandit. He had heard of Nimai Pandit (Sri Chaitanya) while at Shaligram and on arriving at Kalna it was quite well known to him. But not for once did Gauridas Pandit go and meet Nimai. It was as if to say that " You are my Lord. Hence you must come first to meet me". Ultimately it turned out that way. During his stay at the residence of Adwaita Prabhu at Shantipur, one day Mahaprabhu set off on a boat and crossed the river Ganges and landed at Kalna. There are differences of opinion whether Mahaprabhu came alone or he was accompanied by some one else. While some say it was Nityananda Prabhu who accompanied Him, others say it was Basudev Ghosh. But according to the authentic text "Bhaktiratnakar", it was Mahaprabhu who came alone. In all probability he had not met Nityananda Prabhu at that time. For the first time Mahaprabhu accepted Gouridas Pandit's hospitality at Ambika Kalna. While returning to Nadia, Gouridas accompanied Mahaprabhu. At Nabadwip, Gouridas was completely overwhelmed by Mahaprabhu who gifted a copy of the Gita written by him on palm leaf to Gouridas. After some time Gouridas returned to Kalna. His entire entity was now totally engulfed by the influence of Mahaprabhu. The Gita became the symbol of Mahaprabhu at the time of separation and he felt Mahaprabhu's existence at the touch of it.
The second time Mahaprabhu visited Gouridas Pandit, he was accompanied by Nityananda Prabhu. It was after his initiation as a Sanyasi and prior to His departure to Nilachal. Gouridas must have been saddened at the sight of shaven headed Mahaprabhu in garb of a Sanyasi but he accepted it knowing very well that it was inevitable. Mahaprabhu stayed for some time and sensing Gouridas's restlessness, Mahaprabhu asked him to bring neem wood from Nabadwip and carve out two idols of Him and Nityananda Prabhu. Gouridas did as he was ordered and two idols were carved out. On completion the idols were consecrated as per the rites and installed on a throne. Till now plain facts and authentic documented history has been narrated. But there are more than what meets the naked eye. Some facts which defies our reason and intelligence. Standing in the courtyard of Gouridas Pandit's house one sees five doors side by side at the entrance of the main temple. Only the middle door is opened and then closed immediately. Obviously one becomes curious to know the reason behind it. The view of the sevaits and hearsay have the following to say.
After the consecration ceremony was over, Mahaprabhu confided to Gouridas of His decision to depart for Nilachal as it was preplanned. With tearful eyes Gouridas bade farewell to them and returned to the temple in his house to perform his daily rituals. While conversing with the idols he found the idols to be immobile. He rushed back to the two travelers (Mahaprabhu & Nityanandaprabhu). Sensing his urgency the two of them came back and immediately the two idols descended from the throne and walked towards the courtyard. But when Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu ascended the throne. They were transformed into two idols much to the dismay of Gouridas. Again he ran back to the two who descended from the throne and implored them to come back. This situation continued for some time. It was now time for the afternoon offering to the Deities. It was decided that the two of them would proceed after their after noon meals. Accordingly offering was placed before the four of them. The two idols and the two living beings accepted the offerings. After resting for some time it was time for them to depart. Again tearful, Gouridas bade them farewell. This time Mahaprabhu himself confided to Gouridas that He would accept whatever Gouridas offered him but that would be in solitude, not in public view. Since this episode, much time has passed and in the mean time Mahaprabhu left this material world in 1534 A.D. Devotees in large numbers thronged Gouridas's house to have darshan of the deities. But Gouridas on hearing of Mahaprabhu's demise had closed the gate of the temple permanently. He feared that the two idols may leave him again or that they be removed by any body in the guise of a devotee. With the passage of time Nityananda Prabhu too departed in the year 1542 B.S.
Wind carries the word of mouth. Nityananda Prabhu's wife Jahnava Devi came to know that the devotees returned heart broken without having a darshan of the deities. It is pertinent to mention here that Jahnava Devi was the younger daughter of Suryadas Pandit, the elder brother of Gouridas Pandit. Without prior information , one day she arrived in a palanquin at the house of Gouridas Pandit from Khardah, and narrated to the Pandit the plight of the devotees. It was decided that the doors of the temple would be opened to the devotees but only for a glance of the deities. The time taken to view the deities from head to toe. Since then this practice has been maintained and the devotees have been able to quench their thirst by having a glance at the Deities. Although nothing of mention is found in the accepted history of Gaudiya Vaisnavism about Gouridas Pandit but he was beside Nityananda Prabhu at the Dandamahotsav at Panihati according to "Sri Chaitanyacharitamrita."
On attaining mature age, Gouridas Pandit handed over the management of the Sripat to his worthy disciple Hridaychaitanya and proceeded to Vrindaban. His mortal remains remain buried at Dhir Samir in Vrindaban. Near by the Sripat of Gouridas is the Sripat and temple established by Suryadas, elder brother of Gouridas. Here the deities of Nitai-Gour and Shyamsundar are worshipped. Another important and sacred place in Kalna is the Asram of Siddha Bhagwandas Baba. The Sri Naam Brahmaji (5.6" X 1.2") engraved on Muchkunda wood and worshipped by Siddha Bhagwan Das Baba can still be seen. Sri Ramkrishna, Sri Bijay Krishna Goswami and Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar visited Kalna to have a look of Bhagawandas Baba. Other than these there are various Sakta Pithas, Vaishnava Temples, Shaiva Temples and places of importance of Christian, Muslim and Buddhist religions in Kalna.
( Wrtten By Srimat Jivasaran Das Babaji : From Uttaran Feb 2009 – Tri-monthly Vaishanava Magazine publication from Nityananda Janmasthan Eachakra - Birbhum West Bengal by Srimat Jivasaran Das Babaji
TRANSLATION: SABYASACHI KUNDU )
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