Srinivasa, “Previously this place was known as Jannadvipa. Jahnu Muni used to reside here in Navadvipa very happily. Once he thought, ‘This Kali-yuga is more blessed than other Kali-yugas, because Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will appear. He, along with the dear devotees of all His incarnations, will descend in this Navadvipa-dhama during the first part of Kali-yuga. He will accept an incomparable golden bodily lustre and His bodily movements will be very pleasing. He will perform many wonderful pastimes in Navadvipa. Will my desire be fulfilled to see these nectarian pastimes of the Lord?’ His mind fixed in meditation with great bliss, the muni worshiped Sri Gauracandra who attracts the entire universe by His beauty. When the sage closed his eyes, the merciful Lord appeared within his heart. The Lord revealed Himself in His beautiful form of Syamasundara, attracting everyone in the three worlds. His body was gracefully bent in three places and a peacock feather decorated His head. He was playing His flute which He held gently in His hand and His most beautiful face was dazzling. While the sage was beholding this form, he saw the Lord transform into a young sannyasi. The Lord in His sannyasi form was holding a danda and a kamandalu (waterpot) in His hands and His head was shaved without any sikha. He was wearing saffron-colored cloth and a kaupina. The radiance of His body defeated the glare of millions of suns. When the muni saw this, he could not control himself anymore and he opened his eyes. Upon doing so he saw the Lord standing in front of him face to face. The Lord’s beautiful curling hair was making everyone mad. Many dazzling ornaments decorated His body, the effulgence of which lit the universe. Even gold appeared without luster in comparison to this glow. His bodily movements destroyed the pride of millions of Kandarpas. By seeing this form, Jahnu Muni experienced great bliss and ecstasy. Seeing the sage in this condition, SriGaurahari pacified him by His mercy. Jahnu Muni fell at the lotus feet of the Lord in great bliss and washed His lotus feet with the tears pouring from his eyes. He offered many prayers standing in front of the Lord and fixed his eyes on His lotus face. The Lord embraced him again and again, saying, ‘All of your desires will be fulfilled.’ The Lord then disappeared and by His desire Jahnu Muni regained his composure. He began to praise his good fortune, ‘After all these days finally my austerity has been successful.’ The muni then looked in all directions with a great desire to behold the glories of Nadia. He began constantly chanting the glories of Nadia-candra, SriGauranga, day and night. His body was smeared with dust and soaked with his tears. Jahnu Muni lived at this place with great pleasure and therefore this place is known as Jahnudvipa.” IsanaThakura continued, “My heart breaks to remember the sweet pastimes Lord Gauracandra performed in Jahnudvipa. There was a nice flower garden here, which people would say was the place of austerity of Jahnu Muni. By seeing this place one will become free from all suffering and develop pure bhakti unto the lotus feet of Sri Prabhu.”
Directions: This is on the main Navadvipa -Katwa road shortly before the turn off to go to Mamgachi. There is no asrama there now, but the place can be identified by the big banyan tree there. It is said that Jahnu Muni’s asrama was situated under this tree.
