Pramäëa‑khaëòa Chapter One Chändogya, Muëòaka, and Caitanya Upaniñads O devotees, having offered obeisances to Rädhä and Kåñëa and Their combined form of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, please listen to the glories of Navadvépa‑dhäma proclaimed through this collection of scriptural evidence. For the pleasure of the devotees, I will first bring together evidences from the Upaniñads . O devotees, first hear with faith and a nonenvious heart what the Chändogya Upaniñad says concerning Navadvépa. The Chändogya Upaniñad describes a wonderful city called Brahmapura 1 in the shape of eight‑petaled lotus. The center of that lotus is Mäyäpur, the abode of the Supreme Lord Çré Caitanya as Paramätmä. The sky within that lotus, or antaräkäça , is known as Antardvépa. Hari oë. Within Brahmapura is a lotus‑shaped dahara —the heart. In the center of that is the antaräkäça , or the interior sky. One should seek out and realize what is within that antaräkäça . The students may ask: In Brahmapura is a lotus‑shaped dahara , the heart, and within that exists the antaräkäça . What exists there that should be sought out and known? Then the guru will reply: Just as there is a sky in this external world, there is a similar sky in the midst of the heart. In that sky, there is heaven and earth, fire and air, sun and moon, lightning and stars. Whatever is in this external world and even what is lacking here is existent in that internal place. Then the students may again ask: In this Brahmapura within the body, if all elements, living beings, and desires are present, then what remains when the body grows old and dies? Then the guru will answer: When the body grows old, the elements of Brahmapura do not grow old, and when the
1. Brahmapura is a name of the Lord’s abode.
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