Ekachakra Dham Yatra

One of the places, I visited with my family during my recent trip to India is a holy place called Ekachakra which is a small village, located 20 km away from the town of Rampurhat in the Birbhum District of West Bengal.I along with my family travelled from ISKCON Mayapur by taxi and it is about 165 KMs from there.Took us a good 4 to 4.5 hrs time. The road journey was bit austere but that’s OK. I was told that compared to before, the road is much better now. This small village has a historical significance for couple of reasons. Firstly, the five Pandavas during their exile stayed here. And, this is where Bheema fought with the demon called Bakasura and killed him.

Secondly, this is the place where, during the Mahabharata war,  the wheel thrown by Krishna fell. “EKA” means one and “CHAKRA” means wheel; thus this place is named as“Ekachakra”.

ISKCON Temple at Ekachakra

Why did Krishna lift a Chariot wheel as
to use as a weapon in Mahabharata War?.

On the ninth day of the Mahabharata war, Lord Krishna notices that the valor and strength of Bhishma is increasing and where as Arjuna was becoming hesitant in fighting against his beloved Grand father. Thus, even though Krishna took a vow before the war that he will not lift or touch any weapon,yet he jumps from the chariot, picks up a Chariot wheel, charges towards Bhishma to kill him. Some of the  reasons are to uphold  the Dharma, protect his devotee, also to uphold a vow his another devotee Bhishma took (took a vow that he would make Krishna take up arms at least once in the war.) And, Krishna goes on to attack Bhishma with the a Chariot Wheel. Bhishma also understood that Krishna is staging an act just to uphold his  vow, and lays down his arms and submits to Krishna to kill him. Then Arjun falls on the feet of Krishna to not break his vow and Krishna becomes pacified, throws away the Chariot Wheel and goes back.

Also, Ekachakra is the birthplace of Lord Nityananda who according to Gaudiya-Vaishnava tradition called as ‘Nitai’ - 'Sri Nityananda', 'PrabhuNityananda' or 'Nityananda Rama' is an incarnation of Balarama, with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu being his eternal brother and friend, Krishna.

Sri Nityananda Pranam Mantra:-

Nityanandam aham naumi, sarvananda-karam param;

Hari nama Pradam-devam, Avadhuta-shiromanim

("I bow down to the Supreme Lord Nityananda Prabhu, the crest jewel of all avadhutas, who gives the topmost ecstatic bliss to all by freely distributing the Holy names of Krishna")

We have visited few places connected with the childhood pastimes of Nityananda.

ISKCON Temple: This was our first destination and the temple architecture and atmosphere was amazing with beautiful presiding deities Gaur Nitai and Radha Krishna.The temple hall was aesthetically designed by wonderful painting of pastimes of Krishna. The temple had a ample place in the ground floor for serving breakfast and lunch for visiting devotees.We had our breakfast here and proceeded to see other places.

Deities - ISKCON Temple  Ekachakra

From here, we proceeded to the pandava tala, which is a short 10 mins walk from here.

Pandavatala: This is where the Pandavas lived here with their mother, Kunti, when they were exiled to the forest. This area is bordered by several Keli-kadamba trees. There is a temple with beautiful deities of Sri Sri Radha Krsna.

From here, we went to the birthplace of Lord Nityananda where even today, you can see Garbhavas (Sootika Mandir),  The exact spot where Lord Nityananda appeared. There is also a small pond, a Banyan tree where Baby Nityananda used to play with his friends.In these premises, there is a nice temple.In the main altar of the Temple is a deity of Lord Nityananda, a deity of Mahaprabhu to His left and a deity of Advaita Acarya to his right.

Bankim Raya Temple: On the altar of this temple is Lord Krishna as Bankima Raya, who was originally established by Lord Nityananda. It is said that Lord Nityananda left this planet by entering into this Deity.

Jagannath Temple: Again, this is a nice temple apparently the deities of Jagannath, Baladev, Subhadra are manifested by Lord Nityananda to fulfil the desire of his parents to visit the Holy Dham Jagannatha Puri.

There are few places, we have missed and could not visit due to the lack of time which are,

Kadam Khandi: Is the spot where Lord Nityananda recovered the Bankima Raya Deity from the Yamuna river. There’s a small Temple here with Deities of Sri Gaur Nityananda, Krishna Balarama and Sadbhuja Gauranga.

Kundalal tala: This is the place where Lord Nityananda used his earring to block a hole, thereby preventing a snake which lived in it from coming out and troubling the residents of this area.

Mouresvara Shiva Temple: This is an ancient Shiva temple where Sri Hadai Pandita (father of Nityananda prabhu) performed worship. On the appearance of Nityananda in Ekachakra, this deity roared and Advaita Acharya and other devotees could hear and understand the roar’s meaning at their residences in Mayapur and Santipur that an Avadhuta had appeared on Earth.

ISKCON Temple at Ekachakra

Pandavatala: This is where the Pandavas lived here with their mother, Kunti, when they were exiled to the forest. This area is bordered by several Keli-kadamba trees. There is a temple with beautiful deities of Sri Sri Radha Krsna.

Pandavatala

Radha Krishna Deities at Pandavatala

From here, we went to the birthplace of Lord Nityananda where even today, you can see Garbhavas (Sootika Mandir),  The exact spot where Lord Nityananda appeared. There is also a small pond, a Banyan tree where Baby Nityananda used to play with his friends.In these premises, there is a nice temple.In the main altar of the Temple is a deity of Lord Nityananda, a deity of Mahaprabhu to His left and a deity of Advaita Acarya to his right.

Bankim Raya Temple: On the altar of this temple is Lord Krishna as Bankima Raya, who was originally established by Lord Nityananda. It is said that Lord Nityananda left this planet by entering into this Deity.

Jagannath Temple: Again, this is a nice temple apparently the deities of Jagannath, Baladev, Subhadra are manifested by Lord Nityananda to fulfil the desire of his parents to visit the Holy Dham Jagannatha Puri.

There are few places, we have missed and could not visit due to the lack of time.

Asking for Money by blocking the way.I din't mind.They are happy with a 10 rupee note

Overall, its a wonderful and pleasant experience of visiting the Ekachakra Dham.I liked the 
peace and tranquility of the place, not yet urbanised.You can have the strong spiritual vibrations of Lord Nityananda. I bought some photographs of the Original paintings of Lord Nityananda but, they have mysteriously disappeared and I am trying to find them, looking at all the Luggage and suitcases.Also, the breakfast and lunch at ISKCON was sumptuous and tasty.A must visit place for all the spiritualists.And, I forgot to mention, I read a board some where in Ekachakra to write the name of Nitai in the air and the merciful lord depending on your level of faith, fulfills your desires, purifies your heart, makes his presence felt, flows his mercy. After-all, Lord Nityananda Balaram is said to be the Kali Yuga Avatar of the savior of the most fallen.