Surabhi-Kuñja

Surabhi-kuñja is situated at a few meters towards west from the Bhajana-kuṭira of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura Mahāśaya. Now, Surabhi-kuñja Gauḍiya Maṭha has been established there. This is the place of bhajana performed by Indra and Surabhi cow. Once upon a time Indra performed his bhajana here alongwith Surabhi cow under a big peepul tree and thus this place is named as Godrumadvīpa. ‘Go’ means cow and ‘druma’ means tree. The cow Surabhi with Indra worshiped Mahāprabhu and had darśana of Mahāprabhu. Mahāprabhu gave Indra the boon of fearlessness that he will not be an offender again in Gaura-līlā.

Once upon a time Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi asked for life span of seven kalpas from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. At the time of full devastation of the universe, he reached here by floating on the waves of the devastation water. Surabhi cow rescued him and resuscitated him by feeding him milk. Then Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi started crying before Surabhi cow and said, ‘Now what will happen! Without understading I accepted the life span of seven kalpas. At the time of devastation I get too much pain. Please help me find a way out.’ Then Surabhi cow advised him to worship Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu. ‘If you worship Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, you will be freed from the results of all your activities and also be freed from material bondage.’ Then Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi began worshiping Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu by staying over here.

Afterwards, Saccidānanda Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura Mahāśaya started preaching Kṛṣṇa Consciousness by establishing Nāmahaṭṭa in this Godrumadvīpa. He established the main centre of Nāmahaṭṭa in this Surabhi-kuñja. From here he directed the preaching activities of spreading the message of Supreme Personality of Godhead by organizing the virtuous and noble people of Bengal and Utkala through this Nāmahaṭṭa.