Chapter summary
उडुपिक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम् Uḍupi Kṣetra Māhātmyam
The Greatness of Udupi-kṣetra
Residing in Dvārakā, the Lord, the beloved of Rukmiṇī and master of sixteen thousand queens, engaged in a myriad of enchanting pastimes. Nārada, in his travels, witnessed Him in His myriad forms, each accompanied by a respective queen, for the Lord ever delights in the devotion of the virtuous. (v.2-3)
Yet, even while dwelling in Dvārakā, His heart yearned for Gokula. Though cherished by Devakī, His thoughts drifted to Yaśodā; though nurtured by Vasudeva, He remembered Nanda Gopa; and though adored by Rukmiṇī, His mind still dwelled on Rādhikā. (v.4-5)
Meanwhile, at Nārada's request, Krishna performed the enchanting Rāsa dance with His sixteen thousand consorts. From the sandalwood paste adorning their bodies, a lump of clay came into being, which Vaishnavas reverently extol as "Gopī-candana". (v.9-10)
Later, under the pretext of a curse from the sages, the Lord orchestrated the destruction of His own clan. When He then disappeared from the mortal realm, the ocean swallowed Dvārakā whole. At that time, the sacred form of Śrī Bālagopāla became concealed within that very lump of Gopī-candana clay. Sailors, loading it onto a ship, set sail across the sea. (v.11-12)
A great wind arose, causing the boat to shake violently and distressing its occupants. Then, a yogi standing on the shore calmed the tempestuous winds. He guided the boat safely to the shore and protected all the men aboard. Delighted, they all bowed to the great yogi, who was an embodiment of compassion. (v.13-14)
This great yogi was Ānandatīrtha. Upon seeing the lump of clay, he praised it with profound love and devotion, his body thrilling with horripilation. (v.15)
**The great yogi said:**
Victory! Be victorious, O slayer of Keśi! O Keśava, whose crest-ornament is a peacock feather placed in the bud-like mass of Your curly locks of hair! O creator of the various moving and unmoving beings! O Nārāyaṇa, from whose navel-lotus the lotus-seated Brahmā was born! O Mādhava, whose face bears a gentle smile, languid with passion, which generates love in the circle of women! O Govinda, who swiftly lifted the Govardhana hill to protect the cows and the Gopīs! O Viṣṇu, O Lord of the universe, who is the cause of the creation, maintenance, and destruction of the entire world! O Madhusūdana, who astonished the three worlds with Your auspicious form that charmed the minds of the people of Madhurā! O Trivikrama, whose character is renowned through Your lotus feet, which are the source of the Bhāgīrathī that purifies the three worlds! O Vāmana, whose lotus feet are worshipped by the host of gods, and who are a wish-fulfilling Mandāra tree for those who bow to You! O Śrīdhara, adorned with the pure Vaijayantī garland on Your chest marked with the Śrīvatsa! O Hṛṣīkeśa, whose body is the color of sapphire, shining in the lotus of the heart! O Padmanābha, with lotus eyes, lotus face, lotus feet, the beloved of Padmā (Lakṣmī)! O God of gods! O consumer of the forest fire! O ocean of compassion! O Dāmodara! O Śrī Kṛṣṇa, resident of Udupi-kṣetra, whose lotus feet have become a boat (`uḍupa`) for crossing over for all people fallen into the ocean of saṃsāra [the cycle of birth and death]! Be well pleased! (v.16)
**The revered Sadguru said:**
Thus prayed to by Ānandatīrtha, the compassionate Nīlamādhava [Krishna] graced them with His manifestation from the lump of Gopī-candana clay. Within Udupi-kṣetra, the self-controlled sage then constructed a magnificent temple, installed the Lord of the Universe, and worshipped Him with profound reverence. (v.17-18)
This sacred place [a Divya Deśam, or one of the 108 holy abodes of Vishnu] increases the bliss of devotees, grants all desired things to humankind, and removes all calamities. Indeed, Krishna is pleased with those who listen to or read the greatness of Udupi-kṣetra with supreme faith and devotion. (v.19-20)
Thus, in the work "Divyadeśavaibhavam" composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu, in the Fifth Part, the thirty-sixth chapter named "The Greatness of Udupi-kṣetra".
