RADHABALLABH ASHRAM

SRI SRI KALACHAND

 

Sri Sri Radha Ballabh Ashram of Shalganga is located in the green plains of Shalganga village and is surrounded in the north by Barail Hills, in the south by Bhuvan Hills. in the west by Siddheswar and by innumerable Tea gardens all around. It is where the Holy Jugal Kadamba Tree stands and two crows - one male and another female in the guise of Rai Kalachand take cooked food offerings twice daily, once in the early morning and again at noon. It may be noted that this place is not visited by any crow within the radius of 10 miles or so.

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The Holy Father Prabhupad Sri Sri Braja Raman Goswami used to rise up at two in the midnight and sat in meditation under the Holy Jugal Kadamba tree till early morning and only when the light touched him on his face he would return to his room. Even today there is no crow in the area and the glory of the only "Pakshi Tirtha" in the North East India where the duet Kadamba Tree stands, has spread its fame far and near. Many men and women, sitting under the Holy tree, pray silently and get the blessings of the Supreme Spirit in the Ashram everyday. Now, who is this Kalachand? n fact the Prabhupad got the Holy instruction of installing the Jugal Kadamba tree in the Ashram in a dream.

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The Prabhupad could remember that the seat of Kalachand installed by his maternal grandfather Sri Sri Krishna Charan Goswami at Baurkapan in Sylhet who now wanted it to be installed in this newly established Ashram. But how it could become possible? And it became possible.

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The Holy tree was traced by the Prabhupad near the house of Mr. Prabhash Kanungo, a tea-house head clerk of the Thaligram tea garden. The same Holy tree was brought and transplanted in Sri Sri Radha Ballabh Ashram amidst a "Panchabati" along with a wood apple (Bilwa) according to the divine institution over a mound of moth plant.