text: Realistic View of Nabadwip | Sri Gaudiya Darshan
  In this excerpt from Holy Engagement, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev‑Goswami Maharaj gives the proper understanding of Sri Nabadwip Dham Parikrama.
  Srila Sridhar Maharaj: We should try to become more acquainted with the realistic view of Nabadwip. There are so many divisions in this Nabadwip Dham: mainly nine. It is mentioned that they represent the nine sections of devotion:
  śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda‑sevanam
  archanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma‑nivedanam
  Simantadwip represents sravana‑bhakti, hearing about Krishna. Chanting about Krishna, kirtan, is in Godrumadwip; remembering the Lord, smaranam, is in Madhyadwip; serving the Lord's feet, pada‑sevanam, is here in Koladwip; worshiping with the ghee lamp, etc., archanam, is in Ritudwip; offering prayers, vandanam, is in Jahnudwip; rendering service as a servant, dasyam, is in Modadrumadwip; rendering service to the Lord in the relationship of a best friend, sakhyam, is in Rudradwip; and full self‑surrender, atma‑nivedanam, is represented in Sri Antardwip, Mayapur. They have connection with these nine main types of devotional conceptions respectively. When travelling to these places we are reminded by the incidents connected with them how such representation comes from each place. All of them taken together promote our understanding as to what is devotion proper.
  Atma‑nivedanam, full self‑surrender, is the basis of all. After atma‑nivedanam the plane of life will be categorically changed. After surrendering to the central direction, whatever will be done by us will come to have recognition as devotion. That is devotion. Atma‑nivedanam is selflessness plus self-surrendering. Self‑surrendering presupposes selflessness. Selfish actions come to an end and selflessness is also crossed, and then self‑surrendered life begins—and that is devotion proper.