Arrival of Srila Prabhupada:

On December 28, 1930, Srila Prabhupada had Prasadam at Simhachalam before 10 am along with his associates. Then he came to Waltair station from Simhachalam by bus. Sripad Hayagriva Das Brahmachari (later founder of Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math: Om Vishnupada Bhakti Dayita Madhav Goswami Maharaja) joined Srila Prabhupada’s associates from here. All of them arrived at “Kavur” in the evening by taking the Madras mail from Waltair station. Many prominent people from the town of Kavur were present at the station to welcome the great preceptor of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Srila Prabhupada. There was also a car arrangement. Sri Srila Prabhupada reached the residence of Mr. Subbarao, a prominent local lawyer and zamindar, amidst Sankirtan from the station. Many local dignitaries attended Srila Prabhupada there and were eager to hear Harikatha from him. Srimad Bhakti Hridaya Vana Maharaja introduced the local prominent people to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada tirelessly delivered Harikatha to the audience without taking rest. Srila Prabhupada spoke on Sri Gaurasundara’s arrival at this place. Everyone was very pleased to hear the amazing Harikatha from Prabhupada.

Geographical Location of Kavur:-

East Godavari district is located in Andhra Pradesh state of India. The headquarters of this district is Rajahmundry. It is situated on the eastern side of the 4 km long road and rail bridge over the Godavari river connecting East and West Godavari. Kovur is a small village and located a little further along the banks of the river Godavari from here. The footprint temple is situated there. This place is located about 200 meters from the bank of Godavari river. Later, on July 10, 1932 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada established Sri Ramananda Gaudiya Math at this place.

Installation of Sri Chaitanya’s footprint by Srila Prabhupada:-

On December 29th, Srila Prabhupada took bath and performed his anhika at the Godavari. Then he arrived in front of the Sri Chaitanya footprint temple at the Godavari Goshpada Tirtha (on the banks of the Godavari, where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had His dialogue with Srila Raya Ramananda). At the order of Srila Prabhupada, the portion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s first day’s meeting and conversation with Sri Raya Ramananda from Sri Caitanya Caritamrita was sung. Srimad Bhakti Hridaya Vana Maharaja continued to explain this portion in English and Shri Suryanarayan Mahasaya, Advocate in Madras High Court translated into Telugu for everyone. In the meantime, when Sri Chaitanya’s footprints with verses curved on the stone plaque was placed on the altar and all the paraphernalia for the puja were collected, everyone started singing kirtan on the order of Srila Prabhupada. While the kirtan was going on, Srila Prabhupada prostrated in front of the temple and entered the temple to worship Sri Caitanya’s footprint with flowers, sandalwood pulp and tulasi. Later all the he Sannyasis and other associates of Srila Prabhupada followed by the local reverent devotees worshipped Sri Chaitanya’s footprint with fruits and flowers. After that everyone performed Parikrama of the temple. Fire sacrifices were performed. After that Prasad was distributed to everyone.

Srila Prabhupada’s auspicious arrival at Rajamahindri:-

After having prasada in the afternoon, Srila Prabhupada departed for Rajamahindri in a river launch. Srila Prabhupada was royally received by Ramachandra Rao, a prominent devotee there, with his family and a large local Sankirtan congregation, motor car and garlands etc. From there, a sankirtana procession took place around some parts of the city and then arrived at Sri Ramachandra Rao’s house, with Srila Prabhupada. There Srila Prabhupada delivered Harikatha in the presence of many people. Then Srila Prabhupada returned to Kavur by train from Rajamahendri around 9 pm.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s arrival and pastimes at Kavur:-

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Vidyanagar on the banks of the Godavari after having darshan of Jiyada Nrsimha. This Vidyanagar is currently known as Kavur. Here He met Srila Ramananda Raya who came here to take bath in Godavari river. After both of them got to know each other, Raya Ramananda requested Mahaprabhu to stay at that village for a few days. Mahaprabhu stayed in the house of a Vedic-Vaishnava Brahmin. In the evening, Ramananda Ray came to meet Mahaprabhu as an ordinary poor man and offered obeisances. Mahaprabhu ordered him to read the verses to determine the absolute sādhya (attainable) of living being. Ramananda Raya first described the “varnasrama dharma” as ordinary dharma. Then he recited a few verses on “karma-arpana” (dedicating all karma), “āsakti sunya karma” (karma without attachment) and then ‘jnana misra bhakti’ (bhakti contaminated with jñana) and finally “jñana sunya suddhā bhakti” (unalloyed bhakti free from jñana). Mahaprabhu accepted the latter as “sadhya vastu” (attainable goal).  Again, being asked to describe the higher strata in bhakti by Mahaprabhu, Raya describes first the “Suddha Krishna rati-rupa prema bhakti” then ‘dāsya prema’ then ‘sakhya prema’ , ‘Vātsalya prema’ and finally ‘kānta prema’ as the topmost purpose of living beings. Raya also described the various ways of how this is can be attained. Mahaprabhu accepted it as the final attainable but asked him to explain something more than that. Then Ramananda Raya described Srimati Radhikā’s prema; Later Raya described Krishna’s form, Radha’s form, Rasa-tattva and Prema-tattva. After that, on the inquiry of Mahaprabhu, Ramananda Raya recited a song on “prema vilasa vivarta rupa vipralambha adhi-rudha bhava”. Finally, the adherence of Srimati Radharani’s intimate maid servants was determined as a means (sadhana) of attaining the ultimate object of loving service to Radha & Krishna. After several days of discussion concerning Kṛṣṇa bhakti, Mahaprabhu revealed His original form to Ramananda Raya. Ramananda Raya fainted after experiencing this. A few days later, Mahaprabhu left by ordering Ramananda Raya to leave the kingdom and go to Purushottama Puri.