20200503 Lord Caitanya Scatters Clouds

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

Chapter entitled as Lord Caitanya Scatters Clouds

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.89

kīrtanakāle prabhura meghavarṣaṇa-nivāraṇa:—

kīrtana karite prabhu āila megha-gaṇa
āpana-icchāya kaila megha nivāraṇa

Translation: Once while Caitanya Mahāprabhu was performing kīrtana, clouds assembled in the sky, and the Lord, by His own will, immediately stopped them from pouring rain.

Purport: In this connection Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says that once when Lord Caitanya was performing saṅkīrtana a short way from the village, some clouds appeared overhead. By the supreme will of the Lord, the clouds were asked to disperse, and they did. Because of this incident, that place is still known as Meghera-cara. Since the course of the Ganges has now changed, the village of the name Belapukhuriyā, which was formerly situated in a different place, called Tāraṇavāsa, has now become known as Meghera-cara. The Madhya-khaṇḍa of Śrīla Locana dāsa Ṭhākura’s Caitanya-maṅgala also relates that once at the end of the day, when evening clouds assembled overhead and thundered threateningly, all the Vaiṣṇavas were very much afraid. But the Lord took His karatālas in His hands and personally began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, looking up toward the sky as if to direct the demigods in the higher planets. Thus, all the assembled clouds dispersed, and as the sky became clear, with the moon rising, the Lord began dancing very happily with His jubilant and satisfied devotees.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 2.3.18

sāyāhne mudito devais taiḥ sārdhaṁ kīrtanotsukaḥ

Translation: Every day at sunset, the son of Śacī eagerly performed kīrtana in the company of those divine personalities who were His associates.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 2.3.19

te’pi saṅkīrtanānanda-mattāś ca nanṛtur jaguḥ
śrīmad-viśvambhareṇāpi paramānanda-nirvṛtāḥ

Translation: And as they danced and sang, they also became intoxicated in the joy of saṅkīrtana, and along with śrīmad Viśvambhara, everyone tasted the delights of transcendental bliss.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.15

sāyaṁ kadācid atha taiḥ sva-padābja-bhaktaiḥ
śrī-gauracandra udito nija-kīrtanābdhau
ākasmikair gagana-maṇḍalam ambuvāhair
vyāptaṁ nirīkṣya karuṇo’jani vighna-bhītyā

Translation: One time in the evening Gauracandra appeared in the ocean of kīrtana with the devotees of his lotus feet. Seeing the sky suddenly become completely covered with clouds, fearing an obstacle, he showed mercy.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 2.3.20

kadācid āvṛte vyomni ghanair gambhīra-nisvanaiḥ
vidyotite tatas tāvat sākaṁ ca stanayitnubhiḥ

Translation: One day the sky became fully covered with clouds that made deep rumblings, and it was brightly illumined by lightning and accompanied by thunderclaps.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.198

dina-avasāna-sandhyā ramya digantara
ācambite meghārambha gagana-maṇḍala

Translation: As a beautiful sunset filled the horizon and daytime came to an end, rainclouds suddenly filled the circle of the sky.

Jayapatākā Swami: At the end of the day during the twilight, at the beautiful sunset, filled the horizon and the day came to an end. Suddenly, the rain clouds filled the circle of the sky!

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 2.3.21

vaiṣṇavā duḥkhitāḥ sarve vighno’yaṁ samupasthitaḥ
meghā hareḥ kīrtanake’bhavaṁś cintāparā iti

Translation: All of the vaiṣṇavas became unhappy, for the clouds were creating an impediment to the Hari-kīrtana, and thus they became overwhelmed by anxiety.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.199

ghana ghana garajaye gambhīra-nināde
dekhiyā vaiṣṇavagaṇa gaṇila pramāde

Translation: The rainclouds rumbled deeply. Seeing them, the Vaiṣṇavas became anxious.

Jayapatākā Swami: The rain clouds rumbled deeply. They were very thick and when the Vaiṣṇavas saw this, they became very anxious.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.200

vighna upasana dekhi’ sabhei duḥkhita
kemane ghucaye vighna cintāpara-cita

Translation: Seeing a disturbance had come, they became unhappy. “How cane we escape this disturbance?”, they thought.

Jayapatākā Swami: Seeing this disturbance arising, they became unhappy. They were all thinking, how can we escape from this disturbance?

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.201

meghagaṇa prema-parasāda nite āilā
gauralīlā dekhi’ preme garjjite lāgilā

Translation: Actually, the rainclouds had come to taste the nectar of ecstatic love. Watching Lord Gaura’s pastimes, they thundered with ecstatic love.

Jayapatākā Swami: Actually, the rain clouds came to see the pastimes of ecstatic love, they wanted to taste the nectar. Watching Gaurāṅga’s pastimes in ecstatic love, they started thundering. Ha! Ha! Haribol

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.16

ādāya pāṇi-kamaleṣv atha mandirāgryaṁ
rāgān svarāṁś ca sakalān sa kṛtārthayitvā
uccair jagau svaguṇa-saṣcayam eva hṛṣṭaḥ
śrīmān anaṅga iva vigrahavān pṛthivyām

Translation: Like Cupid personified on earth, he took in his lotus hands excellent cymbals and in joy loudly sang the Lord’s glories with rāga and correct notes.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 2.3.22

tadā tasmin samāyāto gṛhītvā mandirā hariḥ
svarān kṛtārthayan kṛṣṇaṁ jagau sa sva-janaiḥ saha

Translation: Then arriving there at that time, Śrī Gaura Hari, took a mandirā and to make the svara and rāga successful, He sang the names of Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the company of His associates.

Jayapatākā Swami: Not only does Lord Caitanya sing, but He sings in the correct melody and rāga. And therefore, all the devotees become filled with ecstatic love! So, by the Lord’s chanting of the holy name, He drove the clouds away.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.202

tabe mahāprabhu se mandirā kari’ kare
nāma-guṇa-saṅkīrtana kare uccasvare

Translation: At that time Lord Mahāprabhu holding mandira in his hands, loudly performed nāma-guṇa-saṅkīrtana.

Jayapatākā Swami: At that time Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu, He took the whompers in both hands, large karatālas, and then He sang the kīrtana of the Lord’s name and qualities, loudly, with a loud tune.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.203

devaloka kṛtārtha kariba hena mane
urddhamukhe cāhe prabhu ākāśera pāne

Translation: To make the demigods feel successful and satisfied, Lord Gaura gazed up towards the sky.

Jayapatākā Swami: To make the demigods feel grateful, successful, He raised His face upwards and gazed upwards, towards the sky. Lord Gaura gazed upwards towards the sky.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.17

sadyas tadā jalamuco marutā prakīrṇā
bhejur diśaṁ diśam amī saha citta-khedaiḥ
vyomātinirmalam abhūd udiyāya candraḥ
sārdhaṁ samasta-bha-gaṇena tamo’pahatyai

Translation: Immediately the clouds, losing power, were scattered in all directions by the wind. The sky became clear, and the moon rose with the stars to extinguish the darkness.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this place is in Navadvīpa dhāma which is next to the Bel-Pukura. Walking towards the village called Ṣona-daṅgā, you can see the place where Lord Caitanya being outside the village, He scattered all the clouds, just by playing on His large karatālas and gazing upwards. The Lord was enjoying His pastimes, and did not want to be disturbed by the rain clouds.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.18

rajyan prasārita-karaḥ parirabhya gāḍhaṁ
ramyāṁ kṣapā-nava-vadhūṁ vitamo’ntarīyām
ānanda-sindhu-laharī-cayam ucchalantaṁ
jyotsnām iṣād iva ramaty ayam oṣadhīśaḥ

Translation: The shining moon, spreading its hands, firmly embraced its attractive new bride, the night, with a cloth composed of absence of darkness. The moon took pleasure in the light, which agitated the waves in the ocean of bliss.

Jayapatākā Swami: See how poetic this is! It was obviously during the bright time of the moon. Tomorrow is the Mahā-dvādaśī. And then soon after, will be the Narasiṁha-Caturdaśī. Like this, the day after Narasiṁha-Caturdaśī is the full moon day. This pastime obviously happened sometime during the full moon or almost full moon.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 2.3.23

tato marudbhir meghaughāḥ khaṇḍitās te dig-antaram
bhejur babhūva vimalaṁ nabhaś candrāṁśu-rañjitam

Translation: At that, the winds suddenly dispersed the thunderclouds and distributed them through outer space, and the pleasing rays of the moon then shone in a cloudless sky.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.204

dure gela meghagaṇa - prakāśa ākāśa
hariṣe vaiṣṇavagaṇera vāḍhila ullāsa

Translation: Then the rainclouds fled far away. The sky became clear, and the happiness of the Vaiṣṇavas swelled.

Jayapatākā Swami: All the clouds went far away. And the sky became clear. The Vaiṣṇavas devotees became very happy. And their happiness swelled, increased.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.19

gīrvāṇa-vartmani tadā vimale sadṛkṣaiḥ
pīyūṣam udgirati tatra sudhā-mayūkhe
śrī-gaura-śīta-kiraṇo’py avanau sva-loke
saṅkīrtanāmṛta-rase ramati sma bhūyaḥ

Translation: As the moon with the stars poured out nectar in the clear sky, Gauraṅga with his shining rays, enjoyed the rasa of sweet kīrtana with his devotees on earth.

Jayapatākā Swami: The chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa congregationally, is known as kīrtana or saṅkīrtana and while chanting the kīrtana, one tastes a type of spiritual, profound, bliss. So, Lord Caitanya would always experience that, in His chanting. We want the devotees present to chant the names in saṅkīrtana and taste this spiritual bliss!

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.20

śrīmat-padābja-padavī-vara-haṁsakādyaiḥ
pāṇi-pravāla-yugalaṁ valayair layaiś ca
lātsyodgame sapadi manmatha-manmathasya
śrī-gaura-śīta-kiraṇasya rarāja bhūyaḥ

Translation: As the bewilderer of Cupid, with golden rays began dancing, the place shone with the anklets on his lotus feet, with the bracelets on his pink arms and with the rhythm.

Jayapatākā Swami: In other words, Lord Gaurāṅga was so beautiful, that He would bewilder even Cupid. And when He danced, the rays from His lotus feet shone all over the area, and the ankle bells on His feet were also sounding very beautifully! And, He was dancing with the rhythm of the kīrtana, with the bracelets on His long golden arms.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 2.3.24

tataḥ saṅkīrtana-paraiḥ sādhubhiḥ saha sa prabhuḥ
nanarta pāda-kaṭakaiḥ raṇac-caraṇa-paṅkajaḥ

Translation: Then that Mahāprabhu wearing anklets upon His lotus feet with the sādhus who are devoted to saṅkīrtana.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.205

niramala bhela śaśi-rañjita rajanī
anugata guṇa gāya- nācaye āpani

Translation: A spotless moon shone in the evening sky. As the devotees sang the Lord’s glories, Lord Gaura danced.

Jayapatākā Swami: The moon shone in the beautiful evening sky. The spotless moon. As His associates were singing the Lord’s glories, Lord Gaurāṅga danced.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.206

meghagaṇa nija rūpa dhari’ prabhu-kāche
nāciyā bulaye tārā bhakta pāche pāche

Translation: Manifesting their original forms, the clouds came by the Lord’s side. They were dancing and wandering thus following behind the devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the clouds took their own forms and came behind the Lord, in human like forms. And they were dancing, wandering around the devotees. Following behind the devotees.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.207

sei prema vicāra nā kare gaurahari
meghe ki baliba—dila trijagat bhari’

Translation: Lord Gaura-Hari did not consider to whom He should give the gift of love and to whom He should not give it.

What more can I say of these clouds? Lord Gaura filled everyone in the three worlds with love.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrī Gaura Hari, Lord Gaura Hari, did not consider who He will give the pure love of Kṛṣṇa to. What can we say of these clouds? He filled up the three worlds with ecstatic love. Lord Caitanya did not consider who to give mercy to and who not to give, He gave everyone.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.208

āpane ṭhākura nāce bhaktagaṇa-sane
sabhāra āveśe nāce śacīra nandane

Translation: The Lord danced Himself along with the devotees. Imbibing the mood of everyone, Śacī’s son danced.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord Gaurāṅga, danced along with the devotees. And at the end of the kīrtana, Lord Śacī-nandana, the son of mother Śacī, danced.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.209

premāra āveśe nāce mahānaṭarāje
padāmbuja mukhara mañjīra ghana bāje

Translation: Overcome with love, Mahā-naṭarāja danced, the anklets on His lotus feet made a great melodious sound.

Jayapatākā Swami: Being absorbed in pure love of Kṛṣṇa, Lord Gaurāṅga who was the great king of the dancers, the ankle bells on His two lotus feet made a great melodious sound.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.21

viprāṅganā-gaṇa-mukhendu-vinirgatais tair
uccair ulūlu-ninadair jaya-nāda-miśraiḥ
khe’vasthitasya diviṣan nicayasya harṣa-
svānair atīva-tumulaḥ sumahotsavo’bhūt

Translation: There was a tumultuous festivity with joyful voices of the devatās situated in the sky, mixed with the loud shouts of “Jaya” and ulū-dvāni emanating from the mouths of the wives of brāhmaṇas.

Jayapatākā Swami: Jaya! Jaya! So, the kīrtana of the Lord, was a great festivity, and all the devotees were joyfully chanting. The demigods or angels from the sky were shouting Jaya! Jaya! And the wives of the brāhmaṇas present were making the ulu-dhvani sound.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 2.3.25

vipra-sādhvī-mukhāmbhoja-ghana-dhvani-ninādite
nandayaty atipuṣpaugha-gandhonmādita-diṅ-mukhe

Translation: From the lotus mouths of saintly brāhmaṇīs came a loud and resonant sound (ulu ulu), which engladdened everyone present while a great shower of delightfully fragrant flowers fluttered in all directions.

Jayapatākā Swami: Ha! Ha! The Lord’s pastimes of kīrtana are literally out of this world. People may not appreciate this kīrtana, but if we do the kīrtana, we can taste some of the great transcendental bliss. And when Lord Caitanya was doing kīrtana, there were raining flowers from the heavens! Haribol!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.210

viprasādhvīgaṇa jaya jaya dei sukhe
ākāśete devagaṇa dekhaye kautuke

Translation: The saintly brāhmaṇīs happily chanted “Jaya! Jaya!” From the sky the demigods eagerly watched.

Jayapatākā Swami: The saintly wives of the brāhmaṇas chanted “Jaya! Jaya! All glories!” in great happiness. The demigods or angels from the sky eagerly, happily watched!

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.22

kundāravinda-karavīra-navīna-malli-
jātyādi-puṣpa-nivahai rava-kḷpta-mālyaḥ
śrīkhaṇḍa-kuṅkuma-lasan-mṛga-nābhi-paṅkair
ālipya sarva-tanum eva rarāja nṛtyan

Translation: As he danced with garlands made of jasmine, karavīra, fresh malli and jāti flowers, his whole body shone with ointments of musk, sandalwood and kuṁkuma.

Jayapatākā Swami: So here some details are given how Lord Caitanya was wearing, highly scented flowers which are available in the tropics of India. And on His body, He had ointments of musk, sandalwood paste and kuṁkuma.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 2.3.26

khe’vasthite sura-gaṇe babhūva mahad-utsavaḥ
śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtanānandaḥ sarva-śruti-manoharaḥ

Translation: Amongst the host of suras situated above them in outer space, a great joyful festival of Śrī-Kṛṣṇa-kīrtana also took place, which is the most attractive sound to everyone’s ears.

Jayapatākā Swami: So the demigods or angels that were in outer space watching the kīrtana, they also started to chant śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtana. And this created a most attractive sound to everyone’s ears.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 2.3.27-28

ye’neka-janma-kṛta-puṇya-samudra-saṅkhyās
te kṛṣṇa-deva-samam eva nitānta-śāntāḥ
nṛtyanti harṣa-pulakāśrubhir āvṛtāṅgā
devā yathācala-bhidā sukhino diviṣṭhāḥ

Translation: While the demigods in heaven headed by Indra-deva, smasher of mountains felt bliss, so also did Gaura’s bhaktas. These devotees who are unfathomably peaceful have accumulated pious deeds throughout many births as numerous as the waves of the ocean now found themselves dancing in the company of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself. As they danced, their bodies became covered by tears of joy and pulakas.

Jayapatākā Swami: They were dancing in ecstatic love and all their hairs were standing on end, and their eyes were pouring tears of joy. So, to be able to join the Lord’s pastimes, is the greatest benediction. So, to be able to sing and dance with the Lord, is something very special. So, this is what the devotees should aspire for. Material happiness is insignificant, compared to this. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.211

premāye bibhola saba nāce bhaktagaṇa
nā jāni ki kaila tapaḥ kateka janama

Translation: Overcome with ecstatic love, all the devotees danced. What austerities did they perform in how many births that they were able to join in these pastimes? I do not know.

Jayapatākā Swami: Being overwhelmed with ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa, the assembled devotees were dancing. I don’t know what austerities or activities they performed in how many births, that they were able to participate and join in these pastimes!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.212

tāhāra kāraṇe nāce ṭhākurera sane
āmoda karaye tārā prema hena dhane

Translation: Because of that reason, they were able to dance with Lord Gaura. They were blissful with the treasure of love.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, because of that reason, they were able to dance with Lord Gaurāṅga. They were very blissful, with the treasure of spiritual love. It says to have love for the Lord, one must have a strong desire for it. Pious activities and great wealth, any material thing, is not enough to get love of Kṛṣṇa, one needs to have laulyam or strong greed to get it. And, if we cannot develop a desire or greed to participate in this kīrtana of Lord Caitanya, how can you get this causeless mercy to participate in the Lord’s pastimes?

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.1.213

karuṇāya chāila prabhu e bhūmi ākāśa
śuni ānandita kahe e locanadāsa

Translation: The Lord filled the earth and the sky with His mercy. Having heard and being blissful, this Locana dāsa narrates these.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurāṅga, by His causeless mercy, He filled the earth and the sky, with the chanting of the holy names. Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, hearing this pastime and being blissful, he narrates this.

This is one day, out of the 365 days in a year. And, every day there are so many pastimes. We cannot describe all of them. We only know a few, given by these narrators. But even Anantadeva, with thousands of heads, He cannot describe all the pastimes. Ha! Unlimited! So, you see from this one simple pastime, so much bliss, so much loving ecstasy, all the men and women were experiencing. The men are chanting and dancing, and the women were saying “Jaya! Jaya!” and ulu-dhvani! Everyone is participating in this festivity of chanting the holy name. And Lord Caitanya predicted that this chanting will be spread to every town and village of the world. If they start to chant that now, they will all experience transcendental bliss. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Thus ends the Chapter -
 Lord Caitanya Scatters Clouds

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Any questions?

Rādhāpati Gopīnātha dāsa has some program, and I am supposed to speak on harināma for a few minutes.