20200505 Lord Caitanya Adopts the Mood of Lord Śiva and Benedicts a Mendicant

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

Today is the eve of Lord Narasiṁhadeva’s Caturdaśī. Also, today, various auspicious personalities appeared and disappeared. I think it was the appearance day of Rukmiṇī devī, and disappearance day of Jayānanda Prabhu. Today one of our dear senior Russian disciples, Gaṅgā Karuṇā devī dāsī, she left her body, here in the holy dhāma, Māyāpur. She was elderly. She had come here some months ago, in August 2019. She was 75 years old, and she left in the holy dhāma, in the sacred month of Vaiśākha on a sacred day. We would like everyone to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa for the benefit of her ātmā, to achieve Kṛṣṇaloka, to be in the spiritual world, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare!

Today we would like to remember Jayānanda Prabhu. When I came to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement in San Francisco, in 1968, it was the second Ratha-yātrā in ISKCON, and the first Ratha-yātrā was on a truck! This was the first custom made Ratha-yātrā. In San Francisco, there are cable cars. So, they have low lying wires throughout the city. And Jayānanda Prabhu was an engineer. So, he designed the telescopic ratha that it could lower its height and go under the cables, and rise up again after passing the cables. So, he gave me engaged me to help build the ratha. I remember that he asked me, do I know how to hold a nail? I told him, yes! He said, show me! And I held the nail, and he hammered it. Before the nail got into the wood, I removed my hand so that he wouldn’t smash my hand. Ha! He said very good! Do know how to hammer as well? I said yes! He said show me. And then he had me hammer nails. Then after I passed the tests, he showed me the pictures of the Ratha-yātrā in Purī, with millions of people and huge rathas. And he said, we want to build one of these to liberate all the people of San Francisco. Wow! Would you like to help liberate the people? When he put it that way, I did not have anything more important to do! And so, I said, ok! So how many months you will take to build this? He said, no, no, we have to build it in two weeks. Two weeks! Yep! Alright! Ha! Ha! So, he had us working hard, day and night to finish the ratha in two weeks! That was my first experience with Jayānanda Prabhu. And he was the one who shaved me up. He was a very great soul. He was doing so much service for Śrīla Prabhupāda. Then in 1970, I went to meet Śrīla Prabhupāda in Los Angeles. At that time, I also went out with Jayānanda Prabhu to harvest some flowers, from different houses in Beverley Hills, without getting the permission of the owners, and then somebody shot at us. And Śrīla Prabhupāda said, don’t go there for flowers any more. In India they don’t mind if we take the flowers! But in America it is a trespassing issue! Anyway, I had a very nice association with Jayānanda Prabhu in Los Angeles. Today was the day that he left the world and Śrīla Prabhupāda said we can celebrate his disappearance day as he was a great devotee and went back to Godhead. Haribol!

* * *

Chapter entitled as Lord Caitanya Adopts the Mood of Lord Śiva and Benedicts a Mendicant

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.99

mahābhāgyavān śaivera skande ārūḍha prabhura śivāveśa

āra dina śiva-bhakta śiva-guṇa gāya
prabhura aṅgane nāce, ḍamaru bājāya

Translation: On another day a great devotee of Lord Śiva, chanting of Lord Śiva’s qualities, came to Lord Caitanya’s house, where he began dancing in the courtyard and playing his ḍamaru [a musical instrument].

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 17.86

aparedyur asya karuṇāmbu-nidheḥ
purataś ca kaścana sugāyanakaḥ
śiva-gītam uttama-sukhena jagau
karuṇāśayāsya karuṇasya vibhoḥ

Translation: One day a great singer came before the Lord, the ocean of mercy, and sang a song about Śiva in great happiness for the Lord, the abode of mercy.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.96

śiva-gīta-śravaṇe mahāprabhura śaṅkarāveśa evaṃ śiva-gāyanera kandhe ārohaṇa—

eka-dina āsi' eka śivera gāyana
ḍambura bājāya, gāya śivera kathana

Translation: One day a singer of Śiva's glories arrived. He began to play his small drum and chant the glories of Lord Śiva.

Jayapatākā Swami: One day a singer of Lord Śiva’s glories, he was playing on his ḍambura drum, and he was singing the glories of Lord Śiva. ḍambura drum is a small musical instrument, which has some stones or something tied to a string and by shaking your hand it rattles and plays the drum, dhana dhana… so he was playing that, that is the drum that Lord Śiva uses, and he was singing the glories of Lord Śiva.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.11.13

athāpara-dine kaścid gāyanaḥ samupāgataḥ
namaskṛtya hariṁ bhaktyā tatropaviśya bhūtale

Translation: On the following day, a certain singer approached Gaura Hari, bowed to the Lord with devotion, and then sat upon the ground.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.50

tāra-para-dine kathā śuna saba jana
ācambite āila eka śivera gāyana

Translation: Everyone please hear the narration of another day's pastimes. Suddenly, a person singing Lord Śiva's glories arrived.

Jayapatākā Swami: Everyone please listen to the narration of another day’s pastimes. Suddenly came one Śiva singer, there came a person who sang the glories of Lord Śiva.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.97

āila karite bhikṣā prabhura mandire
gāhaye śivera gīta, veḍi' nṛtya kare

Translation: He came to the Lord's doorstep for begging alms and began to dance in a circle while singing a song about Lord Śiva.

He danced in a circle and sang a song glorifying Śiva.

Jayapatākā Swami: He came to Lord Gaurāṅga’s house in order to beg alms. He started to sing the glories of Lord Śiva, singing a song about the glories of Lord Śiva. He danced in a circle. So, he was dancing in a circle, and singing about Lord Śiva. Singing a song, glorifying Lord Śiva. You can see how Śiva is considered as the greatest of all the devotees. Vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ. At the same time, He is an expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa. And He is in charge of the whole material world. So, He has more powers than Lord Brahmā, who is the creator of this universe. But in the universe, He appears as one of the sons of Lord Brahmā, the second son. He is known as Rudra. He is very angry. So, He is the deva in charge of destruction. He is the demigod in charge of destruction. So, he is described as an expansion of Kṛṣṇa, but He comes in contact with material nature. So Kṛṣṇa is like milk and He is like yogurt. You can turn milk to yogurt, but you cannot turn yogurt to milk. So, there is a temple in Māyāpur called the Hari Hara Kṣetra. Lord Śiva was feeling bad because He had become attracted by the Mohinī-mūrti and normally, He wouldn’t be attracted by anyone in the material world. Lord Viṣṇu appeared to Him and said, that actually Mohinī is Me. So, if You were attracted to Me, You are attracted to Yourself. Because You are non-different from Me. So, there He assumed the form of half Hari and half Hara, half Śiva and half Viṣṇu. So that deity is still there. This is mentioned in the purāṇas, very ancient deity. So, śiva-tattva is one of those things which is very difficult to understand. guru-tattva, śiva-tattva, these are esoteric aspects, and very difficult to understand. So, we will see what happens when the Śiva devotee bows down to Lord Caitanya, and then starts to dance and sing the glories of Lord Śiva.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 7.51

namaskāra kari’ gauraharira caraṇe
maheśera guṇa gāya ānandita-mane

Translation: He offered obeisances to the feet of Lord Gaura-Hari, and then with a happy heart he sang Lord Śiva's glories.

Jayapatākā Swami: He offered his obeisances at the lotus of feet of Lord Gaura Hari. With a very blissful mind, he sang the glories of Lord Śiva, Maheśa.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 7.52

śiva! śiva! bali’ ḍāke parama ullāsa
śivera bhakati tāra dehe parakāśa

Translation: “Śiva! Śiva!”, he joyfully called out. Devotion for Lord Śiva was manifest in his body.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, he most joyfully called out, “Śiva! Śiva!” He was manifesting in his body, devotion for Lord Śiva.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.11.14

jagau kala-padaṁ gītaṁ śivasya madhurākṣaram
śrutvā sa bhagavān prītaḥ śivāviṣṭo nanarta ha

Translation: He sang a verse about Śrī Śiva in a melodious voice. Hearing that song, Gaurāṅga became much engladdened. Absorbed in the mood of Śiva, He began to dance.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.098

śaṅkarera guṇa śuni' prabhu viśvambhara
hailāśaṅkara-mūrti divya-jaṭā-dhara

Translation: As soon as Lord Viśvambhara heard the qualities of Lord Śaṅkara, He immediately took the form of Śaṅkara with matted locks of hair.

Jayapatākā Swami: As soon as Lord Viśvambhara heard the glories of Lord Śaṅkara, or Śiva, He immediately took the form of Lord Śiva, with divine matted locks of hair.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.53

śuni’ ānandita mana bhaigela ṭhākura
śivaguṇa śuni’ sukha bāḍhila pracura

Translation: Listening, Lord Gaura became joyful at heart. As He heard Lord Śiva's glories, Lord Gaura felt His joy increase more and more.

Jayapatākā Swami: Listening to the glories of Lord Śiva, Lord Gaura became joyful at heart. As He heard Lord Śiva’s glorification, Lord Gaurāṅga’s happiness increased more and more.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.54

śivera āveśe nṛtya karaye takhana
āpanā pāśare sukhe śivera gāyana

Translation: Manifesting the nature of Lord Śiva, Lord Gaura danced. Forgetting himself, the devotee of Lord Śiva was filled with joy.

Jayapatākā Swami: Ha! Ha! Ha! Lord Caitanya, He manifested the mood of Lord Śiva and started to dance, like Lord Śiva. And the devotee of Lord Śiva, forgot himself and was filled with happiness.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.100

maheśa-āveśa hailā śacīra nandana
tāra skandhe caḍi nṛtya kaila bahu-kṣaṇa

Translation: Then Lord Caitanya, adopting the mood of Lord Śiva, got on the man’s shoulders, and thus they danced together for a long time.

PURPORT: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu adopted the mood of Lord Śiva, for He is Śiva also. According to the philosophy of acintya-bhedābheda-tattva, Lord Śiva is not different from Lord Viṣṇu, but still Lord Śiva is not Lord Viṣṇu, just as yogurt is nothing but milk and yet is not milk nevertheless. One cannot get the benefit of milk by drinking yogurt. Similarly, one cannot get salvation by worshiping Lord Śiva. If one wants salvation, one must worship Lord Viṣṇu. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.4): mat-sthāni sarva-bhūtāni na cāhaṁ teṣv avasthitaḥ. Everything is resting on the Lord, for everything is His energy, yet He is not everywhere. Lord Caitanya’s adopting the mood of Lord Śiva is not extraordinary, but one should not therefore think that by worshiping Lord Śiva one is worshiping Lord Caitanya. That would be a mistake.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda has clarified the issue that it is not extraordinary that Lord Caitanya adopts the mood of Lord Śiva. Because Lord Caitanya expands Himself into Lord Śiva, one should not think that Śiva is Viṣṇu and that by worshipping Śiva one is naturally worshiping Lord Gaurāṅga. But by worshiping Lord Gaurāṅga, one is worshiping all the avatāras and all the expansions like Lord Śiva. So, we should understand it in that way otherwise it will be a mistake.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 17.87

niśamayya gītam atidhīra-padaṁ
lalitaṁ babhūva bhagavān muditaḥ
adhiruhya tasya lasad-aṁsa-taṭaṁ
naṭanaṁ cakāra sa ca dhūrjaṭivat

Translation: Hearing the skillful song with clever verses, the Lord became joyful and mounting the shining shoulders of the singer, he danced like Śiva.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 17.88

mada-ghūrṇitākṣi-yugalo vipulaiḥ
pulakair atīva-ruciro rucimān
sa tad-aṁsa-mūlam adhiruhya tadā
śivavan nanarta karuṇāmbunidhiḥ

Translation: With eyes rolling in intoxication, with hairs standing on end, shining attractively, the ocean of mercy mounted the singer’s shoulders and danced like Śiva.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.099

eka lamphe uṭhe tāra kāndhera upara
huṅkāra kariyā bale,—”muñi se śaṅkara”

Translation: The Lord jumped on the shoulders of that singer and shouted loudly, “I am that Śaṅkara!”

Jayapatākā Swami: With one jump, the Lord rose on the shoulder of the Śiva singer and shouted loudly, “I am that Śaṅkara!”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.11.15

tata utthāya tarasā gāyana-skandham āruhat |
śrīvāsa-paṇḍitas tatra śiva-stotraṁ cakāra ha |

Translation: Then swiftly jumping up, Gaura mounted the singer's shoulders. Then Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita composed a stotram in praise of Śrī Śiva.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.55

tāra sama bhāgyavān nāhi kona jana
āpane ṭhākura kaila skandhe ārohaṇa

Translation: No one is fortunate like that devotee because Lord Gaura personally climbed on that devotee's shoulders.

Jayapatākā Swami: No one is as fortunate as that devotee of Lord Śiva because Lord Gaurāṅga, He personally climbed on his shoulders!

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.11.16

mahokṣe sa haris tatra vartulāmbuja-locanaḥ
jaṭilaḥ śṛṅga-ḍamaru-vādako rāma-gāyakaḥ |

Translation: “Lord Śiva, whose eyes resemble the whorls of lotuses, is seated on a great bull. His hair is matted and the crescent moon rests upon his head. He plays upon the ḍamaru drum and sings the praise of Śrī Rāma Candra.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Śrīvasa Paṇḍita, composed a verse glorifying Lord Śiva. Lord Śiva is always chanting the name of Lord Rāma. On His beads, He is chanting. He has the rudrākṣa beads and He chants the name of Rāma.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.100

keha dekhe jaṭā, śiṅgā, ḍamaru bājāya
“bola bola” mahāprabhu balaye sadāya

Translation: Some people saw Mahāprabhu with matted locks of hair and playing a horn and ḍamaru drum, as He continually exclaimed, “Sing! Sing!”

Jayapatākā Swami: Some saw the Lord with matted hair and playing on a horn, and ḍamaru drum. Caitanya Mahāprabhu exclaimed continually, “Sing! Sing!”

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.101

se mahāpuruṣa yata śiva-gīta gāila
paripūrṇa phala tāra ekatra pāila

Translation: Whatever glorification of Śiva that great personality ever sang now bore its full fruits.

Jayapatākā Swami: That great soul was singing the glories of Lord Śiva, now received the fruits completely, at one time.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.102

sei ta' gāila gīta niraparādhe
gauracandra ārohaṇa kailā tāra kāndhe

Translation: Since that singer sang without offense, Gauracandra climbed on his shoulders. As a result of the singer's chanting the glories of Lord Śiva without offense, Gaurasundara climbed on his shoulders.

Jayapatākā Swami: So that singer was singing the songs of Lord Śiva without any offence. Therefore, Lord Gauracandra climbed on his shoulders. Lord Gaurāṅga is Kṛṣṇa Himself and since He is not different from Śiva, that singer got the special mercy of the Lord climbing on his shoulder. So, all the fruits of singing the glories of Śiva without any offence, was received in full when the Lord climbed on his shoulders. In that way, he got Lord Śiva on his shoulders, and also, he got Lord Kṛṣṇa! So, many devotees of Lord Caitanya are eager to have such a mercy. But this singer of Lord Śiva’s glories achieved that.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.56

skandhe kari’ ānande se nācaye gāyana
āveśe haila prabhura rakta-locana

Translation: Carrying Lord Gaura on his shoulders, that devotee joyfully sang and danced. Lord Gaura manifested reddish eyes

Jayapatākā Swami: After that, the singer carried with great joy, Lord Gaurāṅga on his shoulders. Lord Gaurāṅga at that time was manifesting the mood of Lord Śiva. So, He manifested reddish eyes.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.57

śivera āveśe kahe śivera kathana
khaṭaka ḍambaru-mukhe śiṅgāra garjana

Translation: In the mood of Lord Śiva, He spoke words like Lord Śiva's words. He played a khaṭaka and ḍambaru drum. With His mouth He loudly sounded on a horn.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in the mood of Lord Śiva, He spoke words like Lord Śiva. He played on the ḍambaru and khaṭaka drums. I don’t know what a khaṭaka is. Is it a drum or some other instrument? Also, with His mouth, He loudly sounded a horn.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.58

‘rāma kṛṣṇa baliyā se ḍāke kāmde hāse
kṣaṇeke kāmdaye gaurā śivera āveśe

Translation: Calling out, “Rāma! Kṛṣṇa!”, Lord Gaura laughed and wept. In the mood of Lord Śiva, Lord Gaura wept.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurāṅga in the mood of Lord Śiva, He called out, Rāma! Kṛṣṇa! Sometimes He cried, sometimes He laughed. In the mood of Lord Śiva, He wept, Lord Gaurāṅga wept. Sometimes in the mood of Lord Śiva, Lord Gaurāṅga wept.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.103

bāhya pāi' nāmilena prabhu-viśvambhara
āpane dilena bhikṣā jhulira bhitara

Translation: After regaining external consciousness, Lord Viśvambhara got down and personally placed alms in the singer's bag.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when the Lord Viśvambhara returned to His external consciousness, He got down from the shoulders of the Śiva devotee. He personally gave a donation in the bag of the singer.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.104

kṛtārtha haiyā sei puruṣa calila
`hari-dhvani' sarva-gaṇe maṅgala uṭhila

Translation: Being fully satisfied, the singer left. All the devotees chanted the names of Hari.

Jayapatākā Swami: Being very grateful, that singer, he left. All the devotees present started to chant the holy names of Lord Hari. Haribol! Haribol!

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 8.105

jaya pāi' uṭhe kṛṣṇa-bhaktira prakāśa
īśvara sahita sarva-dāsera vilāsa

Translation: As the glories of the Lord were vibrated, devotional service to Kṛṣṇa became manifest. In this way the Lord enjoyed pastimes with His servants.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way, the Lord enjoyed transcendental pastimes with His devotees, giving them intense joy. They began to glorify the Lord, as devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa was manifested, as glories to Kṛṣṇa bhakti became manifested. So, Lord Caitanya was enjoying pastimes every day with His devotees. And as a result, there was never a dull moment! Ha! Ha! As a result, there were countless pastimes going on. And just a certain amount is being described here. Lord Caitanya was enjoying His pastimes on the earth, and those who are fortunate are able to participate in the Lord’s pastimes!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.59

śrīvāsapaṇḍita sei saba tattva jāne
śivastava paḍhe sei sāvadhāna mane

Translation: Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita knows all these truths and so he recited many prayers of Lord Śiva with attentive mind.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīvasa Paṇḍita knows all these truths. And so, he read the verses, prayers, glorifying Lord Śiva, with a very careful consciousness.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 17.89

bhuvi yas tu nārada iti prathitaḥ
sa papāṭha tatra giriśa-stavanam
atisusvaraḥ sa tu mukunda-bhiṣak-
stavanaṁ mahimna iha hanta jagau

Translation: Śrīvāsa, known as Nārada on earth, began to recite verses glorifying Śiva in a sweet voice. Mukunda, the physician, sang verses there with majesty.

Jayapatākā Swami: “Śrīvasa known as Nārada on earth, began to recite verses glorifying Śiva in a sweet voice. Mukunda, the physician, sang verses there with majesty.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.11.17

babhūva jagatāṁ nāthaḥ sarva-deva-mayo haraḥ
cakre mahimnaḥ stotraṁ sa śrī-mukundo’tisusvaraḥ
avaruhya tataḥ skandhād gāyanasyāviśad vibhuḥ
sarve te muditās tatra hari-līlā-rasa-plutāḥ

Translation: “Thus Hara, the destroyer is the lord of all worlds and living beings, In Hara is the powers of all the devatās.” Mukunda sang this song in a very melodious voice. Then the all-pervasive Lord descended from the shoulders of the singer and sat down. All the bhaktas present became very jubilant and immersed in the mellows of Hari-līlā.

Jayapatākā Swami: “Thus Hara, the destroyer is the Lord of all worlds and living beings. In Hara is the powers of all the devatas. Mukunda sang this song in a very melodious voice. Then the all-pervasive Lord descended from the shoulders of the singer and sat down. All the bhaktas present became very jubilant and immersed in the mellows of Hari-līlā.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.60

paḍhaye mahimna-stava śrīmukunda datta
ānande nācaye tārā - jāne saba tattva

Translation: Śrī Mukunda Datta also recited majestic prayers. They joyfully danced since they all the truths

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrī Mukunda Datta, he offered prayers glorifying Lord Śiva and they also were dancing in great bliss. They knew all the relevant truths.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.11.18

kurvanti kīrtanaṁ harṣāt taiḥ sahaiva jagad-guruḥ
gāyan reme harer gītaṁ nanarta ca muhur muhuḥ
śrīmān viśvambharo devo / bhakti-bhāva-samanvitaḥ

Translation: Out of gladness they performed kīrtana and the guru of the three worlds, Viśvambhara-deva His heart filled with bhakti-bhāva, rejoiced in their company, dancing more and more, singing songs of Śrī Hari.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 17.90

tad-anantaraṁ sa tu tad-aṁsa-bhuvaṁ
parimucya tatra rabhasād abhajat
varam āsanaṁ nija-janān satataṁ
pariharṣayan kumuda-bāndhavavat

Translation: Then getting off the shoulders of the singer, the Lord quickly sat on an excellent seat, giving joy to his devotees constantly, as the moon gives joy to the night lotus.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.61

gāyanera kāndha haite nāmbila ṭhākura
hariparāyaṇa hari gāyena pracura

Translation: Lord Gaura descended from the singer's shoulders. Those devoted to Lord Hari sang the glories of Lord Hari…

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya, Lord Gaurāṅga, He got down from the shoulders of the singer. All the devotees of Hari began to sing glories of Lord Hari. They began to sing many glories of Lord Hari.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.62

ānande nācaye yena made mātoyāra
hariguṇa gāya sukhe ānanda-pāthāra

Translation: … and happily, danced like intoxicated person. Joyfully singing the glories of Lord Hari, Lord Gaura was plunged in an ocean of bliss.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurāṅga danced in great bliss like an intoxicated person, singing the glories of Lord Hari. Lord Gaurāṅga was plunged in an ocean of transcendental bliss, an ocean of ecstatic love.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 7.63

karuṇāsamudra kare karuṇāprakāśa
śunite ānande bhorā e locanadāsa

Translation: Lord Gaura, who is an ocean of mercy, showed great mercy. Hearing of this pastime, Locana dāsa is overcome with bliss.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurāṅga is an ocean of mercy. And He manifested great mercy. Hearing of this pastime, Locana dāsa is overwhelmed with bliss.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.101

nṛtyaparāyaṇa bhikṣukake premadāna

āra dina eka bhikṣuka āilā māgite
prabhura nṛtya dekhi nṛtya lāgila karite

Translation: On another day a mendicant came to beg alms from the Lord’s house, but when he saw the Lord dancing, he also began to dance.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.102

prabhu-saṅge nṛtya kare parama ullāse
prabhu tāre prema dila, prema-rase bhāse

Translation: He danced with the Lord because he was favored by love of Kṛṣṇa. Thus, he flowed in the mellows of love of Godhead.

So, Lord Gaurāṅga’s rising on the shoulders of the Śiva mendicant, by getting the touch of Lord Gaurāṅga, he was actually blessed by love of Kṛṣṇa, which is the real mood of Lord Śiva. So, this mendicant, he got blessed by the Lord, which is the ripened fruit of all his service to Lord Śiva. In fact, more than what any other Śiva devotee gets. So, these pastimes show that Lord Gaurāṅga is completely independent. And that He manifests His pastimes very spontaneously. And by hearing these pastimes, one gets more and more appreciation for Lord Gaurāṅga! Śrīla Prabhupāda, when he arrived in Mexico City, he told the Mexican devotees, that Nitāi Gaura are unlimitedly merciful. Please take shelter of them. Haribol! So, we can see here, how Lord Caitanya gave His blessing to this Śiva devotee. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Thus ends the Chapter -
Lord Caitanya Adopts the Mood of Lord Śiva and Benedicts a Mendicant

* * *

So, any questions?

Question: Hare Kṛṣṇa Guru Mahārāja. PAMRO. In this lockdown situation, how can we staying at home, observe Narasiṁha-caturdaśī? Could you please tell us something? —Your spiritual son, Manohara Madana Mohana dāsa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Well, you can watch the Narasiṁha abhiṣeka on the Māyāpur TV, and you can read the glories of Lord Narasiṁhadeva, you can hear the classes by devotees, on Narasiṁhadeva over the internet, and you can also, if you are at home, if you have a deity of Lord Narasiṁhadeva or śalagrāma-śilā, you can offer abhiṣeka. Anyway, you can fast up till sunset. And in this way, you can observe the Narasiṁha-caturdaśī. We break the fast after the sunset because Lord Narasiṁhadeva appeared at the sunset. Hiraṇyakaśipu told Prahlāda, that if your God exists, that let Him come, is He here in this column? And then he struck the column. There was a loud sound and since Hiraṇyakaśipu had a boon from Lord Brahmā, he cannot be killed in the day or night, so the Lord killed him at twilight. It was neither day or night! Ha! Ha! It was not exactly day or it was not exactly night. So as far as how we break the fast, Śrīla Prabhupāda said that we are kṛṣṇa-bhaktas. So, we observe the appearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa, on the Kṛṣṇa-janmāṣṭamī, we take anukalpa. Also, on the appearance of Lord Caitanya, since He is also Kṛṣṇa, we take anukalpa. Actually, since in Māyāpur we have the deity of Lord Narasiṁhadeva, many devotees observe anukalpa fast. I would say mostly. But technically, if they want, they can take grain at sunset. But since we have the deity of Narasiṁhadeva here, most people observe anukalpa. Similarly, temples of Rāma - Sītā, Rāma Lakṣmaṇa, Hanumān, they usually observe the Rāma-navamī with anukalpa. But we don’t usually do that. It is optional, in Māyāpur. Everywhere it is optional. But usually if the devotees, they have the deities they observe it more strictly. One day, Hari Śaurī Prabhu, he mentioned to me that we don’t have to observe anukalpa. It is true. But usually, we do because we have Narasiṁhadeva here. Thank you all very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa!

Since we have the abhiṣeka tomorrow, I won’t give class at 6, maybe at 8 pm IST I will give class. Hare Kṛṣṇa!