20200812 Lord Caitanya’s Visit to Nanda Bhavana And While in Nīlācala Enacting the Janmāṣṭamī Pastime

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram
hariḥ oṁ tat sat

Introduction: Today we are having a special Caitanya-līlā class where Lord Caitanya is enacting the Janmāṣṭamī. And we are going a bit out of order, and I don’t know what we will do tomorrow, since it is Śrīla Prabhupāda’s Vyāsa-pūjā. But today the title of the chapter is:

Lord Caitanya’s Visit to Nanda Bhavana And While in Nīlācala Enacting the Janmāṣṭamī Pastime

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 18.57

vṛndāvana haite nandīśvare nandālaya-darśana o premavihvalatā :—

tāhāṅ līlā-sthalī dekhi’ gelā ’nandīśvara’
’nandīśvara’ dekhi’ preme ha-ilā vihvala

Translation: After visiting the places of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes at Kāmyavana, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Nandīśvara. While there, He was overwhelmed with ecstatic love.

Purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda: Nandīśvara is the house of Mahārāja Nanda.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 18.58

pāvana-sarovare snāna, vigraha-sambandhe jijñāsā :—

‘pāvanādi’ saba kuṇḍe snāna kariyā
lokere puchila, parvata-upare yāñā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu bathed in all the celebrated lakes, beginning with Lake Pāvana. Thereafter He climbed a hill and spoke to the people.

Purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda: The Pāvana-sarovara is described in the Mathurā-māhātmya:

pāvane sarasi snātvā kṛṣṇaṁ nandīśvare girau
dṛṣṭvā nandaṁ yaśodāṁ ca sarvābhīṣṭam avāpnuyāt

Translation: One who bathes in Pāvana Lake by Nandīśvara Hill will see Kṛṣṇa there along with Nanda and Yaśodā and will fulfill all his desires.

Jayapatākā Swami: So this Mathurā-māhātmya, it tells different glories and fruits of the different parts of Vraja. By this bathing in the Pāvana lake you get a special blessing. To see Śrī Kṛṣṇa with Nanda and Yaśodā, will fulfill all your desires.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 18.59

lokera nikaṭa gophāstha nanda, yaśodā o kṛṣṇamūrtira avasthāna vārttā-śravaṇa :—

kichu deva-mūrti haya parvata-upare?
loka kahe,—mūrti haya gophāra bhitare

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked, “Are there any deities on top of this hill?

Purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda:  The local people replied, “There are deities o this hill, but they are located within a cave.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 18.60

dui-dike mātā-pitā puṣṭa kalevara
madhye eka ’śiśu’ haya tribhaṅga-sundara

Translation: There are a father and mother with well-built bodies, and between them is a very beautiful child who is curved in three places.”

Jayapatākā Swami: It seems to be a description of Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 18.61

śuni’ mahāprabhu mane ānanda pāñā
’tina’ mūrti dekhilā sei gophā ughāḍiyā

Translation: Hearing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. After excavating the cave, He saw the three deities.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was finding certain holy places, of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes. There are some places for the six Gosvāmīs to excavate.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 18.62

prabhura nanda-yaśodā vandana o kṛṣṇasparśana

vrajendra-vrajeśvarīra kaila caraṇa Vandana
premāveśe kṛṣṇera kaila sarvāṅga-sparśana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered His respects to Nanda Mahārāja and mother Yaśodā, and with great ecstatic love He touched the body of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Here Lord Caitanya is respecting His mother and father, and touching the body of Lord Kṛṣṇa in great ecstatic love. So He desired to reveal these holy places of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, His desire is being fulfilled.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 18.63

samastadina nṛtya-gītānte khadiravane āgamana :—

saba dina premāveśe nṛtya-gīta kailā
tāhāṅ haite mahāprabhu ’khadira-vana’ āilā

Translation: Every day the Lord chanted and danced in ecstatic love. Finally, He went to Khadiravana.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.146

janmāṣṭamīte gopalīlā :—

kṛṣṇa-janma-yātrāte prabhu gopa-veśa hailā
dadhi-bhāra vahi’ tabe laguḍa phirāilā

Translation: On Janmāṣṭamī, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s birthday, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu dressed Himself as a cowherd boy. At that time, He carried a balance with pots of yogurt and wheeled a rod about.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Kṛṣṇa is a cowherd boy, He knew how to wheel the rod around. Even today in the villages, the cowherd boys are very expert at rolling the sticks and stick fighting. So, Lord Caitanya was assuming the pastimes of the cowherd boys and shows also how on Janmāṣṭamī we can perform various dramas and remember Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental pastimes in Vṛndāvana.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā,15.17

nandotsava-dine gopaveśe bhaktasaha vraja-līlābhinaya —

kṛṣṇa-janma-yātrā-dine nanda-mahotsava
gopa-veśa hailā prabhu lañā bhakta saba

Translation: The devotees celebrated the festival of Janmāṣṭamī, Kṛṣṇa’s birthday, which is also called Nanda-mahotsava, the festival of Nanda Mahārāja. At that time Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees dressed themselves as cowherd boys.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, they were observing this festival, by performing a drama of cowherd boys, cowherd pastimes of Kṛṣṇa. So, we can understand that Lord Caitanya was absorbed in total ecstasy, by celebrating this Janmāṣṭamī, and it became a festival, Kṛṣṇa’s Janmāṣṭamī appearance. So the day following the big festival is called Nanda-mahotsava, the festival of Nanda Mahārāja, and there he is giving charity out profusely, thousands of cows, gems and jewels, and fine cloths, astrologers came and he rewarded them and heard the glories of his son.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.18

dadhi-dugdha-bhāra sabe nija-skandhe kari’
mahotsava-sthāne āilā bali ’hari’ ’hari’

Translation: Having dressed up like cowherd boys, all the devotees carried pots of milk and yogurt balanced on rods over their shoulders. Thus, they all arrived at the festival grounds chanting the holy name of Hari.

Jayapatākā Swami: Haribol! Haribol! Just like Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma and other cowherd boys would carry milk products, Lord Caitanya and His associates were also enacting these pastimes.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.19

kānāi khuṭiyāra o jagannātha-māhātira yathākrame ‘nanda’ o ‘yaśodā’ veśa

kānāñi-khuṭiyā āchena ’nanda’-veśa dhari’
jagannātha-māhāti hañāchena ’vrajeśvarī’

Translation: Kānāñi Khuṭiyā dressed himself like Nanda Mahārāja, and Jagannātha Māhiti dressed himself as mother Yaśodā.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.20

rājā, miśra, bhaṭṭa o tulasī-paḍichāra saha prabhura līlāraṅga

āpane pratāparudra, āra miśra-kāśī
sārvabhauma, āra paḍichā-pātra tulasī

Translation: At that time, King Pratāparudra was also personally present with Kāśī Miśra, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Tulasī Paḍichāpātra.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.21

iṅhā-sabā lañā prabhu kare nṛtya-raṅga
dadhi-dugdha haridrā-jale bhare sabāra aṅga

Translation: As usual Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced jubilantly. Everyone was covered with milk, yogurt and yellow turmeric water.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we can see that Lord Caitanya, was very jubilantly observing this Janmāṣṭamī festival, dancing and somehow all the devotees became covered with milk, yogurt and turmeric water. They were enjoying these transcendental pastimes, in remembrance of Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.22

lāṭhi kheliyā svīya gopasvarūpa dekhāite anurodha:–

advaita kahe,—satya kahi, nā kariha kopa
laguḍa phirāite pāra, tabe jāni gopa

Translation: At this time, Śrīla Advaita Ācārya said, ‘Please do not be angry. I speak the truth. I shall know that. You are a cowherd boy only if You can wheel this rod about.

Jayapatākā Swami: This was a challenge. Śrī Advaita Ācārya said to Lord Caitanya, if You are really a cowherd boy, they You can wheel this rod about. Actually, Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṇa Himself. But He is coming as a devotee. Let us see if He can wheel the rod around!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.23

prabhurao lāṭhi ghurāiyā gopa-līlā pradarśana –

tabe laguḍa lañā prabhu phirāite lāgilā
bāra bāra ākāśe pheli’ luphiyā dharilā

Translation: Accepting Advaita Ācārya’s challenge, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took a big rod and began to wheel it around and around. Again and again He threw the rod into the sky and caught it when it fell.

Jayapatākā Swami: Haribol! Haribol! Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He swung the rod around, wheeling it around and around, throwing it in the air and catching it, which activities the cowherd boys in Vṛndāvana were very expert at. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He also performed that activity. So, we can see how all the devotees are so much absorbed in kṛṣṇa-prema.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.24

śirera upare, pṛṣṭhe, sammukhe, dui-pāśe
pāda-madhye phirāya laguḍa,—dekhi’ loka hāse

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wheeled and threw the rod, sometimes over His head, sometimes behind His back, sometimes in front of Him, sometimes to His side and sometimes between His legs. All the people laughed to see this.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Lord Caitanya is very expert with the rod. He would do all kinds of unique spinning. Wheeling the rod about. Here we see Lord Caitanya wheeling the rod.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.25

alāta-cakrera prāya laguḍa phirāya
dekhi’ sarva-loka-citte camatkāra pāya

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu whirled the rod in a circle like a firebrand, the heart of everyone who saw it was astonished.

Jayapatākā Swami: It is not possible to wheel the rod in a circle like a firebrand, unless one is a cowherd boy. So here Lord Caitanya’s identity is being revealed. But whoever was seeing this pastime was astonished.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.26

nitāirao airūpa lāṭhi ghurāiyā svīya gopasvarūpa pradarśana

ei-mata nityānanda phirāya laguḍa
ke bujhibe tāṅhā duṅhāra gopa-bhāva gūḍha

Translation: Nityānanda Prabhu also played at whirling the rod. Who can understand how They were ecstatically immersed in the deep emotions of the cowherd boys?

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Nityānanda Prabhu was also whirling the rod. We understand how They were observing Janmāṣṭamī by reliving the pastimes of the cowherd boys. This is something ecstatic, and everyone was amazed to see how Nitāi and Gaura were absorbed in this cowherd pastimes.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.27

prabhura mastake tulasī-paḍichāra ānīta prasādi vastuvandhana –

pratāparudrera ājñāya paḍichā-tulasī
jagannāthera prasāda-vastra eka lañā āsi

Translation: Following the orders of Mahārāja Pratāparudra, the temple superintendent, named Tulasī, brought one of Lord Jagannātha’s used cloths.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.28

bahu-mūlya vastra prabhu-mastake bāndhila
ācāryādi prabhura gaṇere parāila

Translation: This valuable cloth was wrapped around the head of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The other devotees, headed by Advaita Ācārya, also had cloths wrapped about their heads.

Jayapatākā Swami: The cowherd boys in Vṛndāvana, they would wrap cloths around their heads, to keep the heat of the day away. So, in the mood of the cowherd boys, Lord Caitanya, Nityānanda, and all their associates, headed by Advaita Ācārya, also wrapped cloths around their heads.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.29

kānāi o jagannāthera dhanādi-vitaraṇa

kānāñi-khuṭiyā, jagannātha,—dui-jana
āveśe vilāila ghare chila yata dhana

Translation: In ecstasy, Kānāñi Khuṭiyā, who was dressed as Nanda Mahārāja, and Jagannātha Māhiti, who was dressed as mother Yaśodā, distributed all the riches they had stocked at home.

Jayapatākā Swami: Nanda and Yaśodā were so happy to have Kṛṣṇa as their son. They donated their riches of their house profusely, to the brāhmaṇas and all the devotees.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.30

prabhura santoṣa o mātā-pitāke praṇāma

dekhi’ mahāprabhu baḍa santoṣa pāilā
mātā-pitā-jñāne duṅhe namaskāra kailā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was greatly satisfied to see this. Accepting them as His father and mother, He offered them obeisances.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya was fully absorbed in the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, and He accepted the devotees who were playing the parts of Nanda and Yaśodā, as His father and mother, and offered them obeisances.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 15.31

parama-āveśe prabhu āilā nija-ghara
ei-mata līlā kare gaurāṅga-sundara

Translation: In great ecstasy, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence. In this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, known as Gaurāṅga-sundara, performed various pastimes

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we are having an insight how Lord Caitanya was observing the Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī festival. In great spiritual bliss. Both in Vṛndāvana and also in Nīlācala.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.84

bhaṭṭera svakṛta-śrī-kṛṣṇanāma-vyākhyā-śravaṇārtha prabhuke anurodha :—

bhaṭṭa kahe, ”kṛṣṇa-nāmera artha-vyākhyāne
vistāra kairāchi, tāhā karaha śravaṇe”

Translation: Vallabha Bhaṭṭa said, “I have tried to describe elaborately the meaning of Kṛṣṇa’s holy name. Kindly hear the explanation.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.85

abhinna-cidvilāsī vācaka kṛṣṇanāma o vācya gokulapati kṛṣṇa-vigraha :—

prabhu kahe,—”kṛṣṇa-nāmera bahu artha nā māni
’śyāma-sundara’ ’yaśodā-nandana,’—ei-mātra jāni

Translation: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “I do not accept many different meanings for the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. I know only that Lord Kṛṣṇa is Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. That’s all I know.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.86

tamāla-śyāmala-tviṣi
śrī-yaśodā-stanan-dhaye
kṛṣṇa-nāmno rūḍhir iti
sarva-śāstra-vinirṇayaḥ

Translation: The only purport of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa is that He is dark blue like a tamāla tree and is the son of mother Yaśodā. This is the conclusion of all the revealed scriptures.

Purport by Śrīla Prabhupāda: This is a verse from the Nāma-kaumudī.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 7.87

‘rūḍhi’ arthai siddha o svīkārya; apara artha asvīkārya :—

ei artha āmi mātra jāniye nirdhāra
āra sarva-arthe mora nāhi adhikāra”

Translation: I conclusively know two names, Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. I do not understand any other meanings, nor have I the capacity to understand them.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is absorbed in the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. And therefore, Kṛṣṇa is known as Śyāmasundara and Yaśodānandana. So He is just focusing on these two aspects. Although there are other meanings, like all attractive, reservoir of all pleasure, many meanings. But Lord Caitanya, He is saying that He appreciates, blackish Kṛṣṇa who is very beautiful, as Yaśodānandana, the dear boy of Yaśodā. This is actually the highest meaning, because it reflects the mood of the gopīs, the mood of the pastimes.

So we heard how Lord Caitanya He observes the Janmāṣṭamī in Vṛndāvana, in Nīlācala and also the sacred names of Kṛṣṇa. And we can see that these pastimes of Kṛṣṇa are based on spontaneous love. And all the cowherd boys would have different pastimes with Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, and that is overwhelming, very sweet, very ecstatic. So, Lord Caitanya was concentrating on that essence of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes. Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Thank you for this opportunity of celebrating Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s observance of Janmāṣṭamī. We are waiting for questions.

Thus ends the chapter, Lord Caitanya’s Visit to Nanda Bhavana And While in Nīlācala Enacting the Janmāṣṭamī Pastime.

Question: We can see here in these pastimes that the associates of the Lord are all absorbed in the pastimes and in the service of the Lord. So what does it mean to be absorbed in our service to the Lord? And how can one develop this mood of absorption in our service that we are rendering to guru and Gaurāṅga?  Kindly enlighten, Guru Mahārāja. - Supriyā Jāhnavā devī dāsī

Jayapatākā Swami: They are identifying with the pastimes itself. It is like they are reliving the pastimes. They are in the mood of the cowherd boys and so on. So, if we can get absorbed in the mood of Kṛṣṇa Balarāma, that means you identify yourself with the pastime. Then you realize how wonderful Kṛṣṇa is. Haribol!

My best wishes to everyone on the sacred Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī! Please take my blessings! Kṛṣṇera matir astu!