20201104 Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāpabhu Reaches Remuṅā With the Associates

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 4th November 2020 in Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, India.

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: Introduction: Today we are continuing with Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, today’s chapter entitled is:

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāpabhu Reaches Remuṅā With the Associates.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.1: (Ratnākara enters) Ratnākara: Why does my dear wife, Gaṅgā, suddenly appear to be unhappy. Therefore, I will ask her what has brought suffering to her heart. (He looks ahead). 

I will approach her and ask: “O noble lady, why do you appear in this way?” (He approaches).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.1: (As described Gaṅgā enters). Gaṅgā: Alas! Alas! It is a long time since I had obtained contact with the Lord’s body who is the cause of my being fortunate as the water that has washed His lotus feet. What else can be greater good fortune than this? I once had His association. I have it no longer. What else can be greater misfortune than this?? What will I do who am so unfortunate? (She reflects for a moment).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.3: Ratnākara: (approaching) Bhāgīrathi (Gaṅgā), why are you unhappy?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.4: Gaṅgā: Noble husband, noble husband, what do you ask? I am indeed unfortunate.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.5: Ratnākara: O Bhāgīrathi (Gaṅgā), How is that?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.6: Gaṅgā: (in Sanskrit) The Supreme Lord, the master of the blissful, sweet devotees, the Lord by washing whose feet I am famous in this world, every day used to fill me with nectar happiness by bathing in my waters. Alas! Alas! Now He will give me up. For that reason I am unhappy.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.7: Ratnākara: Yes, I understand. I heard that He turned back from His journey to Mathurā, and now stays at Advaita's home. He is not leaving you after all. Why are you unhappy?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.8: Gaṅgā: Yes, it is so. Still, on another day, after Śrīvāsa and other friends came from Navadvīpa, and after Śrī Śacī-devī had cooked, as He sat with His friends, eating and playfully joking, the Lord began to speak.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.9: Ratnākara: What did He say?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.10: Gaṅgā: He said: “O Advaita, O My friends, please hear this. By the order of My mother and you dear affectionate friends, I am forbidden to leave. Because of this obstacle I cannot go to Mathurā. Therefore, now all of you please be merciful to Me and order me so now I may go (to Mathurā)."

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.11: Ratnākara: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.12: Gaṅgā: Then Advaita Ācārya said: “If out of love for You everyone cheerfully said: 'Yes, You may go', then, even before You had gone, everyone’s life-breath, unable to bear the outrage of separation from You, would leave out bodies at once."

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.13: Ratnākara: Well said, Advaita! Well said! Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.14: Gaṅgā: The Lord affectionately repeats again (the verse 10) Advaita, O My friends, please hear this. By the order of My mother and you dear affectionate friends, I am forbidden to leave. Because of this obstacle I cannot go to Mathurā. Therefore, now all of you please be merciful to Me and order me so now I may go (to Mathurā)."

“O Advaita, O My friends, I have accepted a sannyāsī's cloth. It is not right for a sannyāsī to remain in his own country surrounded by affectionate friends and relatives. You are very intelligent and learned, and My mother is also very intelligent. Therefore, all of you personally discern as to what is the duty of this body (as a sannyāsī). What more need I say?

Jayapatākā Swami: This is presented as the Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka. It is as a drama and different play actors who speak. So this is one of the texts which give details of Lord Caitanya’s pastimes. 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.15: Ratnākara: The Lord also said the right thing. Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.16: Gaṅgā: All His friends and Advaita Ācārya went near His mother Śacīdevī and discussed. 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.17: Ratnākara: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.18: Gaṅgā: When nobody could agree with each other in the discussion, then Mother Śacī said: “Bho! Bho! (voc. particle commonly used in addressing another person or several persons) If accepting sannyāsa and then rejecting it brings irreligion, for then it is not possible to tolerate the blaming of the wicked people, I will not tell him to do that just for the sake of my happiness. Therefore, it is proper for Him go to Jagannātha Purī. Sometimes, there is hope of of hearing news of His activities.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is being expressed by mother Ganges, because either way she is being deprived of Lord Caitanya’s association, whether Lord Caitanya goes to Mathurā or Jagannātha Purī.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.19: Ratnākara: Well spoken, mother! Well spoken! You have surpassed even Devahūti. Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.20: Gaṅgā: Struck with wonder, everyone said: “Mother, how have you spoken like this? Hereafter, we are not able to transgress this your words that is set forth just like the śruti.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.21: Ratnākara: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.22: Gaṅgā: Then Mother Śacī said: “Let whatever happens to us, let that happen. If wicked men find fault with Him it will be unbearable. If He goes to Jagannātha Purī, then You will be able to visit Him, and in this way I will hear news of Him."

Jayapataka Swami: So, Mother Saci was willing to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.23: Ratnākara: Then? Then? 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.24: Gaṅgā: Then they all approached the Lord and conveyed Mother Śacī's words to Him. 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.25: Ratnākara: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.26: Gaṅgā: Then the Lord became happy and said: “As the mother of the world orders, all of you order. I will go to Jagannātha Purī." Haribol!

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.27: Ratnākara: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.28: Gaṅgā: Then everyone said: “Lord, please stay here for some days more so we may see Your lotus feet.”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.29: Ratnākara: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.30: Gaṅgā: In order to please His mother and friends, the Lord stayed with them for three days. Just like before to please them, the Lord feasted with His friends whatever the mother of the Lord (Śacī) and Acyutananda's mother together cooked. When, on the fourth day the Lord prepared to go, everyone discussed and gave Nityānanda, Jagadānanda, Dāmodara, and Mukunda to accompany the Lord. When they and the residents of Navadvīpa left, Advaita Ācārya cried very much. Lord Caitanya did not say anything to Him, but simply left.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.31: Ratnākara: Since the yavana king of Bengal and Mahārāja Pratāparudra are at enemity with each other, there is no going and coming between these regions. How can the Lord and His four associates go?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.32: Gaṅgā: (In Sanskrit) Noble husband, this is not surprising. Look! Look! Who can hate or envy the Supersoul, the sincere friend of the entire world and who has no enemy in the world? (Nobody hates or envies Him) Look! Without obstruction the Lord and His five friends now travel among the two ferocious armies within the regions of Utkala and Gauḍa. Furthermore…

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the king of Bengal, the king of Orissa, they are in enmity with each other. Bengal is known as Gauḍa and Orissa is known as Utkala. So, although there was no travelling between the two countries at that time, by road, the Lord went by boat.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.33: When they saw Lord Caitanya, the deceitful tax collectors in each villages, the residents of great forests and hills and the high-way robbers who stay on the road causing fear to the travellers, all of these people burst into tears, stumble, and roll about on the ground in ecstasy. 

Jayapatākā Swami: Such is the mercy of Lord Caitanya. 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.34: Ratnākara: It is so. The Lord does not give pleasure to those who are naturally demons at heart, but with exception of these, He purifies even the most sinful and fallen and decorates them with Bhakti-rasa. Then? Then?

Gaṅgā: Certainly

Ratnākara: Then? Then

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.35: Gaṅgā: Leaving the impassable royal roads always filled with moving soldiers, horses, elephants, and feudatory princes, the Lord went through the jungle.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.36: Ratnākara: Then? Then

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.37: Gaṅgā: (in Sanskrit) Oh, marvellous! The ferocious tigers, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses that fled in fear of Lord Rama's powerful bows when He travelled deep in the jungle, are now stunned in ecstasy by tasting a drop of His mellow sweetness (i.e., in stead of running away, by seeing his beauty they used to stay there helpless due to being filled with love).

Jayapatākā Swami: So just as Lord Caitanya, when He went to Vṛndāvana through the Jhārikhaṇḍa forests, all the animals, the tigers, deer, etc. began to chant, dance, how Lord Caitanya went to Sunderban forest, the wild animals were filled with love of ecstasy.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.38: After walking for some days through the jungles and blessing the various vines and trees with good fortune (by accepting their flowers and fruits), He again returned to the royal road. 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.39: Ratnākara: Where did He go then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.40: Gaṅgā: (In Sanskrit) The Lord returned to the royal road so He could offer prayers with great respect to an ancient Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa holding a flute in His hand residing in the town of Remuṇā. 

Jayapatākā Swami: This is the Deity of Lord Gopīnātha, famous as He stole a pot kṣīra for His devotee Mādhavendra Purī. When Lord Rāma went over by this place, by His flower aeroplane, He carved a deity of His, as an incarnation in the Dvāpara-yuga, as Lord Gopīnātha. In a stone, taking His arrow head, He carved the Gopīnātha Deity, that Deity is worshipped in Remuṇā. 

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.41: Ratnākara: Ancient in what sense?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.42: Gaṅgā: Some say the devotees should worship the two-armed form of Lord Gopīnātha, and this worship is better than the worship of the Lord in His four-armed form. Others say that in ancient times four-armed Deities of the Lord were visible everywhere and Gopīnātha Deity is not ancient.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.43: Ratnākara: They do not know. In Cuttak and many other places there are many ancient Deities, such as the Deity of Sākṣi-Gopāla.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.12

prabhura remuṇāya upasthiti o gopīnātha-darśana:—

pathe baḍa baḍa dānī vighna nāhi kare
tā’ sabāre kṛpā kari’ āilā remuṇāre

Translation: There were many rivers on the way, and at each river there was a tax collector. The tax collectors did not hinder the Lord, however, and He showed them mercy. Finally He reached the village of Remuṇā. 

Purport : There is a railway sation named Baleśvara, and five miles to the west is the village of Remuṇā. The temple of Kṣīra-corā-gopīnātha still exists in this village, and within the temple the samādhi tomb of Rasikānanda Prabhu, the chief disciple of Śyāmānanda Gosvāmī, can still be found.

Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 2.276

remuṇāya śrī-gopīnātha-samīpe prabhura divyonmāda-līlā— 
hena mate śāktera sahita rasa kari’
āilā remuṇā-grāme gaurāṅga śrī-hari

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way after joking with that śākta, Śrī Gaurahari reached the village of Remuṇā.

Purport (by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura): In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.70.43) it is stated: 

“O Lord, even outcastes are purified by hearing and chanting Your glories and meditating upon You, the Absolute Truth. What then to speak of those who see and touch You?” The word rasa in this verse means “joking.” 

Remuṇā is situated five miles west of Balasore. The Deity of Kṣīra-corā Gopīnātha is situated there.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.6.1: So saying, Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu set forth again absorbed in Hari-kīrtana. Whenever He saw Deities of the Lord or the devatās on the road, He offer prostrated obeisances and offer some prayer of praise according to the vidhi.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.1

bhāṭiyārī rāga-diśā
bhāiyā gāore ore ore gaurā-gosāñira mahimāguṇa gāiha
āre bhāyyā prāṇabhāyyā saṁsāravāsanā nā kariha jagate yāvata-kāla jīya
mahāprabhura caraṇa nā chāḍiha

Jayapatākā Swami: O my dear brothers! O! O! Lord Gaura Gosāñi! Sing His glories! My dear brothers! Do not desire the saṁsarā, the enjoyment of the material world, anything in this world of birth and death. As long as you live in this universe, don’t give up the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

tabe sei mahāprabhu cali’ yāya pathe
tamoluke uttarila mahā puṇya-kṣetre

Jayapatākā Swami: Then Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu walked along the road and came to the very holy place known as Tamluka. 

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.6.2:

In the very pious land of Hari-Kṣetra, Tamolipta (Tamoluka), the jagad-guru took His bath in Brahma-kuṇda and then took darśana of the Deity of Madhusūdana.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.2

brahmakuṇḍe snāna dekhi’ śrī-madhusūdana
premāya avaśa prabhu ānandita mana

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord, Gaurāṅga, took His bath in the Brahma-kunḍa, and had the darśana of the Deity of Śrī Madhusūdana. Lord Caitanya was filled in loving ecstasy, and therefore His mind was very joyful.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.6.3: Then Gaura Bhagavān went to the great town of Remunā and stayed for a few days to see the Deity of Gopāla.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.3

eimane kathodina pathe cali’ yāya
uttarilā mahāprabhu grāma remuṇāya

Jayapatākā Swami: I think that Tamoluka is in the southern part of the modern Bengal. Maybe at that time, it was part of the Orissa kingdom. And therefore, somehow Lord Caitanya was going in the northern part of Orissa. Then after some days of walking on the path, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived in the village of Remuṇā. Vāsu Ghoṣa also, his temple is in southern Medinipur. So at that time, it could have been a part of Orissa. It is very common that the people in the southern part of Medinipur have names similar to the names that people have in Orissa.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāpabhu Reaches Remunā with the Associates.