20201205 Entrance into Nīlācala (Part 1)

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 continuing with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, today’s chapter entitled is:

Entrance Into Nīlācala

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca [3.10.1]: Now hear further the charming and pure history of the magnanimous Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, whose association is like a refreshing shower of nectar.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.112

bola śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya gaurācāṅdera madhura nāmakhāni

Jayapatākā Swami: “Please chant the sweet names Śri Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Gauracandra!”

bhāi re āra nāhi taribāra tare
jagata-durllabha ei kathā

Jayapatākā Swami: O my dear brothers, the names of Lord Caitanya are most able to deliver the fallen souls and very rare in this universe.

jagate yābata jīya, śravaṇa bhariyā pīya,
kabhu nā chāḍiha guṇa-gāthā

Jayapatākā Swami: Anyone who live in this world, please hear and drink these holy names to your fullest extent. Never give up hearing the transcendental names of the Lord, the transcendental qualities of the Lord as long as you live in this world.

tabe punaḥ śuna gaurācāṅdera carita
barikhaye prabhu premā nūtana amṛta

Jayapatākā Swami: Again please hear the nectarine pastimes of Lord Gauracandra’s. Pure love for Lord Caitanya is like a shower of ever-new nectar.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.64: [Gaṅgā]: Lord Caitanya stayed there that day. The next day, with agitated heart and with great anxiety, to see lotus-eyed Lord Jagannātha, He quickly left.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.65 [Ratnākara]: Then? Then?

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca [3.10.2]: Thereafter the unborn all-opulent Personality of Godhead, Śrī Hari, the sole friend of the sādhu, went forth with a glad heart, accompanied by His associates. He saw the transcendental Kapota-liṅgam, He immediately offered obeisances and again departed. Lord Caitanya, Gaurahari who descended from the spiritual world was wandering on this earth giving out His mercy. With every action He was teaching others. So, He offered respect to Bhuvaneśvara deity and immediately left to Jagannātha Purī.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.113

pathe cali’ yāya prabhu nijajana saṅge
dekhila ta kapota-īśvara mahā-raṅge

Jayapatākā Swami: Continuing on the Journey, Lord Caitanya in association of His devotees. He saw the Kapoteśvara Deity with great bliss.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.114

tāre namaskari’ prabhu cali’ yāya pathe
puṇya-tīrtha mahā-liṅga dekhite dekhite

Jayapatākā Swami: So, He offered His respectful obeisances Lord Caitanya continued to traverse the path to Jagannātha Purī. On the way He saw many holy places and many great Śiva-liṅgas.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca [3.10.3]: He also saw with gladness many other holy liṅgams of Śiva, and after bowing down before them, again proceeded on until He came to the swift flowing river named Bhārgavī. After taking bath according to the rules, He continued traveling onwards.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.115

tabe se bhārgavī nāme nadī bhāgyavatī
tāthe snāna kaila nijajanera saṁhati

Jayapatākā Swami: Accompanied by His associates, Lord Caitanya bathed in the fortunate river named Bhārgavī.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya [11.84]: From there, the Lord went to beautiful Kamalapura, offered respects to Śiva, and bathed in the Bhārgī River. He saw the temple of Kapāleśvara with cakra, whose tower is beautiful like the Kailāsa-parvata and the flag on top fluttering in the wind.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.66 [Gaṅgā]: Reaching the village named Kamalapura and bathing in the river, as Lord Caitanya travelled to see Lord Jagannātha, Nityānandadeva then broke the daṇḍa thinking “Why does He need this? The acceptance of this daṇḍa is the rejection of all of our friends,” and threw it into the middle of the river.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, some history shows that He broke the daṇḍa in the other river, then it says that He went alone to see Lord Jagannātha, then after than he went to many other places with his associates. So, it makes more sense that His daṇḍa was broken here and from here He goes.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.67 [Ratnākara]: Then? Then?

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 2.404

kamalapure—

ei mate sarva-pathe santoṣe āsite
uttarilā āsi' prabhu kamalapurete

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way the Lord came very happily travelled on all the pathway and then Lord Caitanya eventually arrived at Kamalapura.

Purport (by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura): In this regard one should see Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 5.141), which states: kamalapure āsi bhārgīnadī-snāna kaila— “When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at Kamalapura, He took His bath in the Bhārgīnadī River.” The flag on top of the Jagannātha temple can be seen from this village. This ancient village is situated in the district of Purī.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.68 [Gaṅgā]: Then, seeing Lord Jagannātha’s temple in the distance, Mukunda said to Lord Caitanya: “Lord, look! Look”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.69 “Is this the sun-god's arm extended to lift the earth? Is this Ananta Śeṣa rising from Pātālaloka going to Satyaloka? Is this the splendor of the regal jewels on the Nāgas’ hoods travelling through space to the Svarga planets? O Lord, is this, is this the splendid temple of Lord Jagannātha?”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.70 [Ratnākara]: Noble lady, everything is understood. Why are you unhappy? In my good fortune you will also become fortunate. (The happiness of the husband brings happiness to the wife) Look! Look!

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.71 Alas! For the sake of His beloved (Sītā) the Supreme Lord built a bridge across me. For her sake, I was churned by the devas, but He did not consider that I am Her father. Ah, what good fortune has now become mine? Leaving His beloved goddess of fortune, Lord Hari now He resides on my shore as a member of my household.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.72 Therefore come. Let us go near and see.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.73 [Gaṅgā]: As it pleases you, noble husband. (They both exit).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.74 (His heart overwhelmed with love of Kṛṣṇa, Lord Caitanya enters, accompanied by Lord Nityānanda and other devotees).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 6.75 [Bhagavān]: Even though touching the sky, it has entered the heart of everyone, even though very large it has entered within the two eyes and even though made of stone it sheds the nectar of love, that temple of Lord Jagannātha has now appeared before My eyes. (He eagerly walks).

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is feeling such ecstasy after finally seeing the beautiful temple of Lord Jagannātha.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 2.405

mandira-cūḍā-darśane bhāvāveśa o ślokoccāraṇa—

deulera dhvaja-mātra dekhilena dūre
praveśilā prabhu nija-ānanda-sāgare

Jayapatākā Swami: As soon as the Lord Caitanya saw the flag on top of the temple from a distance, Lord Caitanya floated in an ocean of transcendental happiness.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 2.406

akathya adbhuta prabhu karena huṅkāra
viśāla garjana kampa sarva-deha-bhāra

Jayapatākā Swami: The Lord Caitanya's indescribable and wonderful loud roaring. In His immense roaring His entire body began to tremble, and He was unable to move.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca [3.10.4]: Suddenly Śrī Caitanya glimpsed the beautiful temple of Śrī Jagannātha Hari. It appeared like a blue mountain anointed with nectar and was effulgent as the autumn moon of Śarat. Crowned by a very dazzling cakra, its flag was unfurled and blew in the breeze.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.116

snāna samādhiyā prabhu cali yāya pathe
jagannātha-mandira dekhila ācambite

Jayapatākā Swami: After completing His bath, Lord Caitanya, He continued travelling on His path. Suddenly He could see the temple of Lord Jagannātha in the distance.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.117

candrera kiraṇa jini ujjvala deula
pavanacālita tāthe patākā rātula

Jayapatākā Swami: The effulgence of the temple defeated the rays of moonlight. Upon it was a red flag fluttering in the breeze.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca [3.10.5]: The luster, height, and influence of Jagannātha’s transcendental abode mocked the peak of Mount Kailāsa. It appeared that using the temple's flags as his hands, the wind god beckoned welcomingly the lotus-eyed Gaurāṅga.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.118

nīlagiri-mājhe hari-mandira sundara
kailāsa jiniñā tejaḥ adbhuta dhavala

Jayapatākā Swami: The temple of Lord Jagannātha was beautifully situated on the Mountain of Nīlagiri. The temple was effulgent and wonderfully white. Its glory defeated Mount Kailāsa.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca [3.10.6]: Then, having embraced Lord Jagannātha in His heart, suddenly Gaura Hari tumbled to the earth as if struck by a foe, and becoming utterly motionless. When His noble associates saw this, all of them became faint, like bodies without life.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was going through various ecstasies seeing the temple of Lord Jagannātha. He embraced the Lord in His heart and He fell completely unconscious and spiritually ecstasy.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa 16.119

abhinna-añjana eka bālakera ṭhāna
deula-upare prabhu dekhe vidyamāna

Jayapatākā Swami: Then Lord Caitanya, He saw a black boy non different from the color of añjana sitting on top of the temple watching Him.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca [3.10.7]: A moment later, seeing that the Lord was arising, they all also became animate and surrounded Him, just as the body's senses awaken by the connection of the soul and there assembled persons were unaware of the true nature of the Self. Then, in His characteristic blissful mood, the Lord addressed them:

Caitanya-Bhāgavata Antya-khaṇḍa 2.407

prāsādera dike mātra cāhite cāhite
calilena prabhu śloka paḍite paḍite

Jayapatākā Swami: Gazing at the palatial temple, Lord Caitanya went on reciting verses on the glories of the Lord.

Thus ends the chapter: Entrance into Nīlācala (Part 1)