20210213 Gaura Hari’s Joyous Meeting with Paramānanda Purī, who Fulfilled the Desire of Mādhavendra Purī

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on February 13th, 2021 in Śrī Dhāma 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!

Compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, today’s chapter entitled:

Gaura Hari’s Joyous Meeting with Paramānanda Purī, who Fulfilled the Desire of Mādhavendra Purī

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.15.19

Translation: After residing there in that manner, Śrī Gaura left Raṅga-khetra. While He was travelling, He met a disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī named Paramānanda.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 1.111

cāturmāsya-ante punaḥ dakṣiṇa gamana
paramānanda-purī saha tāhāñi milana

Translation: After the end of Cāturmāsya, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued traveling throughout South India. At that time He met Paramānanda Purī.

Jayapatākā Swami: There were eight sannyāsīs who were described as the roots of the Caitanya Tree. Paramānanda Purī is one of them and He made a well in Jagannātha Purī which has sweet water, although normally wells in Purī have salty water

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 9.13-15

paramānanda purī, āra keśava bhāratī
brahmānanda purī, āra brahmānanda bhāratī 
viṣṇu-purī, keśava-purī, purī kṛṣṇānanda
śrī-nṛsiṁhatīrtha, āra purī sukhānanda 
ei nava mūla nikasila vṛkṣa-mūle
ei nava mūle vṛkṣa karila niścale

Translation: Paramānanda Purī, Keśava Bhāratī, Brahmānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī, Śrī Viṣṇu Purī, Keśava Purī, Kṛṣṇānanda Purī, Śrī Nṛsiṁha Tīrtha and Sukhānanda Purī—these nine sannyāsī roots all sprouted from the trunk of the tree. Thus the tree stood steadfastly on the strength of these nine roots.

Purport: Paramānanda Purī: Paramānanda Purī belonged to a brāhmaṇa family of the Trihut district in Uttar Pradesh. Mādhavendra Purī was his spiritual master. In relationship with Mādhavendra Purī, Paramānanda Purī was very dear to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In the Caitanya-bhāgavata (Antya 10.46–49, and 42) there is the following statement:

“Among his sannyāsī disciples, Īśvara Purī and Paramānanda Purī were very dear to Mādhavendra Purī. Thus Paramānanda Purī, like Svarūpa Dāmodara, who was also a sannyāsī, was very dear to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and was His constant associate. When Lord Caitanya accepted the renounced order, Paramānanda Purī offered Him the daṇḍa. Paramānanda Purī was always engaged in meditation, and Śrī Svarūpa was always engaged in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered full respect to His spiritual master, Īśvara Purī, He similarly respected Paramānanda Purī and Svarūpa Dāmodara.”

It is described in the Caitanya-bhāgavata (Antya 3.171–72) that when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu first saw Paramānanda Purī He made the following statement:

“My eyes, My mind, My religious activities and My acceptance of the sannyāsa order have now all become perfect because today Mādhavendra Purī is manifest before Me in the form of Paramānanda Purī.”

The Caitanya-bhāgavata (Antya 3.175) further states:

“Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exchanged respectful obeisances with Paramānanda Purī, who was very dear to Him.”

Paramānanda Purī established a small monastery behind the western side of the Jagannātha temple, where he had a well dug to supply water. The water, however, was bitter, and therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu prayed to Lord Jagannātha to allow Ganges water to come into the well to make it sweet. When Lord Jagannātha granted the request, Lord Caitanya told all the devotees that from that day hence, the water of Paramānanda Purī’s well should be celebrated as Ganges water, for any devotee who would drink it or bathe in it would certainly get the same benefit as that derived from drinking or bathing in the waters of the Ganges. Such a person would certainly develop pure love of Godhead.

It is stated in the Caitanya-bhāgavata (Antya 3.255):

“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to say, ’I am living in this world only on account of the excellent behavior of Śrī Paramānanda Purī.’”

The Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (118) states, purī śrī-paramānando ya āsīd uddhavaḥ purā.

“Paramānanda Purī is none other than Uddhava.” Uddhava was Lord Kṛṣṇa’s friend and cousin, and in caitanya-līlā the same Uddhava became the friend of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His uncle in terms of their relationship in the disciplic succession.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, from the previous comments Śrīla Prabhupāda has explained everything. I said eight roots, but it is nine. And then how the water was sweet is revealed here, That the devotees were chanting around the well and it became Ganges water and the chief paṇḍita, one of the Gauḍīya sampradāya there was suggesting that we should take the sevā of this well.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 9.16

madhya-mūla paramānanda purī mahā-dhīra
aṣṭa dike aṣṭa mūla vṛkṣa kaila sthira

Translation: With the sober and grave Paramānanda Purī as the central root and the other eight roots in the eight directions, the tree of Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood firmly.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.134

cāturmāsya vañci’ prabhu calilā turite
 pathe dekhā paramānanda-purīra sahite

Jayapatākā Swami: After observing the Cāturmāsya vrata, the Lord quickly travelled and, on the way, He met Paramānanda Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.166

ṛṣabha-parvate prabhura nārāyaṇa-darśana:— 
ṛṣabha-parvate cali’ āilā gaurahari
nārāyaṇa dekhilā tāṅhā nati-stuti kari’

Translation: When the Lord arrived at Ṛṣabha Hill, He saw the temple of Lord Nārāyaṇa and offered obeisances and various prayers.

Purport: Ṛṣabha Hill (Ānāgaḍa-malaya-parvata) lies twelve miles north of Madurai City, in the district of Madurai, in southern Tamil Nadu. It is one of the mountains known as the Kuṭakācalas. Nearby Ṛṣabha Hill is the forest where Lord Ṛṣabhadeva burned Himself to ashes.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we understand that various pastimes were observed in Lord Caitanya travels, He went to these holy places.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.167

paramānanda-purī-saha milana:— 
paramānanda-purī tāhāṅ rahe catur-māsa
śuni’ mahāprabhu gelā purī-gosāñira pāśa

Translation: Paramānanda Purī had stayed at Ṛṣabha Hill during the four months of the rainy season, and when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu heard this, He immediately went to see him.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 13.14

Translation: The Lord then saw there the excellent, noble sannyāsī, Paramānanda Purī, endowed with a joyful heart.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.15.20

Translation: When Paramānanda Purī saw the golden body of Śrī Hari, he recalled the words that his own guru, Mādhavendra Purī, had once spoken concerning the Lord. Tears of love came to his eyes, and his body became covered with pulakas.

Jayapatākā Swami: Pulakās means hair standing on end.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.135

doṅhe doṅhā dekhi’ snigdha hailā duijana
nirakhite doṅhākāra jharaye nayana

Jayapatākā Swami: While looking at each other, both were very affectionate to each other, and spontaneously the two of them had streams of tears coming from their eyes.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.136

dekhite paramānanda-purīra smaraṇe
guru mādhavendra-purī ye baila vacane

Jayapatākā Swami: As Paramānanda Purī saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he remembered what His spiritual Master Mādhavendra Purī had said.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.137

tathāhi vāyu-purāṇe— 
kaleḥ prathama-sandhyāyāṁ
lakṣmī-kānta bhaviṣyati
dāru-brahma-samīpanthaḥ
sannyāsa gaura-vigrahaḥ

Translation: (Mādhavendra Purī previously told Paramānanda Purī quoting from) Vāyu Purāṇa:

“In the beginning of Kali-yuga, Lord Nārāyaṇa will appear on the earth in a golden form. Taking sannyāsa, He will reside in Puruṣottama-kṣetra near Lord Jagannātha.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.138

kali-yuge saṅkīrttana-dharma rākhibāre
janamiba kṛṣṇa prathama-sandhyāra bhitare

Jayapatākā Swami: “So to teach the process of Harināma saṅkīrtana during Kali-yuga, Kṛṣṇa will appear in the sandhyā of the Kali, in the first sandhyā of the Kali-yuga.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.139

gaura dīrgha-kalevara-bāhu jānusama
siṁha-grīva, gaja-skandha kamala-locana

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Gaurāṅga will have a tall body, and His arms would reach to His knees, and He would have shoulders like a lion’s and His neck will be like an elephant's and eyes will be like lotus eyes.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.140

karuṇā-sāgara prabhu premāra āvāsa
nija karuṇāya dayā kariba prakāśa

Jayapatākā Swami: “Being an ocean of mercy, the Lord being a reservoiur of pure love of Kṛṣṇa, He will manifest His own mercy.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.141

mora bhāgya nāhi-muñi dekhiba nayane
tora dekhā haile mora kariha smaraṇe

Jayapatākā Swami: (Mādhavendra Purī said): I don’t have the good fortune and I will not be able to see Him with my own eyes, if you are fortunate enough to see Him, please remember me at that time”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.142

ei sei bhagavān-manete paḍila
ei sei bhagavān-niścaya jānila

Jayapatākā Swami: So He was that same Supreme Personality of Godhead that Mādhavendra Purī had described and therefore he knew for certain that Lord Gaurāṅga was the Supreme Lord.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.15.21

Translation: Although the Supreme Lord, since He is the eternal maintainer of dharma, Śrī Gaurāṅga demonstrated the proper standard of vaiṣṇava-ācāra. Falling like a rod to the ground, He placed His head at the feet of his servant, Paramānanda Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.168

guru-jñāne purīke vandanā o purīra āliṅgana:— 
purī-gosāñira prabhu kaila caraṇa Vandana
preme purī gosāñi tāṅre kaila āliṅgana

Translation: Upon meeting Paramānanda Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offered him all respects, touching his lotus feet, and Paramānanda Purī embraced the Lord in ecstasy.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Paramānanda Purī and Īśvara Purī were god brothers therefore spiritually Paramānanda Purī was the uncle of Lord Caitanya. Therefore Lord Caitanya offered Him respect. But Paramānanda Purī he was in ecstatic to see Him and in ecstasy he embraced the Lord.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.143

dekhi’ paraṇāma kare paramānanda-purī
ki kariha bali’ prabhu tole hāthe dhari

Jayapatākā Swami: When Paramānanda Purī saw the transcendental form of Lord Gaurāṅga/Lord Caitanya, he offered his obeisances. Lord Caitanya picked him up and holding his hands and asked, “What are you doing?”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.15.22

Translation: Much alarmed, Śrī Purī said, “Lord, it is not proper for You to act in this way, for You are the supreme master of all worlds. Indeed, You are the originally cause of consciousness within them.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.15.23

Translation: “It is known through the evidence of śāstra that You are directly Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord. You have accepted the role of Your own bhakta in order to relish Śrī Rādhā-bhāva, and thus You engage in plundering the mellows of mādhurya-rasa.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.15.24

Translation: Hearing Śrī Purī-pāda's words, Śrī Kṛṣṇa laughed and with great respect He said, “Because of your loving sentiments, you should know that My heart is also forever bound in love to you. Have no doubt of this.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So Paramānanda Purī understood the actual position of Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya kind of side stepped the subject.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.169

tina-dina preme doṅhe kṛṣṇa-kathā-raṅge
sei vipra-ghare doṅhe rahe eka-saṅge

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed with Paramānanda Purī in the brāhmaṇa’s house where he was residing. The two of them passed three days there discussing topics of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.170

purī-gosāñi bale,—āmi yāba puruṣottame
puruṣottama dekhi’ gauḍe yāba gaṅgā-snāne

Translation: Paramānanda Purī informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that he was going to see Puruṣottama at Jagannātha Purī. After seeing Lord Jagannātha there, he would go to Bengal to bathe in the Ganges.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.171

prabhu kahe,—tumi punaḥ āisa nīlācale
āmi setubandha haite āsiba alpa-kāle

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then told him, “Please return to Jagannātha Purī, for I will return there very soon from Rāmeśvara [Setubandha].”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.15.25

Translation: “Your grace, kindly go now to Śrī Kṣetra for it is very pleasing for bhakti-sādhana and take up your residence there until I return.” So saying, Śrī Gaura Hari departed on the path.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya wanted Paramānanda Purī to be present in Jagannātha Purī, when he returns there.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.172

tomāra nikaṭe rahi,—hena vāñchā haya
nīlācale āsibe more hañā sadaya

Translation: “It is My desire to stay with you, and therefore if you would return to Jagannātha Purī, you would show great mercy to Me.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.173

eta bali’ tāṅra ṭhāñi ei ājñā lañā
dakṣiṇe calilā prabhu haraṣita hañā

Translation: After talking in this way with Paramānanda Purī, the Lord took his permission to leave and, very pleased, departed for southern India.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-Khaṇḍa 1.144

gāḍha-āliṅgana kaila parama-santoṣe
calilā ṭhākura-kahe e locana-dāse

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya very tightly embraced Paramānanda Purī. With great satisfaction, Lord Caitanya, He departed started traveling again, Locana dāsa Ṭhākura says.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 13.15

Translation: The two most powerful persons, with mutual affection and mercy, in joy saw each other, conversed, and then decided to depart.

Jayapatākā Swami: This meeting of Lord Caitanya and Paramānanda Purī is something very significant and various books of Caitanya-līlā describe this and said that Paramānanda Purī is one of main roots of the Caitanya tree. Although the other eight sannyāsīs come from the main root, so with nine make the Caitanya tree very strong.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.174

paramānanda purī tabe calilā nīlācale
mahāprabhu cali cali āilā śrī-śaile

Translation: Thus Paramānanda Purī started for Jagannātha Purī, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began walking toward Śrī Śaila.

Purport: Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks, “Which Śrī Śaila is being indicated by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī is not clearly understood. There is no temple of Mallikārjuna in this area because the Śrī Śaila located in the district of Dhārwād cannot possibly be there. That Śrī Śaila is on the southern side of Belgaum, and the Śiva temple of Mallikārjuna is located there. (Refer to Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.15 of this chapter.) It is said that on that hill Lord Śiva lived with Devī. Also, Lord Brahmā lived there with all the demigods.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja said that, his descriptions of the Lord’s travel in South India may not be exactly chronologically correct. So the author of the book has to adjust these, based on the actual geography, how Lord Caitanya would travel. This is explained by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.175

prabhura sahita bhava o bhavānīra sākṣātkāra:— 
śiva-durgā rahe tāhāṅ brāhmaṇera veśe
mahāprabhu dekhi’ doṅhāra ha-ila ullāse

Translation: In Śrī Śaila Lord Śiva and his wife Durgā lived in the dress of brāhmaṇas, and when they saw Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they became very pleased.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.176

dāsa-dāsīra gṛhe prabhura bhikṣāchale sevāgrahaṇa:— 
tina dina bhikṣā dila kari’ nimantraṇa
nibhṛte vasi’ gupta-vārtā kahe dui jana

Translation: Lord Śiva, dressed like a brāhmaṇa, gave alms to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and invited Him to spend three days in a solitary place. Sitting there together, they talked very confidentially.

Jayapatākā Swami: Some description of Lord Caitanya talking with Lord Śiva are existing so in this way Lord Śiva, who is the greatest of Vaiṣṇava was discussing with the incarnation of Kṛṣṇa as a devotee.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.177

kāma-koṣṭhī-purīte āgamana :— 
tāṅra saṅge mahāprabhu kari iṣṭagoṣṭhī
tāṅra ājñā lañā āilā purī kāmakoṣṭhī

Translation: After talking with Lord Śiva, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took his permission to leave and went to Kāmakoṣṭhī-purī.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Gaura Hari’s Joyous Meeting with Paramānanda Purī, who Fulfilled the Desire of Mādhavendra Purī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Mādhavendra had instructed Paramānanda Purī that Nārāyaṇa was coming in Kali-yuga in a golden form, so then if you see Him please remember me. So Paramānanda Purī saw Lord Caitanya and remembered Mādhavendra Purī. Thus he fulfilled the desire of Mādhavendra Purī.