20210222 Lord Caitanya’s Meeting with Śrī Raṅga Purī

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on February 22th, 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, chapter entitled:

Lord Caitanya’s Meeting With Śrī Raṅga Purī 
Under the section Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu travel to the Holy Places in South India

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.279

tritakūpe viśālākṣī-darśana, pañcāpsarā-tīrthe āgamana:— 
tritakūpe viśālāra kari’ daraśana
pañcāpsarā-tīrthe āilā śacīra nandana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the son of mother Śacī, next went to Tritakūpa, and after seeing the Viśālā Deity there, He went to the holy place known as Pañcāpsarā-tīrtha.

Purport: The Apsarās, denizens of the heavenly planets, are generally known as dancing girls. The girls in the heavenly planets are exquisitely beautiful, and if a woman on earth is found to be very beautiful, she is compared to the Apsarās. There were five Apsarās named Latā, Budbudā, Samīcī, Saurabheyī and Varṇā. It is said that these five beautiful dancing girls were sent by Indra to break the severe austerity of a saintly person called Acyuta Ṛṣi. This action was typical of Indra, the King of heaven. Whenever Indra discovered someone undergoing severe austerities, he would begin to fear for his post. Indra was always anxious about his position, fearing that if someone became more powerful than he was, he would lose his elevated position. Thus as soon as he would see a saint undergoing severe austerities, he would send dancing girls to distract him. Even the great saint Viśvāmitra Muni fell victim to his plan.

When the five Apsarās went to break Acyuta Ṛṣi’s meditation, they were all chastised and cursed by the saint. As a result, the girls turned into crocodiles in a lake that came to be known as Pañcāpsarā. Lord Rāmacandra also visited this place. From Śrī Nārada Muni’s narration, it is understood that when Arjuna went to visit the holy places, he learned about the condemnation of the five Apsarās. He delivered them from their abominable condition, and from that day the lake known as Pañcāpsarā became a place of pilgrimage.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these places in India became places of pilgrimage for various reasons and all these are explained in this verse. So, (like)these Pañcāpsarā.. devotees of the Lord are able to deliver persons from curses.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.280

gokarṇe śivadarśana, dvaipāyani o sūrpāraka-tīrthe āgamana:— 
gokarṇe śiva dekhi’ āilā dvaipāyani
sūrpāraka-tīrthe āilā nyāsi-śiromaṇi

Translation: After seeing Pañcāpsarā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Gokarṇa. While there, He visited the temple of Lord Śiva, and then He went to Dvaipāyani. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the crown jewel of all sannyāsīs, then went to Sūrpāraka-tīrtha.

Purport: Gokarṇa is situated in North Kanara, in the Karnataka state. It is about thirty-three miles southeast of Karwar. This place is very famous for the temple of Lord Śiva known as Mahā-baleśvara. Hundreds and thousands of pilgrims come to see this temple.

Sūrpāraka is about twenty-six miles north of Bombay. In the Maharashtra province, near Bombay, is a district known as Thānā and a place known as Sopārā. Sūrpāraka is mentioned in the Mahābhārata (Śānti-parva, chapter 41, verses 66-67).

Jayapatākā Swami: In Gokarṇa, there is a Śiva-liṅga there which is very powerful. So Rāvaṇa wanted to have that Śiva liṅga, apparently the Śiva liṅga could not be taken. Rāvaṇa, I am told, he was trying to take that Śiva liṅga, and he was so strong that the liṅga became bent with the shape of a cow's ear and that is how it got the name Gokarṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.281

kolāpure lakṣmī, bhagavatī, gaṇeśa o pārvatī darśana:— 
kolāpure lakṣmī dekhi’ dekhena kṣīra-bhagavatī
lāṅga-gaṇeśa dekhi’ dekhena cora-pārvatī

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then visited the town of Kolāpura, where He saw the goddess of fortune in the temple of Kṣīra-bhagavatī and saw Lāṅga-gaṇeśa in another temple, known as Cora-pārvatī.

Purport: Kolāpura is a town in the Maharashtra province, formerly known as Bombay Pradesh. Formerly Kolāpura was a native state, and it is bordered on the north by the district of Sāṅtārā, on the east and south by the district of Belagāma, and on the west by the district of Ratnagiri. In Kolāpura there is a river named Urṇā. From the Bombay Gazette it is understood that there were about 250 temples there, out of which six are very famous. These are (1) Ambābāi, or Mahālakṣmī Mandira, (2) Viṭhobā Mandira, (3) Ṭemblāi Mandira, (4) Mahākālī Mandira, (5) Phirāṅgai, or Pratyaṅgirā Mandira, and (6) Yāllāmmā Mandira.

Jayapatākā Swami: Apparently Lakṣmī was very upset that Bhṛgu Muni had kicked Lord Viṣṇu in His chest and Lord Viṣṇu said, “Oh My chest is very hard, I hope your foot was not injured” and He started to massage the foot of Bhṛgu muni. Since Lakṣmī stays on the chest of Lord Viṣṇu, she became very angry that Bhṛgu muni had committed this offense to Lord Viṣṇu. So, she went to this Kolāpura and when Lord Viṣṇu went to Tirumala, Tirupati and had His pastimes as Śrīnīvāsa Govinda, He was feeling separation from Māha Lakṣmī. There is long history, so in Kolāpura, there is temple of Lakṣmī and in Tirupati, there is a temple of Viṣṇu and finally They got united. Māha Lakṣmī got angry when She heard that Lord Viṣṇu was marrying Padmāvatī but when Lord Viṣṇu explained to Her actually She was the Chāya Sītā, who had accepted all the torturing on behalf of Sītā then Māha Lakṣmī was satisfied, “Okay its nice you marry Her.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.282

bhīmā-nadītīre pāṇḍarapure āgamana o viṭhṭhaladeva darśana:— 
tathā haite pāṇḍarapure āilā gauracandra
viṭhṭhala-ṭhākura dekhi’ pāilā ānanda

Translation: From there Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Pāṇḍarapura, where He happily saw the temple of Viṭhṭhala Ṭhākura.

Purport: The city of Pāṇḍarapura is situated on the river Bhīmā. It is said that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu initiated Tukārāma when He visited Pāṇḍarapura, and thus Tukārāma became His disciple. Tukārāma Ācārya became very famous in the Maharashtra province, and he spread the saṅkīrtana movement all over the province. The saṅkīrtana party belonging to Tukārāma is still very popular in Bombay and throughout the province of Maharashtra. Tukārāma’s book is known as Abhaṅga. His saṅkīrtana party exactly resembles the Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇava saṅkīrtana parties, for they chant the holy name of the Lord with mṛdaṅga and karatālas.

The Lord Viṭhṭhaladeva mentioned in this verse is a form of Lord Viṣṇu with two hands. He is Nārāyaṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these are all the places where we should have the lotus footprints of Lord Caitanya installed. He visited all these important temples, still people go in huge crowds to have darśana of Viṭhṭhala bathe in the holy river of Pāṇḍarapura.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.283

prabhura nṛtya-gīta o eka vaiṣṇava-vipragṛhe bhikṣā:— 
premāveśe kaila bahuta kīrtana-nartana
tāhāṅ eka vipra tāṅre kaila nimantraṇa

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted and danced in various ways as usual. A brāhmaṇa, seeing Him in ecstatic love,was very pleased and invited the Lord to his home for lunch.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the brāhmaṇas were getting the mercy of the Lord, by inviting Him to come to their house and take prasāda.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.284

tathāya śrī-raṅgapurīra avasthāna-saṁbāda-prāpti:— 
bahuta ādare prabhuke bhikṣā karāila
bhikṣā kari’ tathā eka śubha-vārtā pāila

Translation: The brāhmaṇa offered Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu food with great respect and love. After finishing His lunch, the Lord received auspicious news.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.285

mādhava-purīra śiṣya ’śrī-raṅga-purī’ nāma
sei grāme vipra-gṛhe karena viśrāma

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu received word that Śrī Raṅga Purī, one of the disciples of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, was present in that village at the home of a brāhmaṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.286

śrī-raṅgapurīra nikaṭa gamana o praṇāma:— 
śuniyā calilā prabhu tāṅre dekhibāre
vipra-gṛhe vasi’ āchena, dekhilā tāṅhāre

Translation: Hearing this news, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately went to see Śrī Raṅga Purī at the brāhmaṇa’s home. Upon entering, the Lord saw him sitting there.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.287

premāveśe kare tāṅre daṇḍa-paraṇāma
aśru, pulaka, kampa, sarvāṅge paḍe ghāma

Translation: As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Śrī Raṅga Purī, He immediately offered him obeisances in ecstatic love, falling flat on the ground. The symptoms of transcendental transformation were visible — namely, tears, jubilation, trembling and perspiration.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.288

prabhura bhāva-darśane mādhavendrapurīra sahita sambandha-yukta baliyā prabhuke purīra dhāraṇā:— 
dekhiyā vismita haila śrī-raṅga-purīra mana
‘uṭhaha śrīpāda’ bali’ balilā vacana

Translation: Upon seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in such an ecstatic mood, Śrī Raṅga Purī said, “Your Holiness, please get up.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.289

śrīpāda, dhara mora gosāñira sambandha
tāhā vinā anyatra nāhi ei premāra gandha

Translation: “Your Holiness is certainly related to Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, without whom there is no fragrance of ecstatic love.”

Purport: Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura remarks that up to the advent of His Holiness Śrīpāda Lakṣmīpati Tīrtha, it was the system in the disciplic succession of Madhvācārya to worship Lord Kṛṣṇa alone. After Śrīla Mādhavendra Purī, worship of both Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa was established. For this reason Śrī Mādhavendra Purī is accepted as the root of worship in ecstatic love. Unless one is connected to the disciplic succession of Mādhavendra Purī, there is no possibility of awakening the symptoms of ecstatic love. The word gosāñi is significant in this connection. The spiritual master who is fully surrendered unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead and has no business other than the Lord’s service is called the best of the paramahaṁsas. A paramahaṁsa has no program for sense gratification; he is interested only in satisfying the senses of the Lord. One who has control of the senses in this way is called a gosāñi or a gosvāmī, master of the senses. The senses cannot be controlled unless one is engaged in the service of the Lord; therefore the bona fide spiritual master, who has full control over his senses, engages twenty-four hours a day in the Lord’s service. He can therefore be addressed as gosāñi or gosvāmī. The title gosvāmī cannot be inherited but can be given only to a bona fide spiritual master.

There were six great Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana— Śrīla Rūpa, Sanātana, Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Śrī Jīva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Dāsa Raghunātha— and none of them inherited the title of gosvāmī. All the Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana were bona fide spiritual masters situated on the highest platform of devotional service, and for that reason they were called gosvāmīs. All the temples of Vṛndāvana were certainly started by the Six Gosvāmīs. Later the worship in the temples was entrusted to some householder disciples of the Gosvāmīs, and since then the hereditary title of gosvāmī has been used. However, only one who is a bona fide spiritual master expanding the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, and who is in full control of his senses can be addressed as a gosvāmī. Unfortunately, the hereditary process is going on; therefore at the present moment, in most cases the title is being misused due to ignorance of the word’s etymology.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, His Divine Grace Oṁ Viṣṇupāda A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami is a trīdaṇḍī Gosvāmī and this title of Gosvāmī is awarded as explained here that someone who completely uses his senses in the service of Kṛṣṇa and since Mādhavendra Purī worshiped both Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa was established and from then loving ecstasy of serving Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa was manifested. Since Śrīraṅga Purī was a disciple of Mādhavendra Purī, He could understand that only by Mādhavendra Purī was such ecstasy revealed.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.290

prabhuke āliṅgana o ubhayera prema-krandana:— 
eta bali’ prabhuke uthāñā kaila āliṅgana
galāgali kari’ duṅhe karena krandana

Translation: After saying this, Śrī Raṅga Purī lifted Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu up and embraced Him. As they embraced shoulder to shoulder, they both began to cry in ecstasy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.291

ubhayera dhairya; parasparera paricayaprāpti o prema:— 
kṣaṇeke āveśa chāḍi’ duṅhāra dhairya haila
īśvara-purīra sambandha gosāñi jānāila

Translation: After some moments, they came to their senses and became patient. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then informed Śrī Raṅga Purī about His relationship with Īśvara Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.292

adbhuta premera vanyā duṅhāra uthalila
duṅhe mānya kari’ duṅhe ānande vasila

Translation: They were both inundated by the wonderful ecstasy of love that was aroused in them. Finally they sat down and respectfully began to converse.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya was a disciple of Īśvara Purī therefore He was the grand disciple of Mādhavendra Purī and so He was in ecstasy, Śrīraṅga Purī was in ecstasy and this ecstasy is only experienced by those who with Mādhavendra Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.293

ubhayera eka saptāha yāvat kṛṣṇa-kathālāpa:— 
dui jane kṛṣṇa-kathā kahe rātri-dine
ei-mate goṅāila pāṅca-sāta dine

Translation: In this way they discussed topics about Lord Kṛṣṇa continually for five to seven days.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.294

purīra praśne prabhura ‘janma-sthāna—navadvīpa’baliyā jñāpana:— 
kautuke purī tāṅre puchila janma-sthāna
gosāñi kautuke kahena ‘navadvīpa’ nāma

Translation: Out of curiosity, Śrī Raṅga Purī asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about His birthplace, and the Lord informed him that it was Navadvīpa-dhāma.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.295

pūrve śacīgṛhe raṅgapurīra tatpācitānna-bhojana-suyoga:— 
śrī-mādhava-purīra saṅge śrī-raṅga-purī
pūrve āsiyāchilā teṅho nadīyā-nagarī

Translation: Śrī Raṅga Purī had formerly gone to Navadvīpa with Śrī Mādhavendra Purī, and he therefore remembered the incidents that had taken place there.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.296

jagannātha-miśra-ghare bhikṣā ye karila
apūrva mocāra ghaṇṭa tāhāṅ ye khāila

Translation: As soon as Śrī Raṅga Purī recalled Navadvīpa, he also recalled accompanying Śrī Mādhavendra Purī to the house of Jagannātha Miśra, where Raṅga Purī had taken lunch. He even remembered the taste of an unprecedented curry made of banana flowers.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, He had gone with Mādhavendra Purī and taken prasāda at the house of Jagannātha Miśra and Śacī Mātā and mocāra ghaṇṭa is a special preparation of banana flowers which is very difficult to cook but very wonderful.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.297

jagannāthera brāhmaṇī, teṅha—mahā-pativratā
vātsalye hayena teṅha yena jagan-mātā

Translation: Śrī Raṅga Purī also remembered the wife of Jagannātha Miśra. She was very devoted and chaste. As for her affection, she was exactly like the mother of the universe.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.298

randhane nipuṇā tāṅ-sama nāhi tribhuvane
putra-sama sneha karena sannyāsi-bhojane

Translation: He also remembered how Śrī Jagannātha Miśra’s wife, Śacīmātā, was expert in cooking. He recalled that she was very affectionate toward the sannyāsīs and fed them exactly like her own sons.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.299

raṅgapurīmukhe viśvarūpera sannyāsānte siddhiprāpti saṁvāda-śravaṇa:— 
tāṅra eka yogya putra kariyāche sannyāsa
‘śaṅkarāraṇya’ nāma tāṅra alpa vayasa

Translation: Śrī Raṅga Purī also remembered that one of her deserving sons had accepted the renounced order at a very young age. His name was Śaṅkarāraṇya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.300

ei tīrthe śaṅkarāraṇyera siddhi-prāpti haila
prastāve śrī-raṅga-purī eteka kahil

Translation: Śrī Raṅga Purī informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that the sannyāsī named Śaṅkarāraṇya had attained perfection in that holy place, Pāṇḍarapura.

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s elder brother was named Viśvarūpa. He left home before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and accepted the sannyāsa order under the name of Śaṅkarāraṇya Svāmī. He traveled all over the country and finally went to Pāṇḍarapura, where He passed away after attaining perfection. In other words, He entered the spiritual world after giving up His mortal body at Pāṇḍarapura. Śrī Raṅga Purī, a disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī and Godbrother of Īśvara Purī, disclosed this important news to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to South India on the excuse of finding His brother, so He got the information that His brother has achieved perfection and went back to the spiritual world. Then that fulfilled the external reason for His tour of South India. So that was a very important news and is something that the devotees can remember when they go to Pāṇḍarapura.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.301

prabhura pūrvāśramera paricaya pradāna:— 
prabhu kahe,-pūrvāśrame teṅha mora bhrātā
jagannātha miśra-pūrvāśrame mora pitā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “In My previous āśrama, Śaṅkarāraṇya was My brother and Jagannātha Miśra was My father.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.302

śrī-raṅgapurīra dvārakā-yātrā:— 
ei-mata dui-jane iṣṭa-goṣṭhī kari’
dvārakā dekhite calilā śrī-raṅga-purī

Translation: After finishing his talks with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrī Raṅga Purī started for Dvārakā-dhāma.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 9.303

vaiṣṇava-vipra-gṛhe prabhura cāra dina avasthāna o viṭhṭhaladeva-darśana:— 
dina cāri tathā prabhuke rākhila brāhmaṇa
bhīmā-nadī snāna kari’ karena viṭhṭhala darśana

Translation: After Śrī Raṅga Purī departed for Dvārakā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained with the brāhmaṇa at Pāṇḍarapura for four more days. He took His bath in the Bhīmā River and visited the temple of Viṭhṭhala.

Jayapatākā Swami: The Deity of Lord Viṭhṭhala ,Krishna is very unique, He is standing on a brick that’s why His name is Viṭhṭhala, and when you go in the temple to see Viṭhṭhala, the pūjārīs grab your head and put it on the lotus feet of Lord Viṭhṭhala. It is very rare to get this kind of personal sevā to the Lord that one can touch the Lord s lotus feet with your head. So, the devotees in Pāṇḍarapura have made some special bathing ghāṭa and many people go there on some special occasions to bathe in the holy river.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lord Caitanya’s Meeting with Śrī Raṅga Purī. 
Under the section Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu travel to the Holy Places in South India

Hare Kṛṣṇa!