20210228 Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya Introduces the Devotees of Lord Jagannātha

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on February 28th, 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!

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

Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya Introduces the Devotees of Jagannātha, 
Under the Section of The Lord’s return to Jagannātha Purī

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.34

sakalera āsana-parigraha:— 
tabe mahāprabhu tāhāṅ vasilā āsane
caudike vasilā nityānandādi bhakta-gaṇe

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next sat down at the place prepared for Him, and all the devotees, headed by Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, surrounded Him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.35

yogyavāsasthāna-nirvācana-darśane prabhura ānanda:— 
sukhī hailā dekhi’ prabhu vāsāra saṁsthāna
yei vāsāya haya prabhura sarva-samādhāna

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy to see His residential quarters, in which all His necessities were taken care of.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.36

prabhuke gṛha aṅgīkārajanya prārthanā:— 
sārvabhauma kahe, — prabhu, yogya tomāra vāsā
tumi aṅgīkāra kara, — kāśī-miśrera āśā

Translation: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “This place is just befitting You. Please accept it. It is the hope of Kāśī Miśra that You do.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.37

prabhura nijabhakta vaśyatā-jñāpana:— 
prabhu kahe, — ei deha tomā-sabākāra
yei tumi kaha, sei sammata āmāra

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “My body belongs to all of you. Therefore I agree to whatever you say.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is saying that His body belongs to the bhaktas and wherever they give Him, he accepts. This is the special nature of the Supreme Lord that He accepts the service of His devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.38

bhaṭṭācāryera prabhuke purī-vāsi-bhaktagaṇera paricaya-dāna:— 
tabe sārvabhauma prabhura dakṣiṇa-pārśve vasi’
milāite lāgilā saba puruṣottama-vāsī

Translation: After this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, sitting at the right hand of the Lord, began to introduce all the inhabitants of Puruṣottama, Jagannātha Purī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.39

purī-vāsīra prabhu-darśanotkaṇṭhā-jñāpana o prabhura kṛpāra janya prārthanā 
ei saba loka, prabhu, vaise nīlācale
utkaṇṭhita hañāche sabe tomā milibāre

Translation: The Bhaṭṭācārya said, “My dear Lord, all these people who are residents of Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī, have been very anxious to meet You.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.40

prabhu-darśana-tṛṣṇārtta purī-vāsī bhaktagaṇa:— 
tṛṣita cātaka yaiche kare hāhākāra
taiche ei saba, — sabe kara aṅgīkāra

Translation: “In Your absence all these people have been exactly like thirsty cātaka birds crying in disappointment. Kindly accept them.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the cātaka birds only takes water from the rainclouds and if there are no raincloud then the bird is very disappointed that he didn’t get any water. Like that the residents of Jagannātha Purī were very anxious to have the association of Lord Caitanya. So Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya is now introducing all the Jagannātha Purī residents. This is the system that deotees want to be introduced to a great spiritual personality.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.41

(1) janārdana – 
jagannātha-sevaka ei, nāma — janārdana
anavasare kare prabhura śrī-aṅga-sevana

Translation: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya first introduced Janārdana, saying, “Here is Janārdana, servant of Lord Jagannātha. He renders service to the Lord when it is time to renovate His transcendental body.”

Purport: During anavasara, after the Snāna-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha is absent from the temple for fifteen days so He can be renovated. This occurs annually. Janārdana, who is here being introduced to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, was rendering this service at the time. The renovation of Lord Jagannātha is also known as Nava-yauvana, which indicates that the Jagannātha Deity is being fully restored to youth.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.42

(2) kṛṣṇadāsa, (3) śikhi māhāti:— 
kṛṣṇadāsa-nāma ei suvarṇa-vetra-dhārī
śikhi māhāti-nāma ei likhanādhikārī

Translation: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, “This is Kṛṣṇadāsa, who carries a golden cane, and here is Śikhi Māhiti, who is in charge of writing.

Purport: The person in charge of writing is also called deula-karaṇa-pada-prāpta karmacārī.

He is employed especially to write a calendar called Mātalā-pāñji.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.43

(4) pradyumna miśra:— 
pradyumna-miśra iṅha vaiṣṇava pradhāna
jagannāthera mahā-soyāra iṅha ‘dāsa’ nāma

Translation: “This is Pradyumna Miśra, who is chief of all Vaiṣṇavas. He is a great servitor of Jagannātha, and his name is Dāsa.

Purport: In Orissa most of the brāhmaṇas have the title Dāsa. Generally it is understood that the word dāsa refers to those other than the brāhmaṇas, but in Orissa the brāhmaṇas use the Dāsa title. This is confirmed by Culli Bhaṭṭa. Actually, everyone is dāsa because everyone is a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In that sense, the bona fide brāhmaṇa has first claim to the appellation dāsa. Therefore in this case the designation dāsa is not incompatible.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 13.70

Translation: One very fortunate devotee named Pradyumna Miśra, an ocean of good qualities, saw with joy the lotus feet of Gauracandra.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 13.71

Translation: Just by seeing him he obtained the Lord’s mercy. His eyes, like clouds in the monsoon season, gushed with tears.

Jayapatākā Swami: Seeing the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, Pradyumna Miśra he became crying in ecstasy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.44

(5) murāri māhāti:— 
murāri māhāti iṅha — śikhi-māhātira bhāi
tomāra caraṇa vinu āra gati nāi

Translation: “This is Murāri Māhiti, the brother of Śikhi Māhiti. He has nothing other than Your lotus feet.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.45

(6) candaneśvara, (7) siṁheśvara, (8) murāri, (9) viṣṇudāsa:— 
candaneśvara, siṁheśvara, murāri brāhmaṇa
viṣṇudāsa, — iṅha dhyāye tomāra caraṇa

Translation: “Here are Candaneśvara, Siṁheśvara, Murāri Brāhmaṇa and Viṣṇudāsa. They are all constantly engaged in meditating on Your lotus feet.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.46

(10) paramānanda:— 
prahararāja mahāpātra iṅha mahā-mati
paramānanda mahāpātra iṅhāra saṁhati

Translation: “This is Paramānanda Prahararāja, who is also known as Mahāpātra. He is very, very intelligent.

Purport: Prahararāja is a designation given to brāhmaṇas who represent the king when the throne is vacant. In Orissa, between the time of a king’s death and the enthronement of another king, a representative must sit on the throne. This representative is called Prahararāja. The Prahararāja is generally selected from a family of priests close to the king. During the time of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Prahararāja was Paramānanda Prahararāja.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 13.68

Translation: One very great soul named Viṣṇu-dāsa, with pure intelligence, gave up everything and saw the lotus feet of Gaurāṅga.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 13.69

Translation: Most fortunate with heaps of good acts, he was immediately inundated with the Lord’s mercy. His tears began to bathe his body.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.47

śuddha-vaiṣṇavai tīrthālaṅkāra:— 
e-saba vaiṣṇava — ei kṣetrera bhūṣaṇa
ekānta-bhāve cinte sabe tomāra caraṇa

Translation: “All these pure devotees serve as ornaments to Jagannātha Purī. They are always undeviatingly meditating upon Your lotus feet.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So it is said that a holy place is decorated with the pure devotees living there and when one visits the holy place, He should try to associate with such pure devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.48

sakalera prabhuke praṇāma, prabhura āliṅgana:— 
tabe sabe bhūme paḍe daṇḍavat hañā
sabā āliṅgilā prabhu prasāda kariyā

Translation: After this introduction, everyone fell to the ground like rods. Being very merciful upon them all, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced each one of them.

Jayapatākā Swami: We can see the unlimited mercy of Lord Caitanya that He embraced each of these pure devotees who offered Him their prostrate obeisances.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.49

(11) putracatuṣṭayasaha bhavānanda rāyera paricayadāna:— 
hena-kāle āilā tathā bhavānanda rāya
cāri-putra-saṅge paḍe mahāprabhura pāya

Translation: At this time Bhavānanda Rāya appeared with four of his sons, and all of them fell down at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Purport: Bhavānanda Rāya had five sons, one of whom was the exalted personality known as Rāmānanda Rāya. Bhavānanda Rāya first met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu after His return from South India. At that time Rāmānanda Rāya was still serving at his government post; therefore when Bhavānanda Rāya went to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he went with his other four sons. They were named Vāṇīnātha, Gopīnātha, Kalānidhi and Sudhānidhi.

A description of Bhavānanda Rāya and his five sons is given in the Ādi-līlā (10.133-34).

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.50

sārvabhauma kahe, — ei rāya bhavānanda
iṅhāra prathama putra — rāya rāmānanda

Translation: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya continued, “This is Bhavānanda Rāya, the father of Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, who is his first son.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.51

prabhura āliṅgana o rāmānanda-mahimā kīrtana:— 
tabe mahāprabhu tāṅre kaila āliṅgana
stuti kari’ kahe rāmānanda-vivaraṇa

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Bhavānanda Rāya and with great respect spoke of his son Rāmānanda Rāya.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, since Rāmānanda Rāya was such an exalted devotee Lord Caitanya accepted Bhāvānanda Rāya also as a very exalted devotee. To have a pure devotee as the son means that the parents also be pure devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.52

rāmānanda-hena ratna yāṅhāra tanaya
tāṅhāra mahimā loke kahana nā yāya

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu honored Bhavānanda Rāya by saying, “The glories of a person who has a jewel of a son like Rāmānanda Rāya cannot be described within this mortal world.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.53

bhavānandai pāṇḍu, tatpañcaputrai pañca-pāṇḍava:— 
sākṣāt pāṇḍu tumi, tomāra patnī kuntī
pañca-pāṇḍava tomāra pañca-putra mahā-mati

Translation: “You are Mahārāja Pāṇḍu himself, and your wife is Kuntīdevī herself. All your highly intellectual sons are representatives of the five Pāṇḍavas.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.54

bhavānandera dainya; īśvara-kṛpā—jātikula-nirapekṣa:— 
rāya kahe, — āmi śūdra, viṣayī, adhama
tabu tumi sparśa, — ei īśvara-lakṣaṇa

Translation: After hearing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s praise, Bhavānanda Rāya submitted, “I am in the fourth class of the social order, and I engage in mundane affairs. Although I am very fallen, You have still touched me. This is proof that You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

Purport: As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (5.18):

“The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].”

Those who are highly advanced in spiritual understanding do not care about a person’s material condition. A spiritually advanced person sees the spiritual identity of every living being, and consequently he makes no distinction between a learned brāhmaṇa, a dog, a caṇḍāla or anyone else. He is not influenced by the material body but sees a person’s spiritual identity. Consequently Bhavānanda Rāya appreciated Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s statement, which showed that the Lord did not consider the social position of Bhavānanda Rāya, who belonged to the śūdra caste engaged in mundane activities. Rather, the Lord considered the spiritual position of Bhavānanda Rāya, along with that of Rāmānanda Rāya and his brothers. The servant of the Lord is also similarly inclined. He gives shelter to any person — any living entity — regardless of whether he belongs to a brāhmaṇa family or a caṇḍāla family. The spiritual master reclaims all people and encourages everyone in spiritual life. By taking shelter of such a devotee, one can make his life successful. As confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18):

“Kirātas, Hūṇas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pulkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khaśa races, and even others who are addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.”

Whoever takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His pure devotee is elevated to the spiritual order and purified from material contamination. This is also confirmed by Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.32):

“O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth — women, vaiśyas [merchants] and śūdras [workers] — can attain the supreme destination.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, a pure devotee doesn’t see people by their material designations He sees them by their spiritual qualiy, whether they are brāhmaṇa, śūdra, lady or a mleccha. The Lord and their pure devotees see people by their spiritual nature. By the guidance of the pure spiritual master one can reach the highest destination.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.55

bhavānandera prabhupade sarvasvārpaṇa:— 
nija-gṛha-vitta-bhṛtya-pañca-putra-sane
ātmā samarpiluṅ āmi tomāra caraṇe

Translation: Appreciating Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s favor, Bhavānanda Rāya also said, “Along with my home, riches, servants and five sons, I surrender myself at Your lotus feet.

Purport: This is the process of surrender. As Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura sings:

mānasa, deha, geha, yo kichu mora arpiluṅ tuyā pade nanda-kiśora! (Śaraṇāgati)

When one surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Lord, he does so with everything in his possession — his house, his body, his mind and whatever else he possesses. If there is any obstruction to this surrendering process, one should immediately give it up without attachment. If one can surrender with all his family members, there is no need to take sannyāsa. However, if the surrendering process is hampered by so-called family members, one should immediately give them up to complete the surrendering process.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.56

prabhupade vāṇīnāthake arpaṇa:— 
ei vāṇīnātha rahibe tomara caraṇe
yabe yei ājñā, tāhā karibe sevane

Translation: “This son Vāṇīnātha will remain at Your lotus feet to always immediately attend to Your orders and serve You.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.57

nijadāsa-jñāne aṅgīkārajanya bhavānandera prārthanā:— 
ātmīya-jñāne more saṅkoca nā karibe
yei yabe icchā, tabe sei ājñā dibe

Translation: “My dear Lord, please consider me Your relative. Do not hesitate to order whatever You desire at any time You desire it.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.58

prabhura kṛpā-vāṇī o aṅgīkāra:— 
prabhu kahe, — ki saṅkoca, tumi naha para
janme janme tumi āmāra savaṁśe kiṅkara

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted Bhavānanda Rāya’s offer, saying, “I accept without hesitation because you are not an outsider. Birth after birth you have been My servant, along with your family members.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.59

dina-pāñca-sāta bhitare āsibe rāmānanda
tāṅra saṅge pūrṇa habe āmāra ānanda

Translation: “Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya is coming within five to seven days. As soon as he arrives, My desires will be fulfilled. I take great pleasure in his company.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.60

eta bali’ prabhu tāṅre kaila āliṅgana
tāṅra putra saba śire dharila caraṇa

Translation: Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Bhavānanda Rāya. The Lord then touched the heads of his sons with His lotus feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari Bol! We can see how much mercy the Lord gave the sons of Bhavānanda Rāya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.61

vāṇīnāthake aṅgīkāra:— 
tabe mahāprabhu tāṅre ghare pāṭhāila
vāṇīnātha-paṭṭanāyake nikaṭe rākhila

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then sent Bhavānanda Rāya back to his home, and He kept only Vāṇīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka in His personal service.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.19

Translation: Many exalted residents of Jagannātha Purī then enter

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.20

Translation: They speak: O Lord, when You first came here we were not fortunate, for we remained unable to see You, the supremely merciful. Now we have become fortunate, for now with our own eyes we see the master of Jagannātha Purī.

(They approach).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.21: sārvabhaumaḥ: Lord, here is the devotee named Janārdana. At the time of anavasara he becomes the personal servant of Lord Jagannātha's golden staff. His name is Kṛṣṇa dāsa. Here is Lord Jagannatha's scribe, Śikhi Māhitī. These two men are his brothers. This is Dāsa-mahāso-āra, the head cook of the Deity-kitchen. All these men are sincere devotees of Lord Jagannātha. These exalted brahmanas are Candaneśvara, Murāri and Siṁheśvara. They are the advisors of the king.

They are all sincere Vaishnavas. Here is Praharāja. He is the chief minister of the king. He is a great devotee of the Lord. Here is Pradyumna Miśra. Here is Viṣṇu dāsa. These are Rāmānanda Rāya's brothers. In their midst is Vāṇīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka. This is Rāmānanda's father, Bhavānanda Rāya. These men offering daṇḍavat obeisances are residents of Bengal and Orissa. They have surrendered their hearts and lives to You. It is right that You be merciful to them all and accept them as Your devotees.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.22: Bhagavān: How can they be My devotees? They are servants of Lord Jagannātha.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.23: Sārvabhauma: Lord, Lord Jagannātha and You are not different. You are both Kṛṣṇa. There is only one difference between You: He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of a wooden Deity, and you are the Supreme Personality of Godhead in a humanlike form.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.24: Bhagavān: (Covering His ears) Sārvabhauma, these statements of yours are exaggeration. It is bitter for the ears. It is bitter as guḍa-rasa-pāka juice. It is not sweet.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.25: Sārvabhauma: Lord, Gauḍa-desa-rasa-pāka juice is very sweet since You appeared in Gauḍa-desa

Bhagavān: Stop! Stop! Now it is time to see lotus-eyed Lord Jagannātha.

Sārvabhauma: The Lord may go now. (He makes the Lord go first, and then follows behind Him).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya would not accept people saying He was Kṛṣṇa Himself in public, and He would cover His ears and protest. But in private, some devotees He may show. But taking the role of a devotee, he would not allow Himself to be called the Supreme Lord. So here He met all the devotees of Lord Jagannātha and He gave them His special mercy. Hare Kṛṣṇa

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya Introduces the Devotees of Lord Jagannātha,
Under the Section of Lord’s return to Jagannātha Puri