20210305 Brahmānanda Bhāratī Joins Lord Caitanya

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 5th March 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:

Brahmānanda Bhāratī Joins Lord Caitanya
under the section Lord Caitanya returns to Jagannātha Purī.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.60: (Mukunda hastily enters) Mukunda: Lord, Brahmānanda Bhāratī has come. He is very eager to see You. Give the order and we will bring him here.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.151

brahmānanda-bhāratīra āgamana:—
āra dine mukunda-datta kahe prabhura sthāne
brahmānanda-bhāratī āilā tomāra daraśane

Translation: The next day Mukunda Datta informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, “Brahmānanda Bhāratī has come to see You.”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.61: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Quiet! He is My superior. I should go to him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.152

prabhura maryādā-jñāna:—
ājñā deha’ yadi tāṅre āniye ethāi
prabhu kahe, — guru teṅha, yāba tāṅra ṭhāñi

Translation: Mukunda Datta then asked the Lord, “Shall I bring him here?”

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Brahmānanda Bhāratī is like My spiritual master. It is better that I go to him.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.153

bhāratīsaha sākṣātkāra:—
eta bali’ mahāprabhu bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge
cali’ āilā brahmānanda-bhāratīra āge

Translation: After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees came into the presence of Brahmānanda Bhāratī.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.62: Sārvabhauma: When exalted persons act humbly as if they were ordinary men, the result is extraordinary. For example, even though the goddess Ganges naturally resides at the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu, she voluntarily descends to this material world and carries the conditioned souls back to the spiritual world.

(Placing the Lord in front, they walk).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.63: (Wearing a deerskin garment, Brahmananda enters). Brahmānanda: (looking ahead) Here is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. His arms like long golden clubs, His complexion like glistening golden ketakī flowers and His transcendental form splendidly decorated with a garland of fresh damanaka flowers, gracefully walking Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya has now appeared before me.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya took the humble role considering Himself a disciple of Brahmānanda Bhāratī. So, in this way He is teaching by example, how we should behave with our spiritual master's god-brothers. Although He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Caitanya is adhering to the external rules and regulations of what is the appropriate etiquette.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.154

bhāratīra mṛgacarma-vasana-darśane prabhura asantoṣa:—
brahmānanda pariyāche mṛga-carmāmbara
tāhā dekhi’ prabhu duḥkha pāilā antara

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees approached him, they saw that he was covered with a deerskin. Seeing this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very unhappy.

Purport: Brahmānanda Bhāratī belonged to the Śaṅkara-sampradāya. (The title Bhāratī indicates a member of one of that sampradāya’s ten classes of sannyāsīs.) It is customary for a person who has renounced the world to cover his body with a deerskin or the bark of a tree. This is enjoined by the Manu-saṁhitā. But if a sannyāsī who has renounced the world simply wears a deerskin and does not spiritually advance, he is bewildered by false prestige. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not like to see Brahmānanda Bhāratī wearing a deerskin.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.64: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: (noticing the deerskin garment, He pretends not to see him).

“Mukunda! Where is he?”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.155

prabhura bhāratīke darśana-sattveo adarśana-bhāṇa:—
dekhiyā ta’ chadma kaila yena dekhe nāñi
mukundere puche, — kāhāṅ bhāratī-gosāñi

Translation: Seeing Brahmānanda Bhāratī wearing the deerskin, Caitanya Mahāprabhu pretended not to see him. Instead, He asked Mukunda Datta, “Where is Brahmānanda Bhāratī, My spiritual master?”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.65: Mukunda: This is he.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.66: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: This is not he. If this were Brahmānanda, then why would he wear this outer garment of deerskin?

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.156

mukunda kahe, — ei āge dekha vidyamāna
prabhu kahe, — teṅha nahena, tumi ageyāna

Translation: Mukunda Datta replied, “Here is Brahmānanda Bhāratī, in Your presence.” The Lord replied, “You are incorrect. This is not Brahmānanda Bhāratī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.157

anyere anya kaha, nāhi tomāra jñāna
bhāratī-gosāñi kene paribena cāma

Translation: “You must be talking of someone else, for this is surely not Brahmānanda Bhāratī. You simply have no knowledge. Why should Brahmānanda Bhāratī wear a deerskin?”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.67: Brahmānanda: (listening) Ah! He is not pleased with my deerskin. This deerskin garment is simply a way to flaunt my false pride. It is not useful. They who live a simple, honest life are actually in a good position to attain advancement in spiritual realisation. What is the use of this thing?

(So saying, he discards the deerskin outer-garment).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in this verse in a very subtle way instructed Brahmānanda Bhāratī, that a Vaiṣṇava does not dress in this kind of deer skin. Rather a Vaiṣṇava takes a humble role and wears a simple dress and chants Hare Kṛṣṇa and renders devotional service. This wearing of deer skin is something the Māyāvādīs do.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.158

prabhura vyavahāre bhāratīra subuddhi:—
śuni’ brahmānanda kare hṛdaye vicāre
mora carmāmbara ei nā bhāya iṅhāre

Translation: When Brahmānanda Bhāratī heard this, he thought, “My deerskin is not approved by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.159

vāhyacihna-dhāraṇei saṃsāra-mukti-lābha ghaṭe nā:—
bhāla kahena, — carmāmbara dambha lāgi’ pari
carmāmbara-paridhāne saṁsāra nā tari

Translation: Thus admitting his mistake, Brahmānanda Bhāratī thought, “He spoke well. I put on this deerskin only for prestige. I cannot cross over the ocean of nescience simply by wearing a deerskin.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.68

Translation: (Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya glances at Dāmodara. Understanding Lord Caitanya's hint, Dāmodara at once gives Brahmānanda an outer garment of cloth. Brahmānanda dresses himself in the cloth outer-garment. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya approaches Brahmānanda and then bows down before him).

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.160

bhāratīra bahirvāsa-paridhāna o prabhura praṇāma:—
āji haite nā pariba ei carmāmbara
prabhu bahirvāsa ānāilā jāniyā antara

Translation: “From today on I shall not wear this deerskin.” As soon as Brahmānanda Bhāratī decided this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, understanding his mind, immediately sent for the robes of a sannyāsī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.161

carmāmbara chāḍi’ brahmānanda parila vasana
prabhu āsi’ kaila tāṅra caraṇa vandana

Translation: As soon as Brahmānanda Bhāratī gave up his deerskin and covered himself with sannyāsī robes, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came and offered His respects at his lotus feet.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.162

prabhura praṇāma-grahaṇe bhāratīra āpatti:—
bhāratī kahe, — tomāra ācāra loka śikhāite
punaḥ nā karibe nati, bhaya pāṅa citte

Translation: Brahmānanda Bhāratī said, “You instruct the general populace by Your behavior. I will not do anything against Your wishes; otherwise You will not offer me respects but will neglect me. I am afraid of this.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya did not notice Brahmānanda Bhāratī as long he was wearing a deer skin. When he took it out and wore the sannyāsī robes then Lord Caitanya noticed him. Although Lord Caitanya was offering Him respect as the godbrother of His Guru, when he was dressed improperly. He avoided recognizing him. So in this way He adhered to the principles of etiquette but at the same time He was teaching Brahmānanda Bhāratī the proper behavior of a Vaiṣṇava.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.163

bhāratīra tattva-darśana—prabhu o jagannāthake abheda darśana:—
sāmpratika ‘dui brahma’ ihāṅ ‘calācala’
jagannātha — acala brahma, tumi ta’ sacala

Translation: “At the present moment I see two Brahmans. One Brahman is Lord Jagannātha, who does not move, and the other Brahman, who is moving, is You. Lord Jagannātha is the arcā-vigraha, the worshipable Deity, and it is He who is the nonmoving Brahman. But You are Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and You are moving here and there. The two of You are the same Brahman, master of the material nature, but You are playing two parts — one moving and one not moving. In this way two Brahmans are now residing at Jagannātha Purī, Puruṣottama.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.164

tumi — gaura-varṇa, teṅha — śyāmala-varṇa
dui brahme kaila saba jagat-tāraṇa

Translation: “Of the two Brahmans, You are fair-complexioned, and the other, Lord Jagannātha, is blackish. Both of You are delivering the whole world.”

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.69: Brahmananda: (both frightened and struck with awe) Lord, although in order to teach the people of this world what You have done is proper, still it fills me with fear. Therefore it is not right to do this (Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya offering obeisances to myself). The glories of this city of Nīlācala are so great and wonderful that it is not possible for a person like me to properly describe them. In Nīlācala the Supreme Personality of Godhead now is manifest in two forms: one a dark stationary form, and the other a moving form with a fair complexion.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.70: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: You say "now". That means at this moment the Supreme Personality of Godhead is present here in a golden form. Because in your name the word "brahma" refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, therefore you are that golden form of the "brahma".

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.165

prabhura pratyuttara:—
prabhu kahe, — satya kahi, tomara āgamane
dui brahma prakaṭila śrī-puruṣottame

Translation: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Actually, to tell you the truth, due to your presence there are now two Brahmans at Jagannātha Purī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya avoided being called the Absolute Truth, moving and He diverted this by saying Brahmānanda Bhāratī is actually Brahmānanda, so he is the Brahman, he is the moving Brahman and Lord Jagannātha is the stationary Jagannātha.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.166

‘brahmānanda’ nāma tumi — gaura-brahma ‘cala’
śyāma-varṇa jagannātha vasiyāchena ‘acala’

Translation: “Both Brahmānanda and Gaurahari are moving, whereas the blackish Lord Jagannātha is sitting tight and immobile.”

Purport: Brahmānanda Bhāratī wanted to prove that there is no difference between the Supreme Lord and the jīva, whereas Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to prove that He and Brahmānanda Bhāratī were jīvas and that although the jīvas are Brahman, they are many but the Supreme Lord, the Supreme Brahman, is one. On the other hand, Brahmānanda Bhāratī also wanted to prove that Jagannātha and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are one, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but that to fulfill His mission Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared to be moving whereas Lord Jagannātha appeared to be inert. Thus this jolly argument was going on. Finally, Brahmānanda Bhāratī referred the whole matter to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya for a final decision.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Brahmānanda Bhāratī was trying to prove that there are two Supreme Brahmans in Jagannātha Purī, Lord Jagannātha was Acala-brahman, stationary Brahman and Lord Caitanya was the moving Brahman. But Lord Caitanya was trying to prove that Brahmānanda Bhāratī, and Himself are jīva and jīvas are also Brahman but they are not Supreme Brahman, Lord Jagannātha is Supreme Brahman. In Māyāpur Jagannātha is known as Dāru Brahman, the Supreme Absolute Truth in wood. So, this discussion was referred to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to decide.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.167

prabhu o bhāratī, ubhayera vicāre sārvabhaumera madhyasthatā:—
bhāratī kahe, — sārvabhauma, madhyastha hañā
iṅhāra sane āmāra ‘nyāya’ bujha’ mana diyā

Translation: Brahmānanda Bhāratī said, “My dear Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, please become the mediator in this logical argument between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and me.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.168

bhāratīra jīva-brahma vicāra:—
‘vyāpya’ ‘vyāpaka’-bhāve ‘jīva’-‘brahme’ jāni
jīva — vyāpya, brahma — vyāpaka, śāstrete vākhāni

Translation: Brahmānanda Bhāratī continued, “The living entity is localized, whereas the Supreme Brahman is all-pervading. That is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.

Purport: Brahmānanda Bhāratī drew Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya’s attention because he wanted him to judge the argument. He then stated that Brahman, the Supreme Lord, is all-pervading. This is confirmed by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (13.3):

“O scion of Bharata, you should understand that I am also the knower in all bodies, and to understand this body and its knower is called knowledge. That is My opinion.”

The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His Paramātmā feature is expanded everywhere. The Brahma-saṁhitā says, aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham: by virtue of His all-pervasive nature, the Supreme Lord is within the universe as well as within all elements of the universe. He is even within the atom. In this way the Supreme Lord Govinda is all-pervasive. On the other hand, the living entities are very, very small. It is said that the living entity is one ten-thousandth of the tip of a hair. Therefore the living entity is localized. Living entities rest on the Brahman effulgence, the bodily rays of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya approached the question in a different way.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.71: Brahmānanda: There are a difference between the limited and the unlimited. Because I have now rejected my deerskin garment, it should be understood that I am a limited jīva soul.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.72: Sārvabhauma: Śrīpada Brahmananda speaks the truth.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.169

svecchāmata cālita karāya icchā-śaktira paricālaka prabhui vibhu vā viṣṇu vā brahma, bhāratīi jīva:—
carma ghucāñā kaila āmāre śodhana
doṅhāra vyāpya-vyāpakatve ei ta’ kāraṇa

Translation: “Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu purified me by taking away my deerskin. This is proof that He is all-pervasive and all-powerful and that I am subordinate to Him.

Purport: Brahmānanda Bhāratī herein asserts that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Brahman and that he is the subordinate Brahman. This is confirmed in the Vedas: nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Brahman or Parambrahman, the chief of all living entities. Both the Supreme Brahman, or the Personality of Godhead, and the living entities are persons, but the Supreme Brahman is the predominator, whereas the living entities are predominated.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.73: Brahmānanda: Sārvabhauma, see! See! The Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma describes the golden form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the words:

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.73

mahābhārate dānadharma 149,
Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma-stotra (92.75)—

suvarṇa-varṇo hemāṅgo
varāṅgaś candanāṅgadī
sannyāsa-kṛc chamaḥ śānto
niṣṭhā-śānti-parāyaṇaḥ

Translation: “‘His bodily hue is golden, and His whole body is like molten gold. Every part of His body is very beautifully constructed and smeared with sandalwood pulp. Accepting the renounced order, the Lord is always equipoised. He is firmly fixed in His mission of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, and He is firmly situated in His dualistic conclusion and in His peace.’

Purport: This is a quote from the Mahābhārata’s Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma-stotra.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.74

Translation: The name "Candanāṅgadi" refers to Lord Jagannātha when He is decorated with lines drawn in sandalwood paste. See! See! The appearance of the Lord in His Deity form brings supreme transcendental bliss. What can be said of Lord Kṛṣṇa? Ah! This is all very wonderful.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.75

Translation: When one sees the blissful, all knowing form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one's senses, heart, and mind all become stunned with transcendental bliss. They who reject the Lord's personal form and instead meditate on something formless in their hearts are bewildered. They do not understand the truth of the Personality of Godhead. Their hearts are filled with material desires.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.171

prabhutei ukta ślokera tātparya nihita
ei saba nāmera iṅha haya nijāspada
candanākta prasāda-ḍora — śrī-bhuje aṅgada

Translation: “All the symptoms mentioned in the verse from the Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma-stotra are visible in the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. His arms are decorated with sandalwood pulp and the thread received from the Śrī Jagannātha Deity, and these are His ornamental bangles.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way Brahmānanda Bhāratī described Lord Caitanya as the moving Param Brahman.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.172

sārvabhaumera mīmāṁsā,—bhāratīra jaya evaṁ prabhura parājaya-svīkāra:—
bhaṭṭācārya kahe, — bhāratī, dekhi tomāra jaya
prabhu kahe, — yei kaha, sei satya haya

Translation: After hearing this, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya rendered his judgment, saying, “Brahmānanda Bhāratī, I see that you are victorious.” Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu immediately said, “I accept whatever Brahmānanda Bhāratī has said. It is quite all right with Me.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.173

gurutulya bhāratīra nikaṭa śiṣyasthānīya prabhura parājaya-svīkāra:—
guru-śiṣya-nyāye satya śiṣyera parājaya
bhāratī kahe, — eho nahe, anya hetu haya

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus posed Himself as a disciple and accepted Brahmānanda Bhāratī as His spiritual master. He then said, “The disciple is certainly defeated in an argument with the spiritual master.” Brahmānanda Bhāratī immediately countered these words, saying, “This is not the cause of Your defeat. There is another cause.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was taking the position of Brahmānanda Bhāratī’s disciple since he was the godbrother of His Guru. So Brahmānanda Bhāratī said, “Alright, because the disciple is always defeated by the Guru” But Brahmānanda Bhāratī he gets some other realizations.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.174

bhāratīra pratyukti—bhaktera nikaṭa bhagavānera parājaya:—
bhakta ṭhāñi hāra’ tumi, — e tomāra svabhāva
āra eka śuna tumi āpana prabhāva

Translation: “It is Your natural characteristic to accept defeat at the hands of Your devotee. There is also another glory of Yours, which I ask You to hear attentively.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.175

prabhura alaukika-mahimā varṇana,—bhāratīra nirviśeṣa vicāra cidvilāse paryavasita:—
ājanma karinu muñi ‘nirākāra’-dhyāna
tomā dekhi’ ‘kṛṣṇa’ haila mora vidyamāna

Translation: “I have been meditating on the impersonal Brahman since my birth, but since I have seen You, I have fully experienced Kṛṣṇa.”

Purport: Brahmānanda Bhāratī admitted that when there is an argument between the spiritual master and the disciple, the spiritual master is naturally victorious, although the disciple may put forward a strong argument. In other words, it is customary that the words of the spiritual master are more worshipable than the words of a disciple. Under the circumstances, since Brahmānanda Bhāratī was in the position of a spiritual master, he emerged victorious over Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who considered Himself Brahmānanda Bhāratī’s disciple. However, Brahmānanda Bhāratī reversed the argument and took the position of a devotee, stating that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa. This means that the Lord was voluntarily defeated out of affection for His devotee. He was defeated voluntarily, because no one can defeat the Supreme Lord. Concerning this, the words of Bhīṣma in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.9.37) are important:

“Fulfilling my desire and sacrificing His own promise, He got down from the chariot, took up its wheel and ran toward me hurriedly, just as a lion goes to kill an elephant. He even dropped His outer garment on the way.”

Kṛṣṇa promised not to fight in the Battle of Kurukṣetra, but Bhīṣma, in order to break Kṛṣṇa’s promise, attacked Arjuna in such a vigorous way that Kṛṣṇa was obliged to take up a chariot wheel and attack Bhīṣma. The Lord did this to show that His devotee was being maintained at the sacrifice of His own promise. Brahmānanda Bhāratī said, “Since the beginning of my life I was attached to impersonal Brahman realization, but as soon as I saw You, I became very much attached to the Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.” Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, and thus Brahmānanda Bhāratī became His devotee.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we see how Brahmānanda Bhāratī is presenting different arguments and He was describing how Kṛṣṇa is ajita, He is undefeatable but how out of His affection for his devotees, He allows Himself to be defeated.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.176

prabhu-kṛpāya bhāratīya kṛṣṇa-bhakti lābha:—
kṛṣṇa-nāma sphure mukhe, mane netre kṛṣṇa
tomāke tad-rūpa dekhi’ hṛdaya — satṛṣṇa

Translation: Brahmānanda Bhāratī continued, “Since I have seen You, I have been feeling Lord Kṛṣṇa’s presence in my mind and have been seeing Him before my eyes. I now want to chant the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Over and above this, within my heart I consider You to be Kṛṣṇa, and I am therefore very eager to serve You.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.177

bilvamaṅgalera sahita tulanā:—
bilvamaṅgala kaila yaiche daśā āpanāra
ihāṅ dekhi’ sei daśā ha-ila āmāra

Translation: “Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura abandoned his impersonal realization for the realization of the Personality of Godhead. I now see that my condition is similar to his, for it has already changed.”

Purport: In his early life, Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura was an impersonalistic monist, and he used to meditate upon the impersonal Brahman effulgence. Later he became a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and his explanation for this change is given in a verse (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.178) that is quoted in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu. Sometimes a devotee gradually comes to the stage of Bhagavān realization, realization of the Supreme Person, after having attained the lower stages of realization — impersonal Brahman realization and localized Paramātmā realization. The condition of such a devotee is described in the Caitanya-candrāmṛta (5), by Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī:

Kaivalya, oneness in the effulgence of Brahman, appears hellish to the devotee. The heavenly planets, the abodes of the demigods, appear to a devotee like phantasmagorias. The yogīs meditate for sense control, but for the devotee the senses appear like serpents with broken teeth. The devotee doesn’t have to control his senses, for his senses are already engaged in the Lord’s service. Consequently there is no possibility that the senses will act like serpents. In the material condition, the senses are as strong as poisonous snakes. But when the senses are engaged in the Lord’s service, they are like poisonous snakes with their fangs removed, and so they are no longer dangerous. The entire world is a replica of Vaikuṇṭha for the devotee because he has no anxiety. He sees that everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa, and he does not want to enjoy anything for himself. He does not even aspire for the position of Lord Brahmā or Indra. He simply wants to engage everything in the service of the Lord; therefore he has no problem. He stands in his original constitutional position. All this is possible when one receives Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s merciful glance.

In the Caitanya-candrāmṛta there are many more verses illustrating this same principle.

(Caitanya-candrāmṛta 19,60)

A discussion of the impersonal Brahman is not very palatable to a devotee. The so-called regulations of the śāstras also appear null and void to him. There are many people who argue over the śāstras, but for a devotee such discussions are but tumultuous roaring. By the influence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all these problems disappear.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya by His presence, naturally the impersonal concept is defeated. All the spiritual masters in the disciplic succession from Him, also destroys this false idea of the impersonal truth.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.178

kṛṣṇera icchāmātrei karma o jñāna-niṣṭhāra dhvaṁsa:—
śrī-kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛte bilvamaṅgala-vākya:—
advaita-vīthī-pathikair upāsyāḥ
svānanda-siṁhāsana-labdha-dīkṣāḥ
śaṭhena kenāpi vayaṁ haṭhena
dāsī-kṛtā gopa-vadhū-viṭena

Translation: Brahmānanda Bhāratī concluded, “‘Although I was worshiped by those on the path of monism and initiated into self-realization through the yoga system, I have nonetheless been forcibly turned into a maidservant by some cunning boy who is always joking with the gopīs.’”

Purport: This is a verse written by Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura. It is quoted in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (3.1.44).

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.179

prabhura bhāratīke ‘mahā-bhāgavata’ baliyā praśaṁsā:—
prabhu kahe, — kṛṣṇe tomāra gāḍha premā haya
yāhāṅ netra paḍe, tāhāṅ śrī-kṛṣṇa sphuraya

Translation: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “You have a deep ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa; therefore, wherever you turn your eyes, you simply heighten your Kṛṣṇa consciousness.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya is refuting the arguments of Brahmānanda Bhāratī, that He sees Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa because He is māhā-bhāgavata and everything He sees simply enhances His Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.180

sārvabhaumera kṛṣṇakṛpā-mahimā vyākhyā:—
bhaṭṭācārya kahe, — doṅhāra susatya vacana
āge yadi kṛṣṇa dena sākṣāt daraśana

Translation: Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya said, “The statements of both of you are correct. Kṛṣṇa gives direct audience through His mercy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.181

bhaktera premasevā o bhagavānera kṛpāi parasparera milana vā yogasūtra
prema vinā kabhu nahe tāṅra sākṣātkāra
iṅhāra kṛpāte haya daraśana iṅhāra

Translation: “Without having ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa, one cannot see Him directly. Therefore through the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Brahmānanda Bhāratī has acquired direct vision of the Lord.”

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “You are Brahmānanda Bhāratī, an advanced devotee who ecstatically loves the Supreme Lord. Therefore you see Kṛṣṇa everywhere, and there is no doubt about it. ” Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was a mediator between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Brahmānanda Bhāratī, and his judgment was that an advanced devotee like Brahmānanda Bhāratī was seeing Kṛṣṇa by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. Kṛṣṇa directly presents Himself before the vision of an advanced devotee. Since Brahmānanda Bhāratī was an advanced devotee, he saw Kṛṣṇa in the person of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In the words of the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.38):

“I worship the primeval Lord, Govinda, who is always seen by the devotee whose eyes are anointed with the pulp of love. He is seen in His eternal form of Śyāmasundara, situated within the heart of the devotee.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya had reclaimed both Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Brahmānanda Bhāratī as victorious.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.182

vāhya-jīvābhimāna-hetu prabhura sārvabhauma-vākye anādara:—
prabhu kahe, — ‘viṣṇu’ ‘viṣṇu’, ki kaha sārvabhauma
‘ati-stuti’ haya ei nindāra lakṣaṇa

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, what are you saying? Lord Viṣṇu, save Me! Such glorification is simply another form of blasphemy.”

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a little embarrassed by the Bhaṭṭācārya’s statement; therefore He uttered the name Viṣṇu to save Himself. The Lord herein confirms that if one is overestimated, glorification is just another form of blasphemy. In this way He protests this so-called offensive statement.

Jayapatākā Swami: We see how Śrīla Prabhupāda was being greeted in Boston in 1969 in the Airport and when he came out all the devotees offered their obeisances, so then He sat and said, how the spiritual master should be offered all respects like the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He said GOD is G-O-D but if the spiritual master thinks that he is God, he is not GOD, he is DOG. So, what Lord Caitanya is saying here that if someone says that You are Kṛṣṇa, that actually is a blasphemy and so He was chanting Viṣṇu! Viṣṇu! Viṣṇu! closing His ears so that He could be protected from such an offence.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 10.183

bhāratīke saṅge laiyā prabhura sva-sthāne āgamana:—
eta bali’ bhāratīre lañā nija-vāsā āilā
bhāratī-gosāñi prabhura nikaṭe rahilā

Translation: After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took Brahmānanda Bhāratī with Him to His residence. From that time on, Brahmānanda Bhāratī remained with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.79: Dāmodara: (to Brahmānanda) Śrīpada, may I remind you it is time to go and attend to your duties.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.80: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Lord, it is right.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 8.81: Brahmānanda: As it please Your Lordship.

(Accompanied by Dāmodara and some others, he exits).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this meeting of Brahmānanda Bhāratī and Lord Caitanya was something very unique and we can see how philosophical discussion between both of them is something very enlivening.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Brahmānanda Bhāratī Joins Lord Caitanya, under the section Lord Caitanya returns to Jagannātha Purī.