20210325 Lord Caitanya’s Dealings with Bengal Devotees (Part 1)

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on March 25th, 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

Continuing the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, today the chapter entitled as: 

Lord Caitanya’s Dealings with Bengal Devotees

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.94: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Mukunda, when I was in the south, where did Śrīpāda Nityānanda go?

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.95: Mukunda: To Gauḍa (Bengal). He said: "When the Lord returns, I will again come here with Advaita and all the devotees."

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.96: Gopīnātha Ācārya: For now there is no war between the two countries (Gauḍa and Utkala) and the roads are easy to travel. The Guṇḍīca-yātrā is coming nearer. Therefore, the reason for their coming is there. But, if the news of Your Lordship’s return has reached that far, then they would come. Or else, no need to doubt (that the news of Your arrival will reach so far).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is asking His associates about the devotees in Bengal and about Lord Nityānanda. So, He is always thinking about His devotees.

Translation: Who tells the news of the rising of the sun and moon when with their rays of light they dispel the darkness of the world. Who disputes it? It is the nature of transcendental object to manifest themselves on their own.

Translation: My Lord, now it is time for Lord Jagannātha's evening dhūpa-āratī. If you give Your permission... (Frightened, he stops himself in mid-sentence).

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.97: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Ācārya, you go to see the dhūpa-āratī. I will also go to speak with Paramānanda Purī and Dāmodara Svarūpa. (The Lord exits).

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.98: Gopīnātha Ācārya: Ah! The Lord has gone. Therefore, after I see the dhūpa-āratī I will meet with Him again there. (He takes a few steps).

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.124

sārvabhauma o gopīnāthera ekaṭu dūre thākiyā bhakta-bhagavanmilana-darśana:—
gopīnāthācārya bhaṭṭācārya sārvabhauma
dūre rahi’ dekhe prabhura vaiṣṇava-milana

Translation: From a distant place, Gopīnātha Ācārya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya watched the meeting of all the Vaiṣṇavas with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.125

siṁha-dvāra ḍāhine chāḍi’ saba vaiṣṇava-gaṇa
kāśī-miśra-gṛha-pathe karilā gamana

Translation: Beginning from the right side of the lion gate, or the main gate of the temple, all the Vaiṣṇavas began to proceed toward the house of Kāśī Miśra.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the devotees did not hesitate to enter the temple of Lord Jagannātha, they wanted to see Lord Caitanya and they proceeded directly to see Him first.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.126

bhaktasaha milite prabhura svayaṁ anuvrajyā:—
hena-kāle mahāprabhu nija-gaṇa-saṅge
vaiṣṇave mililā āsi’ pathe bahu-raṅge

Translation: In the meantime, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, accompanied by His personal associates, met all the Vaiṣṇavas on the road with great jubilation.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.76: Advaita again received a pure garland from Govinda. He heard Govinda’s words with eagerness.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.77: “Mahāprabhu is now at the ocean. He says that you should fast (with your eyes) and should not come to the ocean to see him.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.78: “You should see Jagannātha. He will come definitely after some delay. You can talk together in Kāśī-miśra’s house.”

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.79: Hearing this, Advaita thought, “This is his māyā.” He inferred this, since the Lord was under his control.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.127

advaitera praṇāma, prabhura āliṅgana:—
advaita karila prabhura caraṇa vandana
ācāryere kaila prabhu prema-āliṅgana

Translation: First Advaita Ācārya offered prayers to the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord immediately embraced Him in ecstatic love.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Advaita Ācārya, although was His spiritual uncle, He knew that He was the expansion of Lord Kṛṣṇa. So he offered his obeisances to Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya picked up Advaita and embarced him out of ecstatic love.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.176: (As described, Śrī Caitanya, Paramānanda Purī, Dāmodara Svarūpa, and the others, enter. Śrī Caitanya approaches Nityānanda and bows down to offer respects. Śrī Caitanya then embraces Advaita. Advaita embraces in return.) Haribol!

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka, it is written as a drama, that is why it says this person enters, exits, speaks, does this, does that. Because actually it is written as a play. So, the devotees who want to they can perform this pastime as a drama. Hare Kṛṣṇa !

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.177: Sārvabhauma: (looking) Glories to the embrace of Lord Advaita and Lord Caitanya who are like two regal elephants in the jungle of divine love, each other sprinkled abundantly with flowing streams of tears, roaring loudly like thunder, overflowing with maddened love, and Their arms trembling around each other.

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari Bol! Hari Bol!

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.198: Śrī Caitanya: Advaita, this is Paramānanda Purī. He is like a second Munīndra (Mādhavendra Purī). He is the dear disciple of Your own guru (Mādhavendra Purī). Therefore, offer obeisances to him.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.199: (Advaita does that. Everyone also bows down to offer respect).

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.200: Śrī Caitanya: Advaita Ācārya, this is Svarūpa. He is in his own original svarūpaḥ (spiritual form). Even without My telling him, he always knows what is in My heart.

Jayapatākā Swami: Knowing what is in the heart of someone is a sign of great advancement. Knowing what is in the heart of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, shows one's great advancement.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.201: Advaita: It is so. (He bows down. Everyone bows down).

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.178: (From all directions everyone bows down to offer respects by falling to the ground like sticks. By embracing, conversing, and greeting in various ways, Lord Caitanya gives His mercy to everyone. Advaita introduces those who were not seen before. Lord Caitanya addresses by name even those who were not seen before).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows that Lord Caitanya immediately knew actually the different devotees, because He is the Supersoul so He knows all His devotees.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.179: Gopīnātha Ācārya: Ah! Very wonderful! Lord Caitanya addresses these devotees He has never seen before, just as if He had seen them in the past: "Rāghava, are you fine? Vāsudeva, is everything auspicious for you? Oh! Nārāyaṇa and Śivānanda is everything auspicious? Śaṅkara, are you well? Kamalānanda and Kāśīsvara, are you auspicious? Śrīkānta, is everything well with you? Nārāyaṇa, is everything fortunate for you?"

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari bol!

api ca—

Translation: Speaking these affectionate sweet words to one by one gradually, Lord Caitanya addressd them. Is this due to Lord Caitanya’s being the Supreme Lord or is it due to the bond of love between Him and these devotees has existed for countless lifetimes in the past or is He the all-knower?

Jayapatākā Swami: These are the questions, for which the answer could be all the above. That He is all-knower, all these devotees have been connected to Him for many life times.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.191: Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Rāghava, you are an object of great love for me.

Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nāṭaka 8.192: (Rāghava replies silently by bowing down).

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.128

ubhayera premāveśa, pare dhairyya:—
premānande hailā duṅhe parama asthira
samaya dekhiyā prabhu hailā kichu dhīra

Translation: Indeed, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Advaita Ācārya displayed agitation due to ecstatic love. Seeing the time and circumstance, however, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained patient.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya controlled Himself because of the situation, He remained controlled, but He was experiencing great ecstasy and love on being united with his dear Advaita Ācārya

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.97

Translation: Then Mahāprabhu, seeing the lotus feet of Śrīvāsa, became overjoyed and praised him profusely.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.98

Translation: Śrīvāsa, becoming confused, seemed like he desired to die. The fortunate devotee offered respects and praises profusely.

Jayapatākā Swami: See the devotee Śrīvāsa, he did not want to be glorified by the Lord. He rather wants to glorify and serve the Lord, and therefore he offers respects and praises to Lord Caitanya profusely.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.99

Translation: His younger brother Śrīrāma and Vāsudeva Datta offered respects to the Lord together.

Caitanya-Carita-Mahā-Kāvya 14.100

Translation: Mahāprabhu embraced them with his pillar-like arms.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.129

śrīvāsādira prabhuke praṇāma, prabhura āliṅgana –
śrīvāsādi karila prabhura caraṇa vandana
pratyeke karila prabhu prema-āliṅgana

Translation: After this, all the devotees, headed by Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, offered prayers to the lotus feet of the Lord, and the Lord embraced each and every one of them in great love and ecstasy.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, they were very respectful, these particular devotees have been offering obeisances to the Lord, and the Lord embraced them in ecstatic love because He appreciated their love and dedication.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.130

sarvabhaktera yathāyogya sambhāṣaṇa:
eke eke sarva-bhakte kaila sambhāṣaṇa
sabā lañā abhyantare karilā gamana

Translation: The Lord addressed all the devotees one after another and took all of them with Him into the house.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.131

svalpaparisara haileo kāśī-miśrera bhavane e sarvabhakta-samāgama:—
miśrera āvāsa sei haya alpa sthāna
asaṅkhya vaiṣṇava tāhāṅ haila parimāṇa

Translation: Since the residence of Kāśī Miśra was insufficient, all the assembled devotees were very much overcrowded.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.132

sakala-bhaktake prabhura svayaṁ mālā-gandha dāna:—
āpana-nikaṭe prabhu sabā vasāilā
āpani śrī-haste sabāre mālya-gandha dilā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu made all the devotees sit at His side, and with His own hand He offered them garlands and sandalwood pulp.

Jayapatākā Swami: Seeing how these devotees receive so much love and affection from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He was personally giving them garlands and sandalwood pulp. So, how merciful is Lord Caitanya, we cannot begin to understand. So this is the special demonstration of Lord Caitanya’s mercy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.133

sārvabhauma-saha sakala bhaktera milana:—
bhaṭṭācārya, ācārya tabe mahāprabhura sthāne
yathā-yogya mililā sabākāra sane

Translation: After this, Gopīnātha Ācārya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya met all the Vaiṣṇavas at the place of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in a befitting manner.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this meeting of the devotee, we see that the devotees are meeting with the Lord, this is the ecstasy of sambhoga and being separated from the Lord this is vipralambha. So now the devotees are experiencing the cherished moment to be reunited with the Lord. Sometimes it is so called separated, but in the separation they are constantly thinking of the Lord. Actually, they are never separated because they are thinking of the Lord about the union and separation. But separation makes the union more blissful.

Hare Kṛṣṇa !