20210401 Snāna-yātrā Ceremony

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on April 1st, 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!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, today’s chapter entitled as:

Snāna-yātrā Ceremony

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11. 60

rājāra adhairya o dina-gaṇana:—
snāna-yātrā kabe habe puchila bhaṭṭere
bhaṭṭa kahe,—tina dina āchaye yātrāre

Translation: When the King asked the Bhaṭṭācārya when the bathing ceremony [Snāna-yātrā] of Lord Jagannātha would take place, the Bhaṭṭācārya replied that there were only three days left before the ceremony.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.95: Kāśī Miśra: (enters) Lord, tomorrow will be Lord Jagannātha's bathing festival.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.96: Mahāprabhu: Yes, I know. Miśra, this year please arrange that all My Gauḍīya followers including even the least among them will happily see the bathing festival of Lord Jagannātha.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.97: Kāśī Miśra: Lord, Mahārāja Pratāparudra ordered me, “This year no one among my inner chamber’s should see the bathing festival of the Lord.” Before, being situated on the cakraveṣṭa in the palace they used to see the bathing festival of the Lord, but now the Gauḍīyas will climb on that.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.98: Mahāprabhu: Good fortune to him.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.99: (Again sounds of saṅkīrtana behind the scenes). Haribol !

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.100: Paramānanda Purī and Svarūpa Dāmodara: My Lord, they have reached Cāra-gaṇeśa (Cāra-gaṇeśa is the name of a place).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.101: Mahāprabhu: Svarūpa, you go ahead. I will also come behind later.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.102: Svarūpa: As You order. (He exits).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.103: Paramānanda Purī: (to Himself) Although Lord Caitanya is at present exhibiting great anger, still He is very affectionate and respectful to Advaita Ācārya. This is the glory of loving friendship: although the befriended person has both faults and virtues the friend sees only the virtues and does not accept the faults of the friend.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.104: Mahāprabhu: Paramānanda, rise. Let us also go.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.105: Paramānanda Purī: Gosvāmīs please rise.

(They all leave the building).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.106: (Enter Advaita Ācārya, dancing in great bliss, and doubly happy because He is wearing the flower-garland prasāda of Lord Jagannātha. He is beside Śivānanda surrounded by devotees performing kīrtana. Seeing Mahāprabhu coming at a distance Advaita at once falls to the ground even though dancing.)

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.107: Śivānanda: (describing everything to his son) Look! Look! He is this. His complexion splendid as lightning, walking gracefully like a lion in sport lifting the neck up, His arms long like a golden staff, His neck like lion and His garments reddish as the sunrise, Lord Gauranga is now gloriously manifest before us. Offer obeisances to Him, Dear, offer obeisances to Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we see how Śivānanda Sena is training his child, his son to offer respect to Lord Caitanya. Śrīla Prabhupāda said that these children are actually sent by Kṛṣṇa, so we should train them up to become preachers, become Kṛṣṇa conscious. That’s the greatest preaching and that is the glory.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.108: (Everyone falls to the ground to offer obeisances and before they could get up, Lord Caitanya comes in the midst of Lord Advaita's followers. They get up and look for Lord Caitanya around all directions)

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.109: Śivānanda: (looking) Now Lord Caitanya and Lord Advaita are firmly embracing each other and nobody is able to identify their. One moment they see Caitanya as Advaita, and then see Advaita as Caitanya.

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari bol! So, both Lord Caitanya and Advaita are Viṣṇu-tattva that means that Advaita is the expansion of Lord Caitanya, but He is non-different. So, the devotees they could not tell, sometimes they see Advaita sometimes they see Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.110: Oh look! Eager to see Lord Advaita, Lord Caitanya respectfully keeping Advaita in front and takes Him to His āśrama. Therefore, after pausing for a moment all of you enter the āśrama one by one.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.111: (Thus stopping everyone, he makes them enter one by one gradually. Lord Caitanya sits down. He pleases Advaita and each of the other devotees with embraces, words of conversation, glances and other exchanges of affection. With His own hand He gives them bhagavat-prasāda. Gradually, one by one, Advaita and the others accept the prasāda.)

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.112: Bhagavān: For now, let us not eat any more prasāda. At night-beginning we will go up to the cakra-veṣṭa and from there we will easily see the great bathing festival of Lord Jagannātha.

Haribol!

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.113: Everyone: As the Lord orders.

(They exit).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.114: Svarūpa: Lord, now You should also perform the āhnika (a religious ceremony to be performed every day at a fixed hour), on time.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.115: Bhagavān: As it pleases all of you.

(Accompanied by Paramānanda Purī, He exits).

Jayapatākā Swami: Āhnika is the chanting of the gāyatrī-mantra, this has to be done three sandhyā, sunrise, mid-day and after sunset.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.116: (Accompanied by Paramānanda Purī, He exits). 

Svarūpa: Kāśī Miśra, has Mahārāja Pratāparudra left the capitol and come to Guṇḍicā?

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.117: A Voice From Behind the Scenes: He has come!

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.118: Kāśī Miśra: Gosvāmī, the way he is speaking, it appears that the King has come.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.119: Svarūpa: Then we will happily see the bathing festival.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.120: Kāśī Miśra: I know the truth.

(He exits).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.121: Svarūpa: Govinda, come. Let us follow the Lord.

(They exit).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.122: (Enter Mahārāja Pratāparudra and his family priest. They are standing on the palace roof).

Mahārāja Pratāparudra: O priest, this year I will see the bathing festival from this place. Otherwise Lord Gaurāṅga will feel some hesitation.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.123: Family priest: This is proper.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.124: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Who, who is there? Call for Kāśī Miśra.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.125: Kāśī Miśra: (after entering) Here I am. Lord (Mahārāja Pratāparudra) order me.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.126: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: O Kāśī Miśra, all the associates of Lord Caitanya from Gauḍa-deśa or the entourage of these associates or the followers of these entourage or the servants of these who have come, come here to Śrī-kṣetra all of them stay in the viewing places wherever my wives, children, and friends used to stay. Thus let them all see the bathing festival with great happiness.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this Caitanya-candrodaya Nāṭaka is written as a drama (anyway). Mahārāja Pratāparudra is having Lord Caitanya watch the bathing festival from a vantage point where he and his family members used to watch. Not only Lord Caitanya but all His associates from Bengal went there.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.127: Kāśī Miśra: Mahārāja, as per the order of Lord Caitanya, it has been established before-hand.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.128: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Well arranged.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11. 61

sārvabhaumera prasthāna; snāna-yātrāya prabhura harṣa:— 
rājāre prabodhiyā bhaṭṭa gelā nijālaya
snāna-yātrā-dine prabhura ānanda hṛdaya

Translation: After thus encouraging the King, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya returned home. On the day of Lord Jagannātha’s bathing ceremony, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very happy at heart.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.120

Translation: Greedy for the nectar of Caitanya’s feet, the devotees became anxious to see the bathing festival of Jagannātha.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.121

Translation: On Ekādāśī the devotees happily saw the marriage festival and on the full moon day they saw the purifying bathing festival.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.122

Translation: The city of Purī was most attractive and pleasing with mansions, watchtowers and gates.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.123

Translation: It had beautiful palaces which touched the white clouds. In that city, the bathing platform, permeated with nectar, seemed like a moving person.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.124

Translation: On the previous day, when the sun set, some people had started to decorate the platform.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.125

Translation: When the full moon rose, it shone, making the great city beautiful.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.126

Translation: The moon, full of nectar, as if serving the Lord, cleansed the platform with its hand-like rays.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.127-128

Translation: The bathing platform was decorated with abundant flower garlands, with an attractive archway, with a huge network of flowers, and with small shining, jingling bells. Its beauty became attractive to the whole world.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we can see that even five hundred years ago when they were observing the snāna-yātrā, they were observing it with great pomp and beauty.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.129

Translation: On the order of Gaurāṅga, the devotees, anxious to see the bathing of Jagannātha, fixed themselves on top of a wall.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.131: Kāśī Miśra: O Lord (Mahārāja Pratāparudra), look! Look! Illuminated by the moonlight as they are situated in the watch-tower that is purified by the aromatic powder, in front of the bathing-room, the devotees are splendid as demigods in the sky.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.130

Translation: Their chests shining with sandalwood applied by the hand of Gaurāṅga, they shone like devatās in the sky in front of Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.129: Palace Guard: (enters) O Lord (Mahārāja Pratāparudra), the queens send this message: "We have come to see the Lord's bathing festival, but we cannot see it!"

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.130: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: How does that not happen? They can stay here and they can also see. Look. The arrangements are made like that!

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.132: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: These associates of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya have entered nicely. Now is the time for the appearance of Lord Jagannātha. Go and do whatever is needed for the festival. Don't delay.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.133: Kāśī Miśra: As you have ordered.

(He exits).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.134: (The queens enter). Queens: Glory, glory to Mahārāja!

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.135: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: (to a queen) Queen, come. Come. Make your life all-successful and perfect. (With praises he seats her) Queen, look! Look! These are the purifiers of the world the associates of Śrī Caitanya. A little later you will see Him as well.

Now offer praṇāma to them.

(The queen bows down).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.136: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Look! Look! This is great wonder. It is well-known widely by the people that on the occasion of mahā-jyeṣṭhī-yoga, the flag atop the temple is hoisted. It appears as if the associates of Lord Caitanya are licking the moon-like flag with their tongue and simultaneously looking at the temple by their up-raised devotional eyes.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.137: Queen: Lord, is this news truth?

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.138: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: See for yourself. (He shows her the moving flag).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.139: (Tumultuous sounds from behind the scenes)

Mahārāja Pratāparudra: (listening) Devī, look! Look! The time for Lord Jagannātha’s vijaya (arrival) has come! Therefore, I am looking forward when Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is coming. (He becomes jubilant).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the King Pratāparudra Mahārāja has so much devotion for Lord Caitanya that he is anxious to see Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.131

Translation: When dawn came, the servants of Jagannātha fastened the pure ropes on Jagannātha’s body.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.132

Translation: First, Balarāma desired to go. He came off his throne, shining like a million moons.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.133

Translation: Then Subhadrā, and then Jagannātha, came off their thrones, producing astonishing beauty.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Balarāma is the elder brother He went first then Subhadrā devī, the sister went and she is protected from the rear by Lord Jagannātha and in this way they proceeded to the bathing place.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.134

Translation: Gauracandra, came in front and saw the victory path of the three deities, one by one.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.139

Translation: Here is He! Here is He, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya! Haribol! Look! Look! Lord Caitanya’s face is splendid high above everyone amidst the dense crowd of people. Look! His face is like a blossoming, many petalled golden lotus growing in a lake and surrounded by the flock of swans that are His devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya was 7ft tall, He towered over everyone else so His face was visible amongst all the devotees.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.140: Queen: Noble husband, in our one festival another festival has come about, because desiring the darśana of Jagannātha, we have obtained the darśana of Gauracandra.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.141

Translation: Who is this golden treasure appeared on the pathway of the eyes? Just like the powerful sun, by the contact of his great splendor the material desires in the heart is dried up. The nectar of attraction for the Lord is awakened by His incomparable sweetness.

Jayapatākā Swami: The beauty of Lord Caitanya is described as His weapon and He was so beautiful that He would attract all the people, and this was the way He spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So, by His presence everyone became naturally more Kṛṣṇa conscious and naturally their material desires dried up, replaced by spiritual desires.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.142: Furthermore: With moonlight I will offer ārātrika to His face. With a host of golden lamps I will offer ārātrika to His lustre. With the flowers of my breaths I will offer ārātrika to His lotus feet. In many thousands of bodies I will accept His mercy.

(Thus the queen bows down to offer respects).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.143: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: You have experienced suitably. Look! Lord Jagannātha also has climbed the bathing place.

(The Queen looks and then offers obeisances).

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.135

Translation: Shaking the earth with his footsteps, moving from pillow to pillow, Jagannātha appeared like the moon moving from constellation to constellation.

Jayapatākā Swami: As it is the custom during the Ratha-yātrā, the Lord also moves in same way for His Snāna-yātrā, and as He descends from different staircase, His lotus feet would fall on the pillows , which would burst and the cotton would fly into the air.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.136

Translation: The Lord, the crown jewel of Nīlādri, ascended the spotless platform, which was decorated with networks of flowers, which shone brightly with a series of steps, and which surpassed the beauty of the milk ocean with trembling waves, while people shouted of “Jaya” and rang bells.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows the repository of Lord Jagannātha’s ceremony.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.137

Translation: Caitanya Mahāprabhu, surrounded by devotees, was in the front. Streams of tears fell from his lotus eyes onto his chest. Shining Jagannātha was also bathed in tears, overcome with joy on seeing that they had similar beauty.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.144: (Tumultuous sounds from behind the scenes).

Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Queen, look! Look at the bathing of Lord Jagannātha.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.145: Queen: (looks both sides) Noble husband, this is a great festival.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.146 73 of 81: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Goddess (address to his queen) What is it?

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.147 74 of 81: Queen: (by Sanskrit) Facing each other, gazing at each other with unblinking eyes, Their bodies flooded, one with bathing water and the other with a stream of tears, two are the sole reservoirs of mercy and both of them are sole matchless medicines to remove the fears of repeated birth and death, though one is black (Jagannātha) and the other fair (Gaurāṅga), both shine with the same splendor.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these are the glories of Lord Caitanya and Lord Jagannātha when They were together. So Lord Caitanya after coming from Bengal, travelling around South India and then returning here to Nīlācala, and now He was united with Lord Jagannātha during Lord Jagannātha’s bathing ceremony. The queen was noticing that Lord Caitanya was crying, shedding torrents of tears. And while they were bathing Lord Jagannātha, His eyes was also filled with the bathing waters. By seeing this beautiful form of Lord Gaurāṅga and Lord Jagannātha, one can transcend any fear of repeated birth and death. So, this was realized by the queen.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.148: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: This is true.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.138

Translation: The great festival of Jagannātha, rare for the devatās like Brahmā to see, clearly meant for giving sweet bliss to the eyes of all people, was beautiful with simultaneous loud shouts of “jaya, jaya,” ever increasing in joy, and with showers of flowers similar to verses of praise.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.139

Translation: Covered with the bathing water, Jagannātha seemed to be crying in separation from Gaurāṅga, thinking “He will be hidden from my vision for a long time.”

Jaya!

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.140

Translation: His chest and thighs were pleased with the sweet liquids of the bathing festival. Jagannātha remained there for some time in bliss. Again, his two arms were held by groups of servants. Endowed with beauty, he began to move gloriously on pillows.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Jagannātha after the Snāna-yātrā was returning to His altar in the temple.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 14.141

Translation: At the departure of Jagannātha, Kūrma seemed to sink, Śeṣa seemed to tremble with all his hoods, the earth seemed to quake, mountains seemed to explode, the universe seemed to break apart, the ocean seemed to flood its shores, and the sun seemed to flee away.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all these natural things were feeling separation from Lord Jagannātha.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.149: Queen: Noble husband, the Lord's bathing festival is now over, since Gauracandra without gazing in the southern direction, goes to the other direction.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.150: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: It is so. Little people are in front of the Lord, but lot of people are behind the Lord. Linking arms, the associates of the Lord have made a circle around Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, there were huge crowds of people in Jagannātha Purī, so the associates of Lord Caitanya formed a ring around the Lord to protect Him from the crowds. So naturally the devotees want to serve the Lord. Serving the Lord is the greatest benediction.

Thus, ends the Chapter Entitled, Snāna-yātrā ceremony.