20210402 Due to Anavasara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Goes to Ālālanātha

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on April 2nd, 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! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, today’s chapter entitled as:

Due to Anavasara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Goes to Ālālanātha

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11. 62

snāna-yātrā dekhi’ prabhura haila baḍa sukha
īśvarera ’anavasare’ pāila baḍa duḥkha

Translation: Upon seeing the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. But when Lord Jagannātha retired after the ceremony, Lord Caitanya became very unhappy because He could not see Him.

Purport: After the bathing ceremony of Śrī Jagannātha, which takes place just a fortnight before the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, the body of the Lord Jagannātha Deity is repainted, and this takes just about a fortnight to complete. This period is called anavasara. There are many who visit the temple to see Lord Jagannātha regularly every day, and for them His retirement after the bathing ceremony is unbearable. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt Lord Jagannātha’s absence from the temple very much.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 1.122

anavasare ālālanāthe gamana o avasthāna:—
anavasare jagannāthera nā pāñā daraśana
virahe ālālanātha karilā gamana

Translation: When Jagannātha was absent from the temple, Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who could not see Him, felt separation and left Jagannātha Purī to go to a place known as Ālālanātha.

Purport: Ālālanātha is also known as Brahmagiri. This place is about fourteen miles from Jagannātha Purī and is also on the beach. There is a temple of Jagannātha there. At the present moment a police station and post office are situated there because so many people come to see the temple.

The word anavasara is used when Śrī Jagannāthajī cannot be seen in the temple. After the bathing ceremony (snāna-yātrā), Lord Jagannātha apparently becomes sick. He is therefore removed to His private apartment, where no one can see Him. Actually, during this period renovations are made on the body of the Jagannātha Deity. This is called nava-yauvana. During the Ratha-yātrā ceremony, Lord Jagannātha once again comes before the public. Thus for fifteen days after the bathing ceremony, Lord Jagannātha is not visible to any visitors.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya, He ran to be in Ālālanātha. So He was there so that He could see the deity.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11. 63

anavasara-kāle prabhura kṛṣṇa-viraha o ekākī ālālanāthe gamana:—
gopī-bhāve virahe prabhu vyākula hañā
ālālanāthe gelā prabhu sabāre chāḍiyā

Translation: Due to separation from Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt the same great anxiety the gopīs feel in separation from Kṛṣṇa. In this condition He gave up all association and went to Ālālanātha.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.1

Translation: Jagannātha, wearing the cloth of invisibility, then disappeared from men’s vision with Lakṣmī, servant of the palace, for repairs.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.2

Translation: Jagannātha disappeared to play with Lakṣmī alone, desiring to produce great pain of separation in his devotees living in Puri.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.3

Translation: Their minds disturbed with sorrow on not seeing the Lord, the devotees living in Purī suffered greatly on being deprived of the Lord’s presence.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.4

Translation: Mahāprabhu, not seeing Jagannātha, was greatly pained. On this occasion, he manifested the sorrow of the gopīs in separation from Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.

Jayapatākā Swami: Remember that Lord Caitanya is the combined form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī, He is Kṛṣṇa with the heart and complexion of Rādhārāṇī. Therefore, He was feeling great separation that Rādhārāṇī feels when Kṛṣṇa is absent.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.5

Translation: He experienced the sorrow in the gopīs’ hearts constantly. When the opportunity arose in this condition, he experienced transformations in his heart.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.151: A Voice From Behind the Scenes: Alas! Anavasara (time period after snāna-yātra when Jagannātha cannot be seen in the temple) has come about and, Lord Caitanya, the King of sannyāsīs has attained the state of miserable separation from Lord Jagannātha. Because, the nature of the spotless love is such that, the Lord attains that identical state, that in which he has the absorption.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.152: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: (listening) Ah! Definitely, Kāśī Miśra has spoken this. Therefore, let me listen again listen to the end of the sentence. (He listens again with attention, staying there).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.153: A Voice From Behind the Scenes: He does not take bath, water tulasī, gaze at the temple's cakra, chant the holy name, bow down to offer obeisances and so on, or even eat. On the appearance of anavasara, accepting the pain of separation on His own accord, He is stunned and thus day and night He sheds tears.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.6

Translation: Gauracandra appeared to wear a necklace of constantly flowing tears on his chest. Becoming thin, present only by his name, he became despondent because of the long separation.

Jayapatākā Swami: Although the period was for a fortnight, each minute seems to be like a yuga for Lord Caitanya, because He had so much love for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.154: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Ah! What a madness. What will happen, if during the entire anavasara period He is like this?

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.155: Again a Voice From Behind the Scenes: There is no other way to bring about the change in the mood of the Lord without performing the blissful kṛṣṇa-kīrtana that is dear to the Lord. Therefore, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī is endeavoring to do this.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Kṛṣṇa is non-different from His names, pastimes, qualities etc., by chanting the holy names of the Lord in saṅkīrtana, that will give some relief to Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.156: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Well done! Oh well done! (to his queen) Beloved, please go now. Now I will call for Kāśī Miśra.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.157: Queen: As you order. (She exits).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.158: Kāśī Miśra: Enters and says Glory, glory to lord (Mahārāja Pratāparudra.)

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.159: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Miśra, please tell what did you tell?

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.160: Kāśī Miśra: That which has been prescribed.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.161: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Tell me: What did Svarūpa Gosvāmī advise?

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.162: Kāśī Miśra: He said Lord Caitanya is now overcome with grief because of separation from Lord Jagannātha. In order to remove the grief, he consulted all Lord Caitanya's friends. Today, at sunset, after the darśana of the Gopīnātha’s vijaya (the Deity being brought out), there is will be change in the mood of Lord Caitanya if a very sweet kīrtana of Lord is heard. Therefore, as per the advice, that the feelings of separation of Lord Caitanya will be slackened, some of His very intimate well-wishers who know His heart will perform a very melodious kīrtana near Rohiṇī-kuṇḍa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, there are nine sacred waters in Jagannātha Purī, Missing one is Rohiṇī kuṇḍa inside the temple.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.64

prabhuke bhaktagaṇakarttṛka gauḍīyagaṇera āgamana saṃvāda jñāpana:—
pāche prabhura nikaṭa āilā bhakta-gaṇa
gauḍa haite bhakta āise,—kaila nivedana

Translation: The devotees who had followed the Lord came into His presence and requested Him to return to Purī. They submitted that the devotees from Bengal were coming to Puruṣottama-kṣetra.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 1.123

gauḍīya bhaktagaṇera āgamana-śravana
bhakta-sane dina kata tāhāñi rahilā
gauḍera bhakta āise, samācāra pāilā

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remained for some days at Ālālanātha. In the meantime, He received news that all the devotees from Bengal were coming to Jagannātha Purī.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.163: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Miśra, how can I see this?

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.164: Kāśī Miśra: If you climb the jagatī (a raised surface, platform or terrace upon which the temple is built).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.165: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: I will do like that.

(Thus, along with Kāśī Miśra, he climbs jagatī)

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.166: (Sounds of a very sweet kīrtana from behind the scenes).

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.7

Translation: He became thinner by the day, sprinkling tears from his pink lotus eyes while exhaling hot wind in long sighs.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.8

Translation: As the forest fire of sorrow doubled by not seeing Jagannātha, the ocean of mercy attained some peace of mind on considering that the Lord would return.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya, He ran to Ālālanātha, he paid His prostrated obeisances in front of the Lord. His body was burning in such separation of love that He melted the stone in the temple of Ālālanātha and that stone now has being taken out of the temple and put in a separate temple outside, so that the devotees can have darśana and can feel the image of Lord Caitanya, and so that temple is still there.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.9

Translation: The Lord, with a flute in his hand, mounting an attractive swing, viewed the artistic dancing of the best temple women at the three junctures of the day.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the devadāsīs in Jagannātha Purī would dance for Lord Jagannātha

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.10

Translation: He enjoyed nicely with charming songs, while sweet mṛdaṅgas and other drums sounded. The floor of the room became white from the constant showers of flowers.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 15.11

Translation: His heart despondent because of separation, Gauracandra passed his day crying loudly and incessantly and attained some relief by seeing his companions.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.166: Kāśī Miśra: (looking) O Mahārāja, look! Look! During the entire day He was the personification of separation and personification of grief. Now, His mood has changed by the sound of the kīrtana.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.167: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Certainly, it becomes so. He exhibits that mood, when His body emitting abundant bliss comes in contact with a certain mood. A jar made of crystal emits the color that is placed in it and becomes of that color.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, as soon as Lord Caitanya heard the melodious devotional kīrtana, He felt some relief and became happy in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is the elevated stage of kṛṣṇa-prema, and it cannot be imitated.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.168: (The sound of a song is heard again from behind the scenes).

Mahārāja Pratāparudra: (listening) What is this song?

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.169: Kāśī Miśra: It is a song composed in Bengali language describing the sweetness of Lord Kṛṣṇa's flute music. Therefore, the Lord (Mahārāja Pratāparudra) does not understand.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.170: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Oh! Wonderful! Fair complexioned Lord Caitanya is now reflected as dark-complexioned Lord Kṛṣṇa in the hearts of the saintly devotees. As He dances in Nīlācala He manifests the nectar mellows of Vṛndāvana forest. Although, He is the Original Supreme Personality of Godhead, in order to taste the mellows of pain of separation due to love of Kṛṣṇa felt by the passionate young gopīs, He has accepted that mood. Ah! Wonderful! Ah wonderful are these pastimes of Lord Caitanya.

(observing again) He is singing for a long time, the only one part of song’s dhruva (dhruva is the introductory verse of a song).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Mahārāja Pratāparudra could understand the confidential mood of Lord Caitanya that in order to experience the love of gopīs for Kṛṣṇa, He has accepted this mood of Rādhārāṇī.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.171: Kāśī Miśra: The mind of the Lord having entered at first in a līlā, does not turn back from the līlā.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.172: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: It is so. (He looks again and becomes joyful) Ah! How sweet is he! Look! Look! He has stunned the whole world and creates happiness in the minds of his friends, by raising His knees, moving His arms, placing His feet, and moving His eyes. Due to great happiness, His handsome smiling face brings out drops of nectar that appears like a golden lotus flower covered by foam, or like the moon covered by frost.

Jayapatākā Swami: By this poetic understanding of Mahārāja Pratāparudra, devotees are able to understand to some extent the wonderful beauty of Lord Caitanya’s ecstatic love.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.173: (He looks again and become struck with wonder).

Translation: Oh! Who is this person, who become happy by fearlessly collecting and drinking the foam fallen from Lord Caitanya's mouth, like a cakora bird happily drinking the sweet nectar moonlight?

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.174: Kāśī Miśra: He is a Vaiṣṇava, by name Śubhānanda.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.175: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: For six hours now the singers, all in equal merry have been singing a single line from dhruva-pada (the refrain of a single song) in high tone. All this time Lord Caitanya has been absorbed in very wonderful feelings of ecstatic bliss and thus these singers have chased far away the grief of the Lord's feelings of separation. But, how will His abosrption in this new bliss will be changed. By both of these (grief stricken out of feelings of separation, or filled with bliss by the remedies presented by these devotees), the time for the āhnika (a religious ceremony to be performed every day at a fixed hour) is not done by the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is in His loving ecstasy, not considering all the external rituals. He is almost mad in love of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.176: Kāśī Miśra: More unbearable than that (of giving up the āhnika) is Lord's anguish in separation. (He looks again) Now the festival of dancing is over since the devotees are taking Lord Caitanya to His home.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.177: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Now all will be well. At some time the Lord will perform His āhnika also. Therefore, O Miśra, now you may go near the Lord. I will sleep for a moment here itself.

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.178: Kāśī Miśra: As you order. (He exits).

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.179: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Miśra has gone. So, now I will sleep. (He enacts sleeping and then wakes up). Ah! The night has become day (the morning has dawned) because:

Caitanya Candodaya Nāṭaka 10.180

Translation: On the tip of the astācala (western mountain) and the udayācala (eastern mountain) the cooling and warm rays have gone (i.e., when the moon sets the sun rises). Equally shedding their gentle rays on the earth, the moon and the sun have both appeared even on the path of the elderly.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Mahārāja Pratāparudra is also being affected by the separation of Lord Caitanya from Lord Kṛṣṇa, and this is shown how the devotees are helping Lord Caitanya in His ecstasy and how Lord Caitanya is filled with different moods of love for Lord Kṛṣṇa

(He looks in all directions).

Thus, ends the Chapter Entitled, Due to Anavasara, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Goes to Ālālanātha.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the anavasara happens every year after the Snāna yātrā, so in this way every year something different happens. Some year He was in Ālālanātha and some year He may be in Purī, and sometimes passes by with the devotees chanting. This way the devotees witnessed the Lord's feeling of separation.