20210415 Lord Caitanya Mystically Performs Pastimes Simultaneously in All Seven Saṅkīrtana Groups

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on April 15th, 2021 in Śrī Dhāma Māyapur, 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 is entitled as :

Lord Caitanya Mystically Performs Pastimes Simultaneously in All Seven Saṅkīrtana Groups

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.51

prabhura ācaraṇa:—
sāta ṭhāñi bule prabhu ‘hari’ ‘hari’ bali’
‘jaya jagannātha’, balena hasta-yuga tuli’

Translation: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu wandered through all seven groups chanting the holy name, “Hari, Hari!” Hari Bol! Raising His arms, He shouted, “All glories to Lord Jagannātha!”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.52

prabhura saptaprakāśa:—
āra eka śakti prabhu karila prakāśa
eka-kāle sāta ṭhāñi karila vilāsa

Translation: Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu then exhibited another mystic power by performing pastimes simultaneously in all seven groups.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Lord He does this in Dvārakā, when He manifested 16,108 forms and entered into each palace, and when He was in Vṛndāvana He manifested different forms dancing with each gopī. Similarly, it’s not wonderful that the Lord. He divides Himself or manifests Himself into so many different saṅkīrtana parties ate the same time. He is able to do this, but this is exhibition of His mystical power.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.53

sabe kahe,—prabhu āchena mora sampradāya
anya ṭhāñi nāhi yā’na āmāre dayāya

Translation: Everyone said, “Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is present in my group. Indeed, He does not go anywhere else. He is bestowing His mercy upon us.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Each group was thinking that the Lord was giving His mercy to them and not going anywhere else. In modern days we have aerial video shots but in those days there were no such facilities.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.54

prabhura śakti śuddha-bhakterai vedya:—
keha lakhite nāre prabhura acintya-śakti
antaraṅga-bhakta jāne, yāṅra śuddha-bhakti

Translation: Actually, no one could see the inconceivable potency of the Lord. Only the most confidential devotees, those in pure, unalloyed devotional service, could understand.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.55

kīrtana-darśane jagannāthera ānanda:—
kīrtana dekhiyā jagannātha haraṣita
saṅkīrtana dekhe ratha kariyā sthagita

Translation: Lord Jagannātha was very much pleased by the saṅkīrtana, and He brought His car to a standstill just to see the performance.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was performing this saṅkīrtana and He was manifesting Himself in seven groups simultaneously. The seven groups He was performing kīrtana was so pleasing that Lord Jagannātha, that His ratha stopped and He watched the saṅkīrtana performance

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.56

taddarśane rājāra vismaya:—
pratāparudrera haila parama vismaya
dekhite vivaśa rājā haila premamaya

Translation: King Pratāparudra was also astonished to see the saṅkīrtana. He became inactive and was converted to ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we can understand that the saṅkīrtana performed by Lord Caitanya was so beautiful that even Mahārāja Pratāparudra was stunned and he became converted into pure love for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.57

kāśī-miśrake tadrahasya prakāśa:—
kāśī-miśre kahe rājā prabhura mahimā
kāśī-miśra kahe,—tomāra bhāgyera nāhi sīmā

Translation: When the King informed Kāśī Miśra of the glories of the Lord, Kāśī Miśra replied, “O King, your fortune has no limit!”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.58

sārvabhaumasaha rājāra nirvāk iṅgita:—
sārvabhauma-saṅge rājā kare ṭhārāṭhāri
āra keha nāhi jāne caitanyera curi

Translation: The King and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya were both aware of the Lord’s activities, but no one else could see the tricks of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, since the King was in the palace roof watching the Ratha-yātrā by the mercy of Lord Caitanya, he could see Lord Caitanya simultaneously in the seven saṅkīrtana parties, and he and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya were the only ones who could see from an elevated place, the tricks of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.59

kṛpātei tadupalabdhi, tarkapanthāya tini brahmārao ajñeya:—
yāre tāṅra kṛpā, sei jānibāre pare
kṛpā vinā brahmādika jānibāre nāre

Translation: Only a person who has received the mercy of the Lord can understand. Without the Lord’s mercy, even the demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, cannot understand.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya gave His mercy to King Pratāparudra so that he could see these manifestations of the Lord, and this was because he had taken the humble position of sweeping the road in front of Lord Jagannātha, although he is the possessor of the royal siṁhāsana, he took a menial service before Lord Jagannātha.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.60

rājāra dīna-sevā-darśane prabhura santoṣa:—
rājāra tuccha sevā dekhi’ prabhura tuṣṭa mana
sei ta’ prasāde pāila ‘rahasya-darśana’

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had been very satisfied to see the King accept the menial task of sweeping the street, and for this humility the King received the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He could therefore observe the mystery of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s activities.

Purport: The mystery of the Lord’s activities is described by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura. Lord Jagannātha was astonished to see the transcendental dancing and chanting of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and He stopped His car just to see the dancing. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu then danced in such a mystical way that He pleased Lord Jagannātha. The seer and the dancer were one and the same Supreme Person, but the Lord, being one and many at the same time, was exhibiting the variegatedness of His pastimes. This is the meaning behind His mysterious exhibition. By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the King could understand how the two of Them were enjoying each other’s activities. Another mysterious exhibition was Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s simultaneous presence in seven groups. By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the King could understand that also.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.61

rājaprati sākṣāte virāga, parokṣe kṛpā:—
sākṣāte nā deya dekhā, parokṣe ta’ dayā
ke bujhite pāre caitanya-candrera māyā

Translation: Although the King had been refused an interview, he was indirectly bestowed causeless mercy. Who can understand the internal potency of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

Purport: As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was playing the part of a world teacher, He did not agree to see the King, because a king is a mundane person interested in money and women. Indeed, the very word “king” suggests one who is always surrounded by money and women. As a sannyāsī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was afraid of both money and women. The very word “king” is repugnant to one who is in the renounced order of life. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu refused to see the King, but indirectly, by the Lord’s causeless mercy, the King was able to understand the Lord’s mysterious activities. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s activities were exhibited sometimes to reveal Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and sometimes to show Him as a devotee. Both kinds of activities are mysterious and appreciated only by pure devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: Although Lord Caitanya as the universal teacher refused to see the King, He was pleased with the King's humble service attitude so He blessed the King and King Pratāparudra could see the mystical performance of Lord Caitanya. So who can understand the limit of His mercy? Although Lord Caitanya's dealings made the King more intensely desire to meet Lord Caitanya personally, at the same time He gave the King His special mercy.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.62

bhaṭṭa o miśrera taddarśane vismaya:—
sārvabhauma, kāśī-miśra,—dui mahāśaya
rājāre prasāda dekhi’ ha-ilā vismaya

Translation: When the two great personalities Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Kāśī Miśra saw Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s causeless mercy upon the King, they were astonished.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.63

svayaṁ mūlagāyaka haiyā sarvasampradāyake nartane preraṇa:—
ei-mata līlā prabhu kaila kata-kṣaṇa
āpane gāyena, nācā’na nija-bhakta-gaṇa

Translation: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed His pastimes for some time in this way. He personally sang and induced His personal associates to dance.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, we can see how Lord Caitanya was personally involved in the Harināma saṅkīrtana and how He encouraged all the devotees to chant and dance. At this time the devotees take the saṅkīrtana parties to the streets in the major cities throughout the western world. It’s a great opportunity for the people to associate with Lord Kṛṣṇa, through the chanting of His holy names. We heard that in Russia they have arrested three Harināma parties in Moscow, and now the devotees are going to the court so that they perform their religious freedom and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa publicly on the street. We hope that all the devotees will pray for the success of these legal defenses of the saṅkīrtana movement.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.64

kīrtana-madhye aiśvarya-prakāśa:—
kabhu eka mūrti, kabhu hana bahu-mūrti
kārya-anurūpa prabhu prakāśaye śakti

Translation: According to His need, the Lord sometimes exhibited one form and sometimes many. This was being executed by His internal potency.

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya has unlimited internal potency, He is known as Yogeśvara and He can use His potencies as He needs, He is sometimes in one form and sometimes in many forms

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.65

adhīnā līlā-śaktira svīya prabhuke sevana:—
līlāveśe prabhura nāhi nijānusandhāna
icchā jāni ‘līlā śakti’ kare samādhāna

Translation: Indeed, the Personality of Godhead forgot Himself in the course of His transcendental pastimes, but His internal potency [līlā-śakti], knowing the intentions of the Lord, made all arrangements.

Purport: It is stated in the Upaniṣads:

parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate
svābhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca

“The Supreme Lord has multipotencies, which act so perfectly that all consciousness, strength and activity are being directed solely by His will.” (Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.8)

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited His mystic power in presenting Himself simultaneously in each and every saṅkīrtana group. Most people thought that He was one, but some saw that He was many. The internal devotees could understand that the Lord, although one, was exhibiting Himself as many in the different saṅkīrtana groups. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu danced, He forgot Himself and was simply absorbed in ecstatic bliss. But His internal potency arranged everything perfectly. This is the difference between the internal and external potency. In the material world, the external potency (material energy) can act only after one endeavors at great length, but when the Supreme Lord desires, everything is performed automatically by the internal potency. By His will, things happen so nicely and perfectly that they appear to be carried out automatically. Sometimes the activities of the internal potency are exhibited in the material world. In fact, all the activities of material nature are actually performed by the inconceivable energies of the Lord, but so-called scientists and students of material nature are unable to understand ultimately how things are happening. They evasively conclude that everything is being done by nature, but they do not know that behind nature is the potent Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Kṛṣṇa explains this in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.10):

mayādhyakṣeṇa prakṛtiḥ
sūyate sa-carācaram

“This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all the potencies of the Lord work according to His will and it seems that everything is being carried out automatically, so this how wonderful the potencies of the Lord are.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 13.66

dvāpare rāse o mahiṣī-vivāheo ei-rūpa prakāśa:—
pūrve yaiche rāsādi līlā kaila vṛndāvane
alaukika līlā gaura kaila kṣaṇe kṣaṇe

Translation: Just as Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa formerly performed the rāsa-līlā dance and other pastimes at Vṛndāvana, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed uncommon pastimes moment after moment.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, although Lord Caitanya was not proclaiming Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead because in Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara-yuga He does that but in Kali-yuga He doesn’t declare Himself , therefore He is known as trī-yuga, since He only manifests Himself as the Supreme Person in the first three yugas. But He comes in the Kali-yuga, He does not declare Himself as God, but He would perform various miracles, but only His confidential devotees connected with Him in pure ecstatic love are able to see these pastimes of the Lord. Lord Caitanya was manifesting pastimes all the time but not everyone was able to appreciate what was happening.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lord Caitanya Mystically Performs Pastimes Simultaneously in All Seven Saṅkīrtana Groups.