20210616 Question and Answer Session

We will have questions and answers for 10 minutes on this verse now.

Gopati Kṛṣṇa dāsa, Māyāpur: In Caitanya-carita-mahā-kāvya it is mentioned that Lord Caitanya stayed at Rāghava Paṇḍita’s house for six days, but in Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is mentioned as one day. But in the purport Śrīla Prabhupāda mentions that more details are mentioned in other scriptures like Caitanya-carita-mahā-kāvya, Caitanya-candrodaya-nāṭaka, Caitanya-bhāgavata. So which should we accept as more authentic?

Jayapatākā Swami: Sometimes there is this difference in details, in different scriptures. But generally, we accept the Caitanya-caritāmṛta as more authoritative. But in the parts of the pastimes which are mentioned in the other books, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja states that he doesn’t want to offend any of the other authors. So, we don’t really take the details very seriously. We know that Lord Caitanya stayed in Rāghava Paṇḍita’s house and Caitanya-caritāmṛta says one day, another scripture says six days, but we know for sure He stayed in Rāghava Paṇḍita’s house, everyone says that. At this point in time, what difference does it make to us whether one day or six days?

Lakṣmī Rādhā devī dāsī: Lord Caitanya addressed Purandara as father? What is the significance? Like Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi was also called and he was actually Rādhārāṇī’s father, Vṛṣabhānu. Similarly, who is Purandara Ācārya?

Jayapatākā Swami: Interesting question. We know that Lord Caitanya’s father Jagannātha Miśra was also called as Purandara. Why Lord Caitanya called Purandara Ācārya as father, I have to research.

Question: The activities of the devotees are very difficult to understand. How can we associate with devotees without thinking they are ordinary? Vraja Vilāsa Gaurāṅga dāsa, Bogota, Colombia, South America.

Jayapatākā Swami: The fact is that there are few people in the world who chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, and are dedicated devotees of the Lord. So why would you think that they are ordinary? The fact that they are devotees alone, means that they are special! And your very question also gives the answer! That the activities of the devotees are difficult to understand. Because ultimately they want to serve Kṛṣṇa, therefore they are considered as special, even if they do something strange.

Śānta Gopī devī dāsī: In Tamil: Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura is the incarnation of Nārada muni. Hraridasa Ṭhākura is the incarnation of Brahmā. How was their relationship in Gaura līlā - was it like guru and disciple?

Jayapatākā Swami: We know that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was close with Advaita Gosāin. That he was with Advaita when Lord Caitanya appeared, and that he went to Jagannātha Purī when Lord Caitanya was there. And then he stayed in Jagannātha Purī and Lord Caitanya would visit him every day. So there was not so much connection between Śrīvāsa and Haridāsa Ṭhākura. But we know that Lord Nityānanda would go with Haridāsa Ṭhākura, and they would preach. And that Nityānanda was very close to Śrīvāsa. So, there must have been some interaction between Śrīvāsa and Haridāsa but not so formal, like guru and disciple.

Rājendra Nagulapally, UK: How do we understand the pastime that Lord Caitanya took so long to give mercy to King Pratāparudra but the drunkard Muslim governor got His mercy very easily?

Jayapatākā Swami: You see a king, he is in a unique position, that he is the head of the State. But as a ruler he has all kinds of materialistic facilities. Lord Caitanya since He was a sannyāsī, He should not meet with the head of the state. But the governor, he is not the head of the state, he just oversees a part of the king’s empire, and he came to Lord Caitanya, bowed down and chanted the name of Kṛṣṇa. So that way, just like Rāmānanda Rāya, he was a governor. So apparently Lord Caitanya would meet governors but he would not meet kings. But then when King Pratāparudra humbled himself before Lord Jagannātha, swept the road, etc. then naturally Lord Caitanya became softened to him.