20210904 Bathing Places, Wells and Other Holy Places of Mathurā Maṇḍala, Part 1

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 4th September 2021 in Śrīdhāma 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! We are continuing with the compilation of Caitanya līlā book, to days chapter is entitled:

Bathing Places, Wells and Other Holy Places of Mathurā Maṇḍala Part 1
Under the Section: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.85

ei mane kathālāpe prabhāta haila
ye vidhi āchila prabhu prātaḥkriyā kaila

Jayapatākā Swami: In this way while Lord Caitanya and Kṛṣṇa dāsa, the Sanoḍiyā brāhmaṇa were discussing (about the twelve forests of Vṛndāvana), morning arrived and Lord Caitanya did His morning duties according to the Vedic regulations for a sannyāsī.

So, from this we can see that Lord Caitanya didn’t sleep at all during the night, He was busy discussing the twelve forests of Vṛndāvana, when the morning came He went to do His morning duties. Since He was acting as human being, He knows what the morning duties, like bathing and so on.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.86

utkaṇṭhā-hṛdaye dila kṛṣṇadāse ḍāka
dehake jiniñā se adhika anurāga

Jayapatākā Swami: With an anxious heart, Lord Caitanya called out with great affection for Kṛṣṇa dāsa which is beyond bodily consideration.

Lord Caitanya was very attached to Kṛṣṇa dāsa because of his being a very sincere devotee and a disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī and someone who will show him the Vṛndāvana forest.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.87

dekhite calilā prabhu mathurā-maṇḍala
āpane īśvara kṛṣṇadāse kare chala

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya went see to see Mathurā Maṇḍala. Because He is Himself the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he tricked Kṛṣṇa dāsa.

Lord Caitanya was actually Kṛṣṇa Himself. He acted like a pilgrim to the holy dhāma and asked Kṛṣṇa dāsa to take Him around. Thus engaging Kṛṣṇa dāsa in devotional service.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.4.1: Kṛṣṇa Dāsa continued, "Listen, O ocean of mercy, to the sublime description of Mathurā Maṇḍala. First behold the very beautiful capital of Madhupurī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Madhupurī is one of the names of Mathurā.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.4.2: “Surrounding the city on three sides is an excellent and insumountable wall, and on its eastern side, the daughter of the sun (Yamunā) flows southwards.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the city being very ancient has walls protecting it from attackers on all sides except the side of the Yamunā, which people have to cross over by boat.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.88

kṛṣṇadāsa kahe—prabhu ithe kara mana
purīra tinadige dekha gaḍera pattana

Jayapatākā Swami: Kṛṣṇa dāsa, “Lord Caitanya please pay Your attention here. Just see this fort which surrounds Mathurāpurī in three directions.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.4.3: “On the northern and southern sides are two large gates equipped with smaller entrance doors that are composed of jeweled panels. To the southwest lies the king’s garden, the embellishments of which are inlaid with many gems.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇa dāsa is describing the special features of the wall. So, the doors are small for pedestrians and incase some bigger vehicle comes, then the big door would be opened.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.89

pūruve yamunā nadī bahe dakṣiṇamukhe
uttara-dakṣiṇa-dvāra gaḍera duidige

Jayapatākā Swami: The Yamunā flows from the east to the south. See the two gates on the north and south sides of the fort.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.4.4: “On the east and north of the city are entrances with jeweled gates. They are replete with bejeweled places for performing fire yajñas. On the northern side of the garden is a dais for the king’s throne.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, five hundred years ago, the Mathurā city was constructed like a fort, because it had to defend if the Mughals came to attack. Five thousand years ago the city had Kings and King Kaṁsā was in-charge when Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes happened and Kṛṣṇa came and liberated King Kaṁsā.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.90

kaṁsera āvāsa dekha purīra nairṛte
pūruve uttare dui duyāra tāhāte

Jayapatākā Swami: “Look at King Kaṁsa’s palace placed in the southwest comer of Mathurā city. There are two doors on the east and north sides of Kaṁsa’s palace.

According to Vāstu, the south west corner is the controlling place. So Kaṁsā put his palace in the south-west corner.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.91

vasibāra cautārā dekha bāḍīra uttara
purīra vāyukoṇe dekha hera kārāgāra

Jayapatākā Swami: See the sitting place in the north of the house. See the prison standing in the northwest corner of the palace.

So, Kṛṣṇa dāsa is showing all pastimes places of Kṛṣṇa.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.4.5: “To the northwest of the city lies the prison, and to its south please observe to Your satisfaction the place where baby Kṛṣṇa passed urine.”

Jayapatākā Swami: These are considered as holy places, wherever Kṛṣṇa was, so those places are unforgettable.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.92

mūtrasthāna hena dekha ihāra dakṣiṇe
vivari’ kahiba kichu—śuna sāvadhāne

Jayapatākā Swami: See the place of urinal in the southern part. “I will tell something about this. Listen carefully.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.4.6-8: “I shall give a description of that incident. O Lord Caitanya mahaprabhu, please hear it with attention. Out of fear of Kaṁsa, the magnanimous and noble Vasudeva took the newly born Kṛṣṇa in his arms and walked towards the cowherd settlement of Nanda. As Vasudeva held Śrī Kṛṣṇa to his chest, he became aware that the baby was urinating. In a jubilant mood he quickly climbed upon this rock and set Him down for a moment. O Prabhu, this is the mark of Kṛṣṇa’s urine which shines on the top of the rock.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s urination kept a permanent mark on the rock. So, even the Supreme Lord’s urination is pure and Absolute.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.93

kaṁsabhaye vasudeva lañā yāya putra
ācambite kṛṣṇa tāra kole kaila mūtra

Jayapatākā Swami: In fear of King Kaṁsa, Vasudeva took away his son Lord Kṛṣṇa. Suddenly, while Vasudeva was carrying his son, Lord Kṛṣṇa passed urine in his lap.

Kṛṣṇa was playing the part of a normal child, which a normal child would pass urine or stool at any time. So, in this way He was playing the part perfectly

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.94

eikhāne vasudeva basila satvara
prasrāva karilā kṛṣṇa—dravila pāthara

Jayapatākā Swami: Here Vasudeva quickly sat down. Kṛṣṇa passed urine on this stone which melted.

So different scriptures have described similar incidents and a particular rock is blessed by Lord Kṛṣṇa. As Kṛṣṇa has urinated on the rock. Lord Caitanya was hearing all these pastimes

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.95

mūtracihna rahila e pāṣāṇa upare
mūtrasthāna’ teñi loka bolaye ihāre

Jayapatākā Swami: The sign of passing urine stayed on this stone. So, the people call this place as ‘Mūtra-sthāna’.

So, the place became famous as Kṛṣṇa had passed urine on the rock and left a permanent mark.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.4.9: “Thus all the people call this place Mūtra-sthānam or the Place of Urine. Please see to the south of this spot the house of Uddhava.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Uddhava was a great devotee in sākhya-rasa of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.4.10: Hearing this, the Lord made a thunderous roar. Glancing at Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the very intelligent and spiritually advanced brāhmaṇa became anxious, and with folded hands addressed Him as follows:

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when Lord Caitanya heard that this was the house of Uddhava, He roared in ecstasy.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.96

ihāra uttare dekha uddhavera ghara
e bola śunite prabhura gale dui dhāra

Jayapatākā Swami: “Look at the house of Uddhava to the north.” While hearing this, the two eyes of Lord Caitanya melted with streams of tears.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu had so much love for His devotee Uddhava, that simply by hearing his name, seeing His house He started crying in separation.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.97

kaṇṭakita bhela aṅga āpāda-mastaka
kadamba-keśara jini’ ekaṭi pulaka

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya’s body erupted in horripilation from head to toe, making His bodily hairs stand erect like kadamba flowers.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.98

ei uddhavera ghara muñi āiluṅ ebe
ethā ye karila kṛṣṇa-kahoṅ anubhave

Jayapatākā Swami: Lord Caitanya said, "Now I’ve reached the house of Uddhava. According to your realization, tell me about Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes here.

Lord Caitanya was churning the ocean of mercy and He wanted to hear the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and Uddhava.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.99

eikhāne kṛṣṇa āra uddhavera kathā
dekhiyāchi yena vāso-mane lāge vyathā

Jayapatākā Swami: “Here in this place, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Uddhava had conversation, I feel as if I see them; I feel great pain to remember this.”

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa-khaṇḍa 2.100

e bola balite prabhu cāhe cāridige
tabe kaha kṛṣṇadāsa-kahe anurāge

Jayapatākā Swami: Having stated this, Lord Caitanya looked all around and then Kṛsṇadāsa told with great affection.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.4.11: “Please hear my words, O Kṛṣṇa! O enactor of divine pleasure-pastimes! O Jagadguru! One who remains sober while taking darśana of the holy places can indeed achieve true satisfaction.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.4.12: “Please see the house of the washerman to the east of Uddhava’s house, and to the east of the washerman’s house You can also see the house of the garland-maker.”

Thus ends Part 1 of the chapter entitled, The Bathing Places, Wells and Other Holy Places of Mathurā Maṇḍala,
Under the Section: The Lord Travels to Vṛndāvana

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when Lord Kṛṣṇa entered Mathurā, He first saw the washerman and the washerman said, “how dare you, these clothes belong to the King and then Lord Kṛṣṇa slapped the washerman and his head fell off, and then Kṛṣṇa went down the street and the garland maker offered Kṛṣṇa a garland and He blessed the garland maker.