20220531 The Associates Assemble in Nīlācala

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 31st,2022 in Chennai, 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 is entitled as:

The Associates Assemble in Nīlācala
Under the section: Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Second Meeting with the Lord

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.60

prāpya kṣetraṁ punar apī harir bhakta-vargāṁs tutoṣa

Translation: When He returned to Jagannātha Purī, He gave pleasure to the devotees. With words of love He rained the nectar of Lord Harī on Rāmānanda Rāya, Sārvabhauama Bhaṭṭācārya, and the others. I meditate on Lord Gaurāṅga, who tastes the nectar of talking about Lord Hari.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.1

paramadayāla parameśvara śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-mahāprabhura vandanāḥ—

paṅguṁ laṅghayate śailaṁ
mūkam āvartayec chrutim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande
kṛṣṇa-caitanyam īśvaram

Translation: I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by whose mercy even a lame man can cross over a mountain and a dumb man recite Vedic literature.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.2

sajjanera kṛpā yāñāḥ—

durgame pathi me ‘ndhasya
skhalat-pāda-gater muhuḥ
sva-kṛpā-yaṣṭi-dānena
santaḥ santv avalambanam

Translation: My path is very difficult. I am blind, and my feet are slipping again and again. Therefore, may the saints help me by granting me the stick of their mercy as my support.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Vaiṣṇavas mercy gives one the support to cross over the difficult path.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.3-4

śrī-rūpa, sanātana, bhaṭṭa-raghunātha
śrī-jīva, gopāla-bhaṭṭa, dāsa-raghunātha

ei chaya gurura karoṅ caraṇa vandana
yāhā haite vighna-nāśa, abhīṣṭa-pūraṇa

Translation: I pray to the lotus feet of the six Gosvāmīs — Śrī Rūpa, Sanātana, Bhaṭṭa Raghunātha, Śrī Jīva, Gopāla Bhaṭṭa and Dāsa Raghunātha — so that all impediments to my writing this literature will be annihilated, and my real desire will be fulfilled.

Purport: If one wants to benefit the entire world, he will certainly find persons like hogs and pigs who will put forward many impediments. That is natural. But if a devotee seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the six Gosvāmīs, the merciful Gosvāmīs will certainly give the Lord’s servitor all protection. It is not astonishing that impediments are placed before those who are spreading the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world. Nevertheless, if we adhere to the lotus feet of the six Gosvāmīs and pray for their mercy, all impediments will be annihilated, and the transcendental devotional desire to serve the Supreme Lord will be fulfilled.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, simply by remembering and praying to the six Gosvāmīs one can overcome all the impediments. We see that in His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami who faced many impediments bhakti-yoga his taking shelter of the previous ācāryas and the six Gosvāmīs he overcame all the obstacles.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.5

jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor
mama manda-mater gatī
mat-sarvasva-padāmbhojau
rādhā-madana-mohanau

Translation: Glory to the all-merciful Rādhā and Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja is taking shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Rādhā Madan-mohana, so it is essential that we take shelter at some deity of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.6

dīvyad-vṛndāraṇya-kalpa-drumādhaḥ
śrīmad-ratnāgāra-siṁhāsana-sthau
śrīmad-rādhā-śrīla-govinda-devau
preṣṭhālībhiḥ sevyamānau smarāmi

Translation: In a temple of jewels in Vṛndāvana, underneath a desire tree, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent throne. I offer my humble obeisances unto Them.

Jayapatākā Swami: These deities are the abhideya deities, Rādhā Madana-mohana are sambandha deities, by their mercy we understand our eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa and by Rādhā Govinda’s mercy we engage in their devotional service.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.7

śrīmān rāsa-rasārambhī
vaṁśīvaṭa-taṭa-sthitaḥ
karṣan veṇu-svanair gopīr
gopī-nāthaḥ śriye ‘stu naḥ

Translation: Śrī Śrīla Gopīnātha, who originated the transcendental mellow of the rāsa dance, stands on the shore at Vaṁśīvaṭa and attracts the attention of the cowherd damsels with the sound of His celebrated flute. May they all confer upon us their benediction.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrī Śrī Rādhā Gopīnātha are deities of prayojana who will offer the ultimate goal, success of life pure love of Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.8

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Translation: All glories to Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Lord Nityānanda! All glories to Advaita Ācārya! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu!

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is the origin of the Pañca-tattva mantra, and these are the three Prabhus and all the devotees. By chanting the name of Lord Caitanya and the associates one can easily get the shelter of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.9

antya-līlā varṇanārambhaḥ —

madhya-līlā saṅkṣepete kariluṅ varṇana
antya-līlā-varṇana kichu śuna, bhakta-gaṇa

Translation: I have briefly described the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu known as the madhya-līlā. Now I shall attempt to describe something about His last pastimes, which are known as the antya-līlā.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Caitanya-caritāmṛta is considered the most authoritative book on Lord Caitanya and it has very accurate philosophy and tells pastimes which is not told in the other śāstras in detail.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.10

pūrve madhya-līlāya prathama paricchede antya-līlā-sūtra varṇita:—

madhya-līlā-madhye antya-līlā-sūtra-gaṇa
pūrva-granthe saṅkṣepete kariyāchi varṇana

Translation: I have briefly described the antya-līlā within the description of the madhya-līlā.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.11

āmi jarā-grasta, nikaṭe jāniyā maraṇa
antya kono kono līlā kariyāchi varṇana

Translation: I am now almost an invalid because of old age, and I know that at any moment I may die. Therefore I have already described some portions of the antya-līlā.

Purport: Following in the footsteps of Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, I am trying to translate Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as quickly as possible. However, knowing myself to be an old man and almost an invalid because of rheumatism, I have already translated the essence of all literatures, the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, as a summary study in English. I started the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement at the age of seventy. Now I am seventy-eight, and so my death is imminent. I am trying to finish the of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as soon as possible, but before finishing it, I have given my readers the book Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, so that if I die before finishing the whole task, they may enjoy this book, which is the essence of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the tenth canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is a summary study of the tenth canto where we don’t have Sanskrit verse but tells the pastimes like that I am trying to combine many of the historical books of Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s and I got this far, I am 73, I don’t know how long I have to live.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.12

anullikhita sūtrera savistāravarṇane pratijñā :—

pūrva-likhita grantha-sūtra-anusāre
yei nāhi likhi, tāhā likhiye vistāre

Translation: In accordance with the synopsis previously written, I shall describe in detail whatever I have not mentioned.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja has survived this far and now he is describing the later pastimes of Śrī Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.249

chaya varṣa bāde bākī 18 vatsara śudhu purīte vāsa :—

vṛndāvana haite yadi nīlācale āilā
āṭhāra varṣa tāhāṅ vāsa, kāhāṅ nāhi gelā

Translation: When the Lord returned to Jagannātha Purī from Vṛndāvana, He remained there and did not go anywhere else for eighteen years.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya had travelled around India for six years, He went to Vṛndāvana and Benares and back through Bengal to Jagannātha Purī and ther He stayed for 18 years in Jagannātha Purī.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.209

hena-mate śrī-gaurasundara nīlācale
rahilena kīrtana-vihāra-kutūhale

Translation: In this way Śrī Gaurasundara enjoyed pastimes of kīrtana while residing in Nīlācala.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.210

nīlācale janmilā yateka anucara
sabe cinilena nija prāṇera īśvara

Translation: All the Lord’s associates who appeared in Nīlācala gradually recognized the Lord of their life.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya externally He was doing saṅkīrtana in Nīlācala and internally He was researching the love of Rādhārānī for Him gradually all the Śrī-kṣetra vāsīs became devoted to Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.250

cāturmāsye gauḍīyagaṇera prabhusaṅge purīte avasthāna :—

prativarṣa āisena tāhāṅ gauḍera bhakta-gaṇa
cāri māsa rahe prabhura saṅge sammilana

Translation: During those eighteen years, all the devotees of Bengal used to visit Him at Jagannātha Purī every year. They would remain there for four continuous months and enjoy the company of the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Jagannātha Purī is only about 500 km from Bengal so every year the Bengali devotees would travel by walk to Jagannātha Purī and they were guided by Śivānanda Sena and many wonderful pastimes occurred in his travel.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.251

nityakāla kṛṣṇa-kīrtana o prema-bhakti-dāna :—

nirantara nṛtya-gīta kīrtana-vilāsa
ācaṇḍāle prema-bhakti karilā prakāśa

Translation: At Jagannātha Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed chanting and dancing unceasingly. Thus He enjoyed the pastime of saṅkīrtana. He manifested His causeless mercy, pure love of God, to everyone, including the lowest man.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here it says Lord Caitanya gave out the gift of love to caṇḍāla – to caṇḍālas and lower. So He was giving His mercy to everyone without considering brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra or lower

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.252

śrī-gadādharera kṣetra-sannyāsa o purī-pravāsī bhaktagaṇa :—

paṇḍita-gosāñi kaila nīlācale vāsa
vakreśvara, dāmodara, śaṅkara, haridāsa

Translation: Residing with the Lord at Jagannātha Purī were Paṇḍita Gosāñi and other devotees, such as Vakreśvara, Dāmodara, Śaṅkara and Haridāsa Ṭhākura.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Paṇḍita Gosāi means Gadādhara Paṇḍita he was staying in Jagannātha Purī as a kṣetra-sannyāsī that means He took a vow in Śrī-Kṣetra-dhāma and other devotees were also staying in Śrī-Kṣetra-dhāma and when Lord Caitanya returned back to Nīlācala, they were his constant companions. Of course, Haridāsa Ṭhākura being born in a non-Hindu family, didn’t go to the temple but Lord Caitanya came and visited him everyday.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.253

jagadānanda, bhagavān, govinda, kāśīśvara
paramānanda-purī, āra svarūpa-dāmodara

Translation: Jagadānanda, Bhagavān, Govinda, Kāśīśvara, Paramānanda Purī and Svarūpa Dāmodara were other devotees who also lived with the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Jagadānanda was Satyabhāmā in Kṛṣṇa-līlā in Dvārakā, here it is said Bhagavān but in Bengali, it is said Bhavānanda. Bhavānanda he is father of Rāmānanda Rāya who is a very intimate associate of Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.254

kṣetra-vāsī rāmānanda rāya prabhṛti
prabhu-saṅge ei saba kaila nitya-sthiti

Translation: Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya and other devotees who were residents of Jagannātha Purī also remained permanently with the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the residents mentioned in this few verses are mentioned in the Madhya-līlā and so in Antya-līlā the details of these pastimes will be given.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.13

gauḍe prabhura vṛndāvana haite purīte āgamana vārtā-jñāpana :—

vṛndāvana haite prabhu nīlācale āilā
svarūpa-gosāñi gauḍe vārtā pāṭhāilā

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī from Vṛndāvana, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosāi immediately sent news of the Lord’s arrival to the devotees in Bengal.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, devotees in Bengal hadn’t been coming to Jagannatha Purī when Lord Caitanya was not there. When Svarūpa Dāmodara has sent them news, the Lord has returned they immediately made plans to visit.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.17.1

Translation: Once all the bhaktas residing in Gauḍa desired to go to Nīlācala to see Śrī Gaurāṅga.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.14

śacīra śravaṇa o bhaktagaṇera purīte gamanodyoga: —

śuni’ śacī ānandita, saba bhakta-gaṇa
sabe mili’ nīlācale karilā gamana

Translation: Upon hearing this news, mother Śacī and all the other devotees of Navadvīpa were very joyful, and they all departed together for Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī].

Jayapatākā Swami: So, they would walk the distance from Navadvīpa to Jagannātha Purī and Śivānanda Sena would take them across the various river and along the road. naturally the devotees were eager to see Lord Caitanya, we should also be eager to see the Lord, we should feel separation in the absence of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. But these devotees were so fortunate that they could go to Jagannātha Purī and see the Lord like this Lord Caitanya is teaching us how to worship in separation.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.211

śrī-pradyumna-miśra kṛṣṇa-premera sāgara
ātma-pada yāṅre dilāśrī-gaurasundara

Translation: Śrī Pradyumna Miśra was an ocean of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Gaurasundara personally gave him shelter at His lotus feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here in Pradyumna Miśra is glorified for being an ocean of pure love of Kṛṣṇa and this is the only qualification to see Kṛṣṇa.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.17.2

Translation: There was Śrī Advaitācārya, the Supreme Lord and guru of all living entities in the company of His associates, and also Śrīvāsa Thākura, who was in a very blissful mood, together with his brothers.

Jayapatākā Swami: In the assembly of devotees who went to Nīlācala, there was Śrī Advaita Ācārya who is also a Viṣṇu tattva form of the Supreme Lord and He was with His associates . Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura with his brothers, he went. We heard that Lord Caitanya and Gadādhara and Lord Nityānanda was also ther at that time and coming is Advaita and Śrīvāsa and that is the whole Pañca-tattva.

Haribol! Pañcatattva kī ! Jaya !

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.17.3

Translation: There was Candra Śekhara, known as the Jewel Ācārya, and Puṇḍarīkākṣa Vidyānidhi, also known as Prema-nidhi.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in Bangladesh near the east of Chittagong city is Puṇḍarīka-dhāma, its our good fortune that’s under the care of ISKCON. Puṇḍarīka is known as Vidyānidhi or Prema-nidhi, the ocean of knowledge and ocean of prema of ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.17.4-8

Translation: There was also the scholar known as Gaṅgādāsa, who was endowed with godly qualities, as well as Vakreśvara Paṇdita and Pradyumna Brahmacārī. Both Thākura Haridāsa and Dvija Haridāsa were there, as well as Vāsudeva Datta and Mukunda Datta. Śrī Śivānanda Sena also came along with his wife and sons. Indeed, Govinda Ghoṣa was there with Mukunda, the best of singers. There was the scribe Vijaya, the scholar Sadāśiva, Puruṣottama, Sañjaya, and Śrīmān Paṇḍita. There were the brahmacārīs, Śrī Nandana and Śuklāmbara, and also the famous self-satisfied bhakta named Śrīdhara, who was known as Khola-vechā, the salesman of banana products.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Gaṅgā dāsa Paṇḍita was the sanskrit teacher of the child Nimāi and Lord Caitanya also had pastimes with the Vāsudeva-dutta and Mukunda dutta was the singer and also Govinda Ghoṣa and with all these associates He has pastimes. Khola-vechā Śrīdhāra was a resident of Navadvīpa, Lord Caitanya used to as a child get all His banana products from Khola-vechā Śrīdhāra, he always used to play jokes with Khola-vechā Śrīdhāra and finally He gave him the benediction of pure love of Kṛṣṇa.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.17.9-13

Translation: There was the writer and scholar, Gopīnātha Paṇḍita, as well as Śrī Garbha Paṇḍita and Paṇḍita Vanamālī. There was Jagadīśa Paṇḍita, Vaiṣṇava Hiraṇya, Buddhimanta Khāna and Ācārya Śrī Purandara, Śrī Rāghava Paṇḍita, Murāri, the lion among physicians, Garuḍa Paṇḍita and Gopīnātha Siṁha, Śrī Rāma Paṇḍita, Śrī Nārāyaṇa Paṇḍita, Dāmodara Paṇḍita and Raghunandana Thākura, Śrī Mukunda, Narahari, Cirañjīva, Sulocana, Rāmānanda Vasu, Satyarāja and others.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, just by saying the names of these eternal associates, by hearing their and remembering them one can get great blessing. They all had a very amazing pastimes with Lord Caitanya in Navadvīpa.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 4.17.14

Translation: All of these bhaktas were as attached to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya as to their own life-breath. Thus in a mood of great love, they travelled to Puruṣottama-dhāma along with Advaita Prabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, how much attachment and love they had for Lord Caitanya is not possible to describe, they have as said Lord Caitanya was very dear to them as their life-breath. normally one is very attached to living but they were more attached to Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.15

śrī-advaitācārya o śivānandera nikaṭa yāvatīya bhaktera āgamanaḥ—

kulīna-grāmī bhakta āra yata khaṇḍa-vāsī
ācārya śivānanda sane mililā sabe āsi’

Translation: Thus all the devotees of Kulīna-grāma and Śrī Khaṇḍa, as well as Advaita Ācārya, came together to meet Śivānanda Sena.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Śrī Khaṇḍa is near Katwa where Narahari Ṭhākura stayed and many devotees were there. Kulīna-grāma is a place where everyone chanted the holy name, even the pig-hunters they chant the holy name, everybody loved Lord Caitanya. Hari bol!

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 1.16

sakalera tattvābadhāyaka śivānandaḥ—

śivānanda kare sabāra ghāṭi samādhāna
sabāre pālana kare, deya vāsā-sthāna

Translation: Śivānanda Sena arranged for the journey. He maintained everyone and provided residential quarters.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, as said earlier, Śivānanda Sena took the devotees to Nīlācala and there were no bridges, they have to cross the river by ferries so he would arrange that as we said he would make all the arrangements for the devotees comfort.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 1.255-256

prativarṣe gauḍīyagaṇera prabhusaṅge cāturmāsya-yāpana :—

advaita, nityānanda, mukunda, śrīvāsa
vidyānidhi, vāsudeva, murāri,—yata dāsa

prativarṣe āise saṅge rahe cāri-māsa
tāṅ-sabā lañā prabhura vividha vilāsa

Translation: Other devotees of the Lord — headed by Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu, Mukunda, Śrīvāsa, Vidyānidhi, Vāsudeva and Murāri — used to visit Jagannātha Purī and remain with the Lord for four continuous months. The Lord enjoyed various pastimes in their company.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Murāri is short name for Murāri Caitanya dāsa, he was the only disciple of Sāraṅga Ṭhākura. He was already dead by a snake bite and was floating in the Ganges, Sāraṅga Ṭhākura said the mantra in his ears and got him back to life and then he made thousands of disciples. Sometimes he would ride on a tiger used with snakes around the neck, he was dead, and he was rejuvenated therefore he wasn’t afraid of wild animals, and they were afraid of him so he would ride on tigers with snakes around his neck and he would ask people, surrender to Lord Caitanya. Gaurāṇga! All these associates were going to Jagannātha Purī to associate with Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.212

paramānanda-mahāpātra mahāśaya
yāṅra tanu śrī-caitanya-bhakti-rasa-maya

Translation: The body of Paramānanda Mahāpātra Mahāśaya was filled with the mellows of devotional service to Lord Caitanya.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this Paramānanda Mahāpātra Mahāśaya was constantly thinking about Lord Caitanya. Therefore, he was like personified filled with Lord Caitanya's mellows.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.213

kāśī-miśra parama-vihvala kṛṣṇa-rase
āpane rahilā prabhu yāṅhāra āvāse

Translation: Kāśī Miśra was greatly overwhelmed in the mellows of love for Kṛṣṇa. The Lord personally stayed in his house.

Jayapatākā Swami: In Jagannātha Purī all the time He stayed there, He stayed in the house of in Kāśī Miśra, His rooms were known as Gaura-Gambhīra, there He would listen to the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and only three and half devotees were allowed to go there. They were speaking the confidential pastimes of Lord Caitanya who would experience love for Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.214

ei mata prabhu sarva bhṛtya kari’ saṅge
niravadhi goṅāyena saṅkīrtana-raṅge

Translation: In this way the Lord and all His servants constantly enjoyed pastimes of saṅkīrtana.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these associates were fortunate that they were in daily association of Lord Caitanya, and they were chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa māhā-mantra everydaya. So, we can also follow in their footsteps in chanting hare Kṛṣṇa in nāma-saṅkīrtana and through harināma we an experience the transcendental bliss.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.215

yata yata udāsīna śrī-caitanya-dāsa
sabe karilena āsi’ nīlācale vāsa

Translation: All the renounced servants of Lord Caitanya gradually came and took up residence in Nīlācala.

Purport (by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura): Those who lived at home and served Śrīman Mahāprabhu were the Lord’s householder devotees, and those who had the opportunity to live and constantly hear topics of the Supreme Lord in the Lord’s holy abode after having severed household ties became indifferent to their house and family members and went to reside in Nīlācala with Śrī Caitanyadeva. That is why those who at present have the opportunity to retire from family life live in a temple to constantly serve Śrī Caitanyadeva.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all the brahmacārīs, vānaprastha and sannyāsi they live in the āśrama of some holy temple and they can engage in the constant service of Lord and even the householders were given the opportunity to engage in saṅkīrtana and also distribute books and to have Bhakti-vṛkṣa and Nāmahaṭṭa and if they are fortunate to live near a temple, they can attend the temples daily program or weekend program and otherwise Bhakti-vṛkṣa and Nāmahaṭṭa they can be fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa seva, within house they should establish Kṛṣṇa in the center, just like in every house they are cooking, they have to eat so first they offer the food to the home deity and then they take Kṛṣṇa prasāda . Instead of going somewhere else they can chant dance in their ow house.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, The Associates Assemble in Nīlācala
Under the section: Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Second Meeting with the Lord