Monday, August 11th, 2008

Time	Event
2:18p	Sita Thakurani Sri Sita Thakurani is to be worshiped just as much as Sacidevi herself, as the mother of the universe. She is the eternal wife of Sri Advaita Acharya. She was the daughter of Sri Nrishinga Baduri. She was married to Sri Advaita Acharya in Phuliya Nagara. After their wedding, Advaita Acharya went to Nadiya, to live in Shantipura. Sita Thakurani was always absorbed in vatsalya prema for Sri Gaurasundara Prabhu, and, out of parental concern used to instruct Jagannatha Mishra on how to care for the boy. Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami has described the birth celebration at the house of Jagannatha Mishra upon the advent of the Lord, giving special attention to the position of Sri Sita Thakurani. Advaita Acharya's wife, worshipable by all the three worlds was Sita Thakurani. Taking the Acharya's orders on her head, she had come to take a look at this new child, this jewel of jewels, and to offer him presents. On the eve of his son's advent Sri Jagannatha Mishra, seeing the imminent signs of his child's arrival, sent word to Advaita Acharya in Shantipura that the long-awaited child was being born. Hearing news of the advent of this unprecedented child, Advaita Acharya floated in the waves of ecstasy. With Sri Haridasa Thakura, he went to bathe in the river, and, after much dancing and song, he sent his wife to go quickly to Mayapura in Navadwipa. According to Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika, Sri Sita Thakurani is Yogamaya. The Gaura-Parshada-Charitvali says that in Krishna Lila, she was Purnamasi, the mother of Sandipani Muni, grandmother of Madhumangal and Nandimukhi and a disciple of Narada Muni. (Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika, however, says that Paurnamasi in Krishna-lila became Sri Govinda Acharya in Chaitanya lila.) In Dvapara-yuga, during the celebration of Krishna's birth ceremony, she was present in the house of Nanda, and at that time gave Nanda and Yashoda many instructions on how to care for the child. The Caitanya-Caritamrita gives the following account of Sita Thakurani's visit to the house of Jagannatha Mishra after the birth of the Lord: "One day, shortly after Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born, Advaita Acharya's wife, Sitadevi, who is worshipable by the whole world, taking permission of her husband, went to see that topmost child with all kinds of gifts and presents. She brought different kinds of golden ornaments, including bangles for the hand, armlets, neclaces, and anklets. There were also tiger nails set in gold, waist decorations of silk and lace, ornaments for the hands and legs, nicely printed silken saris and a child's garment, also made of silk. Many other riches, including gold and silver coinds, were also presented for the child. Riding in a palanquin covered with cloth and accompanied by maidservants, Sita Thakurani came to the house of Jagannatha Mishra, bringing with her many auspicious articles such as fresh grass, paddy, gorocana, turmeric, kunkuma, and sandalwood. All these presentations filled a big basket. When Sita Thakurani came to the house of Sacidevi, bringing with her many kinds of eatables, dresses, and other gifts, she was astonished to see the newly born child, for she appreciated that except for a difference in color, the child was directly Krishna of Gokula Himself. Seeing the transcendental bodily effulgence of the child, each of His nicely constructed limbs full of auspicious signs and resembling a form of gold, Sita Thakurani was very much pleased, and because of her maternal affection, she felt as if her heart were melting. She blessed the newly born child by placing fresh grass and paddy on His head and saying, "May You be blessed with a long duration of life." But being afraid of ghosts and witches, she gave the child the name Nimai. On the day that the mother and son took bath and left the maternity room, Sita Thakurani gave them all kinds of ornaments and garments, and then also honored Jagannatha Mishra. Then Sita Thakurani, being honored by mother Sacidevi and Jagannatha Mishra, was greatly happy within her mind, and thus she returned home." From that day on, Sita Thakurani would often come to Mayapura from Shantipura, in order to teach Sacimata how to care for the new baby. She would give her many different instructions on how to raise children. And after helping with the child in this way, she would return to Shantipura. When it came time for the child's birthday ceremony, Jagannatha Mishra and Sacidevi let the worshipable Sita Thakurani be the first to offer the child his new clothes. Advaita Acharya Prabhu also had a house in Navadwipa. There he would live from time to time and discuss Krishna-katha with the devotees headed by Srivasa, diving and surfacing in the waves of joy until the break of dawn. After Sri Gaurasundara's appearance, all the devotees prayed together with Sri Advaita Acharya and Sita Thakurani that the child might live long in Mayapura and have good fortune. Sita Thakurani and Sacidevi were of one mind; the baby Nimai was their life and soul. Every day Sita Thakurani would go to the house of Sacidevi and help her with the care and nurturing of the boy. In the house of Jagannatha Mishra, the divine child increased the pleasure of the eyes and minds of all the devotees, just as the waxing moon gradually grows more brilliant with each passing day. After several years, when Jagannatha Mishra's son Vishvarupa - Nimai's older brother - had grown up, he suddenly took sannyasa. The grief and agony of Jagannatha Mishra and Sacidevi upon their son's leaving was great. Gaurasundara was also dismayed and unhappy at his brother's separation. At that time Advaita Acharya and Sita Thakurani consoled Jagannatha Mishra and Sita Thakurani, and helped take care of Nimai. Srivasa Pandit's wife Malini Devi also was always very affectionate towards the child, nurturing him and caring for him. She and Sacidevi were of one mind in doing this. After exhibiting his childhood pastimes, Nimai gradually progressed into his Kishora-lila, or pastimes of youth. After some time, he went to Gaya and revealed his true form and real purpose. Having returned from Gaya he gathered all the devotees at the house of Srivasa Angan for the purpose of beginning kirtan. At that time, Advaita Acharya brought Sita Thakurani from Shantipura to Mayapura, and, having arrived there was the first to worship the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya. Gradually Sri Gaurasundara began, in Navadwipa, to unfold his kirtan pastimes, wishing to deliver the fallen souls. As time went by he took sannyasa and turned his face towards Vrindavana, and ran off, half mad into the jungle in search for Sri Krishna. Upon hearing this, Sri Sita Thakurani spent four days with Sacidevi, who, plunged in the darkness of separation as if the sun had left the sky forever, lay fallen on the ground like one near death. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being bound by the ropes of love, was unable to go to Vrindavana, but was drawn to return to Shantipura. When he arrived in Shantipura, Advaita Acharya and Sita Thakurani felt as if their life has returned. After having fasted for four days, Sri Gaurasundara accepted prasada cooked by the hand of Sita Thakurani. Previous to taking sannyasa also, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu along with Nityananda Prabhu would, from time to time go to the house of Advaita in Shantipura, where they would have a festival and perform Krishna-nama-lila-kirtan all day and all night. The beautiful nature of this subject has been described by Sri Parameshvari Dasa Thakura in his Sri Pada Kalpataru as follows: One day the Lord laughed, having arrived in the temple of Sri Advaita and thus the son of Saci took his seat. Along with Nityananda, Advaita sat down, and the two of them began playfully assessing the idea of having a festival. Hearing all this, Sita Thakurani entered smiling. At that time, in sweet words which made the minds of those who heard them blissful, the son of Saci ruled that there must be a great festival. He said, "Listen Sita Thakurani: we shall extend invitations to all the different Vaishnavas who live nearby. Let whoever hears the sound of our song, resounding through the air, come and join us. We shall invite one and all." Saying this, Sri Gaurachandra gave orders to the devotees saying, "You, invite the Vaishnavas." "You, ready the mridanga and karatalas." "You, prepare sandalwood and aguru for distribution." "Have everything ready at the ghat." "Carrying out these assignments expertly, and after garlanding the devotees with flower garlands, the devotees shall gather together in a circle for an uproarious kirtan." Hearing the words of Mahaprabhu, the devotees followed his orders with great affection, collecting garlands, sandalwood, betel, ghee, honey, and milk, and everything else essential for worhsiping the Lord. The different gifts and fragrant articles for the devotees and the Lord were then distributed in the proper ways. The kirtan began at midday. At that time everyone chanted "Hari! Hari!" and the mridanga made the whole kirtan auspicious. Thus swims Parameshavara Dasa in the rasik pastimes of the Lord. After Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa and went to live in Jagannatha Puri, Sri Advaita Acharya and Sita Thakurani used to go and visit him each year, bringing their son Achyutananda with them. On one such occasion, Sita Thakurani prepared some of the Lord's favorite preparations for him and invited Him to their home to take lunch. Simply to increase their ecstasy, the Lord, who was always absorbed in Krishna Nama, honored their invitation and took lunch in the home of Advaita and Sita. Sita Thakurani, being always overwhelmed with vatsalya-prema treated him as affectionately as if he were her own son. The Lord himself also treated her with the same kind of regard and affection that he had for Sacidevi herself. Sri Sita Thakurani bore three sons, Achyutananda, Krishna Mishra and Gopala Mishra, who were followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. According to Bhakti-Ratnakara, Sri Sita Thakurani's father was Sri Nrishimha Baduri. Sita Thakurani also had a sister, Sri. According to the Gaura-Ganoddesha-Dipika, Sita Thakurani, the wife of Sri Advaita Acharya, is Yogamaya, and her sister Sri is the prakasha, or manifestation, of Yogamaya. (yogamaya bhagavati, grihini tasya sampratam, sita rupenavatirna, "Sri" namni tat prakashatah) (Comment on this)
2:36p	Shri Jahnava Mata Shri Suryadasa Sarakhela lived in Shaligrama. He had five brothers: Damodara, Jagannatha, Gauridasa, Krishna dasa, and Nrishinga Chaitanya. His fathers name was Shri Kamsari Mishra and his mother's name was Shri Kamala Devi. Surya dasa used to be the King's treasurer, and it was in this connection that he was given the title "Sarakhela." Shri Suryadasa Sarakhela had two daughters. The older of the two was named Shri Vasudha and the younger was named Shri Jahnava. The Gaura-Ganodesha-dipika says: shri varuni revatyoramshasambhave, tasya priye shrivasudha cha jahnava, shri suryadasakhya-mahatmanah sute, kakudmirupasya cha suryatejasah, kecit shri vasudha-devim, kalav api vivrinute, ananga-manjarim kecij, jahnavim ca pracakshate, ubhayam tu smichinam, purva-nyayat satam matam. Kavi Karnapura says, "Shri Nityananda Prabhu's dear consorts, Shri Vasudha and Jahnava Devi are expansions of Varuni and Revati, respectively. Shri Suryadasa Pandit had formerly been Maharaja Kukudmi. His bodily effulgence was as brilliant as the sun. Some say that Shrimati Vasudha-devi is the incarnation of Shrimati Ananga-manjari, and others say that Shrimati Jahnavi-devi is the incarnation of Shrimati Ananga-manjari. In truth, both opinions are correct. They are both incarnations of Shrimati Ananga-manjari. Suryadas Sarakhela was a dear devotee of Nityananda and Gauranga. Seeing his daughters maturing into the full bloom of their youth, he began to think about the subject of their marriage. This is recorded in Bhakti-Ratnakara: "Suryadasa Pandit began to think about this very deeply. Once, thinking in this way late at night, he fell asleep. At that time, a dream came to him. With this, his mind was filled with bliss. In his dream, he saw himself giving his two daughters in marriage to Shri Nityananda Prabhu. Seeing this wonderful dream, the pandit swam in the ocean of ecstasy. A little while later, his dream broke. The next morning, he told a brahmana friend of his about his dream. He said, "I saw that Nityananda Prabhu is Balaram Himself. His unprecedented bodily effulgence filled the ten directions with its radiance. His arms and legs were decorated with all manner of wondrous and beautiful ornaments. My two daughters accompanied him on either side of him, and, having assumed the forms of Revati and Varuni, they were exceedingly beautiful. Certainly I must offer the hands of my daughters to Shri Nityananda Prabhu in marriage. Until he accepts them, I shall never find peace." In this way, having informed his brahmana friend of his intentions, Sarakhela Pandit dispatched him to Nabadwipa, to Shrivasa Pandita. With great haste the brahmana left, and soon he arrived at the house of Shrivasa. At that time, Nityananda Prabhu was staying at the house of Shrivasa Pandita. The brahmana explained to Shrivasa how Suryadas Sarakhela wanted to offer his two daughters in marriage to Nityananda Prabhu. Upon hearing all this, Shrivasa became happy, and submitted the entire matter to Shri Nityananda Prabhu. The merciful Nityanandna Prabhu told the brahmana to return to Suryadas Sarakhela with the assurance that he would certainly fulfill his heart's desire. When the news came to Advaita Acharya, he became extremely happy. He said, "May all this take place very soon." Meanwhile, the brahmana returned to Shaligrama and gave the auspicious news to Suryadas Sarakhela. Upon hearing this, Suryadas's ecstasy knew no bounds. In Borogacchi grama lived the son of King Harihora, Shri Krishnadasa. He was a great and dear devotee of Shri Nityananda Prabhu. He was prepared to bear and make all the necessary arrangements for a lavish wedding, putting his own home at the disposal of the entire celebration. Wanting Lord Nityananda to accept this as his offering, Krishna dasa went quickly to Nityananda Prabhu, and prayed that he might be allowed to bring the Lord to Borogacchi gram and commence with the wedding there. Shrivasa, Shri Advaita Acharya, Shri Chandrashekhara, Murari Gupta as well as all the other devotees of Shri Gaurasundara gathered there and began performing sankirtana. Shri Surya Dasa Sarakhela's brother, Krishnadasa, quickly returned to Borogacchi Gram. Nityananda Prabhu also arrived there shortly, as did all the devotees from Shaligrama. Seeing Nityananda Prabhu and all the different devotees who had arrived, Suryadas Sarakhela ran out on the road before them in great ecstasy and, welcoming them, invited them to his own home, after falling before the lotus feet of Shri Nityananda Prabhu in humble submission. The Bhakti-Ratnakara records this as follows: "Falling at the lotus feet of Shri Nityananda Prabhu Suryadasa flooded the ground with his tears. With his two hands he tightly held the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu. His voice trembling, he wanted to speak, but could find no words. Nityananda Prabhu slowly began to smile, and gradually was unable to contain his ecstatic laughter. Bestowing his full mercy upon Suryadasa, he embraced him. Suryadasa became absorbed in bliss. Who could have understood the limits of his ecstasy? Seeing his brother, Gauridasa also became ecstatic; not being able to contain his patience, was overwhelmed with internal delight. A little while later, Shri Suryadasa Pandita worship the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu and offered his two daughters—Shri Vasudha and Shri Jahnava Mata—into the hands of Nityananda. The Bhakti Ratnakara says, "In the opinion of both the scriptures and the people in general Suryadasa was most fortunate, having given his daughters in charity to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Thereafter, following the beautiful and auspicious wedding, Shri Nityananda Prabhu remained in Shaligrama Pura for some time. In time, he went to Nabadwipa dhama, and arrived at the house of Sachidevi with his two wives. He offered his obeisances to the lotus feet of Shri Sachidevi. Sachimata was delighted to see Vasudha and Jahnava. She embraced them again and again, sat them on her lap and affectionately pinched them on the cheek. All the Vaishnava housewives in Nabadwipa showed great affection toward the two brides of Nityananda. On the order of Sachidevi, Nityananda went to the house of Advaita Acharya in Shantipura. When Sita Thakurani saw Vasudha and Shri Jahnava, she floated inthe waves of ecstasy. She also embraced them as affectionately as Sachidevi had. Shri Nityananda stayed there at the house of Advaita for some time, until Uddharana Datta Thakura requested him to come to stay at his place in Saptagrama. There he stayed for a few days, and, after taking part in a great sankirtan festival, went on to Boro Grama. Nityananda Prabhu performed endless kirtan pastimes and wandered from one place to the next for this purpose. After some time, Shri Vasudhadevi gave birth to a daughter named Ganga and a son named Virachandra. Shri Jahnavadevi, on the other hand, had no children. After Shri Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Acharya, Shrivasa Pandita, and many other members of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's personal entourage had gone back to Godhead, Shri Jahnava Mata wanted to further inundate the world with a flood of sankirtan nectar. At that time, in Kheturi Gram, on the Phalguna Purnima day, the day of Mahaprabhu's advent, a great festival was to be held. The three acharyas Narottama, Shyamananda, and Shrinivasa (the three-fold mercy-potency of the Lord) heard that a great festival was to be held in Kheturi Gram at the house of Raja Santosha Datta. They too arrived to take part. The festival had been arranged by King Santosh Dutta. He was the son of Narottam's brother as well as Narottam's disciple. For this festival, Jahanava Devi herself, the wife of Lord Nityananda, had come. Along with her came her uncle, Shri Krishna Mishra, as well as Shirpati, Shrinidhi, Minaketana Ramadasa, Murari Chaitanya, Jnana dasa, Parameshvari dasa, Balarama Dasa, Vrindavan Das Thakura, and all the other dearmost followers of Shri Nityananda Prabhu. Jahanava Mata first went to the house of Gauridasa Pandit in Ambika Kalna along with all her followers. The disciple of Gauri das Pandita, Hridaya Chaitanya with great cordiality welcomed Shri Jahnava Mata and all the devotees. Shri Jahnava Mata with her own hand cooked the offering for the Gaura-Nityananda deities there. Having had a festival there for one night, they went on to Nabadwipa. Arriving at the house of Mahaprabhu, and not seeing Sachimata there, Shri Jahanva Mata was very unhappy to have missed her, and felt the pangs of separation. Shripati and Shrinidhi then took Shri Jahnava Mata to their own Nabadwip home. Not seeing Shrivasa Pandita and Malinidevi there, she was heartbroken and began to cry. They stayed the night there, and on the following day went to Shantipura. Finding that Shri Advaita Acharya and Shri Sita Thakurani had passed away, Jahnava Mata was filled with grief. Their sons, Achyutananda and Gopala cordially greeted Jahnava Mata and all her Vaishnava associates and welcomed them with a proper ceremonial reception. At length, Shri Jahnava Mata, along with her devotee associates went on to a place in Kanthak Nagara known as Teliyabudhir Gram, where the brother of Ramchandra Kaviraja, whose name was Govinda Kaviraja, greeted Her with all respect and offered puja to her. After staying there one night, they all set out for Kheturi Grama. Arriving on the other side of the river from Kheturi Grama, they found that Raja Santosha Datta had made arrangements for boats to ferry the devotees across the river Padma as well as other conveyances to bring the devotees into Kheturi Gram. He also made many other arrangements for the well-being of the devotees, including suitable housing and ample prasada. Everything was decorated very beautifully. Raja Santosha Datta personally came a long way down the road just to welcome Jahanava Mata and her company by offering them flowers and garlands, as well as many other gifts. In this way, all the devotees headed by Jahnava Mata entered Kheturi Gram while performing Sankirtana. At this time, with Shrinivasa, Narottama, and Shyamananda in front welcomed the delegation of devotees headed by Jahnava Mata by offering their full obeisances with great humility in the dust of the road. The devotees embraced each other in great ecstasy, and gradually they filled the four directions with the ecstatic and tumultuous sound of their kirtan. Raja Santosha Datta had caused beautiful houses to be constructed to house the devotees headed by Jahnava Mata. He also made arrangements for servants to care for their every need. Gradually the different devotees headed by Jahanva retired to their respective quarters, and after having honored prasada, they rested. Seeing that the service of the Vaishnavas had been properly taken care of, Raja Santosha Datta was very happy. The following day was the appearance day of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Within the newly constructed mandir, six deities were to be installed. In the evening, the devotees began performing sankirtana. Shri Raghunandana, from Shri Khanda, began the preliminary kirtan. All the people of Kheturi gram turned out for the occasion. Within the midst of that great assembly, Nityananda's shakti, Shri Jahanva Mata looked very beautiful. Upon seeing her, upon seeing the devotees gathered there, and upon hearing the divine kirtan of those great souls, all the atheists and sinners were supremely purified. Everyone had left their homes and hurried out to see the devotees and to drown themselves in the nectar of the kirtan. Everyone dived and surfaced in the ocean of ecstasy, and in this way were drowned in the bliss of Vaikuntha. In this way, the kirtan continued until midnight. The following day, with great pomp, and before a huge crowd, Shrinivas Acharya himself performed the abhishek ceremony for the installation of the six deities. On the order of Jahnava Mata and the devotees, Narottama Thakura began to perform kirtan. In the midst of that kirtan, Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu Himself, accompanied Nityananda Prabhu and all his eternal associates, made his divine appearance. Who can describe the overflowing of ecstasy felt by the assembled devotees there in Kheturi Grama on that day? Those who could remember that festival all attained eternal fame. On the third day of the festival, Jahanva Mata herself cooked the bhoga for the deities. "Shri Jahnava Devi was extremely delighted by the Sankirtan festival. After purifying herself by bathing in the Ganges at midday, with great enthusiasm, she cooked wonderful preparations of rice, vegetables and other things. Her cooking was unprecedented." (BR 10th Taranga). Shri Jahnava Mata herself distributed prasada by her own hand to the great souls present there at that grand festival. After the festival was over, Jahnava Mata left Kheturi Gram accompanied by her entourage of devotees, and set out for Vrindvana. On the way there, they passed through Prayaga and Kashi and arrived in Mathura. There they visited Krishna's holy birthplace, and, after bathing at Vishrama Ghata, they entered Vrindavana. In order to welcome Shri Jahanva Mata, some of the Vrindvana devotees met her in Mathura. Shri Parameshvari Das describes this meeting, and mentions the names of the different devotees who turned out to meet her, as follows: "There was Gopal Bhatta Goswami, a reservoir of gaur-prema, and Bhugarbha Goswami, as well as the highly qualified Lokanatha. Krishna dasa brahmachari and Shri Krishna Pandita, Shri Madhu Pandit and the celebrated Shri Jiva were also present there. All of them were introduced to Jahnava Mata, who was informed of their names by Jiva Goswami. Hearing all this, Jahnava Mata's great ecstasy was increased." (Bhakti Ratnakara) Having approached Shri Jahnava Mata, all the goswamis present there fell before her lotus feet and offered their pranams, and she allso offered her pranams to them. Shri Jahnava Mata, seeing the ecstatic efforts of the Goswamis was very happy. At last she toured the holy places in Vrindavana and saw the different deities of Vrindavana, headed by Shri Govinda, Shri Gopinatha, and Shri Madana Mohana. The Goswamis had made an extensive effort to see to it that the arrangements for Jahnava Mata's stay were topmost. After some days in Vrindavana, she went to see Govardhan hill, Radha-kunda and Shyamakunda. When she visited the different places of the Lord's pastimes, different divine moods amd emotions connected with those pastimes awakened within her. In this way, after wandering about in Vrindavana for some time, she returned to Gaudadesha, Bengal. Having reached Gaudamandala, the greater circle of Mahaprabhu's pastimes in Bengal, She first went to Kheturi Gram. There, the devotees came out to greet and welcome her, led by Narottama and Ramchandra Kaviraja. After staying there a few days, she went on to Budhari Gram. In Budhari Grama lived ther brother of Vamshidasa, Shri Shyamadasa Chakravarti. She proposed that his daughter Shri Hemalata should be married to Boro Gangadasa. On her order, Shyamadasa gave his daughter to Boro Gangadasa. After the wedding, Jahnava Mata gave Gangadasa the responsibilty of worshiping the deity of Shyamasundara. After staying in Badhuri Gram for some time, Jahnava Mata went to see the birthplace of Shri Nityananda Prabhu in the village of Ekachakra. As she took darshan there, she heard about the father and mother of Shri Nityananda, Harai Pandit and Padmavati. Hearing about her father-in-law and mother-in-law, and meditating upon them, She was overwhelmed with separation and began to weep. In the company of a local brahman, she saw the different places of Nityananda Prabhu's childhood pastimes. No one can describe the bliss she felt upon seeing those places. That day she stayed at the empty house which had once been occupied by Nityananda's parents, which had once been Nityananda's home. She passed the night chanting the names of the Lord in kirtan. Having stayed for one night in Ekachakra, she went to Kanthak Nagara, near Katwa. She say the place of the Lord's sannyasa, and wept. From there, she went to Yajigram, to the house of Shrinivasa Thakura. The devotees there, headed by Shrinivasa Acharya, welcomed her with great devotion. Shrinivasa invited her into his home and performed a puja in honor of Jahnava Mata, worshiping her. In this way, that best of Acharyas, Shrinivasa, absorbed himself in the service of Jahnava Mata. After staying in Yajigram for some days, she again returned to Nabadwipa, to the birthplace of Shriman Mahaprabhu. At that time, Ishan, the family servant of Mahaprabhu was in his ripe old age. Upon entering the house of Mahaprabhu, Jahanva Mata fainted in ecstasy. Seeing her absorbed in a divine trance of ecstasy, the devotees also became ecstatic and began to weep tears of prem. Fromt he house of Mahaprabhu, She went to the courtyard of Shrivasa, where she spent the night. And all night, in the coutryard of Shrivasa, the devotees engaged in mahasankirtana, dancing and chanting with great enthusiasm, for the courtyard of Shrivasa is where Mahaprabhu began his sankirtan pastimes. That night, Jahanva Mata had a dream in which she saw Shri Gaurasundara and his devotees performing different pastimes. The following day, She offered her prayers again and again to the holy dham of Nabadwipa, and then turned towards Ambika Kalna and set out in that direction. At again being visited by Shri Jahnava Mata, the residents of Ambika Kalna were overjoyed. Remembering Gauridasa Pandita, who had since passed away, Shri Jahnava Mata wept again and again. She offered her prayers there, at the lotus feet of the Shri Gaura and Nityananda deities. There the devotees began a kirtan, and in the midst of that great and tumultuous kirtan, Gaura and Nityananda personally appeared. That night, Jahnava Mata, as she had done previously, cooked many preparations for the pleasure of Gaura-Nityananda and offered it them upon the altar. Later, she herself distributed that prasada to the devotees there. That night, as she slept, in her dreams she saw Gauridasa Pandita with Gaura and Nityananda. They all offered Jahnava Mata their blessings. The following day, bidding farewell to the devotees, Jahanva Mata went to the home of Uddharana Datta Thakura. There, after staying for a one-night sankirtan festival, she got in a boat and returned to her own home in Khorodoha Gram. In Khoradoha Gram, upon seeing her once again, the devotees felt boundless joy. With great eagerness everyone tried to push in front of the crowd to catch a glimpse of her. The devotees greeted her with sankirtan. Nityananda's son, Birchandra and his daughter Shri Ganga offered their prayers at the lotus feet of Shri Jahnava Mata, and in turn were affectionately embraced by her. She smelled their heads in affection. After this, Jahnava Mata and Shri Vasudha devi, offered their respects to each other. After this, Shri Jahnava Mata spoke of her visit to the different holy places in Gaura Mandala and Vraja Mandala with all the devotees. Shri Jahnava Mata retained Parameshvari Thakura as a servant. The two of them were unlimitedly happy to see one another once again. The other devotees bid their farewells. The story of Shri Jahnava Mata's pilgrimage throughout the holy places of Gaura Mandala and Vraja Mandala has become quite famous throughout the society of Gaudiya Vaishnavas. Shri Jahnava Mata is a reservoir of prema-bhakti and is known as Nityananda-svarupini—the other self of Nityananda Prabhu. She delivered many sinners and atheists by her mercy. Her divine opulence (aishavarya) and sweetness (madhurya) are both astounding. The birthday of Shri Jahnava Mata, the shakti of Nityananda, is celebrated on the 8th day of the full moon in the month of Vaishakha. Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in his Kalyana Kalpataru has prayed as follows at the lotus feet of Shri Jahnava Mata: "Having fallen into this ocean of misery, my life is a bewilderment, and I do not know how to reach its shore, nor even where to search for it. All my efforts (karma) are useless, all my knowledge (jnana) is useless, as are mysticism (yoga), austerity, religious penance, and mundane piety. None of these processes have any power to rescue me. I am weak, helpless. I don't know how to swim across this ocean of ignorance. Who will deliver me from this dangerous predicament? Within this dangerous ocean of material existence I see the crocodiles of sense gratification—what a terrible sight! Within this ocean, I am tossed about by the turbulent waves which constantly boil and churn like a ship without a rudder. The impulses and urges that I have acquired from my previous births are like a wind that blows the ship in all directions. My mind is unsteady. This ship has no captain, no direction. I weep in despair, seeing that I cannot cross this ocean of misery. O Jahnava Devi! Today, by the power of your divine qualities, be merciful to this servant of yours. Dispell this illusion which torments me, and relieve me of the anguish of material existence. Let me take shelter at your lotus feet, for in this way I shall certainly cross over the ocean of birth and death. You are Nityananda-shakti—the divine energy of Nityananda Himself. You are the guru of Krishna-bhakti. Be merciful to me and grant me the shade of your holy lotus feet, which are like a wish-fulfilling tree. You have delivered countless abominable sinners. Please deliver me in the same way. Today, this lowly sinner falls at your holy feet, praying for your mercy." [Available from: www.stephen-knapp.com] (Comment on this)
2:38p	Sri Abhirama Thakura Sri Abhirama Gopala Thakura was also known as Sri Rama Das. He was a great devotee of Lord Nityananda. On the order of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, he became a great acharya and preacher of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. He was a very influential personality, and atheists and blasphemers were very much afraid of him. Empowered by Sri Nityananda Prabhu, he was always in ecstasy and was kind to all fallen souls. It is siad that if he offered obeisances to any stone other than a salagram-sila, it would immediately burst into pieces. According to Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika (12) in Krishna-lila he was Sridama, one of the 12 prominent boy cowherd friends of Sri Krishna. He was Nityananda's dearmost devotee. Abhirama Gopala's wife's name was Sri Malini devi. Abhirama Gopala Thakura lived in Khanakula Krishnanagara. Khanakula Krishnanagar may be visited by taking the narrow gauge train from Howrah Station in Calcutta to Amta. It is located in the present Hooghly District of West Bengal. There, in Khanakula Krishnanagara, near the bank of the Khana river, is the temple of Abhirama Thakura. Because it is a town (nagara) with a Krishna temple, the town is called Krishna-nagara, and because the temple is on the kula (banks) of the Khana, it is called Khanakula Krishnanagara. Just outside the temple is a bakula tree. This place is known as Siddha-bakula-kunja. It is said that Abhirama Thakura used to like sitting beneath this tree. The story of how the Gopinatha deity of Khanakula Krishnanagara was established is as follows. One day, the deity of Gopinatha appeared to Abhirama Gopala in a dream, and informed him that he wanted to manifest himself in Khanakula Krishnanagara. It is said that he was buried in the earth, and that in the dream he ordered Abhirama Gopala to excavate him and inaugurate his worship. Abhirama Gopala went to the place where the Lord had indicated he would be found, and began excavation. There, after digging for some time, he found the mind-enchanting deity of Sri Gopinatha. The place where this discovery was made is now called Rama kunda, and there is a small lake there. The Bhakti Ratnakara says, "After having excavated the Gopinatha deity, all the devotees headed by Rama Dasa (Abhirama Gopala) bathed in the sacred waters of the kunda near the spot where the deity had been found. From that day on the kunda became famous as Rama Kunda. Whoever bathes there becomes free from repeated birth and death." One day Sri Abhirama Gopala was overwhelmed with the ecstasy of sakhya rasa, and had a desire to play the flute of a cowherd boy. Intoxicated by the bliss of Krishna-prema, he began searching the four directions for a suitable flute. As he searched through the forest for a suitable instrument all at once he saw before him a big log. The log was so huge that sixteen men could not move it. Grabbing hold of that log, he turned it into a flute and began to play upon it. The Caitanya Caritamrita says, "Rama dasa was one of the principle branches of the Nityananda branch of the Caitanya tree of bhakti. He was full of sakhya-prema - love of Krishna saturated with the mellow of friendship. He once picked up a log that sixteen men couldn't lift and used it as a flute." Sri Abhirama Thakura had a bullwhip that was imbued with divine power. Its name was "Jayamangal". Whoever was struck with this whip became filled with Krishna prema. One day Srinivasa Acharya went to take darshan of Abhiram Gopala. At that time, Abhirama Gopala touched him three times with Jayamangal. The Thakur's good wife, Malini, cried out, "My Lord! Do not touch him again. Calm yourself. Srinivas is only a boy. If you touch him again he will lose consciousness." As a result of coming in contact with the whip of Abhirama Thakura, Srinivasa Acharya became filled with Sri Krishna prema. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Nityananda Prabhu to preach in Bengal, he sent Abhirama Gopala and Gadadhara Das along with him. Simply upon seeing Abhirama Gopala, atheists and blasphemers would flee in terror. He was a remarkable scholar, well-versed in all the scriptures. He married his wife, Malini, upon the order of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. His disappearance day is on the seventh day of the dark moon in the month of Chaitra, and on that day a great festival attended by thousands of devotees is held every year in Khanakula Krishnanagara. (Comment on this)
8:52p	Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted Sruti: (alphabetic order) Caitanya Upanisad of Atharva Veda (the whole text of 19 verses) atra brahma-puram nama pundarikam yad ucyate tad evasta-dalam padma sannibham puram adbhutam In that place [where Sri Caitanya appears] is a wonderful city like an eight-petal lotus flower. (commentary of Bhaktivinoda Thakura on Chandogya Upanisad 8.1.1 of Sama Veda) tan-madhye daharam saksat mayapuramitiryate tatra vesma bhagavatas caitanyasya paratmanah tasmin yas tv 'antarakaso hy antar-dvipah sa ucyate In the middle of that lotus-city is a place called Mayapura, and in the middle of Mayapura is a place called Antardvipa. That place is the home of Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (commentary of Bhaktivinoda Thakura on Chandogya Upanisad 8.1.2) sa eva bhagavan yuge turiye 'pi brahma-kule jayamanah sarva upanisadah uddidirsuh sarvani dharma-astrani vistarayisnuh sarvan api janan santarayisnuh sarvan api vaisnavan dharman vijrimbhayan sarvan api pasandan nicakhana In the Kali-yuga, Lord Krsna will appear in a brahmana's family. He will teach the message of the Upanisads and the dharma-sastras. He will defeat the atheists and offenders and He will establish the truth of Vaisnava-dharma. (Krsna Upanisad) yada pasyah pasyate rukma-varnam kartaram isam purusam brahma-yonim One who sees that golden-colored Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Lord, the supreme actor, who is the source of the Supreme Brahman, is liberated. (Mundaka Upanisad 3.1.3 of Atharva Veda) saptame gaura-varna-visnor ity anena sva-saktya caikyam etya prantepratar avatirya saha svaih sva-manum siksayati In the seventh manvantara, in the beginning of the Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead accompanied by His own associates, will descend in a golden form to the earth. He will teach the chanting of His own holy names. (Purusa-bodhini Upanisad of Atharva Veda) mahan prabhur vai purusah sattvasyaisa pravartakah sunirmalam imam praptim isano jyotir avyayah The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Mahaprabhu [Lord Caitanya], who disseminates transcendental enlightenment. Just to be in touch with Him is to be in contact with the indestructible brahmajyoti. (Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.12 of Yajur Veda) Smrti: ittham nr-tiryag-rsi-deva jhasavatarair lokan vibhavayasi hamsi jagat pratipan dharmam maha-purusa pasi yuganuvrttam channah kalau yad abhavas tri-yugo 'tha sa tvam In this way, my Lord, You appear in various incarnations as a human being, an animal, a great saint, a demigod, a fish or a tortoise, thus maintaining the entire creation in different planetary systems and killing the demoniac principles. According to the age, O my Lord, You protect the principles of religion. In the age of Kali, however, You do not assert Yourself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore You are known as Triyuga, or the Lord who appears in three yugas. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.38, Prahlada Maharaja speaks to Lord Nrsimhadeva) asan varnas trayo hy asya grhnato 'nuyugam tanuh suklo raktas tatha pita idanim krsnatam gatah This boy [Krsna] has three other colors - white, red and yellow - as He appears in different ages. Now He has appeared in a transcendental blackish color. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.13, Gargamuni speaks to Nanda Maharaja) krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.32, Karabhajana Muni speaks to King Nimi) dhyeyam sada paribhava-ghnam abhista-doham tirthaspadam siva-virinci-nutam saranyam bhrtyarti-ham pranata-pala bhavabdhi-potam vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam My dear Lord, You are the Maha-purusa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and I worship Your lotus feet, which are the only eternal object of meditation. Those feet destroy the embarrassing conditions of material life and freely award the greatest desire of the soul, the attainment of pure love of Godhead. My dear Lord, Your lotus feet are the shelter of all holy places and of all saintly authorities in the line of devotional service and are honored by powerful demigods like Lord Siva and Lord Brahma. My Lord, You are so kind that You willingly protect all those who simply bow down to You with respect, and thus You mercifully relieve all the distress of Your servants. In conclusion, my Lord, Your lotus feet are actually the suitable boat for crossing over the ocean of birth and death, and therefore even Lord Brahmä and Lord Siva seek shelter at Your lotus feet. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.33) tyaktva su-dustyaja-surepsita-rajya-laksmim dharmistha arya-vacasa yad agad aranyam maya-mrgam dayitayepsitam anvadhavad vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam O Mahapurusa, I worship Your lotus feet. You gave up the association of the goddess of fortune and all her opulence, which is most difficult to renounce and is hankered after by even the great demigods. Being the most faithful follower of the path of religion, You thus left for the forest in obedience to a brahmana's curse. Out of sheer mercifulness You chased after the fallen conditioned souls, who are always in pursuit of the false enjoyment of illusion, and at the same time engaged in searching out Your own desired object, Lord Syamasundara. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.34) prasantatma lamba-kanthas gaurangas ca suravrtah The Supreme Personality of Godhead will come in a golden form, full of peace, and a beautiful long neck. He will be surrounded by many saintly devotees. (Agni Purana) anadasru-kala-roma harsa-purnam tapo-dhana sarve mam eva draksyanti kalau sannyasa-rupinam O sage whose wealth is austerity, in the Kali-yuga everyone will see My form as a sannyasi, a form filled with tears of bliss and bodily hairs standing erect. (Bhavisya Purana) kaleh prathama-sandhyayam gaurango 'ham mahi-tale bhagirathi-tate bhumni bhavisyami sanatanah In the first sandhya of the Kali-yuga I will reveal My eternal golden form by the Ganges' shore on the earth. (Brahma Purana) nama-siddhanta-sampati prakasana-parayanah kvacit sri-krsna-caitanya nama loke bhavisyati The Supreme Personality of Godhead will again appear in this world. His name will be Sri Krsna Caitanya and He will spread the chanting of the Lord's holy names. (Devi Purana) yad gopi-kuca-kumbha-sambhrama-bhara- rambhena samvardhitah yad va gopa-kumara- sara-kalaya range subhandi-krtam yad vrndavana-kanane pravilasac chridama- damadibhis tat prema-pradatam cakara bhagavan caitanya-rupah prabhuh The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Who enjoyed glorious pastimes with Sridama, Dama, and other gopa boys in Vrndavana forest, and Whose eyes glanced at the gopis' breasts, will again come to this world to reveal the nature of pure spiritual love. At that time His name will be Caitanya. (Garuda Purana) yo reme saha-ballavi ramayate vrndavane 'har-nisam yah kamsam nijaghana kaurava- rane yah pandavanam sakha so 'yam vainava- danda-mandita-bhutah sannyasa-vesah sva- yam nihsandedham upagatah ksiti-tale caitanya-rupah prabhuh The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Who enjoyed pastimes with the gopis, Who day and night filled the people of Vrndavana with happiness, Who killed Kamsa, and Who in the war between the Kauravas made friendship with the Pandavas, will come again to the earth. Of this there is no doubt. His arm decorated with a bamboo danda, He will be a sannyasi and his name will be Caitanya. (Garuda Purana) kalina dahyamananam paritranaya tanu-bhrtam janma prathama-sandhyayam karisyami dvijatisu To deliver the conditioned souls burning in the trouble of Kali-yuga, in the first sandhya of that age I will take birth among the Brahmanas. (Garuda Purana) aham purno bhavisyami yuga-sandhau visesatah mayapure navadvipe bhavisyami saci-sutah In My original spiritual form, perfect and complete, I will become the son of Sacidevi in Navadvipa-Mayapura at the beginning of Kali-yuga. (Garuda Purana) kaleh prathama-sandhyayam laksmi-kanto bhavisyati daru-brahma-samipa-sthah sannyasi gaura-vigrahah In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will assume a golden form. First He will be the husband of Laksmi, and then He will be a sannyasi who stays near Lord Jagannatha at Puri. (Garuda Purana) kalina dahyamanam uddhararaya tanu-bhrtam janma prathama sandhyayam bhavisyati dvijalaye The Supreme Person will appear in the first part of the age of Kali. He will appear in the home of a Brahmana, to save the embodied conditioned souls burning in the troubles of Kali-yuga. (Kurma Purana) suvarna-varno hemango varangas candanangadi sannyasa-krc chamah santo nistha-santi-parayanah In His early pastimes He appears as a householder with a golden complexion. His limbs are beautiful, and His body, smeared with the pulp of sandalwood, seems like molten gold. In His later pastimes He accepts the sannyasa order, and He is equipoised and peaceful. He is the highest abode of peace and devotion, for He silences the impersonalist nondevotees. (Mahabharata, Dana-dharma-parva ch. 189, Vaisampayana Muni speaks) golokam ca parityajya lokanam trana-karanat kalau gauranga-rupena lila-lavanya-vigrahah In the Kali-yuga, I will leave Goloka and to save the people of the world, I will become the handsome and playful Lord Gauranga. (Markandeya Purana) mundo gaurah su-dirghangas tri-srotas-tira-sambhavah dayaluh kirtana-grahi bhavisyami kalau-yuge In the age of Kali, I shall advent where the three rivers meet. I shall have a shaven head. I shall have a golden complexion. I will be very kind and always chant the holy name of Krsna. (Matsya Purana) divija bhuvi jayadhvam jayadhvam bhakta-rupinah kalau sankirtanarambhe bhavisyami saci-sutah O divija (demigods), please come and advent as devotees on this earth in the age of Kali. I will incarnate as the son of Saci to inaugurate the congregational chanting of the name of Krsna. (Narada Purana) aham eva kalau vipra (or dvijasresthah) nityam pracchanna-vigrahah bhagavad-bhakta-rupena lokam raksami sarvada O brahmana, in the age of Kali I will appear disguised as a devotee of the Lord and I will deliver all the worlds. O demigods, in the Kali-yuga please take birth as devotees on the earth. I will appear as the son of Saci in the Kali-yuga to start the sankirtana movement. (Narada Purana) satye daitya-kuladhi-nasa-samaye simhor- dhva-martyakrtis trtayam dasa-kandharam paribhavan rameti namakrtih gopalan paripalayan vraja-pure bharam haran dvapare gaurangah priya-kirtanah kali-yuge caitanya-nama prabhuh The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Who in the Satya-yuga appeared as a half-man half-lion to cure a terrible disease that has ravaged the daityas, and Who in Treta-yuga appeared as a person named Rama, a person who defeated the ten-headed demon Ravana, and Who in the Dvapara-yuga removed the earth's burden and protected the gopa people of Vraja-pura, will appear again in the Kali-yuga. His form will be golden, He will delight in chanting the Lord's holy names, and His name will Caitanya. (Nrsimha Purana) kaleh prathama-sandhyayam gaurango 'ham mahi-tale bhagirathi-tate ramye bhavisyami saci-sutah In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga I will appear on the earth in a beautiful place by the Ganges' shore. I will be the son of Sacidevi and My complexion will be golden. (Padma Purana) yatra yogesvarah saksad yogi-cintyo janardanah caitanya-vapur aste vai sandranandatmakah prabhuh The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Who is filled with bliss, Who rescues the devotees from a host of calamities, and Who is the master of yoga and the object of the yogis' meditation, will appear in His transcendental form and will be known by the name Caitanya. (Padma Purana) antah-krsno bahir-gaurah sangopangastra-parsadah sacigarbhe samapna yat maya-manusa-karma-krt Inside black and outside golden and accompanied by His associates and weapons, I shall appear in the womb of Saci. I will seemingly act as a human being because of the cover of My maya potency. (Skanda Purana) kali-ghora-tamascchannan sarvan acara-varjitan saci garbhe ca sambhuya tarayisyami narada O Narada, appearing from the womb of Sacidevi [an incarnation of Krsna's mother Yasoda], I shall deliver the people of Kali-yuga, who will be covered by deep ignorance and thus devoid of good behavior. (Vamana Purana) aham eva dvija-srestho lila-pracurya-vigrahah bhagavad-bhakta-rupena lokan raksami sarvada I shall come as the best of the Brahmanas. I will exhibit many pastimes in the form of a devotee. I shall deliver the people of the world. (Varaha Purana) mundo gaurah sudirghangas trisrotastira-sambhavah dayaluh kirtanagrahi bhavisyami kalau yuge kalau sankirtanarambhe bhavisyami saci-sutah In Kali-yuga I shall appear in a golden form with shaved head and a tall body. I shall be merciful to people engaged in sankirtana on the bank of the River Ganges. When the sankirtana movement is inaugurated, I shall descend as the son of Sacidevi. (Vayu Purana) suddho gaurah-su-dirghango ganga-tira-samudbhavah dayaluh-kirtana-grahi bhavisyami kalau yuge In the age of Kali-yuga, I shall come in a place on the bank of the Ganges. I will be very pure, have a fair complexion, and be very tall and chant the holy names of Krsna. (Vayu Purana) paurnamasyam phalgunasya phalguni-rksa-yogatah bhavisye gaura-rupena saci-garbhe purandarat svarnadi-tiram asthaya navadvipe janasraye tatra dvija-kulam prapto bhavisyami janalaye bhakti-yoga-pradanaya lokasyanugrahaya ca sannyasa-rupam asthaya krsna-caitanya-nama-dhrk tena lokasya nistaras tat kurudhvam mamajnaya dharitri bhavita cabhir mayaiva dvija-dehina I shall advent in the month of Phalguna, when the star Phalguni is conjoined with the full moon. I shall incarnate in a golden complexion in the womb of Saci and Purandara Misra. I will be born in the city of Navadvipa, on the Ganges' shore, in a Brahmana's family. I shall take the renounced order of life [sannyasa] and show kindness to the people in general and engage them in Bhakti. I will be known as Sri Krsna Caitanya. All of you should follow My order and deliver the people of the world. I shall appear as a Brahmana. I shall make this earth fearless. (Vayu Purana) aham eva kvacid-brahman sannyasa-asrama-asritah haribhaktim grahayami kalau papa-hatan-naran I, the Supreme Brahman, sometimes appear as a sannyasi. I am preaching the Hari-bhakti which destroys the sins of people in Kali-yuga. (an Upapurana) svarnadi-tiram asritya navadvipe dvijalaye sampradatum bhakti-yogam lokasyanugrahaya ca sa eva bhagavan krsno radhika-prana-vallabhah srsty-adau sa jagannatho gaura asin mahesvari avatirno bhavisyami kalau-nija-ganaih saha saci-garbhe navadvipe svardhuni-parivarite aprakasyam idam guhyam na prakasyam bahir-mukhe bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam bhaktam bhakti-pradam svayam man-maya-mohitah kecin na jnasyanto bahir-mukhah jnasyanti mad-bhakti-yuktah sadhavo-nyasinotmalah krsnavatara-kale-yah striyo ye purusah priyah kalau te 'vatarisyanti sridama-subaladayah catuh-sasti-mahantas te gopa dvadasa balakah dharma-samsthapanarthaya viharisyami tair aham kale nastam bhakti-patham sthapayisyamy aham punah gacchantu bhuvi te putrah jayantam bhakta-rupinah dharma-samsthapanam kale kurvantu te mamajnaya krsnas caitanya-gaurango gauracandrah saci-sutah prabhur gauro gaura-harir namani-bhakti-dani me To show mercy to the people and give them devotional service, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear in a Brahmana's home in Navadvipa by the Ganges' shore. The Supreme Person, Sri Krsna Himself, who is the life of Srimati Radharani, and is the Lord of the universe in creation, maintenance, and annihilation, appears as Gaura, O Mahesvari. In Kali-yuga, I will descend to the earth with My associates. In Navadvipa, which is surrounded by the Ganges, I will take birth in Sacidevi's womb. They who are bewildered by My illusory potency will not understand the great secret of the appearance in this world of Me in My personal form, in My form as the incarnation of devotion, in My form as the incarnation of a devotee, in My form bearing the name of a devotee, in My form as a devotee, and in My form as the giver of devotional service. This secret is not to be revealed to them. Only the saintly, pure, renounced devotees, diligently engaged in My devotional service, will be able to understand Me in these five forms. My dear male and female associates, headed by Sridama and Subala, who came to this world at the time of My advent as Lord Krsna, will come again during the Kali-yuga. The gopas will become the sixty-four mahantas and the twelve gopalas. To establish the truth of religion, I will enjoy many pastimes with them. In this way I will again reveal the path of devotional service, which has been destroyed in the course of time. My sons should also descend to the earth, assume the forms of devotees, and, by My order, also work to re-establish the principles of true religion. At this time My names will be: Krsna Caitanya, Gauranga, Gauracandra, Sacisuta, Mahaprabhu, Gaura and Gaurahari. Chanting these names will bring devotion to Me. (Ananta-samhita) gauri sri-radhika devi harih krsna prakirtitah ekatvac ca tayoh saksad iti gaura-harim viduh The golden Goddess Radha is known by the name Gauri and the dark Lord Krsna is known by the name Hari. Aware that both of them have combined, the wise call Him as Gaurahari." navadvipe tu tah sakhyo bhakta-rupa-dharah priye ekangam sri-gaura-harim sevante satatam muda "O beloved, assuming the forms of devotees the gopis will also take birth in Navadvipa. With great happiness they will again and again serve Lord Gaurahari, who is Radha and Krsna combined in a single form." (Ananta-samhita) athavaham dhara-dhamni bhutva mad-bhakta-rupa-dhrk mayayam ca bhavisyami kalau sankirtanagame Sometimes I personally appear on the surface of the world in the garb of a devotee. Specifically, I appear as the son of Saci in Kali-yuga to start the sankirtana movement. (Brahma-yamala tantra) kalau prathama-sandhyayam hari-nama-pradayakah bhavisyati navadvipe saci-garbhe janardanah In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, Lord Krsna will appear in Navadvipa, in Sacidevi's womb. In that incarnation He will teach the chanting of Lord Hari's holy names. anyavatara bahavah sarve sadharana matah kalau krsnavataras tu gudhah sannyasa-vesa-dhrk Lord Krsna descends to the world in many different forms. However in Kali-yuga, His incarnation is hidden. At that time He appears disguised as a sannyasi. (Jaimini-bharata) kvacit sapi krsnam aha srnu mad-vacanam priya bhavata ca sahaikatmyam icchami bhavitum prabho mama bhavanvitam rupam hrdayahlada-karanam parasparanga-madhya-stham krida-kautuka-mangalam paraspara-svabhavadhyam rupam ekam pradarsaya srutva tu preyasi-vakyam parama-priti-sucakam svecchayasid yatha purvam utsahena jagad-guruh premalingana-yogena hy acintya-sakti-yogatah radha-bhava-kanti-yuktam murtim ekam prakasayan svapne tu darsayam asa radhikayai svayam prabhuh Then Sri Radha said to Lord Krsna: 'O beloved, please hear My words. I yearn to become one with you. Please show a form where You and I embrace and Our two bodies become one, a form filled with the love I bear for You, a form filled with auspicious and blissful pastimes, a form that brings bliss to the heart, a form that unites Our two natures.' Hearing His beloved's words, which were filled with joy and love, Lord Krsna passionately embraced Her. Then by the touch of His inconceivable potency Their two forms joined and became one, a single form endowed with Sri Radha's divine love and glorious splendor. In a dream Lord Krsna showed all this to Sri Radha. (Kapila tantra) aham purno bhavisyami yuga-sandhau visesatah mayapure navadvipe varam ekam saci-sutah During the first sandhya of Kali-yuga I will descend, with all My powers and glories, to Mayapura in Navadvipa and become the son of Sacidevi. (Krsna-yamala tantra) punya-ksetre navadvipe bhavisyami saci-sutah I shall appear in the holy land of Navadvipa as the son of Sacidevi. (Krsna-yamala tantra) iti matva krpa-sindhur amsena krpaya harih prasanno bhakta-rupena kalav avatarisyati Thinking in this way, Lord Krsna, who is an ocean of mercy, mercifully decided to appear as a devotee in Kali-yuga. (Krsna-yamala tantra) gauranga nada gambhirah svanamamrta lalasah dayaluh kirtana grahi bhavisyati saci-sutah Merciful Lord Gauranga, who has a deep voice, will appear as the son of Sacidevi. He is eager to taste the nectar of His own names and thus engages in chanting them. (Krsna-yamala tantra 64) matva tvanmayam atmanam pathan dvayaksaram ucyate gata trapo madonmatto gaja vad vicarisyati He (Krsna) will consider Himself as You (Radha). In this mood He will loudly recite two syllables, krs-na, and being shamelessly intoxicated He will wander like an elephant. (Krsna-yamala tantra 65) bhuvani prapte tu govindas caitanyakhyo bhavisyati ansena bhuvi yasyanti tatra tat purvaparsada When Lord Govinda appears on earth, He will be known as Caitanya. At that time His associates also appear on earth in their expansions. (Krsna-yamala tantra 66) kalau purandarat sacyam gaura-rupo vibhu smrtah In Kali-yuga I will appear in a golden form as the son of Purandara and Sacidevi. (Urdhvamnaya tantra) krsna-caitanya-namna ye kirttayanti sakrnnarah nanaparadha-muktas te punanti sakalam jagat A person who even once chants the name of Krsna Caitanya becomes free from all offenses and purifies the whole universe. (Visnu-yamala tantra) kaleh prathama-sandhyayam gaurango 'sau mahi-tale bhagirathi-tate ramye bhavisyati sanatanah In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, on the earth, by the beautiful shore of the Ganges, the Lord will appear in His eternal golden form. (Yoga-vasistha) Other direct references are found in the Visvasara tantra, Kularnava tantra, Brahma-rahasya, and Visnu-yamala. Besides these there are complete chapters about Sri Caitanya's incarnation in the Vayu Purana and Bhavisya Purana, which are too long to quote here. Also there is a text by the name Caitanya Upanisad within the Atharva Veda, which explains the Lord's incarnation in Kali-yuga. I have not cited it here, as it was rediscovered in recent times, so most people will reject it's authenticity, or at least its value as evidence. Sri Caitanya's incarnation was a hidden incarnation, thus He buried references to His appearance deep within the ocean of Vedic texts. His desire was that His disguise would not be betrayed, so He made sure these references would remain hidden until after His incarnation was complete. These texts were always present, but by the inconceivable yoga-maya of the Lord, He covered His true identity even from the Vedic scholars and panditas. Only the pure devotees understood His actual identity. (Comment on this)

<< Previous Day

2008/08/11 [Calendar]

Next Day >>