The Advent of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Translation

I wish the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, by whose mercy even one who is fallen can describe the pastimes of the Lord.

Word meanings

saḥ — He ; prasīdatu — may bestow His blessings ; caitanya - devaḥ — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; yasya — of whom ; prasādataḥ — by the grace ; tat - līlā — His pastimes ; varṇane — in the description ; yogyaḥ — able ; sadyaḥ — immediately ; syāt — becomes possible ; adhamaḥ — the most fallen ; api — although ; ayam — I am .

Purport

To describe Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu or Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one needs supernatural power, which is the grace and mercy of the Lord. Without this grace and mercy, one cannot compose transcendental literature. By dint of the grace of the Lord, however, even one who is unfit for a literary career can describe wonderful transcendental topics. Description of Kṛṣṇa is possible for one who is empowered. Kṛṣṇa-śakti vinā nahe tāra pravartana (Cc. Antya 7.11). Unless endowed with the mercy of the Lord, one cannot preach of the Lord’s name, fame, qualities, form, entourage and so on. It should be concluded, therefore, that the writing of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī manifests specific mercy bestowed upon the author, although he thought of himself as the most fallen. We should not consider him fallen because he describes himself as such. Rather, anyone who is able to compose such transcendental literature is our esteemed master.

Translation

All glories to Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu! All glories to Advaitacandra! All glories to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu!

Word meanings

jaya jaya — all glories ; śrī - kṛṣṇa - caitanya — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; gaura - candra — Lord Gauracandra ; jaya advaita - candra — all glories to Advaita Ācārya ; jaya jaya — all glories to ; nityānanda — Lord Nityānanda Prabhu .

Translation

All glories to Gadādhara Prabhu! All glories to Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura! All glories to Mukunda Prabhu and Vāsudeva Prabhu! All glories to Haridāsa Ṭhākura!

Word meanings

jaya jaya gadādhara — all glories to Gadādhara Prabhu ; jaya śrīnivāsa — all glories to Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura ; jaya mukunda — all glories to Mukunda ; vāsudeva — all glories to Vāsudeva ; jaya haridāsa — all glories to Haridāsa Ṭhākura .

Translation

All glories to Svarūpa Dāmodara and Murāri Gupta! All these brilliant moons have together dissipated the darkness of this material world.

Word meanings

jaya — all glories ; dāmodara - svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; jaya — all glories ; murāri gupta — Murāri Gupta ; ei saba — of all these ; candra - udaye — such moons having arisen ; tamaḥ — darkness ; kaila — made ; lupta — dissipated .

Translation

All glories to the moons who are devotees of the principal moon, Lord Caitanyacandra! Their bright moonshine illuminates the entire universe.

Word meanings

jaya — all glories ; śrī - caitanya — of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; candrera — who is as bright as the moon ; bhakta — devotees ; candra - gaṇa — other moons ; sabāra — of all of them ; prema - jyotsnāya — by the full light of love of Godhead ; ujjvala — bright ; tri - bhuvana — all the three worlds .

Purport

In this verse we find the moon described as candra-gaṇa, which is plural in number. This indicates that there are many moons. In the Bhagavad-gītā (10.21) the Lord says, nakṣatrāṇām ahaṁ śaśī: “Among the stars, I am the moon.” All the stars are like the moon. Western astronomers consider the stars to be suns, but Vedic astronomers, following the Vedic scriptures, consider them moons. The sun has the ability to shine powerfully, and the moons reflect the sunshine and therefore look brilliant. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta Kṛṣṇa is described to be like the sun. The supreme powerful is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa, or Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and His devotees are also bright and illuminating because they reflect the supreme sun. The Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 22.31) states:

kṛṣṇa — sūrya-sama; māyā haya andhakāra yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra

“Kṛṣṇa is bright like the sun. As soon as the sun appears, there is no question of darkness or nescience.” Similarly, the present verse also describes that by the illumination of all the moons, brightened by the reflection of the Kṛṣṇa sun, or by the grace of all the devotees of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the entire world will be illuminated, despite the darkness of Kali-yuga. Only the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu can dissipate the darkness of Kali-yuga, the ignorance of the population of this age. No one else can do so. We therefore wish that all the devotees of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement may reflect the supreme sun and thus dissipate the darkness of the entire world.

Translation

Thus I have spoken the preface of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Now I shall describe Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes in chronological order.

Word meanings

ei ta’ — thus ; kahila — I have spoken ; grantha - ārambhe — in the beginning of the book ; mukha - bandha — preface ; ebe — now ; kahi — I speak ; caitanya — of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; līlā - krama — the chronological order of His pastimes ; anubandha — as they are combined together .

Translation

First let me give a synopsis of the Lord’s pastimes. Then I shall describe them in detail.

Word meanings

prathame — in the beginning ; ta’ — however ; sūtra - rūpe — in the form of a synopsis ; kariye — do ; gaṇana — counting ; pāche — thereafter ; tāhā — that ; vistāri — describing ; kariba — I shall do ; vivaraṇa — expansion .

Translation

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, adventing Himself in Navadvīpa, was visible for forty-eight years, enjoying His pastimes.

Word meanings

śrī - kṛṣṇa - caitanya — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; navadvīpe — at Navadvīpa ; avatari — adventing Himself ; āṭa - calliśa — forty-eight ; vatsara — years ; prakaṭa — visible ; vihari — enjoying .

Translation

In the year 1407 of the Śaka Era (A.D. 1486), Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared, and in the year 1455 (A.D. 1534) He disappeared from this world.

Word meanings

caudda - śata - sata — 1407 ; śake — in the Śaka Era ; janmera — of birth ; pramāṇa — evidence ; caudda - śata pañcānne — in the year 1455 ; ha - ila — became ; antardhāna — disappearance .

Translation

For twenty-four years Lord Caitanya lived in the gṛhastha-āśrama [household life], always engaging in the pastimes of the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement.

Word meanings

cabbiśa — twenty-four ; vatsara — years ; prabhu — the Lord ; kaila — did ; gṛha - vāsa — residing at home ; nirantara — always ; kaila — did ; kṛṣṇa - kīrtana — chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra ; vilāsa — pastimes .

Translation

After twenty-four years He accepted the renounced order of life, sannyāsa, and He resided for twenty-four years more at Jagannātha Purī.

Word meanings

cabbiśa — twenty-four ; vatsara — years ; śeṣe — at the end of ; kariyā — accepting ; sannyāsa — renounced order ; āra — another ; cabbiśa — twenty-four ; vatsara — years ; kaila — did ; nīlācale — at Jagannātha Purī ; vāsa — reside .

Translation

Of these last twenty-four years, He spent the first six continually touring India, sometimes in South India, sometimes in Bengal and sometimes in Vṛndāvana.

Word meanings

tāra madhye — out of that ; chaya vatsara — six years ; gamana - āgamana — touring ; kabhu — sometimes ; dakṣiṇa — in South India ; kabhu — sometimes ; gauḍa — in Bengal ; kabhu — sometimes ; vṛndāvana — in Vṛndāvana .

Translation

For the remaining eighteen years He continuously stayed in Jagannātha Purī. Chanting the nectarean Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, He inundated everyone there in a flood of love of Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

aṣṭādaśa — eighteen ; vatsara — years ; rahilā — remained ; nīlācale — at Jagannātha Purī ; kṛṣṇa - prema — love of Godhead ; nāma - amṛte — in the nectar of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra ; bhāsā’la — inundated ; sakale — everyone .

Translation

The pastimes of His household life are known as the ādi-līlā, or the original pastimes. His later pastimes are known as the madhya-līlā and antya-līlā, or the middle and final pastimes.

Word meanings

gārhasthye — in household life ; prabhura — of the Lord ; līlā — pastimes ; ādi — the original ; līlā — pastimes ; ākhyāna — has the name of ; madhya — middle ; antya — last ; līlā — pastimes ; śeṣa - līlāra — the last part of the pastimes ; dui — two ; nāma — names .

Translation

All the pastimes enacted by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in His ādi-līlā were recorded in summary form by Murāri Gupta.

Word meanings

ādi - līlā — the original pastimes ; madhye — within ; prabhura — of the Lord ; yateka — whatever ; carita — activities ; sūtra - rūpe — in the form of notes ; murāri gupta — Murāri Gupta ; karilā — has ; grathita — recorded .

Translation

His later pastimes [the madhya-līlā and antya-līlā] were recorded in the form of notes by His secretary, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, and thus kept within a book.

Word meanings

prabhura — of the Lord ; ye — whatever ; śeṣa - līlā — pastimes at the end ; svarūpa - dāmodara — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; sūtra kari’ — in the form of notes ; granthilena — recorded ; granthera — a book ; bhitara — within .

Translation

By seeing and hearing the notes recorded by these two great personalities, a Vaiṣṇava, a devotee of the Lord, can know these pastimes one after another.

Word meanings

ei — of these ; dui — two ; janera — persons ; sūtra — notes ; dekhiyā — after looking at ; śuniyā — and hearing ; varṇanā — description ; karena — does ; vaiṣṇava — the devotee ; krama — chronological ; ye — which ; kariyā — making .

Translation

In His original pastimes there are four divisions: bālya, paugaṇḍa, kaiśora and yauvana [childhood, early boyhood, later boyhood and youth ].

Word meanings

bālya — childhood ; paugaṇḍa — early boyhood ; kaiśora — later boyhood ; yauvana — youth ; cāri — four ; bheda — divisions ; ataeva — therefore ; ādi - khaṇḍe — in the original part ; līlā — of the pastimes ; cāri — four ; bheda — divisions .

Translation

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the full-moon evening in the month of Phālguna, an auspicious time full of auspicious symptoms, when Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advented Himself with the chanting of the holy name, Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

sarva — all ; sat — auspicious ; guṇa — qualities ; pūrṇām — filled with ; tām — that ; vande — I offer obeisances ; phālguna — of the month of Phālguna ; pūrṇimām — the full-moon evening ; yasyām — in which ; śrī - kṛṣṇa - caitanyaḥ — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; avatīrṇaḥ — advented ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa’s ; nāmabhiḥ — with the chanting of the holy names .

Translation

On the full-moon evening of the month of Phālguna when the Lord took birth, coincidentally there was also a lunar eclipse.

Word meanings

phālguna - pūrṇimā — of the full moon of the month of Phālguna ; sandhyāya — in the evening ; prabhura — of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; janma - udaya — at the time of His birth ; sei - kāle — at that moment ; daiva - yoge — accidentally ; candra - grahaṇa — lunar eclipse ; haya — takes place .

Translation

In jubilation everyone was chanting the holy name of the Lord — “Hari! Hari!” — and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then appeared, after first causing the appearance of the holy name.

Word meanings

hari hari — the holy names of the Lord ; bale — speak ; loka — the people ; haraṣita — jubilant ; hañā — becoming ; janmilā — took birth ; caitanya - prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nāma — the holy name ; janmāiyā — after causing to appear .

Translation

At His birth, in His childhood and in His early and later boyhood, as well as in His youth, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, under different pleas, induced people to chant the holy name of Hari [the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra].

Word meanings

janma — time of birth ; bālya — childhood ; paugaṇḍa — early boyhood ; kaiśora — end of boyhood ; yuvā - kāle — youth ; hari - nāma — the holy name of the Lord ; laoyāilā — caused to take ; prabhu — the Lord ; nānā — various ; chale — under different pleas .

Translation

In His childhood, when the Lord was crying He would stop immediately upon hearing the holy names Kṛṣṇa and Hari.

Word meanings

bālya - bhāva chale — as if in His childhood state ; prabhu — the Lord ; karena — does ; krandana — crying ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; hari — Lord Hari ; nāma — names ; śuni’ — hearing ; rahaye — stops ; rodana — crying .

Translation

All the friendly ladies who came to see the child would chant the holy names, “Hari, Hari!” as soon as the child would cry.

Word meanings

ataeva — therefore ; hari hari — the holy name of the Lord ; bale — chant ; nārī - gaṇa — all the ladies ; dekhite — to see ; āise — they come ; yebā — whoever ; sarva — all ; bandhu - jana — friends .

Translation

When all the ladies saw this fun, they enjoyed laughing and called the Lord “Gaurahari.” From then on, Gaurahari became another of His names.

Word meanings

gaurahari — Gaurahari ; bali’ — addressing Him thus ; tāre — unto the Lord ; hāse — laugh ; sarva nārī — all the ladies ; ataeva — therefore ; haila — became ; tāṅra — His ; nāma — name ; gaurahari — Gaurahari .

Translation

His childhood lasted until the date of hāte khaḍi, the beginning of His education, and His age from the end of His childhood until He married is called paugaṇḍa.

Word meanings

bālya vayasa — childhood age ; yāvat — until the time ; hāte — in His hand ; khaḍi — chalk ; dila — was given ; paugaṇḍa vayasa — the part of boyhood known as paugaṇḍa ; yāvat — until ; vivāha — marriage ; nā — not ; kaila — did take place .

Translation

After His marriage His youth began, and in His youth He induced everyone to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra anywhere and everywhere.

Word meanings

vivāha karile — after getting married ; haila — began ; navīna — new ; yauvana — youth ; sarvatra — everywhere ; laoyāila — caused to take ; prabhu — the Lord ; nāma - saṅkīrtana — the saṅkīrtana movement .

Translation

During His paugaṇḍa age He became a serious student and also taught disciples. In this way He used to explain the holy name of Kṛṣṇa everywhere.

Word meanings

paugaṇḍa - vayase — in the age of paugaṇḍa ; paḍena — studies ; paḍāna — teaches ; śiṣya - gaṇe — disciples ; sarvatra — everywhere ; karena — does ; kṛṣṇa - nāmera — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; vyākhyāne — description .

Translation

When teaching a course in grammar [vyākaraṇa] and explaining it with notes, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught His disciples about the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa. All explanations culminated in Kṛṣṇa, and His disciples would understand them very easily. Thus His influence was wonderful.

Word meanings

sūtra — aphorisms ; vṛtti — explanation ; pāṅji — application ; ṭīkā — notes ; kṛṣṇete — unto Kṛṣṇa ; tātparya — culmination ; śiṣyera — of the disciple ; pratīta — realization ; haya — becomes ; prabhāva — influence ; āścarya — wonderful .

Purport

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī compiled a grammar in two parts, named Laghu-hari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇa and Bṛhad-dhari-nāmāmṛta-vyākaraṇa. If someone studies these two texts in vyākaraṇa, or grammar, he learns the grammatical rules of the Sanskrit language and simultaneously learns how to become a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

In the Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa, first chapter, there is a statement about the method by which Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught grammar. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained the aphorisms of grammar to be eternal, like the holy name of Kṛṣṇa. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) , vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ. The purport of all revealed scriptures is understanding of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore if a person explains anything that is not Kṛṣṇa, he simply wastes his time laboring hard without fulfilling the aim of his life. If one simply becomes a teacher or professor of education but does not understand Kṛṣṇa, it is to be understood that he is among the lowest of mankind, as stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.15) : narādhamā māyayāpahṛta-jñānāḥ. If one does not know the essence of all revealed scriptures but still becomes a teacher, his teaching is like the disturbing braying of an ass.

Translation

When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a student, He asked whomever He met to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. In this way He inundated the whole town of Navadvīpa with the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

yāre — whomever ; dekhe — He sees ; tāre — to him ; kahe — He says ; kaha — speak ; kṛṣṇa - nāma — the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kṛṣṇa - nāme — by the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; bhāsāila — was inundated ; navadvīpa — Navadvīpa ; grāma — village .

Purport

The present Navadvīpa-dhāma is but a part of the whole of Navadvīpa. Navadvīpa means “nine islands.” These nine islands, which occupy an area of land estimated at thirty-two square miles, are surrounded by different branches of the Ganges. In all nine of those islands of the Navadvīpa area there are different places for cultivating devotional service. It is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.23) that there are nava-vidha bhakti, nine different activities of devotional service:

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

There are different islands in the Navadvīpa area for cultivation of these nine varieties of devotional service. They are as follows: (1) Antardvīpa, (2) Sīmantadvīpa, (3) Godrumadvīpa, (4) Madhyadvīpa, (5) Koladvīpa, (6) Ṛtudvīpa, (7) Jahnudvīpa, (8) Modadruma-dvīpa and (9) Rudradvīpa. According to the settlement map, our ISKCON Navadvīpa center is situated on the Rudradvīpa island. Below Rudradvīpa, in Antardvīpa, is Māyāpur. There Śrī Jagannātha Miśra, the father of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, used to reside. In all these different islands, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, as a young man, used to lead His saṅkīrtana party. He thus inundated the entire area with the waves of love of Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

Just prior to His youthful life, He began the saṅkīrtana movement. Day and night He used to dance in ecstasy with His devotees.

Word meanings

kiśora vayase — just before the beginning of His youthful life ; ārambhilā — began ; saṅkīrtana — the saṅkīrtana movement ; rātra - dine — night and day ; preme — in ecstasy ; nṛtya — dancing ; saṅge — along with ; bhakta - gaṇa — the devotees .

Translation

The saṅkīrtana movement went on from one part of the town to another, as the Lord wandered everywhere performing kīrtana. In this way He inundated the whole world by distributing love of Godhead.

Word meanings

nagare nagare — in different parts of the town ; bhrame — wanders ; kīrtana — chanting ; kariyā — performing ; bhāsāila — inundated ; tri - bhuvana — all the three worlds ; prema - bhakti — love of Godhead ; diyā — distributing .

Purport

One may raise the question how all three worlds became inundated with love of Kṛṣṇa, since Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed kīrtana only in the Navadvīpa area. The answer is that Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself. The entire cosmic manifestation results from the Lord’s first setting it in motion. Similarly, since the saṅkīrtana movement was first set in motion five hundred years ago by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire that it spread all over the universe, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, in continuity of that same motion, is now spreading all over the world, and in this way it will gradually spread all over the universe. With the spread of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, everyone will merge in an ocean of love of Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu lived in the Navadvīpa area for twenty-four years, and He induced every person to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and thus merge in love of Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

cabbiśa — twenty-four ; vatsara — years ; aiche — in that way ; navadvīpa — Navadvīpa ; grāme — in the village ; laoyāilā — induced ; sarva - loke — every man ; kṛṣṇa - prema — love of Kṛṣṇa ; nāme — in the holy name .

Translation

For His remaining twenty-four years, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, after accepting the renounced order of life, stayed at Jagannātha Purī with His devotees.

Word meanings

cabbiśa — twenty-four ; vatsara — years ; chilā — remained ; kariyā — accepting ; sannyāsa — the renounced order ; bhakta - gaṇa — devotees ; lañā — taking with Him ; kailā — did ; nīlācale — in Jagannātha Purī ; vāsa — reside .

Translation

For six of these twenty-four years in Nīlācala [Jagannātha Purī], He distributed love of Godhead by always chanting and dancing.

Word meanings

tāra madhye — out of those twenty-four years ; nīlācale — while He was staying at Jagannātha Purī ; chaya vatsara — continuously for six years ; nṛtya — dancing ; gīta — chanting ; prema - bhakti — love of Kṛṣṇa ; dāna — distribution ; nirantara — always .

Translation

Beginning from Cape Comorin and extending through Bengal to Vṛndāvana, during these six years He toured all of India, chanting, dancing and distributing love of Kṛṣṇa.

Word meanings

setubandha — Cape Comorin ; āra — and ; gauḍa — Bengal ; vyāpi — extending ; vṛndāvana — to Vṛndāvana ; prema - nāma — love of Kṛṣṇa and the holy name of Kṛṣṇa ; pracāriyā — distributing ; karilā — performed ; bhramaṇa — touring .

Translation

The activities of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu in His travels after He accepted sannyāsa are His principal pastimes. His activities during His remaining eighteen years are called the antya-līlā, or the final portion of His pastimes.

Word meanings

ei — these ; madhya - līlā nāma — named the middle pastimes ; līlā — pastimes ; mukhya - dhāma — principal place ; śeṣa — last ; aṣṭādaśa — eighteen ; varṣa — years ; antya - līlā — the final pastimes ; nāma — named .

Translation

For six of the eighteen years He continuously stayed in Jagannātha Purī, He regularly performed kīrtana, inducing all the devotees to love Kṛṣṇa simply by chanting and dancing.

Word meanings

tāra madhye — out of that ; chaya vatsara — six years ; bhakta - gaṇa - saṅge — along with devotees ; prema - bhakti — love of Kṛṣṇa ; laoyāila — induced ; nṛtya — dancing ; gīta — chanting ; raṅge — in transcendental bliss .

Translation

For the remaining twelve years He stayed in Jagannātha Purī, He taught everyone how to taste the transcendental mellow ecstasy of love of Kṛṣṇa by tasting it Himself.

Word meanings

dvādaśa — twelve ; vatsara — years ; śeṣa — balance ; rahilā — remained ; nīlācale — at Jagannātha Purī ; prema - avasthā — a state of ecstasy ; śikhāilā — instructed everyone ; āsvādana - chale — under the plea of tasting it Himself .

Purport

A person who is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness always feels separation from Kṛṣṇa because such a feeling of separation excels the feeling of meeting Kṛṣṇa. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in His last twelve years of existence within this world at Jagannātha Purī, taught the people of the world how, with a feeling of separation, one can develop His dormant love of Kṛṣṇa. Such feelings of separation or meeting with Kṛṣṇa are different stages of love of Godhead. These feelings develop in time when a person seriously engages in devotional service. The highest stage is called prema-bhakti, but this stage is attained by executing sādhana-bhakti. One should not try to elevate himself artificially to the stage of prema-bhakti without seriously following the regulative principles of sādhana-bhakti. Prema-bhakti is the stage of relishing, whereas sādhana-bhakti is the stage of improving in devotional service. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught this cult of devotional service in full detail by practical application in His own life. It is said, therefore, āpani ācari’ bhakti śikhāimu sabāre. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself, and in the role of a kṛṣṇa-bhakta, a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, He instructed the entire world how one can execute devotional service and thus go back home, back to Godhead, in due course of time.

Translation

Day and night Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt separation from Kṛṣṇa. Manifesting symptoms of this separation, He cried and talked very inconsistently, like a madman.

Word meanings

rātri - divase — day and night ; kṛṣṇa - viraha — feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa ; sphuraṇa — awakening ; unmādera — of a madman ; ceṣṭā — activities ; kare — performs ; pralāpa — talking inconsistently ; vacana — words .

Translation

As Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī talked inconsistently when She met Uddhava, so also Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu relished, both day and night, such ecstatic talk in the mood of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

Word meanings

śrī - rādhāra — of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī ; pralāpa — talking ; yaiche — as She did ; uddhava - darśane — by meeting Uddhava ; sei - mata — exactly like that ; unmāda — madness ; pralāpa — talking inconsistently ; kare — does ; rātri - dine — day and night .

Purport

In this connection one should refer to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s soliloquy after meeting Uddhava in Vṛndāvana. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu presented a similar picture of such ecstatic imaginary talking. Full of jealousy and madness symptomizing neglect by Kṛṣṇa, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, criticizing a bumblebee, talked just like a madwoman. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in the last days of His pastimes, exhibited all the symptoms of such ecstasy. In this connection one should refer to the fourth chapter of the Ādi-līlā, verses 107 and 108.

Translation

The Lord used to read the books of Vidyāpati, Jayadeva and Caṇḍīdāsa, relishing their songs with His confidential associates like Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī.

Word meanings

vidyāpati — the author of the name Vidyāpati ; jayadeva — Jayadeva ; caṇḍīdāsera — Caṇḍīdāsa ; gīta — their songs ; āsvādena — tastes ; rāmānanda — Rāmānanda ; svarūpa — Svarūpa ; sahita — along with .

Purport

Vidyāpati was a famous composer of songs about the pastimes of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. He was an inhabitant of Mithilā, born in a brāhmaṇa family. It is calculated that he composed his songs during the reign of King Śivasiṁha and Queen Lachimādevī, in the beginning of the fourteenth century of the Śaka Era, almost one hundred years before the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The twelfth generation of Vidyāpati’s descendants is still living. Vidyāpati’s songs about the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa express intense feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu relished all those songs in His ecstasy of separation from Kṛṣṇa.

Jayadeva was born during the reign of Mahārāja Lakṣmaṇa Sena of Bengal, in the eleventh or twelfth century of the Śaka Era. His father was Bhojadeva, and his mother was Vāmādevī. For many years he lived in Navadvīpa, then the capital of Bengal. His birthplace was in the Birbhum district, in the village Kendubilva. In the opinion of some authorities, however, he was born in Orissa, and still others say that he was born in southern India. He passed the last days of his life in Jagannātha Purī. One of his famous books is Gīta-govinda, which is full of transcendental mellow feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa. The gopīs felt separation from Kṛṣṇa before the rāsa dance, as mentioned in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and the Gīta-govinda expresses such feelings. There are many commentaries on the Gīta-govinda by many Vaiṣṇavas.

Caṇḍīdāsa was born in the village of Nānnura, which is also in the Birbhum district of Bengal. He was born of a brāhmaṇa family, and it is said that he also took birth in the beginning of the fourteenth century, Śakābda Era. It has been suggested that Caṇḍīdāsa and Vidyāpati were great friends because the writings of both express the transcendental feelings of separation profusely. The feelings of ecstasy described by Caṇḍīdāsa and Vidyāpati were actually exhibited by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He relished all those feelings in the role of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, and His appropriate associates for this purpose were Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya and Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī. These intimate associates of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu helped the Lord very much in the pastimes in which He felt like Rādhārāṇī.

Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments in this connection that such feelings of separation as Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu enjoyed from the books of Vidyāpati, Caṇḍīdāsa and Jayadeva are especially reserved for persons like Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya and Svarūpa Dāmodara, who were paramahaṁsas, men of the topmost perfection, because of their advanced spiritual consciousness. Such topics are not to be discussed by ordinary persons imitating the activities of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. For critical students of mundane poetry and literary men without God consciousness who are after bodily sense gratification, there is no need to read such a high standard of transcendental literature. Persons who are after sense gratification should not try to imitate rāgānuga devotional service. The songs of Caṇḍīdāsa, Vidyāpati and Jayadeva describe the transcendental activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mundane reviewers of these songs simply help people in general become debauchees, and this leads only to social scandals and atheism in the world. One should not misunderstand the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa to be the activities of a mundane young boy and girl. The mundane sexual activities of young boys and girls are most abominable. Therefore, those who are in bodily consciousness and who desire sense gratification are forbidden to indulge in discussions of the transcendental pastimes of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.

Translation

In separation from Kṛṣṇa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu relished all these ecstatic activities, and thus He fulfilled His own desires.

Word meanings

kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; viyoge — in separation ; yata — as many ; prema — loving affairs ; ceṣṭita — activities ; āsvādiyā — tasting them ; pūrṇa — fulfilled ; kaila — made ; āpana — own ; vāñchita — desires .

Purport

In the beginning of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is said that Lord Caitanya appeared in order to taste the feelings Rādhārāṇī felt upon seeing Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa Himself could not understand the ecstatic feelings of Rādhārāṇī toward Him, and therefore He desired to accept the role of Rādhārāṇī and thereby taste these feelings. Lord Caitanya is Kṛṣṇa with the feelings of Rādhārāṇī; in other words, He is a combination of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. It is therefore said, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya. By worshiping Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu alone, one can relish the loving affairs of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa together. One should therefore try to understand Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa not directly but through Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and through His devotees. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore says, rūpa-raghunātha-pade haibe ākuti, kabe hāma bujhaba se yugala-pīriti: “When shall I develop a mentality of service toward Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī and the other devotees of Lord Caitanya and thus become eligible to understand the pastimes of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa?”

Translation

The pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu are unlimited. How much can a small living entity elaborate about those transcendental pastimes?

Word meanings

ananta — unlimited ; caitanya - līlā — the pastimes of Lord Caitanya ; kṣudra — a small ; jīva — living entity ; hañā — being ; ke — who ; varṇite — describe ; pāre — can ; tāhā — that ; vistāra — expanding ; kariyā — doing so .

Translation

If Śeṣa Nāga Ananta personally were to make the pastimes of Lord Caitanya into sūtras, even with His thousands of mouths there is no possibility that He could find their limit.

Word meanings

sūtra — aphorisms ; kari’ — making ; gaṇe — counts ; yadi — if ; āpane — personally ; ananta — Śeṣa Nāga, the Personality of Godhead ; sahasra - vadane — by thousands of mouths ; teṅho — He also ; nāhi — does not ; pāya — get ; anta — the limit .

Translation

Devotees like Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara and Murāri Gupta have recorded all the principal pastimes of Lord Caitanya in the form of notes, after deliberate consideration.

Word meanings

dāmodara - svarūpa — Svarūpa Dāmodara ; āra — and ; gupta murāri — Murāri Gupta ; mukhya - mukhya — most important ; līlā — pastimes ; sūtre — in notes ; likhiyāche — have written ; vicāri’ — by mature deliberation .

Translation

The notes kept by Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara and Murāri Gupta are the basis of this book. Following those notes, I write of all the pastimes of the Lord. The notes have been described elaborately by Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura.

Word meanings

sei — that ; anusāre — following ; likhi — I write ; līlā — pastimes ; sūtra - gaṇa — notes ; vistāri’ — very explicitly ; varṇiyāchena — has described ; tāhā — that ; dāsa - vṛndāvana — Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura .

Translation

Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, the authorized writer of the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, is as good as Śrīla Vyāsadeva. He has described the pastimes in such a way as to make them sweeter and sweeter.

Word meanings

caitanya - līlāra — of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya ; vyāsa — the authorized writer Vyāsadeva ; dāsa vṛndāvana — Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura ; madhura — sweet ; kariyā — making it ; līlā — pastimes ; karilā — did ; racana — compilation .

Translation

Being afraid of his book’s becoming too voluminous, he left some places without vivid descriptions. I shall try to fill those places as far as possible.

Word meanings

grantha — of the book ; vistāra — of expansion ; bhaye — being afraid ; chāḍilā — gave up ; ye ye sthāna — which different places ; sei sei sthāne — in those places ; kichu — something ; kariba — I shall make ; vyākhyāna — description .

Translation

The transcendental pastimes of Lord Caitanya have actually been relished by Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura. I am simply trying to chew the remnants of food left by him.

Word meanings

prabhura — of the Lord ; līlāmṛta — the nectar of the pastimes ; teṅho — he (Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura) ; kaila — did ; āsvādana — taste ; tāṅra — his ; bhukta — of food ; śeṣa — remnants ; kichu — something ; kariye — I do ; carvaṇa — chew .

Translation

My dear devotees of Lord Caitanya, let me now write a synopsis of the ādi-līlā; I write of these pastimes in brief because it is not possible to describe them in full.

Word meanings

ādi - līlā — the first part of His pastimes ; sūtra likhi — I write a synopsis ; śuna — hear ; bhakta - gaṇa — all you devotees ; saṅkṣepe — in brief ; likhiye — I write ; samyak — full ; nā — not ; yāya — possible ; likhana — to write .

Translation

To fulfill a particular desire within His mind, Lord Kṛṣṇa, Vrajendra-kumāra, decided to descend to this planet after mature contemplation.

Word meanings

kona — some ; vāñchā — desire ; pūraṇa — fulfillment ; lāgi’ — for the matter of ; vrajendra - kumāra — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; avatīrṇa haite — to descend as an incarnation ; mane — in the mind ; karilā — did ; vicāra — consideration .

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa therefore first allowed His family of superiors to descend to the earth. I shall try to describe them in brief because it is not possible to describe them fully.

Word meanings

āge — first of all ; avatārilā — allowed to descend ; ye ye — all those ; guru - parivāra — family of spiritual masters ; saṅkṣepe — in brief ; kahiye — I describe ; kahā — to describe ; nā — not ; yāya — possible ; vistāra — expansively .

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, before appearing as Lord Caitanya, requested these devotees to precede Him: Śrī Śacīdevī, Jagannātha Miśra, Mādhavendra Purī, Keśava Bhāratī, Īśvara Purī, Advaita Ācārya, Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, Ācāryaratna, Vidyānidhi and Ṭhākura Haridāsa.

Word meanings

śrī - śacī - jagannātha — Śrīmatī Śacīdevī and Jagannātha Miśra ; śrī - mādhava purī — Śrī Mādhavendra Purī ; keśava bhāratī — Keśava Bhāratī ; āra — and ; śrī - īśvara purī — Śrī Īśvara Purī ; advaita ācārya — Advaita Ācārya ; āra — and ; paṇḍita śrīvāsa — Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita ; ācārya - ratna — Ācāryaratna ; vidyānidhi — Vidyānidhi ; ṭhākura haridāsa — Ṭhākura Haridāsa .

Translation

There was also Śrī Upendra Miśra, a resident of the district of Śrīhaṭṭa. He was a great devotee of Lord Viṣṇu, a learned scholar, a rich man and a reservoir of all good qualities.

Word meanings

śrī - haṭṭa - nivāsī — a resident of Śrīhaṭṭa ; śrī - upendra - miśra - nāma — by the name of Upendra Miśra ; vaiṣṇava — a devotee of Lord Viṣṇu ; paṇḍita — learned ; dhanī — rich ; sat - guṇa - pradhāna — qualified with all good qualities .

Purport

Upendra Miśra is described in the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (35) as the gopāla named Parjanya. The same personality who was formerly the grandfather of Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared as Upendra Miśra at Śrīhaṭṭa and begot seven sons. He was a resident of Dhākā-dakṣiṇa-grāma, in the district of Śrīhaṭṭa. There are still many residents of that part of the country who introduce themselves as belonging to the Miśra family of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

Upendra Miśra had seven sons, who were all saintly and most influential: (1) Kaṁsāri, (2) Paramānanda, (3) Padmanābha, (4) Sarveśvara, (5) Jagannātha, (6) Janārdana and (7) Trailokyanātha. Jagannātha Miśra, the fifth son, decided to reside on the bank of the Ganges at Nadia.

Word meanings

sapta miśra — seven Miśras ; tāṅra — his ; putra — sons ; sapta — seven ; ṛṣi — great saintly persons ; īśvara — most influential ; kaṁsāri — Kaṁsāri ; paramānanda — Paramānanda ; padmanābha — Padmanābha ; sarveśvara — Sarveśvara ; jagannātha — Jagannātha ; janārdana — Janārdana ; trailokyanātha — Trailokyanātha ; nadīyāte — at Navadvīpa ; gaṅgā - vāsa — living on the bank of the Ganges ; kaila — did ; jagannātha — the fifth son of Upendra Miśra .

Translation

Jagannātha Miśra was designated as Purandara. Exactly like Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva, he was an ocean of all good qualities.

Word meanings

jagannātha miśra - vara — Jagannātha Miśra, who was the chief among the seven ; padavī — designation ; purandara — another name of Vasudeva ; nanda — Nanda, the father of Kṛṣṇa ; vasudeva — the father of Kṛṣṇa ; rūpa — like ; sat - guṇa — good qualities ; sāgara — ocean .

Translation

His wife, Śrīmatī Śacīdevī, was a chaste woman highly devoted to her husband. Śacīdevī’s father’s name was Nīlāmbara, and his surname was Cakravartī.

Word meanings

tāṅra patnī — his wife ; śacī — Śacī ; nāma — named ; pati - vratā — devoted to her husband ; satī — chaste ; yāṅra — whose ; pitā — father ; nīlāmbara — Nīlāmbara ; nāma — named ; cakravartī — with the title Cakravartī .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes in his Anubhāṣya, “In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (104) it is mentioned that Nīlāmbara Cakravartī was formerly Garga Muni. Some of the family descendants of Nīlāmbara Cakravartī still live in the village of the name Magḍobā, in the district of Faridpur, in Bangladesh. His nephew was Jagannātha Cakravartī, also known as Māmu Ṭhākura, who became a disciple of Paṇḍita Gosvāmī and stayed at Jagannātha Purī as the priest of Ṭoṭā-gopīnātha. Nīlāmbara Cakravartī lived at Navadvīpa, in the neighborhood of Belapukuriyā. This fact is mentioned in the book Prema-vilāsa. Because he lived near the house of the Kazi, the Kazi was also considered one of the maternal uncles of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The Kazi used to address Nīlāmbara Cakravartī as kākā, or ‘uncle.’ One cannot separate the residence of the Kazi from Vāmanapukura because the tomb of the Kazi is still existing there. Formerly the place was known as Belapukuriyā, and now it is called Vāmanapukura. This has been ascertained by archeological evidence.”

Translation

In Rāḍhadeśa, the part of Bengal where the Ganges is not visible, Nityānanda Prabhu, Gaṅgādāsa Paṇḍita, Murāri Gupta and Mukunda took birth.

Word meanings

rāḍha - deśe — the place where there is no Ganges ; janmilā — took birth ; ṭhākura nityānanda — Nityānanda Prabhu ; gaṅgādāsa paṇḍita — Gaṅgādāsa Paṇḍita ; gupta murāri — Murāri Gupta ; mukunda — Mukunda .

Purport

Here rāḍha-deśe refers to the village of the name Ekacakrā, in the district of Birbhum, next to Burdwan. After the Burdwan railway station there is another branch line, which is called the Loop Line of the Eastern Railway, and there is a railway station of the name Mallārapura. Eight miles east of this railway station, Ekacakrā village is still situated. Ekacakrā village extends north and south for an area of about eight miles. Other villages, namely Vīracandra-pura and Vīrabhadra-pura, are situated within the area of the village of Ekacakrā. In honor of the holy name of Vīrabhadra Gosvāmī, these places are renowned as Vīracandra-pura and Vīrabhadra-pura.

In the Bengali year 1331 (A.D. 1924) a thunderbolt struck the temple of Ekacakrā-grāma. Therefore the temple is now in a broken state. Before this, there were no such accidents in that quarter. Within the temple there is a Deity of Śrī Kṛṣṇa established by Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. The name of the Deity is Baṅkima Rāya or Bāṅkā Rāya.

On Baṅkima Rāya’s right side is a deity of Jāhnavā, and on His left side is Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. The priests of the temple describe that Lord Nityānanda Prabhu entered within the body of Baṅkima Rāya and that the deity of Jāhnavā-mātā was therefore later placed on the right side of Baṅkima Rāya. Afterwards, many other Deities were installed within the temple. On another throne within the temple are Deities of Muralīdhara and Rādhā-Mādhava. On another throne are Deities of Manomohana, Vṛndāvana-candra and Gaura-Nitāi. But Baṅkima Rāya is the Deity originally installed by Nityānanda Prabhu.

On the eastern side of the temple is a ghāṭa known as Kadamba-khaṇḍī on the bank of a river called the Yamunā, and it is said that the Deity of Baṅkima Rāya was floating in the water and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu picked Him up and then installed Him in the temple. Thereafter, in a place known as Bhaḍḍāpura, in the village of Vīracandra-pura, about half a mile west, in a place underneath a nima tree, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī was found. For this reason, the Rādhārāṇī of Baṅkima Rāya was known as Bhaḍḍāpurera Ṭhākurāṇī, the mistress of Bhaḍḍāpura. On another throne, on the right side of Baṅkima Rāya, is a Deity of Yogamāyā.

Now the temple and temple corridor rest on a high plinth, and on a concrete structure in front of the temple is a kīrtana hall. It is also said that on the northern side of the temple there was a Deity of Lord Śiva named Bhāṇḍīśvara and that the father of Nityānanda Prabhu, Hāḍāi Paṇḍita, used to worship that Deity. At present, however, the Bhāṇḍīśvara Deity is missing, and in his place a Jagannātha Svāmī Deity has been installed. Lord Nityānanda Prabhu did not factually construct any temples. The temple was constructed at the time of Vīrabhadra Prabhu. In the Bengali year 1298 (A.D. 1891), a brahmacārī of the name Śivānanda Svāmī repaired the temple, for it had become dilapidated.

In this temple there is an arrangement to offer food to the Deity on the basis of seventeen seers (about thirty-four pounds) of rice and necessary vegetables. The present priestly order of the temple belongs to the family of Gopījana-vallabhānanda, one of the branches of Nityānanda Prabhu. There is a land settlement in the name of the temple, and income from this land finances the expenditures for the temple. There are three parties of priestly gosvāmīs who take charge of the temple management, one after another. A few steps from the temple is a place known as Viśrāmatalā, where it is said that Nityānanda Prabhu in His childhood used to enjoy sporting with His boyfriends by enacting the rāsa-līlā and various other pastimes of Vṛndāvana.

Near the temple is a place named Āmalītalā (Imlitala), which is so named because of a big tamarind tree there. According to a party named the Neḍādi-sampradāya, Vīrabhadra Prabhu, with the assistance of twelve hundred Neḍās (Buddhist monks), dug a great lake of the name Śvetagaṅgā. Outside of the temple are tombs of the Gosvāmīs, and there is a small river known as the Mauḍeśvara, which is called the water of Yamunā. Within half a mile from this small river is the birthplace of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. It appears that there was a big kīrtana hall in front of the temple, but later it became dilapidated. It is now covered by banyan trees. Later on, a temple was constructed within which Gaura-Nityānanda Deities are existing. The temple was constructed by the late Prasannakumāra Kārapharmā. A tablet was installed in his memory in the Bengali year 1323 (A.D. 1916), in the month of Vaiśākha (April-May).

The place where Nityānanda Prabhu appeared is called Garbhavāsa. There is an allotment of about forty-three bighās (fourteen acres) of land to continue the worship in a temple there. The Mahārāja of Dinājapura donated twenty bighās of land (about six and a half acres) in this connection. It is said that near the place known as Garbhavāsa, Hāḍāi Paṇḍita conducted a primary school. The priests of this place, listed in a genealogical table, were as follows: (1) Śrī Rāghavacandra, (2) Jagadānanda dāsa, (3) Kṛṣṇadāsa, (4) Nityānanda dāsa, (5) Rāmadāsa, (6) Vrajamohana dāsa, (7) Kānāi dāsa, (8) Gauradāsa, (9) Śivānanda dāsa and (10) Haridāsa. Kṛṣṇadāsa belonged to the Ciḍiyā-kuñja at Vṛndāvana. The date of his disappearance is Kṛṣṇa-janmāṣṭamī. Ciḍiyā-kuñja is a place now managed by the gosvāmīs of Śṛṅgāra-ghāṭa in Vṛndāvana. They are also known as belonging to the Nityānanda family, most probably on the basis of their relationship with Kṛṣṇadāsa.

Near Garbhavāsa is a place called Bakulatalā, where Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and His boyfriends used to take part in sporting activities known as jhāla-jhapeṭā. There is a bakula tree there that is wonderful because all its branches and subbranches look like the hoods of serpents. It has been suggested that by the desire of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Anantadeva manifested Himself in that way. The tree is very old. It is said that formerly it had two trunks, but later on, when the playmates of Nityānanda Prabhu felt inconvenience in jumping from the branches of one trunk to those of the other, Nityānanda Prabhu, by His mercy, merged the two trunks into one.

Another place nearby is named Hāṅṭugāḍā. It is said that Lord Nityānanda Prabhu brought all the holy places there. Therefore the people in the surrounding villages go there instead of to the Ganges to take bath. It is named Hāṅṭugāḍā because Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu used to perform the dadhi-ciḍā festival of distributing chipped rice with yogurt prasādam there and He took the prasādam kneeling down. A sanctified lake in this place is always full of water throughout the year. A great fair is held there during Goṣṭhāṣṭamī, and there is another big fair on the birthday of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu. In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (58-63) it is described that Halāyudha, Baladeva, Viśvarūpa and Saṅkarṣaṇa appeared as Nityānanda Avadhūta.

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa, Vrajendra-kumāra, first caused countless devotees to appear, and at last He appeared Himself.

Word meanings

asaṅkhya — unlimited ; bhaktera — of devotees ; karāilā — made into being ; avatāra — incarnation ; śeṣe — at last ; avatīrṇa — descended ; hailā — became ; vrajendra - kumāra — Lord Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja .

Translation

Before the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, all the devotees of Navadvīpa used to gather in the house of Advaita Ācārya.

Word meanings

prabhura — of the Lord ; āvirbhāva — appearance ; pūrve — before ; yata — all ; vaiṣṇava - gaṇa — devotees ; advaita - ācāryera — of Advaita Ācārya ; sthāne — place ; karena — do ; gamana — go .

Translation

In these meetings of the Vaiṣṇavas, Advaita Ācārya used to recite the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, decrying the paths of philosophical speculation and fruitive activity and establishing the superexcellence of devotional service.

Word meanings

gītā — the Bhagavad-gītā ; bhāgavata — Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ; kahe — recites ; ācārya - gosāñi — Advaita Ācārya ; jñāna — the path of philosophical speculation ; karma — fruitive activity ; nindi’ — decrying ; kare — establishes ; bhaktira — of devotional service ; baḍāi — excellence .

Translation

In all the revealed scriptures of Vedic culture, devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa is explained throughout. Therefore devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa do not recognize the processes of philosophical speculation, mystic yoga, unnecessary austerity and so-called religious rituals. They do not accept any process but devotional service.

Word meanings

sarva - śāstre — in all revealed scriptures ; kahe — says ; kṛṣṇa - bhaktira — of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa ; vyākhyāna — explanation ; jñāna — philosophical speculation ; yoga — mystic haṭha-yoga ; tapas — austerities ; dharma — religious procedures ; nāhi — does not ; māne — accept ; āna — other .

Purport

Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement follows this principle. We do not recognize any method for spiritual realization other than Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service. Sometimes we are criticized by groups following jñāna, yoga, tapas or dharma, but fortunately we are unable to make any compromises with them. We simply stand on the platform of devotional service and preach the same principles all over the world.

Translation

In the house of Advaita Ācārya, all the Vaiṣṇavas took pleasure in always talking of Kṛṣṇa, always worshiping Kṛṣṇa and always chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

Word meanings

tāṅra saṅge — with Him (Advaita Ācārya) ; ānanda — pleasure ; kare — takes ; vaiṣṇavera — of the devotees ; gaṇa — assembly ; kṛṣṇa - kathā — topics of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kṛṣṇa - pūjā — worship of Kṛṣṇa ; nāma - saṅkīrtana — chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. .

Purport

On these principles only does the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement go on. We have no business other than to talk of Kṛṣṇa, worship Kṛṣṇa and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

Translation

But Śrī Advaita Ācārya Prabhu felt pained to see all the people without Kṛṣṇa consciousness simply merging in material sense enjoyment.

Word meanings

kintu — but ; sarva - loka — all people ; dekhi’ — seeing ; kṛṣṇa - bahirmukha — without Kṛṣṇa consciousness ; viṣaye — material enjoyment ; nimagna — merged ; loka — all people ; dekhi’ — seeing ; pāya duḥkha — felt pained .

Purport

A bona fide devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is always pained to see the fallen condition of the whole world. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura used to say, “There is no scarcity of anything within this world. The only scarcity is of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” That is the vision of all pure devotees. Because of this lack of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in human society, people are suffering terribly, being merged in an ocean of nescience and sense gratification. A devotee onlooker is very much aggrieved to see such a situation in the world.

Translation

Seeing the condition of the world, He began to think seriously of how all these people could be delivered from the clutches of māyā.

Word meanings

lokera — of all people ; nistāra - hetu — for the matter of deliverance ; karena — does ; cintana — contemplation ; kemate — how ; e — these ; saba — all ; lokera — of people in general ; ha - ibe — will become ; tāraṇa — liberation .

Translation

Śrīla Advaita Ācārya Prabhu thought, “If Kṛṣṇa Himself appears in order to distribute the cult of devotional service, then only will liberation be possible for all people.”

Word meanings

kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; avatari’ — descending ; karena — does ; bhaktira — of devotional service ; vistāra — expansion ; tabe — then ; ta’ — certainly ; sakala — all ; lokera — of the people ; ha - ibe — there will be ; nistāra — liberation .

Purport

Just as a condemned person can be relieved by a special favor of the chief executive head, the president or king, so the condemned people of this Kali-yuga can be delivered only by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself or a person especially empowered for this purpose. Śrīla Advaita Ācārya Prabhu desired that the Supreme Personality of Godhead advent Himself to deliver the fallen souls of this age.

Translation

With this consideration, Advaita Ācārya Prabhu, promising to cause Lord Kṛṣṇa to descend, began to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, with tulasī leaves and water of the Ganges.

Word meanings

kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; avatārite — to cause His advent ; ācārya — Advaita Ācārya ; pratijñā — promise ; kariyā — making ; kṛṣṇa - pūjā — worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; kare — does ; tulasī — tulasī leaves ; gaṅgā - jala diyā — with the water of the Ganges .

Purport

Tulasī leaves and Ganges water, with, if possible, a little pulp of sandalwood, is sufficient paraphernalia to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord says in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.26) :

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.” Following this principle, Advaita Prabhu pleased the Supreme Personality of Godhead with tulasī leaves and water of the Ganges.

Translation

By loud cries He invited Kṛṣṇa to appear, and this repeated invitation attracted Lord Kṛṣṇa to descend.

Word meanings

kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; āhvāna — invitation ; kare — does ; saghana — with great gravity ; huṅkāra — vibration ; huṅkāre — and by such loud cries ; ākṛṣṭa — attracted ; hailā — became ; vrajendra - kumāra — the son of Vrajendra, Lord Kṛṣṇa .

Translation

Before the birth of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, eight daughters took birth one after another from the womb of Śacīmātā, the wife of Jagannātha Miśra. But just after their birth, they all died.

Word meanings

jagannātha - miśra — Jagannātha Miśra ; patnī — his wife ; śacīra — of Śacīmātā ; udare — within the womb ; aṣṭa — eight ; kanyā — daughters ; krame — one after another ; haila — appeared ; janmi’ — after taking birth ; janmi’ — after taking birth ; mare — all died .

Translation

Jagannātha Miśra was very unhappy at the death of his children one after another. Therefore, desiring a son, he worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Viṣṇu.

Word meanings

apatya — of children ; virahe — in separation ; miśrera — of Jagannātha Miśra ; duḥkhī — unhappy ; haila — became ; mana — mind ; putra — son ; lāgi’ — for the matter of ; ārādhila — worshiped ; viṣṇura — of Lord Viṣṇu ; caraṇa — lotus feet .

Translation

After this, Jagannātha Miśra got a son of the name Viśvarūpa, who was most powerful and highly qualified because He was an incarnation of Baladeva.

Word meanings

tabe — thereafter ; putra — son ; janamilā — took birth ; viśvarūpa — Viśvarūpa ; nāma — named ; mahā - guṇavān — highly qualified ; teṅha — He ; baladeva — of Lord Baladeva ; dhāma — incarnation .

Purport

Viśvarūpa was the elder brother of Gaurahari, Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When arrangements were being made for the marriage of Viśvarūpa, He took sannyāsa and left home. He took the sannyāsa name of Śaṅkarāraṇya. In 1431 Śakābda Era (A.D. 1509), He disappeared in Pāṇḍarapura, in the district of Sholapur. As an incarnation of Saṅkarṣaṇa, He is both the ingredient and immediate cause of the creation of this material world. He is nondifferent from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, for the aṁśa and the aṁśī, or the part and the whole, are not different. As an incarnation of Saṅkarṣaṇa, Viśvarūpa belongs to the quadruple manifestation of catur-vyūha. In the Gaura-candrodaya it is said that Viśvarūpa, after His so-called demise, remained mixed within Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu.

Translation

The expansion of Baladeva known as Saṅkarṣaṇa in the spiritual world is the ingredient and immediate cause of this material cosmic manifestation.

Word meanings

baladeva - prakāśa — manifestation of Baladeva ; parama - vyome — in the spiritual sky ; saṅkarṣaṇa — Saṅkarṣaṇa ; teṅha — He ; viśvera — the cosmic manifestation ; upādāna — ingredient ; nimitta - kāraṇa — immediate cause .

Translation

The gigantic universal form is called the Viśvarūpa incarnation of Mahā-saṅkarṣaṇa. Thus we do not find anything within this cosmic manifestation except the Lord Himself.

Word meanings

tāṅhā ba - i — except Him ; viśve — within this cosmic manifestation ; kichu — something ; nāhi — there is none ; dekhi — I see ; āra — further ; ataeva — therefore ; viśvarūpa — universal form ; nāma — name ; ye — that ; tāṅhāra — His .

Translation

“As the threads in a cloth spread both lengthwise and breadthwise, so the Supreme Personality of Godhead exists directly and indirectly within everything we see in this cosmic manifestation. This is not very wonderful for Him.”

Word meanings

na — not ; etat — this ; citram — wonderful ; bhagavati — in the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; hi — certainly ; anante — in the unlimited ; jagat - īśvare — the master of the universe ; otam — lengthwise ; protam — breadthwise ; idam — this universe ; yasmin — in whom ; tantuṣu — in the threads ; aṅga — O King ; yathā — as much as ; paṭaḥ — a cloth .

Purport

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.15.35) .

Translation

Because Mahā-saṅkarṣaṇa is the ingredient and efficient cause of the cosmic manifestation, He is present in every detail of it. Lord Caitanya therefore called Him His elder brother. The two brothers are known as Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma in the spiritual world, but at the present moment they are Caitanya and Nitāi. Therefore the conclusion is that Nityānanda Prabhu is the original Saṅkarṣaṇa, Baladeva.

Word meanings

ataeva — therefore ; prabhu — Lord Caitanya ; tāṅre — unto Viśvarūpa ; bale — says ; baḍa bhāi — elder brother ; kṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa ; balarāma — and Baladeva ; dui — two ; caitanya — Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; nitāi — and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu .

Translation

The husband and wife [Jagannātha Miśra and Śacīmātā], having gotten Viśvarūpa as their son, were very pleased within their minds. Because of their pleasure, they specifically began to serve the lotus feet of Govinda.

Word meanings

putra — son ; pāñā — having gotten ; dampati — husband and wife ; hailā — became ; ānandita — pleased ; mana — mind ; viśeṣe — specifically ; sevana — service ; kare — render ; govinda - caraṇa — the lotus feet of Lord Govinda .

Purport

There is a common saying in India that everyone goes to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead when he is in distress, but when a person is in an opulent position, he forgets God. In the Bhagavad-gītā (7.16) this is confirmed:

catur-vidhā bhajante māṁ janāḥ sukṛtino ’rjuna ārto jijñāsur arthārthī jñānī ca bharatarṣabha

“If backed by pious activities in the past, four kinds of men — namely those who are distressed, those in need of money, those searching after knowledge and those who are inquisitive — become interested in devotional service.” The husband and wife, Jagannātha Miśra and Śacīmātā, were very unhappy because their eight daughters had passed away. Now, when they got Viśvarūpa as their son, certainly they became extremely happy. They knew that it was by the grace of the Lord that they were endowed with such happiness and opulence. Therefore instead of forgetting the Lord, they became more and more adherent in rendering service to the lotus feet of Govinda. When a common man becomes opulent, he forgets God; but the more opulent a devotee becomes by the grace of the Lord, the more he becomes attached to the service of the Lord.

Translation

In the month of January in the year 1406 of the Śaka Era (A.D. 1485), Lord Kṛṣṇa entered the bodies of both Jagannātha Miśra and Śacī.

Word meanings

caudda - śata — 1400 ; chaya — 6 ; śake — in the year of the Śaka Era ; śeṣa — last ; māgha — Māgha ; māse — in the month ; jagannātha — of Jagannātha Miśra ; śacīra — and of Śacīdevī ; dehe — in the bodies ; kṛṣṇera — of Lord Kṛṣṇa ; praveśe — by the entrance .

Purport

Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His birth in the year 1407 Śaka Era (A.D. 1486), in the month of Phālguna. But here we see that He entered the bodies of His parents in the year 1406, in the month of Māgha. Therefore, the Lord entered the bodies of His parents thirteen full months before His birth. Generally a common child remains within the womb of his mother for ten lunar months, but here we see that the Lord remained within the body of His mother for thirteen months.

Translation

Jagannātha Miśra said to Śacīmātā, “I see wonderful things! Your body is effulgent, and it appears as if the goddess of fortune were now staying personally in my home.

Word meanings

miśra kahe — Jagannātha Miśra began to speak ; śacī - sthāne — in the presence of Śacīdevī-mātā ; dekhi — I see ; āna — extraordinary ; rīta — behavior ; jyotir - maya — effulgent ; deha — body ; geha — home ; lakṣmī — the goddess of fortune ; adhiṣṭhita — situated .

Translation

“Anywhere and everywhere I go, all people offer me respect. Even without my asking, they voluntarily give me riches, clothing and paddy.”

Word meanings

yāhāṅ — wherever ; tāhāṅ — anywhere ; sarva - loka — all people ; karaye — show ; sammāna — respect ; ghare — at home ; pāṭhāiyā — sending ; deya — give ; dhana — riches ; vastra — cloth ; dhāna — paddy .

Purport

A brāhmaṇa does not become anyone’s servant. To render service to someone else is the business of the śūdras. A brāhmaṇa is always independent because he is a teacher, spiritual master and advisor to society. The members of society provide him with all the necessities of life. In the Bhagavad-gītā the Lord says He has divided society into four divisions — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra. A society cannot run smoothly without this scientific division. A brāhmaṇa should give good advice to all the members of society, a kṣatriya should look after the administration, maintaining law and order in society, vaiśyas should produce and trade to meet all the needs of society, whereas śūdras should render service to the higher sections of society (the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas ) .

Jagannātha Miśra was a brāhmaṇa; therefore people would send him all bodily necessities — money, cloth, grain and so on. While Lord Caitanya was in the womb of Śacīmātā, Jagannātha Miśra received all these necessities of life without asking for them. Because of the presence of the Lord in his family, everyone offered him due respect as a brāhmaṇa. In other words, if a brāhmaṇa or Vaiṣṇava sticks to his position as an eternal servant of the Lord and executes the will of the Lord, there is no question of scarcity for his personal maintenance or the needs of his family.

Translation

Śacīmātā told her husband, “I see wonderfully brilliant human beings appearing in outer space, as if offering prayers.”

Word meanings

śacī kahe — mother Śacīdevī replied ; muñi — I ; dekhoṅ — see ; ākāśa - upare — in outer space ; divya - mūrti — brilliant forms ; loka — people ; saba — all ; yena — as if ; stuti — prayers ; kare — offering .

Purport

Jagannātha Miśra was honored by everyone on the earth and was supplied with all necessities. Similarly, mother Śacī saw many demigods in outer space offering prayers to her because of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s presence in her womb.

Translation

Jagannātha Miśra then replied, “In a dream I saw the effulgent abode of the Lord enter my heart.

Word meanings

jagannātha miśra kahe — Jagannātha Miśra replied ; svapna — dream ; ye — that ; dekhila — I have seen ; jyotir - maya — with a brilliant effulgence ; dhāma — abode ; mora — my ; hṛdaye — in the heart ; paśila — entered .

Translation

“From my heart it entered your heart. I therefore understand that a great personality will soon take birth.”

Word meanings

āmāra hṛdaya haite — from my heart ; gelā — transferred ; tomāra hṛdaye — into your heart ; hena — like this ; bujhi — I understand ; janmibena — will take birth ; kona — some ; mahāśaye — very great personality .

Translation

After this conversation, both husband and wife were very jubilant, and together they rendered service to the household śālagrāma-śilā.

Word meanings

eta bali’ — after this conversation ; duṅhe — both of them ; rahe — remained ; haraṣita — jubilant ; hañā — becoming ; śālagrāma — śālagrāma-nārāyaṇa-śilā ; sevā — service ; kare — rendered ; viśeṣa — with special attention ; kariyā — giving it .

Purport

Especially in every brāhmaṇa’s house there must be a śālagrāma-śilā to be worshiped by the brāhmaṇa family. This system is still current. People who are brāhmaṇas by caste, who are born in a brāhmaṇa family, must worship the śālagrāma-śilā. Unfortunately, with the progress of Kali-yuga, the so-called brāhmaṇas, although very proud of taking birth in brāhmaṇa families, no longer worship the śālagrāma-śilā. But actually it has been a custom since time immemorial that a person born in a brāhmaṇa family must worship the śālagrāma-śilā in all circumstances. In our Kṛṣṇa consciousness society, some of the members are very anxious to introduce worship of the śālagrāma-śilā, but we have purposely refrained from introducing it because most of the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement do not originally come from families of the brāhmaṇa caste. After some time, when we find that they are actually situated strictly in the line of brahminical behavior, śālagrāma-śilā worship will be introduced.

In this age, the worship of the śālagrāma-śilā is not as important as the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. That is the injunction of the śāstra: harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalaṁ/ kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī’s opinion is that by chanting the holy name offenselessly one becomes completely perfect. Nevertheless, just to purify the situation of the mind, worship of the Deity in the temple is also necessary. Therefore when one is advanced in spiritual consciousness or is perfectly situated on a spiritual platform, he may take to the worship of the śālagrāma-śilā.

The transference of the Lord from the heart of Jagannātha Miśra to the heart of Śacīmātā is explained by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura as follows: “It is to be concluded that Jagannātha Miśra and Śacīmātā are nitya-siddhas, ever-pure associates of the Lord. Their hearts are always uncontaminated, and therefore they never forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A common man in this material world has a contaminated heart. He must therefore first purify his heart to come to the transcendental position. But Jagannātha Miśra and Śacīmātā were not a common man and woman with contaminated hearts. When the heart is uncontaminated, it is said to be in the existential position of Vasudeva. Vasudeva can beget Vāsudeva, or Kṛṣṇa, who is transcendentally situated.”

It is to be understood that Śacīdevī did not become pregnant as an ordinary woman becomes pregnant because of sense indulgence. One should not think the pregnancy of Śacīmātā to be that of an ordinary woman, because that is an offense. One can understand the pregnancy of Śacīmātā when one is actually advanced in spiritual consciousness and fully engaged in the devotional service of the Lord.

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.16) it is stated:

bhagavān api viśvātmā bhaktānām abhayaṅ-karaḥ āviveśāṁśa-bhāgena mana ānakadundubheḥ

This is a statement regarding the birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The incarnation of the Lord entered the mind of Vasudeva and was then transferred to the mind of Devakī. Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī gives the following annotation in this connection: ‘mana āviveśa’ manasy āvirbabhūva; jīvānām iva na dhātu-sambandha ity arthaḥ. There was no question of the seminal discharge necessary for the birth of an ordinary human being. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī also comments in this connection that Lord Kṛṣṇa first appeared in the mind of Ānakadundubhi, Vasudeva, and was then transferred to the mind of Devakī-devī. Thus the spiritual bliss in the mind of Devakī-devī gradually increased, just as the moon increases every night until it becomes a full moon. At the time of His appearance, Lord Kṛṣṇa came out of the mind of Devakī and appeared within the prison house of Kaṁsa, by the side of Devakī’s bed. At that time, by the spell of yogamāyā, Devakī thought that her child had now been born. In this connection, even the demigods from the celestial kingdom were also bewildered. As it is stated, muhyanti yat sūrayaḥ ( Bhāg. 1.1.1 ). They came to offer their prayers to Devakī, thinking that the Supreme Lord was within her womb. The demigods came to Mathurā from their celestial kingdom. This indicates that Mathurā is still more important than the celestial kingdom of the upper planetary system.

Lord Kṛṣṇa, as the eternal son of Yaśodāmayī, is always present in Vṛndāvana. The pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa are continuously going on within both this material world and the spiritual world. In such pastimes, the Lord always thinks Himself the eternal son of mother Yaśodā and father Nanda Mahārāja. In the Tenth Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, chapter six, verse 43, it is stated, “When magnanimous, broad-hearted Nanda Mahārāja came back from a tour, he immediately took his son Kṛṣṇa on his lap and experienced transcendental bliss by smelling His head.” Similarly, in the Tenth Canto, ninth chapter, verse 21, it is said, “This Personality of Godhead, appearing as the son of a cowherd damsel, is easily available and understandable to devotees, whereas those who are under the concept of bodily life, even though they are very much advanced in austerity and penance, or even though they are great philosophers, are unable to understand Him.”

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura next quotes Śrīpāda Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, who refers to the prayers offered by the demigods to Lord Kṛṣṇa in the womb of Devakī and summarizes the birth of Kṛṣṇa as follows: “As the rising moon manifests light in the east, so Devakī, who was always situated on the transcendental platform, having been initiated in the Kṛṣṇa mantra by Vasudeva, the son of Śūrasena, kept Kṛṣṇa within her heart.” From this statement of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.18) it is understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, having been transferred from the heart of Ānakadundubhi, or Vasudeva, manifested Himself in the heart of Devakī. According to Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, “the heart of Devakī” means the womb of Devakī because in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.2.41 the demigods say, diṣṭyāmba te kukṣi-gataḥ paraḥ pumān: “Mother Devakī, the Lord is already within your womb.” Therefore, that the Lord was transferred from the heart of Vasudeva to the heart of Devakī means that He was transferred to the womb of Devakī.

Similarly, in regard to the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu as described in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, the words viśeṣe sevana kare govinda-caraṇa, “they specifically began to worship the lotus feet of Govinda,” indicate that exactly as Kṛṣṇa appeared in the heart of Devakī through the heart of Vasudeva, so Lord Caitanya appeared in the heart of Śacīdevī through the heart of Jagannātha Miśra. This is the mystery of the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Consequently, one should not think of Lord Caitanya’s appearance as that of a common man or living entity. This subject matter is a little difficult to understand, but for devotees of the Lord it will not at all be difficult to realize the statements given by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī.

Translation

In this way the pregnancy approached its thirteenth month, but still there was no sign of the delivery of the child. Thus Jagannātha Miśra became greatly apprehensive.

Word meanings

haite haite — thus becoming ; haila — it so became ; garbha — pregnancy ; trayodaśa — thirteenth ; māsa — month ; tathāpi — still ; bhūmiṣṭha — delivery ; nahe — there was no sign ; miśrera — of Jagannātha Miśra ; haila — became ; trāsa — apprehension .

Translation

Nīlāmbara Cakravartī [the grandfather of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu] then did an astrological calculation and said that in that very month, taking advantage of an auspicious moment, the child would take birth.

Word meanings

nīlāmbara cakravartī — Nīlāmbara Cakravartī ; kahila — said ; gaṇiyā — by astrological calculation ; ei māse — in this month ; putra — son ; habe — will take birth ; śubha - kṣaṇa — auspicious moment ; pāñā — taking advantage of .

Translation

Thus in the year 1407 of the Śaka Era [A.D. 1486], in the month of Phālguna [February-March], in the evening of the full-moon day, the desired auspicious moment arrived.

Word meanings

caudda - śata sāta - śake — in 1407 of the Śaka Era (A.D. 1486) ; māsa — month ; ye — which ; phālguna — Phālguna ; paurṇamāsīra — of the full-moon day ; sandhyā - kāle — in the evening ; haile — there was ; śubha - kṣaṇa — an auspicious moment .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, has presented the horoscope of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as follows:

śaka 1407/10/22/28/45 * dinam

7 11 8

15 54 38

40 37 40

13 6 23

The explanation of the horoscope given by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura is that at the time of the birth of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu the planets were situated as follows: Śukra (Venus) was in Meṣa-rāśi (Aries) and the nakṣatra (lunar mansion) of Aśvinī; Ketu (the ninth planet) was in Siṁha-rāśi (Leo) and Uttaraphalgunī; Candra (the moon) was in Pūrvaphalgunī (the eleventh lunar mansion); Śani (Saturn) was in Vṛścika-rāśi (Scorpio) and Jyeṣthā; Bṛhaspati (Jupiter) was in Dhanu-rāśi (Sagittarius) and Pūrvāṣāḍhā; Maṅgala (Mars) was in Makara-rāśi (Capricorn) and Śravaṇā; Ravi (the sun) was in Kumbha-rāśi (Aquarius) and Pūrvabhādrapāda; Rāhu was in Pūrvabhādrapāda; and Budha (Mercury) was in Mīna-rāśi (Pisces) and Uttarabhādrapāda. The lagna was Siṁha .

Translation

[According to the Jyotir-veda, or Vedic astrology, the auspicious birth moment is described as follows:] The moon was in Leo [the figure of the lion in the zodiac], Leo was the ascendant, several planets were strongly positioned, and the ṣaḍ-varga and aṣṭa-varga showed all-auspicious influences.

Word meanings

siṁha — the lion ; rāśi — sign of the zodiac ; siṁha — the lion ; lagna — birth moment ; ucca — high ; graha - gaṇa — all planets ; ṣaṭ - varga — six divisions ; aṣṭa - varga — eight divisions ; sarva — all ; su - lakṣaṇa — symptoms of auspiciousness .

Purport

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, who was previously a great astrologer, explains this verse as follows: The ṣaḍ-varga (six divisions) are technically called kṣetra, horā, drekkāṇa, navāṁśa, dvādaśāṁśa and triṁśāṁśa. According to Jyotir-vedic astrology, when the relationship between the planets and the rulers of these six divisions is determined, the auspiciousness of the moment of birth can be calculated. In the book named Bṛhaj-jātaka and other books there are directions for interpreting the movements of the stars and planets. One who knows the process of calculating the aṣṭa-varga (eight divisions) can predict auspicious and inauspicious events. This science is known especially by persons who are called horā-śāstra-vit, or those who know the astrological scriptures . On the strength of astrological calculations from the horā scriptures, Nīlāmbara Cakravartī, the grandfather of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, had ascertained the auspicious moment when the Lord would appear.

Translation

When the spotless moon of Caitanya Mahāprabhu became visible, what would be the need for a moon full of black marks on its body?

Word meanings

a - kalaṅka — without contamination ; gauracandra — the moon of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; dilā — gave ; daraśana — audience ; sa - kalaṅka — with contamination ; candre — for a moon ; āra — also ; kon — what ; prayojana — necessity .

Translation

Considering this, Rāhu, the black planet, covered the full moon, and immediately vibrations of “Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Hari!” inundated the three worlds.

Word meanings

eta jāni’ — knowing all this ; rāhu — the zodiac figure Rāhu ; kaila — attempted ; candrera — of the moon ; grahaṇa — eclipse ; kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa — the holy name of Kṛṣṇa ; hari — the holy name of Hari ; nāme — the names ; bhāse — inundated ; tri - bhuvana — the three worlds .

Purport

According to the Jyotir-veda, a lunar eclipse takes place when the Rāhu planet comes in front of the full moon. It is customary in India that all the followers of the Vedic scriptures bathe in the Ganges or the sea as soon as there is a lunar or solar eclipse. All strict followers of the Vedic religion stand up in the water throughout the whole period of the eclipse and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. At the time of the birth of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, such a lunar eclipse took place, and naturally all the people standing in the water were chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

Translation

All people thus chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra during the lunar eclipse, and their minds were struck with wonder.

Word meanings

jaya jaya — all glories ; dhvani — vibration ; haila — there was ; sakala — all ; bhuvana — worlds ; camatkāra — wonderful ; haiyā — becoming ; loka — all the people ; bhāve — state ; mane mana — within their minds .

Translation

When the whole world was thus chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa in the form of Gaurahari advented Himself on the earth.

Word meanings

jagat — the whole world ; bhariyā — fulfilling ; loka — people ; bale — said ; hari hari — the holy name of the Lord ; sei - kṣaṇe — at that time ; gaurakṛṣṇa — Lord Kṛṣṇa in the form of Gaurahari ; bhūme — on the earth ; avatari — advented .

Translation

The whole world was pleased. While the Hindus chanted the holy name of the Lord, the non-Hindus, especially the Muslims, jokingly imitated the words.

Word meanings

prasanna — joyful ; ha - ila — became ; saba — all ; jagatera — of the whole world ; mana — the mind ; hari — the holy name of the Lord ; bali’ — saying ; hinduke — unto the Hindus ; hāsya — laughing ; karaye — do so ; yavana — the Muslims .

Purport

Although Muslims, or non-Hindus, have no interest in chanting the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, the Muslims in Navadvīpa imitated the Hindus as they chanted during the lunar eclipse. Thus the Hindus and Muslims joined together in chanting the holy name of the Lord when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advented Himself.

Translation

While all the ladies vibrated the holy name of Hari on earth, in the heavenly planets dancing and music were going on, for the demigods were very curious.

Word meanings

hari bali’ — by saying the word Hari ; nārī - gaṇa — all the ladies ; dei — chanting ; hulāhuli — the sound of hulāhuli ; svarge — in the heavenly planets ; vādya - nṛtya — music and dance ; kare — do ; deva — demigods ; kutūhalī — curious .

Translation

In this atmosphere, all the ten directions became jubilant, as did the waves of the rivers. Moreover, all beings, moving and nonmoving, were overwhelmed with transcendental bliss.

Word meanings

prasanna — jubilant ; haila — became ; daśa — ten ; dik — directions ; prasanna — satisfied ; nadī - jala — the water of the rivers ; sthāvara — immovable ; jaṅgama — movable ; haila — became ; ānande — in joy ; vihvala — overwhelmed .

Translation

Thus by His causeless mercy the full moon, Gaurahari, rose in the district of Nadia, which is compared to Udayagiri, where the sun first becomes visible. His rising in the sky dissipated the darkness of sinful life, and thus the three worlds became joyful and chanted the holy name of the Lord.

Word meanings

nadīyā — the place known as Nadia ; udayagiri — is the appearing place ; pūrṇa - candra — the full moon ; gaurahari — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; kṛpā — by mercy ; kari’ — doing so ; ha - ila — became ; udaya — risen ; pāpa — sinful ; tamaḥ — darkness ; haila — became ; nāśa — dissipated ; tri - jagatera — of the three worlds ; ullāsa — happiness ; jaga - bhari’ — filling the whole world ; hari - dhvani — the transcendental vibration of Hari ; haya — resounded .

Translation

At that time Śrī Advaita Ācārya Prabhu, in His own house at Śāntipura, was dancing in a pleasing mood. Taking Haridāsa Ṭhākura with Him, He danced and loudly chanted Hare Kṛṣṇa. But why they were dancing, no one could understand.

Word meanings

sei - kāle — at that time ; nija - ālaya — in His own house ; uṭhiyā — standing ; advaita — Advaita Ācārya ; rāya — the rich man ; nṛtya — dancing ; kare — performs ; ānandita — with joyful ; mane — mind ; haridāse — Ṭhākura Haridāsa ; lañā — taking ; saṅge — with Him ; huṅkāra — loudly ; kīrtana — saṅkīrtana ; raṅge — performing ; kene — why ; nāce — dances ; keha nāhi — no one ; jāne — knows .

Purport

It is understood that Advaita Prabhu, at that time, was in His own paternal house at Śāntipura. Haridāsa Ṭhākura frequently used to meet Him. Coincidentally, therefore, he was also there, and upon the birth of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu both of them immediately began to dance. But no one in Śāntipura could understand why those two saintly persons were dancing.

Translation

Seeing the lunar eclipse and laughing, Advaita Ācārya and Haridāsa Ṭhākura immediately went to the bank of the Ganges and bathed in the river in great jubilation. Taking advantage of the occasion of the lunar eclipse, Advaita Ācārya, by His mental strength, distributed various types of charity to the brāhmaṇas.

Word meanings

dekhi’ — seeing ; uparāga — the eclipse ; hāsi’ — laughing ; śīghra — very soon ; gaṅga - ghāṭe — on the bank of the Ganges ; āsi’ — coming ; ānande — in jubilation ; karila — took ; gaṅgā - snāna — bath in the Ganges ; pāñā — taking advantage of ; uparāga - chale — on the event of the lunar eclipse ; āpanāra — His own ; manaḥ - bale — by the strength of mind ; brāhmaṇere — unto the brāhmaṇas ; dila — gave ; nānā — various ; dāna — charities .

Purport

It is the custom of Hindus to give in charity to the poor as much as possible during the time of a lunar or solar eclipse. Advaita Ācārya, therefore, taking advantage of this eclipse, distributed many varieties of charity to the brāhmaṇas. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.3.11) there is a statement that when Kṛṣṇa took His birth, Vasudeva immediately took advantage of this moment and distributed ten thousand cows to the brāhmaṇas. It is customary among Hindus that at the time a child is born, especially a male child, the parents distribute great charity in jubilation. Advaita Ācārya was actually interested in distributing charity because of Lord Caitanya’s birth at the time of the lunar eclipse. People could not understand, however, why Advaita Ācārya was giving such a great variety of things in charity. He did so not because of the lunar eclipse but because of the Lord’s taking birth at that moment. He distributed charity exactly as Vasudeva did at the time of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s appearance.

Translation

When he saw that the whole world was jubilant, Haridāsa Ṭhākura, his mind astonished, directly and indirectly expressed himself to Advaita Ācārya: “Your dancing and distributing charity are very pleasing to me. I can understand that there is some special purpose in these actions.”

Word meanings

jagat — the whole world ; ānanda - maya — full of pleasure ; dekhi’ — seeing ; mane — within the mind ; sa - vismaya — with amazement ; ṭhāreṭhore — by direct and indirect indications ; kahe — says ; haridāsa — Haridāsa Ṭhākura ; tomāra — Your ; aichana — that kind of ; raṅga — performance ; mora — my ; mana — mind ; parasanna — very pleased ; dekhi — I can understand ; kichu — something ; kārye — in work ; āche — there is ; bhāsa — indication .

Translation

Ācāryaratna [Candraśekhara] and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura were overwhelmed with joy, and immediately they went to the bank of the Ganges to bathe in her waters. Their minds full of happiness, they chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and gave charity by mental strength.

Word meanings

ācāryaratna — Ācāryaratna ; śrīvāsa — Śrīvāsa ; haila — became ; mane — in the mind ; sukha - ullāsa — happy ; yāi’ — going ; snāna — bathing ; kaila — executed ; gaṅgā - jale — in the water of the Ganges ; ānande — in jubilation ; vihvala — overwhelmed ; mana — mind ; kare — does ; hari - saṅkīrtana — performance of saṅkīrtana ; nānā — various ; dāna — charities ; kaila — did ; manaḥ - bale — by the strength of the mind .

Translation

In this way all the devotees, wherever they were situated, in every city and every country, danced, performed saṅkīrtana and gave charity by mental strength on the plea of the lunar eclipse, their minds overwhelmed with joy.

Word meanings

ei mata — in this way ; bhakta - tati — all the devotees there ; yāṅra — whose ; yei — whichever ; deśe — in the country ; sthiti — resident ; tāhāṅ tāhāṅ — there and there ; pāñā — taking advantage ; manaḥ - bale — by the strength of the mind ; nāce — dance ; kare saṅkīrtana — perform saṅkīrtana ; ānande — in joyfulness ; vihvala — overwhelmed ; mana — mind ; dāna — in charity ; kare — give ; grahaṇera — of the lunar eclipse ; chale — on the pretense .

Translation

All sorts of respectable brāhmaṇa gentlemen and ladies, carrying plates filled with various gifts, came with their presentations. Seeing the newborn child, whose form resembled natural glaring gold, all of them happily offered their blessings.

Word meanings

brāhmaṇa — the respectable brāhmaṇas ; sat - jana — gentlemen ; nārī — ladies ; nānā — varieties ; dravye — with gifts ; thālī — plates ; bhari’ — filled up ; āilā — came ; sabe — all ; yautuka — presentations ; la - iyā — taking ; yena — like ; kāṅcā — raw ; soṇā — gold ; dyuti — glaring ; dekhi’ — seeing ; bālakera — of the child ; mūrti — form ; āśīrvāda — blessings ; kare — offered ; sukha — happiness ; pāñā — achieving .

Translation

Dressing themselves as the wives of brāhmaṇas, all the celestial ladies, including the wives of Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, King Indra and Vasiṣṭha Ṛṣi, along with Rambhā, a dancing girl of heaven, came there with varieties of gifts.

Word meanings

sāvitrī — the wife of Lord Brahmā ; gaurī — the wife of Lord Śiva ; sarasvatī — the wife of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva ; śacī — the wife of King Indra ; rambhā — a dancing girl of heaven ; arundhatī — the wife of Vasiṣṭha ; āra — and ; yata — all ; deva — celestial ; nārī - gaṇa — women ; nānā — varieties ; dravye — with gifts ; pātra bhari’ — filling up the baskets ; brāhmaṇīra — in the forms of brāhmaṇa ladies ; veśa dhari’ — dressing like that ; āsi’ — coming there ; sabe — all ; kare — do ; daraśana — visit .

Purport

When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was a newborn baby, He was visited by the neighboring ladies, most of whom were the wives of respectable brāhmaṇas. In the dress of brāhmaṇas’ wives, celestial ladies like the wives of Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva also came to see the newborn child. Ordinary people saw them as respectable brāhmaṇa ladies of the neighborhood , but actually they were all celestial ladies dressed in that way.

Translation

In outer space all the demigods, including the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka, Siddhaloka and Cāraṇaloka, offered their prayers and danced to the accompaniment of music, songs and the beating of drums. Similarly, in Navadvīpa city all the professional dancers, musicians and blessers gathered together, dancing in great jubilation.

Word meanings

antarīkṣe — in outer space ; deva - gaṇa — the demigods ; gandharva — the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka ; siddha — the inhabitants of Siddhaloka ; cāraṇa — the professional singers of the heavenly planets ; stuti — prayers ; nṛtya — dancing ; kare — do ; vādya — music ; gīta — song ; nartaka — dancers ; vādaka — professional drummers ; bhāṭa — professional blessers ; navadvīpe — in the city of Navadvīpa ; yāra — of whom ; nāṭa — stage ; sabe — all of them ; āsi’ — coming ; nāce — began to dance ; pāñā — achieving ; prīta — happiness .

Purport

As there are professional singers, dancers and reciters of prayers in the heavenly planets, so in India still there are professional dancers, blessers and singers, all of whom assemble together during householder ceremonies, especially marriages and birth ceremonies. These professional men earn their livelihood by taking charity on such occasions from the homes of the Hindus. Eunuchs also take advantage of such ceremonies to receive charity. That is their means of livelihood. Such men never become servants or engage themselves in agriculture or business occupations; they simply take charity from neighborhood friends to maintain themselves peacefully. The bhāṭas are a class of brāhmaṇas who go to such ceremonies to offer blessings by composing poems with references to the Vedic scriptures.

Translation

No one could understand who was coming and who was going, who was dancing and who was singing. Nor could they understand one another’s language. Yet all unhappiness and lamentation were immediately dissipated, and people became all-jubilant. Thus Jagannātha Miśra was also overwhelmed with joy.

Word meanings

kebā — who ; āse — is coming ; kebā — who ; yāya — is going ; kebā — who ; nāce — is dancing ; kebā — who ; gāya — is singing ; sambhālite — to understand ; nāre — cannot ; kāra — others ; bola — language ; khaṇḍileka — dissipated ; duḥkha — unhappiness ; śoka — lamentation ; pramoda — jubilation ; pūrita — full of ; loka — all people ; miśra — Jagannātha Miśra ; hailā — became ; ānande — in happiness ; vihvala — overwhelmed .

Translation

Candraśekhara Ācārya and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura both came to Jagannātha Miśra and drew his attention in various ways. They performed the ritualistic ceremonies prescribed at the time of birth according to religious principles. Jagannātha Miśra also gave varieties of charity.

Word meanings

ācāryaratna — Candraśekhara Ācārya ; śrīvāsa — Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura ; jagannātha - miśra pāśa — at the house of Jagannātha Miśra ; āsi’ — coming ; tāṅre — unto him ; kare — do ; sāvadhāna — attention ; karāila — executed ; jāta - karma — the auspicious ceremony at the time of birth ; ye — whatever ; āchila — there was ; vidhi - dharma — regulative principles of religion ; tabe — at that time ; miśra — Jagannātha Miśra ; kare — does ; nānā — varieties ; dāna — charities .

Translation

Whatever riches Jagannātha Miśra collected in the form of gifts and presentations, and whatever he had in his house, he distributed among the brāhmaṇas, professional singers, dancers, bhāṭas and the poor. He honored them all by giving them riches in charity.

Word meanings

yautuka — presentation ; pāila — received ; yata — as much as ; ghare — in the house ; vā — or ; āchila — there was ; kata — whatever ; saba dhana — all riches ; vipre — unto the brāhmaṇas ; dila — gave ; dāna — in charity ; yata — all ; nartaka — dancers ; gāyana — singers ; bhāṭa — blessers ; akiñcana jana — poor men ; dhana diyā — giving them riches ; kaila — did ; sabāra — everyone’s ; māna — honor .

Translation

The wife of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, whose name was Mālinī, accompanied by the wife of Candraśekhara [Ācāryaratna] and other ladies, came there in great happiness to worship the baby with paraphernalia such as vermilion, turmeric, oil, fused rice, bananas and coconuts.

Word meanings

śrīvāsera brāhmaṇī — the wife of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura ; nāma — name ; tāṅra — her ; mālinī — Mālinī ; ācāryaratnera — of Candraśekhara (Ācāryaratna) ; patnī — wife ; saṅge — along with ; sindūra — vermilion ; haridrā — turmeric ; taila — oil ; kha - i — fused rice ; kalā — banana ; nārikela — coconut ; diyā — giving ; pūje — worship ; nārī - gaṇa — ladies ; raṅge — in a happy mood .

Purport

Vermilion, kha-i (fused rice), bananas, coconuts and turmeric mixed with oil are all auspicious gifts for such a ceremony. As there is puffed rice, so there is another preparation of rice called kha-i, or fused rice, which, along with bananas, is taken as a very auspicious presentation. Also, turmeric mixed with oil and vermilion makes an auspicious ointment that is smeared over the body of a newborn baby or a person who is going to marry. These are all auspicious activities in family affairs. We see that five hundred years ago at the birth of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu all these ceremonies were performed rigidly, but at present such ritualistic performances hardly ever take place. Generally a pregnant mother is sent to the hospital, and as soon as her child is born he is washed with an antiseptic, and this concludes everything.

Translation

One day shortly after Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was born, Advaita Ācārya’s wife, Sītādevī, who is worshipable by the whole world, took her husband’s permission and went to see that topmost child with all kinds of gifts and presentations

Word meanings

advaita - ācārya - bhāryā — the wife of Advaita Ācārya ; jagat - pūjitā — worshiped by the whole world ; āryā — the most advanced cultured lady ; nāma — name ; tāṅra — her ; sītā ṭhākurāṇī — mother Sītā ; ācāryera ājñā pāñā — taking the order of Advaita Ācārya ; gela — went ; upahāra — presentation ; lañā — taking ; dekhite — to see ; bālaka — the child ; śiromaṇi — topmost .

Purport

It appears that Advaita Ācārya had two different houses, one at Śāntipura and one at Navadvīpa. When Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was born, Advaita Ācārya was residing not at His Navadvīpa house but at His Śāntipura house. Therefore, as formerly explained (text 99), from Advaita’s old paternal house ( nijālaya ) in Śāntipura, Sītā came to Navadvīpa to present gifts to the newborn child, Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Translation

She brought different kinds of golden ornaments, including armlets, necklaces, anklets and bangles for the hands.

Word meanings

suvarṇera — made of gold ; kaḍi - ba - uli — bangles worn on the hand ; rajata - mudrā — gold coins ; pāśuli — a kind of ornament covering the foot ; suvarṇera — made of gold ; aṅgada — a kind of ornament ; kaṅkaṇa — another kind of ornament for the hand ; du - bāhute — in two arms ; divya — celestial ; śaṅkha — conchshell ; rajatera — made of gold ; malabaṅka — bangles for the foot ; svarṇa - mudrāra — made of gold ; nānā — varieties ; hāra - gaṇa — necklaces .

Translation

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 coins, were also presented to the child.

Word meanings

vyāghra - nakha — tiger nails ; hema - jaḍi — set in gold ; kaṭi - paṭṭasūtra - ḍorī — silken thread for the waist ; hasta - padera — of the hands and legs ; yata — all kinds of ; ābharaṇa — ornaments ; citra - varṇa — printed with varieties of colors ; paṭṭa - sāḍī — silken saris ; buni — woven ; photo — small jackets for children ; paṭṭa - pāḍī — with embroidery of silk ; svarṇa — gold ; raupya — silver ; mudrā — coins ; bahu - dhana — all kinds of riches .

Purport

From the gifts presented by Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī, Advaita Ācārya’s wife, it appears that Advaita Ācārya was at that time a very rich man. Although brāhmaṇas are not the rich men of society, Advaita Ācārya, being the leader of the brāhmaṇas in Śāntipura, was considerably well-to-do. Therefore He presented many ornaments to the baby, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. But Kamalākānta Viśvāsa’s asking for three hundred rupees from the King of Jagannātha Purī, Mahārāja Pratāparudra, on the plea that Advaita Ācārya was in debt for that amount, indicates that such a rich man, who could present many valuable ornaments, saris, etc., thought it difficult to repay three hundred rupees. Therefore the value of a rupee at that time was many thousands of times what it is now. At present, no one feels difficulty over a debt of three hundred rupees, nor can an ordinary man accumulate such valuable ornaments to present to a friend’s son. Probably the value of three hundred rupees at that time was equal to the present value of thirty thousand rupees.

Translation

Riding in a palanquin covered with cloth and accompanied by maidservants, Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī came to the house of Jagannātha Miśra, bringing with her many auspicious articles such as fresh grass, paddy, gorocana, turmeric, kuṅkuma and sandalwood. All these presentations filled a large basket.

Word meanings

durvā — fresh grass ; dhānya — rice paddy ; gorocana — a yellow patch for the head of a cow ; haridrā — turmeric ; kuṅkuma — a kind of scent produced in Kashmir ; candana — sandalwood ; maṅgala - dravya — auspicious things ; pātra bhariyā — filling up a dish ; vastra - gupta — covered by cloth ; dolā — palanquin ; caḍi’ — riding ; saṅge — along with ; lañā — taking ; dāsī — maidservant ; ceḍī — female attendants ; vastra - alaṅkāra — ornaments and clothes ; peṭāri — basket ; bhariyā — filled up .

Purport

The words vastra-gupta dolā are very significant in this verse. Even fifty or sixty years ago in Calcutta, all respectable ladies would go to a neighboring place riding on a palanquin carried by four men. The palanquin was covered with soft cotton, and in that way there was no chance of seeing a respectable lady traveling in public. Ladies, especially those coming from respectable families, could not be seen by ordinary men. This system is still current in remote places. The Sanskrit word asūrya-paśyā indicates that a respectable lady could not be seen even by the sun. In the oriental culture this system was very prevalent and was strictly observed by respectable ladies, both Hindu and Muslim. We have actual experience in our childhood that our mother would not walk even next door to observe an invitation; rather, she would go in either a carriage or a palanquin carried by four men. This custom was also strictly followed five hundred years ago, and the wife of Advaita Ācārya, being a very respectable lady, observed the customary rules current in that social environment.

Translation

When Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī came to the house of Śacīdevī, bringing with her many kinds of eatables, dresses and other gifts, she was astonished to see the newborn child, for she appreciated that except for a difference in color, the child was directly Kṛṣṇa of Gokula Himself.

Word meanings

bhakṣya — foods ; bhojya — fried foods ; upahāra — presentation ; saṅge — along with her ; la - ila — took ; bahu bhāra — many packages ; śacī - gṛhe — in the house of mother Śacī ; haila — was ; upanīta — carried ; dekhiyā — seeing ; bālaka - ṭhāma — the feature of the child ; sākṣāt — directly ; gokula - kāna — Lord Kṛṣṇa of Gokula ; varṇa - mātra — only the color ; dekhi — seeing ; viparīta — opposite .

Purport

A peṭāri is a kind of big basket that is carried in pairs on the ends of a rod balanced over the shoulders. The man who carries such a load is called a bhārī. This system of carrying luggage and packages is still current in India and other oriental countries, and we have seen that the same system is still current even in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Translation

Seeing the transcendental bodily effulgence of the child, each of His nicely constructed limbs full of auspicious signs and resembling a form of gold, Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī was very pleased, and because of her maternal affection, she felt as if her heart were melting.

Word meanings

sarva aṅga — all different parts of the body ; sunirmāṇa — well constructed ; suvarṇa — gold ; pratimā — form ; bhāna — like ; sarva — all ; aṅga — parts of the body ; sulakṣaṇa - maya — full of auspicious signs ; bālakera — of the child ; divya — transcendental ; jyoti — effulgence ; dekhi’ — seeing ; pāila — got ; bahu — much ; prīti — satisfaction ; vātsalyete — by parental affection ; dravila — melted ; hṛdaya — her heart .

Translation

She blessed the newborn 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 Nimāi.

Word meanings

durvā — fresh grass ; dhānya — paddy ; dila — gave ; śīrṣe — on the head ; kaila — did ; bahu — with much ; āśīṣe — blessing ; cira - jīvī — live long ; hao — become ; dui bhāi — two brothers ; ḍākinī - śāṅkhinī — ghosts and witches ; haite — from ; śaṅkā — doubt ; upajila — grew ; cite — in the heart ; ḍare — out of fear ; nāma — name ; thuila — kept ; nimāi — Lord Caitanya’s childhood name, derived from the nima ( nimba ) tree .

Purport

Ḍākinī and Śāṅkhinī are two companions of Lord Śiva and his wife who are supposed to be extremely inauspicious, having been born of ghostly life. It is believed that such inauspicious living creatures cannot go near a nima tree. At least medically it is accepted that nima wood is extremely antiseptic, and formerly it was customary to have a nima tree in front of one’s house. On very large roads in India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, there are hundreds and thousands of nima trees. Nima wood is so antiseptic that the Āyurvedic science uses it to cure leprosy. Medical scientists have extracted the active principle of the nima tree, which is called margosic acid. Nima is used for many purposes, especially to brush the teeth. In Indian villages ninety percent of the people use nima twigs for this purpose. Because of all the antiseptic effects of the nima tree and because Lord Caitanya was born beneath a nima tree, Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī gave the Lord the name Nimāi. Later in His youth He was celebrated as Nimāi Paṇḍita, and in the neighborhood villages He was called by that name, although His real name was Viśvambhara.

Translation

On the day the mother and son bathed and left the maternity home, Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī gave them all kinds of ornaments and garments and then also honored Jagannātha Miśra. Then Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī, being honored by mother Śacīdevī and Jagannātha Miśra, was greatly happy within her mind, and thus she returned home.

Word meanings

putra - mātā — of the mother and child ; snāna - dine — on the day of bathing ; dila — gave ; vastra — cloth ; vibhūṣaṇe — ornaments ; putra - saha — with the child ; miśrere — unto Jagannātha Miśra ; sammāni’ — congratulating ; śacī — Śacīdevī ; miśrera — Jagannātha Miśra ; pūjā — honor ; lañā — receiving ; manete — within the mind ; hariṣa — pleased ; hañā — becoming ; ghare — home ; āilā — returned ; sītā ṭhākurāṇī — mother Sītā, wife of Advaita Ācārya .

Purport

On the fifth day from the birth of a child, as also on the ninth day, the mother bathes either in the Ganges or in another sacred place. This is called niṣkrāmaṇa, or the ceremony of coming out of the maternity home. Nowadays the maternity home is a hospital, but formerly in every respectable house one room was set aside as a maternity home where children would take birth, and on the ninth day after the birth of a child the mother would come into the regular rooms in the ceremony called niṣkrāmaṇa. Of the ten purificatory processes, niṣkrāmaṇa is one. Formerly, especially in Bengal, the higher castes observed four months after the birth of a child as a quarantine. At the end of the fourth month, the mother could see the sun rise. Later the higher castes, namely the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, observed only twenty-one days as a quarantine, whereas the śūdras had to observe thirty days. For the sections of society known as kartābhajā and satīmā, the mother of the child was immediately purified after the quarantine by the throwing of hari-nuṭa, small pieces of sweetmeat, in saṅkīrtana. Śacīdevī and Jagannātha Miśra, with the newborn child, were honored by Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī. Similarly, while Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī was returning home, she was also honored by Śacīdevī and Jagannātha Miśra. That was the system in respectable families of Bengal.

Translation

In this way mother Śacīdevī and Jagannātha Miśra, having obtained a son who was the husband of the goddess of fortune, had all their desires fulfilled. Their house was always filled with riches and grains. As they saw the beloved body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, day after day their pleasure increased.

Word meanings

aiche — in that way ; śacī - jagannātha — mother Śacīdevī and Jagannātha Miśra ; putra — son ; pāñā — having obtained ; lakṣmī - nātha — personally the husband of the goddess of fortune ; pūrṇa — fulfilled ; ha - ila — became ; sakala — all ; vāñchita — desires ; dhana - dhānye — with riches and grains ; bhare ghara — the house filled up ; loka - mānya kalevara — the body beloved by the people in general ; dine dine — day after day ; haya — becomes ; ānandita — pleased .

Purport

Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore everyone offered respects to Him. Even the denizens of heaven used to come in the dress of ordinary men to offer their respect to the Lord. His father and mother, Jagannātha Miśra and Śacīdevī, seeing the honor of their transcendental son, also became very pleased within their hearts.

Translation

Jagannātha Miśra was an ideal Vaiṣṇava. He was peaceful, restrained in sense gratification, pure and controlled. Therefore he had no desire to enjoy material opulence. Whatever money came because of the influence of his transcendental son, he gave it in charity to the brāhmaṇas for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu.

Word meanings

miśra — Jagannātha Miśra ; vaiṣṇava — a great devotee ; śānta — peaceful ; alampaṭa — very regular ; śuddha — purified ; dānta — controlled ; dhana - bhoge — in the matter of enjoying material happiness ; nāhi — there is no ; abhimāna — desire ; putrera — of their son ; prabhāve — by the influence ; yata — all ; dhana — riches ; āsi’ — coming ; mile — gets ; tata — so much so ; viṣṇu - prīte — for the satisfaction of Lord Viṣṇu ; dvije — to the brāhmaṇas ; dena — gives ; dāna — charity .

Translation

After calculating the birth moment of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nīlāmbara Cakravartī privately said to Jagannātha Miśra that he saw all the different symptoms of a great personality in both the body and birth moment of the child. Thus he understood that in the future this child would deliver all the three worlds.

Word meanings

lagna gaṇi’ — by astrological calculation of the birth moment ; harṣa - mati — very pleased ; nīlāmbara cakravartī — Nīlāmbara Cakravartī ; gupte — in private ; kichu — something ; kahila — said ; miśrere — unto Jagannātha Miśra ; mahā - puruṣera cihna — all the symptoms of a great personality ; lagne — in the birth moment ; aṅge — on the body ; bhinna bhinna — different ; dekhi — I see ; ei — this child ; tāribe — shall deliver ; saṁsāre — all the three worlds .

Translation

In this way Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, out of His causeless mercy, made His advent in the house of Śacīdevī. Lord Caitanya is very merciful to anyone who hears this narration of His birth, and thus such a person attains the lotus feet of the Lord.

Word meanings

aiche — in this way ; prabhu — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; śacī - ghare — in the home of Śacīdevī ; kṛpāya — by His causeless mercy ; kaila — made ; avatāre — advent ; yei — anyone who ; ihā — this ; karaye — does ; śravaṇa — hear ; gaura - prabhu — Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; dayā - maya — being very merciful ; tāṅre — upon him ; hayena — becomes ; sa - daya — merciful ; sei — that person ; pāya — gets ; tāṅhāra — His ; caraṇa — lotus feet .

Translation

Anyone who attains a human body but does not take to the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is baffled in his opportunity. Amṛtadhunī is a flowing river of the nectar of devotional service. If after getting a human body one drinks the water in a poison pit of material happiness instead of the water of such a river, it would be better for him not to have lived, but to have died long ago.

Word meanings

pāiyā mānuṣa janma — anyone who has gotten the form of a human body ; ye — who ; nā — does not ; śune — hear ; gaura - guṇa — the qualities of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu ; hena janma — such a birth ; tāra — his ; vyartha haila — becomes useless ; pāiyā — getting the opportunity ; amṛtadhunī — of the river of nectar ; piye — drinks ; viṣa - garta - pāni — water in a poison pit of material happiness ; janmiyā — taking birth as a human being ; se — he ; kene — why ; nāhi — did not ; maila — die .

Purport

In this connection Śrīmat Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī has composed the following verses in his Caitanya-candrāmṛta (37, 36, 34):

acaitanyam idaṁ viśvaṁ yadi caitanyam īśvaram na viduḥ sarva-śāstra-jñā hy api bhrāmyanti te janāḥ

“This material world is without Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa consciousness personified. Therefore if a very learned scholar or scientist does not understand Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, certainly he is wandering uselessly in this world.”

prasārita-mahā-prema- pīyūṣa-rasa-sāgare caitanya-candre prakaṭe yo dīno dīna eva saḥ

“A person who does not take advantage of the nectar of devotional service overflowing during the presence of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s cult is certainly the poorest of the poor.”

avatīrṇe gaura-candre vistīrṇe prema-sāgare suprakāśita-ratnaughe yo dīno dīna eva saḥ

“The advent of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu is just like an expanding ocean of nectar. One who does not collect the valuable jewels within this ocean is certainly the poorest of the poor.”

Similarly, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.19, 20, 23) states:

śva-viḍ-varāhoṣṭra-kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ na yat-karṇa-pathopeto jātu nāma gadāgrajaḥ

bile batorukrama-vikramān ye na śṛṇvataḥ karṇa-puṭe narasya jihvāsatī dārdurikeva sūta na copagāyaty urugāya-gāthāḥ

jīvañ chavo bhāgavatāṅghri-reṇuṁ na jātu martyo ’bhilabheta yas tu śrī-viṣṇu-padyā manujas tulasyāḥ śvasañ chavo yas tu na veda gandham

“A person who has no connection with Kṛṣṇa consciousness may be a very great personality in so-called human society, but actually he is no better than a great animal. Such big animals are generally praised by other animals like dogs, hogs camels and asses. A person who does not lend his aural reception to hearing about the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be considered to have earholes like holes in a field. Although that person has a tongue, it is like the tongue of a frog, which unnecessarily creates a disturbance by croaking, inviting the snake of death. Similarly, a person who neither takes advantage of the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees nor smells the tulasī leaves offered to the lotus feet of the Lord must be considered dead even though he is supposedly working.”

Similarly, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.1.4 states:

nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-’bhirāmāt ka uttamaśloka-guṇānuvādāt pumān virajyeta vinā paśu-ghnāt

“Who but the animal-killer or the killer of the soul will not care to hear glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Such glorification is enjoyed by persons liberated from the contamination of this material world.”

Similarly, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.23.56 says, na tīrtha-pada-sevāyai jīvann api mṛto hi saḥ: “Although a person is apparently living, if he does not serve the lotus feet of great devotees he is to be considered a dead body.”

Translation

Taking on my head as my own property the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu, Ācārya Advaitacandra, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Rūpa Gosvāmī and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, have thus described the advent of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Word meanings

śrī - caitanya - nityānanda — Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu ; ācārya advaitacandra — Ācārya Śrī Advaitacandra ; svarūpa - rūpa - raghunāthadāsa — Svarūpa Dāmodara, Rūpa Gosvāmī and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī ; iṅhā - sabāra — of all of them ; śrī - caraṇa — the lotus feet ; śire — on the head ; vandi — offering respect ; nija - dhana — personal property ; janma - līlā — narration of the birth ; gāila — sang ; kṛṣṇadāsa — Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī .

Purport

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda, Advaita Prabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Rūpa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa and their followers are all accepted by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī. Anyone who follows in the footsteps of Kavirāja Gosvāmī also accepts the lotus feet of the above-mentioned lords as his personal property. For a materialistic person, material wealth and opulence are only illusory. Actually they are not possessions but entanglements because by enjoying the material world a conditioned soul becomes more and more entangled by incurring debts for his present enjoyment. Unfortunately, a conditioned soul considers property for which he is in debt to be his own, and he is very busy acquiring such property. But a devotee considers such property not real property but simply an entanglement in the material world. If Lord Kṛṣṇa is very pleased with a devotee, He takes away his material property, as He states in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.88.8) : yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaṁ śanaiḥ. “ To show special favor to a devotee, I take away all his material property.” Similarly, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says:

dhana mora nityānanda, rādhā-kṛṣṇa-śrīcaraṇa sei mora prāṇadhana

“My real riches are Nityānanda Prabhu and the lotus feet of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa.” He further prays, “O Lord, kindly give me this opulence. I do not want anything but Your lotus feet as my property.” Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has sung in many places that his real property is the lotus feet of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Unfortunately, we are interested in unreal property and are neglecting our real property ( adhane yatana kari’ dhana teyāginu ).

Sometimes smārtas consider Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī a śūdra. But Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī here especially mentions svarūpa-rūpa-raghunāthadāsa. Therefore one who considers the lotus feet of Raghunātha dāsa to be transcendental to all divisions of the caste system enjoys the riches of actual spiritual bliss.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, thirteenth chapter, describing the advent of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.