Monday, October 21, 2024
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Krishna Katha - Story for meditation - 13/06/2014 - The Importance of Vaishnava Seva - very nice pastime - Thanks to Nitaichand Pr for sharing this pastime
A Story from South India - By Madhavananda Das and Rambhakta Das
Obtaining the mercy of a pure devotee is an absolute necessity for those who aspire for the service and association of the Supreme Lord in the spiritual world. Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami writes in madhya-līlā 22.51 of Caitanya-caritāmṛta:
mahat-kṛpā vinā kona karme 'bhakti' naya
kṛṣṇa-bhakti dūre rahu, saṁsāra nahe kṣaya
Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, one cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of kṛṣṇa-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.
There is a story in the life of the great devotee Kanchipurna that nicely illustrates this principle. Kanchipurna was one of the five disciples initiated by Srila Yamunacharya whom the members of the Śrī Sampradāya consider to be his most intimate followers. Although born in a śūdra family, Kanchipurna was famous throughout South India as a great vaiṣṇava. He resided in the city of Kanchipuram, where he daily offered the service of fanning the famous deity of Lord Vishnu known as Sri Varadaraj Swami.
Kanchipurna's simplicity and devotion endeared him to Lord Varadaraj, so much so that the two of them began having daily conversations. Some of the local people found out about this and individuals began approaching Kanchipurna, requesting him to convey questions on their behalf to the Lord. Varadaraj Swami would reply and then Kanchipurna would relate the answer back to the questioner. One day someone asked if they would go to Vaikuntha at the end of their life. Lord Varadaraj confirmed that after leaving his present body, that devotee would go to Vaikuntha.
The desire arose in Kanchipurna's heart to know if he were going to go to Vaikuntha after his present life. However, he was too shy to ask about himself. The Lord knew the heart of his dear devotee, and a few days later, Varadaraj Swami asked Kanchipurna, "Is there anything that you want to ask me?"
"No, no. I have no question", replied Kanchipurna.
The Lord then insisted, "Kanchipurna, is there nothing that you want to ask me?"
Finally, Kanchipurna revealed his heart. "My dear Lord, when will I go to Vaikuntha?"
Varadaraj Swami cast a loving glance on his devotee, and said, "Kanchipurna, you are my dear servant. I love you, but you will not go to Vaikuntha after this life. Although you have served me with great devotion, you have never served my devotee. Unless someone serves one of my devotees they cannot enter into my abode."
Hearing the Lord's words, Kanchipurna stood there for a moment, and then, without saying a word, he suddenly put the fan down on the altar and left.
Kanchipurna went searching for a devotee whom he could serve.
Being famous all over South India, it was not easy for Kanchipurna to find a devotee willing to accept his service. Although he tried and tried, no one would allow him to serve. Rather, everyone he approached said, "No! No! No! You are a great devotee. Lord Varadaraj personally talks to you! I cannot allow you to serve me. I'll go to hell!"
Finally, Kanchipurna took off his saffron cloth. Donning some white dress, he went to the home of one of his godbrothers disguised as a cowherd man. For six months he rendered service to that devotee's cows, always being careful to hide his face. After a short time his godbrother noted his devoted service and developed great affection for the mysterious cowherd man who was taking such good care of his cows and asking for nothing in exchange. He began addressing the cowherd as, "My boy, my boy!" However, the mysterious cowherd would neither speak nor allow anyone to get too close to him. Hence no one knew his real identity.
One day, Kanchipurna got wet. Having only one set of white cloth, he went back to his small room to change into his saffron-colored clothes. At that time his godbrother happened to see him and realized who he actually was. "Kanchipurna! It's you! What are you doing? You will destroy me! I cannot allow you to render service to me. Rather, it is I who should serve you!"
Kanchipurna then returned to the temple of Lord Varadaraj. Seeing his dear devotee entering the temple, the Lord smiled upon him and said, "Kanchipurna, for six months you did menial service for one of my devotees. Now at the end of this life you can come to my abode."
The Lord has reserved the right to only allow those persons entrance into his abode who have served one of his dear devotees. In antya 6.97 of his Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur quotes from the Varāha Purāṇa:
siddhir bhavati vā neti saṁśayo 'cyuta sevinām
niḥsaṁśayas tu tad bhakti paricaryāratātmanām
One may doubt whether the servant of the Supreme Personalityof Godhead will attain perfection, but there is absolutely no doubt that those who are attached to serving his devotees will attain perfection. [In Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada's purport to Caitanya-bhāgavata, ādi 1.10, this is cited as being from Śāṇḍilya-smṛti.]
A similar statement is made by His Divine Grace A. C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in his purport to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.21.39:
Srila Narottam Das Thakur sings, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā, which means that unless one serves the vaiṣṇavas and brāhmaṇas, one cannot get liberation from the material clutches.
This was excerpted from Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu issue 324. To read the entire issue click here: https://archive.org/details/Bindu324
Krishna Katha - Verse for meditation - 13/06/2014 - 16/06/2014 - SnanaYatra_to_RathaYatra_Talk by HHGiriraj Swami - please read the attached file -
SB 12.12.48
sankirtyamano bhagavan anantah
srutanubhavo vyasanam hi pumsam
pravisya cittam vidhunoty asesham
yatha tamo 'rko 'bhram ivati-vatah
sankirtyamanah -- being properly chanted about; bhagavan -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anantah -- the unlimited; sruta -- being heard about; anubhavah -- His potency; vyasanam -- the misery; hi -- indeed; pumsam -- of persons; pravisya -- enter; cittam -- the heart; vidhunoti -- cleans away; asesham -- entirely; yatha -- just as; tamah -- darkness; arkah -- the sun; abhram -- clouds; iva -- as; ati-vatah -- a strong wind.
When people properly glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead or simply hear about His power, the Lord personally enters their hearts and cleanses away every trace of misfortune, just as the sun removes the darkness or as a powerful wind drives away the clouds.
SB 1.2.17
srinvatam sva-kathah krishnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hridy antah stho hy abhadrani
vidhunoti suhrit satam
srinvatam -- those who have developed the urge to hear the message of; sva-kathah -- His own words; krishnah -- the Personality of Godhead; punya -- virtues; sravana -- hearing; kirtanah -- chanting; hridi antah sthah -- within one's heart; hi -- certainly; abhadrani -- desire to enjoy matter; vidhunoti -- cleanses; suhrit -- benefactor; satam -- of the truthful.
Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.
SB 2.4.15
yat-kirtanam yat-smaranam yad-ikshanam
yad-vandanam yac-chravanam yad-arhanam
lokasya sadyo vidhunoti kalmasham
tasmai subhadra-sravase namo namah
yat -- whose; kirtanam -- glorification; yat -- whose; smaranam -- remembrances; yat -- whose; ikshanam -- audience; yat -- whose; vandanam -- prayers; yat -- whose; sravanam -- hearing about; yat -- whose; arhanam -- worshiping; lokasya -- of all people; sadyah -- forthwith; vidhunoti -- specifically cleanses; kalmasham -- effects of sins; tasmai -- unto Him; subhadra -- all-auspicious; sravase -- one who is heard; namah -- my due obeisances; namah -- again and again.
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the all-auspicious Lord Sri Krishna, about whom glorification, remembrances, audience, prayers, hearing and worship can at once cleanse the effects of all sins of the performer.
Krishna Katha - Verse for meditation - 12/06/2014 - 13/06/2014 - Srila Mukunda datta and Srila Shridhara Pandit ki JAI.
tretayam yajato makhaih
dvapare paricaryayam
kalau tad dhari-kirtanat
Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Visnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.
Sukadeva Gosvami
SB 12.13.1
yam brahma varunendra-rudra-marutah stunvanti divyaih stavair
vedaih sanga-pada-kramopanisadair gayanti yam sama-gah
dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yogino
yasyantam na viduh surasura-gana devaya tasmai namah
Suta Gosvami said: Unto that personality whom Brahma, Varuna, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise by chanting transcendental hymns and reciting the Vedas with all their corollaries, pada-kramas and Upanisads, to whom the chanters of the Sama Veda always sing, whom the perfected yogis see within their minds after fixing themselves in trance and absorbing themselves within Him, and whose limit can never be found by any demigod or demon—unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead I offer my humble obeisances.
Suta Gosvami
Srila Mukunda Datta
Sri Mukunda Datta was Sri Nimai Pandit's classmate at Ganga Dasa's tol (school). Mukunda had a melodious voice and he knew the intricacies of musical meters and ragas. His sweet kirtanawould please all the Vaisnavas at Navadvipa. Tuning in to Lord Gaura's heart, he would sing songs matching Lord Gauranga's feelings. Lord Caitanya took sannyasa amidst Mukunda's kirtana. He served Sri Caitanya in Puri as one of the Lord's humblest followers.
Once at the house of Srivasa Pandit Lord Caitanya blessed all the devotees except Mukunda. Mahaprabhu overlooked him because he had offended Bhakti Devi (who gives devotional service). Mukunda placed her on an equal level with karma, jnana, or even Mayavada philosophy whenever he talked to followers of those paths. Acting like a chameleon, Mukunda would glorify bhakti tobhaktas, and then debate useless mundane topics with karmis (nondevotees). And with Mayavadis he discussed impersonalism.
Mukunda chose suicide as atonement for his serious offense to Bhakti Devi. He asked Lord Caitanya if he would again receive His mercy in a future life. "You will receive My mercy," said Lord Caitanya, "after passing one million births."
Happy to know he would someday get Mahaprabhu's mercy, Mukunda jumped up and down shouting, "Only a million births, only a million births!"
Lord Caitanya's heart melted upon seeing Mukunda's devotion and determination. The Lord blessed and accepted Mukunda, "By your faith and conviction in My words all your offenses have been immediately destroyed."
In Krishna lila he is Madhukantha, a person with a honey sweet throat, a sweet singer.
[Available from: www.stephen-knapp.com]
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Srila SHRIDHARA PANDIT
khola-becataya khyatah panditah shridharo dvijah
asid vraje hasya-karo yo namna kusumasavah
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 133)
Shridhara Pandit was a resident of Navadwip. Navadwip is composed of nine islands, of which the central island is known as Antardwipa. He used to live at the northern extremity of Mayapur and to the southeast of the Chand Kazi's samadhi, in the place that now goes by the name of Shridhara Angan. During his lifetime, it was a banana orchard...
One of the twelve Gopals in Krishna lila was named Kusumasava. He appeared in Gaura-lila as Shridhara Pandit, who was given the nickname khola-becha, "bark-seller."
Shridhara Pandit was a resident of Navadwip. Navadwip is composed of nine islands, of which the central island is known as Antardwipa. He used to live at the northern extremity of Mayapur and to the southeast of the Chand Kazi's samadhi, in the place that now goes by the name of Shridhara Angan. During his lifetime, it was a banana orchard, which nowadays is no longer the case, at least not to our mortal eyes. During this incarnation, Shridhara played the role of a poor Brahmin who made his living selling the produce of his banana garden. In order to keep the memory of Shridhara Pandit alive, the founder of the world-wide Chaitanya and Gaudiya Maths,
Nitya-lila-pravishta Om Vishnupada Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada, discovered and revealed this site of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes. Deity worship was established there and it continued until after Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur's disappearance. Now, because of problems with local people, the place is once again losing its beauty. Even so, during the Navadwip parikrama, Devotees still pay their obeisances at that spot to the memory of Shridhara Pandit.
Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakur has written as follows in his Nabadvipa-dhama-mahatmya: "Shridhara Pandit's home comes after the weavers' neighborhood. Gauranga Mahaprabhu ended the kirtan there." Nityananda Prabhu says the following to Jiva Goswami:
"Out of His mercy, Mahaprabhu Gauranga Hari would end the kirtan here so that the Devotees could rest. It is therefore known as vishrama-sthana, or the Lord's place of rest. So let us also repose a while here at the house of Shridhara Pandit." (Navadwip-dhama-mahatmya)
According to this same book, there was previously a large tank near Shridhara's banana orchard, but this too is no longer visible.
Shridhara's Poverty
Material wealth and prosperity are not the truest signs of the Lord's mercy on someone. Those who worship the gods and goddesses are generally seen to prosper materially, but one who is rich in the wealth of devotion to the Lord is the one who has truly benefited from his mercy. Mahaprabhu gave this teaching to His associates through Shridhara Pandit: a Devotee of Vishnu is free from attachments to material possessions and enjoyments.
One day, the Lord went to Shridhara's place and asked him why he was so poor. He was worshiping the husband of the goddess of fortune, Lakshmi, and yet he never had enough money for food or clothing, and his house was dilapidated. On the other hand, those who worshiped the bloodthirsty Kali always seemed to have an abundance of material wealth. Shridhara answered that a bird who made its nest in the trees and wandered from place to place to find food was passing the time of day in the same way as a king in his palace who enjoyed the best objects of gratification. There was no difference of degree or amount of pleasure experienced by the two. The Lord then said to Shridhara: "Externally, though you appear to be poor, you are actually the true rich man. I will shortly reveal to the entire foolish world that the Devotee is qualified to possess the greatest wealth, indeed they are the owners of all things."
Generally we call that person poor or unfortunate who is deprived of wealth, possessions and a home. One who has these things is called rich or fortunate. People try to accumulate wealth in order to find happiness, and not the opposite. This happiness is the real wealth, not the external possessions, etc. Shri Krishna is the personification of happiness. Thus in actual fact, the difference between wealth and poverty: the one who has love for Krishna is rich; one who does not is poor. By way of example, during Krishna's lila, Vidura played the part of a poor man, but one who was rich in love for Krishna. On the other hand, Duryodhana possessed unlimited riches but had no love for Krishna, and thus was truly poor. The Supreme Lord used Kholabecha Shridhara to show the world who was truly wealthy and fortunate. The Lord is conquered by loving devotion alone, and by nothing else.
bhaktyaham ekaya grahyah shraddayatma priyah satam
bhaktih punati man-nishtha shvapakan api sambhavat
Being very dear to the saintly, I am only attained through devotion and unflinching faith. Devotion fixed on Me purifies even a dog-eater from all faults due to low birth and circumstances such as poverty. (Shrimad Bhagavatam 11.14.21)
patram pushpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahritam ashnami prayatatmanah
I accept whatever anyone offers Me with devotion, whether it be a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, because of his pure consciousness. (Bhagavad-gita 6.29)
The Lord accepts whatever is given to Him with devotion and eats it, but does not accept that which is given by a non-Devotee. He would not accept the invitation to eat the finest, most expensive foods with Duryodhana in order to take a humble meal prepared for him by Vidura and his wife.
The Lord Steals Shridhara's Goods
The Supreme Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu showed the amazing pastime of hungrily taking Shridhara's foodstuffs without even being invited to do so. While the Lord was engaged in His student pastimes, Shridhara used to make his living by selling banana flowers (mocja) and the core of the banana plant (thoria). He would spend half of whatever little money he made in this way on worshiping the Ganges, the other half on his own necessities. Like Yudhisthira, he was a great Devotee of the truth and would always tell the real price of an item he would sell. Everyone in Navadwip knew this and so would not haggle with him. But Mahaprabhu would come to Shridhara and give him only half the amount that he was asking for his bananas, banana flowers or thoria and then start to walk away with them. Every day, the two of them would pull back and forth on a bunch of bananas or something else, arguing for an hour or more over the price that was to be paid.
Every day they would argue for an hour and a half; then Mahaprabhu would leave half the asked price and walk away with the goods. Shridhara would always tell the truth and give the real price of each item, but the Lord would still only give him half of the amount he asked for and then take it. Shridhara would jump up and grab the item, trying to take it back, even pushing and shoving the Lord. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.9.163-5)
Even though He argued with Shridhara, when He saw that he did not become angry, He would take all the goods that he was selling. Even though this is the way that it looks from a superficial point of view, the fact of the matter is that when Shridhara saw the beautiful form of the Lord, he allowed Him to get away with stealing his goods without getting angry. At the sight of the Lord's beauty, he would become enchanted and immersed in an ocean of joy. While arguing with him, Mahaprabhu would call him names in great satisfaction, sometimes subtly hinting at His own divine identity:
"Every day you buy things to offer to the Ganga. Why don't you just give something to Me without charging anything? Don't you know that I am the father of the Ganga that you worship. I am telling you the truth about this!" (Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.9.178-9)
They finally came to a settlement and Shridhara agreed to daily give Mahaprabhu some bananas or other items from the banana tree for free. From then on, the Lord would daily eat with great satisfaction from the little bowls made of banana bark that had been given to him by Shridhara.
The Lord said, "Alright, alright. There is no necessity for anything else." And from that day on, He ate with great contentment on banana leaves given Him by Shridhara. The Lord thus eats anything that the Devotee offers Him, but He rejects even rich items given Him by a non-Devotee. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.9.184-6)
Shridhara Blessed at the Maha-prakasha
On that eventful night when the Lord sat on the altar in Shrivasa's home and revealed His divine form to His Devotees for 21 hours, showing them all the different incarnations of Vishnu, one after the other, He told them to bring Shridhara there also. Shridhara would regularly stay up the whole night chanting the Holy Names and calling out to the Lord. This was a source of happiness to the Devotees, but the non-Devotees would complain that he was keeping them awake with his noise and they would regularly criticize and rebuke him. As the Devotees were going to his house on the Lord's order, they could hear him chanting loudly from a considerable distance prior to arriving.
When he came to Shrivasa Angan, Shridhara beheld the glorious divine form of the Lord and fell to the ground in a faint. He was brought back to consciousness by the Lord's voice and then, with the power that was given him through the Lord's mercy, began to recite hymns of glorification. Satisfied with Shridhara's hymns of praise,
Mahaprabhu wished to give him the eight mystic powers as a benediction, but Shridhara refused, saying that he only wanted service to the Lord's lotus feet.
Lord Vishvambhara repeatedly urged Shridhara to ask for a boon. Finally Shridhara said, "Lord, if You must give me something, then I ask for this. May that Brahmin who used to pinch my banana leaves and bark be my Lord, lifetime after lifetime. May that Brahmin who used to argue with me be my master, and I serve His lotus feet."
(Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.9.223-5)
"Lord, if You must give me something, then I ask for this. May that Brahmin who used to pinch my banana leaves and bark be my Lord, lifetime after lifetime. May that Brahmin who used to argue with me be my master, and I serve His lotus feet." (Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.9.223-5)
Who can recognize all these servants of the Lord who want neither wealth, nor followers, nor even scholarship. Of what use are learning, wealth, beauty, fame or high birth? All of these things simply increase one's pride and are ultimately valueless. A millionaire may try for millions of years to achieve what Shridhara did, simply by selling bananas and banana products, and still not be able to do so. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.9.233-5)
Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur comments on these verses as follows: "Through empirical knowledge or external analysis, no one can recognize the true character of a Devotee. It should not be thought that the ability to collect great amounts of money is a function of devotion, nor that someone who is able to accumulate a great number of followers is a better Vaishnava than someone who cannot. Furthermore, if someone is a great religious scholar, this does not mean that he is a Devotee of the Lord. A servant of Shri Chaitanya might have very little money, may show no signs of having a great number of followers, and may have no talent for argument or debate, and ordinary people are unable to understand why he is indifferent to these externals. These Devotees consider service to Shri Chaitanya to be something more valuable than the accumulation of wealth, followers or learning. Thus, there is no possibility of the depth of their wisdom, their glories and their superiority being perceived by the general public."
Who is capable of recognizing a Devotee? He may possess all perfections, but we see only his poverty. The seller of banana products, Shridhara Pandit, is a living example of this. He disregarded the eight mystic perfections in order to simply accept devotion as a benediction. However much misery you see in a Devotee's life, you should know that in fact he is enjoying divine pleasure in devotional service. Those who are absorbed in sense gratification and intoxicated by learning or wealth can never recognize a Vaishnava. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.9.238-41)
Mahaprabhu Drinks from Shridhara's Waterpot
When Mahaprabhu was leading the sankirtan party after having delivered Chand Kazi, He returned through the quarter of the conch shell merchants and that of the weavers to arrive finally at Shridhara Pandit's house. He then took a long drink of water from Shridhara's old, beaten iron water pot. When Shridhara saw Mahaprabhu do this, he was mortified and fell unconscious.
Mahaprabhu's action was meant to teach us that by drinking a Devotee's water, we can attain devotion. He wanted to show that the water from a Devotee's water jug, even though it is old and rusty, is still like nectar to the Supreme Lord Himself. By way of contrast, He ignores the proud non-Devotee's water, even when offered in a jeweled goblet.
When the Lord saw Shridhara's tumbledown shack of a home from a distance, He laughed quietly from the inner joy He felt. He led the company of Devotees along the path to Shridhara's hut, where He spotted an iron water pot full of holes. There was still a little water in it, and the Lord drank it thirstily. The Lord is bhakta-vatsala, ever affectionate toward His Devotees, and this act overwhelmed Him with feelings of love. Tears poured from His eyes like the currents of the Ganga, and a wonderful kirtan began in Shridhara's courtyard in which all the Devotees led by Nityananda and Advaita Prabhus were crying. Ah, when I think of the great joy they all experienced on that day here at Shridhara's house, my heart is torn. (Bhakti-ratnakara 12.3136-41)
The Lord drank water from Shridhara's iron water pot and He fulfilled the desires of every single Devotee. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.17.70)
On the very day before He took sannyas, Mahaprabhu happily accepted a gift of a gourd from Shridhara. Sachi Mata cooked the gourd with milk, making one of the Lord's favorite preparations.
The pious Shridhara came to see the Lord carrying a gourd (lau). When Gaurasundara saw the gift He laughed and asked, "Where did you get it?" But He knew that He would be leaving the next day and would not be able to eat it then. But He did not want to see the gift go unused and so He determined to have it prepared that very day. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 2.28.33-6)
After taking sannyas, Mahaprabhu wandered in the land of Rarha for three days in a intoxicated state of love for Krishna until Nityananda tricked Him to coming to Shantipur to Advaita Acharya's house. When the Lord met Sachi Mata and the other Navadwip Devotees, He also met with Shridhara. Shridhara came every year to Puri to meet with the Lord at the time of the Rathayatra.
[Excerpted from "Shri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates" by Shrila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj]
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Krishna Katha - Verse for meditation 10/06/2014 - 11/06/2014 - Panihati Cida Dahi Utsava - su-sukham kartum avyayam - devotional service joyfully is performed - please see attachment
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyaksavagamam dharmyam
su-sukham kartum avyayam
This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.
All glories to Sri Sri Gauranga MahaPrabhu !!
All glories to Sri Sri Nityananda Ram !!
All glories to Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvaami !
All glories to Panihati Cida Dahi Utsava !
Where is Panihati? Panihati is located on the banks of the Ganges 10 miles North of Calcutta (North 24-Parganas north of modern day Kolkata -Calcutta), in West Bengal India. It is the site of many wonderful spiritual pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His close personal associates. In this region at this time of year June, pre-monsoon it is so hot, often up in the mid-to-high 40s C (45 - 50 C), and so humid. The most cooling of foods in such a temperature is yogurt, cool yogurt (dahi or dadhi or doi) This pastime of the Lord is about how the devotees pleased Lord Chaitanya and how the Lord reciprocated with the devotees in a very wonderful and pleasing festival called the Panihati Cida-dadhi mahotsav.
In the village of Panihati, Raghunatha dasa obtained an interview with Nityananda Prabhu who was accompanied by many kirtana performers, servants and others. Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges, Lord Nityananda seemed as effulgent as hundreds and thousands of rising suns.
Many devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influence of Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa was astonished. Raghunatha dasa offered his obeisances by falling prostrate at a distant place, and the servant of Nityananda Prabhu pointed out, "There is Raghunatha dasa, offering You obeisances."
Hearing this, Lord Nityananda Prabhu said, "You are a thief. Now you have come to see Me. Come here, come here. Today I shall punish you," the Lord called him, but Raghunatha dasa did not go near the Lord. Then the Lord forcibly caught him and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunatha dasa's head. "Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice." Hearing this, Raghunatha dasa was greatly pleased.
Raghunatha dasa brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk. sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and ether eatables and placed them all around. As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brahmanas and other gentlemen began to arrive. Thus there were innumerable people. Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunatha dasa arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round pots. He also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these pots a brahmana began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lard Nityananda.
In one place, chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots. then half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas. The other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana known as canpa- kala. Then sugar, clarified butter and camphor were added. After Nityananda Prabhu had changed His cloth far a new one and sat on a raised platform, the brahmana brought before Him the seven huge pots.
On that platform all the most important associates of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as well as ether important men, sat down in a circle around the Lord. Among them were Ramadasa, Sundarananda, Gadadhara dasa, Murari, Kamalakara, Sadasiva and Purandara. Dhananjaya, Jagadisa, Paramesvara dasa, Mahesa, Gauridas and Hoda Krsnadasa were also there, Similarly, Uddharana Datta Thakura and many other personal associates of the Lord sat on the raised platform with Nityananda Prabhu. No one could count them all.
Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brahmanas and priests went there, Lord Nityananda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with Him. Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk and in the ether chipped rice with yogurt. All the other People sat in groups around the platform. No one could count how many people there were. Each and every one of them was supplied two earthen pots, one of chipped rice soaked in yogurt and the other of chipped rice soaked in condensed milk.
Some of the brahmanas, not having gotten a place on the platform, went to the bank of the Ganges with their two earthen pots and soaked their chipped rice there. Others, who could not get a place even on the bank of the Ganges, got own into the water and began eating their two kinds of chipped rice. Thus some sat on the platform ,some at the base of the platform, and some on the bank of the Ganges, and they were all supplied two pots each by the twenty men who distributed the food.
At that time, Raghava Pandita arrived there. Seeing the situation, he began to laugh in great surprise. He brought many other kinds of food cooked in ghee and offered them to the Lord. This prasada he first placed before Lord Nityananda and then distributed among the devotees. Raghava Pandita said to Lord Nityananda, "For You, sir, I have already offered food to the Deity, but You are engaged in a festival here, and so the food is lying there untouched."
Lord Nityananda replied, "Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night. I belong to a community of cowherd boys, and therefore I generally have many cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we eat together in a picnic like this by the sandy bank of the river.
Lord Nityananda made Raghava Pandita sit down and had two pots delivered to him also. There were two kinds of chipped rice soaked in them.
When chipped rice had been served to everyone, Lord Nityananda Prabhu, in meditation, brought Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived, Lord Nityananda Prabhu stood up. They then saw how the others were enjoying the chipped rice with yogurt and condensed milk. From each and every pot, Lord Nityananda Prabhu took one morsel of chipped rice and pushed it into the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as a joke. In this way Lord Nityananda was walking through all the groups of eaters, and all the Vaisnavas standing there were seeing the fun.
No one could understand what Nityananda Prabhu was doing as He walked about. Some, however, who were very fortunate, could see that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was also present. Then Nityananda Prabhu smiled and sat down. On His right side He kept four pots of chipped rice that had not been made from boiled paddy. Lord Nityananda offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu a place and had Him sit dawn. Then together the two brothers began eating chipped rice.Seeing Cord Caitanya Mahaprabhu eating with Him, Lord ityananda Prabhu became very happy and exhibited varieties of ecstatic love. Lord Nityananda Prabhu ordered, "All of you eat, chanting the holy name of Hari. Immediately the holy names "Hari Hari" resounded, filling the entire universe.
When all the Vaisnavas were chanting the holy names "Hari Hari" and eating, they remembered how Krsna and Balarama ate with their companions, the cowherd boys, on the bank of the Yamuna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu are extremely merciful and liberal. It was Raghunatha dasa's good fortune that They accepted all these dealings. Who can understand the influence and mercy of Lord Nityananda Prabhu? He is so powerful that He induced Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to come eat chipped rice on the bank of the Ganges. All the confidential devotees who were Cowherd boys, headed by Sri Ramadas, were absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganges to be the bank of the Yamuna.
When the shopkeepers of many other villages heard about the festival, they arrived there to sell chipped rice, yogurt, sweetmeats and bananas. As they came, bringing all kinds of food, Raghunatha dasa purchased it all. He gave them the price for their goods and later fed them the very same food. Anyone who came to see how these funny things were going on was also fed chipped rice, yogurt and bananas. After Lord Nityananda Prabhu finished eating, He washed His hands and mouth and gave Raghunatha dasa the food remaining in the four pots. There was food remaining in the three other big pots of Lord Nityananda, and a brahmana distributed it to all the devotees, giving a morsel to each. Then a brahmanas brought a flower garland, placed the garland on Nityananda Prabhu's neck and smeared sandalwood pulp All over His body, When a servant brought betel nuts and offered them to Lord Nityananda, the Lord smiled and chewed them. With His own hands Lord Nityananda Prabhu distributed to all the devotees whatever flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and betel nuts remained
After receiving the remnants of food left by Lord Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha dasa, who was greatly happy, ate some and distributed the rest among his own associates. Thus have I described the pastimes of Lord Nityananda Prabhu in relation to the celebrated festival of chipped rice and yogurt.
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A summary of this chapter is given by Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura in his Amåta-praväha-bhäñya as follows. When Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu went into transcendental fits of ecstatic love, Rämänanda Räya and Svarüpa Dämodara Gosvämé attended to Him and satisfied Him as He desired. Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé had been attempting to come to the lotus feet of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu for a long time, and finally he left his home and met the Lord. When Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu had gone to Çäntipura on His way to Våndävana, Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé had offered to dedicate his life at the Lord's lotus feet. In the meantime, however, a Muslim official became envious of Hiraëya däsa, Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé's uncle, and induced some big official court minister to have him arrested. Thus Hiraëya däsa left his home, but by the intelligence of Raghunätha däsa the misunderstanding was mitigated. Then Raghunätha däsa went to Pänihäöi, and following the order of Nityänanda Prabhu, he observed a festival (ciòä-dadhi-mahotsava) by distributing chipped rice mixed with yogurt. The day after the festival, Nityänanda Prabhu gave Raghunätha däsa the blessing that he would very soon attain the shelter of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. After this incident, Raghunätha däsa, with the help of his priest, whose name was Yadunandana Äcärya, got out of his house by trickery and thus ran away. Not touching the general path, Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé secretly went to Jagannätha Puré. After twelve days, he arrived in Jagannätha Puré at the lotus feet of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu entrusted Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé to Svarüpa Dämodara Gosvämé. Therefore another name for Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé is Svarüpera Raghu, or the Raghunätha of Svarüpa Dämodara. For five days Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé took prasädam at the temple, but later he would stand at the Siàha-dvära gate and eat only whatever he could gather by alms. Later he lived by taking alms from various chatras, or food distributing centers. When Raghunätha's father received news of this, he sent some men and money, but Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé refused to accept the money. Understanding that Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé was living by begging from the chatras, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu presented him with His own guïjä-mälä and a stone from Govardhana Hill. Thereafter, Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé used to eat rejected food that he had collected and washed. This renounced life greatly pleased both Svarüpa Dämodara Gosvämé and Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. One day Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu took by force some of the same food, thus blessing Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé for his renunciation.
Antya 6.1 TEXT 13
When Raghunätha däsa, during his family life, went to meet Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu at Çäntipura, the Lord gave him worthy instructions by His causeless mercy.
Instead of becoming a so-called renunciant, Raghunätha däsa, following the instructions of the Lord, returned home and played exactly like a pounds-and-shillings man.
Raghunätha däsa was inwardly completely renounced, even in family life, but he did not express his renunciation externally. Instead, he acted just like an ordinary businessman. Seeing this, his father and mother were satisfied.
When he received a message that Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu had returned from Mathurä City, Raghunätha däsa endeavored to go to the lotus feet of the Lord.
At that time there was a Muslim official collecting the taxes of Saptagräma.
PURPORT
Formerly, when the Muslim government was in power, the person appointed tax collector would collect the taxes of the local zamindars, or landholders. He would keep one fourth of the collection for himself as a profit, and the balance he would deliver to the treasury of the government.
When Hiraëya däsa, Raghunätha däsa's uncle, made an agreement with the government to collect taxes, the Muslim caudhuré, or tax collector, having lost his position, became extremely envious of him.
Hiraëya däsa was collecting 2,000,000 coins and therefore should have delivered 1,500,000 to the government. Instead, he was giving only 1,200,000, thus making an extra profit of 300,000 coins. Seeing this, the Muslim caudhuré, who was a Turk, became his rival.
After sending a confidential account to the government treasury, the caudhuré brought the minister in charge. The caudhuré came, wanting to arrest Hiraëya däsa, but Hiraëya däsa had left home. Therefore the caudhuré arrested Raghunätha däsa.
Every day, the Muslim would chastise Raghunätha däsa and tell him, "Bring your father and his elder brother. Otherwise you will be punished."
The caudhuré wanted to beat him, but as soon as he saw Raghunätha's face, his mind changed, and he could not beat him.
Indeed, the caudhuré was afraid of Raghunätha däsa because Raghunätha däsa belonged to the käyastha community. Although the caudhuré would chastise him with oral vibrations, he was afraid to beat him.
PURPORT
Raghunätha däsa belonged to a very aristocratic family of the käyastha community. He had substantial influence with the local people, and therefore the caudhuré, or minister, was afraid to beat him. Superficially he would chastise Raghunätha däsa with threatening vibrations, but he did not beat him. The members of the käyastha community in India are generally very intelligent and expert in business management. Formerly they were mostly government officers. They were mentioned even by Yäjïavalkya, as quoted by Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura in his Amåta-praväha-bhäñya:
cäöa-taskara-durvåttair mahä-sähasikädibhiù
péòyamänä prajä rakñet käyasthaiç ca viçeñataù
From this verse it appears that the governmental officials of the käyastha community would sometimes chastise the citizens, and thus it was the duty of the king to protect the people in general from the atrocities of the käyasthas. In Bengal the käyastha community is honored almost as much as the brähmaëa community, but in the up-country of India the käyasthas are considered çüdras because they generally eat meat and drink wine. In any case, from history the käyasthas appear very intelligent. Thus the Muslim caudhuré was afraid of Raghunätha däsa because he belonged to the käyastha community.
While this was going on, Raghunätha däsa thought of a tricky method of escape. Thus he humbly submitted this plea at the feet of the Muslim caudhuré.
"My dear sir, my father and his elder brother are your brothers. All brothers always fight about something.
"Sometimes brothers fight among themselves, and sometimes they have very friendly dealings. There is no certainty when such changes will take place. Thus I am sure that although today you are fighting, tomorrow you three brothers will be sitting together in peace.
"Just as I am my father's son, so I am also yours. I am your dependent, and you are my maintainer.
"For a maintainer to punish the person he maintains is not good. You are expert in all the scriptures. Indeed, you are like a living saint."
When the Muslim heard Raghunätha däsa's appealing voice, his heart softened. He began to cry, and tears glided down his beard.
The Muslim caudhuré told Raghunätha däsa, "You are my son from this day on. Today, by some means, I shall have you released."
After informing the minister, the caudhuré released Raghunätha däsa and then began to speak to him with great affection.
"Your father's elder brother is less intelligent," he said. "He enjoys 800,000 coins, but since I am also a shareholder, he should give some portion of it to me.
"Now you go arrange a meeting between me and your uncle. Let him do whatever he thinks best. I shall completely depend on his decision."
Raghunätha däsa arranged a meeting between his uncle and the caudhuré. The matter was settled, and everything was peaceful.
In this way Raghunätha däsa passed one year exactly like a first-class business manager, but the next year he again decided to leave home.
He got up alone one night and left, but his father caught him in a distant place and brought him back.
This became almost a daily affair. Raghunätha would run away from home, and his father would again bring him back. Then Raghunätha däsa's mother spoke to his father as follows.
"Our son has become mad," she said. "Just keep him by binding him with ropes." His father, being very unhappy, replied to her as follows.
"Raghunätha däsa, our son, has opulences like Indra, the heavenly King, and his wife is as beautiful as an angel. Yet all this could not tie down his mind.
"How then could we keep this boy home by binding him with ropes? It is not possible even for one's father to nullify the reactions of one's past activities.
"Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu has fully bestowed His mercy on him. Who can keep home such a madman of Caitanyacandra?"
Then Raghunätha däsa considered something in his mind, and the next day he went to Nityänanda Gosäïi.
In the village of Pänihäöi, Raghunätha däsa obtained an interview with Nityänanda Prabhu, who was accompanied by many kértana performers, servants and others.
Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges, Lord Nityänanda seemed as effulgent as hundreds of thousands of rising suns.
Many devotees sat on the ground surrounding Him. Seeing the influence of Nityänanda Prabhu, Raghunätha däsa was astonished.
Raghunätha däsa offered his obeisances by falling prostrate at a distant place, and the servant of Nityänanda Prabhu pointed out, "There is Raghunätha däsa, offering You obeisances."
Hearing this, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu said, "You are a thief. Now you have come to see Me. Come here, come here. Today I shall punish you!"
The Lord called him, but Raghunätha däsa did not go near the Lord. Then the Lord forcibly caught him and placed His lotus feet upon Raghunätha däsa's head.
Lord Nityänanda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He spoke to Raghunätha däsa as follows.
"You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a distant place. Now that I have captured you, I shall punish you.
"Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice." Hearing this, Raghunätha däsa was greatly pleased.
Raghunätha däsa immediately sent his own men to the village to purchase all kinds of eatables and bring them back.
Raghunätha däsa brought chipped rice, yogurt, milk, sweetmeats, sugar, bananas and other eatables and placed them all around.
As soon as they heard that a festival was going to be held, all kinds of brähmaëas and other gentlemen began to arrive. Thus there were innumerable people.
Seeing the crowd increasing, Raghunätha däsa arranged to get more eatables from other villages. He also brought two to four hundred large, round earthen pots.
He also obtained five or seven especially large earthen pots, and in these pots a brähmaëa began soaking chipped rice for the satisfaction of Lord Nityänanda.
In one place, chipped rice was soaked in hot milk in each of the large pots. Then half the rice was mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas.
The other half was mixed with condensed milk and a special type of banana known as cäìpä-kalä. Then sugar, clarified butter and camphor were added.
After Nityänanda Prabhu had changed His cloth for a new one and sat on a raised platform, the brähmaëa brought before Him the seven huge pots.
On that platform, all the most important associates of Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, as well as other important men, sat down in a circle around the Lord.
Among them were Rämadäsa, Sundaränanda, Gadädhara däsa, Muräri, Kamaläkara, Sadäçiva and Purandara.
Dhanaïjaya, Jagadéça, Parameçvara däsa, Maheça, Gaurédäsa and Hoòa Kåñëadäsa were also there.
Similarly, Uddhäraëa Datta Öhäkura and many other personal associates of the Lord sat on the raised platform with Nityänanda Prabhu. No one could count them all.
PURPORT
The devotees mentioned herein are described by Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura in his Anubhäñya. For further information one may consult the following references in the Ädi-lélä: Rämadäsa—Chapter Ten, texts 116–118, and Chapter Eleven, texts 13–16. Sundaränanda—11.23. Gadädhara däsa—10.53, 11.13–15 and 11.17. Muräri—The Muräri mentioned herein is different from Muräri Gupta. His full name is Muräri Caitanya däsa, and he is a personal associate of Nityänanda Prabhu. Thus one should consult Chapter Eleven, text 20. Kamaläkara—11.24. Sadäçiva—11.38. Purandara—11.28. Dhanaïjaya—11.31. Jagadéça—11.30. Parameçvara—11.29. Maheça—11.32. Gaurédäsa—11.26. Hoòa Kåñëadäsa—11.47. Uddhäraëa Datta Öhäkura—11.41.
Hearing about the festival, all kinds of learned scholars, brähmaëas and priests went there. Lord Nityänanda Prabhu honored them and made them sit on the raised platform with Him.
Everyone was offered two earthen pots. In one was put chipped rice with condensed milk, and in the other chipped rice with yogurt.
All the other people sat in groups around the platform. No one could count how many people there were.
Each and every one of them was supplied two earthen pots—one of chipped rice soaked in yogurt and the other of chipped rice soaked in condensed milk.
Some of the brähmaëas, not having gotten a place on the platform, went to the bank of the Ganges with their two earthen pots and soaked their chipped rice there.
Others, who could not get a place even on the bank of the Ganges, got down into the water and began eating their two kinds of chipped rice.
Thus some sat on the platform, some at the base of the platform, and some on the bank of the Ganges, and they were all supplied two pots each by the twenty men who distributed the food.
At that time, Räghava Paëòita arrived there. Seeing the situation, he began to laugh in great surprise.
He brought many kinds of food cooked in ghee and offered to the Lord. This prasädam he first placed before Lord Nityänanda and then distributed among the devotees.
Räghava Paëòita said to Lord Nityänanda, "For You, Sir, I have already offered food to the Deity, but You are engaged in a festival here, and so the food is lying there untouched."
Lord Nityänanda replied, "Let Me eat all this food here during the day, and I shall eat at your home at night.
"I belong to a community of cowherd boys, and therefore I generally have many cowherd associates with Me. I am happy when we eat together in a picnic like this by the sandy bank of the river."
Lord Nityänanda made Räghava Paëòita sit down and had two pots delivered to him also. There were two kinds of chipped rice soaked in them.
When chipped rice had been served to everyone, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu, in meditation, brought Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
When Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu arrived, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu stood up. They then saw how the others were enjoying the chipped rice with yogurt and condensed milk.
From each and every pot, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu took one morsel of chipped rice and pushed it into the mouth of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu as a joke.
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, also smiling, took a morsel of food, pushed it into the mouth of Nityänanda and laughed as He made Lord Nityänanda eat it.
In this way Lord Nityänanda was walking through all the groups of eaters, and all the Vaiñëavas standing there were seeing the fun.
No one could understand what Nityänanda Prabhu was doing as He walked about. Some, however, who were very fortunate, could see that Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu was also present.
Then Nityänanda Prabhu smiled and sat down. On His right side He kept four pots of chipped rice that had not been made from boiled paddy.
Lord Nityänanda offered Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu a place and had Him sit down. Then together the two brothers began eating chipped rice.
Seeing Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu eating with Him, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu became very happy and exhibited varieties of ecstatic love.
Lord Nityänanda Prabhu ordered, "All of you eat, chanting the holy name of Hari." Immediately the holy names "Hari, Hari" resounded, filling the entire universe.
When all the Vaiñëavas were chanting the holy names "Hari, Hari" and eating, they remembered how Kåñëa and Balaräma ate with Their companions the cowherd boys on the bank of the Yamunä.
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Lord Nityänanda Prabhu are extremely merciful and liberal. It was Raghunätha däsa's good fortune that They accepted all these dealings.
Who can understand the influence and mercy of Lord Nityänanda Prabhu? He is so powerful that He induced Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu to come eat chipped rice on the bank of the Ganges.
All the confidential devotees who were cowherd boys, headed by Çré Rämadäsa, were absorbed in ecstatic love. They thought the bank of the Ganges to be the bank of the Yamunä.
When the shopkeepers of many other villages heard about the festival, they arrived there to sell chipped rice, yogurt, sweetmeats and bananas.
As they came, bringing all kinds of food, Raghunätha däsa purchased it all. He gave them the price for their goods and later fed them the very same food.
Anyone who came to see how these funny things were going on was also fed chipped rice, yogurt and bananas.
After Lord Nityänanda Prabhu finished eating, He washed His hands and mouth and gave Raghunätha däsa the food remaining in the four pots.
There was food remaining in the three other big pots of Lord Nityänanda, and a brähmaëa distributed it to all the devotees, giving a morsel to each.
Then a brähmaëa brought a flower garland, placed the garland on Nityänanda Prabhu's neck and smeared sandalwood pulp all over His body.
When a servant brought betel nuts and offered them to Lord Nityänanda, the Lord smiled and chewed them.
With His own hands Lord Nityänanda Prabhu distributed to all the devotees whatever flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and betel nuts remained.
After receiving the remnants of food left by Lord Nityänanda Prabhu, Raghunätha däsa, who was greatly happy, ate some and distributed the rest among his own associates.
Thus I have described the pastimes of Lord Nityänanda Prabhu in relation to the celebrated festival of chipped rice and yogurt.
Nityänanda Prabhu rested for the day, and when the day ended He went to the temple of Räghava Paëòita and began congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.
Lord Nityänanda Prabhu first influenced all the devotees to dance, and finally He Himself began dancing, thus inundating the entire world in ecstatic love.
Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu was observing the dancing of Lord Nityänanda Prabhu. Nityänanda Prabhu could see this, but the others could not.
The dancing of Lord Nityänanda Prabhu, like the dancing of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, cannot be compared to anything within these three worlds.
No one can properly describe the sweetness of Lord Nityänanda's dancing. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu personally comes to see it.
After the dancing and after Lord Nityänanda had rested, Räghava Paëòita submitted his request that the Lord take supper.
Lord Nityänanda Prabhu sat down for supper with His personal associates and made a sitting place on His right side for Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu came there and sat down at His place. Seeing this, Räghava Paëòita felt increasing happiness.
Räghava Paëòita brought the prasädam before the two brothers and thereafter distributed prasädam to all the other Vaiñëavas.
There were varieties of cakes, sweet rice and fine cooked rice that surpassed the taste of nectar. There were also varieties of vegetables.
The food prepared and offered to the Deity by Räghava Paëòita was like the essence of nectar. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu came there again and again to eat such prasädam.
When Räghava Paëòita offered the food to the Deity after cooking, he would make a separate offering for Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
Every day, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu would eat at the house of Räghava Paëòita. Sometimes He would give Räghava Paëòita the opportunity to see Him.
Räghava Paëòita would bring and distribute prasädam to the two brothers, feeding Them with great attention. They ate everything, and therefore there were no remnants left.
He brought so many presentations that no one could know them perfectly. Indeed, it was a fact that the supreme mother, Rädhäräëé, personally cooked in the house of Räghava Paëòita.
Çrématé Rädhäräëé received from Durväsä Muni the benediction that whatever She cooked would be sweeter than nectar. That is the special feature of Her cooking.
Aromatic and pleasing to see, the food was the essence of all sweetness. Thus the two brothers, Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Lord Nityänanda Prabhu, ate it with great satisfaction.
All the devotees present requested Raghunätha däsa to sit down and take prasädam, but Räghava Paëòita told them, "He will take prasädam later."
All the devotees took prasädam, filling themselves to the brim. Thereafter, chanting the holy name of Hari, they stood up and washed their hands and mouths.
After eating, the two brothers washed Their hands and mouths. Then Räghava Paëòita brought flower garlands and sandalwood pulp and decorated Them.
Räghava Paëòita offered Them betel nuts and worshiped Their lotus feet. He also distributed betel nuts, flower garlands and sandalwood pulp to the devotees.
Räghava Paëòita, being very merciful toward Raghunätha däsa, offered him the dishes with the remnants of food left by the two brothers.
He said, "Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu has eaten this food. If you take His remnants, you will be released from the bondage of your family."
The Supreme Personality of Godhead always resides either in the heart or in the home of a devotee. This fact is sometimes hidden and sometimes manifest, for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully independent.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-pervasive, and therefore He resides everywhere. Anyone who doubts this will be annihilated.
In the morning, after taking His bath in the Ganges, Nityänanda Prabhu sat down with His associates beneath the same tree under which He had previously sat.
Raghunätha däsa went there and worshiped Lord Nityänanda's lotus feet. Through Räghava Paëòita, he submitted his desire.
"I am the lowest of men, the most sinful, fallen and condemned. Nevertheless, I desire to attain shelter at the lotus feet of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
"Like a dwarf who wants to catch the moon, I have tried my best many times, but I have never been successful.
"Every time I tried to go away and give up my home relationships, my father and mother unfortunately kept me bound.
"No one can attain the shelter of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu without Your mercy, but if You are merciful, even the lowest of men can attain shelter at His lotus feet.
"Although I am unfit and greatly afraid to submit this plea, I nevertheless request You, Sir, to be especially merciful toward me by granting me shelter at the lotus feet of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
"Placing Your feet on my head, give me the benediction that I may achieve the shelter of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu without difficulty. I pray for this benediction."
After hearing this appeal by Raghunätha däsa, Lord Nityänanda Prabhu smiled and told all the devotees, "Raghunätha däsa's standard of material happiness is equal to that of Indra, the King of heaven.
"Because of the mercy bestowed upon him by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, Raghunätha däsa, although situated in such material happiness, does not like it at all. Therefore let every one of you be merciful toward him and give him the benediction that he may very soon attain shelter at the lotus feet of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
"One who experiences the fragrance of the lotus feet of Lord Kåñëa does not value even the standard of happiness available in Brahmaloka, the topmost planet. And what to speak of heavenly happiness?
"'Lord Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is offered sublime, poetic prayers by those trying to attain His favor. Thus He is known as Uttamaçloka. Being very eager to gain the association of Lord Kåñëa, King Bharata, although in the prime of youth, gave up his very attractive wife, affectionate children, most beloved friends and opulent kingdom, exactly as one gives up stool after excreting it.'"
PURPORT
This verse is from Çrémad-Bhägavatam (5.14.43).
Then Lord Nityänanda Prabhu called Raghunätha däsa near Him, placed His lotus feet upon Raghunätha däsa's head and began to speak.
"My dear Raghunätha däsa," He said, "since you arranged the feast on the bank of the Ganges, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu came here just to show you His mercy.
"By His causeless mercy He ate the chipped rice and milk. Then, after seeing the dancing of the devotees at night, He took His supper.
"Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, Gaurahari, came here personally to deliver you. Now rest assured that all the impediments meant for your bondage are gone.
"Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu will accept you and place you under the charge of His secretary, Svarüpa Dämodara. You will thus become one of the most confidential internal servants and will attain shelter at the lotus feet of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.
"Being assured of all this, return to your own home. Very soon, without impediments, you will attain shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu."
Lord Nityänanda had Raghunätha däsa blessed by all the devotees, and Raghunätha däsa offered his respects to their lotus feet.