20200502 Gaurāṅga’s Amazing Mango

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānanda-mādhavam śrī caitanya īśvaram
Harihi oṁ tat sat

Chapter entitled as Gaurāṅga’s Amazing Mango

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.79

prabhura āmravṛkṣa-ropaṇa o phaladāna-kāhinī –

eka-dina prabhu saba bhakta-gaṇa lañā
saṅkīrtana kari’ vaise śrama-yukta hañā

Translation: One day the Lord performed saṅkīrtana with all His devotees, and when they were greatly fatigued they sat down.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.25

hari nāma nārāyaṇa śacīra dulāla gaurā
āra-dine āra kathā śuna adbhuta
nitui nūtana prakāśaye śacīsuta

Translation: Please hear another wonderful story of another day's pastime. Śacī's son manifests eternally new and fresh pastimes.

Jayapatākā Swami: Śacīdulāla, Gaura Hari, who was the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, He engaged in harināma-saṅkīrtana. Listen to one wonderful story that happened another day which Śacī Suta, the son of mother Śacī, manifested, a new and fresh pastime.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.27

kevala niguḍha prakāśaye ṭhākurāla
nijajane kahe-dekha michā e saṃsāra

Translation: In this pastime Lord Gaura revealed the secret truth about Himself. To His personal associates He said: This world of birth and death is false."

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this pastime, Lord Gaurāṅga, He gave His confidential knowledge to His own associates. He said, look at this world of repeated birth and death, is actually false.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.28

ihā bali’ āna-parasaṅge kahe āna
pāśarila sabaloka laẏa harināma

Translation: Saying this, on some other context, He spoke of other things and forgetting all the worlds, He became rapt in chanting Lord Hari's holy names.

Jayapatākā Swami: Saying this, He spoke of other subjects and spoke other things. Along with the other devotees, He became rapt in attention, He became absorbed in chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.29

nija-nāma-saṅkīrttane mātala antara
bhūmite luṭāñā kānde -prema parabala

Translation: In His own holy names, performing congregational chanting, He became wild at heart. Rolling on the ground, He wept due to the power of prema.

Jayapatākā Swami: Being absorbed in the chanting of saṅkīrtana, of His own spiritual names, He became mad inside and started to roll on the ground and crying, in the power of pure love of Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.30

ācambite uṭhi’ kahe diẏā karatāli
nijajane prakāśaẏe nija-ṭhākurāli

Translation: Suddenly standing up and clapping his hands, He said to His personal associates revealing His true identity, the truth that He is indeed the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Jayapatākā Swami: Suddenly, He rose up and He spoke, clapping His hands. He told to His own associates. He manifested His own identity as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.4.6

athāpara-dine bhūmāv upaviśyānunādayan
karatālair diśāh proce paśya śailūṣa-ceṣṭitam

Translation: On another day, while sitting on the ground, He clapped the palms of His hands, making sounds which reverberated in all directions, and called out, "Oh! Just behold the activities of the actor!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.31

dekha dekha āmrarīja āropila āmi
āmāra arjita taru haïbe āpani

Translation: Look. Look. I now plant a mango seed. The seed I plant will now grow into a tree on its own."

Jayapatākā Swami: Look it, look it and He said, I will plant a seed of a mango and it will grow into a mango tree, on its own.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.4.7

paśya paśyādbhutaṁ bījaṁ bhūmau saṁropitaṁ mayā
paśya paśyāṅkuro jāto nimiṣeṇa taruḥ punaḥ

Translation: "Behold, behold the wonderful seed which I am planting in the earth! Look, look at this sprout which has germinated and becoming a tree within a moment!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.32

takhane kahaye sarajane ācambita
ekhani ropila bīja bhela aṅkurita

Translation: Saying these words, Lord Gaura quickly planted a mango seed at that time. At once it sprouted.

Jayapatākā Swami: Saying these words, Lord Gaurāṅga told His associates suddenly, now I have planted this seed and at once it has sprouted. aṅkurita.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.80

eka āmrabīja prabhu aṅgane ropila
tatakṣaṇe janmiyā vṛkṣa bāḍite lāgila

Translation: The Lord then sowed a mango seed in the yard, and immediately the seed fructified into a tree and began to grow.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.33

dekhite dekhite bhela taru muñjarita
haila uttama śākhā taru mukulita

Translation: As everyone watched and watched, the tree quickly grew. Best branches have formed, and the tree became blossomed fully.

Jayapatākā Swami: As the devotees were watching, they watched the tree grow. It became a large tree, having many branches, and each of the branches became blossomed fully.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.29

bhoḥ paśya paśya bhuvi ropitam āmra-bījaṁ
cūtasya paśya punar aṅkura eṣa jātaḥ
paśyaiṣa samprati babhūva vitasti-mātro
bhūyo’pi paśya viṭapo’sya babhūva śīghram

Translation: “Look! Look! I planted a mango seed in the earth. The mango has sprouted. Look! Now it has become vitasti (about eight inches). Now look!  It has manifested branches quickly.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.30

śākhā babhūvur iha paśya nimeṣa-mātrāt
paśyāsya pallava-cayaḥ parito babhūva
paśyaitad eva paripakvam abhūd athāsya
paśyābhavad grahaṇam apy aticitram etat

Translation: “Look! This has grown branches. In just within a moment, it has grown buds everywhere.  Look at this! The fruits have become ripe. It is most astonishing to see.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.4.8

jātaṁ paśyāsya puṣpaughaṁ
paśya paśya phalaṁ punaḥ
jātaṁ paśya phalaṁ pakvaṁ
tasya saṅgrahaṇaṁ punaḥ

Translation: "Look at this. Flowers have blossomed. Look, look at the fruits born. Look, the fruits have ripened. I have collected the fruits.

Jayapatākā Swami: This place is still known as Āma-ghāṭā, and there this pastime happened where Lord Caitanya planted a mango seed, it grew up and immediately it gave the ripened mango fruits to all the devotees who were doing saṅkīrtana-yajña, who were chanting the holy names, congregationally.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.81

dekhite dekhite vṛkṣa ha-ila phalita
pākila aneka phala, sabei vismita

Translation: As people looked on, the tree became fully grown, with fruits that fully ripened. Thus everyone was struck with wonder.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.34

dekha dekha saba-loka aparūpa āra
mukulita haila hera taruṭi āmāra

Translation: See, everyone see the another wonder. See the tree of mine has bloomed.

Jayapatākā Swami: Look it! Look it! everyone see, this wonderful tree. How My tree has already blossomed!

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.35

takhani haila phala-pākila sekāle
aṅguli helāñā prabhu dekhāya sabhāre

Translation: Then it borne fruits and at the same moment the mangoes became ripe. With a finger Lord Gaura pointed the fruits to everyone.

Jayapatākā Swami: Then, at that time, the tree began to manifest fruits, ripened. The Lord showed to everyone present, by stretching His finger and showed the fruits.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.82

śata dui phala prabhu śīghra pāḍāila
prakṣālana kari’ kṛṣṇe bhoga lāgāila

Translation: The Lord immediately picked about two hundred fruits, and after washing them He offered them to Kṛṣṇa to eat.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.36

Pāḍiyā ānila phala dekhe saba loke
nivedana kari’ dila īśvara sammukhe

Translation: Plucking a fruit he picked up a fruit as everyone watched. Then he offered it to the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: Taking the fruits, as everyone watched, He offered them, placing them before the Lord.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.83

rakta-pīta-varṇa, — nāhi aṣṭhi-valkala
eka janera peṭa bhare khāile eka phala

Translation: The fruits were all red and yellow, with no seed inside and no skin outside, and eating one fruit would immediately fill a man’s belly.

PURPORT: In India a mango is considered best when it is red and yellow, its seed is very small, its skin is very thin, and it is so palatable that if a person eats one fruit he will be satisfied. The mango is considered the king of all fruits.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.84

dekhiyā santuṣṭa hailā śacīra nandana
sabāke khāoyāla āge kariyā bhakṣaṇa

Translation: Seeing the quality of the mangoes, the Lord was greatly satisfied, and thus after eating first, He fed all the other devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: This shows how the Lord, He loves to serve His devotees, and this mango tree is specially for all the devotees.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.85

aṣṭhi-valkala nāhi, — amṛta-rasamaya
eka phala khāile rase udara pūraya

Translation: The fruits had no seeds or skins. They were full of nectarean juice and were so sweet that a man would be fully satisfied by eating only one.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.86

ei-mata pratidina phale bāra māsa
vaiṣṇava khāyena phala, — prabhura ullāsa

Translation: In this way, fruits grew on the tree every day throughout the twelve months of the year, and the Vaiṣṇavas used to eat them, to the Lord’s great satisfaction.

Jayapatākā Swami: So normally, mango season is more or less from May, June, July, maybe in a few places it is different. Maybe a few mangoes earlier or later. It is very rare; this mango tree gave ripened fruit every day of the year. So, the devotees after doing the harināma-saṅkīrtana, congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, they would have a mango fruit, be fully satisfied, and the Lord seeing them taking the mango prasādam, He was greatly satisfied.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.26

ati aparūpa kathā-loke abidita
adhamajanera mane nā haya pratīta

Translation: This narration is very wonderful. This is not known in the world. The fallen people do not realize this in their hearts.

Jayapatākā Swami: This is a wonderful pastime. This is not known in the world. The fallen souls are not able to realize this.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.87

ei saba līlā kare śacīra nandana
anya loka nāhi jāne vinā bhakta-gaṇa

Translation: These are confidential pastimes of the son of Śacī. Other than devotees, no one knows of this incident.

PURPORT: Nondevotees cannot believe this incident, yet the place where the tree grew still exists in Māyāpur. It is called Āmra-ghaṭṭa or Āma-ghāṭā.

Jayapatākā Swami: It is actually a station on the eastern railway, on the line from Kṛṣṇa Nagar to Navadvīpa-ghāṭā.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 17.88

ei mata bāra-māsa kīrtana-avasāne
āmra-mahotsava prabhu kare dine dine

Translation: In this way the Lord performed saṅkīrtana every day, and at the end of saṅkīrtana there was a mango-eating festival every day for twelve months.

PURPORT: On principle, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu would distribute prasādam at the end of kīrtana performances. Similarly, the members of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement must distribute some prasādam to the audience after performing kīrtana.

Jayapatākā Swami: This is an important instruction by the Founder Ācārya of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, that at the end of the saṅkīrtana performance, there should be some prasādam distributed, foodstuff offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.37

tileke sakala sei nā dekhiye kichu
phalamātra āche-gācha michā haila pāchu

Translation: No trace of the tree could be seen. Only the fruit remained. The tree has become false.

Jayapatākā Swami: No trace of the tree could be seen. No one could see any trace of it. The fruit was the only thing that remained. The tree could no longer be seen and had become false.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.28

anyedyur udyad-ahimāṁśu-sahasra-bhāsvān
bhūmau vasan kara-tala-dvaya-tāla-pūraiḥ
sarvā diśaḥ pratiravonmukharāḥ samantāt
kurvann uvāca nija-pāda-payoja-bhaktān

Translation: Another day, shining like a thousand rising suns, he sat on the ground, filling the directions with the sound of karatālas held in his two hands.  He then spoke to his devotees who served his lotus feet.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.31

vṛkṣaś ca sarva-viṭapaś ca phalaṁ ca sarvaṁ
māyā-kṛtaṁ sakalam eva kuto’pi nāsti |
śailūṣa-ceṣṭitam idaṁ vitathaṁ yad etat
tat-prāpta-vaikṛtam anarthakatāṁ prayāti

Translation: “The tree, all its branches and the fruit are all illusory. They have no existence. They are illusions caused by a magician.  They change and become useless.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.38

aiche māyā dekhāila-kahe sarvaloke
ihā jāni’ nā mariha e saṁsāra-śoke

Translation: Thus the Lord showed the māyā. The Lord said to everyone, “Aware that this world is māyā, do not be overcome by lamentation in this world of birth and death.

Jayapatākā Swami: To everyone there, the Lord showed the illusion or māyā. Aware that this world is māyā. Do not be overcome by the lamentation in this world of birth and death.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.4.9

phalaṁ vṛkṣo’pi nāsty eva kṣaṇān māyā-kṛtaṁ yataḥ
prāntare tu kṛtaṁ hy eva na kīñcid api labhyate

Translation: "Certainly neither these fruits nor the tree, which have been created within a moment by My illusory energy, have any reality. They are like the mirage in the desert, from which there is nothing to be obtained.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.39

mora māyābale sṛṣṭi sakala saṁsāra
nā bujhi’ sakala loka bole āpanāra

Translation: By the power of My māyā this world of birth and death is created. Not understanding this truth, everyone says that this world is their property.

Jayapatākā Swami: By the power of My illusory energy, I create this entire world of birth and death. Not understanding this, all the conditioned souls say that it is their property.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.40

mora māyā-daḍi kebā chiḍimbāre pare
sabe eka patha āche māyā jinibāre

Translation: How can one cut the ropes of My māyā? There is only one path to conquer maya.

Jayapatākā Swami: The rope of My illusory energy, only one can cut these ropes by one method, or one path to conquer māyā.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.41-42

yata yata deha-dharma-karma kare loke
sarvakarma āropaṇa kare yadi moke

tabe deha-samarpaṇa kṛṣṇapade haya
karmākarma-śubhāśubha-bandha nāhi haya

Translation: Whatever actions one does pertaining this body, if one offers them to me, then the body is offered to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, and such a person is not bound by karma or akarma, pious deeds or impious deeds.

Jayapatākā Swami: Whatever the bodily religions, or pious activities that people perform, whatever activities are offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa, everything is offered at the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and then the pious or impious reactions, the auspicious and inauspicious activities, no longer bind one.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.43

e bhakti parama tattva -samarpaṇa gaṇi
samarpite kṛṣṇe-bheda nāhi rahe āpani

Translation: So, I consider this bhakti of self-surrendering offering to Kṛṣṇa to be the supreme truth, for by which, one does not remain separate from Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this devotional service is considered to be the Supreme Truth, of self-surrendering. When one surrenders to Lord Kṛṣṇa, then he does not remain separate from Kṛṣṇa.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.44

saba samarpile-kṛṣṇa pāi sarvathāya
sakala purāṇe gītā, bhāgavate gāya

Translation: A person who offers everything to Lord Kṛṣṇa attains Lord Kṛṣṇa in all respects. The Bhagavad-gīta, Śrimad-Bhāgavatam, and in all the Puraṇas sing this truth.

Jayapatākā Swami: If everything is offered to Lord Kṛṣṇa, then a person attains Kṛṣṇa in all respects. This is spoken by all the Purāṇas, Bhagavad-gīta, Śrimad-Bhāgavatam.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.45

nahe bā sakala ei haya anarthaka
īśvare arpile saba saṁsāra sārthaka

Translation: A person who does not offer everything to Lord Kṛṣṇa lives in vain. A person who offers everything to Lord obtains valuable gift in this samsāra."

Jayapatākā Swami: If one does not offer everything to Lord Kṛṣṇa, their life is without any meaning. Offering everything to the Supreme Lord, the whole material world becomes valuable.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.32

etat tad apy amṛtam eva yad īśvarasya
kautūhalāya purataḥ kurute janaughaḥ
prāpnoti sad-vasanam ṛktham atiprakāmaṁ
māyā-kṛtena ca phalaṁ labhate vicitram

Translation: “If men perform actions for the Lord’s pleasure, those actions becomes eternal while obtaining fine cloth and great wealth. Whereas, if they perform out of māyā, the result is opposite.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.33

evaṁ hi viśvam akhilaṁ vitathaṁ yad etan
niṣpādyate satatam īśvara-sevanāya
tat sārthakaṁ bhavati samyag asatyam etat
satyaṁ bhaved aśuci yat tad idaṁ śuci syāt

Translation: “If one offers the whole illusory universe for the service of the Lord constantly, it becomes meaningful. This false of everything becomes real, because, the things offered to the Lord, if impure becomes pure.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this reveals how devotional service, actually changes this illusory energy into something meaningful, by offering it to the Lord. Even though it is illusory energy, anything offered to the Lord becomes pure. So, we should offer this illusory energy to the Lord, and then it will become meaningful. If we don’t offer to the Lord, then the whole world which is false, illusion, has no meaning.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya, 6.34

tasmāj janaiḥ sakalam eva pareśvarasya
sevārtham apy anṛtam etad ihāvaceyam
saṁsāra eṣa nahi tasya bhaved virodhī
sevā-paras tu nahi bādhyate eva kaiścit

Translation: “Therefore, if one gathers everything false for the service of the Lord, saṁsāra no longer acts contrary to the person, because the person engaged in service is never obstructed by anything.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.4.10

īśvarasyāgrataḥ kṛtvā dhanaṁ vipulam aśnute
evaṁ māyā-kṛtaṁ karma sarvaṁ cedam anarthakam

Translation: "In this way, all work performed for māyā is insubstantial, but if one performs for the service of the Lord, then one obtains immense wealth of prema.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 2.4.11

īśvarārthaṁ kṛtaṁ hy etat sarvaṁ sārthakatām īyāt
tasmād īśvara-sevārthaṁ sarvaṁ karmācaret sudhīḥ

Translation: "All that which is done for the sake of the Lord brings actual benefit. Therefore, a man of refined intelligence should perform all his work for the Lord's satisfaction."

Caitanya Maṅgala, Madhya-khaṇḍa, 2.2.46

hena adbhuta gaurācāndera prakāśa
śuni ānandita kahe e locanadāsa

Translation: In this way Lord Gauracandra revealed a very wonderful truth. Hearing it, Locana dasa becomes filled with bliss narrates this

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way, Lord Gauracandra has given this wonderful instruction. And hearing this, the author Locanadāsa, he is very blissful to narrate this. You see, this secret, we know that many jñānīs they say, that jagan mithyā brahma satyaṁ. That this material world is false, brahman is true. But actually, Kṛṣṇa is the Para-brahman, he is the Supreme Absolute Truth. So, we offer these temporary material activities, objects to Kṛṣṇa, then in this way, we can transform the temporary material energy into spiritual pure love of Kṛṣṇa. So, one has no difficulty in the material world, they may have sufficient things to be peaceful, but since he is using everything for Kṛṣṇa, he gets the real treasure of life which is love of Kṛṣṇa. All the great teachers in the world have said we should try to achieve the love of Godhead, but this is the secret, how to do it - offer everything to Kṛṣṇa, offer everything to the Supreme Lord for His satisfaction.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Sūtra-khaṇḍa 1.102

bhaktake prasāda āmrabīja-āropane
yā śunile sarvajanera dvidhā ghuce maṇe

Translation: Being kind to the devotees, the Lord planted a mango seed, hearing the narration of which destroys the doubts of anyone in the heart.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, being very kind to His devotees, Lord Caitanya, Lord Gaurāṅga, planted the mango seed which grew into a tree and gave fruits. Anyone who hears this pastime, all the person’s doubts are taken out of the heart.

So, actually this world is you can see, this is the illusory energy of the Lord. Lord Gaurāṅga, Lord Kṛṣṇa are the magicians to make this temporary world. We think that it is real. If we use it for Kṛṣṇa, it becomes real! So, we should use the energy of Kṛṣṇa for Kṛṣṇa’s service. And that transforms into the Absolute Truth. Haribol!

So, this mango tree came, was there, and devotees had mangoes. And then, Lord Caitanya, Lord Gaurāṅga, He made the tree disappear. So, the tree was illusory, but the mango filled the belly! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! So, this whole material world is illusory, but somehow by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy if we use it for Kṛṣṇa, then we will get the supreme benefit of kṛṣṇa-prema, pure ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa. Haribol!

Thus ends the Chapter -
Gaurāṅga’s Amazing Mango

* * *

I am ready for the mango now! (HG Mahāvarāha dāsa said: The trees here are budding now!)

In South India we saw many mangoes! (On Zoom) they were offering me mangoes on my Zoom visits! Also, in the Middle East! Can I go?

Announcement: One of Guru Mahārāja’s disciples, Ācārya Premī devī dāsī’s husband Gaurav living in Canada is very sick and his health condition is getting worse. Possibly due to cancer. So, they are requesting Guru Mahārāja to pray for him, requesting all the devotees to pray for this devotee. So, let us all pray to Lord Gaura, by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare!

We don’t know what the Lord’s will is. Sometimes, He wants to take people back to Godhead, sometimes He may cure people. So, we pray to the Lord, whatever He pleases, if He pleases, please let him stay, all that is up to Kṛṣṇa. If he gets better that is very nice, because we need devotees in this world. But some devotees, they leave the world also. But we want them, that they go back to Kṛṣṇa we always pray, if the Lord pleases, then He may give this devotee his health back.