20210312 Rāmānanda Rāya Goes to See Lord Caitanya In Lieu of Seeing Lord Jagannātha First

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on March 12th, 2021 in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, India.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram
Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Continuation of the Compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, today’s chapter entitled:

Rāmānanda Rāya Goes to See Lord Caitanya In Lieu of Seeing Lord Jagannātha First 
Under the section, the Beda kīrtana pastimes of Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.14

kaṭaka haite rāmānanda prabhṛti parikara-saha rājāra purīte āgamana:—
hena kāle pratāparudra puruṣottame āilā
pātra-mitra-saṅge rājā daraśane calilā

Translation: At this time, Mahārāja Pratāparudra arrived at Jagannātha Purī, Puruṣottama, and, accompanied by his secretaries, ministers and military officers, went to visit the temple of Lord Jagannātha.

Purport: It appears that Mahārāja Pratāparudra used to live at Kaṭaka (Cuttack), his capital. Later he shifted his capital to Khurdā, a few miles from Jagannātha Purī. Presently there is a railway station there called Khurdā Road.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.15

prabhu rāmānanda-milana –
rāmānanda rāya āilā gajapati-saṅge
prathamei prabhure āsi’ mililā bahu-raṅge

Translation: When King Pratāparudra returned to Jagannātha Purī, Rāmānanda Rāya came with him. Rāmānanda Rāya immediately went to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great pleasure.

Purport: All Indian kings are given titles. Sometimes they are known as Chatrapati, sometimes as Narapati, sometimes as Aśvapati, and so on. The King of Orissa is addressed as Gajapati.

Jayapatākā Swami: Gaja means elephant, so He had many elephants under his charge, therefore he got the name Gajapati.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.16

rāya praṇati kaila, prabhu kaila āliṅgana
dui jane premāveśe karena krandana

Translation: Upon meeting Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rāmānanda Rāya offered his obeisances. The Lord embraced him, and both of them began to cry in the great ecstasy of love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.17

rāyera prati prabhura ācaraṇa-darśane sakalera vismaya:—
rāya-saṅge prabhura dekhi’ sneha-vyavahāra
sarva bhakta-gaṇera mane haila camatkāra

Translation: Seeing Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s intimate dealings with Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, all the devotees there were astonished.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Lord Caitanya embraced Rāmānanda Rāya, they both cried in spiritual love, so this was astonishing to all the devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.18

rāyera rājakārya-parityāga-saṁvāda-jñāpana:—
rāya kahe,—tomāra ājñā rājāke kahili
tomāra icchāya rājā mora viṣaya chāḍāila

Translation: Rāmānanda Rāya said, “I duly informed King Pratāparudra of Your order for me to retire from service. By Your grace, the King was pleased to relieve me of these material activities.

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Rāmānanda Rāya to retire from his governorship, and according to the Lord’s desire, Rāmānanda Rāya petitioned the King. The King was very pleased to give him relief, and thus Rāmānanda Rāya retired from service and received a pension from the government.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Rāmānanda Rāya, he left his high position as a Governor on the request of Caitanya Mahāprabhu thus he showed the standard of surrender.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.19

rājāra nikaṭa rāyera avasara prārthanā:—
āmi kahi,—āmā haite nā haya ‘viṣaya’
caitanya-caraṇe rahoṅ, yadi ājñā haya

Translation: “I said, ‘Your Majesty, I am now not willing to engage in political activities. I desire only to stay at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kindly give me permission.’

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.20

rājāra sānande sammati-dāna:—
tomāra nāma śuni’ rājā ānandita haila
āsana haite uṭhi’ more āliṅgana kaila

Translation: “When I submitted this proposal, the King immediately became very pleased upon hearing Your name. Indeed, he instantly rose from his throne and embraced me.

Jayapatākā Swami: The king was very eager to serve Lord Caitanya and since giving Rāmānanda Rāya retirement was one way of serving Lord Caitany, he was very happy to do that, and then he embraced Rāmānanda Rāya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.21

prabhura prati rājāra bhakti:—
tomāra nāma śuni’ haila mahā-premāveśa
mora hāte dhari’ kare pirīti viśeṣa

Translation: “My dear Lord, as soon as the King heard Your holy name, he was immediately overwhelmed by great ecstatic love. Catching my hand, he displayed all the symptoms of love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.22

rāyake avasara diyāo betana-dāna:—
tomāra ye vartana, tumi khāo sei vartana
niścinta hañā bhaja caitanyera caraṇa

Translation: “As soon as he heard my petition, he immediately granted me a pension without reductions. Thus the King granted me a full salary as a pension and requested me to engage without anxiety in the service of Your lotus feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Gajapati had so much devotion for Lord Caitanya that he granted retirement to Rāmānanda Rāya with full pension.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.23

rājāra dainya:—
āmi—chāra, yogya nahi tāṅra daraśane
tāṅre yei bhaje tāṅra saphala jīvane

Translation: “Then Mahārāja Pratāparudra very humbly said, ‘I am most fallen and abominable, and I am unfit to receive an interview with the Lord. One’s life is successful if one engages in His service.’

Jayapatākā Swami: One time the King said, everyone in my kingdom can see Lord Caitanya except for me. I am most abominable because I am a king, therefore I cannot see Lord Caitanya, although that is the only thing I want. (Hari Bol!)

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.24

parama kṛpālu teṅha vrajendra-nandana
kona-janme more avaśya dibena daraśana

Translation: “The King then said, ‘Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa, the son of Mahārāja Nanda. He is very merciful, and I hope that in a future birth He will allow me an interview.’

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.25

prabhu-samīpe rāyakarttṛka rājāra praśaṁsā:—
ye tāṅhāra prema-ārti dekhiluṅ tomāte
tāra eka prema-leśa nāhika āmāte

Translation: “My Lord, I don’t think that there is even a fraction of Mahārāja Pratāparudra’s loving ecstasy in me.”

Jayapatākā Swami: Rāmānanda Rāya is praising Pratāparudra mahārāja’s devotion for Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.26

śuddha-vaiṣṇave prītihetu prabhu karttṛka rājāke bhāvi kṛpādānera iṅgita:—
prabhu kahe,—tumi kṛṣṇa-bhakata-pradhāna
tomāke ye prīti kare, sei bhāgyavān

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then said, “My dear Rāmānanda Rāya, you are the foremost of all the devotees of Kṛṣṇa; therefore whoever loves you is certainly a very fortunate person.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.27

tomāte ye eta prīti ha-ila rājāra
ei guṇe kṛṣṇa tāṅre karibe aṅgīkāra

Translation: “Because the King has shown so much love for you, Lord Kṛṣṇa will certainly accept him.

Purport: King Pratāparudra requested an interview with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu through the Bhaṭṭācārya, who duly submitted the request. The Lord, however, immediately refused this interview. Now when Rāmānanda Rāya informed the Lord how eager the King was to see Him, the Lord was immediately pleased. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu requested Rāmānanda Rāya to retire from his government post and come to Śrī Puruṣottama-kṣetra (Jagannātha Purī) to live with Him. When this proposal was submitted to King Pratāparudra, he immediately accepted it and also encouraged Rāmānanda Rāya by allowing him a full pension. This was very much appreciated by the Lord, and this confirms the fact that the Lord is more pleased when one serves the servant of the Lord. In ordinary parlance it is said, “If you love me, love my dog.” To approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one has to go through His confidential servant. This is the method. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu clearly says, “Because the King loves you, Rāmānanda Rāya, he is very fortunate. Kṛṣṇa will certainly accept him due to his love for you.”

Jayapatākā Swami: By directly approaching Lord Caitanya, King Pratāparudra was refused but by showing his devotion for Rāmānanda Rāya, Lord Caitanya is indicating that Lord Kṛṣṇa will give him mercy. This is the secret to have the mercy of the Lord by serving His pure devotees.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.28

bhaktera bhaktai bhagavad-bhakta:— Ādi-purāṇa-vacana:—
ye me bhakta-janāḥ pārtha
na me bhaktāś ca te janāḥ
mad-bhaktānāṁ ca ye bhaktās
te me bhakta-tamā matāḥ

Translation: “[Lord Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna:] ‘Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but those who are the devotees of My servant are factually My devotees.’

Purport: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quotes this verse from the Ādi Purāṇa. The verse is also included in the Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (2.6).

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.29-30

śuddha-bhaktera kṛtya:—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.19.21-22)—

ādaraḥ paricaryāyāṁ
sarvāṅgair abhivandanam
mad-bhakta-pūjābhyadhikā
sarva-bhūteṣu man-matiḥ

mad-artheṣv aṅga-ceṣṭā ca
vacasā mad-guṇeraṇam
mayy arpaṇaṁ ca manasaḥ
sarva-kāma-vivarjanam

Translation: “‘My devotees take great care and respect in rendering Me service. They offer obeisances to Me with all their bodily limbs. They worship other devotees and find all living entities related to Me. For Me they engage the entire energy of their bodies. They engage the power of speech in the glorification of My qualities and form. They also dedicate their minds unto Me and try to give up all kinds of material desires. Thus My devotees are characterized.’

Purport: These two verses are quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.19.21-22). They were spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, who was answering Uddhava’s inquiry about devotional service.

Jayapatākā Swami: So this gives the secret of how to have devotion for Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.31

sarveśvareśvara viṣṇura pūjāpekṣā vaiṣṇava-pūjā śreṣṭha:—

Laghu-Bhāgabatāmṛte (2.4) Padma-Purāṇa-vacana—

ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ
viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param
tasmāt parataraṁ devi
tadīyānāṁ samarcanam

Translation: “[Lord Śiva told the goddess Durgā:] ‘My dear Devī, although the Vedas recommend worship of demigods, the worship of Lord Viṣṇu is topmost. However, above the worship of Lord Viṣṇu is the rendering of service to Vaiṣṇavas, who are related to Lord Viṣṇu.’

Purport: The Vedas are divided into three divisions — karma-kāṇḍa, jṣāna-kāṇḍa and upāsanā-kāṇḍa. These are activities dealing with fruitive work, empiric philosophical speculation and worship. There are recommendations in the Vedas for the worship of various demigods as well as Lord Viṣṇu. In this quotation from the Padma Purāṇa, Lord Śiva answers a question posed to him by goddess Durgā. This verse is also included in the Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (2.4), by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. The words viṣṇor ārādhanam refer to the worship of Lord Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa. Thus the supreme form of worship is the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. It is further concluded that the worshiper of Lord Viṣṇu renders better service by worshiping the devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. There are different types of devotees — those in śānta-rasa, dāsya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vātsalya-rasa and mādhurya-rasa. Although all the rasas are on the transcendental platform, mādhurya-rasa is the supreme transcendental mellow. Consequently it is concluded that the worship of devotees engaged in the Lord’s service in mādhurya-rasa is the supreme spiritual activity. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His followers mainly worship Lord Kṛṣṇa in mādhurya-rasa. Other Vaiṣṇava ācāryas recommended worship up to vātsalya-rasa. Therefore Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī in his Vidagdha-mādhava (1.2) describes Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s cult as supreme:

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared in this Age of Kali to exhibit the superexcellence of mādhurya-rasa, a gift never previously bestowed by any ācārya or incarnation. Consequently, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is accepted as the most magnanimous incarnation. It is He only who distributed love of Kṛṣṇa while exhibiting the superexcellence of loving Kṛṣṇa in the conjugal rasa.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, how Lord Caitanya is promoting that devotion for Kṛṣṇa’s devotees is more superior and that pleases Kṛṣṇa more than worshipping Him directly. Today is Śiva rātrī , we will be worshipping Lord Śiva as a Vaiṣṇava, dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya has also taught that of all the rasas, mādhurya-rasa is dearest to Kṛṣṇa. So, in this paramaparā, the tradition of worshipping, the worshipers of Kṛṣṇa in the conjugal rasa is glorified. Since Rādhārāṇī is the topmost lover of Kṛṣṇa in the conjugal rasa therefore the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas they serve with devotion, Rādhārāṇī.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.32

śuddha-bhakta-sevā bahu-sukṛti-labhyā:—

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.7.20)—

durāpā hy alpa-tapasaḥ
sevā vaikuṇṭha-vartmasu
yatropagīyate nityaṁ
deva-devo janārdanaḥ

Translation: “‘Those whose austerity is meager can hardly obtain the service of the pure devotees progressing on the path back to the kingdom of Godhead, the Vaikuṇṭhas. Pure devotees engage one hundred percent in glorifying the Supreme Lord, who is the Lord of the demigods and the controller of all living entities.’”

Purport: This verse is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.7.20). It was spoken by Vidura in his conversation with Maitreya Ṛṣi, a great devotee of the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: Once a devotee asked in the Kumbha mela that, one can worship a devotee of the Lord after performing many pious activities. That devotee asked Śrīla Prabhupāda that, “I don’t see that I performed any pious activities, so how did I get this great mercy?” Śrīla Prabhupāda replied, “ I have made your good fortune for you!” (Hari Bol!)

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.33

rāyera sakala bhaktakei yathāyogya sammāna:—
purī, bhāratī-gosāñi, svarūpa, nityānanda
jagadānanda, mukundādi yata bhakta-vṛnda

Translation: Paramānanda Purī, Brahmānanda Bhāratī Gosāñi, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosāṣi, Lord Nityānanda, Jagadānanda, Mukunda and others were present before the Lord at that time.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.34

cāri gosāñira kaila rāya caraṇa vandana
yathā-yogya saba bhaktera karila milana

Translation: Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya therefore offered his obeisances to all the Lord’s devotees, in particular to the four spiritual masters. Thus, Rāmānanda Rāya suitably met all the devotees.

Purport: The four spiritual masters referred to in this verse are Paramānanda Purī, Brahmānanda Bhāratī, Svarūpa Dāmodara and Lord Nityānanda.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Rāmānanda Rāya he was accepted as a devotee by Lord Caitanya and Lord Caitanya said that King Pratāparudra got special mercy by serving Rāmānanda Rāya Rāmānanda Rāya on his own part he offered respect to all the Vaiṣṇavas especially to the four spiritual masters, but he offered respects to everyone.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.35

jagannātha-darśanārtha rāyake ādeśa:—
prabhu kahe,—rāya, dekhile kamala-nayana?
rāya kahe,—ebe yāi pāba daraśana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu next asked Rāmānanda Rāya, “Have you already visited the temple of the lotus-eyed Lord Jagannātha?”

Rāmānanda Rāya replied, “I shall now go visit the temple.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.36

prabhu-darśanera pūrve jagannātha- darśane nā yāibāra kāraṇa-jijñāsā:—
prabhu kahe,—rāya, tumi ki kārya karile?
īśvare nā dekhi’ kene āge ethā āile?

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “What have you done, My dear Rāya? Why did you not first see Lord Jagannātha and then come here? Why have you come here first?”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.37

rāyera citta audārya-pradhāna-vigrahei adhika ākṛṣṭa:—
rāya kahe, caraṇa—ratha, hṛdaya—sārathi
yāhāṅ lañā yāya, tāhāṅ yāya jīva-rathī

Translation: Rāmānanda Rāya said, “The legs are like the chariot, and the heart is like the charioteer. Wherever the heart takes the living entity, the living entity is obliged to go.”

Purport: In the Bhagavad-gītā (18.61) Lord Kṛṣṇa explains:

“The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine made of material energy.”

Thus the living entity wanders within this universe riding upon a chariot (the body) bestowed by material nature. A similar explanation is given in the Kaṭha Upaniṣad (1.3.3–4):

Here it is said that the living entity is the passenger riding in the chariot of the body, which is offered by material nature. The intelligence is the charioteer, the mind constitutes the reins controlling the horses, and the senses are the horses. Thus the living entity is the false enjoyer of the material world.

One who is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness can control the mind and intelligence and in this way rein in the horses, the senses, even though they are very powerful. One who can control the senses by his mind and intelligence can very easily approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or Viṣṇu, who is the ultimate goal of life. Tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ. Those who are actually advanced approach Lord Viṣṇu, their ultimate goal. Such people are never captivated by Lord Viṣṇu’s external energy, the material world.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.38

āmi ki kariba, mana ihāṅ lañā āila
jagannātha-daraśane vicāra nā kaila

Translation: Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya continued, “What shall I do? My mind has brought me here. I could not consider going first to Lord Jagannātha’s temple.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.39

rāyake jagannātha o svajana darśanārtha ādeśa:—
prabhu kahe,—śīghra giyā kara daraśana
aiche ghara yāi’ kara kuṭumba milana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised, “Immediately go to Lord Jagannātha’s temple to see the Lord. Then go home and meet your family members.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 11.40

rāyera prabhu-ājñā-pālana:—
prabhu ājñā pāñā rāya calilā daraśane
rāyera prema-bhakti-rīti bujhe kon jane

Translation: Having received Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s permission, Rāmānanda Rāya hastily went to the temple of Lord Jagannātha. Who can understand the devotional service of Rāya Rāmānanda?

Jayapatākā Swami: Since Rāya Rāmānanda understood the actual position of Lord Caitanya, that he was the moving Lord Jagannātha. Jagannātha was Dāru-brahma, the Absolute truth in wood but Lord Caitanya was the cala-vigraha, the mobile deity. After getting the order of Lord Caitanya, he went to see Lord Jagannātha.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Rāmānanda Rāya Goes to See Lord Caitanya in Lieu of Seeing Lord Jagannātha First.  Under the section, the Beda kīrtana pastimes of Caitanya Mahāprabhu