20220524 The Residents of Nīlācala, Receive Lord Caitanya

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 24th, 2022 in Chennai, 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!

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Today's chapter is entitled as:

The Residents of Nīlācala Receive Lord Caitanya

Under the section: Return to Nīlācala

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.62

krame krame tamoluke uttarilā giyā
ye pathe āsiyāchena pūrve sei patha diyā

Translation: Following the same route He travelled before, Lord Caitanya soon came to Tamaluka.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, on the side of Rūpa-Nārāyaṇa river there is a city of Tamaluka, it is in the modern district of Medinipur and Lord Caitanya travelling reverse back to Nīlācala went back to this city.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.63

pathe cali yāya prabhu premānanda-sukhe
prema-bariṣaṇe bhāse se pathera loke

Translation: Lord Caitanya travelled on the path, absorbed in the happiness of kṛṣna-prema, and inundated the people on the way in a nectar shower of kṛṣna-prema.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya went on the pathway and inundated all the residents with kṛṣṇa-prema.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.224

āṭhāranālāya āsiyā balabhadradvārā purīsthita bhaktagaṇake āhvāna:—

āṭhāranālāte āsi’ bhaṭṭācārya brāhmaṇe
pāṭhāñā bolāilā nija-bhakta-gaṇe

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived at a place known as Āṭhāranālā, near Jagannātha Purī, He sent Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya to call for His devotees.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.64

hāsite khelite yāya––nāhi pathaśrame
puruṣottame uttarila patha krame krame

Translation: As a laughing sport, He passed His journey without fatigue. Gradually, He reached Puruṣottama (Nīlācala) on the way.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya after He travelled to Nīlācala he went on along the path and eventually he reached Nīlācala.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.65

dekhiba ta’ jagannātha nīlācalarāya
hā hā jagannātha! bali’ anurāge dhāya

Translation: “I’ll see Lord Jagannātha, the Lord of Nīlācala. Hā! Ha! Jagannātha!,” exclaiming thus and feeling intense attraction, He ran.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, as He was getting closer to Lord Puruṣottama, Lord Jagannātha, He started run being anxious to see the Lord.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.66

siṁhadvāre giyā prabhu chāḍe huhuṅkāra
dhāila sakala loka ānanda-apāra

Translation: Reaching the Siṁha-dvāra, the Lord let out a roar. All the people felt unlimited joy as they ran to see Lord Caitanya.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya upon reaching the door of Jagannātha Purī temple, He roared in ecstasy and all the people ran to see Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka, 9.168

(From behind the scenes, in the distance, are tumultuous sounds of “Jaya! Jaya!”)

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka, 9.169

Everyone: (listening) Ah! It seems that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya has come. Since such loud calls weren’t heard before.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.225

prabhura āgamana-śravaṇe bhaktagaṇera mṛtasañjīvanī mantra-lābha :—

śuniyā bhaktera gaṇa yena punarapi jīlā
dehe prāṇa āile, yena indriya uṭhilā

Translation: Hearing news of the Lord’s arrival from Balabhadra Bhaṭṭācārya, hordes of devotees became so happy that they seemed to be getting their lives back. It was as though their consciousness had returned to their bodies. Their senses also became agitated.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, when the devotees heard that Lord Caitanya has returned to Nīlācala, they became very excited and ecstatic.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.125

sarva nīlācala-deśe upajila dhvani
‘punaḥāilena prabhu nyāsi-cūḍāmaṇi’

Translation: Throughout Nīlācala the news spread: “The crest jewel of sannyāsīs has returned.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, devotees of Nīlācala felt so much happiness at the return of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.126

mahānande sarva-loke ‘jaya jaya’ bale
“āilā sacala-jagannātha nīlacale”

Translation: In great ecstasy everyone exclaimed, “Jaya! Jaya! The moving Jagannātha has come to Nīlācala.”

Since Jagannātha in the deity form is generally not moving, so since Lord Caitanya is moving, He is describing Him as moving Jagannātha.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka, 9.170

Again a Voice From Behind the Scenes: Today our lives have become fruitful and our eyes have become satisfied! Immediately our hearts, long burning in pain, are filled with happiness! What more can we say? Look! We are brought back to life! Lord Caitanya, the leader of the sannyāsīs, has left Vṛndāvana and returned to Nīlācala!

Haribol!

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all the residents of Nīlācala were happy that Lord Caitanya had returned, they have been passing their days almost dead and when Lord Caitanya came back retuned, they got their lives again.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka, 9.171

Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Why should we hesitate? Let us go there at once!

(Everyone exits).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Mahārāja Pratāparudra is very enthusiastic devotee, when he heard that Lord Caitanya had returned he wanted to go immediately and see Him.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka, 9.172

(Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya enters. He is approached by Paramānanda Purī and Svarūpa Dāmodara. Eager to see the Lord, Kāśī Miśra and other devotees surround all around).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these advanced associates having the opportunity to see the Lord, they surrounded all around Him and this spontaneous attraction for the Lord is just discussed as Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka, 9.173

Śrī Caitanya: (to Paramānanda Purī) Lord, Puruṣottama-kṣetra and Śrī Vṛndāvana are both very exalted places of pilgrimage. Vārāṇasī and other pilgrimage places purify the sins of the conditioned souls and bring them great happiness. Still, the sight of you is what brings happiness to Me. Because the association of saints like yourself is charming than service of other holy places and thus I have come here quickly.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was eager to return to Nīlācala to associate with the advanced devotees who live there.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka, 9.174

Paramānanda Purī: It is our great good fortune that no longer will we be burned by the forest fire of the Lord’s separation, which tormented us for such a long time.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Paramānanda Purī was saying how when the lord was absent, they were burning in separation and now that the Lord had returned they feel unlimited joy.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.226

narendra-sarovarera nikaṭa āsiyā sakalera prabhu darśana :—

ānande vihvala bhakta-gaṇa dhāñā āilā
narendre āsiyā sabe prabhure mililā

Translation: Being overwhelmed with great pleasure, all the devotees hastily went to see the Lord. They met Him on the banks of the celebrated lake called Narendra-sarovara.

Jayapatākā Swami: [NOTE: this verse should be coming before because previous verse said, He was at the lion-gate, which is already at the Jagannātha Purī temple] This Narendra-sarovara is a lake before coming to the Jagannātha Purī temple. At this Narendra Sarovar temple, they have the twenty-one days candana-yātrā and here Lord Nityānanda and other associates played water sports.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.227

bhaktagaṇa o prabhura parasparera prati yathāyogya praṇāma o āliṅganādi :—

purī-bhāratīra prabhu vandilena caraṇa
doṅhe mahāprabhure kailā prema-āliṅgana

Translation: When Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord offered them His respectful obeisances due to their being godbrothers of His spiritual master. They both then embraced Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu in love and affection.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here it mentions that Lord offered His respects to the lotus feet and Lord Caitanya embraced them in spiritual love.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.228

dāmodara-svarūpa, paṇḍita-gadādhara
jagadānanda, kāśīśvara, govinda, vakreśvara

Translation: Devotees like Svarūpa Dāmodara, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Jagadānanda, Kāśīśvara, Govinda and Vakreśvara all came to meet the Lord.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.229

kāśī-miśra, pradyumna-miśra, paṇḍita-dāmodara
haridāsa-ṭhākura, āra paṇḍita-śaṅkara

Translation: Kāśī Miśra, Pradyumna Miśra, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Śaṅkara Paṇḍita also came there to meet the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all these associates were waiting for the Lord in Nīlācala and they were very happy to come and receive Lord Caitanya in Narendra-sarovara.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.230

bhakta o bhagavānera milane ubhayerai premāveśa :—

āra saba bhakta prabhura caraṇe paḍilā
sabā āliṅgiyā prabhu premāviṣṭa hailā

Translation: All the other devotees also came and fell down at the Lord’s lotus feet. In return, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced them all with great ecstatic love.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the spontaneous meeting of the Lord and His devotees and how they offered their respects to Lord’s lotus feet and how Lord Caitanya embraced them with great ecstatic love, all these things are explained here.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.128

cira-dina prabhura virahe bhakti-gaṇa
ānande prabhure dekhi’ karena kīrtana

Translation: The devotees had been afflicted for many days with feelings of separation from the Lord. Now, on seeing the Lord, they joyfully began kīrtana.

Jayapatākā Swami: Seeing in Lord in separation is something that Lord Caitanya taught, we all feel separation from Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityānanda and Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa and our previous ācāryas. So, when the Lord came back to Nīlācala, they were feeling great bliss and were doing kīrtana.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.129

prabhuo sabāre mahā-preme kari’ kole
siñcila sabāra aṅge nayanera jale

Translation: The Lord embraced everyone with great affection and soaked them with tears from His eyes.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was ecstatic in meeting His devotees, He is known as bhakta-vatsala, the devotees are very dear to Him, He is very dear to the devotees.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka, 9.176

Kāśī Miśra: Lord, although Jagannātha is desiring to take rest after taking His vallabha-bhoga meal, still He is waiting for you. Therefore, let us quickly go there and see Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Jagannātha He would normally take rest after his vallabha-bhoga, but He was anxious to see Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka, 9.177

Lord Śrī Caitanya: Come! Paramānanda, come!

(Accompanied by everyone, He exits).

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.15.18

Translation: Upon Their arrival at Kṣetra, those two Persons, who are the sole source of friendship for the peoples of the worlds, saw in the lotus face of Jagannātha Svāmī. Then Their golden bodies became bathed by tears of prema, Their throats choked-up and Their words came falteringly.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.15.19

Translation: Surrounded by devotees, Śrī Rāma and Kṛṣṇa again entered the house of Kāśī Miśra. Then all of Their intimate associates headed by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya as well as all other residents of Kṣetra assembled there.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Kṛṣṇa came as Śrī Caitanya and Lord Rāma came as Lord Nityānanda, so after taking the darśana of Lord Jagannātha, Baladeva and Subhadra Sudarśana cakra, they went to the house of Kāśī Miśra.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.130

hena-mate śrī-gaurasundara nīlācale
rahilena kāśi-miśra gare kūtūhale

Translation: In this way Śrī Gaurasundara joyfully resided in Nīlācala at the house of Kāśī Miśra.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.231

sakalake laiyā prabhura jagannātha-darśana :—

ānanda-samudre bhāse saba bhakta-gaṇe
sabā lañā cale prabhu jagannātha-daraśane

Translation: Thus they all merged in the ocean of transcendental bliss. Then the Lord and all His devotees proceeded toward the temple of Jagannātha to see the Deity.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the deity is the arcā-avatāra and deity is non-different from Lord Kṛṣṇa. So, with great eagerness Lord Caitanya and all His associates went to have darśana of the deities.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.232

prabhura premāveśa o nṛtyagīta :—

jagannātha dekhi’ prabhu premāviṣṭa hailā
bhakta-saṅge bahu-kṣaṇa nṛtya-gīta kailā

Translation: As soon as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw Lord Jagannātha in the temple, He was immediately overwhelmed with love and affection. He chanted and danced with His devotees for a long time.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya when He saw the deity Lord Jagannātha, Baladeva and Subhadra Sudarśana cakra, he danced in ecstasy and He was feeling such pure love for Lord Jagannātha.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.67

jagannātha dekhi’ tuṣṭa hailā gaurārāya
tāhāre dekhiyā loka baḍa sukha pāya

Translation: Seeing Lord Jagannātha, Gaura Rāya was very pleased and seeing Him (Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu), the people were very happy.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya being in the mood of Rādhārānī was very happy to see Lord Jagannātha and Kṛṣṇa. so, by seeing Lord Caitanya, people on general were very happy.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.233

jagannāthera mālā-prasāda prāpti, paḍichāra praṇāma :—

jagannātha-sevaka āni’ mālā-prasāda dilā
tulasī paḍichā āsi’ caraṇa vandilā

Translation: The priests immediately brought them flower garlands and prasāda. The temple’s watchman, who was named Tulasī, also came and offered his obeisances to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.234

caturddike prabhura āgamana-saṁvāda-vistṛti, kaṭaka haite rāya o bhaṭṭācāryera āsiyā prabhu darśana :—

‘mahāprabhu āilā’-grāme kolāhala haila
sārvabhauma, rāmānanda, vāṇīnātha milila

Translation: When the news spread that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had arrived at Jagannātha Purī, devotees like Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāmānanda Rāya and Vāṇīnātha Rāya all came to meet Him.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the news spread that Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu had returned to Nīlācala, so His associates came running to see the Lord.

Caitanya-Bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 5.127

śuni’ saba utkalera pariṣada-gaṇa
sārvabauma-ādi āilena sei kṣana

Translation: When Sārvabhauma and the other associates of the Lord in Utkala heard the news, they immediately went to see the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all the devotees when they heard that Lord Caitanya had returned they all quickly came to see the Lord.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka, 9.175

(Sārvabhauma and Rāmānanda quickly enter and offer daṇḍavata obeisances.Śrī Caitanya embraces them).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, daṇḍavata is prostrated obeisances but Lord Caitanya he reciprocated by embracing them.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.235

prabhura kāśīmiśra-gṛhe avasthāna o sārvabhaumera nimantraṇa :—

sabā saṅge lañā prabhu miśra-vāsā āilā
sārvabhauma, paṇḍita-gosāñi nimantraṇa kailā

Translation: The Lord and all His devotees then went to the residence of Kāśī Miśra. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Paṇḍita Gosāñi also invited the Lord to dine at their homes.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the sannyāsīs normally doesn’t cook by himself so He was invited by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to come his house to dine also Gadādhara Gosāi invited Him.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.236

bhaktasaha prasādasebanecchā-hetu prasāda ānāite ādeśa :—

prabhu kahe,—“mahā-prasāda āna’ ei sthāne
sabā-saṅge ihāṅ āji karimu bhojane”

Translation: Accepting their invitation, the Lord asked them to bring all the prasāda there so that He could eat it with His devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, instead of taking the invitation to go somewhere He accepted their invitation but told them to bring the prasāda to take it with other devotees. So, in this way the Lord was giving his mercy to all the other devotees.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.237

bhaktasaha mahāprabhura mahāprasāda sammāna :—

tabe duṅhe jagannātha-prasāda ānila
sabā-saṅge mahāprabhu bhojana karila

Translation: Upon receiving Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s order, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Paṇḍita Gosāñi brought sufficient prasāda from the temple of Jagannātha. The Lord then dined with everyone at His own place.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, there was a huge quantity of prasāda prepared every day in Jagannātha Purī temple. So, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Paṇḍita Gadādhara Gosāi brought enough prasāda for the Lord and all His associates to eat.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.15.20

Translation: On seeing the glory of Their Lordships’ lotus feet, they fell to the ground and blissfully offered obeisances. Then, with hands folded in supplication, reeling eyes filled with tears, and choked voices they became drowned in the ocean of the mellows of Kṛṣṇa.

Jayapatākā Swami: Seeing Lord Caitanya's lotus feet they prostrated themselves and offered their obeisances with eyes filled with tears they were absorbed in kṛṣṇa-prema, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca, 4.15.21

Translation: The two Prabhus quickly rose and lovingly, happily and respectfully embraced them all. Then They narrated the Vṛndāvana-kathāmṛtam, sweet nectar tales of Vṛndāvana.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda embraced all the devotee and when Lord Caitanya shared about His visit to Vṛndāvana and Mathurā with all the devotees.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.68

Hari!,” Hari!,”

hari hari bole loka ucca-rāya
ānandita dibā-niśi hari-guṇa gāya

Jayapatākā Swami: Hari! Hari! Hari!,” were the loud cried that the people chanted and day and night, they happily sang the glories of Hari.

Jayapatākā Swami: Chanting Hari! Hari the people chanted and raised their hands and with great bliss they chanted day and night and seeing the glorious quality of Lord Hari.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.69

rātri-dina kare prabhu kīrtana vilāsa
gaurāguṇa gāya sukhe e locanadāsa

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all day and night Lord Caitanya was blissfully passing His time in kirtana. Locana dāsa Ṭhākura is singing the glories of Lord Caitanya in great joy. Lord Caitanya was chanting the holy names day and night and He gave unlimited bliss to His devotees.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.70

lalita-rāga–––diśā

gaurāguṇa gāore gāore saba bhuvana-maṅgala—

ānandita mahāprabhu āche nīlācale
hari-guṇa-saṅkīrtana kare bhakta-mele

Translation: The whole universe sings the glories of the sublime character of Gaura. Lord Caitanya stayed in Nīlācala in great happiness. He enjoyed performing hari-guṇa-saṅkīrtana along with His intimate devotees.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya external reason is to establish out the nāma-saṅkīrtana so, returning to Nīlācala, He was absorbed in this kīrtana and made the whole world auspicious.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 1.249

vṛndāvana haite yadi nīlācale āilā
āṭhāra varṣa tāhāṅ vāsa, kāhāṅ nāhi gelā

Translation: When the Lord returned to Jagannātha Purī from Vṛndāvana, He remained there and did not go anywhere else for eighteen years.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya spend the last eighteen years of His pastimes on this earth at Nīlācala, Jagannātha Purī.

Caitanya Maṅgala, Śeṣa Khaṇḍa 3.3.71

aneka bhakatagaṇa mililā tathāya
nityai nūtana prakāśaye gaurārāya

Translation: Many different devotees came there and met the Lord. Thus Gaurarāya manifested ever-fresh pastimes.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, all these pastimes of Lord Caitanya for eighteen years in Jagannātha Purī is not possible to be described by all these devotees.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.238

vṛndāvana haite purī-āgamana-yātrā varṇita :—

ei ta’ kahiluṅ,-prabhu dekhi’ vṛndāvana punaḥ karilena yaiche nīlādri gamana

Translation: Thus I have described how Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī from Vṛndāvana.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Caitanya-caritāmṛta had described Lord Caitanya's return to Nīlācala, His Pastimes in Jhārikhaṇḍa and Navadvīpa.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, 25.239

śravaṇakārīra ciddhṛttisphūrtti o kṛṣṇaprāpti :—

ihā yei śraddhā kari’ karaye śravaṇa
acirāt pāya sei caitanya-caraṇa

Translation: Whoever hears Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastimes with faith and love very soon attains shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is the phala-śruti, the results of hearing the pastimes of the Lord that by hearing the Lord's pastimes with love and faith one will very soon achieve Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet.

Haribol! Śrīla Gurumahārāja ki  jaya !

Thus ends the chapter entitled, The Residents of Nīlācala, Receive Lord Caitanya

Under the section: Return to Nīlācala