20201112 Kṣīra-corā-gopīnātha Gets the Sandalwood and Camphor by the Instruction of Govardhana-dhārī Gopāla to Mādhavendra Purī

Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 12th November 2020 in Śrīdhāma 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!

Introduction: Today we are continuing with Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, today’s chapter entitled is:

Kṣīra-corā-gopīnātha Gets the Sandalwood and Camphor by the Instruction of Govardhana-dhārī Gopāla to Mādhavendra Purī

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.141

purīra pratiṣṭhāra bhaya o purīdhāma yātrā :—
‘ṭhākura more kṣīra dila — loka saba śuni’
dine loka-bhiḍa habe mora pratiṣṭhā jāni’

Translation: Having broken the pot and bound the pieces in his cloth, Mādhavendra Purī began to think, “The Lord has given me a pot of sweet rice, and when the people hear of this tomorrow morning, there will be great crowds.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So naturally Mādhavendra Purī could realise when people heard that the Deity had taken a pot of Kṣīra to give it to him, there would be crowd to see him so he wanted to avoid that.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.142

sei bhaye rātri-śeṣe calilā śrī-purī
sei-khāne gopīnāthe daṇḍavat kari’

Translation: Thinking this, Śrī Mādhavendra Purī offered his obeisances to Gopīnātha on the spot and left Remuṇā before morning.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.143

purīdhāme jagannātha-darśane prema :—
cali’ cali’ āilā purī śrī-nīlācala
jagannātha dekhi’ hailā premete vihvala

Translation: Walking and walking, Mādhavendra Purī finally reached Jagannātha Purī, which is also known as Nīlācala. There he saw Lord Jagannātha and was overwhelmed with loving ecstasy.

Jayapatākā Swami: So naturally Mādhavendra Purī would easily fall into ecstasy if anything remind him of Kṛṣṇa, what to speak of seeing the special Deity of Lord Jagannātha Himself. He was overwhelmed in transcendental ecstasy of pure love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.144

premāveśe uṭhe, paḍe, hāse, nāce, gāya
jagannātha-daraśane mahā-sukha pāya

Translation: When Mādhavendra Purī was overwhelmed in the ecstasy of love of Godhead, he sometimes stood up and sometimes fell to the ground. Sometimes he laughed, danced and sang. In this way he enjoyed transcendental bliss by seeing the Jagannātha Deity.

Jayapatākā Swami: So pure devotee tastes extreme bliss in ecstasy in serving the Deity. Seeing Lord Jagannātha is also a type of service, so he was overwhelmed in spiritual bliss. So devotees should also follow in the footsteps of Mādhavendra Purī and reach the stage of kṛṣṇa-prema, they will be feel unlimited ecstasy of spiritual bliss in seeing the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.145

pratiṣṭhā nā cāhileo purīra pratiṣṭhā :—
‘mādhava-purī śrīpāda āila’, — loke haila khyāti
saba loka āsi’ tāṅre kare bahu bhakti

Translation: When Mādhavendra Purī came to Jagannātha Purī, people were aware of his transcendental reputation. Therefore crowds of people came and offered him all sorts of respect in devotion.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.146

pratiṣṭhāra svabhāva ei jagate vidita
ye nā vāñche, tāra haya vidhātā-nirmita

Translation: Even though one may not like it, reputation, as ordained by providence, comes to him. Indeed, one’s transcendental reputation is known throughout the entire world.

Jayapatākā Swami: So although the devotee does not particularly desire reputation, He wants to serve the Lord but by will of the providence sometimes he gets reputation and therefore he is respected. So This was the situation of Mādhavendra Purī, although he did not desire for reputation, it came to him automatically by the will of the providence.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.147

pratiṣṭhāra bhaye purī gelā palāñā
kṛṣṇa-preme pratiṣṭhā cale saṅge gaḍāñā

Translation: Being afraid of his reputation [pratiṣṭhā], Mādhavendra Purī fled from Remuṇā. But the reputation brought by love of Godhead is so sublime that it goes along with the devotee, as if following him.

Purport: Almost all the conditioned souls within the material world are envious. Jealous people generally turn against one who automatically attains some reputation. This is natural for jealous people. Consequently, when a devotee is fit to receive worldly reputation, he is envied by many people. This is quite natural. When a person, out of humility, does not desire fame, people generally think him quite humble and consequently give him all kinds of fame. Actually, a Vaiṣṇava does not hanker after fame or a great reputation. Mādhavendra Purī, the king of Vaiṣṇavas, bore his reputation, but he wanted to keep himself outside of the vision of the general populace. He wanted to cover his real identity as a great devotee of the Lord, but when people saw him overwhelmed in the ecstasy of love of Godhead, they naturally gave credit to him. Actually, a first-class reputation is due Mādhavendra Purī because he was a most confidential devotee of the Lord. Sometimes a sahajiyā presents himself as being void of desires for reputation (pratiṣṭhā) in order to become famous as a humble man. Such people cannot actually attain the platform of celebrated Vaiṣṇavas.

Jayapatākā Swami: In the story of Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he was chanting the holy name and there was a snake charmer he was playing on his flute and he sang the pastimes of Kāliyā and Kṛṣṇa. Hearing that Haridāsa Ṭhākura became filled with ecstasy and fainted on the ground and people came and offered their obeisances to Him then he got up and left. There was a brāhmaṇa who was an astrologer and he was sitting with parrot and tarot cards, so the parrot will take the card and thus he will tell people’s fortune. So, this brāhmaṇa was seeing how people were bowing down to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he became jealous. He wanted to get the respect so he imitated Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s chanting and he fell on the ground so that people would offer him obeisances but the snake charmer he could understand that Haridāsa Ṭhākura was really in ecstasy and this brāhmaṇa was cheating the people. So he said, “If he is really in ecstasy if I kick him he wont react!” And then he went there and kicked him in the butt, and he said 'AHH!' and screamed and he ran off. Then he said, “See he is cheating you, he offending Haridāsa Ṭhākura and then all the people chased him with stick so this thing to say is there materialistic people are envy of pure devotee’s reputation and they want to get such reputation and power they want to get such respect offered. So there is difference in that type of imitation and real devotee.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.148

pratiṣṭhāra sthale thākite nā cāhileo prabhusevārtha avasthāna :—
yadyapi udvega haila palāite mana
ṭhākurera candana-sādhana ha-ila bandhana

Translation: Mādhavendra Purī wanted to leave Jagannātha Purī because the people were honoring him as a great devotee; however, this threatened to hinder his collecting sandalwood for the Gopāla Deity.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Mādhavendra Purī he came was to get the sandal wood for the Gopāla Deity so the devotional service was paramount, so he had to tolerate his pratiṣṭhā to realize his devotional service.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.149

jagannāthasevakagaṇake gopālera abhiprāya jñāpana :—
jagannāthera sevaka yata, yateka mahānta
sabāke kahila purī gopāla-vṛttānta

Translation: Śrī Mādhavendra Purī told all the servants of Lord Jagannātha and all the great devotees there the story of the appearance of Śrī Gopāla.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.150

bhaktagaṇera nānābhāve candana-saṁgrahe yatna :—
gopāla candana māge, — śuni’ bhakta-gaṇa
ānande candana lāgi’ karila yatana

Translation: When all the devotees at Jagannātha Purī heard that the Gopāla Deity wanted sandalwood, in great pleasure they all endeavored to collect it.

Jayapatākā Swami: So all the devotees in Jagannātha Purī, they wanted to collect sandalwood to serve the Gopala deity. Naturally the devotees want to serve the desire of the Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.151

rāja-pātra-sane yāra yāra paricaya
tāre māgi’ karpūra-candana karilā sañcaya

Translation: Those who were acquainted with government officers met with them and begged for camphor and sandalwood, which they collected.

Purport: It appears that malayaja-candana (sandalwood) and camphor were used for the Jagannātha Deity. The camphor was used in His ārātrika, and the sandalwood was used to smear His body. Both these items were under government control; therefore the devotees had to meet with the government officials. Informing them of all the details, they attained permission to take the sandalwood and camphor outside Jagannātha Purī.

Jayapatākā Swami: Since the Gajapati Mahārāja the King of Orissa was responsible for the worship of Lord Jagannātha, the sandalwood and camphor being very valuable were under his control. But when his officers heard the story of Gopāla Deity, they gave some sandalwood and camphor to Mādhavendra Purī so he could take to Vṛndāvana, Govardhana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.152

lokasaha candana diyā purīke preraṇa :—
eka vipra, eka sevaka, candana vahite
purī-gosāñira saṅge dila sambala-sahite

Translation: One brāhmaṇa and one servant were given to Mādhavendra Purī just to carry the sandalwood. He was also given the necessary traveling expenses.

Jayapatākā Swami: As we heard Lord Caitanya went to Jagannātha Purī, various toll officers tried to collect toll from the devotees so if they are going with sandalwood and camphor naturally there would costed by toll collectors so they need money for traveling so that was also provided.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.153

nirāpade gamana-janya chāḍa-patra dāna :—
ghāṭī-dānī chāḍāite rāja-pātra dvāre
rāja-lekhā kari’ dila purī-gosāñira kare

Translation: To get past the toll collectors along the way, Mādhavendra Purī was supplied with the necessary release papers from government officers. The papers were placed in his hand.

Jayapatākā Swami: When Mādhavendra Purī had the papers from the officers in Orrisa and how he will get through Bengal and other states to Vṛndāvana is a question!

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.154

remuṇāte upasthiti o gopīnātha-darśane nṛtya-gīta :—
calila mādhava-purī candana lañā
kata-dine remuṇāte uttarila giyā

Translation: In this way Mādhavendra Purī started for Vṛndāvana with the burden of sandalwood, and after some days he again reached the village of Remuṇā and the Gopīnātha temple there.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.155

gopīnātha-caraṇe kaila bahu namaskāra
premāveśe nṛtya-gīta karilā apāra

Translation: When Mādhavendra Purī reached the temple of Gopīnātha, he offered his respectful obeisances many times at the lotus feet of the Lord. In the ecstasy of love, he began to dance and sing without cessation.

Jayapatākā Swami: We can see that such advanced devotees like Mādhavendra Purī were engaged in singing the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and dancing so if we can also sing the mahā-mantra and dance in ecstasy then gradually we can achieve the stage of pure love.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.156

purī dekhi’ sevaka saba sammāna karila
kṣīra-prasāda diyā tāṅre bhikṣā karāila

Translation: When the priest of Gopīnātha saw Mādhavendra Purī again, he offered all respects to him and, giving him the sweet rice prasāda, made him eat.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.157

svapne purīke gopālakarttṛka gopīnāthera śrīaṅge candana-lepana janya ādeśa :—
sei rātre devālaye karila śayana
śeṣa-rātri haile purī dekhila svapana

Translation: Mādhavendra Purī took rest that night in the temple, but toward the end of the night he had another dream.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.158

gopāla āsiyā kahe, — śuna he mādhava
karpūra-candana āmi pāilāma saba

Translation: Mādhavendra Purī dreamed that Gopāla came before him and said, “O Mādhavendra Purī, I have already received all the sandalwood and camphor.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.159

karpūra-sahita ghaṣi’ e-saba candana
gopīnāthera aṅge nitya karaha lepana

Translation: “Now just grind all the sandalwood together with the camphor and then smear the pulp on the body of Gopīnātha daily until it is finished.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.160

gopīnātha āmāra se eka-i aṅga haya
iṅhāke candana dile habe mora tāpa-kṣaya

Translation: “There is no difference between My body and Gopīnātha’s body. They are one and the same. Therefore if you smear the sandalwood pulp on the body of Gopīnātha, you will naturally also smear it on My body. Thus the temperature of My body will be reduced.

Purport: Gopāla was situated in Vṛndāvana, which was far from Remuṇā. In those days, one had to pass through provinces governed by the Muslims, who sometimes hindered travelers. Considering the trouble of His devotee, Lord Gopāla, the greatest well-wisher of His devotees, ordered Mādhavendra Purī to smear the sandalwood pulp on the body of Gopīnātha, which was nondifferent from the body of Gopāla. In this way the Lord relieved Mādhavendra Purī from trouble and inconvenience.

Jayapatākā Swami: So to cross all these different provinces would have been a greatly difficult for Mādhavendra Purī but He was willing to do that, but local Lord Gopāla desiring the welfare of Mādhavendra Purī ordered Mādhavendra Purī to smear the sandalwood pulp on the body of Lord Gopīnātha, which is non-different from the Lord Gopāla.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.161

dvidhā nā bhāviha, nā kariha kichu mane
viśvāsa kari’ candana deha āmāra vacane

Translation: “You should not hesitate to act according to My order. Believing in Me, just do what is needed.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.162

sevakagaṇake gopālera ājñā-jñāpana :—
eta bali’ gopāla gela, gosāñi jāgilā
gopīnāthera sevaka-gaṇe ḍākiyā ānilā

Translation: After giving these instructions, Gopāla disappeared, and Mādhavendra Purī awoke. He immediately called for all the servants of Gopīnātha, and they came before him.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.163

prabhura ājñā haila, — ei karpūra-candana
gopīnāthera aṅge nitya karaha lepana

Translation: Mādhavendra Purī said, “Smear the body of Gopīnātha with this camphor and sandalwood I have brought for Gopāla in Vṛndāvana. Do this regularly every day.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.164

iṅhāke candana dile, gopāla ha-ibe śītala
svatantra īśvara — tāṅra ājñā se prabala

Translation: “If the sandalwood pulp is smeared over the body of Gopīnātha, then Gopāla will be cooled. After all, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is completely independent; His order is all-powerful.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, since the Lord is one, He can do anything and offering the sandalwood pulp on the deity in Remuṇā can cool the Gopāla deity in Vṛndāvana. Wherever the people are, if they chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, by chanting the names of the Supreme Lord, they also will invoke the transcendental pleasure of the Lord. therefore, Lord Caitanya’s mission and the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement teach is to get everyone the name of Supreme Lord.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.165

grīṣma-kāle gopīnātha paribe candana
śuni’ ānandita haila sevakera mana

Translation: The servants of Gopīnātha became very pleased to hear that in the summer all the sandalwood pulp would be used to anoint the body of Gopīnātha.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.166

saṅgīdvayake candana-gharṣaṇe niyoga :—
purī kahe, — ei dui ghaṣibe candana
āra janā-dui deha, diba ye vetana

Translation: Mādhavendra Purī said, “These two assistants will regularly grind the sandalwood, and you should also get two other people to help. I shall pay their salaries.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, in this way Mādhavendra Purī used the travelling expense money to pay the salary for those who grind the sandalwood.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.167

purīra kathāmata sevakagaṇera saharṣe candana-lepana—
ei mata candana deya pratyaha ghaṣiyā
parāya sevaka saba ānanda kariyā

Translation: In this way Gopīnāthajī was supplied ground sandalwood pulp daily. The servants of Gopīnātha were very pleased with this.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.168

samagra grīṣmakāle candana-śeṣa paryanta purīra remuṇāya avasthāna :—
pratyaha candana parāya, yāvat haila anta
tathāya rahila purī tāvat paryanta

Translation: In this way the sandalwood pulp was smeared over the body of Gopīnātha until the whole stock was finished. Mādhavendra Purī stayed there until that time.

Jayapatākā Swami: So Mādhavendra Purī went to fulfill obligation to Gopāla since Gopāla has ordered to smear the sandalwood pulp on the Gopīnātha Deity, therefore Mādhavendra Purī stayed there until the stock was finished.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 4.169

purīra nīlācale cāturmmāsya-yāpana :—
grīṣma-kāla-ante punaḥ nīlācale gelā
nīlācale cāturmāsya ānande rahilā

Translation: At the end of summer Mādhavendra Purī returned to Jagannātha Purī, where he remained with great pleasure during the whole period of Cāturmāsya.

Purport: The Cāturmāsya period begins in the month of Āṣāḍha (June-July) from the day of Ekādaśī called Śayanā-ekādaśī, in the fortnight of the waxing moon. The period ends in the month of Kārtika (October-November) on the Ekādaśī day known as Utthānā-ekādaśī, in the fortnight of the waxing moon. This four-month period is known as Cāturmāsya. Some Vaiṣṇavas also observe it from the full-moon day of Āṣāḍha until the full-moon day of Kārtika. That is also a period of four months. This period, calculated by the lunar months, is called Cāturmāsya, but others also observe Cāturmāsya according to the solar month from Śrāvaṇa to Kārtika. The whole period, either lunar or solar, takes place during the rainy season. Cāturmāsya should be observed by all sections of the population. It does not matter whether one is a gṛhastha or a sannyāsī. The observance is obligatory for all āśramas. The real purpose behind the vow taken during these four months is to minimize the quantity of sense gratification. This is not very difficult. In the month of Śrāvaṇa one should not eat spinach, in the month of Bhādra one should not eat yogurt, and in the month of Āśvina one should not drink milk. One should not eat fish or other nonvegetarian food during the month of Kārtika. A nonvegetarian diet means fish and meat. Similarly, masūra-dāl and urad-dāl are also considered nonvegetarian. These two dhals contain a great amount of protein, and food rich in protein is considered nonvegetarian. On the whole, during the four-month period of Cāturmāsya one should practice giving up all food intended for sense enjoyment.

Jayapatākā Swami: So I observe the Cāturmāsya from Ekādaśī to Ekādaśī which is mentioned here. Most devotees observe from Pūrṇimā to Pūrṇimā. My Cāturmāsya ends on the last Ekādaśī of Khartik and then I do the Bhīṣma-pañcaka, or five days from Ekādaśī to full moon. In that we observe the fast, of either pañca-gavya or fruits and roots, or haviṣānna. Anyway, there are various procedures. So, in this way, Mādhavendra Purī spend the four months of the rainy season, in Jagannātha Purī and otherwise, the devotees, they observe these four dietary restrictions in these four months. So, Śrīla Prabhupāda said that this is for all the āśramas. So this should be followed by all the ISKCON devotees, throughout the world, and thus we can fulfill the desires of Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Kṣīra-corā-gopīnātha Gets the Sandalwood and Camphor by the Instruction of Govardhana-dhārī Gopāla to Mādhavendra Purī.