20210502 The Festival of Herā-pañcamī

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on May 2nd,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!

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

The Festival of Herā-pañcamī

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.106

herā-pañcamī-utsavera vipula-āyojana janya rājāra kāśīmiśrake anurodha:—

‘herā-pañcamī’ra dina āila jāniyā
kāśī-miśre kahe rājā sayatna kariyā

Translation: Knowing that the Herā-pancamī festival was drawing near, King Pratāparudra attentively talked with Kāśī Miśra.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.107

kalya ’herā-pañcamī’ habe lakṣmīra vijaya
aiche utsava kara yena kabhu nāhi haya

Translation: “Tomorrow will be the function of Herā-pañcamī or Lakṣmī-vijaya. Hold this festival in a way that it has never been held before.”

Purport: The Herā-pañcamī festival takes place five days after the Ratha-yātrā festival. Lord Jagannātha has left His wife, the goddess of fortune, and gone to Vṛndāvana, which is the Guṇḍicā temple. Due to separation from the Lord, the goddess of fortune decides to come to see the Lord at Guṇḍicā. The coming of the goddess of fortune to Guṇḍicā is celebrated as Herā-pañcamī. Sometimes this is misspelled as Harā-pañcamī among the ativāḍīs. The word herā means “to see” and refers to the goddess of fortune going to see Lord Jagannātha. The word pañcamī means “the fifth day” and is used because this takes place on the fifth day of the moon.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lakṣmī devī going to Vṛndāvana to protest that Lord Jagannātha is spending too much time away. So, She wants Him to come back right away.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.108

prabhura santoṣārthe mahotsavera āyojane ādeśa:—

mahotsava kara taiche viśeṣa sambhāra
dekhi’ mahāprabhura yaiche haya camatkāra

Translation: King Pratāparudra said, “Hold this festival in such a gorgeous way that upon seeing it Caitanya Mahāprabhu will be completely pleased and astonished.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.109

sucāru-rūpe sajjita karite ādeśa:—

ṭhākurera bhāṇḍāre āra āmāra bhāṇḍāre
citra-vastra-kiṅkiṇī, āra chatra-cāmare

Translation: “Take as many printed cloths, small bells, umbrellas and cāmaras as there are in my storehouse and in the Deity’s storehouse.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.110

dhvajāvṛnda-patākā-ghaṇṭāya karaha maṇḍana
nānā-vādya-nṛtya-dolāya karaha sājana

Translation: “Collect all kinds of small and large flags and ringing bells. Then decorate the carrier and have various musical and dancing parties accompany it. In this way decorate the carrier attractively.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Mahārāja Pratāparudra wanted to make the Herā-pañcamī festival very wonderful, He want to please Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.111

ratha-yātrā-pekṣā adhikatara samārohajanya ādeśa:—

dviguṇa kariyā kara saba upahāra
ratha-yātrā haite yaiche haya camatkāra

Translation: “You should also double the quantity of prasādam. Make so much that it will even surpass the Ratha-yātrā festival.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, King Pratāparudra, he wanted to make this festival very special to please Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.112

prabhura darśana-subidhā-vidhāna:—

seita’ kariha,—prabhu lañā bhakta-gaṇa
svacchande āsiyā yaiche karena daraśana

Translation: “Arrange the festival in such a way that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu may freely go with His devotees to visit the Deity without difficulty.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.113

bhaktagaṇasaha guṇḍicāya jagannātha-darśana:—

prātaḥ-kāle mahāprabhu nija-gaṇa lañā
jagannātha darśana kaila sundarācale yāñā

Translation: In the morning, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu took His personal associates with Him to see Lord Jagannātha at Sundarācala.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sometimes Guṇḍicā is also called as Sundarācala and the Jagannātha Purī temple is Nīlācala, that it is non-different from Dvārakā and Guṇḍicā temple is Sundarācala and it is non-different from Vṛndāvana.

Purport: Sundarācala is the Guṇḍicā temple. The temple of Jagannātha at Jagannātha Purī is called Nīlācala, and the temple at Guṇḍicā is called Sundarācala.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.114

herāpañcamī-darśanārtha punaḥ nīlācala-gamana:—

nīlācale āilā punaḥ bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge
dekhite utkaṇṭhā herā-pañcamīra raṅge

Translation: Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His personal devotees returned to Nīlācala with great eagerness to see the Herā-pañcamī festival.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.115

kāśī-miśra-karttṛka prabhu uttama-sthāne upaveśita:—

kāśī-miśra prabhure bahu ādara kariyā
svagaṇa-saha bhāla-sthāne vasāila lañā

Translation: Kāśī Miśra received Caitanya Mahāprabhu with great respect, and taking the Lord and His associates to a very nice place, he had them seated.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.116

prabhura svarūpake, lakṣmī-saṅga chāḍiyā jagannāthera vṛndāvana gamanera kāraṇa-jijñāsā:—

rasa-viśeṣa prabhura śunite mana haila
īṣat hāsiyā prabhu svarūpe puchila

Translation: After taking His seat, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to hear about a particular mellow of devotional service; therefore, mildly smiling, He began to question Svarūpa Dāmodara.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.117-118

yadyapi jagannātha karena dvārakāya vihara
sahaja prakaṭa kare parama udāra

tathāpi vatsara-madhye haya eka-bāra
vṛndāvana dekhite tāṅra utkaṇṭhā apāra

Translation: “Although Lord Jagannātha enjoys His pastimes at Dvārakā-dhāma and naturally manifests sublime liberality there, still, once a year He becomes unlimitedly eager to see Vṛndāvana.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.119

vṛndāvana-sama ei upavana-gaṇa
tāhā dekhibāre utkaṇṭhita haya mana

Translation: Pointing out the neighboring gardens, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “All these gardens exactly resemble Vṛndāvana; therefore Lord Jagannātha is very eager to see them again.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.120

bāhira ha-ite kare ratha-yātrā-chala
sundarācale yāya prabhu chāḍi’ nīlācala

Translation: “Externally He gives the excuse that He wants to participate in the Ratha-yātrā festival, but actually He wants to leave Jagannātha Purī to go to Sundarācala, the Guṇḍicā temple, a replica of Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.121

nānā-puṣpodyāne tathā khele rātri-dine
lakṣmīdevīre saṅge nāhi laya ki kāraṇe?

Translation: “The Lord enjoys His pastimes day and night in various flower gardens there. But why does He not take Lakṣmīdevī, the goddess of fortune, with Him?”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.122

svarūpera kāraṇa-nirddeśa—vraja-līlāya gopīrai adhikāra, lakṣmīra anadhikāra

svarūpa kahe,—śuna, prabhu, kāraṇa ihāra
vṛndāvana-krīḍāte lakṣmīra nāhi adhikāra

Translation: Svarūpa Dāmodara replied, “My dear Lord, please hear the reason for this. Lakṣmīdevī, the goddess of fortune, cannot be admitted to the pastimes of Vṛndāvana.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.123

vṛndāvana-līlāya kṛṣṇera sahāya gopī-gaṇa
gopī-gaṇa vinā kṛṣṇera harite nāre mana

Translation: “In the pastimes of Vṛndāvana, the only assistants are the gopīs. But for the gopīs, no one can attract the mind of Kṛṣṇa.”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the specialty of Vṛndāvana pastimes is given here. Lakṣmī devī likes to go but She is not able She does not have the qualification, only the gopīs can go. So no one else can enter into these Vṛndāvana pastimes, only the Vrajavāsis especially the gopīs. Lakṣmī has to see the Lord in opulence therefore She can’t go, She can’t enter Vṛndāvana pastimes.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.124

prabhura punaḥ praśna—lakṣmīra krodhahetu-jijñāsā:—

prabhu kahe,—yātrā-chale kṛṣṇera gamana
subhadrā āra baladeva, saṅge dui jana

Translation: The Lord said, “Using the car festival as an excuse, Kṛṣṇa goes there with Subhadrā and Baladeva.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.125

gopī-saṅge yata līlā haya upavane
nigūḍha kṛṣṇera bhāva keha nāhi jāne

Translation: “All the pastimes with the gopīs that take place in those gardens are very confidential ecstasies of Lord Kṛṣṇa. No one knows them.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.126

ataeva kṛṣṇera prākaṭye nāhi kichu doṣa
tabe kene lakṣmīdevī kare eta roṣa?

Translation: “Since there is no fault at all in Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, why does the goddess of fortune become angry?”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.127

svarūpera hetu-nirddeśa— priyera audāsīnye priyāra krodhābhimāna

svarūpa kahe,—premavatīra ei ta’ svabhāva
kāntera audāsya-leśe haya krodha-bhāva

Translation: Svarūpa Dāmodara replied, “It is the nature of a girl afflicted by love to become immediately angry upon finding any neglect on the part of her lover.”

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.128

vipula samārohera sahita bahudāsī-saha lakṣmīra āgamana:—

hena-kāle, khacita yāhe vividha ratana
suvarṇera caudolā kari’ ārohaṇa

Translation: While Svarūpa Dāmodara and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were talking, the procession of the goddess of fortune came by. She was riding upon a golden palanquin carried by four men and bedecked with a variety of jewels.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.129

chatra-cāmara-dhvajā patākāra gaṇa
nānā-vādya-āge nāce deva-dāsī-gaṇa

Translation: The palanquin was also surrounded by people carrying umbrellas, cāmara whisks and flags, and it was preceded by musicians and dancing girls.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.130

tāmbūla-sampuṭa, jhāri, vyajana, cāmara
sāthe dāsī śata, hāra divya bhūṣāmbara

Translation: The maidservants were carrying water pitchers, cāmara whisks and boxes for betel nuts. There were hundreds of maidservants, all attractively dressed and wearing valuable necklaces.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.131

alaukika aiśvarya saṅge bahu-parivāra
kruddha hañā lakṣmīdevī āilā siṁha-dvāra

Translation: In an angry mood, the goddess of fortune arrived at the main gate of the temple accompanied by many members of her family, all of whom exhibited uncommon opulence.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.132

lakṣmī-dāsī-gaṇera jagannāthera pradhāna sevaka-gaṇake bandhana-pūrvaka īśvarī-samīpe ānayana o prahāra:—

jagannāthera mukhya mukhya yata bhṛtya-gaṇe
lakṣmīdevīra dāsī-gaṇa karena bandhane

Translation: When the procession arrived, the maidservants of the goddess of fortune began to arrest all the principal servants of Lord Jagannātha.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.133

bāndhiyā āniyā pāḍe lakṣmīra caraṇe
core yena daṇḍa kari’ laya nānā-dhane

Translation: The maidservants bound the servants of Jagannātha, handcuffed them and made them fall down at the lotus feet of the goddess of fortune. Indeed, they were arrested just like thieves who have all their riches taken away.

Purport: When Lord Jagannātha starts His car festival, He gives assurance to the goddess of fortune that He will return the next day. When He does not return, the goddess of fortune, after waiting two or three days, begins to feel that her husband has neglected her. She naturally becomes quite angry. Gorgeously decorating herself and her associates, she comes out of the temple and stands before the main gate. All the principal servants of Lord Jagannātha are then arrested by her maidservants, brought before her and forced to fall down at her lotus feet.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this loving expression of Nīlācala, Dvārakā queens is presented here in the Herā-pañcamī festival.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.134

acetanavat tāre karena tāḍane
nānā-mata gāli dena bhaṇḍa-vacane

Translation: When the servants fell down before the lotus feet of the goddess of fortune, they almost fell unconscious. They were chastised and made the butt of jokes and loose language.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 14.135

lakṣmī-dāsī-gaṇera auddhatya-darśane bhakta-vṛndera hāsya:—

lakṣmī-saṅge dāsī-gaṇera prāgalbhya dekhiyā
hāse mahāprabhura gaṇa mukhe hasta diyā

Translation: When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s associates saw such impudence exhibited by the maidservants of the goddess of fortune, they covered their faces with their hands and began to smile.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, seeing this transcendental impudence, all associates of Lord Caitanya began to smile. Seeing how the goddess of fortune is expressing Her anger out of love for Lord Kṛṣṇa. So, these pastimes are appreciated by Lord Caitanya who is the relisher of all the transcendental mellows. So, this is the special mellow of love. So, Lord Caitanya He also like to give His associates special care, that’s why He is called as bhakta-vatsala. So He cares for His devotees and He is very happy to have His associates after their performing of the kīrtana to take prasāda and the devotees saw this special festival.

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Thus ends the chapter entitled, The Festival of Herā-pañcamī.