20210618 Visiting the House of Śivānanda Sena and Vāsudeva Datta

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on June18th, 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 Kṛṣṇa! Dear Devotees! Today we will continue with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book, Today's chapter is entitled as:

Visiting the House of Śivānanda Sena and Vāsudeva Datta 
Under the Section: The Lord’s Attempt to Go to Vṛndāvana

Dear Devotees! Today it will be from Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka all the verses. (Enter a Kinnara couple)

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.1: The Man: Beloved, this year Lord Jagannātha’s Guṇḍicā festival was more charming than any year before.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.2: The Woman: How is that?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.3: Man: It has become greatly charming, because this year Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, who is personified bliss, who is golden in complexion as the golden mountain, who wears the garments of the greatest sannyāsī, and who is the incarnation as a devotee, has made this festival sweet.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.4: Woman: Alas! Alas! Why didn’t you take me with you? I didn’t see the festival.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.5: Man: Beloved, next year you will see.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.6: Woman: If only it becomes like this next year.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.7: Man: From now on He (Śrī Caitanya) will stay here (in Jagannātha Purī).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.8 : Woman: What is the certainty?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.9: Man: I know the truth.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.10: Woman: How do you know?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.11: Man: By listening to the mutual conversations of His associates who know all about His pastimes and who were praising his wonderful pastimes.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.12: Woman: How was the talk?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.13: Man: Beloved, listen. The Lord grants His mercy to this world in three ways.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.14: Woman: What three ways?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.15 Man: First, by direct appearance. Second by entering other’s heart. Third by appearing simply by thinking.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is giving His mercy in these three ways, those who are fortunate, they could see Him directly and others simply by hearing about the Lord, He would enter into their heart and third if you think about the Lord then also that’s non-different, you will get His association in that way.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.16: Woman: Tell it by explaining in detail?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.17: Man: The Lord directly appears before the pilgrims who are able to come to Puruṣottama-kṣetra. Each year many thousands of pilgrims, more than anyone has ever seen or heard of before, cross from many different countries have come, more eager to see Lord Kṛṣṇa Caitanya then they are to see Lord Jagannātha Himself.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya is the moving Jagannātha and Lord Jagannātha is the Deity form, so you have the darśana of both forms of Jagannātha during the Ratha-yātrā.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.18: Woman: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.19: Man: Among all these people the Gauḍīyas (pilgrims from Bengal) are dear to the Lord whom I have seen. These Gauḍīyas who are especially dear to Him are very fortunate even if they have not seen Him. These devotees are headed by Narahari, Raghunandana, and the other residents of Khanda-grama are very fortunate. Although at first they did not see the Lord, eventually they were able to come to Puruṣottama-kṣetra every autumn.

Jayapatākā Swami: Not all the devotees were able to associate with Lord Caitanya when He was in Navadvīpa, but when He came to Jagannātha Purī, He would participate in Guṇḍicā cleaning, in Ratha-yātrā, in His kīrtana programs and thus all the devotees could associate with Him. So even the non-devotees could see Him chanting. So, in Navadvīpa during the Chand Kazi civil disobedience, they had the opportunity but before that He was in the house of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura and only certain devotees were allowed in, and even that, in the Harināma-saṅkīrtana, only some could see Him. But when He went to Jagannātha Purī, then the devotees who came from Bengal could freely associate with the Lord.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.21: Translation: The inhabitants of Kulīna-grāma, successors of Guṇarāja Khān, and all these beginning with Rāmānanda Vasu, are well-wishing friends of the Lord. And Nyāyācārya and the other wise devotees thriving with the mellow of love, come to Puruṣottama-kṣetra every autumn.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.43: Translation: Now tell me why Rāmānanda forbade Lord Caitanya to go to Bengal.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.44: Lady says Man: Beloved, because he is full of love for the Lord, Rāmānanda cannot tolerate any separation from Him. Even though for a long time the Lord wished to go to Mathurā, he delayed His departure for two years on Rāmānanda’s request, “Today or Tomorrow (You go to Mathurā).”

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya used various tricks to somehow get Lord Caitanya to stay in Jagannātha Purī. This worked for about two years, but finally the Lord requested them that He wanted to go to Vṛndāvana. So, He was seeking their permission.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.45: Woman: Will the Lord stay here or go to Mathurā?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.46: Man: Beloved, repeatedly requested by the Lord, Rāmānanda finally gave his permission that the Lord will go to Mahurā through Bengal.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.47: Woman: O noble husband, will the Lord again come here?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.48: Man: Yes.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.49: Woman: There is a doubt here, because He is most fond of Mathurā,

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.50: Man: That may be so, but still, to lighten the burden of Lord Jagannātha, who descended to this world to deliver the fallen souls up to the caṇḍālas, the Supreme Person Śrī Caitanya will again return to Puruṣottama-kṣetra.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya’s mission is to deliver the most fallen and while He was present in Navadvipa, in Jagannātha Purī, in India, he delivered all the people, regardless of their caste. But He said, He would send His senāpati-bhakta to deliver the rest of the world.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.51: Woman: Yes. It will happen so.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.52: A Voice From Behind the Scenes: Bhaṭṭācārya, why did Rāmānanda permit this to be done?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.53: Man: Beloved, listen to this. It is as I said. Mahārāja Pratāparudra, distressed by separation from the Lord, is talking with Sārvabhauma. Let us go attend on with prayers by singing Lord Jagannātha.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.54: (They both exit).

(Mahārāja Pratāparudra enters and sits on a throne. Sārvabhauma also enters).

Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Bhaṭṭācārya, due to the slackening of the rope of perseverance of Rāmānanda, the Lord has gone.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.55: Sārvabhauma: Is it possible to have more persistence with the Lord? (It is not possible to compel the Lord) Still, He delayed his departure for two years.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.56: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāmānanda did me a great favor. He led the merciful Supreme Lord to the pathway of my eyes. He made the very-difficult-to-attain touch to the Lord’s lotus feet very easy for me to attain. He mercifully gave the sweet nectar of the Lord’s words to my ears to drink. Still, now that the Lord has gone, my heart has become a barren desert.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya has gone through Bhuvaneśvara and Kaṭaka and Kaṭaka was the capital of the King Pratāparudra and there the King Pratāparudra,could bow down to Lord Caitanya and could touch His lotus feet and Lord Caitanya gave him great mercy and embraced him. So, this was impossible for King Pratāparudra to achieve before, at least it was very difficult, but He got this special mercy and He constructed a monument of Lord Caitanya crossing the river. King Pratāparudra made all the arrangements for the safe journey of Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.57: Sārvabhauma: O Mahārāja, Rāmānanda is a great devotee of the Lord. As it is stated (in the Bhāgavatam 11.2.55):

“One who has captured the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet within his heart with genuine love, is to be known as bhāgavata-pradhāna, the most exalted devotee of the Lord.”

A devotee like him brings the Supreme Personality of Godhead under his control. It is because of Rāmānanda’s mercy that Lord Caitanya has been merciful to you.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this shows the mercy, how serving the devotee would bring all good fortune to one. Lord Kṛṣṇa has said that worshipping His devotee is better than worshipping Him. Lord Śiva told Pārvatī that the worship of Viṣṇu is the highest but better than that is the worship of His devotees.

Haribol!

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.58: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: How far will Rāmānanda travel with Him?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.59: Sārvabhauma: I heard as far as Bhadraka.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.60: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: How many went with the Lord.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.61: Sārvabhauma: Paramānanda Purī, Dāmodara, Jagadānanda, Gopīnātha, and Govinda. Those five.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.62: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Even though the almighty Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Jagannātha, the master of Nīlācala, situated on the throne expands His opulence, still all the three worlds are empty since Lord Caitanya has again gone to the northern direction.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, King Pratāparudra is feeling such separation from Lord Caitanya. This feeling of separation is the most powerful way of connecting with the Lord.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.63: Sārvabhauma: Oh King! unalloyed love is like this.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.64: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Did anyone among us went following closely?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.65: Sārvabhauma: O King, you speak only out of love. Where is dependence on your men? (The Lord is not dependent on anyone of your men) Still taking your letter, someone appointed by you has gone in advance and has made all arrangements in the areas within your dominion.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Mahārāja Pratāparudra had made all arrangements in his kingdom for Lord Caitanya’s reception, housing and prasāda.

In each area, the appointed man constructed new residences and each residence was filled with abundant offerings and the appointed man took the Lord to these residences so that He and His associates rest there to be free from the fatigue due to walking.

But the Lord knows this to be the act of Rāmānanda Rāya.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.66: (A doorkeeper enters).

Doorkeeper: My Lord, Rāmānanda Rāya and others stand at the door.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.67: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Bring him at once.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.68: Doorkeeper: As you command.

(He exits and returns with Rāmānanda. Rāmānanda approaches and offers respectful obeisances.)

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.69: (Respectfully offering Rāmānanda a seat) Tell me, how far did you go with the Lord.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.70: Rāmānanda: Even though at every step I was told by the Lord “From here turn back and go”, I went as far as Bhadraka. O Mahārāja, it is difficult to give up one’s course of social activities, because:

Even though the Lord is an ocean of mercy, the deliverer of the fallen,  Alas! Alas! I left the Lord and came out of fear of you. I don’t know why I have not died there. It is only because my body is hard and strong as a thunderbolt that I have returned. (He sheds tears).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.71: Rāmānanda, you are intelligent. Sārvabhauma Bhatyacharya says Rāmānanda, you are intelligent. Why do you lament? The Supreme Lord always performs pastimes like this. He left the people of Vraja and went to Mathurā, and again He left Mathurā and again even from there He went to Dvārakā, and then again even He left Dvārakā and went here and there. How did the devotees in those places bear separation from the Lord? Even though separation from the Lord is intolerable, still the Lord makes them tolerate it. Therefore, enough with this lamentation. You should be comforting Mahārāja Pratāparudra. You should not make him distressed with this your distress.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the devotees they have sambhoga, where they are meeting with the Lord and vipralambha, where they are separated from the Lord. So, these two things are always happening in the devotee’s life, and the separation increases the bliss of reunion. Sometimes they were united with the Lord and sometimes separated. So this keeps one always fixed on the Lord.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.72: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Speak.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.73: Rāmānanda: Your appointed men will go as far as the region of your authority. Some of our men who know the path will go as far as the Bengali border. Some among them will go a little far away, and some will go a little further away.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.74: (Doorkeeper enters).

Doorkeeper: My Lord, the men Rāmānanda Raya sent to accompany the Lord have now returned.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.75: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Have them come in at once.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.76: (The Doorkeeper does that. The men enter).

Men: Glory! Glory to the Lord!

Jayapatākā Swami: Jayati! Jayati!

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.77: Rāmānanda: Tell us: “How far did the Lord go?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.78: A Man: As far as Kuliyā-grāma.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.79: (Mahārāja Pratāparudra glances at Sārvabhauma)

Sārvabhauma: My lord, Kuliyā is the name of a town on the farther shore of the Ganges, past Navadvīpa.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.80: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Tell the whole story from the beginning.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.81: Man: Lord, by your power, as far as your jurisdiction is there, the paths accomplished most easily and thus everyone travelled without even walking. Among the three roads leading to the Bengali border, two are closed and one is flooded with water (which indicates that the Lord travels on the waterway that is flooded). The governor in the border of Bengal is a Turkish fellow, a great drunkard, a leader of the nasty people and who causes suffering to the people travelling as if a wound in the heart. Out of fear of this officer, no one could walk the road freely since they heard, “He causes misfortune to those who travels here.” No one told about this to Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When our officer told, “Please wait for a while here till I make negotiating alliances with this Turkish officer,” then at that same time, a man from the Turkish officer came near our officer.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the history of that Muslim Governor is being told to King Pratāparudra.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.82: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.83: Man: Then our officer said: “If three or four men want to come, then you can come.” Then they came and falling flat on the ground at the lotus feet of the Lord paid obeisances from a long time.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is something amazing for King Pratāparudra, because the Turkish man will not normally pay prostrated obeisances to a Hindu Holy man.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.84: Translation: “Then everyone said, “O Lord, with this person’s help we can travel very easily. Please glance mercifully on him.” On their request, when the lord glanced, this yavana became like a man possessed, His hairs stood up, his voice became choked, and he shed tears.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.85: Translation: Then, Gopīnātha Ācārya said, “Ah! How can Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu travel happily?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.86: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.87: Man: Then the yavana said, “How far will you go?” Then, Gopīnātha Ācārya replied, “As of now, we will go as far as Pāṇīyahāṭī”.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.88: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.89: Man: Then, the hairs of His body standing erect, and tears flowing from His eyes, this yavana said in a voice choked with emotion,

It is my fortunate that I will be able of some help to the Lord.” Then he brought a new boat equipped with a cabin driven by all the gentle boatmen. He cleansed the boat again and brought it quickly and he himself got on to another boat. He told the Lord, “Lord, all of you aboard the boat.” Then the Lord and the other passengers entered the boat. In order to prevent the fear of the pirates on the river, he personally was in front and after crossing the Mantreśvara river went up to Picchanadā-grāma. When they reached the village of Picchanadā, the Lord distributed Lord Jagannātha’s manohara-sweet prasāda to everyone. After obtaining the prasāda, he called out “Hari bol!” manifested the symptoms of a mahā-bhāgavata.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the Turkish Governor was so much inspired by the mercy of Lord Caitanya that he himself became chanting and shedding tears and manifesting all the symptoms of māhā-bhāva.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.90: (Mahārāja Pratāparudra is being struck with wonder).

Jayapatākā Swami: So, he is amazed how this Turkish Governor, who is a drunkard, had been so much transformed by the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Sārvabhauma: These are the ways of the pastimes of the Lord. The independent Lord showers His mercy on even the unqualified, and certainly ignores the qualified. Lord Rāmacandra befriended the caṇḍāla Guhaka, and Lord Kṛṣṇa remained silent and indifferent to Lord Brahmā who bowed to the Lord and offered many prayers.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.91: Man: On His order, performing bhagavat-kīrtana the boatman reached Pāṇīyahāṭī within one day and embarked.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.92: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Who is there (in Pāṇīyahāṭī)?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.93: Sārvabhauma: Rāghava Paṇḍita.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.94: Man: Then what happened is wonderful

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.95: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: What was that?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.97: Man: As soon as the Lord alighted on the shore of the Ganges, everything was filled with people that How will I describe it? Is it that grains of dust on the earth became the people? Or is it that the stars fallen from the sky took the shapes of the humans? Then, with great difficulty, the Lord made His way from the shore of the Ganges to the home of Rāghava Paṇḍita.

Jayapatākā Swami: So many people assembled spontaneously to see Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu that there were huge crowds of people, and everyone struggling to see the Lord. So with great difficulty He could go through the crowds of people to the house of Rāghava Paṇḍita.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.98: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Then? Then?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.99: Man: The Lord spent the night there and then on the following day continued His boat journey.

On the way He was followed by a great crowd of people, who being separated from the Lord, their hands moving like waves constantly, seemed as if the constant waves of the Ganges river that had just descended from the feet of Lord Viṣṇu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, people were so intent on associating with the Lord but He went on His own journey , so they were feeling great separation.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.100: Then the Lord arrived at Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita’s house in Kumārahaṭṭa.

Translation: As the Lord walked from the shore to the house, the people, eager to gather the dust of His feet with their hands, made great holes in the path. When the Lord disembarked, Jagadānanda, unseen by Him, went to Śivānanda’s house an decorated the path of the Lord to the house of Śivānanda thinking that the Lord out of love will stay for a longer time in Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita’s house.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this drama is explaining the journey of Lord Caitanya to King Pratāparudra. So, from various angles we could see the Lords journey and get some taste of what was happening. But from other śāstras, we get some more details.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 16.206

tatpare tannikaṭei agre śivānanda-gṛhe, paścāt vāsudeva-gṛhe āgamana:— 
tāṅhā haite āge gelā śivānanda-ghara
vāsudeva-gṛhe pāche āilā īśvara

Translation: From the house of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, the Lord went to the house of Śivānanda Sena and then to the house of Vāsudeva Datta.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 20.17: Translation: In the night, alone and without being seen, he went by boat to another place, north of the town. He went to Vāsudeva’s house and then to Śīvānanda’s house.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, different scriptures says that He went to Śīvānanda’s house first and then to Vasudeva Datta's and others say that He went to Vāsudeva Datta's house first and then to Śīvānanda Sena's house. But what we know for a fact is that He went to both the houses, and that He went in the village of Kañcanpada, and Śivānanda Sena’s temple is still there.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.101: Translation: Then at the end of the night, the Lord travelled by boat to Śivānanda’s house, with people loudly chanting, “Haribol”, by climbing on the roofs fo the houses and on the high branches of the trees all along the path.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, the people were so eager to see the Lord, they went to any high place, roofs, trees, to see the Lord.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.102: Translation: Then, Jagadānanda decorated the sides of the path to Śivānanda’s house with banana tree, full water pots, flower buds, and lamps. When Lord Caitanya saw all this, He smiled, thinking, “Jagadānanda has done this”.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita was thinking how to make it a very auspicious reception or journey for Lord Caitanya, the devotees were filled with love, Missing they did things spontaneously to please the Lord.

Seeing Vasudeva’s house on the left, similarly decorated, the Lord became doubtful of where to go first, and Vāsudeva then replied, “Lord, first you can decorate (visit) the house of Śivānanda.”

When the Lord entered the house, Jagadānanda washed His feet and took Him to the deity room. Later, the water that has washed the feet of the Lord was sprinkled on the house and on his family and friends by Jagadānanda. Then, after staying for a moment and reaching Vāsudeva’s house and staying for a while, the Lord again entered a boat and continued His journey. In order to obtain the water touched by the Lord’s feet, the people then entered the water up to their necks. Seeing them, the Lord became merciful and thus everyone obtained the Lord’s caraṇāmṛta. As He travelled everyone followed Him on the shore and no one turned back.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya was not travelling on a motor boat it was a simple boat Missing and so people followed along the bank being inspired, being filled with love for Lord Gaurāṅga or Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 9.103: Mahārāja Pratāparudra: Then? Then?

Jayapatākā Swami: So, King Pratāparudra was very much inspired to hear more and more about the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Are you all?!!!!!

Haribol! Gauranga !

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Visiting the House of Śivānanda Sena and Vāsudeva Datta 
Under the Section: The Lord’s Attempt to Go to Vṛndāvana