20221126 Vaiṣṇava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee

The following is a Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on November 26th, 2022 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:

Vaiṣṇava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee
Under the section: Sanātana Gosvāmī Visits the Lord at Jagannātha Purī

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.105

ratha-yātrākāle gauḍīya bhaktagaṇera purīte āgamana o darśanaḥ—

yātrā-kāle āilā saba gauḍera bhakta-gaṇa
pūrvavat kailā sabe ratha-yātrā daraśana

Translation: During the time of Ratha-yātrā, all the devotees arrived from Bengal to visit the car festival as they had done previously.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this was a regular annual visit when Lord Caitanya was in Jagannātha Purī. Devotees when they heard Lord Caitanya was in Purī, they made the trip with great enthusiasm, to see and participate in the chanting and dancing during the Ratha-yātrā festival.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.106

rathāgre prabhura nṛtya-darśane sanātanera vismayaḥ—

ratha-agre prabhu taiche karilā nartana
dekhi camatkāra haila sanātanera mana

Translation: During the Ratha-yātrā festival, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu again danced before the car of Jagannātha. When Sanātana Gosvāmī saw this, his mind was astonished.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Lord Caitanya dancing is something amazing and Sanātana Gosvāmī seeing this for the first time he was overwhelmed in transcendental bliss.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.107

cāturmāsyakāle gauḍīya o uḍiyā bhaktagaṇasaha sanātanera milanaḥ—

varṣāra cāri-māsa rahilā saba nija bhakta-gaṇe
sabā-saṅge prabhu milāilā sanātane

Translation: The Lord’s devotees from Bengal stayed at Jagannātha Purī during the four months of the rainy season, and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced Sanātana Gosvāmī to them all.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sanātana Gosvāmī was able to meet all the Bengali and Oriya devotees. The Cāturmāsya begins right after the Ratha-yātrā so that means the devotees stayed until the Ratha-yātrā and after that for four months.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.108-110

advaita, nityānanda, śrīvāsa, vakreśvara
vāsudeva, murāri, rāghava, dāmodara

purī, bhāratī, svarūpa, paṇḍita-gadādhara
sārvabhauma, rāmānanda, jagadānanda, śaṅkara

kāśīśvara, govindādi yata bhakta-gaṇa
sabā-sane sanātanera karāilā milana

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced Sanātana Gosvāmī to these and other selected devotees: Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, Vāsudeva Datta, Murāri Gupta, Rāghava Paṇḍita, Dāmodara Paṇḍita, Paramānanda Purī, Brahmānanda Bhāratī, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Rāmānanda Rāya, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, Śaṅkara Paṇḍita, Kāśīśvara and Govinda.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these devotees from Orissa and Bengal were all introduced to Sanātana Gosvāmī, they are all very great devotees and to meet them was a great benediction for Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.111

sakalerai prītibhājana śrī-sanātanaḥ—

yathā-yogya karāila sabāra caraṇa vandana
tāṅre karāilā sabāra kṛpāra bhājana

Translation: The Lord asked Sanātana Gosvāmī to offer obeisances to all the devotees in a way that befitted each one. Thus He introduced Sanātana Gosvāmī to them all, just to make him an object of their mercy.

Jayapatākā Swami: I remember how when Ghanaśyama dāsa was going to distribute book behind the Iron Curtain, Śrīla Prabhupāda requested all the senior devotees present to bless His Grace Ghanaśyama dāsa so this is the principle in Vaiṣṇava etiquette.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.112

nijaguṇe viṣṇu-vaiṣṇavera sneha-prītibhājanaḥ—

sad-guṇe, pāṇḍitye, sabāra priya—sanātana
yathā-yogya kṛpā-maitrī-gaurava-bhājana

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī was dear to everyone because of his exalted qualities and learning. Suitably, therefore, they bestowed upon him mercy, friendship and honor.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sanātana Gosvāmī received the mercy, friendship and honor from all the devotees present.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.113

gauḍīyagaṇera gauḍe pratyāvarttana o sanātanera purīte avasthānaḥ—

sakala vaiṣṇava yabe gauḍa-deśe gelā
sanātana mahāprabhura caraṇe rahilā

Translation: When all the other devotees returned to Bengal after the Ratha-yātrā festival, Sanātana Gosvāmī stayed under the care of the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.114

prabhusaṅge sanātanera dola-yātrā-darśanaḥ—

dola-yātrā-ādi prabhura saṅgete dekhila
dine-dine prabhu-saṅge ānanda bāḍila

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī observed the Dola-yātrā ceremony with Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. In this way, his pleasure increased in the company of the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sanātana Gosvāmī was experiencing transcendental ecstasy in the association of Lord Caitanya and this was increasing day by day.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.115

jyaiṣṭhamāse sanātanaparīkṣā-viṣayaka vṛttānta varṇanaḥ—

pūrve vaiśākha-māse sanātana yabe āilā
jyaiṣṭha-māse prabhu tāṅre parīkṣā karilā

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī had come to see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Jagannātha Purī during the month of April-May, and during the month of May-June Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu tested him.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.116

yameśvara ṭoṭāya prabhura madhyāhna-bhikṣāḥ—

jyaiṣṭha-māse prabhu yameśvara-ṭoṭā āilā
bhakta-anurodhe tāhāṅ bhikṣā ye karilā

Translation: In that month of May-June, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu came to the garden of Yameśvara [Lord Śiva] and accepted prasādam there at the request of the devotees.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.117

sanātanake prabhura āhvāna, sanātanera ānandaḥ—

madhyāhna-bhikṣā-kāle sanātane bolāila
prabhu bolāilā, tāṅra ānanda bāḍila

Translation: At noon, when it was time for lunch, the Lord called for Sanātana Gosvāmī, whose happiness increased because of the call.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, being called for by Lord Caitanya gave Sanātana Gosvāmī increased transcendental pleasure.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.118

prabhu-prītivaśe ātmahārā sanātanera dehasmṛti-luptāvasthāya kharatara tapta tīkṣṇavālupathe kṣatapade prabhura samīpe gamanaḥ—

madhyāhne samudra-vālu hañāche agni-sama
sei-pathe sanātana karilā gamana

Translation: At noon the sand on the beach was as hot as fire, but Sanātana Gosvāmī came by that path.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.119

‘prabhu bolāñāche’,—ei ānandita mane
tapta-vālukāte pā poḍe, tāhā nāhi jāne

Translation: Overwhelmed by joy at being called by the Lord, Sanātana Gosvāmī did not feel that his feet were burning in the hot sand.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sanātana Gosvāmī was so blissful at being called by the Lord, that he was not conscious that his feet were being burnt.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.120

dui pāye phoskā haila, tabu gelā prabhu-sthāne
bhikṣā kari’ mahāprabhu kariyāchena viśrāme

Translation: Although the soles of his feet were blistered because of the heat, he nevertheless went to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. There he found that the Lord, having taken His lunch, was resting.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.121

prabhura bhuktāvaśiṣṭa prasāda-prāptiḥ—

bhikṣā-avaśeṣa-pātra govinda tāre dilā
prasāda pāñā sanātana prabhu-pāśe āilā

Translation: Govinda gave Sanātana Gosvāmī the plate with the remnants of Lord Caitanya’s food. After taking the prasādam, Sanātana Gosvāmī approached Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, getting Lord Caitanya's māhā-prasāda it gave Sanātana Gosvāmī transcendental pleasure and after that he went to see Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.122

sasnehe prabhura tāṅhāra āgamanopāya-jijñāsā, sanātanera sadainya uttaraḥ—

prabhu kahe,—’kon pathe āilā, sanātana?’
teṅha kahe,—’samudra-pathe, kariluṅ āgamana’

Translation: When the Lord inquired, “By which path have you come?” Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, “I have come on the path along the beach.”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.123

prabhu kahe,—“tapta-vālukāte kemane āilā?
siṁha-dvārera patha—śītala, kene nā āilā?

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “How did you come along the beach, where the sand is so hot? Why didn’t you come by the path in front of the Siṁha-dvāra gate? It is very cool.

Purport: Siṁha-dvāra refers to the main gate on the eastern side of the Jagannātha temple.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.124

tapta-vālukāya tomāra pāya haila vraṇa
calite nā pāra, kemane karilā sahana?”

Translation: “The hot sand must have blistered your soles. Now you cannot walk. How did you tolerate it?”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.125

sanātana kahe,—“duḥkha bahuta nā pāiluṅ
pāye vraṇa hañāche tāhā nā jāniluṅ

Translation: Sanātana Gosvāmī replied, “I did not feel much pain, nor did I know that there were blisters because of the heat.

Jayapatākā Swami: When Srila Prabhupada was arriving in Boston in 1969, devotees were so ecstatic that they were jumping up and down, and one devotee had hit his head with the kartālas and blood was flowing down but he didn’t feel it, he was in such ecstasy to see Śrīla Prabhupāda. One media reporter took his picture and reported this.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.126

svayaṁ rāgamārgīya paramahaṁsa haiyāo ādarśa mānada vaiṣṇavācārya-rūpe sanātana-prabhu-karttṛka sādhakera śikṣārtha vaidha arcana-mārgera yathocita maryādā-pradarśanaḥ—

siṁha-dvāre yāite mora nāhi adhikāra
viśeṣe—ṭhākurera tāhāṅ sevakera pracāra

Translation: “I have no right to pass by the Siṁha-dvāra, for the servants of Jagannātha are always coming and going there.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.127

Jayapatākā Swami: Because Sanātana Gosvāmī did not enter the temple he considered himself very fallen. So to go by the entrance of the Jagannātha temple, he might bump into some servant of Lord Jagannātha, and therefore he did no want to commit any offence.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.127

sevaka gatāgati kare, nāhi avasara
tāra sparśa haile, sarva-nāśa habe mora

Translation: “The servants are always coming and going without interval. If I touch them, I shall be ruined.”

Purport: Herein it is very clearly indicated that priests performing Deity worship should be careful to keep themselves completely pure and not be touched by outsiders. Sanātana Gosvāmī and Haridāsa Ṭhākura, thinking themselves mlecchas and yavanas because of their past association with Muslims, did not enter the temple or even travel on the path in front of the temple gate. It is customary for the priests of temples in India not even to touch outsiders or enter the Deity room after having been touched. This is a very important item in temple worship.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, if a pujari touches someone who is unclean, he has to take a bath before he enters the Deity room, this is a principle of Deity worship.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.128

sanātanera ukti o mānada vyavahāra-śravaṇe prabhura ānandaḥ—

śuni’ mahāprabhu mane santoṣa pāilā
tuṣṭa hañā tāṅre kichu kahite lāgilā

Translation: Having heard all these details, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, greatly pleased, spoke as follows.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.129-130

bhagavatkarttṛka bhaktastutiḥ—

“yadyapio tumi hao jagat-pāvana
tomā-sparśe pavitra haya deva-muni-gaṇa

svayaṁ prabhukarttṛka bhakta vā sādhura rīti o guṇa-vaiśiṣṭya-varṇanaḥ—

tathāpi bhakta-svabhāva—maryādā-rakṣaṇa
maryādā-pālana haya sādhura bhūṣaṇa

Translation: “My dear Sanātana, although you are the deliverer of the entire universe and although even the demigods and great saints are purified by touching you, it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and protect the Vaiṣṇava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaiṣṇava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, behaving according to Vaiṣṇava etiquette is herein glorified by Lord Caitanya. Everyone should observe Vaiṣṇava etiquette and this is an ornament of the devotee.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.131

sādhakera maryādā-laṅghanera phalaḥ—

maryādā-laṅghane loka kare upahāsa
iha-loka, para-loka—dui haya nāśa

Translation: “If one transgresses the laws of etiquette, people make fun of him, and thus he is vanquished in both this world and the next.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.132

jagadguru lokaśikṣaka prabhura vaidha-maryādā-pālane ādara-pradarśana o sanātanera ācaraṇa-darśane ācāryarūpe aṅgīkāraḥ—

maryādā rākhile, tuṣṭa kaile mora mana
tumi aiche nā karile kare kon jana?”

Translation: “By observing the etiquette, you have satisfied My mind. Who else but you could show this example?”

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.133

Jayapatākā Swami: So, Sanātana Gosvāmī as an ideal Vaiṣṇava and ācārya he showed the proper etiquette for his consciousness. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda had requested that, we should be allowed - the Western devotees should be allowed into the Jagannātha Purī temple, since Lord Caitanya has predicted that His movement would spread to every town and village of the whole world. If one follows all the principles of Vaiṣṇavism, they are always clean, then they should be allowed into the Jagannātha Purī temple out of respect for Lord Caitanya.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.133

aprākṛtatanu nijapreṣṭha bhaktake bhagavānera āliṅganaḥ—

eta bali’ prabhu tāṅre āliṅgana kaila
tāṅra kaṇḍu-rasā prabhura śrī-aṅge lāgila

Translation: After saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu embraced Sanātana Gosvāmī, and the moisture oozing from the itching sores on Sanātana’s body smeared the body of the Lord.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sanātana Gosvāmī while bathing in the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest got some itching sores. The moisture of the sores came on the transcendental body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 4.134

āliṅganaphale prabhugātre svīya kaṇḍurasasparśahetu dainyavigraha sanātanera vedanānubhavaḥ—

bāra bāra niṣedhena, tabu kare āliṅgana
aṅge rasā lāge, duḥkha pāya sanātana

Translation: Although Sanātana Gosvāmī repeatedly forbade Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to embrace him, the Lord still did so. Thus, His body was smeared with the moisture from Sanātana’s body, and Sanātana became greatly distressed.

Jayapatākā Swami: Sanātana Gosvāmī tried to stop the Lord but the Lord embraced him inspite of that and this gave Sanātana Gosvāmī great distress. This showed how Lord Caitanya, He did not consider all these external things, He was very affectionate to Sanātana Gosvāmī.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Vaiṣṇava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee
Under the section: Sanātana Gosvāmī Visits the Lord at Jagannātha Purī