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X-WR-CALNAME:ISKCON Punjabi Bagh,
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for ISKCON Punjabi Bagh,
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TZID:UTC
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TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:UTC
DTSTART:20240101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241207
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241208
DTSTAMP:20260518T052025
CREATED:20241118T062525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T114716Z
UID:39094-1733529600-1733615999@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Odana Sasthi 7th Dec 2024
DESCRIPTION:At the beginning of winter\, there is a ceremony known as the Odana Sasthi. During the Odana-sasthi festival the servants of Lord Jagannatha would dress Lord Jagannatha and Balarama with starched cloth. \nThis ceremony indicates that from that day forward\, a winter covering should be given to Lord Jagannatha.That covering is directly purchased from a weaver. According to the archana-marga\, a cloth should first be washed to remove all the starch\, and then it can be used to cover the Lord. On this occasion by the desire of Lord Jagannatha\, His servants dress Him in new\, starched clothes.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/odana-sasthi-7th-dec-2024/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Jagannath.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241211
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241212
DTSTAMP:20260518T052025
CREATED:20241118T062717Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T114724Z
UID:39096-1733875200-1733961599@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Advent of Srimad Bhagavat Gita 11th Dec 2024
DESCRIPTION:This is the annirversary day commemorating the day that Srimad Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Sri Krishna to His dearmost devotee Arjuna. \nAt the place now known as Jyotisar Tirtha amid the waring families of the Kurus and the Pandavas at Kurukshetra. If one wishes one can still go and visit that place and see the monument erected there with Krishna as Parthasarati (the chariot driver) and Arjuna\, the warrior on their chariot. It is claimed by the ashram who maintain the shrine that the tree that is next to Them is a continum growth of the original tree witness that was there at the actual day of speaking.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/advent-of-srimad-bhagavat-gita-11th-dec-2024/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bhagavad.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241211
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241212
DTSTAMP:20260518T052025
CREATED:20241118T062912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241213T114729Z
UID:39098-1733875200-1733961599@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Moksada Mahadvadashi 11th Dec 2024
DESCRIPTION:This Ekadasi occurs in the month of Magashirsa November/December. The glories of this Ekadasi are untold. In the Brahmananda Purana they are described in a conversation between Krsna and Maharaja Yudhisthira.\nWhen Maharaja Yudhisthira questioned Krsna about this particular Ekadasi he asked: “How should one spend his time on this glorious day? Please explain to me the delineation of how to follow this Ekadasi and thus please The Supreme Personality of Godhead.” \nSri Krsna replied: “Oh my dear one\, Yudhisthira. If one worships the Supreme Lord on this most munificent day\, all his sinful reactions will be completely destroyed. One should offer tulasi  leaves and manjaris to the Lords lotus feet. By so doing\, He will be unlimitedly pleased. By observing this Ekadasi one achieves the result of performing three hundred thousand Sankranta sacrifices. \n“There was once a king named Vaisakhacuda who lived in the city of Camakpura and ruled over it very mercifully. The citizens cared for him very much\, but he was despondent and couldn’t quite understand why. He was affectionate to the citizens and many highly qualified Brahmanas came to advise him regularly. One day the King had a vision in a vast dream he was having. He dreamt that his father had fallen into a hellish condition and was suffering a terrible afflictation of mind\, body and spirit. \nWhen realising this unbeknown truth the King decided very firmly to do something practical about it. The following day the King awoke at dawn and rallied his faithful confidants to his aid. He foreswore to explain to them exactly what had happened and be truthful in his telling. He also made a firm sankalpa to deliver his father from the decrepid position he had fallen into. \nUpon disclosing the nature of his dream and his intention to rectify the situation\, the kings brahmana advisors posited a perfect plan. They sat in counsel for a long time and mulled over the problem-analysing it from all possible angles of vision. The old and wise advisors to the king\, suggested many practical solutions and the younger brahmanas also raised some apt and pertinent points. \nWhen they’d completely eradicated all doubt from their minds; the plan forumulated in full concentration and they approached King Vaisakhacuda. \n“Oh King\, barely a stones throw from this place there is the hermitage of Parvata Muni.He  is tri-kala-jna meaning he knows the past\, the present and the future simultaneously. We would request you to relate the topics of your dream to him.” \n“Once the brahmanas had recounted their conclusions to the King they accompanied him to the asrama of Parvata Muni. When the muni enquired as to the welfare of his lands the king replied \n“My Lord\, due to your munificence and exemplary character the people of our land are happy and contented. However\, despite the general welfare of the land I am troubled. A doubt has arisen in my mind and I believe you are my only hope in rectifying this difficulty. \n“After considering the Kings words the greatly sagacious muni known as Parvata began to speak. \n“In his previous life\, your father was very lusty and has thus degraded himself in this way. The best solution I can recommend\, in this particular case-is for you and your familiars to observe the vow of the Ekadasi that falls in the month of Maghashirsa. This one day of Ekadasi will free your father from all sinful reactions – if you just observe this one Ekadasi there will be no difficulty for you or your kin. Just observe this one day of austerity and by so doing-offer the resultant piety to your father. That way your father and your family will be relieved of the burdensome weight of sins accumulated over billions of births.” \n“After hearing the instruction of Parvata Muni\, King Vaisakhacuda and his courtiers returned to the palace at Camakpura. When the Ekadasi day arrived\, the King and his Queens\, along with the servants-observed the vrata or vow\, with enthusiasm. Upon completing the vociferous fast the father departed for the heavenly planet and blessed his son with all due love\, care and attention. The pious results accrued from such an act were so vast that they were shared with all\, to their fullest capacity. \n“Oh King\, anyone who observes this Ekadasi is certainly released from all his sinful reactions.”
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/moksada-mahadvadashi-11th-dec-2024/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Ekadashi.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241215
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241216
DTSTAMP:20260518T052025
CREATED:20241118T063352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241218T121807Z
UID:39100-1734220800-1734307199@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Katyayani Vrata Ends 15th Dec 2024
DESCRIPTION:A vow to observe austerities to please Katyayani Devi\, or Yogamaya Devi\, the spiritual energy of Lord Krsna.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/katyayani-vrata-ends-15th-dec-2024/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Katyani.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241219
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241220
DTSTAMP:20260518T052025
CREATED:20241118T063609Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241221T061955Z
UID:39103-1734566400-1734652799@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Disappearance Day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura 19th Dec 2024
DESCRIPTION:Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was the spiritual master of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura powerfully spread the teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the early twentieth century.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/disappearance-day-of-srila-bhaktisiddhanta-sarasvati-thakura-19th-dec-2024/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Srila.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241226
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241227
DTSTAMP:20260518T052025
CREATED:20241118T063724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250103T124856Z
UID:39105-1735171200-1735257599@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Saphala Ekadasi 26th Dec 2024
DESCRIPTION:Saphala Ekadasi takes place during the waning moon of the Pausa month – December/January. The glories of this Ekadasi are insurmountably great. Actually there is no way to extol the divine results of observing Ekadasi; but still they are given in the Brahmananda Purana. Sri Krsna said to Arjuna: “Oh best of the Bharata lineage\, just as Lord Sesa is best among snakes\, Garuda is best among birds\, the horse yajna is best among sacrifices\, the Ganges is best among the rivers\, Sri Visnu is best among the demigods and the brahmanas are best among human beings; so\, among all vows of austerity the day of Ekadasi is best. \nThere was once a famous king named Bahuldan who lived in the city of Hirosena. He had four sons and a very beautiful wife. Among the Kings sons\, the eldest and most valiant was named Nalaka. This Prince Nalaka was extremely sinful. He would often blaspheme the Vaishnavas\, the brahmanas\, the demigods and he was attached to gambling. He would also regularly visit the houses of prostitutes. Consequently his father King Bahuldan exiled him to a far away land. \nBeing exiled far from the kingdom Nalaka lived in a vast jungle. He would eat wild berries and truffles\, roots and shoots\, raw meats and mushrooms to survive. At night he would sometimes return to his fathers kingdom and steal from the citizens houses. Despite his stealing the citizens were unable to stop him due to his being the son of the King. \nIn the forest where Nalaka lived there was a ginormous banyan tree. This tree was as worshipable as the demigods themselves. It’s branches reached down into the ground and reappeared here\, there and everywhere; forming an unimaginably mighty forest. For quite some time Nalaka lived beneath this timorous tree. \nBy accidence the day of Saphala Ekadasi fell while Nalaka was staying beneath this Banyan tree and he didn’t even realise. However due to exhaustion and fatigue from not eating properly Nalaka remained unconscious for many hours. He rose after noon on Ekadasi and because he was so weak did not kill any animals that day. He found some fruits and in a helpless pitiable condition decided to offer them to Sri Visnu – The Supreme Personality of Godhead. By the time the sun set on that day\, all he had managed to do was to offer one palmful of berries\, one branch of amalaki and one single qualscion fruit. Through the night he remained awake due to fear of wolves and his weak condition where he would be unable to defend himself. \nBy remaining awake fasting Prince Nalaka unwittingly observed Saphala Ekadasi. Lord Madhusudana accepted his austerities even though he didn’t realise it was Ekadasi. As a result of this unbeknown fast Nalaka’s father Bahuldan took pity on his wretched son and had him collected from the forest\, washed and bathed and reinstated in his rightful position as prince of the Hirosena province. Soon his father bequeathed the land unto Nalaka and he ruled as a just King. He acquired a beautiful wife and had many sons. \nBy observing Saphala Ekadasi one will certainly receive insurmountable benefits. Fame and liberation stand with folded palms before a person who fasts on this day. Those who choose to fast on this Ekadasi are indubitably great souls and will receive the result of performing an Asvamedha sacrifice.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/saphala-ekadasi-26th-dec-2024/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Ekadashi.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241226
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241227
DTSTAMP:20260518T052025
CREATED:20241213T125551Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250103T124902Z
UID:39569-1735171200-1735257599@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Srila Devananda Pandit Disappearance Day 26th Dec2024
DESCRIPTION:Sri Devananda Pandit used to live at Kuliya. He was a famous reciter of the Srimad Bhagavatam and many people used to study the Bhagavatam under his guidance. \n   One afternoon\, Shrivasa Pandita came to hear Devananda Pandit’s recitation of the Bhagavatam. Hundreds of students were seated around the Pandit and some were following his reading in their own personal copies of the manuscript. \n   Shrivasa Pandita was a very advanced Devotee and thus\, when the sweet nectar of the Bhagavatam entered his ears\, his heart became softened in love of God. He started to cry and roll on the ground\, his body having become agitated by the waves of ecstatic love. \n   When the students of Devananda saw this\, they thought\, “This fellow must be crazy. He is disturbing our hearing of the recitation. Get him out of here.” Thus they picked him up and carried him outside. Though Devananda saw all this taking place\, he didn’t prevent those foolish students of his from committing this offense. As the guru was ignorant\, so his students were sinful.  \n Shrivasa said nothing\, but simply went to his house feeling very sad. All of this occured before the appearance of Sri Gaurasundara. \n   During Mahaprabhu’s exhibition of His divine position as the Supreme Personality of Godhead for twenty-one hours\, He asked Shrivasa if he remembered this incident. \n   One day\, when Mahaprabhu was taking a stroll around Nadiyanagara\, He came to Maheshvara Visharada Pandit’s house. At that time Devananda resided there. Mahaprabhu heard him reciting the Srimad Bhagavatam from outside and became very angry. \n   “What purport will that rascal explain? Not in any of his births has he understood the meaning of even one verse of the Srimad Bhagavatam. The Bhagavatam is the avatara of Sri Krishna in book form. Devotion is the only subject it teaches. The four Vedas are like yoghurt and the Bhagavatam is like butter. Srila Sukadeva Goswami did the churning and Maharaja Parikshit ate that butter. Sukadeva Goswami is very dear to Me. He knows very well that the Srimad Bhagavatam is meant to describe the truth about Me according to My own liking. Whoever sees any difference between Me\, My own Devotees and the Srimad Bhagavatam simply brings destruction upon himself.” [C.B. Mad 21.13]\n   Mahaprabhu made these statements in a voice loud enough for Devananda to hear. Then He turned to go back to His home. The Devotees following Him begged for more mercy. He continued\, “All the scriptures state that the Srimad Bhagavatam enunciates the highest realization. Without having understood any of this\, simply for the sake of name and fame as a religionist and a scholar\, he poses himself as a teacher of this great book. But he doesn’t know the purport. \n   “Only one who has understood that the Srimad Bhagavatam is verily the inconceivable intelligence of the Supreme Lord Himself knows that the only meaning of the Bhagavatam is devotion. In order to understand the book Bhagavata\, one has to serve the Devotee-Bhagavata.” \n   Devananda could hear all of these remarks from the distance\, yet he thought nothing of it. \n   After some time Gaurasundara accepted sannyasa and went to live at Nilachala. It was then that Devananda at last began to feel some remorse. “Such a great soul\, totally imbued with love of God\, but I never went even once to have His association.” \n   One day Srila Vakreshvara Pandita came to Kuliya to visit the house of one Devotee there. In the evening he held a festival of dancing and chanting the Holy Name. Devananda was present on this occasion\, and was completely stunned by Sri Vakreshvara’s effulgence and ecstatic chanting and dancing. As the night progressed more and more\, people came to listen to his kirtan until there was finally a huge crowd. Devananda took a cane and began to control the crowd so that Vakreshvara’s dancing wouldn’t be disturbed. \n   When Vakreshvara fainted in ecstatic love\, Devananda carefully put his head on his lap and brushed the dust from his body with his own upper cloth. Then he smeared that dust on his own body. That day his service to the Devotees had its auspicious beginning. \n   After some days\, Mahaprabhu returned to Bengal to see his mother and the holy Ganges. He also came to Kuliya. At that time thousands upon thousands of people came to have darshana of His lotus feet. All of those who had previously committed offenses against Nimai Pandita by thinking Him to be an ordinary human being now came to seek His forgiveness; Mahaprabhu forgave each and everyone of them. Among those present was Devananda\, who fell down on the ground to offer his obeisances to Mahaprabhu. From that moment he became one of the Lord’s foremost Devotees. \n   Still\, he felt a little hesitant\, and thus upon getting up\, he stood to one side. Mahaprabhu addressed him\, “Because you have served My dear Devotee Vakreshvara\, I am now pleased with you. By that service you have now been able to approach Me. Within Vakreshvara’s person is Sri Krishna’s complete potency. Whoever serves him must receive Krishna’s mercy.” \n   Devananda\, in a faltering voice replied\, “You are the Supreme controller. Simply for the sake of reclaiming fallen souls You have advented Yourself here at Nadiya. I am a sinful wretch and have never served Your lotus feet and thus was cheated of Your causeless mercy for so many years. Oh my Lord\, Who resides with in the heart of all living entities\, You are Supremely merciful.  \nOnly because You have shown Yourself to me have I been able to see You. O most compassionate One\, please instruct me. Let me know the actual purport of the Srimad Bhagavatam.” \n   Mahaprabhu replied\, “Now hear Me\, O brahmana\, and know that the only way to explain the verses of the Bhagavatam is in terms of bhakti. In the beginning\, middle and end of the Srimad Bhagavatam there is only one teaching: devotion to Vishnu\, which is eternally perfect and which is never destroyed or diminished.” \n   “As Krishna’s various incarnations such as Matsya and Kurma appear and disappear in this world by Their sweet will\, in the same way\, the Srimad Bhagavatam is not made or composed by any person. It makes its appearance and disappearance by its own sweet will. Due to the appearance of devotion\, the Bhagavatam blossomed forth from Vyasadeva’s mouth\, by the mercy of Sri Krishna.  \nDevananda Pandit\n“As Krishna’s various incarnations such as Matsya and Kurma appear and disappear in this world by Their sweet will\, in the same way\, the Srimad Bhagavatam is not made or composed by any person. It makes its appearance and disappearance by its own sweet will. Due to the appearance of devotion\, the Bhagavatam blossomed forth from Vyasadeva’s mouth\, by the mercy of Sri Krishna”. (In the image: The Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna with flute and Srila Vyasadev). \n   “As the truths regarding the Supreme Authority are inconceivable\, so are the truths of Srimad Bhagavatam. Many may pretend to know its meaning but they have no real grasp of the evidence the Bhagavatam presents. But whoever who simply remembers the Srimad Bhagavatam while admitting himself to be ignorant can understand the real meaning. \n   “The Bhagavata\, which is saturated with loving devotion for Krishna\, is an expansion of Krishna Himself and contains descriptions of His most confidential pastimes.” [C.B. Ant. 3.505-516]\n   “Now you should beg forgiveness by catching hold of Srivasa Pandit’s feet. The book Bhagavata and the devotee Bhagavata are not different. If the devotee Bhagavata is merciful to us\, then the book Bhagavata manifests its true meaning.” \n   Then Devananda fell at Shrivasa Pandita’s feet and begged forgiveness. Shrivasa embraced him and his offense retreated far away. All the Devotees shouted in ecstasy\, “Hari bol! Hari bol!” \n   His disappearance is on the 11th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Pausa. \nDevananda Gaudiya Math : \nDevananda Pandit\nDevananda Gaudiya Math\, Sri Navadwip Dham. \n   In the area where this Temple is located is where Sri Chaitanya forgave Devananda Pandita for his offenses. Whoever comes here becomes free of all offenses. The Radha-Krishna Deities on the altar are named Radha-Vinod Bihari. There is a Varaha Deity on the left called Kola Varahadeva. In Satya-yuga\, Lord Varaha appeared before one of His Devotees who lived in Navadwipa\, named Vasudeva. He told him how He would advent Himself in Kali-yuga as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Chaitanya also showed His Varaha form in this area.\n   This Math was established by Bhakti Prajnan Keshava Goswami Maharaja. His samadhi mandir is here. He appeared on January 1\, 1898\, within Gaura Mandala\, in the district of Barisal in Bengal\, in the village of Banari Para. Before going to university he would read Bhagavad-gita\, Chaitanya Charitamrita and Srimad Bhagavatam. In 1915 he took first initiation from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. In 1919 on Gaura Purnima he took Vaishnava initiation. He preached in Puri\, Allahabad\, Assam\, Mathura and many other places. He took sannyasa from Srila Sridhar Maharaja in 1941 in Katwa. Soon after this he established this Temple. He gave sannyasa to A C Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada. \nHow To Get There?\nTo get here you first go to the town of Navadwipa. You then take a rickshaw. From the boat ghata it takes about 15 minutes. The sign over the gate says Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math. There are statues of two elephants and lions fighting on the gate and devotees with folded hands.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/srila-devananda-pandit-disappearance-day-26th-dec2024/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sri-Devananda-Pandita.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241228
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241229
DTSTAMP:20260518T052025
CREATED:20241213T125812Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250103T124909Z
UID:39571-1735344000-1735430399@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Srila Mahesha Pandit  Disappearance Day 28th Dec 2024
DESCRIPTION:“He who was previously a very munificent cowherd boy has now appeared as Mahesa Pandita. In ecstatic love\, he dances like a madman as though intoxicated to the beat of a kettle drum. [C.C. Adi 11.32]\nAccording to Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika\, Mahesa Pandita was formerly Maha-Bahusakha in Krsna-lila. He was a companion of Nityananda Prabhu\, and was present at the Danda Mahotsava held at Paninati. \nIn Bhakti-Ratnakara\, Taranga Nine\, it is stated that when Narottama dasa Thakura came to visit Khardaha\, he had darsana of the lotus feet of Mahesa Pandita. \nVrindavana dasa Thakura has described him as a ‘param mahanta’ due to the fact that he was very dear to Nityananda Prabhu. [C.B. Antya 5.744]\nMahesa Pandita’s original Sripat at Sukh Sagor merged into the bed of the Ganges\, but his worshipful deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga as well as his samadhi were moved to Palpara. There is a railway station there\, between Simrali and Cakdaha stations\, on the Sealdah-Krsnanagar line. \nHis disappearance day is on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Pausa.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/srila-mahesha-pandit-disappearance-day-28th-dec-2024/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Sri-Mahesa-Pandita.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241228
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241229
DTSTAMP:20260518T052025
CREATED:20241213T130003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250103T124914Z
UID:39574-1735344000-1735430399@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Srila Uddharana Datta Thakur Disappearance Day 28th Dec 2024
DESCRIPTION:Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami has written: “Uddharana Datta Thakura\, the eleventh among the twelve cowherd boys\, was an exalted devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. He worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda in all respects.” According to Gaura-ganodesa-dipika\, “The devotee who was formerly known as Subahu in Vraja\, and who was one of the cowherd boys in Vrndavana later appeared in Gaura-lila as Sri Uddharana Datta. \nIn his translation and commentary on Caitanya Caritamrta (CC Adi 11.41) Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami writes: “Uddharana Datta Thakura\, previously known as Sri Uddharana Dattta\, was a resident of Saptagrama\, which is situated on the bank of the Saraswati River near the Trisbhigha railway station in the district of Hugali. At the time of Uddharana Datta Thakura\, Saptagrama was a very big town\, encompasing many other placesf such as Vasudeva-pura\, Bansabediya\, Krsnapura\, Nityananda-pura\, Sivapura\, Sanhanagara and Saptagrama. \n“Calcutta was developed under British rule by the influential mercantile community and especially by the suvarna-vanik community who came from Saptagrama to establish their businesses and homes all over Calcutta. They were known as the Saptagrami mercantile community of Calcutta\, and most of them belonged to the Mullik and Sil families. More than half of Calcutta belonged to this community\, as did Srila Uddharana Datta Thaura. Our paternal family also came from this district and belonged to the same community. The Mulliks of Calcutta are divided into two families\, namely\, the Sil family and De family whose members\, intimately connected with the Mohammedan rules\, received the title Mullik. \n“In the Caitanya-Bhagavata\, Antya Khanda chapter six\, it is said that Uddharana Datta was an extremely elevated and liberal Vaisnva. He was born with the right to worship Nityananda Prabhu. It is also stated that Nityananda Prabhu\, after staying for some time in Khadadaha\, came to Saptagrama and stayed in the house of Uddharana Datta. The suvarna-vanik community to which Uddhaana Datta belonged was actually a Vaisnava community. Its members were bankers and gold merchants (suvarna means “gold” and vanik means “merchant”). Long ago there was a misunderstanding between Balla Sena and the suvarna-vanik community because of the great banker Gauri Sena. Balla Sena was taking loans from Gari Sena and spending money extravagantly\, and therefore Gauri Sena stopped supplying money. Balla Sena took revenge by instigating a social conspiracy to make the suvarna-vanik community was again elevated. It is said in the Caitanya Bhagavata\, yateka vanika-kula uddharan haite pavitra ha-ila dvidha nahika ihate: there is no doubt that all the community members of the suvarna-vanik society were again purified by Nityananda Prabhu. \nIn Saptagrama there is still a temple with a six-armed Deity of Sri Caitanya Maharabhu that was personally worshipped by Srila Uddharan Datta Thakura. On the right side of Sri Caitanya Maharabhu is a Deity of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and on the left side\, Gadadhara Pandita. There are also a Radha-Govinda murti and salagrama-sila\, and below the throne is a picture of Uddharana Datta Thakura. In front of the temple there is now a big hall\, and in front of the hall is a Madhavi-lata plant. The temple is in a very shady\, cool\, and nicely situated location. When we returned from America in 1967\, the executive committee members of this temple invited us to visit it\, and thus we had the opportunity to visit this temple with some American students. Formerly\, in our childhood\, we visited this temple with our parents because all the members in the suvarna-vanika community enthusiastically take interest in this temple of Uddharana Datta Thakura. In the Bengali year 1283 one babaji of the name Nitai dasa arranged for a donation of twelve bighas of land for this temple. The management of the temple later deteriorated\, but then in 1306\, thorugh the cooperation of the famous Balarama Mullik of Hugali\, who was a subjudge\, and many rich suvarna-vanik community members\, the management of the temple improved greatly. Not more than fifty years ago\, one of the family members of Uddharan Datta Thakura named Jagamohana Datta established a wooden Deity of Uddharan Datta Thakura in the temple\, but that deity is no longer there; at present\, a picture of Uddharana Datta is worshiped. It is understood\, however\, that the wooden Deity of Uddharana Datta was taken away by Sri Madana-mohana Datta and is now being worshiped with a salagrama-sila by Srinatha Datta. \nUddharana Datta Thakura was the manager of the estate of a big Zamindar in Naihati\, about one and a half miles north of Katwa. The relics of this royal family are still visble near the Dainhata station. Since Uddharana Datta Thaura was the manager of the estate\, it was also known as Uddharana-pura. Uddharana Datta Thakura installed Gaura-Nitai deities that were later brought to the house of the Zamindar\, which was known as Vanaoyarirbada. Srila Uddhaana Datta Thaura remained a householder throughout his life. His father’s name was Srikara Datta\, his mother’s name was Bhadravati\, and his son’s name was Srinivasa Datta. \nVrndavana dasa Thakura writes as follows about Uddharana Thakura in his Caitanya Bhagavata: “After Nityananda Prabhu stayed for many days in Khadadaha\, he went to Saptagrama.There is a famous ghata in Saptagrama at the confluence of the three rivers which is celebrated as being the place of the seven rsis. At that ghata on the Ganges the seven rsis had once performed penances in order to attain the lotus feet of Govinda. Three divine goddesses come together at that place: Yamuna\, Saraswati\, and Jahnavi. These three goddesses of rivers join at the confluence of those three rivers. It is a most holy place within this world. One may be delivered from all his sins just by seeing that place. Nityananda Prabhu was extremely happy to see that place and bathed at that holy place with all the devotees. Uddharana Datta was staying in a temple of the Lord on the banks of that river when Nityananda Prabhu came to the triveni. When he saw Nityananda\, he offered his mind\, body\, and words to the holy feet of Nityananda and worshiped him without any duplicity in his heart. As a result of the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu\, Uddharana Datta was qualified by constitution to worship and serve Nityananda. Who can estimate his good fortune. Although he may appear to take birth within this material world\, Nityananda is by nature the Supreme Controller\, and he remains so every time he descends here. Nityananda is the master\, and Uddharana Datta was his servant birth after birth. Uddharana Datta was from the vanik community\, and he purified the two divisions of that community by his devotion. Nityananda Prabhu delivered the vanik community by his descent\, and gave them the qualifications for prema-bhakti. Practically everyone in Saptagrama was a vanik. The moonlike Nitai-canda frolicked in kirtana within their midst. All the vaniks took shelter at the lotus feet of Nityananda and worshiped him with great ecstasy. Seeing all the vaniks absorbed in krsna-bhajana under the direction of Nityananda Prabhu the whole world was amazed. Indeed the universe itself was astonished to witness the exalted greatness of Nityananda Prabhu who delivered the lowest of men\, the foolish and illiterate\, and the entire vanika community. In this way\, Nityananda Prabhu performed various pastimes of sankirtana in Saptagrama\, delivering the inhabitants of Saptagrama as well as hundreds of their descendants within the vanik community. In the same way that the towns and villages of Nadia were filled with happiness when Caitanya and Nitai had performed sankirtana there\, Saptagrama was filled with happiness at the pastimes of Nityananda.” \nAfter the disappearance of Caitanya Mahaprabhu\, Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s sakti\, Sri Jahnava Mata came to Saptagrama and visited the house of Uddharana Datta Thakura. At that time\, Uddharana Datta Thakura had already passed away. Uddharana Datta Thakura passed away on the 13th day of the dark moon in the month of Pausa.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/srila-uddharana-datta-thakur-disappearance-day-28th-dec-2024/
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241231
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250101
DTSTAMP:20260518T052025
CREATED:20241213T130148Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250103T124921Z
UID:39577-1735603200-1735689599@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Srila Locana Das Thakur Appearance Day 31st Dec 2024
DESCRIPTION:Srila Locana Dasa Thakura appeared in this world in 1520 A.D.\, thirty-four years after the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Locana Dasa wrote a biography on Lord Caitanya\, entitled Sri Caitanya Mangala\, and he wrote many devotional songs. \nSri Locana dasa Thakura took birth in a family of Rarhiya physicians who resided in the village of Kogram\, within the Mahakumar (Katna) district of Barddhaman. His guru was Sri Narahari Sarkar Thakura. \n“I am the servant of Thakura Sri Narahari\, who is the master of my life. The desire of all my desires\, I place at his lotus feet; which is that this vile creature (myself) might describe some-thing about the wonderful qualities of Sri Gaurasundara. In this expectation\, he is my only refuge. [Caitanya-mangala\, Satvakhan­da]. \nHis father’s name was Sri Kamalakara dasa and his mother’s name\, Sri Sadananda. He was the only son of his parents. He was raised in his maternal grandfather’s home and his education was completed there. When he was only a little boy\, he enjoyed the good fortune of meeting the devotees of Sri Gauranga. \nHe was married at a very young age. From his youth he was very attached to Sri Gaursundara and consequently very disinterested in material life\, though he was surrounded by family\, friends and society. In his youth he spent the major part of his time at his guru’s Sripat\, Srikhanda\, where he learned how to do kirtana. \nThe book that he composed Caitanya-mangala was from the diary of Sri Murari Gupta. “Murari Gupta\, who resides at Nadia\, composed many beautiful verses about the life of Sri Gauranga. These include the youthful pastimes of Nimai\, which Murari Gupta personally took part in\, and His later pastime in Nilacala\, after He accepted sannyasa\, which were narrated by Sri Damodara Pandita. Having heard these verses of Murari Gupta\, composed in sanskrit\, I have become very attracted and so I have composed them in the village folk poetry meter of Bengali.” \nIn his Caitanya Mangala\, Srila Locana Dasa Thakura has written: “My hope of hopes is to be near the lotus feet of Sri Narahari Thakura\, to serve and worship him with my very life. The cherished desire of the fallen Locana Dasa is to be allowed by the grace of Narahari to sing the glories of Sri Gauranga. My Lord is Sri Narahari Thakura and I am his servant. Bowing and praying before him I beg him to allow me his service. This is my only aspiration.” \nPreviously in Bengal (especially East Bengal\, now Bangladesha) the poets used to compose sacred songs and verses in different forms of classic rhymes and rythmic meters called Panchali (such as Laxmir Panchali\, Sanir Panchali and Manasa Bhasan). The Panchali style of composition was especially used for glorifying the Lord. Srila Locana Dasa Thakura used the Panchali form of verse-meter in composing his famous work\, Sri Caitanya Mangala. The Panchali form employs five different kinds of song-styles or meters. \nThe principle source material that was drawn upon by Sri Locana Dasa Thakura in composing his Caitanya Mangala was a Sanskrit book by Murari Gupta called Sri Caitanya Caritamritam.(see more books on Mahaprabhu here) \nLocana Dasa Thakura explains this in his Caitanya Mangala as follows: “That very Murari Gupta who lived in Nadiya composed many Sanskrit verses about the life of Sri Gauranga\, which he later arranged in the form of a book. Having heard these verses from Murari Gupta\, Damodara Pandit taught them to me\, and I memorized them with great delight. As these Sanskrit verses\, and the conception of Caitanya Mahaprabhu imparted to me through Damodara Pandita\, developed within my mind\, it flowed forth from me in the form of these Panchali verses in Bengali\, which I write in glorification of the life and pastimes of Sri Caitanya.” (C.M. Sutra-Khanda)\nIn his preface to the Caitanya Mangala\, Srila Locana Dasa Thakura offers his prayers to Vrindavan dasa Thakura before proceeding with the narrative. He says\, “I offer my prayers of submission to Vrindavana Dasa Thakura with all my heart. The sweet song of his Caitanya Bhagavata has enchanted the whole world.” (C.M. Sutra-Khanda) \nVrindavan Dasa Thakura’s Caitanya Bhagavata was originally called Caitanya Mangala. It is said that Srila Locana Dasa Thakura and Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami gave it the name Caitanya Bhagavata. Krishnadasa Kavriaja Goswami writes: \nkrishna lila bhagavate kahe vedadvyasa\,\nchaitanya lilara vyasa-vrindavana dasa. \n“Vedavyasa has described the pastimes of Krishna in his Bhagavata. The Vyasa of Caitanya Lila is Vrindavan Dasa.” \nFrom this comparison between Vedavyasa and Vrindavana Dasa\, it has been concluded that Kaviraja Goswami is probably responsible for Vrindavan Dasa Thakur’s work becoming known as the Bhagavata of Caitanya Lila or Chaitanya-Bhagavata. \nThere are many pastimes of Sri Caitanya that have only been touched on briefly by Vrindvana Dasa Thakura. These are described in detail in the Caitanya Mangala of Locana Dasa Thakura. \nThe Caitanya Mangala is divided into four parts: Sutra Khanda\, Adi Khanda\, Madhyama Khanda and Shesha Khanda. The Sutra Khanda has two chapters\, Adi Khanda has seven chapters\, the Madhyama Khanda twelve\, and the Shesha Khanda three. The contents of the Adi Khanda are as follows. \nThe first chapter in the Sutra Khanda is called Mangalaracharanam\, or auspicious invocation. It begins with a song of the glories of Sri Caitanya and then praises the Vaishnavas who were personal associates of Sri Caitanya. After this\, Locana Dasa Thakura offers respects to his gurudeva\, Narahari Sarakara Thakura\, and prays for his guru’s mercy. He offers his obeisances at the lotus feet of the countless devotees and personal associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu\, known and unknown. Having prayed for the blessings of guru and vaishnavas\, Locana Dasa explains that Murari Gupta had written a book in Sanskrit called the Caitanya Caritamritam\, and that since that book is no longer available\, he is giving its essence in the form of Bengali verse called Panchali. He then briefly describes the subjects found in the Adi\, Madhya\, and Shesha Khandas. \nThe second chapter of the Sutra Khanda is called Grantharambha\, for here the book actually begins. In this chapter Locana Dasa relates how he heard from Damodara Pandita the story of Jaimini’s Mahabharata recital\, wherein he describes a conversation between Narada and Uddhava. In that conversation Narada explained the cause of Krishna’s appearance in the golden form of Sri Gauranga.\nOne time Narada saw that with the coming of the age of Kali the living beings had fallen into great suffering. He began to worry about how they could be delivered and the principles of dharma restored. Thinking in this way\, he decided that only Krishna’s descent into this world would deliver the fallen souls and restore the principles of religion. Wanting to appeal to Krishna to descend as an avatara\, he set out for Dwaraka dham. At that time\, Krishna was staying in the palace of Sri Rukmini devi. \nJust then\, upon learning that Sri Krishna would soon appear on earth in a golden form\, with the golden luster and devotional mood of Radharani\, Rukminidevi became deeply troubled. Feeling separation from the Lord\, she fell at the lotus feet of Krishna and began praising the qualities of Sri Radha – whose devotion was so glorious that Krishna wanted to honor her by assuming her luster and mood. At that time Narada entered the room. He explained to Krishna the reason for his trip – that he wanted Krishna to descend to the earth planet in order to deliver the fallen souls. At that time\, Krishna revealed to him how in the future he would appear as the son of Sacidevi and Jagannatha Mishra in Nabadwipa dham: in a golden form with all his transcendental associates. \nHaving seen that golden form revealed\, Narada was overwhelmed with ecstasy. Constantly thinking of this golden form and the Lord’s plans to appear in Navadwipa dhama as Sri Gauranga\, Narada the best of munis went to visit Naimisharanya\, all the while singing the glories of the Lord. There\, in answer to Uddhava’s inquiries about the welfare of the living beings\, he explained how in Kali-yuga – the best of all ages because of Sri Gauranga’s advent – Krishna would appear in a golden form as Sri Gauranga and perform the kirtan of the holy name of Hari. Narada told Uddhava how the Lord would come to establish the Sankirtana of the holy name of Krishna as the yuga-dharma\, the religious principle for the age of Kali. Narada explained the glories of kirtana. \nThereafter\, Narada Muni related to Uddhava the discussion that had previously taken place when he had gone to Kailasa and visited Lord Shiva\, the best of Vaishnavas. There\, Narada and Parvati discussed the glories of Mahaprasada\, having heard of the glories of Mahaprasada from Narada\, Parvati had performed 12 years of Lakshmi-seva. By her mercy\, Parvati got some of Laksmidevi’s own mahaprasada and also gave shiva a small bit of that prasada. Not able to tolerate the dancing of Lord Shiva upon obtaining this Mahaprasada\, the earth came before Parvati\, begging her to give the Mahaprasada of the Vaishanvas to all the jivas. With this proposal\, Parvati explained how the Gaura-avatara would come in kaliyuga and distribute Mahaprasada to all the fallen souls. \nAfter this\, Narada went to Brahma and discussed the Gaura-avatara with him. Brahma\, the creator\, at that time explained to him the essential subject of the Shrimad Bhagavatam\, and showed him how the version of the Bhagavatam supported the gaura-avatara. After this\, Narada began wandering here and there. As he went from place to place he became concerned about he sufferings of the jivas. As he was worrying about the living entities in this way\, he came near Jagannatha Puri. There he heard a divine voice discussing the avatara of Jagannatha. On the order of the divine voice he went to Puri. From there\, the Lord ordered him to go to Goloka. First he came to Vaikuntha. After this\, he arrived in Goloka\, where he saw many pastimes of the Lord. There he saw the Lord in his golden form as Sri Gaura\, and fainted in ecstasy. After this\, he went all over the universe\, informing all the gods of the news. \nIn Shwetadwipa he saw the supernatural pastimes of Balarama\, the very figure of service. After this\, all the demigods began taking birth on earth. As previously mentioned by Krishna in his conversation with Rukmini\, the Lord\, along with Satyabhama\, Rukmini\, and all his eternal associates from the spiritual world came with the luster and mood of Radharani in a golden form as Sri Gauranga. He came to spread the sankirtan of the holy name of Krishna. \nBalarama came as Nityananda\, Shiva came as Advaita Prabhu\, and other great souls descended as his other eternal associates like Murari\, Mukunda\, Shrivasa\, Raya Ramananda\, Ishvara Puri\, and Madhavendra Puri. Locana Dasa Thakur concludes the chapter by praising the glories of his guru\, Sri Narahari Sarakara Thakura\, and his nephew Raghunandana Thakura. \nThe first chapter of the Adi lila of Caitanya Mangala describes the Janma-lila\, or birth pastimes\, of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The chapter first describes the advent of the Lord’s eternal associates\, who appeared in this world before Mahaprabhu Himself.\nLocana Thakura describes the Lord as the remote and immediate cause of creation\, the Parabrahman\, Sri Narayana Himself. That Supreme Personality of Godhead descended within the womb of Sacidevi and advented Himself upon this earth. In this way\, gradually Saci’s womb grew day by day\, and her body assumed a supernatural effulgence. Seeing her wonderful bodily effulgence\, everyone was astonished\, and thought\, “Surely a great personality is about to take birth from the womb of Sri Sacidevi.” \nWhen her “pregnancy” was in its sixth month\, one day Advaita Acharya Prabhu went to the house of Sacidevi and Jagannatha Mishra. Arriving there\, he offered his obeisances to the child in the womb of Mother Saci and then circumambulated her. Sacidevi and Jagannatha Mishra could not understand the cause of Advaita’s unusal behavior. In this way\, Brahma\, Shiva\, and the other gods came to offer their respects to that Supreme Personality of Godhead who had hidden himself within the womb of Sacidevi\, knowing well that he would soon advent Himself in this world to deliver the lowest of men with the highest nectar of Krishna prema. Detecting their presence\, Sacidevi felt great joy. When the heart of Sacidevi was full of mercy for the whole world\, that is to say\, when the most merciful Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had completely filled her heart\, gradually the tenth month came. After this\, taking advantage of an auspicious moment on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna\, in the midst of Hari-sankirtana\, Sri Guarachandra appeared like a golden moon from the ocean of the womb of Mother Saci. In this way\, the Lord appeared on earth\, and the ten directions were jubilant. The gods and godesses\, men and women\, eager to see the moonlike face of the son of Saci\, hurried to the house of Jagannatha Mishra and Sacidevi. In this way\, their home was transformed into Vaikuntha. \nJagannatha Mishra and all the residents of Nadiya who had turned out to see that divine child were all struck with wonder to see his beauty. He had a neck like a lion\, arms like the trunks of elephants\, and a broad chest. His lotus feet were marked with the auspicious symbols of Lord Vishnu: a flag\, a thunderbolt\, a rod for driving elephants. \nSeeing all these wonderful and superhuman manifestations of divinity in the child\, the people there were all astonished. Everyone speculated about his supernatural origin\, saying\, “He is definitely not an ordinary human.” For eight days\, the newborn child and its mother were quarantined\, as is traditional for childbirth in Bengal\, and on the ninth day a great festival was held. At that time\, all the neighbors were filled with great joy to see the boy\, and their attraction for him increased. \nThe second chapter of the Adi Khanda describes the Lord’s bala-lila childhood pastimes. Here\, Locana dasa Thakura describes how after six months\, the grain-eating ceremony of Sri Gaurasundara was held\, and after this the name-giving ceremony was performed. At the appearance of the Lord\, the whole world was delighted. Since the Lord gave pleasure to the whole world\, the brahmanas said his name should be Vishvambhara. Soon\, Vishvambara began to walk\, by holding onto Jagannatha Mishra’s finger with his tiny hand. The different women in the village used to decorate him with different ornaments\, and they would wonder at the beautiful effulgence that emanated from the child\, which was as bright as millions of moons.The moon outside can brighten the darkness of night only slightly\, but the moon of Sri Gaurachandra can eliminate all darkness\, both within and without. \nSacidevi would sing to her son while threshing wheat\, and at that time\, all the demigods are offer prayers to her son. Seeing this\, Sacidevi was quite amazed. Sometimes she would see Gaurahari chanting the glories of Radha-Krishna with the gods and would become astonished and faint. When she heard ankle-bells ringing on the bare feet of her child\, again she was bewildered. Sometimes she was afraid that ghosts were causing a disturbance\, and sometimes she would look in the mouth of her child\, and\, beholding the universal form\, become completely astonished. \nIn this way\, gradually Gaurahari grew old enough to play outside\, where he astounded his newfound childhood friends with his divine antics. His playmates were quite attached to him. Sacidevi would carry the baby Gaurahari in her arms and watch after him carefully as he ran about\, to keep him from smashing everything as he played. Once\, he explained to Mother Saci the nature of things pure and impure\, instructing her on the aprakrita nature of Krishna\, who is master of everything. \nWhile sitting on a heap of broken clay pots soiled with leftovers\, he instructed his mother on jnana. Seeing his mother bewildered\, he brought her some coconut fruit. In this way\, he performed many childhood pranks. He used to play with puppydogs. When Sacidevi chastised him for playing with a dog\, and Gaurahari had to give up his pet\, he cried tears of anger before Sacidevi. At that time\, he bestowed a divine spiritual body upon that dog while performing Harikirtana. The dog went to Vaikuntha\, and as Brahma\, Shiva\, and the other demigods saw the good fortune of the dog they were all amazed. Sacidevi was astonished at the activities of her son\, who made her understand his Supreme Position as the Absolute Lord. \nThe fourth chapter of the Adi Lila of Caitanya Mangala describes the Lord’s pauganda\, or boyhood lila. Having heard Murari Gupta reciting the yogashastras\, the Lord mimicked his gestures and speech\, making fun of him and then began to laugh uproariously. Thus Murari Gupta was enraged and chastised the Lord with words of anger. In return\, the boy\, intending to express his contempt for the conclusions of yogis went to Murari’s afternoon lunch and urinated on Murari Gupta’s plate. After this\, he instructed Murari Gupta on the superiority of Krishna-bhakti. \nFinally\, the author discusses Mahaprabhu’s boyhood performance of sankirtana\, and relates what he heard from Damodara Pandit of Murari Gupta’s notes on the sannyasa of Vishvarupa\, the Lord’s older brother. He also relates the lamentation of Sacidevi and Jagannatha upon their son’s taking sannyasa. He also recounts many other pastimes performed by the Lord as a boy. \nAt that time the Lord’s hair-cutting ceremony took place. And soon thereafter\, the day of Hate-khare\, or the first holding of chalk\, came. On that day\, to signify the beginning of a child’s formal education begins\, he is given a piece of chalk and a chalkboard\, upon which he is to draw the letters of the alphabet. Upon beginning his studies\, the Lord was overjoyed to meet many new classmates. On the day that his son’s education began\, Jagannatha Mishra was very pleased. That night\, however\, he had a dream in which a brahmana appeared to him and told him that his son Vishvambhara was Bhagavan Himself. Who can educate the Supreme Lord\, or discipline him as a small boy? From this\, Jagannatha Mishra could understand the supreme position of his child. When his dream broke\, he was again overwhelmed with the sentiments of parental love and soonforgot the dream. \nAt a particular time\, the sacred thread ceremony of the boy was performed. After this\, there is a discussion of the four ages and the yuga-avatara. In Dvapara-yuga\, the Supreme Lord Himself\, Sri Krishna the son of Nanda in Vrindavana\, makes his appearance on earth. In Kaliyuga\, Sri Krishna\, appearing with the luster and mood of Sri Radha\, advents himself as Sri Gauranga. By performing Sankirtana\, he establishes the religious principle for the age of Kali: hari-nama-sankirtana. In order to establish the yuga-dharma\, he comes as a preacher. Maddened with Krishna-prema\, he delivers all souls with the ecstasy of love of God\, by moving here and there and distributing divine love. While in his grihastha-lila\, he ordered his mother to refrain from eating grains on Ekadashi\, in this way instructed everyone to follow this injunction. \nGradually\, Jagannatha Mishra fell ill\, and passed away\, entering into the Lord’s unmanifest pastimes. At that time\, the Lord instructed Sacidevi on the fleeting nature of a man’s short life within the material world. He also explained many other important principles of divine reality to her. With the passing of her husband\, Sacidevi greatly lamented. Gaurahari Himself also lamented the passing of his father. After this time\, he began paying close attention to his studies. \nChapter four describes the Lord’s pastimes of youth and marriage. One day\, after school\, the Lord was walking home from his teacher’s house and at that time he met Vanamali Acarya. As they talked\, the Acharya made the Lord understand that he had just been to see his mother Sacidevi\, where he had been making arrangements for the Lord’s wedding. Sacidevi had rebuffed him\, and unable to secure her permission for the match\, Vanamali was a little unhappy. In this way\, he was returning to his home\, downcast. Sri Gaurahari returned home. Without intimating anything of his conversation with the matchmaker\, the Lord informed her of his intentions to wed\, saying that she should seek out Vanamali and make the necessary arrangements for the wedding of her son. \nShe did so\, and on the orders of Sacimata\, Vanamali Acharya went to Vallabhacharya’s house. There he informed Vallabhacarya of the Lord’s intent to wed Vallabhacarya’s daughter Lakshmidevi. \nHaving made all the arrangements for the wedding\, Sacidevi informed all her friends and relatives of the auspicious event and invited them to the occasion. Everyone floated in the waves of the joyful ocean. In this way\, Sacidevi made preparations for her son’s wedding. \nAll the residents of Nadia turned out to see the wedding. The relatives saw to it that all the old traditional Bengali wedding customs were followed. The Hindu ceremony of besmearing the bridegroom and bride with a paste of turmeric and then bathing them on the eve of the wedding was performed\, as were many other rituals. The place where the wedding was to be performed was cleansed with sanctified water\, and all the Vedic purificatory rites were observed. All this took place at the house of Vallabhacharya. At last\, with great pomp and grandeur\, in the midst of a great assembly of devotees\, relatives and friends\, the wedding of Sri Gaurahari and Lakshmidevi was performed in the house of Vallabhacarya. \nThe Acharya himself performed the Vedic wedding ceremony. He offered his new son-in-law sanctified water and arghya to sweeten his lotus mouth. After this\, he brought Lakshmidevi up on the wedding stage and presented her to Gaurahari. Finally\, the scriptural sacrifice that is performed at weddings took place. After this\, the brahmanas were fed sumptuous prasadam at the conclusion of the wedding\, and Sri Lakshmidevi was escorted to her new home as the bride of Sri Gaurahari. \nThe Fifth Chapter of the Adi Khanda of Caitanya Mangala describes more of the Lord’s pastimes of youth\, including his tour of Bengal. After some time the Lord journeyed down the banks of the Ganges\, sanctifying that holy river even further by the touch of his lotus footsteps. In order to provide for his new family\, the Lord set out for East Bengal\, where he took up the occupation of teaching. In this way he gave his mercy to the residents of East Bengal who lived on the banks of the Padmavati river. When he returned to Bengal\, he found that Lakshmidevi had been unable to tolerate the pain of his absence. She was bitten by the snake of separation and passed away into the unmanifest pastimes of the Lord. Sacidevi was heartbroken and was consoled in her lamentation by Gaurahari who glorified the sublime qualities of Lakshmidevi. \nThe Sixth Chapter of the Adi Khanda of Caitanya Mangala describes the arrangements made by Sacidevi for the Lord’s second wedding. Through Dvija-Kashishvara it was arranged that he was to be wed to the daughter of Sanatana Pandita\, Vishnupriya devi. Here\, the wedding of Vishnupriya and Gaurahari is elaborately described. \nThe seventh chapter of the Adi Khanda describes the Lord’s journey to Gaya. Some time after the wedding of Gaurahari and Vishnupriyadevi\, the Lord\, having completed his education busied himself in his teaching work. One day\, he left for Gaya to offer respects to his departed father. As he walked down the road\, everywhere\, the birds and animals who saw him were stunned with ecstasy upon beholding his lotus feet. After instructing a brahmana in Krishna-bhakti\, the Lord allowed a brahmana to drink the water of his lotus feet. That brahmana immediately became free from all his bodily distress. \nAt that time\, the Lord also instructed how the mysteries of Krishna-bhajana cannot be understood simply on the basis of one’s birth in a brahmana family. At last arriving in Gaya\, the Lord performed worship of the devas and pitris\, in order to do his duty regarding his departed father. While so engaged\, he went to see the lotus feet of the Vishnu Deity. At that time\, the Lord met that best of Vaishnavas\, Sri Ishvara Puri. He prayed for the mercy of Ishvara Puri Prabhu\, who\, soon thereafter\, initiated him in the Krishnamantra. \nWith this\, the Lord’s transcendental ecstasy became manifest. After this\, he went to take darshan of the lotus feet of Vishnu. Upon seeing the Lord’s holy feet\, Sri Gaurahari was overwhelmed with prema and exhibited his ecstasy by laughing\, singing and dancing. Only a few days later\, he returned home. \nFrom this point the first chapter of the Madhya Khanda begins. \nIn the first chapter of the Madhya Khanda the author describes the Lord’s pastimes as a teacher\, and explains how he showed mercy to his students. Praising her good fortune\, the Lord showed his grace to Sachimata. Soon after this he revealed symptoms of mahaprema at the home of Suklambara Brahmacari. This was the first time that he publicly revealed his absorption in Krishna-prema\, by showing the symptoms of great ecstasy\, such as swooning\, tears shooting from the eyes\, hairs of the body standing on end\, choking up of the voice\, laughing madly\, and so on. Performing sublime kirtan\, Sri Gaurahari drowned everyone in the waves of bliss. In this way the Supreme Lord appeared as his own devotee in order to glorify the position of Bhakti. After this\, the Lord began his pastimes of preaching the glories of Sri Krishna prema\, engaging many devotees in preaching. He began organizing all the devotees\, beginning with Gadadhara\, as well as many devotees from within and wihtout Bengal. One day the Lord went to the house of Shrivasa and his brothers. At that time\, the devotees could hear the flute of Krishna. At that time the Lord became overwhelmed by the mood of Shrimati Radhika. In the madness of separation\, he began laughing and crying. Sometimes he would fall completely silent and his mood became grave. In this way he manifest differing divine moods. At that time\, a divine voice siad\, “O Vishvambhara! You are the Lord Himself. For the purpose of preaching Krishna-prema\, you have descended within this world.” \nLater\, at the house of Murari Gupta\, the Lord would reveal his form as the Varaha avatara. At that time\, Murari offered prayers before the Lord in great ecstasy\, and the Lord told him to serve Krishna the son of Nanda\, following in the footsteps of the residents of Vrindvana. Murari Gupta wanted to see the form of Sri Ramachandra. \nAt that time the Lord instructed him on the glories of the holy name of Krishna. At last\, the devatas headed by Lord Brahma appeared before the Lord\, praying for Krishna-prema and attained Krishna-prema by the mercy of Sri Gauranga. After this\, the kirtan-performer Suklambhara Brahmachari began chanting “Jai Radhe! Jai Govinda!” and attained the mercy of Sri Caitanya. After this\, Locana dasa Thakura describes the glories of Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhara. \nIn the second chapter of the Madhya Khanda\, the author describes the beauty of Sri Gauranga’s divine form. The Lord performed a miracle by planting a mango seed that immediately became a mango tree with fully ripened fruit for the satisfaction of the devotees. Whoever ate the fruit of that tree was delivered from the tree of material existence. The Lord instructed Mukunda Datta on the supremacy of Krishna bhakti\, and how one should give up thinking of the body and mind and think only of the worshipable service of Krishna. The Lord gave his blessings to Murari Gupta. The Lord’s pastimes of kirtana at the house of Shrivasa Thakura are described. When a foolish brahman remarked that the murti of Sri Krishna is a product of Maya\, the Lord jumped in the Ganges with his clothes on\, to purify himself from the offender. \nThe third chapter of the Madhya-Khanda describes the glories of Sri Advaita. Here\, the author describes the Lord’s pastimes with Advaita\, how he performed kirtan in the house of Advaita\, and how they embraced in ecstasy. A brahman who tried to stop the kirtan of Mahaprabhu by attempting to frighten Shrivasa Pandita was bewildered by the Lord’s mayic potency. Also described is how the Lord\, in the house of Shrivasa\, performed the worship known as Gada-puja\, wherein the club of Vishnu is worshiped in order to invoke the Lord’s power in smashing the atheists. \nThis chapter also explains the visit paid by Advaita to Nabadwipa\, how Advaita bowed before Sri Gauranga\, and danced in ecstasy before him\, realizing that his prayers for Krishna’s descent had been fulfilled. When Shrivasa Thakura inquired into the glories of Advaita\, Mahaprabhu described Advaita-tattva\, and advised everyone to worship Sri Hari. \nIn the fourth chapter of the Madhyama Khanda\, Sri Gaurahari explains the esoteric meaning of “Shrivasa.” Murari Gupta’s book\, 3Raghubhirashtaka2 is discussed. The Lord writes 3Ramdasa2 on Murari’s forehead. He reveals himself as Rama and orders Rama Pandita\, the brother of Shrivasa Pandita to serve Shrivasa. The devotees are sent to search for Nityananda. The Lord meets Nityananda at the house of Nandana Acharya. The Lord explains the glories of Sri Nityananda and how it is that by Nityananda’s mercy one may attain Krishna-prema. At that time\, the Lord reveals his six-armed\, four-armed\, and two-armed forms to Nityananda. \nThe fifth chapter of the Madhya-Khanda reveals how\, late at night\, the Lord was weeping tears of ecstatic love for Krishna. He discussed his dream with Sacidevi. The story of how Nityananda Prabhu spent two days at the house of Advaita Acharya is recounted. Nityananda Prabhu’s prema is described. The worship by Advaita of Mahaprabhu in the house of Shrivasa Pandita is described. The meeting of the Lord and Haridasa Thakura. The author also tells how Nityananda’s kaupin was saved by Mahaprabhu\, who later had the devotees wear it as a kavacha. Mahaprabhu’s trance and the devotees’ separation from the Lord is also described. The ecstasy of the devotees upon the Lord’s reawakening is also described. \nThe sixth chapter of the Madhya-Khanda discusses the following subjects: How Gaurahari enjoyed pastimes of prema in the midst of the devotees; his meeting with Haridasa Thakura; His visit at the house of Advaita; his order to Advaita to preach Krishna-prema without any consideration of fitness and unfitness; His order to all the devotees to preach nama-prema and thus deliver everyone; the effects of nama-bhasa; How the Lord would wander through the streets of Nadiya performing Nama-kirtana; the story of the deliverance of Jagai and Madhai. \nAfter this\, the author glorifies the mercy of Sri Nityananda and Sri Gauranga. \nThe seventh chapter of the Madhyama-Khanda describes the following subjects: How the Lord cast his merciful glance upon the son of an East Bengal brahmana named Vanamali; the brahmana seeing the Shyamansundara form of the Lord offered many prayers to Sri Gauranga. After this\, the Lord revealed his Nrishimha manifestation at the house of Shrivasa. He bestowed mercy upon a follower of Shiva. After a brahman lady touched his feet\, he jumped into the Ganges. The Lord gave instructions regarding the worship of Sri Hari. His mercy towards Shrivasa is described as are Mukunda’s prayers\, the Lord’s manifestation of His Godhead\, and Shrivas Pandit’s abhishek of Mahaprabhu. The author’s glorification of the qualities of Sri Gauranga and his instructions on the worship of Sri Gauranga conclude the chapter. \nThe eighth chapter of the Madhyama Khanda describes the following subjects: How the envious brahmana who was stricken with leprosy prayed for forgiveness in order to become freed from the sin of Vaishnava aparadha and was delivered by the mercy of Shrivasa Thakura; how a brahmana was forbidden to enter the Lord’s nocturnal kirtan and how the Lord danced in ecstasy when that brahmana then cursed the Lord never to enjoy the pleasures of samsara. How the Lord in the mood of Balarama demanded honey is described. The assembly of devotees at the house of Advaita is described. The visit of the devotees headed by Acharyaratna is recorded. How all of them saw the Lord’s manifestation of Balarama and bathed in the Ganges is also described. \nThe ninth chapter of the Madhyama Khanda of Sri Caitanya Mangala records the following subjects: the Lord’s manifestation of Varaha; How the devotees headed by Advaita were ordered to preach and perform sankirtana; how the mood and qualities of the gopis was glorified in kirtan; how Shrivasa in the dress of Narada glorified Gadadhara Pandita; a discussion of the divine correlation between Sri Gadadhara and Sri Radhika; Thakur Haridas’ visit; the ecstasy of Sankirtana; the Lord’s mad manifestation of the mood of Vaikuntha opulence; How the Lord\, in the dress of Lakshmidevi rendered service to the Lord in great ecstasy; How the Lord expressed the inner moods of the personality of Godhead. \nThe tenth chapter of the Madhyama-Khanda of Caitanya Mangala describes the following: The Lord tells Shrivasa of the different religious principles for the different ages and how Sankirtan is the best religious principle in the age of Kali. In the mood of Sri Radha the Lord began asking “Where is Vrindavan? Where is Lalita?” in great anxiety. Murari Gupta consoled him\, and they all performed kirtana. In a dream Sacidevi sees Gaurahari receive the sannyasa mantra from Keshava Bharati. The Lord’s powerful separation from Krishna is described. Worried that the Lord will take sannyasa\, the devotees are heartbroken. Mahaprabhu consoles the devotees.\nThe eleventh chapter of Madhyama Khanda describes the following: Upon hearing of the Lord’s sannyasa\, Sacidevi’s lamentation; Her entreaty to Gaurahari to remain a grihastha; The Lord’s advice to everyone to worship Krishna; His different attempts to console his mother and his revelation of the divine form of Krishna to her. \nThe twelfth chapter of the Madhyama Khanda discusses the following subjects: The lamentation of Vishnupriyadevi; the Lord’s sweet words of pacification to her and his instructions regarding divine reality\, as well as his revelation of of his four-handed Narayana form; the visit by Shrivasa and Murari\, the Lord’s attempt to pacify them. \nThe thirteenth chapter describes the following: The Lord’s attemtp to console the devotees\, and his instructions on different truths; with the aim to take sannyasa\, he swims across the Ganges and meets Keshava Bharati at Katwa; Sacimata and Vishnupriya faint; Nityananda Prabhu tries to pacify them; Headed by Chandrashekhara Acharya and Damodara Pandit\, all the devotees follow Nityananda Prabhu to Katwa where the sannyasa is taking place. The Lord asks for the sannyasa mantra from Keshava Bharati; The Lord first gives the sannyasa mantra to Bharati and then hears it from him; the lamentation of all the devotees at the sannyasa of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; The Lord’s attempt to pacify them; the Lord’s eagerness for Krishna-bhakti; the giving of the name Sri Krishna Caitanya; At the conclusion of sannyasa the Lord’s wandering half-mad in the Radadesha. \nThe fourteenth chapter describes how Chandrashekara returns from Katwa to Nadia bearing news to Sacimata and Vishnupriya; their lamentation; Nityananda Prabhu causes Mahaprabhu to detour to Shantipura; the Lord’s vist there; Nityananda’s conversation with Sacidevi; the devotees of Nadiya go to the house of Advaita in Shantipur to see the Lord; the Lord’s reciprocation of affection with the residents of Nadiya\, and their separation. \nThe fifteenth chapter describes the Lord’s deliverance of all souls through the performance of nam-sankirtan\, and how he bestowed upon all the jivas the supreme goal of life. After this his journey to Jagannatha Puri is described as well as the humility of Haridasa Thakura\, the exodus of devotees who went to Puri to be with the Lord\, His sweet words of consolation\, how the Lord used to chant the shloka\, “rama-raghava raksha mam\,” on his way to Puri\, how Nityananda Prabhu broke his sannyasa danda\, and how the Lord manifest his pastimes of anger with Nityananda after the breaking of his danda. \nThe sixteenth chapter of the Madhyama Khanda describes how on the way to Jagannatha Puri\, the devotees bathed in a place called Brahma-kunda; how they went to Remuna and had darshan of the Lord there; how the Lord danced before the Gopal deity; how after bathing in the Vaitarani river they had darshan of Varaha-deva; how the Lord went to Yajapura; How the Lord took darshan of a Shiva-linga there; Then\, from Brahma-kunda\, he visited Nabhigaya and Shivanagara; how he received the darshan of Kshirodakshayi Vishnu; how in a grove of mangos he took up the question of Shiva Prasada and prayers to Shiva; after this\, how he went from Kapoteshwara and bathed in the Bhargavi river; How the Lord fainted before the Jagannatha deities while having darshan there; his visit to the house of Sarvabhauma; How the Lord would go from the house of Sarvabhauma\, take a position west of the Garuda Stambha\, and see the deity of Lord Jagannatha; how Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya and the Lord discussed Vedanta; How Sarvabhauma was converted; How the Lord revealed his six-armed form to Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. \nFrom here\, the Shesha Khanda begins. \nThe first chapter of the Shesha Khanda describes: the Lord’s kirtan pastimes in which Sarvabhauma took part; the Lord’s tour of South India and his journey to Setubandha; his mercy on Vasudeva Vipra\, the brahmana who had leprosy; the Lord’s visit to Jiyada-Nrishimha and its ancient history; the Lord’s meeting with Ramananda Raya on the banks of the Godavari; Ramananda’s vision of Mahaprabhu’s dual feature as Rasaraja and Mahabhava; the Lord’s visit to Panchavati and Sri Rangam; How he bestowed mercy on Trimalla Bhatta; His four month stay in Sri Rangam during the period of Chatur Masya; his meeting with Paramananda Puri; the prayers by Paramananda Puri to Gaura Bhagavan. \nThe second chapter of the Shesha Khanda describes the following: How the Lord continued on his South Indian tour and delivered the seven trees that had been standing since the time of Lord Ram; How at Setubandha in great ecstasy\, the Lord chanted the names of Rama\, Lakshman\, Sita\, and Hanuman; how the Lord returned to Alalanatha by way of the Godavari; his return to Jagannatha Puri; His visit to Mathura; His meeting with Rupa and Sanatana; How with Balabhadra Bhattacharya\, he wandered down the banks of the Yamuna and through the twelve forests of Vrindavana. \nThe third and final chapter of the Shesha Khanda of Caitanya Mangala records: How the Lord returned to Jagannatha Puri; the Lord’s trip to Gauda-desha; how he passed through in the Rada-desha; how he stopped in Kuliya; How everyone in Navadwip turned out to see the Lord; How they prayed for His mercy and he bestowed amnesty on all; How\, to satisfy his mother’s desire\, he went to Nabadwipa and instructed her on of Krishna-bhajan; How the Lord went to Shantipura where he visited Sri Advaita; His kirtan there; How the Lord left Shantipura; His return to Jagannatha Puri; How he visited the deity of Jagannatha; How he performed kirtana day and night; How King Prataparudra attained the Lord’s mercy; His revelation of the six-armed form to Prataparudra Raja; The Dravidian brahmana who came to visit the Lord\, how he was fasting for seven days\, and how he was delivered by the Lord’s mercy. \nIn the Caitanya Mangala\, Locana Dasa Thakura mentions the details of certain pastimes not revealed by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura. For example\, Vrindavana Dasa Thakura does not record the conversation that took place between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Vishnupriya Devi just before the Lord left to take sannyasa. But Locana Dasa Thakura describes this as follows:\n«Seeing Mahaprabhu’s eagerness to take sannyasa\, the moon-faced Vishnupirya-devi said\, with her voice choked in emotion\, “Tell me\, O Prananatha\, Lord of my life\, and I shall take your order upon my head. Will you take sannyasa? I have heard this rumor being circulated among the people in general. Hearing this\, my heart is broken. If it is true\, I shall enter into fire. You are the treasure of my life. Your beautiful form is always everfresh and newly youthful. Will you give up everything and go away? If am deprived of your association\, I might as well give up my life by drinking poison.” \nHearing the pitiful words of lamentation spoken by Vishnupriya devi\, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled a little\, and spoke as follows: “Listen\, O you who are dear as life itself: Please don’t be in any anxiety. There is no need to worry at all. What I am about to say is for your own benefit. Please hear me attentively\, with your whole mind. Whatever you see in this world is all false; the only truth is Bhagavan and theVaishnavas\, without that whatever you see is all illusion. Know this for a fact. Sons\, wives\, husbands\, ladies\, fathers\, mothers\, and everything else?all these relationships are illusory. They are temporary and transitional. In one lifetime we have one set of sons\, wives\, husbands\, mothers and fathers\, and in our next life this changes. Other than the lotus feet of Krishna\, we have no real family. Everything else that we see as our family is an illusion of maya. What we see as man and woman is unreal. \nBeneath the surface all souls are spiritual energy; the relationship between men and women is an illusory connection of maya. Sri Krishna is the real husband of everyone; he is the master. Everything else is material\, but unfortunately this is not understood by the people in general. The souls is embedded in a mixture of semen and blood from which it is born into a body composed of stool and urine. In this way the soul moves upon this earth in ignorance. From boyhood to youth to old age\, we suffer different miseries\, all the while mistaking the housing of this body as our real self. Absorbed in false ego\, we make friends\, maintain attachments\, suffering abuse\, and are gradually cheated by old age. Even hearing the truth\, however\, still our eyes are blind\, and while our suffering in the material world brings us to tears\, we never worship Govinda. \nForsaking Krishna’s service\, we maintain these bodies in the material world of birth and death\, trapped in the bondage of maya. Mad with false ego we have forgotten our Lord\, and so we insure our passage to hell. Your name is Vishnupriya\, however. Fulfill the real purport of Vishnupriya\, and do not lament for what is false. Remembering what I have said here\, cast your worries at a distance\, and always think of Krishna within your heart\, day and night.” \nHaving conveyed all these divine instructions to Vishnupriya devi\, the Supreme Lord\, Sri Gaurasundara revealed to her His four-armed form\, thus making her understand his absolute position. At that time\, he told Vishnupriya devi\, “You see before you the Supreme Lord\, cast your mayik lamentaion away.” At this\, Vishnupriya devi became joyful within. Her grief and pain vanished\, and her heart became blissful upon suddenly seeing the Lord’s four-armed form. \nAfter hearing the instructions of the Lord and seeing his absolute form\, Vishnupriya cast off her bewilderment\, but her mentality of taking the Lord as her husband was intact. At that point\, she fell at the feet of the Lord and said: “O Lord\, please listen to my entreaty. Falling at your feet again and again\, I implore you to accept my humble submission. I am certainly the lowest\, having taken birth in this world of samsara; but you are my most dear Lord of life. This is my only wealth; without you I have nothing. Without your service\, I will certainly go down.” \nSaying this\, Vishnupriya devi began loudly weeping\, sobbing and sobbing again and again in ever-increasing frenzy of sorrow. Seeing the affliction of someone so dear\, the Lord bestowed his merciful glance upon Vishnupriya devi\, embracing her with his eyes and so giving her his mercy. \nAt that time\, the Lord said\, “Listen O Vishnupriya devi\, and give close attention to my answer to your words. I shall go there and there\, but wherever I go\, I shall still remain at your place: This truth I have spoken with great determination.” \nUpon hearing the order of the Lord\, Vishnupriya devi could understand that the Lord is supremely independent. At that time she said\, “You must do what makes you happy. Let no one be an obstacle to your divine mission.” \nAddressing the Lord in this way\, Vishnupriya tearfully averted her eyes from the Lord’s glance and fell silent. Thus went the conversation between the Lord and Vishnupriya\, which is painful to hear.» \nThis is reported by Locana Dasa. \nLocana Dasa Thakura also sings the glories of Sri Gauranga and Nityananda in the following beautiful song: \nparama karuna pahun dui jana\nnitai gaurachandra \nsaba avatara\, sara shiromani\nkevala ananda kanda \nbhaja bhaja bhai\, chaitanya nitai\nsudhrida visvasa kori \nvishaya chariya se rase majiya\nmukha bolo hari hari \ndekho ore bhai\, tribhuvane nai\nemona doyala data \npashu-pakhi jhure\, pashana vidore\nshuni yar guna gantha \nsamsare majiya\, rahile pariya\nse pade nahilo asha \napana koroma\, bhunjaye shamana\,\nkohoye locana dasa \nThis song was especially dear to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who translates it as follows:\n“”This is a song by Locana dasa Thakura. Locana dasa declares that the two Lords\, Nitai-Gauracandra?Lord Nitai and Lord Caitanya?are very merciful. They are the essence of all incarnations. The specific significance of these incarnations is that prosecuting their way of self-realization is simply joyful\, for they introduced chanting and dancing. There are many incarnations\, like Lord Rama and even Krishna\, who taught Bhagavad-gita\, which requires knowledge and understanding. But Lord Caitanya introduced a process which is simply joyful? simply chant and dance. \nTherefore Locana Das requests everyone: “My dear brother\, I request that you just worship Lord Caitanya and Nityananda with firm conviction and faith.” Don’t think that this chanting and dancing will not lead to the desired goal. It will. It is the assurance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu that one will get all perfection by this process. Therefore one must chant with firm faith and conviction.\nBut what is the process? If one wants to be Krishna conscious by this process\, one has to give up his engagement in sense gratification. That is the only restriction. If one gives up sense gratification\, it is sure that he will reach the desired goal. One simply has to chant “Hari Hari!” without any motive of sense gratification. \nLocana das says\, “My dear brother\, you just try and examine this. Within the three worlds there is no one like Lord Caitanya or Lord Nityananda\, because Their merciful qualities are so great that They make even birds and beasts cry\, what to speak of human beings.”\nActually\, when Lord Caitanya passed through the forest known as Jharikhanda\, the tigers\, elephants\, snakes\, deer\, and all other animals joined Him in chanting Hare Krishna. It is so nice that anyone can join. Even the animals can join\, what to speak of human beings. Of course\, it is not possible for ordinary men to induce animals to chant\, but if Caitanya Mahaprabhu could inspire animals to chant\, at least we can encourage human beings to adopt this path of Hare Krishna mantra chanting. It is so nice that even the most stonehearted man will be melted. It is so nice that even stone will melt. \nBut Locana dasa Thakura regrets that he is entrapped by sense gratification. He addresses himself\, “My dear mind\, you are entrapped in this sense gratification process\, and you have no attraction for chanting Hare Krishna. Since you have no attraction for the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda\, what can I say? I can simply think of my misfortune. Yamaraja\, the superintendent of death\, is punishing me by not allowing me to be attracted by this movement.”” \nSri Locana Dasa Thakura was born in Shakabda 1445 and disappeared in 1540.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/srila-locana-das-thakur-appearance-day-31st-dec-2024/
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