Sri Gadadhara pandita's Jivan-Carita

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

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Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

Table of Contents Maìgaläcaraëa — Auspicious Invocation

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Çré Gadädhara Paëòit’s Jévan-Carita

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Çrématé Rädhäräëé Is Gadädhara Paëòita in Gaura-Lélä

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Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Were Very Close Friends

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Gadädhara-Präëanätha — “The life and soul of Gadädhara Paëòita”

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Gadädhara Did Not Appreciate Gaurasundara’s Fickleness

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Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi Appears as a Great Materialist

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Kåñëa Accepts Only the Good Things

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Gadädhara Paëòita Commits a Great Offence

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Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi Obtains a Precious Jewel

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You Purify Even the Holy Places

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You Are Parama-Tértha — The Tértha of Térthas

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Mahäprabhu Changed

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Kåñëa Is in Your Heart

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Kåñëa-Lélä-Kértana 13 Räi-Känäi Are Gaura-Gadädhara

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Sandhya Ärati Saìgéta

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Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Go to Jagannätha Puré

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The Deity of Öoöä-Gopénätha Sits Down

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Questions & Answers

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Front cover and inside cover painting by Anjana dasa.

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja A lecture delivered by Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja on 9th September 1993, Bhubaneswar, India.

TAT T VA V I C A R A P U B L I C AT I O N S

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Maìgaläcaraëa Auspicious Invocation Compiled by Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja, who would recite these verses each time before giving a class on a verse from Çré Caitanya-caritämåta.

oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù “I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.”

çré-caitanya-mano-‘bhéñöaà sthäpitaà yena bhü-tale svayaà rüpaù kadä mahyaà dadäti sva-padäntikam “When will Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé Prabhupäda, who has established within this material world the mission to fulfill the desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?” i

Maìgaläcaraëa vande ‘haà çré-guroù çré-yuta-pada-kamalaà çré-gurün vaiñëaväàç ca çré-rüpaà sägrajätaà saha-gaëa-raghunäthänvitaà taà sa-jévam sädvaitaà sävadhütaà parijana-sahitaà kåñëa-caitanya-devaà çré-rädhä-kåñëa-pädän saha-gaëa-lalitä-çré-viçäkhänvitäàç ca “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master and unto the feet of all Vaiñëavas. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé along with his elder brother Sanätana Gosvämé, as well as Raghunätha Däsa and Raghunätha Bhaööa, Gopäla Bhaööa, and Çréla Jéva Gosvämé. I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Kåñëa Caitanya and Lord Nityänanda along with Advaita Äcärya, Gadädhara, Çréväsa, and other associates. I offer my respectful obeisances to Çrématé Rädhäräëé and Çré Kåñëa along with Their associates Çré Lalitä and Viçäkhä.”

he kåñëa karuëä-sindho déna-bandho jagat-pate gopeça gopikä-känta rädhä-känta namo ‘stu te “O my dear Kåñëa, You are the friend of the distressed and the source of creation. You are the master of the gopés and the lover of Rädhäräëé. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.”

tapta-käïcana-gauräìgi rädhe våndävaneçvari våñabhänu-sute devi praëamämi hari-priye “I offer my respects to Rädhäräëé, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Våndävana. You

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Auspicious Invocation are the daughter of King Våñabhänu, and You are very dear to Lord Kåñëa.”

väïchä-kalpatarubhyaç ca kåpä-sindhubhya eva ca patitänäà pävanebhyo vaiñëavebhyo namo namaù “I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiñëava devotees of the Lord. They can fulfill the desires of everyone, just like desire trees, and they are full of compassion for the fallen souls.”

namo mahä-vadänyäya kåñëa-prema-pradäya te kåñëäya kåñëa-caitanyanämne gaura-tviñe namaù “O most munificent incarnation! You are Kåñëa Himself appearing as Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu. You have assumed the golden colour of Çrématé Rädhäräëé, and You are widely distributing pure love of Kåñëa. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You.” (Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya-lélä 19.53)

yad advaitaà brahmopaniñadi tad apy asya tanu-bhä ya ätmäntaryämé puruña iti so ‘syäàça-vibhavaù ñaò-aiçvaryaiù pürëo ya iha bhagavän sa svayam ayaà na caitanyät kåñëäj jagati para-tattvaà param iha “What the Upaniñads describe as the impersonal Brahman is but the effulgence of His body, and the Lord known as the Supersoul is but His localised plenary portion. Lord Caitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa Himself, full

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Maìgaläcaraëa with six opulences. He is the Absolute Truth, and no other truth is greater than or equal to Him.” (Caitanya-caritämåta, ädi-lélä 1.3)

rädhä kåñëa-praëaya-vikåtir hlädiné çaktir asmäd ekätmänäv api bhuvi purä deha-bhedaà gatau tau caitanyäkhyaà prakaöam adhunä tad-dvayaà caikyam äptaà rädhä-bhäva-dyuti-suvalitaà naumi kåñëa-svarüpam “The loving affairs of Çré Rädhä and Çré Kåñëa are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasuregiving potency. Although Rädhä and Kåñëa are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally. Now these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Çrématé Rädhäräëé although He is Kåñëa Himself.” (Caitanyacaritämåta, ädi-lélä 1.5)

ciräd adattaà nija-gupta-vittaà sva-prema-nämämåtam aty-udäraù ä-pämaraà yo vitatära gauraù kåñëo janebhyas tam ahaà prapadye “The most munificent Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Gaurakåñëa, distributed to everyone — even the lowest of men — His own confidential treasury in the form of the nectar of love of Himself and the holy name. This was never given to the people at any time before. I therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto Him. (Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya-lélä 23.1)

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Auspicious Invocation gauraù sac-caritämåtämåta-nidhiù gauraà sadaiva-stuve gaureëa prathitaà rahasya-bhajanaà gauräya sarvaà dade gaurädasti kåpälu-ratra na paro gaurasya bhrityo bhavaà gaure gauravamäcarämi bhagavan gaura-prabho rakña mäm “I pray to Çrémän Gauräìga Mahäprabhu whose ecstatic transcendental pastimes are like a river of nectar. Gaura has given the path of confidential devotional service. I will completely surrender to Gaura. Is there anyone more merciful than Gaura? I will become a servant of Gaura. I shall preach the glories of Gaura. May my Lord Gaura protect me.” (Gauräìgavirudävalé by Srila Raghunandan Goswami)

mädhuryyaiù-madhubhiù sugambhi-bhajana çvarëambhujänäà vanam käruëyämåta nirjharai-rupacitah sat-prema hemacälaù bhaktämbodhara dharaëé vijayané niskampa sampävalé daivo na kula daivatäà vijayatäà caitanya-kåñëa-hariù “I worship the golden hued Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu Who is absorbed in the enchanting mellows of mädhurya-rasa.

May the transcendental love of Kåñëa that Mahäprabhu is distributing, pour down on this earth like a waterfall of nectar.

All glories to that Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu.”

äjänu-lambita-bhujau kanakäva-dätau saìkértanaika-pitarau kamaläya-täksau visvambharau dvijavarau yuga-dharma-pälau vande jagat priyakarau karuëävatärau “I worship Their Lordships Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Nityänanda Prabhu whose long arms extend down to Their knees, whose beautiful complexions are radiant yellow like molten gold and whose elongated eyes are like red lotuses.

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Maìgaläcaraëa They are the topmost brähmaëas, the guardians of religious principles for this age, the most munificent benefactors of all living entities, and the most compassionate incarnations of Godhead. They initiated the congregational chanting of the names of Lord Kåñëa.” (Caitanya-bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 1.1)

anarpita-caréà cirät karuëayävatérëaù kalau samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasäà sva-bhakti-çriyam hariù puraöa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandépitaù sadä hådaya-kandare sphuratu vaù çacé-nandanaù “May that Lord, who is known as the son of Çrématé Çacédevé, be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has appeared in the age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant spiritual knowledge of the mellow taste of His service.”

(Vidagdha-mädhava 1.2)

The following three verses are from Prema-bhakti-chandrikä by Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura section 10, verses 12-14. çré-kåñëa-caitanyadeva rati-mati bhave bhaja prema-kalpa-taru-bara-dätä çré-vraja-räja-nandana rädhikä-jévana-dhana aparüpa ei saba kathä “O brother, always worship Çré Kåñëa Caitanyadeva who is the great philanthropist giving away the treasure of the desire tree of pure love for Kåñëa. This Lord Caitanya is actually Lord Kåñëa, the prince of Vraja and the life of Çrématé Rädhäräëé.

Descriptions of Him are spiritual sounds. They are not at all material.” (Prema-bhakti-chandrikä, verse 12)

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Auspicious Invocation navadvépe avatari´ rädhä-bhäva aìgékari´ täìra känti aìgera bhüñaëa tina väïchä abhiläñé´ çacé-garbhe parakäçi´ saìge laïä pariñada-gaëa “Lord Kåñëa desired to appear in Navadvépa to understand the intense love Çrématé Rädhäräëé felt for Him, and accept Her golden complexion as His bodily ornament. In order to fulfill these three desires, the Lord appeared in Çacédevé’s womb. When the Lord appeared like this in the material world, all His associates followed Him, and also appeared in the world.” (Prema-bhakti-chandrikä, verse 13)

gaura-hari avatari ´premera vädara kari´ sädhilä manera tina käja rädhikära präëa-pati kivä bhäve käìde niti ihä bujhe bhakata-samäja “The Lord appeared in the golden form of Lord Caitanya, and preached the message of pure love for Kåñëa. In this way He fulfilled the three desires in His mind. Only the devotees are able to understand in what a wonderful way Kåñëa, who is the Lord of Çrématé Rädhäräëé’s life, continually cried in ecstatic love of God.” (Prema-bhakti-chandrikä, verse 14)

uttama adhama kichu na bächila yäciyä dilaka kola kahe premänanda emana gauräìga hådaye dhariyä bola bhaja gauräìga kaha gauräìga laha gauräìga näma (re) ye jana gauräìga bhaje sei haya ämära präëa (re) “Never discriminating who was a fit candidate, elevated or degraded, the son of mother Çacé magnanimously accepts one

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Maìgaläcaraëa and all onto His lap in a loving embrace crying; ‘Come to My fold, come to My fold!’ The poet Premänanda Däsa begs you all to constantly chant the sweet name of Kåñëa while holding tightly to that son of mother Çacé in the innermost core of your heart. Worship Gauräìga! Speak about Gauräìga! Oh please take to gaura-näma! Whoever worships Gauräìga is my life and soul.” (Premänanda Däsa )

yasyaiva pädämbuja-bhakti-läbhyaù premäbhidhänaù paramaù pum-arthaù tasmai jagan-maìgala-maìgaläya caitanya-candräya namo namas te “O Lord Caitanyacandra, by devotedly serving Your lotus feet one can attain the pure love for Lord Kåñëa that is the ultimate goal of all endeavours. O Lord Caitanyacandra, O great auspiciousness of the world, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.” (Çréla Prabhodhänanda Sarasvaté, Çré Caitanya-candrämåta, text 9)

änanda-lélämaya-vigrahäya hemäbha-divya-cchavi-sundaräya tasmai mahä-prema-rasa-pradäya caitanyacandräya namo namas te “O Lord Caitanyacandra, O Lord whose form is full of blissful pastimes, O Lord whose complexion is as splendid as gold, O Lord who gives in charity the nectar of pure love for Lord Kåñëa. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.” (Çré Caitanya-candrämåta, text 11)

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Auspicious Invocation yan näptaà karma-niñöhair na ca samadhi-gataà yat tapo dhyäna-yogair vairägyais tyäga-tattva-stutibhir api na yat tarkitaà cäpi kaiçcit govinda-prema-bhäjäm api na ca kalitaà yad rahasyaà svayaà tan nämnaiva präduräséd avatarati pare yatra taà naumi gauram “Not attainable by the faithful performers of pious deeds, not understood by those engaged in austerity, meditation, and yoga, not guessed by those absorbed in detachment, renunciation of the fruits of work, philosophical speculation or recitation of prayers, and unknown even to the devotees full of love for Lord Govinda, the secret of pure devotional service has been revealed by the holy name during Lord Gaura’s advent. Let me glorify that Lord Gaura.” (Çré Caitanya-candrämåta, text 3)

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Çré Gadädhara Paëòit’s Jévan-Carita

sei sei, — äcäryera kåpära bhäjana anäyäse päila sei caitanya-caraëa “By the mercy of Advaita Äcärya, the devotees who strictly followed the path of Caitanya Mahäprabhu attained the shelter of Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet without difficulty.”

(Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 12.74)

acyutera yei mata, sei mata sära ära yata mata saba haila chärakhära “It should be concluded, therefore, that the path of Acyutänanda is the essence of spiritual life. Those who did not follow this path simply scattered.” (Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 12.75)

sei äcärya-gaëe mora koöi namaskära acyutänanda-präya, caitanya — jévana yäìhära “I therefore offer my respectful obeisances millions of times to Acyutänanda’s actual followers, whose life and soul was Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.” (Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 12.76)

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Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

ei ta’ kahiläì äcärya-gosäïira gaëa tina skandha-çäkhära kaila saìkñepa gaëana “Thus I have briefly described the three branches [Acyutänanda, Kåñëa Miçra and Gopäla] of Çré Advaita Äcärya’s descendants.” (Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 12.77)

çäkhä-upaçäkhä, tära nähika gaëana kichu-mätra kahi’ kari dig-daraçana “There are multifarious branches and sub-branches of Advaita Äcärya. It is very difficult to enumerate them fully. I have simply given a glimpse of the whole trunk and its branches and sub-branches.” (Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 12.78)

çré-gadädhara paëòita çäkhäte mahottama täìra upaçäkhä kichu kari ye gaëana “After describing the branches and sub-branches of Advaita Äcärya, I shall now attempt to describe some of the descendants of Çré Gadädhara Paëòita, the most important among the branches.” (Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi-lélä 12.79)

agam agocarä gorä akhila brahma-para veda upara, nä jäne päñaëòé mati-bhorä nitya nityänanda caitanya govinda paëòita gadädhara rädhe caitanya yugala-rüpa kevala rasera küpa avatära sadä-çiva sädhe antare nava-ghana bähire gaura-tanu yugala-rüpa parakäçe kahe väsudeva ghoña yugala-bhajana-rase janame janame rahu äçe “Lord Gaurasundara, who is beyond the purview of the scriptures, beyond the entire Brahman, and above even the Vedas, can never be known by the atheists whose intelligence

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Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita is dull. Lord Nityänanda is His eternal self. Lord Caitanya is Lord Govinda Himself and Paëòita Gadädhara is none other than Çré Rädhä. The Divine Couple, who are present in Çré Caitanya, are a well of loving mellows, rasa. Advaita Äcärya (Sadäçiva) has prayed for His descent. Within, He is blackish but of a golden hue without; the manifestation of the Divine Couple. Thus Väsudeva Ghoña sings of the beauty of this Divine Couple, Çré Gadäi-Gauräìga, in whose worship he has been completely subjugated. He prays that he will desire to serve Them birth after birth.” (Çré-sädhanä-dépikä, by Çré Väsudeva Ghoña Öhäkura)

Before speaking about the branches of Gadädhara Paëòita, I will speak briefly about the holy life history, jévan-carita, of Gadädhara Paëòita, which ought to be known.

Çrématé Rädhäräëé Is Gadädhara Paëòita in Gaura-Lélä In Gaura-gaëoddeça-dépikä it is mentioned that Çrématé Rädhäräëé, the daughter of King Våñabhänu, in kåñëa-lélä, is Gadädhara Paëòita in gaura-lélä. Svarüpa Dämodara Gosvämé has written this also in his kaòacä, notebook and Vasudeva Ghosh Öhäkura has also written the same thing, nitya nityänanda caitanya govinda paëòita gadädhara rädhe caitanya yugala-rüpa kevala rasera küpa avatära sadä-çiva sädhe antare nava-ghana bähire gaura-tanu yugala-rüpa parakäçe kahe väsudeva ghoña yugala-bhajana-rase janame janame rahu äçe Kåñëa and Rädhä are both there, antare nava-ghana bähire gaura-tanu, Gauräìga is inside Kåñëa with a bluish hue, and on the outside Gauräìga’s hue is like molten gold. Gadädhara is Rädhä, 3

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

Våñabhänu-nandiné, the daughter of King Våñabhänu. This is yugala-rüpa, two forms, Rädhä and Kåñëa. Yugala-rüpa parakäçe, kahe väsudeva ghoña yugala-bhajana-rase janame janame rahu äçe, Väsudeva says, “Let Me be engaged in the bhajana of these Two, life after life.”

Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Were Very Close Friends Gadädhara Paëòita was Mahäprabhu’s friend from a very young age. The name of Gadädhara Paëòita’s father was Madhava Miçra and his mother’s name was Ratnavaté-devé. They lived close by the house of Jagannätha Miçra in Mäyäpura. Ratnavaté-devé respected Çacémätä as her elder sister and was always associating with her. While manifesting Their boyhood lélä, Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Paëòita always played together. Sometimes They played in Çacémätä’s courtyard, and sometimes They would play in the courtyard of Ratnavaté-devé, Gadädhara’s mother. They both studied in the village named Päçälä. Gadädhara was one or two years younger than Mahäprabhu. Mahäprabhu did not want to leave Gadädhara’s company, and Gadädhara also did not want to leave the company of Mahäprabhu.

Gadädhara-Präëanätha “The life and soul of Gadädhara Paëòita” In Caitanya-caritämåta it is mentioned, paëòitera bhäva-mudrä kahana nä yäya gadädhara-präëa-nätha’ näma haila yäya 4

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita “No one can describe the characteristics and ecstatic love of Gadädhara Paëòita. Therefore another name for Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu is Gadädhara-präëanätha, ‘the life and soul of Gadädhara Paëòita’.”

paëòite prabhura prasäda kahana nä yäya ’gadäira gauräìga’ bali’ yäìre loke gäya “No one can say how merciful the Lord is to Gadädhara Paëòita, but people know the Lord as gadäira gauräìga, ‘the Lord Gauräìga of Gadädhara Paëòita’.” (Caitanya-caritämåta, Antya-lélä 7.163-4)

No one can understand the activities of Gadädhara Paëòita, and also no one can conceive Gadädhara Paëòita’s kåpä, mercy.

Both of Them, Gadäi-Gauräìga, Gauräìga Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Paëòita, are well known.

While Éçvara Puré was staying for a few months in Navadvépa, Mäyäpura, in the house of Gopénätha Äcärya, Éçvara Puré made Gadädhara read his book named Kåñëa-lélämåta. This is mentioned in Caitanya-bhägavata: gadädhara-paëòitere äpanära kåta puìthi paòäyena näma ‘kåñëa-lélämåta’ (Caitanya-bhägavata, Ädi-khaëòa 11.100)

Gadädhara Did Not Appreciate Gaurasundara’s Fickleness From an early age Gadädhara was very sober, peaceful and fond of solitary places, He was detached from material activity, 5

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

whereas Gaurasundara was very fickle during His boyhood days.

Gadädhara did not appreciate Gaurasundara’s fickleness, and kept Himself aloof sometimes from Gaurasundara for that very reason, but Gaurasundara never wanted to leave Gadädhara. Sometimes Gaurasundara would say, “Gadädhara, you will see, after a few days I will be a Vaiñëava like you. Then Brahmä, Çiva, and all the demigods will come to our house.”

Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi Appears as a Great Materialist Gadädhara Paëòita liked Mukunda Datta very much. Whenever a sädhu-sannyäsé, Vaiñëava came to Navadvépa, Mukunda Datta would inform Gadädhara Paëòita, and then both of them would go to have the darçana of that sädhu sannyäsé.

Once, when Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi came to Navadvépa, Mukunda Datta took Gadädhara Paëòita with him to see Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi. Externally Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi appeared like a materialistic person. He was wearing gorgeous clothes, chewing pän, and he was spitting that pän into a valuable gold pot. He wore valuable gold rings encrusted with jewels and gems on all fingers. Seated on a soft cushioned chair he appeared to enjoy the luxurious life of a great materialist, but this was only external.

Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi was a great devotee, a mahä-bhägavata. No one could understand what was truly inside. This is vaïcana. A sädhu has two features; kåpä and vaïcana, mercy and cheating.

One, who deserves mercy, receives mercy, and one who deserves cheating, will be cheated. A real sädhu knows what you deserve.

So, this was Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi’s cheating: his appearance as a materialist. Seeing him, Gadädhara Paëòita was thinking, “Why did Mukunda Datta bring me to see such a materialist? Why does he appear as a great materialistic person? What is this?” Mukunda 6

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

Datta knew that Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi was a mahä-bhägavata, a great devotee, and an exalted Vaiñëava. He understood this and immediately recited a famous verse from the Çrémad-Bhägavatam.

Kåñëa Accepts Only the Good Things aho baké yaà stana-käla-küöaà jighäàsayäpäyayad apy asädhvé lebhe gatià dhätry-ucitäà tato ‘nyaà kaà vä dayäluà çaraëaà vrajema (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.2.23) Baké means Pütanä, the sister of Bakäsura. To kill baby Kåñëa, she smeared a very dreadful poison on her breast, and then allowed baby Kåñëa to suck her breast. She came with that motive, but still Kåñëa accepted the good. Her motive was very bad, but the good thing was that she allowed Kåñëa to suck her breast. That means she did the work of a mother, like mother Yaçodä. Kåñëa sucks the breast of Yaçodä, so Pütanä did the work of Yaçodä. Baby Kåñëa, while sucking her breast, sucked her life out. Baby Kåñëa is the Supreme Lord; He is not an ordinary baby. Could a baby suck out the life of anyone? One should not think that baby Kåñëa is an ordinary baby. No. Kaà vä dayäluà, Kåñëa is so merciful that He only accepted the good. Pütanä died, but Kåñëa gave her the place of mother because she did the work of a mother. This is the meaning of this verse.

Gadädhara Paëòita Commits a Great Offence When Mukunda recited this verse in a very sweet voice, the bhäva inside Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi swelled up, and up, and up.

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Hearing the nice pastime of Kåñëa depicted by the verse, he became ecstatic and uttered, “Kåñëa! Kåñëa! Kåñëa!” Shedding tears he rolled on the ground crying, and kicking away his cushion, his spitting pot, everything. He shed tears as the ecstasy manifested, and then at last he fainted. Tears flowed down from his eyes like the flowing of the Ganges, gaìgä-dhära, gaìgädevé rahilätavah.

When Gadädhara Paëòita saw this he became ashamed, and chastised himself within his mind, “What have I done? I have committed a great offence by thinking such a mahä-bhägavata to be a great materialist. How can I be freed from the reactions for this offence? I must be punished. If I am not punished by this mahä-bhägavata then my offences cannot be destroyed. Therefore I must become his disciple and accept mantra from him. Then he will inflict punishment on me and my offence will be destroyed.”

Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi Obtains a Precious Jewel Thereafter, Mukunda Datta introduced Gadädhara Paëòita to Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi, and he revealed Gadädhara’s mind to him.

When Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi heard all this he became very much pleased. çuniyä häsena puëòaréka vidyänidhi ämäre ta’ mahäratna miläilä vidhi “On hearing this, Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi smiled and said, “I have obtained a precious jewel by the arrangement of providence.” (Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-khaëòa 7.117)

karäimu, ihäte sandeha kichu näi bahu janma-bhägye se e-mata çiñya päi 8

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita “I will certainly initiate him, there is no doubt about it. By good fortune, after many births one attains such a disciple.”

(Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-khaëòa 7.118)

Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi became very much pleased and said, “I am very fortunate to obtain such a çiñya, disciple, in my life.

Vidhätä, the Creator has been very merciful to me and therefore He gave me such a disciple. Unless one is very, very fortunate he cannot get a disciple like him. I must accept him as my disciple and give him mantra.”

Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi gave mantra to Gadädhara Paëòita on an auspicious day, and Gadädhara became his mantra-çiñya, disciple.

You Purify Even the Holy Places prabhu bale, — “gayä-yäträ saphala ämära yata-kñaëe dekhiläìa caraëa tomära (Caitanya Bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.50) The Lord said, “My journey to Gayä has become successful the moment I was able to see your lotus feet.” térthe piëòa dile se nistare pitå-gaëa seha, — yäre piëòa deya, tare’ sei jana tomä’ dekhilei mätra koöi-pitå-gaëa sei-kñaëe sarva-bandha päya vimocana (Caitanya-bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.51-52) “If one offers oblations to his forefathers in a holy place, then those forefathers are delivered. Yet, one delivers only the forefathers to whom the oblations were offered. By seeing you, 9

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

however, millions of forefathers are immediately freed from material bondage.” ataeva tértha nahe tomära samäna térther o parama tumi maìgala pradhäna “Therefore holy places are not equal to you, for you purify even the holy places.” (Caitanya-bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.53)

saàsära-samudra haite uddhäraha more ei ämi deha samarpiläìa tomäre “Please deliver Me from the ocean of material existence. I surrender Myself unto you.” (Caitanya-bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.54)

You Are Parama-Tértha The Tértha of Térthas Mahäprabhu went to Gayä to pay piëòa for His deceased father Jagannätha Miçra and He met His spiritual master Éçvara Puré there. When Mahäprabhu came back from Gayä He said, prabhu bale, — “gayä-yäträ saphala ämära yata-kñaëe dekhiläìa caraëa tomära térthe piëòa dile se nistare pitå-gaëa seha, — yäre piëòa deya, tare’ sei jana tomä’ dekhilei mätra koöi-pitå-gaëa sei-kñaëe sarva-bandha päya vimocana 10

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

ataeva tértha nahe tomära samäna térther o parama tumi maìgala pradhäna (Caitanya-bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.50-53) “My Gayä-yäträ has become successful because I met you, O My spiritual master Çrépad Éçvara Puré. I saw your lotus feet there. If someone goes to a tértha, a holy place, to offer piëòa, that pitå-puruña to whom piëòa is offered may be delivered, however, when someone sees you, a most elevated Vaiñëava, millions upon millions of pitå-puruñas will be delivered. Therefore this tértha, this holy place is not equal to you. You are parama-tértha, the tértha of térthas; the supreme tértha.” saàsära-samudra haite uddhäraha more ei ämi deha samarpiläìa tomäre Then Mahäprabhu said, “Please deliver Me from the ocean of material existence. I surrender Myself unto you.” (Caitanya Bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.54)

Mahäprabhu Changed After His return from Gayä, Mahäprabhu had changed. He was drowning in an ocean of kåñëa-prema and was always shedding tears of love, premäçru. Tears rolled down from His eyes like torrents of rain. When Gadädhara Paëòita saw this wonderful change in Mahäprabhu, that He was always crying for Kåñëa and mad after kåñëa-prema, then Gadädhara also cried for Kåñëa. From that day on, Gadädhara Paëòita did not leave the company of Gaurasundara even for a moment.

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Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

Kåñëa Is in Your Heart One day Gadädhara Paëòita was offering tämbüla, pän, (betel nut) to Mahäprabhu. Rädhäräëé gives pän to Kåñëa, so Gadädhara Paëòita was offering tämbüla, pän to Mahäprabhu. Mahäprabhu was very ecstatic, always thinking of Kåñëa, and crying for Kåñëa.

He said, “Gadädhara, where is that Çyämasundara? Where is that péta-väsä-sundaré Çyämasundara, who dresses in yellow?

Where is He, Çyämasundara?” Just saying this Mahäprabhu started weeping, crying, and crying. Gadädhara did not know what to say, then with some apprehension he said, “Kåñëa is in Your heart.” When Gadädhara said, “Kåñëa is in Your heart” Mahäprabhu started to tear open His heart with His nails. Not knowing what to do Gadädhara became afraid. Immediately he caught hold of Mahäprabhu’s hand to stop Him. Mahäprabhu said, “No Gadädhara, leave My hand! Leave My hand! I want to see Kåñëa! I want to see Kåñëa! I cannot live without seeing Kåñëa.

Don’t check Me. Don’t prevent Me. Leave My hands! Leave My hands!” Gadädhara quickly thought of something else and said, “O Gaurasundara, be patient, be patient. Kåñëa will come now.

He will come right now. Have patience.” Then Mahäprabhu became pacified.

It is mentioned in Caitanya-bhägavata that Çacémätä was observing this incident from a distance, and came running, saying, “O Gadädhara, though you are a small boy, still you are very intelligent.” muïi bhaye nähi päri sammukha haite çiçu hai’ kemana prabodhila bhäla-mate (Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-khaëòa 2.210) 12

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

“I was so afraid of coming before Nimäi, but how intelligently you made Him calm down.” Çacémätä said, “Gadädhara, you should always be with Nimäi. If you stay with Nimäi I will be free from anxiety.”

Kåñëa-Lélä-Kértana One day in the house of Çuklämbara Brahmacäré, Mahäprabhu was sitting outside on the veranda narrating kåñëa-lélä, doing kåñëa-lélä-kértana. Hearing the nice kåñëa-lélä-kértana Gadädhara went and sat down inside. While Mahäprabhu was speaking about Kåñëa, He became ecstatic and shed tears, relishing the sweet mellow, lélä-rasa emanating from the transcendental lélä of Kåñëa.

Gadädhara, who could hear everything from inside, also became ecstatic and started crying. When Mahäprabhu heard him cry He said, “Who is crying inside the room?” Çuklämbara Brahmacäré said, “It is Your Gadädhara.” Mahäprabhu said, “Gadädhara!

Oh, you are very, very fortunate. From this young age you have developed so much love and affection for Kåñëa. I am unfortunate!

I am unfortunate! I am unfortunate! My birth, My whole life has been spoiled. I cannot develop the love that you have for Kåñëa.

That is My karma-doña, the reaction of My bad karma. I cannot find Kåñëa. Gadädhara, you are very, very fortunate. You have obtained Kåñëa from boyhood and have developed so much love for Him, whereas I have no love at all.” Saying this Mahäprabhu embraced Gadädhara tightly. This is Mahäprabhu’s Navadvépa lélä with Gadädhara.

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Räi-Känäi Are Gaura-Gadädhara Mahäprabhu is Kåñëa, and Gadädhara is Rädhä, They are RäiKänäi in Vrajabhümi. Räi means Rädhärani, and Känäi means Kähëa, Kåñëa. Now Räi-Känäi are Gaura-Gadädhara and are manifesting Their lélä on the bank of the Gaìgä. In the same way as They manifest Their lélä on the bank of the Yamunä in Vraja, now here in Navadvépa They are manifesting Their lélä on the bank of the Gaìgä.

Sandhya Ärati Saìgéta One day when Mahäprabhu came to the bank of the Gaìgä, He entered into one of the upavanas, beautiful gardens there, remembering vraja-lélä, the pastimes of Kåñëa in Vrajabhümi. At that time Mukunda Datta started singing the songs depicting Kåñëa’s vraja-lélä very sweetly. Mahäprabhu became ecstatic.

Gadädhara picked some flowers from that garden and made a nice garland and put it around Mahäprabhu’s neck, just as in Våndävana where Rädhäräëé puts a garland around the neck of Kåñëa. Gadädhara started decorating Mahäprabhu in the same way as Rädhäräëé decorates Kåñëa. At that time Mukunda Datta and others began to sing, and some started dancing. Taking Gadädhara with Him, Gaurasundara sat down underneath a tree on an elevated area. Gadädhara was sitting on the left side of Mahäprabhu. Advaita Äcärya arranged the ärati plate to offer ärati. At that time Nityänanda Prabhu also came and sat down on Mahäprabhu’s right side, dakhiëe nitäicänd, bäme gadädhara. This is described in a song called sandhya ärati saìgéta.

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Çréväsa Paëòita picked more flowers and made more flower garlands to decorate Gaura-Gadädhara and Nityänanda Prabhu, and placed the garlands around Their necks. Narahari-ädi kori’ cämara dhuläya, Narahari Sarakära and other associates fanned Them with cämaras, and Çuklämbara Brahmacäré smeared sandal paste, candana-laya, on Their foreheads. Murari Gupta said, “Jaya!

Jaya! Jaya-dhvani!” Mädhava, Vasudeva, Puruñottama, Vijaya and Mukunda were all singing and dancing, while performing kértana.

This is such a nice lélä, the Navadvépa lélä of Gaurasundara.

Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Go to Jagannätha Puré Then Mahäprabhu took sannyäsa, and by the order of His mother Çacémätä He stayed in Jagannätha Puré Dhäma. When Mahäprabhu left for Néläcala, Puruñottama Dhäma, Jagannätha Puré Dhäma, Gadädhara went with Him. There, Gadädhara Paëòita was engaged in serving his Deity Öoöä-gopénätha, in the Öoöä Gopénätha Temple. Mahäprabhu would visit Gadädhara’s Öoöä Gopénätha Temple every day and speak kåñëa-kathä, sing kåñëa-lélä, and dance in ecstasy. When Mahäprabhu was leaving Jagannätha Puré to go to Våndävana, Gadädhara Paëòita was feeling pangs of separation from Mahäprabhu and wanted to go with Him, but Mahäprabhu said, “No, you stay here and take care of Öoöä-gopénätha.” Mahäprabhu did not want to take him with Him. Somehow Mahäprabhu pacified him and made him stay behind.

The Deity of Öoöä-Gopénätha Sits Down Every day Gadädhara Paëòita would read from the ÇrémadBhägavatam. Mahäprabhu would come and sit down with His 15

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita

devotees, and listen to Gadädhara Paëòita reading from Bhägavata.

Mahäprabhu would relish the nectarean sweet mellow coming from Çrémad-Bhägavatam.

These léläs of Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Paëòita are very wonderful. That Öoöä Gopénätha Mandira is still there. That Deity of Öoöä-gopénätha was Gadädhara Paëòita’s Deity, and he would daily offer worship.

Mahäprabhu’s prakata käla, manifested pastimes, lasted fortyeight years. It is mentioned in Bhakti-ratnäkara that, when Mahäprabhu manifested His disappearance lélä, He entered into the Deity of Öoöä-gopénätha, praveçilä ei gopénätha mandire haila darçana, and that He did not emerge. There is still a crack in the Deity’s knee where Mahäprabhu entered. Formally, that Deity was standing up, but now it is in a sitting posture. Although the Deity is in a sitting posture, it is still very large, and is dressed in such a way that everything is covered. No one knows how a Deity that size, changed from a standing posture into a sitting position.

When Gadädhara Paëòita became very old, he was bent over, and it was very difficult for him to garland His tall Deity. Gopénätha, or Kåñëa is bhakta-vatsala, dear to His devotees, and He could see, “My devotee cannot garland Me.” Therefore He sat down; the Deity sat down. This is the lélä.

Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura has written a nice song that we can chant, smara gaura-gadädhara-keli-kaläà bhava gaura-gadädhara-pakña-caraù çåëu gaura-gadädhara-cäru-kathäà bhaja godruma-känana-kuïja-vidhum “Just remember the artistically playful pastimes of Gaura and Gadädhara. Just become a loyal follower of Gaura and 16

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Gadädhara’s camp. Just listen to the captivating stories of Gaura and Gadädhara, and just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.” (Çré Godruma-Candra-Bhajana-Upadeça, Verse 20, by Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura) Jaya Gadädhara Paëòita Gosvämé ki jaya!

Gaura-Gadädhara ki jaya!

May you all have the mercy and blessings of Gaura-Gadädhara.

Gaura-Gadädhara ki jaya!

Questions & Answers Devotee: Was Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura worshiping GauraGadädhara Deities? Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. If you put Gaura with Rädhä-Kåñëa on one altar, you may put Gadädhara. Then you cannot put Nityänanda with Him. We never worship Rädhä-Kåñëa without Gaura in our temples.

Gaura must be there. That is a Gauòéya Äcärya Temple. If there is no Gaura, but only Rädhä-Kåñëa, then you must understand that it is not a Gauòéya temple. This is the gauòéya-dhärä. That is our process. Gaura must be with Rädhä-Kåñëa, because without the mercy of Gaura we cannot approach Rädhä-Kåñëa. That is our process. That is siddhänta, tattva. So, in all our temples, if there is Rädhä-Kåñëa, there must be Gaura. If you want to put someone else with Gaura on that same altar, then it should be Gadädhara.

No one else can be there. Only Gaura-Gadädhara can be on the same altar with Rädhä-Kåñëa, not Gaura-Nityänanda. It has to be either Gaura alone, or Gaura-Gadädhara.

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Devotee: With Gaura-Nitäi or Gaura-Gadädhara? Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami: No, no, no! It has to be Gaura-Gadädhara with Rädhä-Kåñëa. Put Gaura alone, or put Gaura-Gadädhara with Rädhä-Kåñëa. Don’t put Gaura-Nitäi with Rädhä-Kåñëa on the same altar. If you put Gaura-Nitäi, then make a completely separate altar.

Devotee: Are we going to have a single Gaura here [Bhubaneswar] in the Rädhä-Kåñëa temple? Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. We will have RädhäGopénätha with single Gaura here, yes.

Devotee: The worship of Gaura-Gadädhara Deities, as Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura did, that is very, we may say, rasik, or … Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, worship Gaura-Gadädhara with Rädhä-Kåñëa, not only Gaura-Gadädhara. Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura worshipped Rädhä-Kåñëa with Gaura-Gadädhara. Yes. Devotee: They can be on the same altar? Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Single Gaura, or GauraGadädhara can be on the same altar with Rädhä-Kåñëa.

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Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s Jévan-Carita “No one can describe the characteristics and ecstatic love of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

Therefore another name for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Gadādhara-prāṇanātha, ‘the life and soul of Gadādhara Paṇḍita’.”

Cc. Antya 7.163

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