श्रील गुरुदेव की मधुर स्मृतियाँ

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Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Vilāsa Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja

[April 8, 2020 is the appearance day of Tridaṇḍi Svāmī Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Vilāsa Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja, in Vṛndāvana, India. The following is an excerpt from a bhāva anuvāda of the kathā given by Śrīla Bhakti Vijñāna Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja on the same tithi on April 25, 2013 and April 4, 2015. Editors’ input: Additional text has been included in square brackets to facilitate the flow of content.]
Today is the appearance day of Śrīla Bhakti Vilāsa Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja, a dear disciple of Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura.

A SERVICE OPPORTUNITY

In the earlier years, Śrīla Mahārāja used to stay in Bhubaneśvara. He was well-built and exceptionally intelligent. Afterwards, he moved to Jagannātha Purī, wherein he became unwell and was diagnosed with tuberculosis. On hearing of this, Guru Mahārāja immediately invited him to stay with us at Kolkata. At that time, we were staying in an old apartment on Satish Mukherjee Road. By Guru Mahārāja’s mercy, I had the opportunity to serve him at that time by taking him to the doctor, and then to a vaidya (an Ayurvedic physician) who eventually cured him. That vaidya was a Śrīkhaṇḍa-vāsī, coming from the lineage of Mahāprabhu’s devotees from Śrīkhaṇḍa. Śrīkhaṇḍa-vāsīs were renowned vaidyas and had amazing ways to cure patients. Mahāprabhu said that those who are mercifully treated for their illnesses by the residents of Śrīkhaṇḍa would be cured not only of their material disease but of the disease of material existence (bhava-roga) as well.
HIS STAY IN MĀYĀPURA
Śrīla Bhakti Vilāsa Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja later built a maṭha in Māyāpura called Rūpānuga Bhajana Āśrama. He also participated in the first Vraja-maṇḍala parikramā organized by Guru Mahārāja. When he was constructing his maṭha in Māyāpura, he wanted to locate his bhajana kuṭīra on the front side, which was next to the main road. His reasoning was that that way he would easily get darśana of devotees. However, I requested him not to do so and to build it on the back side instead, so as to avoid any disturbance while doing bhajana. In hindsight, he appreciated the recommendation later, saying, “I am glad I heeded your words. There is so much commotion on the front side due to the honking of vehicles and rikshaws; I would have never been able to do bhajana peacefully!” He lived an extremely renounced life. Day and night he would write scriptures and print them, all by himself. He printed a lot of valuable books.
He would serve the Deities of the maṭha himself, even in his old age. A brahmacārī from our maṭha would go to do the śriṅgāra of the Deities daily, after Śrīla Mahārāja’s sevā was done.

HIS UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION
[Śrīla Bhakti Vilāsa Bhāratī Gosvāmī Mahārāja was greatly inspired to retain the sanctity of Śrīdhāma Māyāpura, upon visiting which, many could benefit by witnessing its spiritually surcharged activities and atmosphere. It was the pioneering vision and outcome of years of intense labor of Śrīla Prabhupāda to reinstate Śrīdhāma Māyāpura to its original glory. After the departure of Śrīla Prabhupāda, as the glories of Śrīdhāma Māyāpura spread, many visitors including casual tourists started getting attracted, leading to an unwarranted increase in nuisance in the area.]

Śrīla Mahārāja labored hard to curb many such unwanted activities and disturbances in Māyāpura, like shops selling meat and materialistic people flooding the holy dhāma, equating it to an ordinary tourist destination. People would come and camp on the banks of the Ganges, carrying out illicit activities. There was one shop in particular named Gaurī-Śaṇkara which used to sell chicken. Śrīla Mahārāja objected - Why use Śiva and Pārvatī’s sacred names for such a profane business?
He filed a petition in the High Court to curtail such activities and ensured that the prohibition was sanctioned so as to stop allowing the holy dhāma to turn into another tourist destination for sense enjoyers. When the new restrictions were approved, all such tourists were barred entry to the sacred land of Māyāpura, 4-5 miles away from its boundary. He had gone to great lengths to specially solicit the assistance of the Delhi police force for this. That is why it is still written there, after you cross the railway line, ‘By the order of the High Court, it is prohibited to have picnics from here onwards.’ If anyone was suspected to be coming there for a picnic, with vessels and other paraphernalia, they would be taken for interrogation by the police guard who was always stationed there. Such was his niṣṭhā that he had vowed that – ‘As long as I live, I will not allow my Gurudeva’s holy land to be polluted by materialistic activities.’
It is remarkable how, many disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda served in multifarious ways and made such vital contributions.
[I beg for mercy at his lotus feet while remembering him on his appearance day today.]
Link for the article: https://www.visuddhacaitanyavani.com/single-post/2018/03/30/Srimad-Bhakti-Vilasa-Bharati-Gosvami-Maharaja

vamshi krishna-priya yasit sa vamshi-dasa-thakkurah

Vamshivadanananda Thakur was KrishnaÂ’s flute in Vraja.
(Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 179)

The gopis praised the good fortune of Krishna’s flute, for he was able to constantly drink the nectar of Krishna’s lips. Everything in Vraja is spiritual, i.e., conscious, and so the flute could take human form as Sri Vamshivadanananda Thakur. His life story has been recounted by his grandson, Shrivallabha Das, in the book Vamshi-vilasa. Other books which contain details of his life are Shripata-paryatana and Bhakti- ratnakara, and the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana also gives a brief biography.
Vamshivadanananda Thakur was known by five names in Gaudiya Vaishnava society: Vamshivadana, Vamshidas, Vamshi, Vadana, and Vadanananda. He was a well-known writer of devotional songs. His appearance took place on the day of the spring full moon (in the month of Chaitra) in either 1416 (according to Vamshi-shiksha) or 1427 of the Shaka era (1495 or 1506 AD.).
Vamshivadanananda’s Home in Nabadwip
In the Shripata-paryatana, the following information is given:
The two villages known as Kuliya and Pahariapura were side by side. Vamshivadana, Kavidatta and Saranga Thakur lived there. As the town grew, it was known as Kuliya Pahariapura.
Vamshivadanananda ThakurÂ’s home was in Koladvipa, i.e., the present-day town of Nabadwip which was formerly known as Kuliya Pahariapura. Kuliya had four neighborhoods known as Teghari, Bneciyaria, Bedariaparia and Cinedanga. Shrikara Cattopadhyaya came from Bilvagrama to live in Bneciyaria. Amongst the descendants of Shrikara Cattopadhyaya was Yudhishthira Cattopadhyaya who had three sons: Madhava Das (nicknamed Chakarii), Hari Das (Tinakarii) and Krishnasampatti (Dukarii) Cattopadhyaya. Chakarii Cattopadhyaya was VamshivadanaÂ’s father. His motherÂ’s name was Candrakala Devi. When Mahaprabhu passed through Kuliya on his trip through Bengal which ultimately ended at Kanair Natashala, he stayed at Chakarii CattopadhyayaÂ’s house for seven days. During this time he gave his blessings to all the residents of Nabadwip and in particular to Devananda Pandit. This information comes from Kavi KarnapuraÂ’s Chaitanya-candrodaya Nataka.
It is said that both Mahaprabhu and Advaita Acharya were present when Vamshivadanananda was born. After Mahaprabhu took sannyas, Vamshivadanananda was engaged as Sachi Mata and Vishnupriya’s servant and protector. When Srinivas Acharya came to Nabadwip to see the LordÂ’s family, Vamshi embraced him emotionally. This is described in the Bhakti-ratnakara:
Though he had not been introduced, Vamshivadanananda guessed that this must be Srinivas. He approached him and asked him who he was. Srinivas told him everything about himself. Vamshivadanananda embraced him and washed his body with his tears. Srinivas wanted to fall to the ground and pay obeisances to Vamshi Thakur, but Vamshi would not let him. He then went and told Vishnupriya Ishvari and Sachi Ma that Srinivas had come. (Bhakti-ratnakara 4.20-24)
Vamshivadanananda Thakur lived as a householder. He had two sons, Chaitanya Das and Nityananda Das. His deity’s name was Pranavallabha. Later, at Vishnupriya Devi’s request, he established the worship of the Mahaprabhu deity. He also worshiped the Gopinath deity of his forefathers. He spent the last part of life in his ancestral village of Bilvagrama. The Bhattacharyas of that village are said to be his descendants.
Ramai Thakur
Vamshivadanananda Thakur’s grandson, the son of Chaitanya Das, was named Sri Ramachandra or Ramai Thakur. He found deities of Rama and Krishna deities at Praskandana Tirtha in Vrindavan [FN: Praskandana Tirtha is the Yamuna ghata which is not far from Dvadashaditya Tila. It is said that when Krishna fought with Kaliya in the middle of the Yamuna, he caught cold in the water. When he came out, all the twelve Adityas appeared simultaneously and warmed him up. Krishna became so hot that he started to sweat. His sweat flowed down and merged with the water of the Yamuna at the place known as Praskandana Tirtha.] and then brought them to Baghna Paria in Burdwan district. They are known ar Sri-Rama-Kanai.
Vamshivadanananda ThakurÂ’s family received the mercy of Jahnava Thakurani. The following comment is found in the Gaudiya magazine (22.30-37):
A Song by Vamshivadanananda
The following is a song written by Vamshivadanananda Thakur:
ara na heriba prasara kapale alaka tilaka kaca
ara na heriba sonara kamale nayana khajana naca
ara na nacibe shrivasa mandire bhakata cataka laiya
ara na nacibe apanara ghare amara dekhiba caiya
ara ki duÂ’ bhai nimai nitai nacibe ek thai
nimai kariya phukari sadai nimai kothao nai
nidaya keshava bharati asiya mathaya pariila baja
gauranga sundara na dekhi kemane rahiba nadiya maja
keba hena jana anibe ekhana amara gauranga raya
shashurii vadhura rodana shuniya vamshi gariagarii jaya
No more will I see his broad forehead, decorated with tilaka and sandalwood dots; no more will I see his eyes dance like hummingbirds in the golden lotus of his face. No longer will he dance in SrivasaÂ’s house with his sparrow-like devotees; no more will he dance in his own home, while looking upon me.
Will Nimai and Nitai, those two divine brothers ever dance together again? I call out NimaiÂ’s name, but Nimai is nowhere to be seen.
The heartless Keshava Bharati came and threw a thunderbolt on all of our heads. How can we now stay in Nabadwip, now that we cannot see Gauranga here?
Who is there here who can now bring my Gauranga back?
When Vamshi hears his young wife and her mother-in-law crying, he rolls on the ground in his pain.
[Excerpted from “Sri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates” by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj]

BASANTI RAAS

-Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

[This is an excerpt from Chapter 4 of Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja's book, The Nectar of Govinda-lila. Please click to hear a lecture in honor of Balarama Rasa-yatra: https://soundcloud.com/srila-bv-narayan-maharaja/20080219-rainbowmountain-pm-eng-morningdarshan]

Now Jayadeva will begin describing the basanti-rasa: "My heart is palpitating, for I desire to write such a thing which in this life I have not written before, and which is not mentioned anywhere: that Krsna will fall at the feet of Radhika. We know it well, but Krsna is the Supreme Controller, the cause of all causes, and the original bhagavat-avatara. That He falls at the feet of His own potency who is the form of His dasi" I don't know if this is proper, but my heart is saying that without Krsna putting His head at Her feet, She will not be appeased! I don't know if I am able to write it."

Jayadeva goes on to describe that on the plains of Giriraja Govardhana, at Candra-sarovara, Candra remained throughout the whole of one of Brahma's nights. What is the duration of Brahma's night? Millions of yugas. In order to witness the rasa-lila he stayed there, so it is called Candra-sarovara.

In the spring season, all of the fruits and flowers in Vrndavana come out. The she-crow starts her ...ku-ku sound, the peacock starts his ...ke-kah sound, and it is as if the pigeons are playing the conchshell, making their ...ko-ko sounds. They are all making their own sounds, and collectively it sounds as if they are playing a sahanai. In this way all of the birds and animals become happy, and there is no one who is not dancing. Forming groups, Krsna and the gopis start dancing. All young unmarried girls are present there, and they had been waiting for one year. For dancing with Krsna, for meeting Krsna"for a whole year a fire of separation had been burning inside them. Not for themselves, not for lust, but for mitigating this separation.

For really becoming immersed in Krsna's rasa, one must enter into this poetry composed by Jayadeva Gosvami. Therefore, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, His heart full of rasa, at night would tell Svarupa Damodara, "Please recite Gita-govinda for Me." Hearing it, immediately His pleasure would increase. Svarupa Damodara would read precisely what Caitanya Mahaprabhu desired to hear. Sometimes it was the poetry of Jayadeva, sometimes Candidasa, sometimes Vidyapati, and sometimes he would read verses from the five chapters describing rasa in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

The gopis were clapping their hands as if they were karatalas, and they played drums, the vina and the sitara. It was divinely beautiful as the gopis played one raga after another. There are some melodies in which there is no rasa, so they played only the ragas that increased the rasa. Krsna sang in a very high pitch, and in different melodies. The gopis then sang one song in a higher pitch than Krsna. He wanted to sing higher, but couldn't, and He could only say, "Sadhu! Sadhu! (Very nice! Very nice!)" Krsna was dancing, and with Srimati Radhika, He danced with such speed and dexterity that He Himself was astonished, and He chanted, "Sadhu! Sadhu!"

With one gopi Krsna was holding hands, with another He was dancing by jumping up and down, another He was embracing, and another He was kissing on the hand. Sometimes, with His eyes half-open in great prema, He would look in the direction of a particular gopi. He would follow a certain rhythm of racing behind one gopi after another, and this is how vasanti-rasa is described.

In a fraction of a second, as short as the blink of the eyes, thousands more gopis arrived and started dancing. Radhika saw that at that time Krsna's parama-aisvarya sakti was not working; He had stopped it. Here He kept the cause behind pastimes, Yogamaya, separate from Him. He placed all of these potencies far away by telling them, "At this time you will not do anything; for now you just sit quietly and watch." In this lila of Krsna, everything was forgotten. Here, because aisvarya was not manifest, Krsna didn't know that "I am Bhagavan," and the gopis didn't know that "We are svari, we are the root of Yogamaya." All was forgotten.

After a little while, Radhika saw, "Krsna is a big cheater. He is cheating Me. He seems to be dancing only with Me, but actually He is dancing with everyone. Only because of His speed and dexterity does it seem that He is alone with Me."

Then Radhika exhibited some mana, jealous anger. If we feel this emotion, there is some selfishness in it, but in the hearts of devotees there is no selfishness. In Her heart there is never any envy, but even if there is some, it is only a transformation of prema and mahabhava. Don't consider this to be a deformation, but rather an aspect of Her variegatedness, Her speciality.

There is milk: add some sugar, and it becomes sweet. Mix a little kevra, then a little camphor and other things, and it becomes more and more sweet and tasteful. Like this Radhika has Her own uniqueness, and for making Krsna even happier, She exhibited some mana. She left the rasa and went to a kunja , but then what happened? Upon arriving there She thought, "Why did I leave Krsna's association? He didn't leave Me; I left Him. If there is any unfortunate woman, it is Me. There is no one as unfortunate as Me."

Meanwhile Krsna met one sakhi and requested her, "Please go to Radha and tell Her that Krsna is saying, ...I am very unhappy for You. In the future I will never do such a thing as I did again, and You will always be happy. Now You please forgive Me.'"

The sakhi went to Radhika and seeing Her condition said, "Why are You behaving like this? Leaving Krsna You came here. He tried to please You, but You wouldn't accept it, so why are You upset?" Just then Lalita appeared there and said, "Krsna is a liar! Don't trust Him! Don't ever reveal Your simplicity to Him! Remain crooked, otherwise You won't be able to have straightforward dealings with Him! He will never understand Your value, so always remain crooked."

The sakhi tried in may ways to pacify Radhika, but She would not be appeased. When the sakhi returned to Krsna and told Him this, He said, "Somehow I must appease Her." Then Krsna thought He would play a joke to appease Her. Pretending to be very unhappy, His face became withered and saying, "Now I am going!" He left there and hid in a nearby kusja. Then some sakhis followed behind Him whispering, "Where is He going? Let us see."

He entered a kunja and laid down amongst some large rocks. Seeing Him lie down, the sakhis returned to Srimati Radhika, Lalita, Visakha, and the others, and told them, "He has gone to a nearby kusja. Being very unhappy and in pain from Your separation, He was not able to go any further, and He has fallen asleep."

They said, "Where?" The sakhis then led Radhika and the others to the kun ja. They peered into the entrance of the kunja and saw that His face was covered. They couldn't tell if He was crying, or sleeping, or what He was doing. Then, moving closer, they saw that He was sleeping. His eyes were closed, and His face was a little covered. The gopis exchanged hand signals, because at that time, their supreme enemy, the flute, was hanging loosely in His hand! They thought that they should take it. They did not consider for a moment that they might be entering a trap, but just that they should take it.

Then Radhika said, "Yes, we should take it, but who will do it? Who will tie the bell around the cat's neck? Who will take the responsibility of snatching the flute from His hand? Friends, this is not a simple thing! His hand is like a snake. If someone approaches and tries to take the flute, the snake will bite him, give its ...poison', and it will never leave him! Therefore who will dare to try?"

All of them thought together, and concluded that it would not be possible for anyone except Srimati Radhika, so She said, "If all of you insist, then certainly I will try."

Very, very slowly, just as a cat does, She crept closer. Walking very slowly and stealthily, smiling slightly and watching Him, She went closer. But what was Krsna doing? He had heard everything that they had discussed amongst themselves, and feeling that He should enjoy Himself a little, He thought, "If Radha is to be appeased, there must be some direct conversation between Us. But there has not been such an opportunity. Therefore I will let the flute be taken, and then I will see how I can talk to Radha. I will ask each of them, ...Where did you put My flute?' and in the course of asking all of them, I will necessarily come to Radha, and then I will get the chance. It will be a moment of great happiness!"

Understanding everything, Krsna allowed His hand to become slack. Thinking Him to be asleep, slowly Radhika crept near to Him and saw that He was apparently deeply asleep. When someone is sleeping lightly, they can be easily awakened, but when someone is in deep sleep, you cannot easily awaken them. Krsna appeared to be sleeping like that. Quickly She snatched the flute from His hand, and at once the gopis ran from the kusja. As they were all running with their long hair swinging to and fro, Krsna opened His eyes, saying, "Hari, Hari...hey, where has My flute gone?" He ran outside the kunja and said to the gopis, "You have stolen My flute!"

He said to each gopi, "Did you take it?" until He came to Radha. She replied, "What will I do with this useless piece of bamboo? Yes, I took it, and I will burn it also! It is only one piece of bamboo. In our garden we have thousands of sticks of bamboo, so what is the big deal about only one piece of bamboo? You can come and cut thousands and take them!" In this way they were mutually joking, but they didn't realise that Krsna was knowingly joking with them.

Still Radhika was not appeased, although internally She desired to meet Krsna. He had already seen that sending a messenger would not do it, so what did He do next? He Himself expanded into Syamali Sakhi. Assuming a very beautiful form, she approached the gopis with a basket of flowers in her hand, and in a sweet voice called out, "By rendering service to someone, I will mitigate all of their distress and fatigue, and they will become very happy."

At that time Radhika and the sakhis were feeling fatigued and unhappy. Seeing Syamali, really Radhika did not recognise this sakhi as Krsna Himself, and Lalita, Visakha, and the others also did not recognise Him. When Krsna assumes another form, who will recognise Him? Even when an ordinary actor changes dress, we cannot understand who it is. For this purpose He employed Yogamaya, and therefore no one could recognise Him.

Syamali pleased Radhika by giving Her a flower garland which emanated a special fragrance. Radhika thought, "Where has this fragrance come from? Whose fragrance is this?" Knowing it to be related to Krsna, She was very pleased.

Syamali began saying to Radhika, "In this world, there is no one who is as kind, who has as many good qualities, who shows respect to everyone, who is as grateful, and who is as expert in all sixty-four arts as Krsna is. What to speak of just in Vrndavana, in the entire brahmanda there is no one equal to Him. And You? You have so many good qualities and You are so beautiful, so towards Him You should not commit any offence."

Praising Krsna like this, and praising Radha like this, Syamali proved that Krsna was not at fault. Radhika was fully appeased, and in the end for Her ultimate happiness, the final weapon was in His hand. Having returned to His original form, He said to Radhika, "In Me there is a fire of separation, and only the touch of Your feet can cool it. Therefore be merciful and decorate My head with Your feet, because by doing so You will also become happy."

Being pleased, Radhika said, "Now agree to one thing. The flower bracelets on My feet are broken; please rearrange them. And My hair plait has become loose; please tie it."

Seeing that He had followed Her every order, She thought, "He has obeyed all of My orders very nicely. He will never go to another gopi. Come, let there be rasa." At that time, the rasa-lila was performed at Candra-sarovara, and this is how vasanti-rasa is described in the Gita-govinda.

Although we don't have the qualification to engage in sravana and kirtana of this topic, in brief we have tried to describe this rasa and what sentiments of love came in it. Tasting and tasting this, just see how the condition of Mahaprabhu became! It was a wonderful thing! Svarupa Damodara and Raya Ramananda would describe it to Him. I am only an ordinary person full of anarthas, but in that place where Svarupa Damodara and Raya Ramananda are describing this, Krsna Himself, full of radha-bhava, will be there as a listener in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and He receives so much ananda from it. Therefore, we will silently remember this basanti-rasa, and when one day genuine spiritual greed arises in our hearts, we will be able to directly serve this rasa.

https://www.youtube.com/live/oIlfQa7Jdxg?si=PRCYKx6zjvCrHqcs

Sri Krishna’s Basanti Raas, Sri Baldev Ji’s Raasyatra -Sripad Sanjay Prabhu Ji

Today is the appearance day of Sri Srila Shyamananda Prabhu.

"Simply by accepting that the associates of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are eternally perfect one may attain the service of Krishna in Vrindavana."—Narottam Das Thakura.

Shri Shyamananda, Shrinvasa and Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura are all eternal associates of Shri Gaurasundara. For the purpose of preaching the holy message of Sri Caitanya all over the earth they appeared within this world.

Shri Shyamananda Prabhu was born in Utkala, in a place called Dharenda Bhadura Pura. His father's name was Shri Krishna Mandal. His mother's name was Shri Durika. Shri Krishna Mandal, who was in the dynasty of the Six Gopas, had sired many sons and daughters who had passed away before this son took his birth. Because of the great misfortune which had befallen his family, Shri Krishna Mandal named the boy Dukhi. Everyone said that the boy would become a great person, a Mahapurush. On an auspicious moment on the full moon day of the month of Caitra, he appeared within this world by the mercy of Lord Jagannatha. Because he had come to preach the glories of Jagannatha, the Lord Himself protected him as he grew up. The boy was so beautiful he was like cupd himself; all eyes were fixed upon him.

Gradually it was time for the child's "grain-eating ceremony" (that time at which a child is first offered solid food.), and soon after that he began going to school. Seeing the amazing brain this child had, the scholars were astonished. In a short time, the boy learned Sanskrit grammar, poetry, and rhetoric. And soon after this he began seriously studying the scriptures. Upon hearing the glories of Sri Caitanya and Nityananda from the mouths of the local devotees, the boy developed a powerful desire to take shelter at his lotus feet. His father, Shri Krishna Mandala, was a great devotee of Krishna. Seeing his son always engrossed in thoughts of Gaura-Nityananda, he told him to take mantra initiation.

The boy said, "Hriday Caitanya Prabhu is my guru, he lives in Ambika Kalna. His guru is Gauridas Pandit. Those two great brothers, Shri Gaura and Nityananda always reside in his home. If you give the order, I will go to him and become his disciples.

Shri Krishna Mandal said, "My boy! That is a long way away! How will you get there?"

Dukhi said, "Father, many people from here will soon go to Gauda-desh to bathe in the Ganges. When they go, I will go with them."

For a long time, his father thought this over, and finally gave his permission. After receiving the blessings of his father and mother he began his journey to Gaudadesh. Gradually he came to Nabadwip and Shantipur, and finally arrived in Ambika Kalna. Upon reaching Ambika Kalna, he began inquring from the local people where the house of Gauridas Pandit was. He paying his obeisances outside the temple of Sriman Mahaprabhu at the house of Gauridas Pandit. There he found Hridaya Caitanya Prabhu. Hridaya Caitanya, upon seeing the boy, said, "Who are you?"

Dukhi said, "I want to render service at your holy feet. I have come a long way—from Dharenda Vahadur Pura. I was born in the dynasty of the Six Gopas. My father's name is Krishna Mandal. My name is Dukhi."

Hridaya Caitanya was pleased with the sweet words of this young boy. He said, "From now on your name is Krishna Das."

From that day on, Shri Krishna Das assiduously served his guru. Shri Hridaya Chaitanya waited for an auspicious day and soon initiated him in the mantram. Krishna das soon became fixed in his service. Seeing Krishna das's determined service, his bhakti, and his deep intelligence and understanding, Hridaya Caitanya ordered him to go to Vrindavan to seek out Jiva Goswami. He ordered him to to study the scriptures of the Goswamis and their associates under the guidance of Jiva Goswami.

Shri Krishnadasa bowed his head and accepted his guru's order to leave for Vrindavan, and on an auspicious day, he began his journey. At that time, Shri Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu gave many messages to Krishna dasa to carry to the residents of Vrindavana. He requested him to communicate his dandavats and respects to the lotus feet of the six Goswamis. Dukhi Krishna das first went to Nabadwip Dhama. There he asked the local people where he could find the old house of Jagannatha Mishra, and if he might be allowed to enter that house. Arriving at the house of Sri Gauranga, he found Ishan Thakura and offered full obeisances and respectful prayers to him. Ishan was very old. He asked Krishnadas, "Who are you?" Krishnadas explained who he was. Hearing his story, Ishan bestowed his blessings upon Krishnadas. After spending a few days in Nabadwip, Krishnadas turned his sweet face towards Vrindavan and continued on his journey.

On his way he came to Gayadham to take darshan of the lotus feet of the Vishnu deity there, where Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had taken initiation from Ishvara Puri. Remembering how Ishvara Puri had given the mantra to the Lord, he became overwhelmed by ecstasy. After this, he went to Benares, Kashidhama. There he took darshan of the holy feet of Tapana Mishra, Chandrashekcara, and many other devotees, offering prayers and obeisances to all of them. They all bestowed innumerable blessings upon Krishnadasa, and he continued on his way to Mathura. After a long time, he finally entered Mathura. There he bathed in Vishrama-ghata, took darshan of the Adikeshava deity, and, upon visiting the place where Shri Krishna appeared within this world became choked up with prema. Thereafter he headed in the direction of Vrindavana.

After finding out the exact location of Shri Jiva Goswami's bhajan-kutir from the local people, he sought out Jiva Goswami. Arriving at his bhajan-kutir, he offered his dandavats and respects to Jiva Goswami. Jiva Goswami asked who he was, and Krishnadas told him everything. He explained how he was a disciple of Hridaya Caitanya, and how Hridaya-Caitanya had sent him to Jiva Goswami for instruction in the scriptures. Jiva Goswami had previously been told by Hridaya Caitanya, "I have a disciple named Dukhi Krishna Dasa. I am offering him to you. Teach him well in Krishna consciousness. When his mind is fixed in Krishna consciousness, after he has studied the scriptures carefully under guidance for some time, you may send him back to me."

Upon knowing that Dukhi Krishnadasa had been sent by Hridaya Caitanya to work under his direction, Shri Jiva Goswami was very happy. Krishnadasa was under his protection. Shri Krishna dasa carefully served Jiva Goswami and studied the scriptures of the Goswamis very seriously. At that time Shrinivas Acharya and Narottama das Thakura also came to study the Goswami scriptures under the authority of Jiva Goswami. Krishnadas would meet with them and study the scriptures together with Srinivasa Acharya and Narottama das Thakura.

Krishnadasa prayed for service that would bring him closer to Jiva Goswami. When Jiva Goswami saw this, he said with joy, "Every day you must draw some water from the Kanana-Kunja." From that day on, Dukhi Krishna das with great affection and eagerness would go to that Kunja to fill Jiva Goswami's waterpot. The opportunity to serve Jiva Goswami in this way gave Krishnadas's life new meaning. By drawing water for Jiva Goswami every day Krishnadas felt a transformation within himself. He would became joyful, and his eyes would fill with tears of ecstasy. Whenever he would hear the name of Radha and Govinda loudly chanted in kirtan and whenever he would remember their divine pastimes, he would become dumbstruck with wonder. From time to time he would notice a girl who seemed to be a beautiful princess drawing water from the same Kunja and carrying it on her head. Brahma and Siva would be enchanted by her beauty.

In this way, Dukhi Krishnadas continued his service of visiting the Kunja and drawing water for Jiva Goswami. His service certainly pleased the prince and princess of Vraja, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, so much so that they wanted to reveal themselves to Krishnadas. One day Krishnadasa was performing his regular duty of filling the waterpot from the Kunja. He was fully absorbed in the samadhi of Krishna prema. At that time he saw in the water beneath his pot a wonderfully shining bangle, an anklet. Upon seeing it he was astonished by its beauty and overwhelmed by transcendental ecstasy. He reached his hand within the waters of the Kunja and pulled out this unusual bangle. Touching it to his head, he felt a wave of transcendental ecstasy. Then, finding a piece of cloth that appeared to be the border of a woman's scarf attached to the bangle, he thought to seek out the owner of the bangle in order to return it.

In that place, that very morning, seeing that the bangle from the left foot of Shri Radha Thakurani was missing, her gopi friends were dumbstruck. Shri Radha Thakurani said, "Last night while I was dancing with Krishna by the side of the Kunja, the bangle must have fallen in the Kunja; go there, and after finding it bring it to me. Vishakha devi went to the banks of the Kunja and began searching and searching for the bangle. As she was searching, she came upon Dukhi Krishna das, who at that time was filling his water pot at the Kunja.

Vishakha devi asked him, "Have you found a bangle near here?" Dukhi Krishnadasa seeing this beautiful girl who appeared to be a goddess from heaven was dazzled by her brilliance. Hearing the ambrosial words from this immortal goddess, he was struck dumb with the ecstasy of love of Godhead. Vishakha devi again asked him, "Have you found a bangle near here?" Dukhi Krishna das humbly offered his respectful obeisances, and meekly said, "Yes, I have it. Please tell me, who are you? " Vishakha said, "I am the daughter of a gopa."

"Where do you live?"

"I live in this village."

"Is the bangle yours?"

"No, it's not mine. At my house there is a newly maried girl...."

"How was it lost here?"

"...Yesterday when she was picking flowers here at the Kunja, it somehow slipped off her foot and she lost her bangle in the water. I have come here to find her bangle. Wait here, and I will bring her to you."

A little while later, Shri Radha Thakurani came with Vishakhadevi and hid behind a tree. Vishakha devi said, "O devotee! She has come for her bangle." From a distance Dukhi Krishnadas could see the brilliant effulgence of the daughter of King Vrishabhanu, and felt as if his soul had been stolen from his body. In great transcendental bliss he gave the bangle to Vishakhadevi. At that time he had some intuition that a great mystery was being revealed to him. With his eyes fille dwith the tears of krishna prema, he fell to the ground and offered his prostrated obeisances in full submission. His voice was choked up in ecstasy. At that time Vishkaha devi said, "O best of the devotees, my girlfriend would very much like to show her gratitude by granting you a benediction. You may ask for whatever you want."

Dukhi Krishnadas replied, "There is nothing that I want; I only pray to take the dust of her lotus feet."

Vishakha devi replied, "Take bath in this K***a." Dukhi Krishnadasa went to bathe in the K***a, he offered his obeisances, and then, when he immersed himself in the water he assumed the form of a beautiful girl. Returning to Vishakhadevi, Dukhi Krishnadas offered respects to her. Vishakhadevi took brought this new gopi to Shri Radha Thakurani. The new gopi offered her obeisances in the dust of the lotus feet of Shri Radha. The sakhis seated the new gopi in their midst. At that time, Shri Radharani applied some kumkum to the bangle and made a tilak mark on the head of the new gopi, saying "This tilak must remain on your forehead. From this day on, your name will be Shyamananda. Now go." At this, Radha Thakurani, along with all her gopi friends vanished. Dukhi Krishnadas's samadhi broke. In the water he could see in his reflection the effulgent tilak mark the bangle had left on his forehead.

His heart was filled with wonder at the sight, and he thought to himself, "What have I seen!" Saying this, he began to weep with joy. Thereafter, offering hundreds and hundreds of prayers in the name of Shri Radha Thakurani, he returned to the lotus feet of Shri Jiva Goswami.

Seeing the new tilak mark that shined so brilliantly on the forehead of Dukhi Krishna das, Jiva Goswami was dumbstruck. He inquired as to its origin. Dukhi Krishna das bowed before his master and with his eyes filled with tears, he related the entire story to Jiva Goswami. Hearing this, Jiva Gsowami was supremely happy. He said, "Don't reveal the story of this miracle to the people in general." From this day on your name will be Shyamananda.

Noticing the change in Dukhi Krishnadas's name and tilak, the Vaishnava community began to talk about him. Gradually word reached Ambika Kalna in Gauda desh. Hearing that his disciple had changed his name and tilak, Hridaya Caitanya became angry. He quickly left for Vrindavana. When he arrived at the place where Krishnadas was staying, Krishnadas fell before his gurudev's lotus feet, offering his dandavats. Shri Hridaya Caitanya, seeing the new tilak on his disciple's forehead, became very angry and said, "Your conduct is abominable; you are disgracing me!" In this way he chastised Dukhi Krishna Das and struck him again and again as the Vaishnavas did their best to pacify Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu. Dukhi Krishna Das bore all his guru's chastisement with a cheerful face, for he knew that he had never left the service of his guru maharaja.

That night, Shri Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu had a dream in which he saw Shri Radha Thakurani. Shrimati Radharani scolded Hridaya Chaitanya, saying: "Because Shri Dukhi Krishna das has pleased me greatly I have given him this new name and tilak. Why have you instructed him differently?" Hridaya Chaitanya fell at the feet of the princess of Vraja praying for forgiveness, realizing that he had committed a great offense.

The next morning Shri Hridaya Chaitanya called Shyamananda Prabhu to his side and affectionately embraced him again and again. With tears of ecstasy in his eyes he told his disciple: "You are most fortunate." A few days later Shri Hridaya Chaitanya left Vrajadhama. A few days later, Jiva Goswami ordered Shyamananda Prabhu to return to Gauda Desh.

Shyamanda Prabhu, Shrinivasa Acharya, and Narottama das Thakura in great happiness had spent many days studying the Goswami scriptures under the tutelage of Shri Jiva Goswami and moving through Vrindavana as humble beggars, practicing Madhukari. These three devotees practiced their madhukari and performed their bhajan as one. In this way, they were very fixed and determined in their devotional service.

In this way, having been invited to do so by the goswamis the three of them went to preach the message of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu especially as found in scriptures of the Goswamis. One day, Jiva Goswami called the three of them together and let them know how to fulfill the will of the Goswamis. The three of them bowed their heads and receiving the orders of Jiva Goswami with great respect. After this, on an auspicious day, after seeing Jiva Goswami and having been entrusted by him with the scriptures of the Goswamis, the three of them started for Gauda-desh.

On the way, the King of Vanavishnupura, Birhambir had their scriptures stolen by some of his men. For the purpose of recovering the stolen scriptures, Srinivas Acharya stayed behind. Shri Narottam Thakura went on to Kheturigram and Shyamananda Prabhu returned to Ambika Kalna. Upon arriving in Ambika Kalna, Shyamananda Prabhu offered his respects at the lotus feet of Hridaya Chaitanya. The two of them embraced each other with great joy and affection, and Hridaya Chaitanya inquired after the welfare of the great devotees and goswamis in Vrindavan. Upon hearing of the theft of the Goswamis scriptures, Hridaya Chaitanya was deeply shocked and disappointed. Soon Shyamananda was once again offering serving the lotus feet of his gurudeva Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu. After a few days, Shyamananda Prabhu became completely absorbed in guruseva and his happiness grew day by day. Almost all of the personal associates of Shri Caitanya in Utkala desh had by that time one by one disappeared and entered into the unmanifest pastimes of the Lord. The preaching of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's message had almost disappeared. Shri Hridaya Chaitanya, upon hearing all this became especially concerned. At that time he ordered Shri Shyamananda Prabhu to go to Utkala desh and preach the message of the Goswamis and the teachings of Shri Chaitanya. As he was leaving his gurudeva behind, Shyamananda felt great pain within his heart. Understanding his heart, Hridaya Chaitanya called Shayamananda to him and made him understand his concern. Having no other course open to him, Shyamananda Prabhu left for Utkala taking his guru's orders on his head. On his way to Utkala, he passed his old village of Dharenda Bahadurpur. Seeing their own dear Dukhi returning home after having been gone for so long, the townspeople were extremely happy. For a few days he stayed there and preached the holy gospel of Shri Chaitanya. Many people heard him and were enchanted by him and took shelter at his lotus feet.

Thereafter he came to a town called Dandeshwar. There Shri Krishna Mandala had formerly lived. Shyamananda Prabhu blessed the town of Dandeshwar and the devotees who lived there by his holy association, to the extreme happiness of all of them. For many days he preached Harikatha and held a great festival there. Many people, upon hearing the divine message of Shyamananda Prabhu, were charmed by his saintliness and became his disciples. Finally, Shyamananda Prabhu arrived in Utkala, sanctifying the earth there with his holy presence and again he began preaching the message of Shri Chaitanya everywhere.

On the banks of the Suvarna-rekha river lived was a pious zamindar by the name of Shri Achyutadeva. Rasikananda was the name of his only son. From the time he was a little boy, he was a paragon of Krishna-bhakti. For the sake of his education his father had engaged some learned scholars to teach him. Rasikananda would study at the place of the Pandits. But he had no interest in wordly knowledge. In everything he would study he would find Hari-bhakti to be the ultimate conclusion. grew anxious to take shelter of the lotus feet of a Vaishnava guru. One day he was sitting alone, thinking. At that time he heard a divine voice say, "Rasikananda! Don't sit there brooding. Very soon a great devotee, a mahabhagavat named Shyamananda Prabhu will arrive here; go to him and take shelter of his lotus feet." Hearing that divine voice, he became somewhat encouraged. From that time on, he became very eager to see Shyamananda Prabhu and was always looking down the road for his arrival.

A few days later Shri Shyamananda Prabhu along with his disciples made his auspicious arrival at the house of Rasikananda dev in the village called Rohini on the banks of the Suvarna-rekha. Shri Rasikananda dev's bliss knew no bounds. He offered his full obeisances in a mood of great humility and took Shri Shyamananda Prabhu within his house, where he offered him the traditional puja, and made all his friends, relatives, and children surrender at Shyamananda's lotus feet. It was arranged that on an auspicious day, Shyamananda Prabhu would initiate Rasikananda dev Prabhu into the Radha-Krishna mantra.

They began the chanting of Hare Krishna in sankirtan in the home of deva with all the other devotees, inviting all the friends and relatives to take part. Everyone in the village engaged in Sankirtan-yajna, and took darshan of Shyamananda Prabhu. Amazed by his wonderful explanations of the message of Gaura-Nityananda, they all took shelter of his lotus feet. In this way, the town of Rohini had many disciples of Shri Shyamananda Prabhu.

In the town of Rohini was a big yogi named Damodara. One day he went to take darshan of Shri Shyamananda Prabhu. From a long way off he say a divine effulgence as bright as the sun emanated from Shyamananda Prabhu blinding his vision. Thereafter, as he approached that great acarya, he fell at his lotus feet and took shelter ther, offering many prayers in submission. Returning the respect shown to him by the yogi Shyamananda Prabhu with tears in his eyes, said, "If your holiness wishes to develop divine purity, please just always chant the holy names of Gaura and Nityananda. The Lord is supremely merciful. If you only do this, He will bestow Krishna-prema upon you. " Hearing what Shyamananda Prabhu had said, Yogi Damodara's heart melted. He replied, "If you will kindly give me your mercy, I shall worship the lotus feet of Gaura-Nityananda from now on." Shyamananda Prabhu gave the yogi his blessings, and bestowed his transcendental mercy upon him. Yogi Damodara became a great devotee of Shri Shri Gaura Nitai. He used to constantly chant the holy name of Gaura and Nityananda with tears of joy pouring from his eyes.

In Balaram Pura lived many rich people. Hearing the glories of Shyamananda Prabhu the people there became very anxious to see him. The pious, faithful, and saintly people there began to pray with great earnestness for Shyamananda Prabhu to come and visit Balaram Pura. Soon, Shyamananda Prabhu gave them his mercy. He promised to respond to the invitation. Not long after this, Shyamananda Prabhu arrived in Balarama Pura with adev and Yogi Damodara, as well as many of his other disciples and devotees. The ecstasy of the saintly persons in Balaram Pura was boundless. They offered puja to the lotus feet of Shyamananda Prabhu, and conducted their bhajan in a very beautiful way, observing all the proper rules and regulations of the shastras. A few days later they held a big kirtan and hari-katha festival in Balarama Pura. Many people came and surrendered at the lotus feet of Shri Shyamananda Prabhu.

After this Shyamananda Prabhu went to Nrishinga Pura. In Nrishinga Pura there was quite a large faction of atheists, agnostics, and blasphemers. After a few days, Shyamananda Prabhu held a sankirtan festival. The agnostics and atheistic pandits went to see Shyamananda Prabhu and listened to his sweet and nectarean explanations of Hari-katha. By hearing his words, their hearts were moved. They accepted the shelter of Shyamananda Prabhu's lotus feet.

Day after day the news of Shyamananda's glories reached Utkala. From Nrishinga Pura, Shyamananda Prabhu went to Shri Gopi Vallabha Pura. There many wealthy people lived. After taking darshan of his lotus feet, they were astonished. Almost all of them accepted shelter at the lotus feet of Shri Shyamananda Prabhu. They prayed at his feet that he might install some deities, that they may engage in deity worship. They begged him with great earnestness to do this. Soon thereafter, the devotees had established a temple of the Lord with a kirtan hall, a shelter for bhoga to be kept, and a special kitchen where the Lord's meals could be prepared, as well as an ashram where the deities servants could live, and a guest house for visiting Vaishnavas. Near the temple they also constructed a small pond and beautiful gardens. Soon thereafter a great festival was held, and at that time Shri Shyamananda Prabhu installed the deities: Radha Govinda. When the installation ceremonies and festival were concluded, Shyamananda Prabhu left for his hometown of Utkala. Seeing the charming beauty of the Radha-Govinda deities, everyone felt peace in their hearts. After Shyamananda Prabhu had left for Utkala, the residents of Gopi Vallabha Pura entrusted the responsibiity of service to the Deities to Rasikananda Prabhu.

Ariving in Utkala Pura, Shri Shyamananda Prabhu preached the message of Gaura Nityananda, and finally, returning to Ambika-Kalna, he payed his respects at the lotus feet of Shri Hridaya Chaitanya. Having offered his respects and prayers to Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu, he told him all about his successful preaching of the message of Gaura Nityananda throughout Utkala, Dandeshwar, Rohini, Balaram Pura, Nrishinga Pura, and Gopi Vallabha Pura. Hearing of the victories of his disciple, Shri Hridaya Chaitanya affectionately embraced Shyamananda Prabhu.

After some time Shri Shyamananda Prabhu was invited to the famous festival in Kheturigram, the birthplace of Narottam das Thakura. After getting this invitation, Shyamananda Prabhu, along with his disciples, set off in the direction of Kheturigram. After arriving in Kheturigram, he found his old lifelong friends, Narottam Thakura and Shrinivas Acharya. Heartily embracing one another they floated in the waves of happiness. At that festival, Jahnava Mata, Shri Raghunandan Thakura, Shri Achyutananda, and Shri Vrindavana Das Thakura, other eternal associates of Shri Gaurachandra, as well as many great souls and important devotees graced everyone there by their auspicious presence. When the festival had come to an end, Shri Shyamananda Prabhu bade farewell to all the assembled devotees and again turned his face in the direction of Utkala in order to make his return journey.

On his way back to Gauda Desh, he stopped off in the town of Kanthak Nagara at the house of Gadadhara Das Thakur, in Yajigrama at the house of Shrinivas Acharya, and in Shri Khanda at the house of Raghunandana Thakura. After this time, many of the eternal associates of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu passed away from this earth and entered into the eternal unmanifest pastimes of the Lord.

After some time, Shyamananda reached Utkala. Moving from one devotee's house to the next, he went from one town to the next, and graced many devotees with his blessings. Soon he arrived in Shri Gopi Vallabha Pura. At this time he heard news of the passing away of his guru, Shri Hridaya Chaitanya. Hearing this tragic news, Shri Shyamananda Prabhu fainted. After regaining consciousness he wept and wept for a long time. He fell into a state of complete anxiety, disappointement and bewilderment. That night, however, he had a dream of Hridaya Chaitanya, and was encouraged by him to preach.

From Utkala desh, the glories of Shyamananda Prabhu were preached to the four directions. As a result of his influence the constant worship and service of Gaura and Nityananda was established far and wide. Rasikananda, Shri Murari, Radhananda, Purushottama, Manohara, Cintamani, Balabhadra, Shri Jagadishvara, Gadadhara, Anandananda and Shri Radha Mohan and others were the dearmost confidential disciples of Shyamananda Prabhu.

Shrila Shymananda Prabhu, having been successful in his many preaching campaigns returned to Gopi Vallabha Pura, and there, after some days a big festival took place. After that, in the month of Asarh, on the day of Krishnapratipada the great acharya, Shyamananda Prabhu entered into the eternal lila of the Lord. His samadhi may be found in Gopi Vallabha Pura, where the service of his deity goes on to this day.