Appearance day of Lord Balarama, 28. August 2007.

Lord Balarama

 

Who is Lord Balarama?

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of

all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are both one

and the same identity. They differ only in form. Balarama is the

first bodily expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna's

transcendental pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual

world and is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master.

 

He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He Himself helps

in the pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in

four other forms called the catur-vyuha (four armed) forms known as

Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Anirudha. He executes the orders

of Lord Krishna in the work of creation, and in the form of Lord Sesa

He serves Sri Krishna in various ways. In all the forms He tastes the

transcendental bliss of serving Krishna. No one can approach Krishna

without first getting the mercy of Baladeva.

 

Descent of Balarama

Whenever Krishna appears in the material world, He is accompanied by

His associates and paraphernalia. Five thousand years ago when

Krishna descended into the material world, He was first preceded by

Baladeva. Only after Baladeva give His mercy did Krishna descend,

such is the intimate relationship between Krishna and Baladeva.

 

When Baladeva appeared as the seventh child in the womb of Devaki,

she could understand that this was a divine child and this made her

all the more concerned about His safety. Even Kamsa could sense His

potency and he became fearful, thinking he may have been tricked by

the prophecy that he will be slain only by the eight child of Devaki.

At this time Krishna instructed Yogamaya, His internal potency, to

transfer the unborn child from the womb of Devaki to that of Rohini,

one of the other wives of Vasudeva, who was hiding from Kamsa in the

house of Nanda Maharaja in Gokul.

 

In this way Balarama was born in Gokul under the protection of Nanda

Maharaja. Garga Muni the venerable kulguru (family priest) of the

Yadu dynasty revealed to Rohini that the child she was carrying was

indeed that of her husband Vasudeva. At the time of the name-giving

ceremony he named the child Rama, one who gives all pleasures.

Referring to the immense strength of the child, Garga Muni predicted

that He will also be known as Balarama (bala meaning strength). Since

He was forcibly attracted from the womb of Devaki to that of Rohini,

He was also be called Sankarshana. As the son of Rohini He was known

as Rohini-nandan and as the elder brother of Krishna He was also

called Douji.

 

The form of Lord Balarama

Powerful Lord Balarama is sixteen years old, full of the luster of

youth and has a fair complexion the color of crystal. He wears blue

garments and a garland of forest flowers. His handsome hair is tied

in a graceful topknot. Splendid earrings adorn His ears and His neck

is splendidly decorated with garlands of flowers and strings of

jewels. Splendid armlets and bracelets ornament Douji's graceful and

very strong arms and His feet are decorated with splendid jeweled

anklets.

 

Lord Balarama's beauty is enhanced by the earrings touching His

cheeks. His face is decorated with tilaka made from musk, and His

broad chest is ornamented with a garland of gunja. Balarama's voice

is very grave and His arms are very long, touching His thighs

 

The splendor of Lord Balarama's transcendental form eclipses many

millions of glistening rising moons, and the slightest scent of His

boundless strength is sufficient to destroy many armies of demons.

Although He knows the supernatural power of His younger brother,

Krishna, still, out of love for Him, He never leaves Krishna alone in

the forest even for a moment. Balarama is Sri Krishna's dearest

friend and is a great reservoir of the nectar mellows of many kinds

of transcendental pastimes.

 

Specific Pastimes of Lord Balarama

 

Balarama slays Dhenukasura

Dhenukasura was a powerful demon who had assumed the form of an ass.

With his demon friends he was occupying Talavana, one of the twelve

forests of Vrindavana. Out of fear of these demons no one could

approach Talavana and enjoy the numerous flowers and fruits in the

forest. Balarama, induced by His cowherd friends, entered the forest

desiring to kill the demons. He began shaking the fruit trees, making

a big noise. Dhenuka, furious at the intrusion, attacked Balarama

with his rear legs, but Balarama easily picked him up by his legs and

whirled him around until he died. As the other demon friends of

Dhenuka rushed to attack, Krishna and Balarama picked them up and

threw them on trees, killing them. Soon the forest was free of all

demons, and it appeared that the bent trees were being directed by

Balarama to pay obeisances to Krishna.

 

Balarama kills Pralambasura

Once when Krishna and Balarama were playing with the cowherd boys, a

demon named Pralamba entered their midst, disguised as a cowherd boy.

Understanding the invincible potency of Krishna, he instead decided

to abduct Balarama. At the end of the game, as the losing party he

was supposed to carry Balarama on his shoulders. Carrying the Lord on

his shoulders he ran swiftly, but Balarama realizing the true

identity of demon began to make himself heavier and heavier. Unable

to bear the weight, the demon assumed his original form which was

like a huge dark effulgent cloud, decorated with golden ornaments.

Balarama then bought His fist down the head of the demon splitting it

into two and causing him to give up his life.

 

Balarama glorified by Krishna

As the elder brother of Krishna, Balarama was the object of His love

and respect. Once when walking in the forest of Vrindavana, Krishna

observed the trees bending down as if paying obeisances. He glorified

the lotus feet of Balarama as being the object of devotion even for

the demigods. He said that the trees, which were impersonalists in

previous life times, witnessing the personal form of Balarama were

now praying for His devotion. At other times when Balarama would get

tired by playing, He would lie down the lap of one of the cowherd

boys and Krishna would personally massage His feet, fan Him and give

Him service. Such was the sweet reciprocation of love between Krishna

and Balarama.

 

Yamuna devi chastised

Once Lord Balarama, Who was at the time living in Dwarka, came back

to stay in Vrindavana for two months. At this time He enjoyed

pastimes with His gopi friends (who were different from the gopis of

Krishna). Enjoying such pastimes on the bank of Yamuna at Rama-ghata,

the Lord summoned Yamuna so that He could sport in the waters. When

Yamuna devi did not respond. Lord Balarama took up His favorite

weapon, His plow, and began to drag Yamuna in a hundred streams.

Understanding the position of Balarama, Yamuna devi personally

appeared and offered her obeisances to the Lord with many prayers in

His glorification. Thus appeased the Lord entered and bathed in the

waters of the river.

 

Kauravas chastised

Samba, the darling son of Jambavati and Krishna, kidnapped Laksmana

the daughter of Duryodhana from the assembly were she was supposed to

choose her husband. The furious Kauravas after a prolonged fight,

finally arrested Samba by sending in six of their greatest warriors.

When the Yadavas heard of this they prepared for battle but Lord

Balarama pacified them, preferring to find a peaceful solution.

However when He requested the Kauravas to return Samba and Laksmana,

the Kauravas responded by insulting Him and the Yadava dynasty.

Understanding them to be ignorant in their false prestige, Balarama

took His plow and began to drag Hastinapura into the Ganges. The

terrified Kauravas now surrendered to the lotus feet of Balarama,

begging for His mercy. They immediately returned Samba and Laksmana

and had them married ceremoniously with many opulent gifts.

 

Balarama marries Revati

In Satya yuga there was a King named Raivata whose daughter Revati

was excellent in all respects. Unable to find a match suitable for

her, the king took her to the court of Brahma for his advise. After

waiting for some time when the king met with Brahma, he was shocked

to learn that in the short time he spent in the Brahmaloka, millions

of years had already passed on Earth and at the time Dvapara yuga was

concluding. However Lord Brahma informed King Raivata that present at

this time was Lord Balarama Who was more than qualified to be the

husband of Revati.

 

King Raivata returned and approached Balarama to accept Revati as His

wife. However Revati belonged to an earlier yuga when people were

much larger physically. So Lord Balarama placed His plow on her head

until she shrunk to an appropriate size and accepted her as His wife.

 

Balarama and Mahabharata

In general Balarama was equally affectionate to both the Pandavas and

the Kauravas. He accepted both Duryodhana and Bhima as His disciples

in the art of mace-war. As a teacher He appreciated the superior

technique of Duryodhana as opposed to the raw strength of Bhima. At

the time of Mahabharata, He refused to take sides and instead went on

an extended pilgrimage to the holy places. In the battle between

Bhima and Duryodhana, He became angry at Bhima for killing Duryodhana

by trickery, but was appeased by Sri Krishna.

Killing of Romaharshana

Towards the end of Dvapara yuga thousands of sages assembled on the

banks of Naimyasharana to perform a thousand year yajna in an effort

to reverse the onset of Kali yuga. They appointed as their leader

Romaharshana, one of the main disciple of Vyasadeva, who was also

present when Sukadeva Goswami narrated Srimad Bhagavatam to King

Parikshit.

 

When Lord Balarama entered the assembly, understanding Him to be the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, all present rose to offer Him

respect. However Romaharshana, proud at occupying the position of the

leader did not get up. Lord Balarama could understand that even

though Romaharshana was a an expert Vedantist, he had not yet

realized these teachings. Considering him unqualified to lead the

ceremony, Balarama touched him with a blade of grass causing him to

die. He then instituted Suta, the son of Romaharshana as the leader

of the assembly and continued with His pilgrimage.

 

Mercy of Lord Balarama

Lord Balarama exemplifies the service attitude to Krishna. His only

mission is to please Krishna by rendering service to Him, whether it

is in the creation of the material worlds, maintaining the spiritual

world or as His personal paraphernalia.

 

Lord Balarama is the eternal companion of Sri Krishna. He came as

Lakshmana with Rama and later as Nityananda Prabhu with Caitanya

Mahaprabhu. He is the original spiritual master, and any one desiring

to make spiritual progress must first get the mercy of Lord Balarama.

 

 

Reference : Srimad Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto.

 

Balarama

Over five thousand years ago today, Lord Balarama appeared in this

world in the town of Gokula. Because he was drawn from Devaki's to

Rohini's womb, He became known as Lord Sankarsana and because of His

strength, He is known as Lord Balarama. Just as Lord Krishna appeared

only after Lord Balarama, similarly one requires Lord Krishna's mercy

only after attaining the mercy of Lord Balarama. Only by His

strength, can one attain any type of self- realization.

All glories to Lord Balarama!

 

Chant the Balarama Pranams everyday!

 

 

namas te halagraha

namas te musalayudha

namas te revati-kanta

namas te bhakta-vatsala

 

namas te dharani-dhara

namas te balanam srestha

pralambare namas te 'stu

ehi mam krsna-purvaja

 

 

The following section is from

" The Life and Legacy of Sripad Ananda Tirtha - Madhwacarya "

 

The following incident happend when Sripad Madhwacharya was embraced

by Srila Vyasadev. First of all he began to remember all of the

wonderful pastimes of the Lord, Who in His literary incarnation now

stood before him, beginning with Matsya, Hayagreeva, Narasimha,

Varahadev, and so on.

 

Remembering Sri Sri Krsna - Balaram.

Sripad Madhwacarya, being in the mixed 'rasa' or mellows of

devotional friendship and service, then meditated on his worshipful

Friends and Lords, Krsna and Balarama.

As Hanuman, the 'avatar' of Mukhyaprana, perfectly performed

devotional service in the 'dasya rasa' or devotional service in

servitude and in the incarnation as Bhima, his mood was that of

fraternal love. This group is usually divided into four. (1) well

wishers, (2) friends, (3) confidential friends, (4) intimate friends,

and the group is called 'vayasyas' (friends).

The fraternal 'rasa' has some light shed upon it, by the

following statements: " When there is full knowledge of Krsna's

superiority and yet in dealings with Him on friendly terms

respectfulness in completely absent, that stage is called affection.

There is one brilliant example of this affection. When the demigods,

headed by Lord Shiva, were offering prayers to Krsna describing the

glorious opulences of the Lord, Krsna's friend in Vrindavan stood

before Him with his hand of His shoulders and brushed the dust from

His peacock feather.

When the Pandavas were banished by Duryodhana and forced to

live incognito in the forest, no-one could trace out where they were

staying. At that time, the great sage Narada Muni met Lord Krsna and

said, " My dear Mukunda, although You are the Supreme Personality of

Godhead, the all powerful person, by making friendship with You the

Pandavas have become bereft of their legitimate right to the kingdom

of the world - and moreover, they are now living in the forest

incognito. Sometimes they must work as ordinary laborers in someone

else's house. These symptoms appear to be very inauspicious

materially, but the beauty is that, the Pandavas have not lost their

faith and love for You, in spite of all these tribulations. In fact,

they are always thinking of You and chanting Your name in ecstatic

friendship. "

Another example of freidnship may be given again described by

Narada Muni, who reminded Krsna thus: " When Arjuna was learning the

art of shooting arrows, he could not see You for so many days. But

when You arrived there, he stopped all his activities and immediately

embrassed You. " (Bhaktirasamrta Sindhu, Nectar of Devotion).

Mostly the 'rasa' or mood of Sripad Madhwacarya follows the

'dasya rasa'. The devotees of the Lord in servitude are divided into

four classes: (1) appointed servants - (This is how the third

incarnation of Vayu came to take up these wonderful pastimes.) Others

such as Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva, who are appointed to control over

the material modes of passion and ignorance. (2) Devotees in

servitude who are protected by the Lord. (3) Devotees who are always

associates. (4) Devotees who are simply following in the footsteps of

the Lord. To more or lesser degrees all these four apply to Madhwa

but 'adhikrta-devata' - appointed servants specifically covers the

pastimes of our hero.

In these moods of servitude and friendship Sripad Madhwacarya

stood before his Friend and Lord and remembered the unlimited

pastimes of Lord Sri Krsna. When He, the Original Supreme Personality

of Godhead Himself, appeared in Sri Vrndavan Dhama in His original

form and expansion, Sri Sri Krsna and Balarama, the divine cowherd

boys, Mukhyaprana was preparing to make his second incarnation into

the Yadu dynasty as Bhima.

Once Bhumidevi (the goddess of the earth) assumed the form of

a cow and took shelter of Lord Brahma. She humbly begged for relief,

the whole earth is in a mixed up condition. Everyone is distressed

due to the presence of so many demoniac kings. Hearing the

distressful condition, Lord Brahma, Mother Bhumi and many other

demigods, approached Lord Visnu on His island Swetadvipa. Standing on

the shore of the milk ocean they told their woeful tale. Lord Visnu

instructed those devas there to go and take their births on earth in

the Yadu dynasty. He said at that time I will come in My original two-

armed form along with My transcendental brother and sister and will

be knows as Krsna, Balarama and Yogamaya. In these forms We will kill

the demons, protect the devotees, and have unlimited pastimes for the

pleasure of the devotees.

In the Yadu dynasty at that time was the king named Surasena

who had a son named Vasudeva. Another Yadu king by the name Ugrasena

had a beautiful daughter called Devaki. After some time Vasudeva and

Devaki were married. Devaki had an evil brother by the name Kamsa,

and that Kamsa, after the wedding, drove Vasudeva's and Devaki's

wedding chariot to their home. However, in mid journey, suddenly from

the sky came a prophetic voice saying, " Kamsa you are a fool. The

eighth son of your sister Devaki, whose chariot you now drive, will

kill you. " Without a second thought Kamsa grabbed Devaki by the hair

and raised his sword to kill her. Vasudeva promising that he

personally would present any children they may have, first to Kamsa,

and so there is no need to worry for now, as we don't have any

children, and when we do we will give them to you. So don't kill your

sister Devaki on her wedding day.

Kamsa imprisoned his father, sister and brother-in-law to be

sure of Vasudeva's promise being kept. The transcendental devotee

Narada Muni then appeared before Kamsa at the arrival of the first

child and told Kamsa that now Krsna's friends, the demigods, are

lying in wait, taking births in the families of Nanda Maharaja, his

wives, and the cowherd men of Vraja. In this was Narada escalated the

advent of Krsna. As each child was born, the was presented to Kamsa

who, with rage, smashed them one by one to the ground and killed

them.

Formerly an 'asura' named Kalanemi had six sons, named Hamsa,

Suikrama, Kratha, Damana, Ripurmardana and Krodhahanta. They were

known as 'sad-garbhas', or six 'garbhas', and they were all equally

powerful and expert in military affairs. These 'sad-garbhas' gave up

the association of Hiranyakasipu, their grandfather, and underwent

great austerities to satisfy Lord Brahma, who, upon being satisfied,

agreed to give them whatever benediction they might desire. When

asked by Lord Brahma to state what they wanted, the sad-garbhas

replied, " Dear Brahma, if you want to give us a benediction, give us

the blessing that we will not be killed by any demigod, 'maha-roga',

'yaksa', 'gandharva-pati', 'siddha', 'carana' or human being, nor by

great sages who are perfect in their penances and austerities. "

Brahma understood their purpose and fulfilled their desire. But when

Hiranyakasipu came to know of these events, he was very angry at his

grandsons. " You have given up my association and have gone to worship

Brahma, " he said, " ....And therefore I no longer have any affection

for you. You tried to save yourselves from the hands of demigods, but

I curse you in this way; Your father will take birth as Kamsa and

kill all of you because you will take birth as the sons of

Devaki. " (Sripad Vijayadhwaj Tirtha. Srimad Bhagavatam 10:1:69.).

The arrogant Kamsa then had himself installed as King. Soon

came the time of Devaki's seventh baby. This child was non other than

Lord Balarama, but as the child was born, Yogamaya took the child and

placed him safely with Rohini in the house of Nanda and Yasodamayi,

and news spread that Devaki has miscarried.

When news reached Kamsa's ears that Devaki was pregnant for

the eighth time, Kamsa changed extraordinarily. He became completely

paranoid for the child that would kill him was now in the womb. In an

adverse way Kamsa performed devotional service, always being absorbed

in thoughts of Krsna. When he slept he dreamt of Krsna, whilst

eating, working, walking, talking, sitting, he couldn't spend a

moment without thoughts of Krsna, but those thoughts were not at all

favourable. Kamsa feared for his life, knowing his arch enemy was

there, the child that would kill him.

Narada Muni reassured Devaki that Kamsa would not kill this

child, and that Krsna is coming just to kill the demons so that the

devotees may live in the world peacefully.

All kinds of auspicious omens were seen all around prior to

Krsna's appearance, and in the heavens the all-auspicious 'nakshatra'

of Rohini welcomed the Lord to begin His pastimes. Rivers ran clear

and full with pure water, lakes were full with full blown pink, blue

and white lotuses, all the birds and animals of the forests were

singing in great delight., and the soft breezes carried the

fragrances of aromatic flowers in all directions. 'Gandharvas' and

'Kinnaras' began to sing, and the 'Siddhas' and 'Caranas' offered

prayers in beautiful unison. The 'Apsaras' began their heavenly

dances and the great sages, 'Rshis' and all the demigods showered

flowers from the skies.

Them just after midnight as the constellation ('nakshatra')

Rohini moved into position a great storm came. The four-armed form of

Lord Visnu then appeared before the beautiful Devaki. Devaki, who for

some time was covered by Krsna' internal potency, thought that this

was like a normal birth, and thought that only due to the trauma of

the birth she didn't remember the actual birth. But the Lord appeared

fully adorned with jewels and looking very beautiful. Vasudeva saw

his son first with four arms carrying conch, club, disc and lotus,

surrounded by a glistening effulgence within the prison cell, with

the Srivatsa mark of Laxmi devi on His chest and Kaustubha mani

around His neck, and dressed in yellow silken cloth.

Krsna then told Vasudeva to take Him out of the prison and go

to Gokul and exchange Krsna with the girl child just born to Mother

Yashoda. Turning Himself into what seemed to be an ordinary baby,

Vasudeva carried his newborn son out of the prison. The prison guards

were unusually all sleeping and all the doors miraculously opened to

allow baby Krsna, carried by Vasudeva, to go out.

The night was dark as it was the eighth day of the fortnight

of the waning moon (Krsna paksa) and the sky was full of rain clouds.

Thunder and rain of monsoon time made the Yamuna River fill it's

banks with turbulent water and the wind whipped up the waves. Thus

due to the rainy season the Yamuna was impossible to cross. But now

effulgent baby Krsna suddenly manifested his divine umbrella, Ananta

Sesa, which, with His many snake like hoods, gave shelter to Krsna

and His devotee Vasudeva. As they approached the Yamuna River again,

suddenly miracles started to happen, and despite the rough and deep

waters, Vasudeva, carrying baby Krsna, walked across the Yamuna and

over to the house of Nanda Maharaja. Picking up her girl child, he

again crossed the Yamuna and back to the prison.

In the morning the guards told Kamsa about the sounds of a baby

crying in the prison, and Kamsa came down to investigate. Devaki

begged Kamsa not to kill her child, as it was a girl and the

prediction was that her eighth son would kill him. The cruel demon

Kamsa was just about the dash the child to the ground when the baby

flew up into the air and manifested herself as Durga. In her eight

arms she carried all kinds of weapons - a bow, spear, sword, club,

shield, arrows, conch and disc. Dressed in fine ornaments and

exquisite garments and surrounded by devas, Durga addressed Kamsa,

" So you think you can kill me. You cannot. The child who will kill

you however has already been born before me somewhere else. Now don't

be cruel to your sister, Devaki, " and disappeared. Kamsa was now

petrified, and begged Vasudeva and Devaki for forgiveness for killing

their six children, but by the next day his normal demoniac nature

was back. Kamsa then ordered his men to kill every child born in the

last ten days.

In the meantime in Nanda Maharaja's house, the

'Nandotsava' (birthday ceremony) of Lord Krsna was performed. Nanda

Maharaja and the local cowherds people, the elderly 'gopis', and the

young 'gopis', all assembled there along with pure hearted 'brahmins'

including Gargamuni. After the 'abhisheka' bathing ceremony of baby

Krsna, and after all the well wishers had came and presented so many

nice present for Krsna, Gargamuni cast an astrological chart to see

the nature of the child. Gargamuni was astounded. This is no ordinary

child. This is the Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu. But in their

parental love, Nanda and Yasoda overlooked this face and gave

abundances of well decorated cows, grains and golden ornaments to all

who came to invoke their blessing upon the child.

Afterwards there was a sumptuous feast, for any 'samskara' is

not complete without 'daksina' given to the 'Vaisnava brahmins', and

distribution of 'prasadams'. The Nanda and Yasodamayi performed

'nyasa', touching Krsna's transcendental body and praying to the

Supreme Personality of Godhead to protect each of His limbs and thus

protect completely " their child " .

At this time Lord Balarama was also growing up in the house

of Nanda Maharaja but as the son of Mother Rohini. Nanda Maharaja

then asked Garga muni to perform a secret 'nama karana' (name giving

ceremony.) Garga muni told that Rohini's son, who has a whitish

complexion will be called Rama because he is so pleasing, and he will

be called Balarama because of his strength. The other boy who is

actual the son of Devaki, will be known as Syama for His blackish

complexion and Krsna for His all attractiveness, and by some he will

be known as Vasudeva, the son of Vasudeva. This child will grow in

power, beauty and opulence, being the Personality of Godhead.

Kamsa sent all kinds of demons in many varieties of disguises

to try to kill Krsna, one in particular was the evil witch Putana.

She would take babies and smearing her motherly nipples with poison,

would push them into her victim's mouth and kill them. Assuming a

very beautiful form, Putana approached the house of Nanda Maharaja.

Seeing baby Krsna, she placed Him upon her lap and pushed her

poisoned nipple into Krsna's mouth. Krsna accepted this motherly

service that she rendered, but as well as sucking the witches breast

milk, Krsna sucked out her very life air. As Putana screaming gave

up her life, she returned to her ugly and huge form, but Krsna just

played of her dead body. Because of her contact with Krsna, when all

the inhabitants of Vraja burned up her body, there was a very

pleasant smell.

Krsna and Balarama used to crawl and play with the cows,

holding onto their tails until eventually the cows would run off with

the boys holding the cow's tails. In this way they would enjoy a ride

as they ran off through the cow dung. This used to amuse everyone

watching the transcendental brothers playing just like cheeky, funny

boys.

Kamsa would periodically send his friends who were all demons

to try and cause harm to baby Krsna and Balarama. But Krsna, the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, even though appearing as a small

baby, finished the demons easily.

Once a whirl wind demon Trnavarta came and tried to take

Krsna away by force, but little Krsna suddenly became heavier and

heavier until Trnavarta felt Krsna to be like a mountain. Krsna

grabbed the demob by the neck and choked him, and Trnavarta's eyes

popped out of their sockets as he screamed in agony his last breath.

When Krsna and Balarama had started walking around, they

would go to the houses of the 'gopis' every morning before the cows

had been milked and would release all the calves. Each calf would

immediately run to their respective mother and drink all the milk.

When the 'gopis' would come to milk the cows there was no milk, and

so they would go to complain to Mother Yashoda. On other occasions

Krsna and Balaram and some of their cowherd friends would go to the

cool store room where the gopis would have their yogurt hanging ready

to prepare into butter. Krsna and Balarama would take that yogurt and

butter and sit and eat it directly from the pots. Other times they

would feed their remnants to the monkeys and then break the pots.

When the 'gopis' would catch them, They would just smile charmingly.

These boys are so transcendentally cheeky.

Another time some of Krsna's friends headed by Balarama told

Mother Yashoda that Krsna had eaten earth. Krsna complained that they

were just trying to get him into trouble, but Mother Yashoda insisted

on looking in Krsna's mouth. Opening his lotus mouth, Mother Yashoda

saw the entire universe, planets, mountains, oceans, everything and

even herself sitting with Krsna on her lap looking into his mouth.

Stunned, by her parental love, she gave Krsna a big hug and a kiss.

Once the two sons of the demigod Kuvera, Nalakuvera and

Manigriva, were enjoying in Lord Shiva's garden next to the Mandakini

River, otherwise known as the Ganges. They were naked and intoxicated

and playing like elephants they splashed and frolicked in the waters

accompanied by naked women. Suddenly the great staunch devotee Narada

Muni came by. The intoxicated sons of Kuvera didn't even bother to

try to cover themselves, or pay any respect to Narada. To teach them

a lesson Narada cursed them to stand naked as trees in the garden of

Nanda Maharaja for 36,000 years until Krsna would free them.

It so happened that one day when Mother Yashoda was making

butter in the kitchen, baby Krsna being hungry, climbed upon her lap

to drink her breast milk. Remembering she had left the milk on the

stove which by now was ready to boil, over, Mother Yashoda put Krsna

down and ran off to the kitchen.

Krsna, who hadn't finished drinking, was so angry. He broke a

pot of butter and started to eat the contents. When Mother Yashoda

returned to find the broken pot, she took a stick and went to find

her rascal son Krsna.

Here Mother Yashoda is going to bind Krsna. It is not that

Krsna is unhappy, He is feeling happy. It is a pleasure for Krsna to

be bound by the ropes of love by his pure devotee. It is not that

anyone can chastize the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna but He

is taking pleasure in being chastized by Mother Yashoda.

When she finally caught Krsna, she tried to bind him with

rope, but every tope she tried to bind him with was two inches too

short. Even all joined together it was two inches too short. Krsna,

withholding His mercy, not allowing himself to be bound, was one inch

and the other inch was the love and endeavour of His devotee, mother

Yashoda. Finally when Mother Yashoda was at her wits end, in

desperation she prayed to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

Narayana, then that same Supreme Person in the form of her child

bestowed His mercy upon Mother Yashoda and allowed Himself to be

bound by her ropes of love.

When Mother Yashoda left that place leaving Krsna tied to the

grinding mortar, Krsna, to fulfil the curse of Narada, dragged the

mortar into the garden and between the twin Arjuna trees. As Krsna

crawled between the two trees the mortar became stuck. Krsna pulled

harder and the trees came smashing down to the ground. As the trees

broke, the two devas came out. Yes, it was the now repentant sons of

Kuvera, Nalakuvera and Manigriva, and they offered prayers to Krsna.

Sometimes at the house of Nanda Maharaja different sales

people would come by selling their wares as is the nature of village

life. On one such occasion a fruit selling lady came by with a big

basket of fruits. When Krsna saw her and the fruits, He took a

handful of rice and approached the lady to purchase fruits. The fruit

lady was so taken back by this beautifully decorated and charming boy

that she gave him his required fruits. As she piled Krsna up with

fruits, and watched the little boy waddle away dropping an occasional

fruit here and there, she laughed. Looking back to her basket, she

saw that the remaining fruits that she had turned into priceless

jewels. Krsna had rewarded the fruit lady for her unmotivated,

unexpectant service to Him.

On another day Krsna and Balarama were playing on the banks

of the Yamuna when Mother Rohini (Balarama's mother) called them for

their lunch. Nanda Maharaja was waiting to take, and wouldn't start

without the whole family there. Mother Yashoda stayed, and Rohini

went back to the house. Mother Yashoda scolded the and told them to

get home immediately. Yashoda Mayi finally got the boys home. They

were both covered in dust and dirt, so she gave them both a good

bath, redressed them nicely with ornaments and jewels. Then the

'brahmins' came to receive charity for the occasion of Janmasthami

(Krsna's birthday). As is Vedic culture, one should give in charity

on one's birthday and not expect returns.

Sometimes Krsna and Balarama and their friends would play

near Govardhana Hill. They would go there on carts with all the

residents of Vrndavan in a very festive mood, blowing conches and

horns. Krsna and Balarama themselves would take care of small calves,

and with their friends and calves they would all play in the fields.

Sometimes they played on their flutes and other times they played

ball with bitter tasting 'amalaki' fruits, or covered themselves with

the calves blankets and pretended to be bulls. Whilst they were

playing like this, one day a demon by the name of Vatsasura came and

turned himself into a calf and mingled with the other calves, waiting

to attack Krsna and Balarama, but the divine brothers had their own

plan. Instead they sneaked up on Vatsasura and Krsna caught the calf-

demon by it's back legs and threw him high into a tree, and the demon

fell down dead.

When once Krsna and Balarama and their friends were at the

Yamuna River with the calves, they saw what looked like a huge duck.

Yes, this was another demon sent by the evil Kamsa to kill Krsna. The

demon attacked and even swallowed Krsna. Krsna became so hot like the

sun in the throat of the demon that the demon released Him. Krsna

then grabbed the demon's beak and as one would split a piece of

grass, Krsna tore the demon Bakasura's beaks wide open and killed

him.

One day the younger brother of Putana witch and the duck

demon Baka came by with a plan to eat Krsna, Balarama and their

friends. Assuming the form of a gigantic snake, he opened his mouth

like a huge cave. At first the boys thought it was a statue, but they

could see it moving and smell the fishy smell of it's liver on the

demon's breath. This demon's name was Aghasura. Suddenly all the

cowherd boys began to climb up over his big lips past his teeth and

into the cave-like mouth to explore the inside. Krsna and Balaram

also climbed in much to the dismay of the demigods who had gathered

there to see the boys play. Then Krsna began to grow bigger and

bigger until finally he choked the demon to death. After the death of

Aghasura the boys used to play on the gigantic body without fear,

knowing that Krsna had killed him.

One time Krsna and Balarama and their friends, being desirous

of enjoying the succulent fruits of the Talavana Forest, made plans

to go there. However, some of the boys tried to warn Krsna and

Balarama that there was a herd of donkey demons who stayed in that

forest headed by Dhenukasura, and so it is not safe to go there.

Krsna and Balarama who had dealt with so many demons, were not

perturbed. The fruits in Talavana Forest were all ripe and juicy but

were all high up in the trees. When Dhenukasura and his ass-like

friends came, Krsna and Balarama caught hold of the demons and began

throwing them up into the trees, thus killing the demons, and

knocking down all the nice fruits.

In the summertime the boys and the cows would go down to the

Yamuna River and take a break from the heat of the day. But for some

time now another demon of the name Kaliya had taken his residence

just down stream from the area known as Raman Reti or shimmering

sands. He was a big black snake with many many heads and hoods. Due

to his presence, the waters of the Yamuna in that area had become

dirty, black and poisonous. On these hot days the cow herd boys

normally would go to the Yamuna and drink also, but upon drinking

this time, they became sick and then died. Only Krsna could bring

them back to life by His glance. Krsna didn't like his friends to be

caused suffering in this way, so He climbed up a big Kadamba tree and

in a fighting mood, jumped into the murky waters. After attracting

the Kaliya serpent, Krsna sported with Him for some time. Finally

Krsna made his transcendental body bigger and bigger, until finally

He took hold of the demon's hoods and began to dance, pushing down

with Supreme pleasure. Kaliya began to vomit all kinds of bad things

and even his own blood. As Krsna danced, he kicked the demon with His

lotus feet. Kaliya was now almost dead because of associating

unfavourably with Krsna, the Nagapatnis (wives of Kaliya) appealed

for the life of their husband. Krsna then sent the demon away from

that place in the Yamuna to where he now resides, in the south

Pacific Ocean near Fiji. Krsna said that Garuda will not bother you

if you go there immediately.

The daily pastimes of Krsna and Balarama are too numerous to

even comprehend, what to speak of tell. Even Sesa Naga (Ananta Deva),

Who has unlimited heads, possessing ears and mouths, is still in a

transcendentally frustrated condition, for even though with His

unlimited eyes and mouths he is neither capable of hearing nor

reciting the oh, too numerous, wonderful pastimes of the Lord.

Krsna and Balarama and the cowherd boys love to wrestle

together. Sometimes they would pick sides, and on some days some of

the boys were on Krsna's side and on some days they were on

Balarama's side. One day while they played like this, the demon

Pralambasura joined in. He took the disguise of a cowherd boy. Krsna,

the knower of all activities and the performers thereof in the past,

present and future, knew this cowherd boy was a demon in disguise. On

this particular day Balarama's team were the winners and so Krsna's

team had to carry them on their shoulders. As they walked in this way

through the forest, Pralambasura who was carrying Lord Balarama,

carried Balarama far away. Suddenly the ferocious demon assumed his

normal horrific size and shape. Lord Balaram, who is known for his

superhuman strength, with a couple of good punches from his fists

which are soft like lotuses and powerful like thunder bolts, killed

the demon, blood pouring from Pralamba's mouth.

Krsna, the transcendental cupid, always attracts the gopis

and teases them, in fact, he gets them in such a state that they can

never forget him for even a second. Their surrender to Krsna is

completely selfless as one can see by the incident of when Krsna said

He had a headache. He approached the 'brahmanas' and asked for the

dust from their feet, for Krsna told them by taking their foot dust

his headache would be cured. The 'brahmins' flatly refused, saying

that they would go to hell never to return for such an offence of

allowing their foot dust to be placed upon Krsna's head. However when

the 'gopis' headed by Srimati Radharani were asked for their foot

dust without a second thought they gave, for they didn't care even if

they went to hell eternally, as long as Krsna was happy.

The 'brahmanas' over attachment to rules and regulation in

this incident proved their reservation to be a limitation in actual

service to the Lord. This is in the same way that other brahmanas who

were worshipping the Lord within the sacrificial fire could not see

the Lord directly before them asking for alms. But when Krsna and His

cowherd friends approached the wives of the 'brahmanas', who were

pure devotees they gave so much foodstuffs for the boys.

Too much attachment to rules and regulations becomes an

obstacle to approaching Lord Krsna, and neglectfulness to follow

guidelines for acknowledging who is the personality of Godhead, and

what He looks like are also a problem. One cannot whimsically

speculate what Krsna wants or how to please Him. Appearing as a small

boy with His brother, cowherd friends and girl friends, the 'gopis',

many persons did not recognise Krsna for who He is due to one reason

or another. Those pure Vaisnavas who know what He and His friends

look like, how to recognise them are constantly engaged in hearing,

chanting, remembering Him, offering prayers, etc, and serving him

with their every action.

As we can see by Sripad Madhwacarya's life he is one of those

pure unalloyed devotees of the Lord, for if he were not the, the

incarnations and wonderful pastimes of Lord Krsna would not be

manifesting themselves before his eyes. Nor would he be there before

Srila Vyasadeva in the presence of Nara-Narayana Rshis.

Note: Sri Narayana Panditacarya in his Madhwa Vijaya (9:41-

43.) when Udupi Krsna came refers to Him as 'Gopikapranayinah

Sripateh' and 'Nanadanandamatindrayakriam'. Madhwa's God is the Boy-

Krishna and object of all-affection. The lover conception of God as

the lover of the 'Gopis' although not held as their main object of

devotion, seems to have been present nonetheless, unlike today.

" This Darling conception of God has found its best expression

in Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraj states, 'All 'Gopis'

help to enhance the pleasure of Lord Krishna's Sports with Sri Radha

being the instruments of their (Radha and Krishna's) mutual

enjoyment, Radha being the darling of Lord Krishna and His life's

treasure, no maiden or Gopi conduces to His Pleasure with

Radha'. " (Caitanya Caritamrta. Adi lila. 4:217-218.; Sambidananda

dasa. 1991. The History & Literature of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas and

their relation to other medieval Vaishnava Schools.page 107-108.)

If one shows that, Krsna can put his faith in a person,

knowing that the person will not exploit the situation for mundane

sensual pleasures, either mental, bodily, or extended through family

or national, humanitarian, etc, the Lord will give that pure devotee

the three worlds for he will only use it for the Lord's pleasure.

Nanda Maharaja and the cowherds men were preparing to worship

Indra the demigod in charge of distribution of rainfall. Being of the

mercantile community for the growth of their crops, and grass for

their cows, rain is very important. Krsna, however, was not impressed

by the worship separately of demigods. He told Nanda Maharaja to

instead worship the local brahmanas and Govardhana Hill and forget

worshipping Indra. Agreeing to this, the cowherd men arranged for all

kinds of fabulous foodstuffs to be cooked and offered to Govardhana

Hill. There were many nice vegetable preparations, juicy, fried and

dry cooked with spices, all kinds of rice, 'dahls', 'pakora',

'puris', 'chapattis' and other breads. There was 'sujika halavah',

sweet balls, 'sandesh', 'barfi', sweets in syrups like 'gulab

jamens', 'rasagulla', dry sweets like 'laddhus', 'methipak' etc., all

kinds of nice preparations from scriptural recipes and local

traditions.

The 'brahmins' chanted the glories of the Lord through choice

hymns from the scriptures. The cows were nicely decorated with

embroidered blankets, painted hoofs and horns, gold, silver, brass

and copper ornaments adorned their bodies, and they were fed with

unlimited juicy green grasses and other favourites of theirs.

'Daksina' was given to the 'brahmanas' comprising of gold

coins, grains, cows and cloth, and every man, woman, child and animal

was fed with nice 'prasadam'. The 'gopis' were all dressed nicely and

decorated with nice ornaments, their long hair nicely plaited and

bound at the end with flowers, so they looked very chaste and pure,

sitting upon bullock carts chanting the glories of Lord Sri Krsna.

During all this Lord Krsna, who was about seven years old,

suddenly turned himself into a gigantic form of Govardhana Hill and

He firmly stated that he is non-different from that Govardhana Hill.

The Lord in His transcendental form, began to eat all of the

foodstuffs offered at that place. Who can understand the wonderful

pastimes and forms of the unlimited omnipotent Lord, Who has assumed

the form of a small boy, though. He is the origin of everything that

be.

When Lord Indra found out what had happened, in foolish anger he

ordered his 'samvartaka' clouds to rain over Vrndavan and flood

everything and in this way punish the residents of Vrndavan for not

supplying the regular yearly offering. Krsna out of compassion for

his dear devotees, lifted the whole Govardhana Hill, which is very

high and many miles around, just as though this huge hill was a mere

frogs' umbrella (toadstool). Krsna held Govardhana Hill for seven

days on the little (pinkie) finger of his left hand.

Indra could now understand that he had gotten carried away by

the modes of passion and ignorance, and so he came before Krsna to

beg forgiveness. After this King Indra, the demigods, and the Surabhi

cows worshipped Krsna, bathing him with Ganges (Yamuna) water and

fresh milk from the wish fulfilling Surabhi cows. Now Krsna is

remembered as Giri Govardhana, and is worshipped in the form of

Govardhana Hill.

Once, midway through the period of dusk, Krsna was about to

engage in a 'rasa' dance with the cowherd girls when suddenly the

Aristasura demon (bull demon) madly entered the village of Gokula,

terrifying everyone. His roar was so frightening and tumultuous that

pregnant mothers, cows and humans had miscarriages immediately. Krsna

verbally chastised this bull demon, which made him more angry. Krsna

stated that He was here just to punish wicked rascals like

Aristasura. He provoked the demon into a charge, pointing the sharp

tips of his horns straight ahead and gearing with anger from his

bloodshot eyes, Aristasura tried to pierce Krsna. Krsna however

grabbed the demon by the horns and threw him back eighteen paces.

Enraged, the bull charged again, breathing heard and sweating. He was

determined to finish the eternal Lord. As Aristasura attacked Krsna

grabbed the demon by the horns and smashed Arista to the ground with

His foot. The He thrashed him as a washerman thrashes the dirt out of

a wet cloth. Finally Krsna broke off the demon's horns and pulverised

Aristasura with them. Vomiting blood and passing stool and urine,

kicking his legs in agony and rolling his eyes, Aristasura painfully

gave up his life. Meanwhile the demigods showered flowers upon Lord

Krsna.

After Krsna killed Aristasura, Narada Muni went to speak to

Kamsa, Krsna's evil demon uncle. Narada told Kamsa the real course of

events, how Krsna is really the son of Devaki, and that Yashoda Mayi

really had a girl and was swapped over by Vasudeva. Also that

Balarama is the son of Rohini, and that out of fear of Kamsa's

vengeance Vasudeva entrusting the transcendental boys to Nanda

Maharaja. Thus accelerating the coming pastimes of the Lord. Narada

Muni emphasised that these are the same boys who have killed all the

demons that you Kamsa have sent.

Kamsa then sent the Keshi demon to try to kill both Krsna and

Balarama. Arranging with the innocent devotee Akrura, Krsna sent

Akrura to Vrndavan to fetch Krsna and Balaram to Mathura. Kamsa's

plan was simply to arrange for his asuric friends to try to kill

Krsna and Balaram, and then to rule the world. When the Keshi demon

arrived in the form of a gigantic horse, his loud neighing terrified

all the inhabitants of Vrindavana, who all took shelter of Krsna. The

bold Keshi demon came and approached Krsna and tried to attack with

his front legs, but in a fatal swoop, Krsna grabbed the demon's legs

and whirled the demon around and around several times, and threw the

horse demon three hundred metres or so. The demons lay half

unconscious for some time, the Krsna, noticing the demon regaining

consciousness, jumped on him, and thrust his left arm into the

demons' mouth. The demon tried to bit it, but Krsna simply expanded

it more and more, finally choking Keshi into an agonising death.

Krsna then calmly removed His arm from the dead demon's mouth.

Soon after this Narada Muni, the sage among the demigods,

came and offered respects to Krsna, glorifying the Lord's future

pastimes.

One day not long after, while Krsna and Balarama were tending

the cows, a game of hide and seek came about in which all the boys

were so absorbed. Some were playing sheep, some shepherds, and some

as thieves who steal sheep. A demon called Vyomasura assumed the form

of a boy and taking advantage of the game, stole away five of Krsna's

friends. The demon then secured them in a mountain cave and blocked

the entrance with a big rock. Lord Krsna saw what Vyomasura was

doing, and just as a lion grabs a wolf, Krsna forcefully grabbed the

demon as he tried to steal away more boys. The Vyomasura demon then

changed into his normal terrifying ugly form, as big as a mountain.

Krsna, being the strength of the strong, withdrew the strength of the

demon as he held Vyomasura in a death grip. He then smashed him to

the ground and strangled the foolish servant of Kamsa.

Krsna and Balarama then nicely received their uncle Akrura,

and prepared to go to Mathura to take up the 'invitation' of Kamsa.

All the young 'gopis' were extremely upset to hear that their life

and soul, Sri Sri Krsna and Balaram, were going to leave Vrndavan.

The 'gopis' condemned Lord Brahma for making eyes that blinked for

during that blinking action the were without Krsna for a second. But

now Akrura, which literally means 'not cruel' was the cause of Krsna

and Balarama going away, and repeatedly they said Akrura was not

worthy of such a name. As the 'gopis' wept pitifully, Krsna assured

them that He would be back soon. With their minds fixed in thought of

Krsna and Balarama, the 'gopis' stood and watched as the chariot

given by Kamsa, the flag on top and the dust of the chariot's wheels

on the road disappeared out of sight. Then in despondency they

wandered back to their individual homes.

Krsna, Balarama and Akrura reached Mathura late in the

afternoon. After Krsna and Balarama met with Nanda Maharaja. Akrura

went home with Krsna's blessings. He then informed Kamsa of Krsna and

Balarama's arrival in Mathura. The boys, wanting to see the opulent

city of Mathura, then entered further into the city on the King's

road. Festoons, full water pots, banana trees, gems of all sizes

decorated the city. Grains were scattered here and there, flower

garlands were hanging here and there, all kinds of natural opulence's

auspiciously adorned the city. As the boys and their friends entered

the city many women climbed to the roof tops to see Krsna and

Balarama. The ladies were is such haste to see their Lordships that

forgetting themselves, some of them put their clothes and ornaments

on backwards, others forgot one of their earrings or ankle bells,

while others applied make up to one eye forgetting the other one.

Abandoning family gatherings, their meals and those breast feeding

mothers even abandoned their suckling babes to see Krsna.

The Lord, smiling, walked like a bold bill elephant, dressed

nicely. He was a festival for the eyes of the ladies of Mathura, who

had gathered there with melting hearts to see Him. The women rained

flowers upon the boys who, without a doubt, are the Supreme Lords of

the three worlds.

Seeing a washerman approaching who had been dyeing clothes,

Krsna asked the washerman to give some of these nice clothes in

charity by which Krsna would bless the washerman with His mercy. But

this washerman was the arrogant servant of King Kamsa, and was

carrying the King's cloth. The washerman foolishly started to insult

Krsna and Balarama, suggesting that they were being impudent for

asking for the King's cloth. Krsna, with the greatest of ease, lopped

off the sinful rascal washerman's head with the touch of his finger.

Seeing this, the washerman's associates dropped their bundles and ran

for their lives. Krsna and Balarama then dressed themselves nicely in

the opulent clothes and then distributed the rest to all their

friends, the cowherd from Vrindavan. Those that they had no need for,

they simply left scattered on the ground.

As Krsna and Balarama and Their friends walked the streets,

various person brought many auspicious items for their Lordships,

such as garlands, perfumes, pan, etc, and thus received Krsna's

benedictions.

Krsna enquired from the local people as to the whereabouts of

the sacrificial arena where the bow sacrifice would take place. When

Krsna walked into the arena and saw the most opulent bow given to

Kamsa by Lord Shiva, even though it was huge and guarded by a large

company of men, Krsna pushed His way forward and effortlessly picked

it up, strung it, and broke it in a fraction of a second. Kamsa was

struck with terror and instructed his men to grab Krsna and Balarama

and kill them. Krsna and Balarama picked up the two halves of the

mighty bow and started killing hundreds of the soldiers who tried to

attack them. As the sun began to set on that day, Krsna and Balarama

returned to the cowherd's wagons on the edge of town.

Kamsa couldn't sleep that night as all kinds of inauspicious

omen were seen by him. Kamsa was terrified by the prospect of his own

death which he knew was imminent.

The next day was the day of the wrestling match. Worshipping

the arena and giving special seats to himself and other provincial

rulers, Kamsa took his seat though his weakened heart trembled. Then

the lavishly dressed and extremely proud wrestlers entered the arena

to the sound of loud horns and drums, announcing their presence. The

King's powerful wrestlers Canura, Mustika, Kuta, Sala and Tosala sat

down on the wrestling mats. Kamsa called forward the leaders of the

community of Vraja (Vrindavan) to present their offerings before him

now. Kamsa then spoke with Nanda Maharaja and pointed out how Kamsa

had arranged this whole wrestling match because he had heard that the

boys of Nanda Maharaja were supposed to be powerful. But where are

they now? Out of disrespect for Kamsa, Krsna and Balarama had decided

to neglect Kamsa's arrangements and go and do something else,

elsewhere.

The next morning Krsna killed the elephant demon

Kuvalayapida. That elephant, on the orders of the mahoot (keeper),

grabbed Krsna in his trunk, but Krsna then disappeared from the

demoniac elephant's sight and stood behind the animal's back legs.

The elephant again tried to capture Krsna in playful torment, but

Krsna escaped. Then Krsna seized the elephant, ripped out one of his

tusks, and began to beat both the keeper and the elephant until they

were dead. Then, sprinkled with the blood of the elephant and holding

one tusk in His hand, Krsna appeared decorated in this unique way at

the wrestling arena.

In different relationships, the different persons assembled

there saw Krsna in different ways. The wrestlers in fury saw Krsna as

a lightning bolt. The men of Mathura saw Krsna in wonder as the best

of all males, the women folk saw Krsna as Cupid personified, and the

cowherd men as their funny friend and relative. The Kings assembled

there saw Krsna as the chivalrous chastiser, and His parents as their

merciful child. Kamsa, the king of the Bhoja dynasty, saw Krsna as

death personified. The unintelligent there saw in ghastliness, the

Lord of His universal form, and the 'yogis', out of peaceful

neutrality saw the Lord as the absolute truth. The Vrsnis, in love

and devotion, saw Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their

Supreme worshipful Deity.

Out of envy and fury Canura challenged Krsna to a wrestling

match, not being able to bear the praises of the public upon the two

transcendental brothers. Canura revealed his envy for Krsna and

Balarama when the boys said that they are just young boys and should

play with boys of their own age. Many of the public also felt like

this, that it was an uneven match, but Canura revealed his hate for

Krsna, saying, " You aren't really a child or even a young man and

neither is Balarama, the strongest of the strong. After all,

playfully You have killed so many of our men, including the elephant

who had the strength of a thousand elephants. Therefore I, Canura,

will fight with You and Balaram with Mustika. "

Krsna fought with Canura, seizing each other's hands, locking

legs, Canura struggled for victory. Fist against fist, knee to knee,

the fight went on, running, dragging in circles, shoving, throwing

this way and that, until finally Krsna had played enough. He then

grabbed Canura's arms and whirled the demon around several times

before smashing him to the ground dead. Mustika found himself in a

similar situation. After bring stuck repeatedly by the supreme

powerful palm of Lord Balarama, Mustika vomited blood, and fell down

dead. The remaining wrestlers fled for their lives.

To congratulate the victorious Krsna and Balarama, all their

friends came and joined them. Everyone was chanting and dancing, and

their ankle bells made a wonderful musical accompaniment. Everyone

except Kamsa that is rejoiced at the killing of the wrestlers. Kamsa

told his remaining men to, " Drive the two wicked sons of Vasudeva out

of Mathura, confiscate the cowherd's property and arrest Nanda

Maharaja. Kill Vasudeva and his father and their followers, our

enemies. " Hearing this nonsense, Krsna approached Kamsa as death

personified. Kamsa took up a shield and sword but was disarmed by

Krsna, Who was unarmed Himself, in seconds. Then, as Garuda might

capture an insignificant snake, Krsna grabbed Kamsa by the hair,

knocked off his crown, and dragged him by the hair into the arena.

Straddling Kamsa's chest as one straddles a horse. Krsna then

repeatedly pounded Kamsa again and again until Kamsa finally gave up

his miserable life.

Witnessing Kamsa's death, his eight younger brothers then

attacked Krsna, but Balarama killed them one after another with

Kuvalayapida's broken elephant tusk. Kettle drums resounded and the

'devas' rained flower petals upon the Lord.

As part of the celebrations Vasudeva arranged for his boys to

be given Their sacred threads in the 'Upanayana' ceremony which was

conducted by the saintly 'brahmana' Gargamuni. Soon after this Krsna

and Balarama went to Avantipur to the place of Their spiritual

master, Sandipani Mani.

Krsna and Balarama themselves are the origins of all branches

of knowledge, yet they concealed their perfect knowledge by

performing their wonderful pastimes with Their human-like forms and

activities. They resided with Sandipani Muni, Their spiritual master,

in the 'Guru-Kula', and under the care of Their 'guru', Krsna and

Balarama studied just like ordinary boys the Vedas and Upanishad's.

In fact, sixty four arts in as many days all were perfected and

understood by the boys, and after this They gave 'guru daksina' to

Sandipani Muni.

Traditionally when one's education is complete, one gives

charity in the form of 'daksina', remuneration for all that was

taught. Sandipani Muni's son had died earlier, so Sandipani Muni

asked as his 'daksina' that his son be returned to him. Bringing him

from the place of Yamaraja, the 'gurus' son was returned by Krsna,

fulfilling the 'guru daksina' as requested. Thus receiving the

permission of Sandipani Muni, the 'boys' Krsna and Balarama,

graduated and returned to Mathura.

Around this time and after the disappearance of Maharaja

Pandu, Dhrtarastra assumed the royal throne. Krsna and Balarama sent

messages to Dhrtarastra asking him to remain fair to the sons of

Pandu or face hell as the consequences.

Shortly after this Krsna and Balarama went to see Jarasandha

and they defeated the demoniac brother-in-law of Kamsa seventeen

times. After all, it was not that Krsna and Balarama had done any

wrong to this demon, but Jarasandha had attacked Mathura repeatedly

with the intent of killing every last man there. One night Lord Sri

Krsna suddenly removed, unnoticed, all the citizens of Mathura in

their sleep. When they awoke in the morning they were surprised to

find that they were sitting with their wives and families in golden

palaces in the city of Dwaraka. Krsna then returned to Mathura to

find the city under siege by another demon. Krsna killed the army and

made off back to Dwaraka with all of the booty the army had collected

in the form of gold and jewels. Then Jarasandha arrived. Krsna and

Balarama left the booty and acting as if afraid, ran to the big

Pravarsana mountain and climbed to the top. Jarasandha, thinking they

had hidden in a cave, set fire to the whole mountain, but with ease

Krsna and Balarama jumped ninety miles from the top of the mountain

to the ground unharmed. Then they returned to Dwaraka, and Jarasandha

though he had burned the boys to death. So thinking, he happily

returned to his kingdom.

Dwaraka, before the advent of Krsna and Balarama, was known as

Kusasthali, and was ruled over by one great king of the name Revata.

Maharaja Revata had one hundred sons and a beautiful daughter named

Revati. When this beautiful girl came of age, Revata, being anxious

to find a good husband for her, approached Lord Brahma, who presides

over sacred vivahas (marriage ceremonies), for advice, along with

Revati. Lord Brahma told Revata that there was only one person

befitting his daughter and that was the son of Vasudeva, the

Personality of Godhead, Lord Balarama. The king, on the good advice

of Lord Brahma, returned to Dwaraka and married his daughter to

Balarama. Also at this time Krsna married Maharaja Bhismaka's

daughter Rukmini. Maharaj Bhismaka had five sons and one daughter of

lovely countenance. One of these sons felt envy towards Krsna. This

was Rukmi. He was opposed to the marriage of Rukmini and Krsna as he

preferred her to marry the envious demon Sisupala.

Rukmini devi also wanted to marry Krsna. Sometimes she would send

letters to Krsna saying how he and only He (Krsna) was the one for

her. Rukmini planned how she would get her Lord, and in her letters

she told Krsna how and when to kidnap her, as was the tradition in

many a royal wedding.

All of those kings who envied Krsna were to be there for the

wedding of Sisupala and Rukmini, as arranged by Rukmi. Sisupala,

Dantavakra, Jarasandha, Salva and other demons were all present. Much

politics there ensued. Sisupala wanted Rukmini and so had brought his

friends to guarantee getting his bride. Lord Balarama, hearing of

this, had his whole army move into position at Kundinapur.

The night before the wedding, Rukmini felt auspicious

twitching in her left side, giving her solace not to be in anxiety.

The next day, as she approached the Durga temple surrounded by guards

and her suitors, Rukmini paid respects to Durga devi, turned, and

there she noticed Krsna. Krsna then took her away from that place as

a lion takes his rightful share from a pack of jackals. All the low

class demoniac kings had no chance of coming within so much as a hope

of stopping Krsna. Thus physically and morally defeated, they all

condemned themselves. Rukmi alone attacked Krsna, but was defeated.

Instead of killing Rukmi, Krsna cut off half of Rukmi's moustache and

a bit here and there from his hair. He looked a sight. This was worse

than death. Lord Balarama then allowed Rukmi to be set free. Krsna

and Rukmini returned to his capital of Dwaraka, and married with

great pomp. Everyone is Dwaraka was very happy to see Krsna with his

new Queen, Rukmini.

There too, was a king of the name Satrajit, who had received

the 'Syamantaka' gem from the sun god. He used to wear that gem in a

locket around his neck. By the worship of that gem daily, the

'Syamantaka' gem produced one hundred and seventy pounds of gold

every day. being so opulent with gold, and engulfed with the shining

effulgence from the gem, the local inhabitants of Dwaraka mistook

Satrajit for the sun god himself.

On one occasion Krsna requested Satrajit to give the gem to

King Ugrasena, but Satrajit refused, obsessed with greed. Not long

after, Prasena, Satrajit's brother, went out hunting on horse back

wearing the jewel around his neck. Unfortunately for him he was

killed by a lion who took the effulgent jewel up into a mountain cave

where Jambavan, the devotee of Lord Rama, was living with his family.

Jambavan killed the lion and gave the precious gem to his son to play

with.

When Satrajit's brother didn't come back from the hunt, Satrajit

presumed that Krsna had killed him for the jewel. Krsna heard this

rumour that was going around and decided to clear it up. Going with

some of the citizens of Dwaraka, they went in search of Prasena in

the forest. After a short time they found his half eaten body and his

dead horse lying nearby. It was obvious he was killed by a lion. Next

they found the body of the lion killed by Jambavan. Krsna decided to

go into the cave while all the others waited outside. He very soon

saw the 'Syamantaka' jewel in the hands of Jambavan's son, but when

He tried to take the jewel, the child's nurse gave out a scream that

brought Jambavan running. Jambavan and Krsna fought for twenty eight

days continuously until Jambavan, knowing that no ordinary man could

fight with him like that, realised that this must be the same Lord

Rama who is his worshipful Lord.

With intense devotion Jambavan gave Lord Krsna not only the

'Syamantaka' jewel but also his beautiful unmarried daughter

Jambavati. Along with his new bride, Krsna returned to Dwaraka.

Rumours had gone around due to the townsfolk leaving that cave

entrance after twelve days, and returning to Dwaraka despondent, they

were thinking Krsna too had been killed. But now, Krsna entered the

city of Dwaraka with Jambavati and the 'Symantaka' jewel. Calling for

Satrajit, Krsna told the whole story and gave the jewel to him, who

accepted it back with great shame.

Later Satrajit on reflection, came back to Krsna and not only

presented the 'Syamantaka' jewel, but also his daughter Satyabhama,

who was endowed with all wonderfully divine qualities.

Acarya Madhwa remembered that it was around this time also,

in Hastinpura, the Kauravas were harassing the Pandavas and tried to

burn them all to death in the house of lac, and he in the form of

Bhimasena carried them to a safe place.

Meanwhile, back in Dwaraka, Satyabhama's father, Satrajit, was

killed and she felt her very life taken. Putting her departed

father's body in a vat of oil, Satyabhama went to Hastinapura to meet

with her husband, Krsna, Who had just gone there to be with the

Pandavas. Krsna then returned to Dwaraka and killed the killer of his

father-in-law (Satadhanva) and take back the 'syamantaka' jewel. When

the greedy rascal Satadhanva's horse collapsed, terrified by the

speed at which Krsna and Balarama approached him, Krsna took off

Satadhanva's head with His Sudarshana disc.

Although technically Satyabhama's son to be was the heir to

the jewel, Lord Krsna gave it to Akrura, who was performing religious

sacrifices with the jewel. Krsna then went to stay for some time with

the Pandavas, during which time he married five more princesses who

were Kalindi, the daughter of the sun-god who lived in the Yamuna

River, the king of Avanti's sister Mitravinda, and from the kingdom

of Ayodhya from King Nagnajit, Krsna accepted his extraordinarily

beautiful daughter Satya (Nagnajiti). Subsequently Krsna married

Bhadra, kidnapping her from her own 'swayamvara' ceremony, and also

the royal daughter of the King of Madra known as Laksmana, again it

was from her 'syawamvara' just as Garuda once stole the nectar of the

demigods.

Bhumi, the goddess of the earth, had a son of the name Narak.

He was born from the contact of Hiranyaksa (the demon killed by Lord

Varaha), and Bhumidevi, who had to bear this son. After Narakasura

stole Lord Varaha's umbrella, Mother Aditi's earrings, and the

playground of the demigods called Mani-Parvata, Lord Indra went to

Dwaraka and described the demon's activities to Lord Krsna. Together

with His queen, Satyabhama, Krsna mounted Garuda His carrier and went

to Narakasura's capital, Pragjyotisa. At that place Lord Sri Krsna

killed the Mura demon and Mura's seven sons. Then the audacious demon

Narakasura challenged Krsna and threw his lance at Him. The 'shakti'

weapon (lance) of Naraksura proved totally ineffective on Krsna, who

destroyed it and then went on to kill all of Narakasura's armies,

finally killing Narakasura with that best of weapons, the Sudarsana

disc weapon.

Then mother Earth, Bhumi devi, returned all the items that

her son Narakasura had stolen. Bhumi also presented Narakasura's son

to the Lord, and the Lord pacified him for he was so frightened.

On entering the demon's palace Krsna found in the maiden's

quarters 16,100 princesses which were the unmarried daughters of the

demigods, kings and demons. As soon as they saw Lord Krsna they all

without hesitation accepted the Lord as their husband. Narakasura had

imprisoned them in his palace after kidnapping them. Krsna had all

the princesses dressed nicely and sent on palanquins to Dwaraka along

with all kinds of wealth.

Krsna and Satyabhama then went to Indra's palace and returned

Aditi's earrings, and Indra and his wife worshipped nicely Krsna and

Satyabhama. On Satyabhama's request Krsna uprooted the beautifully

fragrant Parijata tree and brought it to Dwaraka after a bit of a

tussle with Indra and the 'devas'. Once planted in the grounds of

Queen Satyabhama's palace, intoxicated bumble bees followed the

fragrance of the Parijata from the heavenly planets, hungry and

greedy for the taste of Parijata's sweet fragrance and sap.

Now in Dwaraka, the Lord lived happily with all of his 16,100

wives in as many palaces, simultaneously at once, and yet receiving

service from them all individually in each of the 16,100 palaces,

where he manifested Himself in full to each wife. After some time,

each of Krsna's wives had ten sons who in turn had many sons, so

including Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Nagnajit, Kalindi, Laxmana,

Mitravinda and Bhadra, who are Krsna's principle queens in Dwaraka,

He had a total of 16,108 queens with as many palaces.

Around this time Lord Balarama took permission to go back to

Vraja (Vrindavana). Remembering the deep friendship he once enjoyed

with the cowherd folk of Vrindavan, Lord Balarama went alone to

Vraja. In Vrindavan the 'gopis' quizzed Balarama to see if Krsna

still remembered them. Lord Balarama stayed for two months in

Vrindavan during which he enjoyed his own pastimes with his own

'gopis' on the banks of the Yamuna known as Sri Rama Ghat.

Intoxicated with joy, Balarama wore beautiful flower garlands and a

single earring. Beads of perspiration decorated his pure white

smiling face, which was gentle like snow flakes. Wanting to play in

the waters of the Yamuna River, He summoned Yamuna near, but she

disregarded His command, thinking He was drunk from drinking honey.

So angered, Lord Balarama began to drag the river to him with the tip

of His plough. Threatening to split the river into one hundred

rivulets and in that way bring her close, Lord Balarama chastised

Yamuna for not coming when He had told her to. Trembling in fear, the

river Goddess approached Lord Balarama. With her hair loose and

forward in a seductive way, covering her breasts, she tried to pacify

the Lord, though her thoughts were conjugally based.

After releasing Yamuna Mayi from His plough, Lord Balarama

along with His 'gopis' entered the Yamuna River to play in those

waters. Coming out, the goddess Kani (Laxmidevi) presented Him with

blue garments, ornaments and a brilliant necklace.

Narakasura, the demon that Krsna killed, had a friend who was

an ape, Dvivida. After Krsna killed Narakasura, Dvivida, seeking

vengeance, caused all kinds of disturbances, flooding the coastal

lands by splashing water with his mighty arms. He would also tear

down trees in the ashrams of the sages who lived in seclusion, and

would even pass stool and urine on the sacrificial fires and arena.

This devious rascal would even kidnap innocent men and women and

imprison them in mountain caves, and he would try to pollute the

chaste and modest women of respectable families with his own

materialistic ways.

Previously Dvivida was an associate of Lord Ramacandra, but

due to his disrespect to Rama and Laxman, he was sent away. Due to

his pride and offensive mentality, even though he was an attendant of

Lord Rama for some time and fought against Ravana's army, he was sent

away. Lord Rama sometimes chants hymns addressed to His devotees

Mainda and Dvivida.

One day this delinquent Dvivida came to Vrajabhumi where he

found Lord Balarama dancing in the forest with his 'gopis'. Balarama

was rather intoxicated from drinking varuni liquor and enjoying the

gopis' company. At that time Dvivida came into the clearing and in an

uncouth way, displayed his anus to the 'gopis' right in front of the

Lord. Then, as if that wasn't bad enough, began to make all kinds of

crude gestures, and moved his eyebrows this way and that. Then he

passed stool and urine in front of everyone. Dvivida's outrageous

behaviour angered Lord Balarama, and to get rid of the ape he threw a

stone at him. To add further insult, the demoniac ape started to tug

at the clothes of the 'gopis'. Lord Balarama decided that He didn't

have to put up with this. Taking his plough and club in hand, he

neared Dvivida, who in turn took up a tree. When Balarama smashed the

tree to tiny pieces, Dvivida picked up another. Balarama repeated the

action. Dvivida picked up another and another, until the forest was

bare. Balarama smashed them all to splinters. Dvivida then foolishly

tried his luck with rocks, but Balarama turned them to powder. In

desperation Dvivida charged Balaram and pounded on Balarama's chest

with his fists. Lord Balarama had decided the playing had come to an

end. Infuriated, Lord Balaram put down His plough and club and

approached the ape and smashed his collar bone and neck instantly

with one swipe. Vomiting blood, Dvivida fell down dead.

Lord Balarama then returned to Dwaraka as the demigods and

sages showered flowers, and glorified him with prayers and

obeisances.

During the great Mahabharata war, Krsna helped Arjuna and

spoke (sung) the Gita-Upanisad for the benefit of all humanity.

Madhwa remembered how in these wonderful arrangements of Krsna's

pastimes, Vayu (Mukhyapran) incarnates as Bhima, Sugriva as Karna,

and Vali as Arjuna.(Mahabharat Tatparyanirnaya.)

Lord Balarama, to avoid conflict, went on a pilgrimage to all

the holy places and returned after the war was over. During this time

Madhwa remembered his own pastimes with the Lord as this expansion of

Lord Vayu, Mukhyaprana, played out his part of Bhima in the Lord's

association.

By the grace of Lord Sri Krsna, the Kauravas were completely

destroyed and Arjuna and his brothers were victorious.

Madhwa, of course, relished the meeting of Bhima and Hanuman,

where Bhimasena tried to lift the outstretched tail of Hanuman that

was blocking the path. Simultaneously they are one and yet different

expansions of Vayu Deva, Mukhyaprana.

Sri Krsna and Balarama's transcendental 'lila' was about the

wind up. After one hundred and twenty five years, the eternal youths

had decided to return with all Their paraphernalia to Their eternal

abode. Greatly fearing separation from the Lord, Uddhava, Krsna's

dear devotee, was distraught for he could not give up the Lord's

company. Finally, feeling great pain and offering obeisances again

and again, and placing the Lord's slippers on his head, Uddhava

departed for Badrikasrama. On route to that place he heard of the

Lord going to Prabhasaksetra. Uddhava then returned to the Dwaraka in

the spiritual sky via Badrikashrama.

Lord Krsna took note of many bad omens that announced that

soon the Kali Yuga would appear. There was a halo around the sun, and

on earth there were small earthquakes. In outer space there was an

unnatural redness on the horizon. All this announced like flags of

death in Dwaraka, the end of the Dwapara Yuga. Krsna advised the

Yadavas to abandon Dwaraka and go to Prabhasaksetra on the bank of

the Saraswati. At that place the heroes of the Yadu dynasty, covered

by the Lord's internal potency, became intoxicated from their

extravagant drinking and began to feel arrogant. When they were thus

bewildered by the Lord's personal potency, Krsna Maya, a terrible

quarrel arose among them. Infuriated, they seized their bows and

arrows, swords, lances, clubs and spears, and attacked one another on

the shore of the ocean. Riding on elephants and chariots, with their

battle flags flying, some rode on donkeys, camels, bulls, buffaloes,

mules and even human beings, the extremely enraged warriors came

together and violently attacked on another with arrows, just as

elephants in the forest attack one another with their tusks.

Thus bewildered, sons fought with fathers, brothers with

brothers, nephews with paternal and maternal uncles, grandsons with

grandfather. Friends fought with friends and other well-wishers

fought with well wishers. In this way, the intimate friends and

relatives killed one another. When all their bows were broken and

their arrows, lances and missiles spent, they fought with stalks of

cane with their bare hands. These stalks in their powerful fists were

like iron rods. With these weapons the warriors attacked each other

again and again, and when Lord Krsna tried to stop them they attacked

Him also. Mistaking Lord Balarama for an enemy they attacked Him

also.

Now the Supreme Lords were angry, and taking up cane stalks, they

began to kill everyone with these mighty cane clubs. When every last

member of the Yadu dynasty were killed, Krsna thought to Himself that

now the burden of the earth had been removed. 560 million warriors

died in this fratricidal battle of the Yadu dynasty.

Lord Balarama then sat down on the shore of the ocean and

fixed Himself in mediation upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Merging Himself within Himself, He gave up this world in a rather

unique way. Lord Balarama manifested a pure white snake from His own

mouth, climbed upon it's back, and rode off back to His eternal

abode.

Lord Krsna, the son of Devaki, having watched the

disappearance pastime of Lord Balarama, seated Himself under a nearby

pippala tree. then by the Lord's arrangement a hunter named Jara

approached that place. Mistaking the Lord's lotus foot for the soft

pinkness of a deer's face and thinking he had found his prey, Jara

touched the foot with his arrow thinking he had pierced it.

In Madhwacarya's Mahabharata-Tatparya-Nirnaya, he states that

all this has taken place to bewilder the demoniac class of men. The

four armed form of the Lord was never harmed by the arrows of Jara,

who is actually the devotee Bhrgu Muni, who previously placed his

foot on the chest of Lord Visnu to find out who was the Supreme

Person, after first approaching Lord Brahma and then Lord Shiva.

Anyway, Brghu Muni, in the guise of a hunter, concluded the Lord's

pastimes as previously arranged.

Covered by the Lord's internal potency into thinking that he

had shot the arrow into Krsna, humbly and ashamed in this way, Jara

begged forgiveness saying, " I am the most sinful person. I have

committed this act out of ignorance. O purest Lord, please forgive

this sinner! " Krsna then explained that everything was actually going

according to His plan and that the hunter Jara was only playing his

part. " Now hunter, go to the spiritual world upon this aeroplane and

reside there with Me. " Circumambulating the Lord three times and

offering obeisances, bowing before the Lord the hunter ascended onto

the aeroplane. Then while Daruka (Krsna's chariot driver) was looking

for his Lord, he suddenly found an unusually strong aroma of Tulasi.

Following that aroma he found Krsna resting at the foot of a banyan

tree. Right before Daruka's tearful eyes, and as Daruka was still

speaking to the Lord, Krsna and His chariot suddenly rose in the sky

along with it's horses and flag marked with Garuda. All the weapons

of the Lord, personified, rose up and followed the chariot. Krsna

then spoke to the astonished Daruka, and instructed him to go to

Dwaraka and tell all His family how all their family members had

destroyed one another. Tell them of the disappearance of My

Sankarsana (Balarama) and of My present condition. Both you and your

relatives should not stay in Dwaraka any longer. Myself (Krsna),

having abandoned that place, it will soon become unmanifest by

becoming inundated by the great ocean. Go and seek Arjuna's shelter

and protection at Indraprastha.

Then after circumambulating Krsna and taking Krsna's lotus

feet on his head, Daruka returned with the Lord's message to Dwaraka.

Upon hearing from Daruka the news that Krsna had wound up His

pastimes and had returned to His abode, Vasudeva and all of Krsna's

family and associates remaining in Dwaraka became disturbed by

lamentation and left Dwaraka in search of the Lord. Though Devaki,

Rohini and many others actually remained in Dwaraka as they do today,

invisible to material eyes, their partial expansions went to

Prabhasaksetra to see their dead relatives. They then entered into

fire.

 

tatah katipayair masair

vrsni-bhojandhakadayah

yayuh prabhasam samhrsta

rathair deva-vimohitah

 

" A few months passed, and then, bewildered by Krsnamaya, all the

descendants of Vrsni, Bhoja, Andhaka who were incarnations of various

demigods went to Prabhasa, while those who were eternal devotees of

the Lord did not leave but remained in Dwaraka. " (Srimad Bhagavatam

3:3:25.)

 

Even though the Pandavas were also demigods, they, as eternal

associates of the Lord, also went to Dwaraka. The 'niskarma bhaktas'

or 'nitya-suri' devotees without any material desires are always the

Lord's intimate associates, whereas the 'sakarma bhaktas', though

still devotees ('nitya-samsarins'), have the tendency to try to

fulfil their own desires. Thus it was the 'sakarma devas' who went to

the Prabhasksetra and not the unalloyed devotees. Madhwa confirms

this in his Sutra Bhasya (3:3:27.), that they Lord is best served by

those who are " released souls'. Released from what? The desires of

the material world. Therefore he is talking about the 'nitya suris'

who are cent percent only dedicated to fulfilling the desires of the

Lord.

Arjuna kept a cool head by remembering the many instructions

Krsna had personally given to him. Arjuna deposited Rukmini Devi's

own personal deities of Krsna and Balarama as small boys in the

Rukmini Vana of Dwaraka, and then carried out the 'antyesthi',

funeral rites and offerings of 'pinda' for all his dead relatives.

Then the ocean engulfed and swallowed up Dwaraka Puri, all except for

the Lord's own residence.

Although Dwaraka had been created by the empowered devotee of

the Lord, Vishvakarma, the architect of the demigods, and even parts

of Dwaraka were brought direct from the heavenly planets like the

Sudharma assembly hall, that Dwaraka Puri had now become unmanifest,

though it is eternally there for those who are not covered by Krsna's

deluding potency, 'maya'.

Remembering these pastimes of the Supreme Lord brings about

devotional service and the same destination of being able to return

to the Lord's abode to eternally reside with Him.

 

 

Chaitanya Bhagavat

by Srila Vrindavan das Thakur

Adi Lila Chapter 1

 

I worship their Lordships Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda

Prabhu, whose long arms extend down to their knees, whose beautiful

complexions are the radiant yellow of molten gold and whose elongated

eyes are like red lotuses. They are the topmost of the brahmanas, the

guardians of religious principles for this age, the munificent

benefactors of all living entities, and the most compassionate

incarnations of Godhead. They initiated the congregational chanting

of the names of Lord Krishna.

 

O Lord! You are the eternal truth - past, present, and future - and

You appeared as the son of Sri Jagannatha Misra. I offer my repeated

obeisances unto You along with Your inseparable servitors, Your

unalloyed devotees, Your sons (referring to His renounced Gosvami

disciples, or the devotional process of chanting the holy name of

Lord Krishna), and Your relatives (Bhudevi as Sri Vishnu Priya,

Sridevi as Sri Laksmi Priya, and Lila, Nila or Durga as Navadvipa

Dhama). According to devotional tastes there are the two Gadadharas,

Damodara, Narahari, Ramananda, Jagadananda etc. One is Sri Gadadhara

Pandita - the expansion of Srimati Radharani and Sri Gadadhara Bhatta

from South India who is Rangadevi.

 

I worship the two brothers, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri

Nityananda Prabhu, who are the embodiment of magnanimity. By Their

inconceivable potency They are the transcendental, eternal supreme

controllers of all. Now They have descended to the material world.

 

All glories to Sri Gaurasundara, the supremely powerful Lord of pure

transcendence. He has an aura of molten gold, with lotus petal eyes,

and six long graceful arms extending to His knees. While He sings the

glories of the Lord, He dances in various pleasing postures, His

heart inundated by the ecstatic emotions of devotional mellows.

 

All glories, all glories to the moonlike Sri Krishna Chaitanya. He is

the fully independent Supreme Person, always engaged in

transcendental pastimes. He is the Lord of the universe, the supreme

controller of all controllers, and the personification of

transcendence. All glories, all glories to the devotees of Sri

Gauracandra. All glories, all glories to the ecstatic dancing of the

Lord's intimate associates.

 

In the beginning I offer my humble obeisances to the feet of the

loving, confidential devotees of Lord Sri Chaitanya. I then offer my

obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna

Chaitanya. He incarnated in Navadvipa, and He is known as Visvambhara.

 

That same Supreme Personality of Godhead has declared in the Vedas

and Bhagavat, " Worship of My devotees is superior to worship of Me. "

 

Lord Krishna said to Uddhava, " O Uddhava, serving My devotees is many

times better than worshipping Me. " (SB 11:19:21).

 

Therefore, I offer my worshipful prayers unto the devotees of the

Lord before I begin to write this book. By this act may my present

endeavor be successful.

 

I offer my respectful obeisances to my worshipable Lord and spiritual

master, Sri Nityananda Raya, by whose mercy the transcendental

pastimes of Lord Sri Chaitanya become spontaneously manifest. With a

thousand tongues we should incessantly glorify the Supreme Lord

Balarama, because His thousand mouths as Ananta Sesa constantly

glorify Lord Krishna. Just as priceless gems are kept in secure

custody, so also the invaluable jewel of knowledge about Krishna's

pastimes is kept safely in the mouth of Anantadeva. Therefore the

tongue which initially glorifies Balarama will automatically be

qualified to vibrate the transcendental pastime of Sri Chaitanya.

 

The Supreme Lord Haladhara holds His thousand hoods like snakes. He

is a gigantic figure and the source of all inspiration. As Nityananda

He is fully transcendental and eternally existent, intoxicated by the

nectar of Sri Chaitanya. Whoever sings or hears about Nityananda's

supramundane character is offered the supreme shelter of Lord

Chaitanya.

 

Mahesa and his consort Parvatidevi take great pleasure in eulogizing

the object of their love - Sankarsana, Nityananda Prabhu. In the

midst of a million fresh young maidens, the pure devotee, Sri Siva,

and his consort pour out nectarean devotional hymns to Lord

Sankarsana.

 

All this is revealed in the Fifth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Balarama is worshipped by the entire Vaisnava world with songs of

praise. Balarama danced with His gopis in Vrndavana, and their rasa

dance is the pinnacle of sublimity. The Puranas describe that

Balarama performed His rasa dance during the two months of spring,

Madhava and Madhu. The Srimad Bhagavatam verses narrating this

subject were spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit.

 

Balarama spent the moonlit nights of the months of Vaisaka and Caitra

with the cowherd damsels in the supramundane abode of Vrndavana. The

place was set aglow with the rays of the moon. The lotus and kadamba

flowers bloomed freely under the influence of the moon's rays, and a

soft breeze circulated their scent. In the groves on the bank of the

Jamuna, Balarama danced with the gopis, increasing their conjugal

mood. The Supreme Lord Balarama, like an exquisite gem decorated by

the cluster of gopis, performed His pleasurable pastimes. He behaved

like Indra's elephant Airavata - the controller of many she-

elephants. The Gandharvas observed the rasa dance and offered their

prayers.

 

The sound of kettle drums rose from the heavens, the demigods

joyously showered flowers upon Them, and the Gandharvas and sages

worshipped the Supreme Lord Balarama with verses praising His

activities. The sages unequivocally denounce association with women,

yet they sung hymns in praise of Balarama's rasa dance with His

cowherd damsels. The demigods attended Balarama's rasa dance to

shower flower petals. They knew that there was no difference between

Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama, Haladhara. The transcendental

qualities of Balarama are obscure in the four Vedas, but the Puranas

describe them boldly. What power do I have to describe them? Out of

ignorance, some people disregard the Puranas and reject Balarama's

rasa dance as unauthentic.

 

The two brothers, Lord Krishna and Balarama, performed the rasa dance

with the gopis in the same place in Vrndavana. On the radiant full

moon night of holi, at the end of sivaratri vrata, Lord Krishna and

Lord Balarama, accompanied by Their cowherd boy friends, enjoyed

Themselves in the midst of the beautiful maidens of Vrndavana. They

were both pleasingly decorated with the finest jewelry, sandalwood

pulp, wildflower garlands and exquisite clothes. The fortunate gopis

sang sweetly, their hearts enraptured by love for Krishna and

Balarama.

 

Evening had not set in; the moon and the stars appeared. The

fragrance of Arabian jasmine intoxicated the bumblebees, and a light

breeze carried the aromas of white lilies and lotus flowers.

Considering that very moment to be appropriate, Krishna and Balarama

began Their pleasurable dalliances. They sang together for the

pleasure of all living entities, Their voices rising and falling

melodiously.

 

If a person, after reading Srimad Bhagavatam, is not affectionately

inclined towards Lord Balarama, then he is rejected by the Supreme

Lord Vishnu and His devotees. In the words of Srimad Bhagavatam, a

non-believer is a yavana (a barbarian). He is destined to suffer in

hell, birth after birth.

 

There are others who, like eunuchs, make emotional gesticulations,

challenging, " Which scripture describes the rasa dance of Balarama? "

Who is so sinful that even after reading the scriptures, he can not

accept the truth, but misinterprets the real meaning and gives his

own distorted understanding?

 

Lord Balarama is the abode of Lord Chaitanya's deep affection.

Offense at Balarama's lotus feet destroys all possibilities for

salvation. In His incarnation as Laksmana the younger brother of Lord

Ramacandra, Balarama enacted the role of the Lord's servitor. Yet in

His manifestation as the Supreme Lord, Balarama serves Himself in

every respect - as a friend and a brother, by fanning Him, putting

Him to sleep, glorifying Him with Vedic invocations and expanding

Himself as His house, umbrella, attire, jewelry and seat. " O Lord !

Your direct, partial expansion, Ananta Sesa, is the source of all the

various ingredients for Your service in the transcendental realm of

Vaikuntha. Ananta Sesa is famous because He is manifest as Your

residence, bed throne, shoes, clothes, jewelry, etc. When shall I see

you with Laksmidevi seated on the throne of Ananta Sesa?

 

Ananta Sesa's partial expansion is the mighty Sri Garuda whose

satisfaction is derived from acting as the Lord's carrier in every

pastime. Ananta's devotees include Brahma, Siva, the four Kumaras,

Srila Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami, Narada Muni and others. His

glorious qualities are unlimited and are not fully understood by

anyone. He is the original personality, the greatest mystic, the

Supreme Lord, and the greatest devotee of the Vaisnavas.

 

Thus far you have heard about the wonderful services performed by

Ananta Sesa; now hear about His great opulence. He is enthroned in

the lower planetary system of patala as his own source and repose. He

is worshipped by all as His thousand mouths continually taste the

full nectar of love of Godhead. In the court of Brahma, Narada Muni

plays on his vina, and with well-composed verses he sings the

wonderful glories of Ananta. Is it humanly possible to know the

supramundane nature of Anantadeva? Just by His glance, He sets in

motion the three modes of material nature which are the cause of this

world's creation, maintenance, and annihilation. Although He is one,

He supports the entire variegated material cosmic manifestation

Himself (within the pores of His person). He is beginningless and

eternal. Other then Lord Sankarsana, who can offer shelter to persons

devoid of all material aspirations? He is the support on which the

material world manifests and acts. That Supreme Lord, the cause of

all causes, has appeared in His sublime spiritual form. He is the

most powerful; in comparison, the power of a lion is insignificant.

He performs pure transcendental pastimes to capture the hearts of His

dear devotees, and He destroys countless sins by manifesting His

transcendental form. What more is there to say than this? One becomes

purified by hearing or calling out the name of Lord Anantadeva,

either respectfully or accidentally. Even a degraded person is

purified when he tauntingly utters the name of Sri Ananta.

 

Anantadeva's mighty potency is beyond measure. That Supreme Lord

carries on just one of His thousand heads the entire universe with

all its living entities, mountains, and rivers, and that universe

appears to be only a minute, atomic speck. Even if a person acquires

a thousand tongues, how can he describe the power of the omnipotent

Supreme Lord? Anantadeva is His own shelter and source, filled with

unlimited power and strength. While residing in the lower planetary

system of rasatala, He holds this gigantic cosmic manifestation with

ease born of detachment. This material world's creation, maintenance,

and annihilation, as well as the three modes of material nature, are

activated by His glance. Who can fathom Anantadeva's non-dual,

transcendental, eternal and unborn existence?

 

Out of mercy toward the living entities the Lord manifests His

supramundane spiritual form while He performs His variegated

pastimes. All living entities reside within that transcendental form.

The mighty Lord Nrsimhadeva represents but a wave in the ocean of the

Lord's unlimited pastimes which satisfy the hearts of His devotees.

Anantadeva's unlimited names, when heard or chanted by anyone in any

manner, immediately sever the noose of innumerable births and deaths.

Thus the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord always appreciated those who

glorify Him. Ananta Sesa is the supreme destination of the entire

universe; His holy name is the only means for the living entities's

redemption. The Lord holds on His head the unlimited material nature

- along with its mountains and oceans - simply for its protection and

maintenance. The entire universe is a speck on one of His thousand

hoods, and because of His unlimited strength, He does not feel the

burden.

 

Lord Anantadeva, the original Supreme Personality and maintainer of

the entire cosmic manifestation, incessantly sings in glorification

of Lord Krishna. He continuously describes every aspect of the Lord's

divine attributes. Lord Krishna is eternal and His attributes are

unending, therefore He can never be fully described or glorified. But

Ananta is also eternal and His ability to glorify the Lord is

unending. In Their divine relationship, neither is ever victorious.

Even today Ananta Sesa's thousand mouths continuously sing the

glories of the Supreme Lord Krishna Chaitanya. How wonderfully Lord

Krishna and Lord Balarama compete with each other! Brahma, Siva,

other demigods and the perfected sages look on, feeling great

exhilaration. The eulogies of Anantadeva pursue the ever-expanding,

elusive shores of Lord Krishna's ocean of qualities.

 

O Narada, I Brahma, and your elders, Sanaka and other sages cannot

even fathom the extent of this material nature, what to speak of

knowing the Supreme Lord's spiritual potencies. Anantadeva, the

origin of all demigods, is unable to exhaustively glorify the Supreme

Lord's transcendental opulence and potencies with His thousand

mouths. Therefore how is it possible for ordinary mortals to

understand these divine potencies? Anantadeva is Himself the master

of unlimited attributes, and He resides in rasatala simply to support

the vast material creation.

 

In the court of Brahma Narada Muni plays His vina and sings about

these very same transcendental qualities of the Supreme Lord. Brahma

and others are stunned in ecstasy upon hearing about the supramundane

qualities of the Supreme Lord, and Narada Muni is worshiped by all

because he sings about those qualities. I have also been moved to

write a few phrases in praise of the unlimited potencies of Lord

Nityananda, Anantadeva, so I humbly request all of you to develop a

loving devotional mood toward the Lord. Those who desire to cross

over the dangerous ocean of material existence, yet drown in the

ocean of devotional ecstasy, may take shelter of Lord Nityananda.

 

I pray to the merciful Vaisnava devotees of the Lord to fulfill my

hearts yearning, that I may serve my Lord Balarama birth after birth.

Just as dvija, vipra, and brahma are different names for the same

person, similarly Nityananda, Ananta and Balarama are different names

for the same Supreme Personality. My Lord Nityananda Prabhu appeared

within my heart and instructed me to narrate the transcendental

qualities of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in this book.

 

The pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are revealed by Nityananda's

mercy only, because His personal expansion, Ananta Sesa, is the

storehouse of information about Lord Chaitanya and Lord Krishna's

pastimes. Although Sri Ananta Sesa is the embodiment of Krishna

kirtana, I have been able to offer only a humble prayer in His honor.

 

Hearing Lord Chaitanya's qualities and pastimes can clean away all

material contaminations. Know for certain that such pastimes are

revealed only through a pure devotee's grace. For who can know the

nature and pastimes of Lord Chaitanya? It is a hidden mystery even in

the Vedas. Therefore, I have compiled only first-hand accounts taken

directly from the lips of the associates of the Lord.

 

I see no beginning or end to Lord Chaitanya's pastimes. They are

eternal and unlimited, and only the Lord's grace gives me the potency

to compose them. I am simply Lord Chaitanya's mouthpiece, repeating

as He desires, just like a doll moved by some unseen hand. I throw

myself at the feet of all pure Vaisnava devotes so they may cleanse

me of all offenses.

 

O my brothers! Please listen very attentively to the transcendental

pastimes Lord Chaitanya performed with His devotee associates. The

ecstatic pastimes of Lord Chaitanya have been divided into three

periods - early, intermediate and later (Adi, Madhya and Antya). The

early period includes a description of the Lord's education, and the

intermediate portion reveals Mahaprabhu's pastimes of congregational

chanting. The concluding portion describes the Lord's pastimes as a

sannyasi in Nilacala, Orissa. He had allocated to Nityananda the

mission of preaching in Bengal.

 

The pious Sri Jagannatha Misra, Chaitanya's father, lived in

Navadvipa. Like Vasudeva, he conscientiously performed his spiritual

duties. His devout and faithful wife Srimati Sacidevi was a second

Devaki - the beloved mother of everyone. The Supreme Personality of

Godhead Lord Narayana appeared in the womb of Srimati Sacidevi, and

as Sri Krishna Chaitanya, He became the most precious possession of

everyone's heart.

 

The Adi Khanda begins by describing the appearance of Lord Chaitanya

on an auspicious full moon evening in the month of Phalguna when the

moon went into eclipse. The tumultuous chanting of Lord Hari's holy

name filled all directions, inspiring everyone to sing together. The

Supreme Lord Chaitanya was born amidst the chanting.

 

The Adi Khanda also describes the Lord's numerous childhood pastimes.

Lord Chaitanya revealed to His parents His otherwise unmanifest place

of residence, the holy Dhama. And as they stared in wonder, He showed

them the physical signs of divinity on His feet.

 

This portion of the book describes how one day thieves kidnapped baby

Nimai from his house, but He tricked them into bringing Him back

home. Another story narrated here is how the Lord ate all the food

offered to Vishnu in the house of Jagadisa and Hiranya on ekadasi

day. Yet another story describes how the Lord once sat on a pile of

contaminated cooking pots and used the situation to instruct His

mother in philosophy. He also acted like a crying baby, using His

tears as a ploy to make everyone chant the holy names of God.

 

The Adi Khanda discusses the Lord as a child playing with His friends

as if He were Krishna in Gokula. It describes how He began His

education and with little effort mastered all the scriptures. It

narrates Sri Jagannatha Misra's disappearance and Visvarupa's

acceptance of sannyasa and how these two disasters afflicted Mother

Saci. Then it describes the Lord's wonderful pastimes as a student.

He was pride personified before the other student scholars.

Chaitanya's travels through eastern Bengal are also described here,

elaborating on how the land became a place of pilgrimage by the touch

of His lotus feet. Chaitanya was the master of all different

scriptures. There was no one in the three worlds to challenge His

erudition.

 

The Adi Khanda describes the Lord sporting with His fellow students

and their water pastimes in the waves of the Ganga. Then came the

Lord's first marriage and the glorious disappearance of His first

wife. He duly accepted a second wife, the daughter of a royal

scholar. Once He pretended to be sick from a wind disorder. He took

that opportunity to reveal symptoms of love of Godhead. While the

Lord roamed about as a great scholar, He empowered all the devotees

who surrendered to Him.

 

The narration of the early life of Sri Chaitanya includes a

description of the immense joy on Mother Saci's face when she looked

at the moon-like, blissful face and the graceful clothes of the Lord.

Then there is the story of how Nimai Pandita piqued the pride of a

scholar who was renowned as Digvijaya, the world conqueror.

Ultimately the Lord slashed the scholar's material bonds. The Lord

put everyone - even His devotees - into illusion about His real

identity, and He roamed the streets of Navadvipa deceiving all. There

is also a description of the Lord's pilgrimage to Gaya dhama and how

He showered causeless mercy on Isvara Puri by accepting him as His

spiritual master.

 

Adi Khanda is a reservoir of the Lord's never-ending pleasurable

pastimes. In the future Srila Vyasadeva, the greatest of sages, will

describe other pastimes. But herein I reveal the early pastimes of

the Lord up to the time He returns from His visit to Gaya dhama.

 

In Madhya Khanda the Lord's omnipotence becomes known, and gradually

His devotees are identified as they collect around His lotus feet

like bees. Chaitanya reveals His absolute identity as Lord Narayana

by sitting on the altar of Vishnu in the houses of Sri Advaita and

Srivasa Pandita. Sri Chaitanya meets Nityananda Prabhu and together

the brothers make wonderful Krishna kirtana. Then Nityananda's vision

of the transcendental six-handed form of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is

described. Later the Lord exhibited His universal form to Advaita

Acharya Prabhu.

 

Nityananda's vyasapuja has been described in Madhya Khanda along with

a story of how He was slandered by some faithless atheists.

Thereafter comes the description of Lord Chaitanya's manifestation as

Balarama when Nityananda gave Him His plough and club. The wonderful

redemption of the two reprobates Jagai and Madhai - who were later to

become quite famous - is told in detail. Mother Saci's vision of Sri

Chaitanya in a blackish complexion and Sri Nityananda in a whitish

complexion is also discussed.

 

Lord Chaitanya once showed His unlimitedly opulent maha prakash form

for several hours, and that story is told in Madhya Khanda. On that

occasion He revealed the transcendental truth about Himself and the

real identity of all His devotees. Thereafter comes a description of

the occasion when Lord Chaitanya, who is Narayana the Lord of

Vaikuntha and the supreme absolute reality, danced and chanted as He

narrated the truth about Himself.

 

In Madhya Khanda the Lord breaks Canda Kazi's pride, and manifesting

His own spiritual potency, He engages in continuous congregational

chanting. Canda Kazi accepted devotional service by the Lord's grace.

Immersed in ecstatic bliss, Sri Chaitanya thereafter moved from

village to village performing kirtana.

 

He declared the truth about Himself as He exhibited His Varaharupa -

a four-armed form - while riding around the courtyard on the back of

His devotee, Murari Gupta. The Lord also ate some rice which

Suklambara had collected by begging, and performed many wonderful

pastimes in His manifestation of Lord Narayana.

 

In Madhya Khanda Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appears before the devotees

in the guise of Mahalaksmi or Rukminidevi, the Universal Mother who

breast-fed all the devotees who were Her dependent sons. The Lord

once chastised Mukunda for keeping bad company and later, when He was

satisfied with Mukunda's obedience, He favored him with grace. Then

there is a narration of the ecstatic all-night kirtanas in Navadvipa

which were held regularly for a complete year.

 

Madhya Khanda describes the mock verbal fights between Nityananda

Prabhu and Sri Advaita Acharya. Only a foolish person thinks that

these were actual disagreements. Then the Lord instructed His mother

and simultaneously warned the whole world about the grievous

consequences of offending the Vaisnava devotees. Satisfied by the

prayers of His devotees, the Lord gave individual benedictions to

each of them. Srila Haridasa Thakura received Mahaprabhu's mercy and

the Lord showed compassion toward Sridhara by drinking water from his

pot.

 

Sri Chaitanya blissfully performed daily pastimes in the waters of

the Ganga with all his devotees. Once He and Nityananda Prabhu

visited the house of Advaita Acharya for a specific reason. It is

described that the Lord severely chastised Advaita Acharya, but at

last He showed immeasurable grace on him. Then the Madhya Khanda

describes how the extremely fortunate Sri Murari Gupta became

enlightened about the true identity of Lord Chaitanya as Krishna and

Nityananda as Balarama. Those two Supreme Personalities danced in

ecstasy in the house of Srivasa.

 

In Madhya Khanda the Lord explains the entire philosophical truth

about human life, using Srivasa's expired son as the speaker. In this

way He alleviated everyone's suffering. News of this incident spread

far, and by the Lord's grace Srivasa could overcome the shock of his

son's death. In another story narrated in Madhya Khanda the Lord

threw Himself into the Ganga, and Nityananda Prabhu and Srila

Haridasa Thakura lifted Him out. Then Srimati Narayani received a

treasure desired even by the demigods and Brahma; she received the

remnants of the Lord's foodstuffs. The final story in the Madhya

Khanda is the pastime of the Lord leaving home and accepting the

renounced order of life for the salvation of every living entity.

There are uncountable pastimes of the Lord in the Madhya Khanda;

whatever remains untouched will be described later by Srila Vyasadeva.

 

As the Sesa Khanda opens, Visvambhara is in the sannyasa order of

life, and He has accepted the name Sri Krishna Chaitanya. He has

shaven his head clean, thereby plunging Advaita Acharya Prabhu into

deep despondency. Mother Saci's suffering is unbearable, yet she is

sustained by the Lord's mercy. Nityananda, the manifestation of

Balarama, smashed Chaitanya's sannyasa danda, and thereafter the Lord

concealed His real identity and went to Nilacala Puri.

 

Chaitanya playfully taunted Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya when they first

meet, but later He exhibited His six-handed form to him. The Lord

mercifully graced King Prataparudra with devotional service and lived

thereafter in the house of Kasi Misra. During Chaitanya's stay in

Puri, both Svarupa Damodara and Paramananda Puri became eligible to

serve the Lord in confidential relationships.

 

Sesa Khanda also describes Chaitanya's trip through Bengal on His way

to Mathura and Vrndavana. He stayed in Vidya Vacaspati's residence

before moving on to the village of Kulia in Bengal. Millions of

people gathered to see the Lord on His return to Bengal, and all who

saw Him were liberated. Chaitanya attempted to continue on His trip

to Mathura, but after a short distance He turned back to Bengal.

 

When the Lord returned to Nilacala, He engaged in continuous kirtana

with His associates. He sent Nityananda to preach in Bengal, while He

Himself remained in Nilacala with a handful of devotees. The Lord and

all His devotees danced ecstatically before Lord Jagannatha's chariot.

 

Chaitanya's travels to Ramesvaram in South India and His journey to

Mathura through the Jharakhanda forest are also described in Sesa

Khanda. Later the Lord showered grace on Raya Ramananda and revealed

other divine pastimes He had previously performed in Mathura. The

magnanimous Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also graced Dabir Khas by revealing

His identity to him. He liberated Dabir Khas and his brother and

renamed them both. They became the famous Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana

Gosvami.

 

In Sesa Khanda the Lord's travels to Varanasi are described. The

sannyasis of Varanasi could not recognize the Supreme Lord because

they were too critical of the Vaisnavas. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

thereafter returned to Nilacala and became engrossed in

congregational Hari kirtana throughout the day and night.

 

Nityananda traveled throughout India as a wandering mendicant. His

pilgrimage is described in Sesa Khanda. Who can understand

Nityananda's unfathomable transcendental character? He roamed about

Mathura with ankle bells on His feet. On Sri Chaitanya's request He

went to Panihati and distributed devotional service - love of God -

to everyone. Through His causeless mercy He saved Nahamalla Raya and

other merchants of that locality.

 

In Sesa Khanda Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's remaining eighteen years in

Nilacala are described. Although numerous pastimes are related about

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Vedavyasa will later tell them all in

detail. Nityananda finds endless joy in glorifying Lord Chaitanya,

and He is an unmatched expert in that art.

 

O Lord Chaitanya, please bless me so that I may receive the

transcendental service of Nityananda's lotus feet. He is the Lord of

the entire universe.

 

I have narrated in brief the contents of this book at the very

outset. All of you please hear with undivided attention the pastimes

of Sri Krishna Chaitanya. Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda are my

life and soul. I, Vrndavana dasa, offer my humble song at Their lotus

feet.