Ramanujacharya 8

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Please note:

 

I am not sure if 6th or 7th is the appearance day.

 

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April 7th, 2003, Monday (Pancami)Appearance day of Sri RamanujacaryaFrom Srila

Bhaktivinoda Thakura's"Navadvipa Bhava Taranga"Parikrama khandaChapter Fifteen:

Sri Vaikunthapura, Rudradvipa, and Pulina All glories to Gauranga and the Panca

tattva! All glories toNavadvipa, the abode of Sri Caitanya! Coming to

Vaikunthapura, Nityananda Prabhu spoke to Sri Jiva whilemildly smiling, "On one

side of the eight petaled Navadvipa is thisVaikunthapura. Listen without doubt.

This is Vaikuntha, the abode ofNarayana, situated in the spiritual sky beyond

the Viraja River. Maya cannever enter this place, where Lord Narayana is served

by His energies, Sri,Bhu, and Nila. The effulgence radiating from this spiritual

abode is theBrahman. With material vision, people see only the material world.

But withhis transcendental vision, Narada Muni once saw Narayana manifest

asGaurasundara in this spiritual abode. After seeing this, the best of themunis

stayed here for some time. "There is one more confidential story. Ramanujacarya

once came toPuri and pleased the Lord with many prayers. Lord Jagannatha

appeared beforehim and said, 'Go and see Navadvipa dhama, for I will soon appear

there inthe house of Jagannatha Misra. The entire spiritual sky is situated

withinone corner of Navadvipa, My very dear abode. As My eternal servant

andleading devotee, you should see Navadvipa. Let your students, who areabsorbed

in dasya rasa, stay here while you go. Any living being who doesnot see

Navadvipa has been born uselessly. Just one portion of Navadvipacontains Ranga

Ksetra, Sri Venkata (Tirupati), and Yadava Acala. O son ofKesava, go to

Navadvipa and see the form of Gauranga. You have come to theEarth to preach

bhakti, so let your birth be successful with the mercy ofGaura. From Navadvipa,

go to Kurma Sthana and join again with yourdisciples.' "With folded hands,

Ramanuja submitted to Lord Jagannatha, 'In Yournarration You have mentioned

Gauracandra, but exactly who He is, I do notknow.' "The Lord mercifully replied

to Ramanuja , 'Everyone knows Krsna,the Lord of Goloka. That Krsna, whose

vilasa-murti is Narayana, is theSupreme Truth, and He resides in Vrindavana.

That Krsna is fully manifest inthe form of Gaurahari, and that Vrindavana is

fully manifest in the form ofNavadvipa Dhama. I eternally reside as Gauranga in

Navadvipa, the topmostabode in the universe. By My mercy that dhama has come

within Bhu-mandala,yet it remains without a scent of maya. This is the verdict

of scripture. Ifyou say that Navadvipa is part of the material world, then your

devotionwill dwindle day by day. I have placed this spiritual abode within

thematerial world by My desire and inconceivable energy. Simply by

readingscriptures one will not get the highest truth, for the highest

truthsurpasses all reasoning power. Only the devotees can understand by

Mymercy.' "Hearing this, the sober minded Ramanuja was agitated with love

forGauranga. He said, 'Lord, Your pastimes are truly astounding. The

scripturescannot know Your opulences. Why isn't Gauranga-lila clearly described

in thescriptures? When I closely examine the Sruti and Puranas, I find only

somehint of the Gaura-tattva. After hearing your instructions, my doubts aregone

and the sweet mellows of Gauranga's pastimes have arisen in my heart.If You

order me, after going to Navadvipa, I will preach Gaura-lilathroughout the three

worlds. I will give people evidence from the hiddenscriptures and establish

devotional service to Gauranga throughout theuniverse. Please instruct me.'

"Seeing Ramanuja 's eagerness, Lord Jagannatha said, 'Ramanuja, donot broadcast

like this. Keep the confidential pastimes of Gauranga secret.Only after Gauranga

has finished His pastimes will the general publicreceive them. For now, preach

dasya rasa, while in your heart worshipGauranga constantly.' "Taking the Lord's

advice, Ramanuja secretly cultured his attractionfor Navadvipa. So that

Gauranga's pastimes were not revealed prematurely,Lord Narayana then led

Ramanuja here to Vaikunthapura and mercifully showedRamanuja His transcendental

form served by Sri, Bhu, and Nila. Ramanujaconsidered himself fortunate to

obtain darsana of his worshipable Lord, whensuddenly he saw the Lord assume the

enchanting form of Gaurasundara, the sonof Jagannatha Misra. Ramanuja swooned at

the brilliance of His form. ThenGauranga put His lotus feet on the head of

Ramanuja, who was thus divinelyinspired and recited prayers of praise. 'I must

see Gaura's actual lila onEarth. I can never leave Navadvipa!' "Gauranga said,

'O son of Kesava, your desire will be fulfilled.When the Nadia pastimes will be

revealed in the future, you will take birthhere again.' "Gauranga disappeared

and Ramanuja, contented, resumed his journey.After some days he arrived at Kurma

Sthana and saw the place with hisdisciples. During his life he preached dasya

rasa throughout South India,while internally he was absorbed in Gaura-lila. By

Gauranga's mercy, he tookbirth in Navadvipa as the devotee Sri Ananta. He went

to the house ofVallabhacarya, or Vallabha Misra, the father of Laksmi-priya, and

saw themarriage of Laksmi-priya and Gauranga. "See the house of Ananta, where

many devotees of Narayana gathered.It is well known that the kings of that time

established Narayana worshiphere."