Srila Srivasa Thakura

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Dear Devotees,

PAMHO,AGTSGM,AGTSP

Pl find some nectar regarding Srila Srivasa Thakura on

his Disappearence day on 1st july.

yr hs

radhabhava gaur das

 

Srila Srivasa Pandita

 

 

 

Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura, the Vyasadeva of Sri

Gaura-sundara's pastimes, has sung the praises of

Srivasa Pandita in this way:

 

"It was in Srivasa Pandita's house that Sri Caitanya

enacted His pastimes of sankirtana. Those four

brothers (Srivasa, Sri Rama, Sripati and Srinidhi)

were continuously engaged in singing the names of Sri

Krsna. They worshipped Sri Krsna and bathed in the

Ganges thrice daily."

 

These four brothers previously lived in the district

of Sri Hatta. Later on they came to reside on the

banks of the Ganges. There they regularly used to

attend the assembly of devotees who gathered at Sri

Advaita Acarya's house to hear the Srimad-Bhagavatam

and engage in congregational chanting of the Holy

Names. Gradually the brothers became very close

friends of Sri Jagannatha Misra, with whom they would

chant and listen to the Bhagavatam.

 

In all matters Srivasa was the leader of the four

brothers. By the strength of his devotion, he could

understand that Sri Krsna was going to appear in the

house of Jagannatha Misra.

 

Srivasa Pandits's wife's name was Sri Malinidevi. She

was a very close friend of Sri Sacidevi and was always

very helpful to her.

 

 

 

Seing the wretched state of the fallen living entities

in Kali Yuga, the devotees began to plaintively pray

to the Lord for their deliverance. Krsna hears the

call of His devotees. On the full moon day in tho

month of Phalguna, in the year 1407 (Christian era

1486), the Lord incarnated Himself. With His

appearance there was the simultaneous dawning of

all-auspiciousness within the world as it became

filled with Harinama. Just as Sri Advaita Acarya, from

Santipura, could understand that the Lord had

appeared, similarly, Srivasa and some of the other

devotees of Navadwipa also understood.

 

Since previously Malinidevi was engaged in attending

upon Sacidevi, Srivasa and Jagannatha Misra came to

her at this time and hinted that she was especially

needed now.

 

 

 

 

As long as the Lord chooses not to reveal Himself, no

one can possibly recognize Him. Therefore, even though

from His childhood the Lord exhibited many

supernatural abilities, still, due to His deluding

potency, the devotees could not fully understand His

true nature.

 

 

 

Their hearts were simply filled with parental

affection for Him, without a trace of awe or

reverence. Srivasa and Malini gave Sacidevi and

Jagannatha much advice how to raise their new son.

Srivasa and Malini were just like a mother and father

to Sri Gaurasundara. Because young Nimai Pandita

seemed to have grown arrogant by His scholarship, one

day Srivasa Pandita decided to give Him good

 

 

 

"Why do people study? So that they might understand

what is devotion to Sri Krsna," he told Nimai. "If by

scholarship one doesn't gain devotion to Sri Krsna,

then how will that learning help him? It becomes

simply a tedious endeavour, which in the end is

nothing but a waste of time. If you have actually

learned something then begin your worship of Sri Krsna

now. Make haste.This is the purpose of your life."

 

 

 

Nimai laughed as He replied, "By your mercy certainly

that will come to be. If you are all kind enough for

me, then definitely I'll attain devotion to Sri

Krsna's lotus feet."

 

 

 

Shortly thereafter Mahaprabhu journeyed to Gaya where

He performed the pastimes of accepting initiation from

Sri Isvara Puri. Thus gradually, He began to take up

His real work of distributing loving devotion to Sri

Krsna.

 

 

 

One day, in an ecstatic mood, Lord Gauranga entered

Srivasa's house asking, "Srivas, whom do you worship?

Whom do you meditate upon? Now with your own two eyes,

see that person standing before you."

[C.B. Madya 2/258]

 

 

Saying this, Mahaprabhu entered the Deity room within

Srivasa's home temple and sat down on the simhasana of

Lord Vishnu, revealing His own four-armed form,

holding the conch, disc, club and lotus flower. Seeing

this form, Srivasa was totally stupefied.

 

 

Sri Gaurasundara then said, "Due to being called by

your sankirtana and the loud roaring of Sri Advaita

Acarya, I have left Vaikuntha and have descended upon

this mortal world, accompanied by My eternal

associates will destroy the miscreants and deliver the

pious. Now, without fear, you can chant my glories."

 

 

 

Hearing these words of His Lord, which dispelled all

fear, Srivasa fell on the ground, offering his

obeisances. Then he began to recite hymns in praise of

the Lord.

 

 

 

 

"My obeisances at the lotus feet of the support of the

entire universe Visvambhara, Whose bodily colour is

like that of a newly arrived rain cloud and whose

garments are the color of a thunderbolt. My obeisances

at the lotus feet of the son of Saci, who is bedecked

with ornaments of peacock feathers and a garland of

read beads (gunja). My obeisances at the lotus feet of

the pupil of Ganga dasa, the beauty of whose lotus

face conquers that of ten million moons. My obeisances

at your lotus feet, You who carry a buffalo horn,

stick and flute. The four Vedas have proclaimed You to

be the son of Nanda. Unto You my dear Lord, my

obeisances I offer again and again."

[C.B.Madya 2/272]

 

"Today my birth, my activities, my everything has

become successful. Today my very existence has been

crowned with the greatest auspiciousness. Today the

race of my forefathers has finally born fruit, and my

house, which was also their house, has become blessed.

Today the great fortune of my eyes is completely

beyond calculation, because I have been able to see

that person whose lotus feet are served by the goddess

of fortune, Laksmidevi".

 

Having described the glories of Sri Gaurasundara in

various ways, Sri Gaursundara showed even more

compassion to Srivasa by revealing Himself to all of

his family members. Seeing the niece of Srivasa

Pandita present before Him, Prabhu called to her,

"Narayani! Call upon Sri Krsna with tears in your

eyes."

 

 

 

 

And immediately this little girl, only four years of

age, as if in a delirious frenzy began to cry out,

"Hari! Krsna!" while shedding tears incessantly. In

fact the flood of tears coursed down her body to such

an extent that the ground around her feet became

soaked."

[C.B. Mad. 2].

 

Seeing little Narayani totally agitated in ecstatic

love, Srivasa's wife and even the household servants

also began to shed tears of love. The courtyard of

Srivasa took on a very beautiful appearance, being

decorated with ecstatic love for Krsna.

 

 

 

There was one maidservant in Srivasa Pandita's house

by the name Duhkhi. Every day she used to bring water

from the Ganga for Mahaprabhu's bath. One day

Gaurasundara asked Srivasa, "Who brings this water?"

 

 

 

"Duhkhi brings it," Srivasa replied.

 

"From today her name is Sukhi." Thus the Lord

indicated that those who serve the Lord and the Lord's

devotees are not duhkhi (sad); rather, they are sukhi

(happy).

 

At this time Sri Gaursundara began His lila as the

yuga-avatara at the house of Srivasa Pandit. Having

been reunited with Sri Nityananda Prabhu He started

congregational chanting of the Lord's Holy Names in

the courtyard of Srivasa's house. Nityananda Prabhu

took up His residence there. Sri Malinidevi served

Nityananda as though He were her own son.

 

 

 

Sri Nityananda was actually Sri Baladeva Himself, and

in His pastimes as Lord Nityananda He behaved somewhat

like a madman. He was always overwhelmed by love of

Krsna, and was not aware of the state of His outward

dress or ornaments.

 

One evening, Sri Gaurasundara, accompanied by His

associates, was engaged in chanting and dancing at the

house of Srivasa Thakura when one of Srivas Thakur's

sons passed away after having suffered the effects of

some disease. Within the inner apartment of his house,

the women began to wail in lamentation at the boy's

untimely death. Srivasa Pandita, who was outside in

the courtyard, understood some tragedy must have taken

place. He quickly entered the house only to find that

his son had passed on to the next world. As he was a

very grave devotee and completely conversant in the

science of the Absolute Truth, he was able to console

the women in their grief.

 

"You are all aware of Krsna's glories, so please

restrain yourselves and don't cry. Whoever during his

last moment hears the Lord's Holy Name, even though he

might be the greatest sinner, attains Krsna's abode.

And that incomparably wonderful Lord, He whose glories

are sung by all His servants up to and including Lord

Brahma, is now personally dancing in the courtyard of

your house.

 

"This moment is so auspicious that it is sure this boy

has successfully completed his journey from this

world. Is there anything to be lamented at in this?

His good fortune is completely assured. I can

understand that whatever part I have played in this is

also crowned with success."

[C.B.M 25.30]

 

He concluded by telling them, "If you can't control

your emotions because of your family affection to the

boy, then at least don't cry now, you can cry later.

The Supreme Lord of Gokula Himself, Sri Gaurasundara,

is performing sankirtana accompanied by His devotees

in this house. If, due to your crying, the happiness

that He is experiencing from dancing in ecstasy during

sankirtana is disturbed, then I will just this minute

jump into the Ganges and thus give up my own life."

 

 

 

"Not a blade of grass moves unless by Krsna's will. To

see in this happiness or distress, or knowledge or

ignorance is simply imagination. Know that whatever

Krsna wills is good, and thus, giving up your own

selfish desires, become free from confusion and

unnecessary botheration. Krsna is giving and Krsna is

taking away, and it is Krsna alone Who is maintaining

everyone. Someone He protects and someone He destroys,

all according to His will. If someone contemplates

something contrary to Krsna's will, then as a result

of His desire He only get torment. Giving up all

lamentation, simply hear Krsna's name, and thus pass

through all difficulties feeling great happiness. Then

your desires will actually be fulfilled.'

 

Having given all of these instructions to those

present, Srivasa again went outside to join Mahaprabhu

in ecstatic chanting and dancing. The women, leaving

the dead body, came to hear the kirtan of Mahaprabhu.

And so Mahaprabhu continued His chanting until the

middle of the night.

 

When everyone was at last leaving to take rest,

Mahaprabhu spoke. "Today My mind is feeling some

tribulation. I think some sad event has occurred in

Srivasa's house." The pandit replied, "What possible

unhappiness could there be in that person's house

where Your divinely blissful countenance is seen?"

 

"Srivasa! Why wasn't I feeling bliss in kirtana today?

What inauspicious thing transpired in your house?"

Srivasa answered, "My Lord, You are Yourself all

auspicious. Where You are present, no sorrow can be

found anywhere!" But the other devotees informed the

Lord that Srivasa's son had passed away. Hearing this

news, Gaura Raya cried out, "Alas, what a tragic

event. Why didn't you tell me of this unfortunate news

before?"

 

"I will explain," Srivasa Pandita replied. "I couldn't

tolerate disturbing You while You were enjoying

sankirtana. If one of my sons dies, what sorrow is

there in that for me? If we all die while seeing You,

that would actually be a matter of great happiness. On

the other hand, if You would have to stop dancing,

then perhaps I would have died. My Lord, this was the

danger that I feared, and thus I didn't tell you at

the time."

 

Seeing Srivasa Pandita's profound devotion, Sri

Gaurasundara said, "How can I give up such company as

this?" With tears in His eyes He continued. "Due to

love for Me, he didn't even feel lamentation at the

death of his son. How will I abandon their

companionship?"

 

The Lord continued to cry, and the devotees began to

worry within, having heard Him speak of leaving them.

Thereafter Mahaprabhu came to where the dead body of

the infant was lying. Touching it, He called, "Boy!

Why are you going away and leaving Srivasa Pandita?"

 

The life of the dead child returned at the touch of

Mahaprabhu's hand. After offering obeisances to the

Lord, he replied, "O Prabhu! Whatever You ordain is

absolute. No one can do anything but what is

sanctioned by You. As many days as I was destined to

remain here, that many days I have stayed. Now that my

time has elapsed, I have proceeded to leave.

 

"My Lord, I have taken birth and died repeatedly. But

this time, at the time of death, I passed away quite

happily, having taken darsana of Your beautiful face."

 

 

After saying this, the child became silent. Sri

Gauranga Raya thus enjoyed a kind of transcendental

sport. Having heard the uncommon words of the dead

child, the devotees floated in the ocean of bliss.

Srivasa Pandita, along with his family members, then

fell at the lotus feet of Sri Gaurasundara and cried

in ecstatic love.

 

Mahaprabhu then told him, "Since Myself and Nityananda

are your two sons, please don't feel any more distress

in your mind over what has happened." Hearing these

compassionate words of their Lord, the devotees cheers

were resounded throughout the heavens. Proving the

statements of sastra, Their Lordships Gaura-Nityananda

became deeply indebted to Srivasa due to his great

love for and service to Them.

 

After Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, Srivasa Pandit came to

live at Kumarhatta. Every year he would go with His

brothers to see Mahaprabhu at Puri. He also regularly

came to see Sri Sacimata in Navadwip and would spend a

few days there during those times.

 

When Mahaprabhu came from Nilacala to see His mother

and the river Ganges, He also stopped at Kumarhatta to

see Srivasa.

 

"After staying some days at Advaita's house,

Mahaprabhu came to Srivasa's temple at Kumarhatta."

[C.B]

 

It was at this time that Mahaprabhu gave this

benediction to Srivasa: "There will never be poverty

in your house. If you simply remain indoors, never

even venturing out of your house, whatever you require

for your worship will come to your door."

 

Srivasa Pandita, along with his three brothers,

eternally serve Sri Gaurasundara. He is the

incarnation of Narada and accompanied Mahaprabhu in

all His Navadwipa lilas.

 

Across the Ganges from Halisahar (the present name of

the village of Kumarhatta), there is a town of the

name Chuchura. Located here are some very beautiful

Deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga. At present the

seva-puja is becoming carried on by Devananda Gaudiya

Matha. The resident Swami Maharaja recalls that when

the Gaudya Math took over the sevaitship of this

temple, its name was Srivasa-Mahaprabhu Mandir. Thus

there is a strong possibility that these are the

worshipful Deities of Srivasa Pandita. The temple is

at present named 'Uddhavar Gaudiya Math.' It is near

'Chaumatha', close to the 'Chori Mor' intersection

where the town clock stands.

 

There is a rail station at Chuchura (Chinsura) on the

Bandel-Navadwip line. Chuchura may also be reached by

ferry from Halisahar on the other side of the Ganga,

where Caitanya Boda, the birthplace of Sri Isvara

Puri, is located.

 

 

 

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