PANIHATI FESTIVAL

[Guest guest]

Sri Raghunath Das ,born in a dynasty of Vaisnavas,was the only son

of a wealthy landowner.At fifteen he met Lord Caitanya.Since then,he left

home many times to join Lord Caitanya to dedicate his life at the Lord's

lotus feet.But every time his parents would bring him back.They even got him

married to a very beautiful woman.At last one day he ran away from home,

leaving behind his beautiful wife.His parents at last gave up the thought of

bringing him back as they undestood that it was futile to bring back a

madman of Caitanyacandra. Srila Raghunath Das obtains an interview with Lord

Nityananda Prabhu at the village of Panihati.

 

Sitting on a rock under a tree on the bank of the Ganges,Lord Nityananda

seemed as effulgent as hundreds of thousands of rising suns.Lord called him

and said,"You are a just like a thief,for instead of coming near,you stay

away at a distat place.Now that I have captured you,I shall punish you.Make

a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice."Raghunath das

greatly pleased organised a very big festival at Panihati at the bank of

Ganges.Prasadam was prepared for thousands of devotees in hundreds of large

pots.In one place chipped rice was soaked in yoghurt,sugar and bananas.In

another place it was soaked in hot milk.Yet in another place it was mixed in

condensed milk with special type of banana known as Canpa-kala,sugar,camphor

and clarified butter.Like this tons of prasadam was made with chipped rice.

 

On a platform,all the most important associates of Sri Nityanada Prabhu,as

well as other important men,sat down in a circle.Hearing about the festival,

all kinds of learned scholars,brahmanas and priests went there.Some of the

brahmanas,not having gotten a place on the platform,went to the bank of

Ganges and some even got into the water with their two earthen pots and

soaked their chipped rice there and began eating.Everyone was offered two

earthen pots.In one was chipped rice with condensed milk,and in the other

chipped rice with yogurt.

 

Lord Nityanada Prabhu in meditation,brought Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.Lord

Nityananda offered Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu a place and had Him sit down.Then

together the two brothers began eating chipped rice.Seeing Lord Caitanya

eating with Him,Lord Nityanada Prabhu became very happy and exhibited

varities of ecstatic love.Lord Nityanand Prabhu ordered,"All of you eat,

chanting the holy name of Hari".Immediately the holy names "Hari,Hari"

resounded,filling the entire universe,remembering how Krsna and Balaram ate

with Their companions,the cowherd boys on the bank of the Yamuna.Like this

thousands of devotees enjoyed Panihati festival in the association of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu.

 

Panihati Maha Mahotsav Ki Jai.

 

(CC-Antya Lila-Volume One-Chapter Six)