Thought of the week: Sri Isvara Puri

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Sri Isvara Puri appeared in this world on the full moon day of the month of

Jyestha in the town of Kumarhatta. He served his spiritual master, Sri

Madhavendra Puri, very faithfully, especially during the end of the life of his

guru. The life of Isvara Puri exemplifies the unlimited glory that a disciple

can achieve by the mercy of his spiritual master. By this mercy of guru, he had

the privilege of becoming the spiritual master of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the

Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has described in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta that

the first sprout of the desire tree of devotion was manifested in the person of

Sri Madhavendra Puri, and that sprout developed into a sapling in the person of

Sri Isvara Puri. Then, in the person of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who was also

the gardener Himself, that sapling became the trunk of an enormous tree, the

desire tree of devotion.

 

The offensive and the surrendered

*********************************

Towards the end of his life Sripada Madhavendra Puri was completely

incapacitated and unable to perform even the basic bodily functions. At this

time Sri Isvara Puri served him with great love and devotion. He not only took

care of all the physical needs of his guru but pleased him by constantly

reciting the holy name and nectarean pastimes of the Lord.

 

At this time there was another disciple of Madhavendra Puri named Ramacandra

Puri who considered himself very learned. On seeing his guru lament in

separation with Krishna and His holy dhama, Ramacandra Puri took it upon

himself to instruct his guru on the importance of equanimity to attain the

impersonal Brahaman. The greatly angered Madhavendra Puri ordered him away from

his presence.

 

With this offensive mentality, Ramacandra Puri became habitually critical of

Vaishnavas to the point of later criticizing Caitanaya Mahaprabhu Himself.

While the Lord accepted the criticism, these sins against Vaishnavas led to his

complete downfall from the path of devotion.

 

On the other hand, pleased with the service and surrender of Sri Isvara Puri,

Madhavendra Puri blessed him to attain divine Krishna prema. On the strength of

this benediction he would later be glorified by having Caitanya Mahaprabhu as

his disciple.

 

Humility of Isvara Puri

***********************

Sri Isvara Puri, in his travels to various holy places, once came to Sridhama

Navadwipa, where he stayed in the house of Sri Gopinatha Acarya. By the will of

fate, he came to Sri Advaita Acarya's house, who is also a disciple of Sripada

Madhavendra Puri, as is Nityananda Prabhu (though some claim that he was the

disciple of Lakshmipati Tirtha, the spiritual master of Madhavendra Puri but

received many instructions from his senior Godbrother, Madhavendra Puri).

 

Sri Isvara Puri came to where Sri Advaita Acarya was engaged in worshipping Sri

Krishna and quietly sat down there. By his divine luster, one Vaisnava cannot

remain hidden from another. Advaita Acarya began to look in his direction again

and again. Finally, he asked him: 'Who are you? I have a feeling you are a

Vaisnava sannyasi.'

 

Sri Isvara Puri very humbly replied: 'I am a low class sudra, come to view your

lotus feet.' Mukunda Datta, who was also present could also understand that

this is a Vaisnava sannyasi and in his sweet voice, he began a kirtana

describing Sri Krishna's pastimes. When Sri Isvara Puri heard that kirtan he at

once fell to the ground, and the earth beneath him became wet with his tears.

The devotees present were dumbstruck. 'We haven't seen a Vaisnava like this

before.'

 

Advaita Acarya very firmly embraced him. Now everyone could understandthat this

is Madhavendra Puri's dear most disciple, Sri Isvara Puri. Loud shouts of

'Hari! Hari!' rose up into the air.

 

Sri Isvara Puri meets Nimai

***************************

Sri Isvara Puri remained at Navadwipa for some days. At that time Sri Nimai

Pandit (Caitanya Mahaprabhu) was absorbed in His pastimes of learning. One day

when Nimai Pandit was returning home from the school, he happened by chance to

meet Sri Isvara Puri on the way. Sri Isvara Puri was as though mesmerized while

looking at the son of Saci, and thought to himself, 'He has all the indications

of being a divine personage, and appears very grave indeed.'

 

Mahaprabhu very humbly offered His obeisances and bowing his head, humbly

requested, 'Sripada, please come with Me to My house and be My guest for

lunch.' Arriving there, Mahaprabhu personally washed his feet, while in the

Deity room, Saci Mata offered the various preparations that she had prepared to

the Lord. Then Mahaprabhu served that prasadam to Sri Isvara Puri and

afterwards accepted his remnants. Thereafter they sat in the temple and

discussed Krishna-katha, by which they both became filled with ecstatic love.

 

Sri Isvara Puri thus remained at Navadwipa for a few months, staying at the

house of Sri Gopinatha Acarya. Everyday Mahaprabhu would come to have darsan of

his lotus feet and occasionally He would invite him for lunch. At that time

Srila Gadadhara Pandita was just a young boy and Isvara Puri was very

affectionate to him. He began to teach him from the book which he had composed

- 'Sri Krishna Lilamrta'.

 

Disciple relationship exemplified

*********************************

One evening when Mahaprabhu had come to offer His obeisances to Isvara Puri, he

spoke to him, 'Nimai, you are a great scholar. I have composed a manuscript

about Sri Krishna's pastimes. If you would please hear it, then I can recite it

before You, and You can correct any mistakes that there might be. I will be

very pleased if You do this.'

 

Mahaprabhu replied smilingly, 'Whatever a devotee speaks is dictated by Sri

Krishna Himself. If anyone sees any fault in this then he is simply a sinful

wretch. Whatever poems he composes, certainly Krishna is very pleased by that.

Krishna accepts the mood in which things are offered as the most substantial

part of the offering. To Isvara Puri these words were like drops of nectar and

he could understand the mind of Nimai. However on the insistence of Isvara

Puri, Nimai reviewed the manuscript and came back with one error. However,

Isvara Puri on prolonged reflection explained that his composition was indeed

accurate and the vastly learned Nimai Pandita graciously accepted. In this way

Caitanya Mahaprabhu demonstrated that no matter how learned a disciple is, he

will always be a "fool number one" in front of his spiritual master.

 

Sri Isvara Puri initiates Caitanya Mahaprabhu

*********************************************

After the passing away of His father, Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Gaya,

ostensibly to offer "pinda" for His departed father and forefathers where He

once again met Sri Isvara Puri. Mahaprabhu addressed Isvara Puri, 'My journey

to Gaya is successful just by My seeing your lotus feet. If one offers "pinda"

at this holy place, then his forefathers become delivered. But simply by seeing

you, tens of millions of forefathers get liberation. Therefore, your presence

is even more auspicious than that of this holy tirtha. All of the holy tirthas

pray for the dust of your lotus feet. Therefore, O Puripada, I am praying at

your lotus feet to ferry me across the ocean of material existence and to cause

me to drink the nectar from Krishna's lotus feet.'

 

A few days later Mahaprabhu approached Sri Isvara Puri and requested that he

initiate Him with the divine mantra. 'My mind is becoming very restless in

anticipation of this initiation.' Srila Isvara Puri very blissfully replied,

'What to speak of mantras, I am prepared to offer You my very life.'

Thereafter Srila Isvara Puri initiated Mahaprabhu with the divine mantra.

 

Service to Guru

***************

One morning Srila Isvara Puri came to where Mahaprabhu was staying. Mahaprabhu

was extremely pleased to see him and after offering His obeisances He invited

him to stay for lunch. Mahaprabhu Himself cooked and then very carefully served

His guru the prasadam. Afterwards he smeared sandalwood paste on his body and

put a garland of flowers around his neck. Thus the Supreme Lord Himself taught

how one should serve his guru. Without serving the great devotees, it is not

possible to receive love of Godhead. Service to the guru is the door to

devotion.

 

On his return from Gaya, Mahaprabhu came by way of Kumarhatta, the birthplace

of Isvara Puri, and became ecstatic. He collected some dust from that holy

place and bound it in the corner of his upper garment, saying, 'This dust is as

dear to me as My life' then he set out for Navadvipa. Later many followers of

Caitanya Mahaprabhu, following in His footsteps came here and collected earth

from the birthplace of Srila Isvara Puri, creating a pond called Caitanya Doha,

which is still present there.

 

Instructions of Isvara Puri to Caitanya Mahaprabhu

***************************************************

Though Isvara Puri understood that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, in his position as the spiritual master he considered

it his duty to instruct his disciple. These instructions would form the basis

of the Sankirtana movement that the Lord would propagate later on. Some of

these instructions are as follows:

 

In this age of Kali there is no other religious principle than the chanting of

the holy name, which is the essence of all Vedic hymns. This is the purport of

all scriptures.

 

Simply by chanting the holy name of Krishna one can obtain freedom from

material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra one will

be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord.

 

Religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation are known

as the four goals of life, but before love of Godhead, the fifth and highest

goal, these appear as insignificant as straw in the street.

 

My dear child, continue dancing, chanting and performing sankirtana in

association with devotees. Furthermore, go out and preach the value of chanting

Krishna-nama, for by this process You will be able to deliver all fallen souls.

 

All glories to Sri Isvara Puri, the perfect guru with a perfect disciple!!

 

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----- Festivals over the next week ------

Mar 09 2002, Saturday Ekadasi Vijaya (Break fast 06:28-10:22) (Fast)

Mar 10 2002, Sunday Disappearance Sri Isvara Puri

Mar 12 2002, Tuesday Siva Ratri

 

*** NOTE: All times are for Washington D.C, USA, EST ***

For festival information for your city please go to http://www.iskcondc.org and

click on 'Calendar'

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