The Glorious Disappereance of Srila Rasikananda - 24th Feb'2001

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The Fourteenth Wave

 

Glory to Syamananda, the ocean of mercy. The son of Acyuta serves him life

after life. Rasika entered into Kenduvilva village and seeing the birth place

of Jayadeva he became filled with emotion. He visited Visnupura and took his

bath in the Ganges there before going to Amvua. Here he visited the Sripata on

both sides of the river and took darshan of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai. He then

visited all the Sripatas of the mahantaresiding of both banks of the Ganges.

>From there he moved to Ksetra to observe the Ratha festival of Lord Jagannatha.

As in previous years he continued to reveal newer and newer pastimes in

Nilacala. Throughout the year he continued his practice to organise great

festivals during which he would serve guru, Krsna and the saints and preach the

sixty-four kinds of devotion to Krsna. It was his daily practice to meditate on

Krsna and perform sankirtana. Rasika worshipped the paths by which Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu visited the abode of Jagannatha. At some spots he would roll on the

ground in ecstasy an at others he would perform sankirtana floating in a pool

of tears. Throughout the day and night he remained absorbed in Krsna worship,

Krsna meditation and Krsna sankirtana.

 

In the morning he would observe mangala arati; after this he would meet with

some Vaisnavas and then he would recite Vedic hymns for some time. After this

he took bath and then worshipped his Deities. Next he would absorb himself in

meditatin and then he had to listen to Bhagavata and the serve the saints. He

would spend six hours a day listening to the Puranas and six hours a day in

singing and reading from the books of Jayadeva and others. In the evening he

would observe the arati. He spent time in talking to the various Vaisnavas and

scholars who would canstantly visit him. He joyfully listened to many different

singers and he would also sing to the accompaniment of various instruments. For

two hours he would make sure that the saints were nicely fed and he also liked

to eat with them. Alone he could read Bhagavatam for six hours and then absorb

in meditation for another six. Whenever he got extra time he loved to chant

Harinama. He chanted Harinama as he travelled; he chanted Harinama in his

sleep; he nevr spent a second withour Harinama.

 

He knew nothing but Krsna and he always tried to let others understand Krsna.

For this purpose he continuously travelled to different places encouraging the

people to give up their bad habits and develop their faith in Krsna. Simply by

his touch all types of sinful people became learned. Just as Lord Krsna does,

age after age, so, throughout Utkala, Rasika destroyed irreligion and

established true religion. He gave initiation in Krsna mantra and analysed all

the sastra in relation to Lord Krsna. The whole of Utkala came to know that

except for Lord krsna everything was false, meaningless and short-lived. Every

year he performed the Dvadasa mahottsava. He had disciples in every house of

Utkala and he taught them all to serve guru, Krsna and the saints.

 

One day while Rasika was sitting alone, he considered that the saintly persons

purpose in Bharata-varsa was to remove ignorance from the hearts of the people,

to make them fully devoted to Krsna and to teach them to serve the saints. Not

caring for class or creed Rasika had purified countless heretics and brought

them to float in love of Krsna. He had passed sixty-two years of his life in

service to guru, Krsna and the saints. From his appearance in this world he had

been devoted to Krsna and he had passed his life in love for Krsna.

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Nityananda, Advaita Acarya and their associates

had all finished their pastimes and now the mahanta associates of Syamananda

had also disappeared. With their disappearance it was an opportunity for Kali

to enter. He considered that if he also left this world he might see the son of

Nanda with his own eyes. He longed to see the Lord of Radhika along with the

gopis of Vraja. At that time he would also see Lord Krsna standing in His

beautiful three-fold posture under a kadamba tree on the bank of the Yamuna. On

either side of Krsna would be Radharani and Candravali and groups of Vraja

women would be serving Him. Thinking in this way he decided to leave this

world.

 

When he revealed his decision to his closest associates they were shattered and

while still in Rasika'a presence they rolled on the ground crying. Prabhu said,

"Gopijanavallabha, Tulasi, you are my favourite disciples. You are both my

followers birth after birth and you are more dear to me then my own life.

Without your help I could not have completed my duties and because I am

thankful to you therefore I am telling you this. After reading the scriptures I

was thinking about Krsna when a beautiful boy with a complexion like a monsoon

cloud and holding a flute, appeared before me. He told me, `Rasika, it's time

for you to leave here now.' I had been absorbed in my book and did not listen

to him so He angrily told me, `You are not obeying Me, Rasika but I am telling

you to go to your own place, with Me in My abode.' Then He disappeared and in

my trance I gave up my life. By the end of the night he had ordered me like

this three times."

 

Hearing this the two disciples fell at the feet of their Prabhu. He smilingly

told them, "I will be with you always."

 

Rasika's character was beyond description. The earth is gratified by his birth

for he delivered the three worlds. His pastimes are like a bottomless ocean and

cannot be fully described. By his grace I have mentioned them in brief. By

listening to them you will attain love and devotion to Krsna. Making the feet

of Syamananda his ornament this son of Rasamaya narrates Rasika-mangala.

 

 

The Fifteenth Wave

 

Glory to Syamananda, the life of Rasika. By his birth in this world he has

delivered the universe. While sitting in a lonely place Rasika told his

favourite followers of his secret. He said, "I have to carry out His order to

leave this world. I cannot stay in such an ominous age as Kali. As Kali enters

the yavanas will reign in Bharata bhumi and people will gibe up their religious

pronciples. I will be relieved by not having to observe those conditions. While

I was leaving Gopivallabhapura, I prayed to Govinda to take me to His abode. I

have been His sincere servant for a long time. My childhood was passed in the

worship of Krsna and I spent eighteen years worshipping Him secretly. With

tears in my eyes I travelled through forest after forest in search of Krsna.

Although I have a family, I was never entangled in family life. My time was

spent solely in the service of guru, Krsna and the saints. I never cared for

eating, sleeping and other such pleasures. I never saw anything but Krsna and I

passed eighteen yers in worship of Him.

 

Fortunately at that time, Syamananda came to me and intitiated me with Krsna

mantra. I was with him for twenty years in the joy of love of Krsna. He

travelled everywhere making kings and common peoples his disciples and flooded

the world in love of Krsna. While travelling with him I was always dedicated to

the feet of Krsna and I did service to guru, saints, Tulasi, dhatri and

brahmins. I did service to the residents of Vraja and I practised all the rules

of the scriptures concerning religion and devotion. With Syamananda I preached

sankirtana as a religion.

 

In this way for nineteen years and seven months he manifested the pastimes of

Lord Krsna in this world. Then, after handing over all the responsibility to

me, he disappeared. I have followed his order for twenty-four years a nine

months. I have observed all the rules, regulations and rituals in preaching the

message of love and devotion to Krsna. I distributed this message to every home

and performed sankirtana there also. I observed festivals which included all

the sixty varieties of service to guru, Krsna and the saints. I observed the

disappearance days of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, my Guru, Advaita Acarya as well

as other Mahajanas and of my god-brothers. I organisedtwo Dvadasa Mahottsavas

at Govindapura, three at Syamasundarapura, one at Kusarda village and nineteen

at Gopivallabhapura. For nineteen years I practiced all the sixty-four kinds of

devotional activities and for twenty-four years and nine months I have been

engaged in worshipping Krsna. Now I am sixty-four years and four months old. I

have spen these years in ecstatic joy filling the world with love for Krsna.

Now I no longer desire to live in this world. I want to go to the abode of

Krsna to observe His pastimes for this is His order to me.

 

Although I should go to Krsna there are still some desires of mine which remain

unfulfilled. The book Syamananda Rasamava is now in the seventh wave; one great

festival of feeding sweets to the saints; one more visit to Vrndavana and

feeding the Vaisnavas at any temple on the banks of the Ganga. In the meantime,

however, the order has come and who will dare to ignore it. It is the Lord's

pastime that birth brings with it death.

 

I have told you everything about myself and now I will make a request to you. I

am unable to go to Vrndavana, Nilacala or the banks of the Ganga. I am quite

well here but I request you bury me at the place of Gopinatha. Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu has instructed me in this way. It was at Remuna that Madhavendra

Puri and all the other mahajanas worshipped the feet of Gopala and the Lord,

who is known as Ksira-cora Gopala, stole the ksira for His devotee, Madhavendra

Puri. I am telling you privately that you can build my tomb there so that all

can see me there."

 

Hearing all this from their Prabhu, his companions fell to the ground and cried

helplessly. As they cried they held each others shoulders while Rasika tried to

solace them with sweet words. Gradually all types of bad omens were seen in

every house of the world. As Rasika had decided to go back to Goloka Mother

Earth, recognising her loss, shed many tears. The coming separation from Rasika

made everyone very sorry. People began to say, "Rasika who for so long has bore

the burden of sorrows of this world and has preached krsna-nama will soon

disappear." Now I shall describe that episode. Making the feet of Syamananda my

ornament, this son of Rasamaya narrates Rasika-mangala.

 

 

The Sixteenth Wave

 

Glory to Syamananda, the abode of mercy and the lord, life and wealth of

Rasikadeva.

 

Now listen to how he left this world. On the pratipat day of Siva Caturdasi in

the month of Phalguna Rasika returned to his eternal lila in Goloka Vrndavana.

Rasika had been passing his days and nights enjoying sankirtana and danced in

bless everywhere, in temples and in the homes of his disciples. When he was at

Varisada, a small thorn entered into his foot causing a fever throughout his

body. At that time Prabhu again told his companions of his desire to go to join

Krsna and he ordered them to make his tomb in Remuna at the temple of Gopala.

 

Constantly surrounded by his disciples he remained absorbed in sankirtana.

Hearing of the festival many kings, common people, disciples and disciples of

disciples all came there and food was served to thousands of saints. Sankirtana

was accompanied by many musical instruments and the whole place became just

like Vaikuntha.

 

Suddenly he collapsed to the ground. It was decided to carry him to

Gopivallabhapura but when his disciples tried to lift him from the ground they

were unable to move him. His body became so heavy that even hundreds of people

were unable to move him. Rasika then ordered them to take him to Remuna and to

everyone's surprise he sat himself with ease. He was carried all the way to

Sarata. As they walked they performed a tumultuous sankirtana which caused the

earth to quiver. From there they went to Remuna and Rasika went unaccompanied

into the temple. The brahmin priest saw him enter the temple but he disappeared

into the image of Gopala.

 

The brahmin enquired, "Where is Rasika Sekhara? I saw him go into the temple."

He searched inside the temple but could not find him. In intense emotion ghr

brahmin announced to everyone, "Rasika Thakura has entered into the body of

Gopala." Indeed, when he entered the temple they saw that no one was there. In

their bewilderment they barricaded the place with wood. They built a tomb there

and had a seat covered in cloth with ornaments, garlands, kumkum, sandal,

aguru, etc. placed before the image of Gopala. But for his companions no one

knew the manner of his disappearance because such an occurance can only be

understood by saintly persons.

 

The character of Rasika was beyond the knowledge of the King of heaven and

others. His glory is eternal and is sung even in heaven. By his appearance in

this world he was able to give love and devotion and help all creatures to

obtain salvation. Gopijanavallabha dasa says that, for the sake of all

creatures he takes birth age after age. Who can describe the glory of Rasika

which is a subject of meditation even for demigods, saints and ascetics. I am a

poor, helpless, needy and ignorant person so how can I know the extent of his

glory? The son of Acyuta has described his character to me by dictating through

my heart.

 

I have served the feet of Rasikendra throughout my life and it is only by his

grace that I have been able to write this book. I request all scholars not to

find fault with it. To describe the pure fame of Syamananda and Rasika I have

written the book in four parts containing sixty-four waves which are all

dictated by Rasikamurari, living in my heart. The subject matter will help us

to cross over material existence. Though it may be improperly composed I

request you to read it for we should all sing the glory of Rasika. Do not think

that his pastimes are ordinary because he was an embodiment of Narayana. With a

joyfull heart listen to Rasika-mangala and try to conquer over material

existence.

 

Glory to Rasikendra, the friend of the needy. Gloery to Thakura Gosvami, the

ocean of happiness. Glory to Rasika Murari, the abode of good qualities. Glory

to Sri Thakura Gosvami, a dear friend to all. Glory to the giver of love and

devotion. Glory to the protector of the needy, poor and helpless creatures;

Glory to the bright moon of the Syamanandi sect; Glory to Rasikendra, whose

charm attracted everyone. Gloty to the husband of Syama dasi Thakurani, except

for those feet, Vallabha has nothing to depend on. By the order of the King of

Orissa, Balabhadra, I began this book during the month of Makra, (most probably

Pausa) on the Vasanta Pancami day by taking the feet of Rasika in my heart. It

has taken me two years and eight months to complete the achievements of Rasika.

The book is completed on Sunday, the fifth day of the full moon period.

 

Oh my friends, listen to Rasika-mangala and very soon you will obtain love and

devotion. By making the feet of Syamananda my ornament this son of Rasamaya has

narrated Rasika-mangala.

 

>From Rasika Mangala by Gopijanavallabha Das