Ramanujacarya (9)

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April 7th, 2003, Monday (Pancami)

Appearance day of Sri Ramanujacarya

 

 

>From Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's

"Navadvipa Bhava Taranga"

Parikrama khanda

Chapter Fifteen: Sri Vaikunthapura, Rudradvipa, and Pulina

 

 

All glories to Gauranga and the Panca tattva! All glories to

Navadvipa, the abode of Sri Caitanya!

 

Coming to Vaikunthapura, Nityananda Prabhu spoke to Sri Jiva while

mildly smiling, "On one side of the eight petaled Navadvipa is this

Vaikunthapura. Listen without doubt. This is Vaikuntha, the abode of

Narayana, situated in the spiritual sky beyond the Viraja River. Maya can

never enter this place, where Lord Narayana is served by His energies, Sri,

Bhu, and Nila. The effulgence radiating from this spiritual abode is the

Brahman. With material vision, people see only the material world. But with

his transcendental vision, Narada Muni once saw Narayana manifest as

Gaurasundara in this spiritual abode. After seeing this, the best of the

munis stayed here for some time.

 

"There is one more confidential story. Ramanujacarya once came to

Puri and pleased the Lord with many prayers. Lord Jagannatha appeared before

him and said, 'Go and see Navadvipa dhama, for I will soon appear there in

the house of Jagannatha Misra. The entire spiritual sky is situated within

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

leading devotee, you should see Navadvipa. Let your students, who are

absorbed in dasya rasa, stay here while you go. Any living being who does

not see Navadvipa has been born uselessly. Just one portion of Navadvipa

contains Ranga Ksetra, Sri Venkata (Tirupati), and Yadava Acala. O son of

Kesava, go to Navadvipa and see the form of Gauranga. You have come to the

Earth to preach bhakti, so let your birth be successful with the mercy of

Gaura. From Navadvipa, go to Kurma Sthana and join again with your

disciples.'

 

"With folded hands, Ramanuja submitted to Lord Jagannatha, 'In Your

narration You have mentioned Gauracandra, but exactly who He is, I do not

know.'

 

"The Lord mercifully replied to Ramanuja , 'Everyone knows Krsna,

the Lord of Goloka. That Krsna, whose vilasa-murti is Narayana, is the

Supreme Truth, and He resides in Vrindavana. That Krsna is fully manifest in

the form of Gaurahari, and that Vrindavana is fully manifest in the form of

Navadvipa Dhama. I eternally reside as Gauranga in Navadvipa, the topmost

abode 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. If

you say that Navadvipa is part of the material world, then your devotion

will dwindle day by day. I have placed this spiritual abode within the

material world by My desire and inconceivable energy. Simply by reading

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

surpasses all reasoning power. Only the devotees can understand by My

mercy.'

 

"Hearing this, the sober minded Ramanuja was agitated with love for

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

cannot know Your opulences. Why isn't Gauranga-lila clearly described in the

scriptures? When I closely examine the Sruti and Puranas, I find only some

hint of the Gaura-tattva. After hearing your instructions, my doubts are

gone 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-lila

throughout the three worlds. I will give people evidence from the hidden

scriptures and establish devotional service to Gauranga throughout the

universe. Please instruct me.'

 

"Seeing Ramanuja 's eagerness, Lord Jagannatha said, 'Ramanuja, do

not broadcast like this. Keep the confidential pastimes of Gauranga secret.

Only after Gauranga has finished His pastimes will the general public

receive them. For now, preach dasya rasa, while in your heart worship

Gauranga constantly.'

 

"Taking the Lord's advice, Ramanuja secretly cultured his attraction

for Navadvipa. So that Gauranga's pastimes were not revealed prematurely,

Lord Narayana then led Ramanuja here to Vaikunthapura and mercifully showed

Ramanuja His transcendental form served by Sri, Bhu, and Nila. Ramanuja

considered himself fortunate to obtain darsana of his worshipable Lord, when

suddenly he saw the Lord assume the enchanting form of Gaurasundara, the son

of Jagannatha Misra. Ramanuja swooned at the brilliance of His form. Then

Gauranga put His lotus feet on the head of Ramanuja, who was thus divinely

inspired and recited prayers of praise. 'I must see Gaura's actual lila on

Earth. 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 birth

here again.'

 

"Gauranga disappeared and Ramanuja, contented, resumed his journey.

After some days he arrived at Kurma Sthana and saw the place with his

disciples. During his life he preached dasya rasa throughout South India,

while internally he was absorbed in Gaura-lila. By Gauranga's mercy, he took

birth in Navadvipa as the devotee Sri Ananta. He went to the house of

Vallabhacarya, or Vallabha Misra, the father of Laksmi-priya, and saw the

marriage 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 worship

here."