Madhavendra Puri (2)

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Sri Madhavendra Puri

by Arijit Das

(posted on VINA, February 19th 1999)

 

 

"Isvara Puri the spirtual master of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

appeared in a brahmin family and was the most beloved disciple of Sri

Madhavendra Puri."

 

The nature of Sri Ishvara Puri's personal devotional service to the

lotus feet of His guru, Sri Madhavedra Puri, is mentioned in another part of

the Caitanya caritamrita by Kaviraj Goswami as follows: "At the last stage

of his life, Sri Madhavedra Puri became an invalid and was completely unable

to move, and Isvara Puri so completely engaged himself in his service that

he personally cleaned up his stool and urine. Always chanting the Hare

Krishna maha-mantra and reminding Sri Madhavendra Puri about the pastimes of

Lord Krishna in the last stage of his life, Ishvara Puri gave the best

service among his disciples. Thus Madhavedra Puri, being very pleased with

him, blessed him, saying, `may you have Krishna prema.' Thus Ishavara Puri,

by the grace of his spiritual master, Sri Madhavedra Puri, became a great

devotee in the ocean of love of Godhead."

 

Srila Prabhupada points out in his commentary on this verse, "It is

by the mercy of the spirtual master that one becomes perfect, as vividly

exemplified here. A Vaishnava is always protected by the Supreme Personality

of Godhead, but if he appears to be an invalid , this gives a chance to his

disciples to serve him. Ishvara Puri pleased his spiritual master by

service, and by the blessings of his spirtual master he became such a great

personality that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted him as his spiritual

master."

 

Lord Nityananda Prabhu quite by accident met Madhavendra Puri. The

body of Mahavendra Puri was surcharged with divine love for Sri Krsna.

Madhavedra Puri was accompanied by all his disciples, who were filled with

Krsna prema. Madhavedra Prui tasted no other food besides the mellow

qualities of Krsna. The mellows of Krsna consciousness were his only

sustenance. His holy body was the place of Krsna's pastimes. There can be no

greater praise of his love for Krsna than to say that the great Advaita

Acarya Prabhu was the discipline of Madhavedra Puri.

 

As soon as Nityananda Prabhu beheld Madhavendra Puri he lost

external consciousness, and lay motionless, being overpowered with divine

love. As soon as Madhavendra Puri saw Nityananda Prabhu he also lost

external consciousness and became oblivious of the world around him. Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself declared again and again that Madhavedra Puri is

the original teacher of pure devotion. As Nityananda Prabhu and Madhavendra

Puri fainted upon seeing one another, Isvara Puri and all the other

disciples of Madhavendra Puri wept.

 

After regaining external consciousness, both of them began to

embrace one another, crying tears of ecstasy. The two great teachers rolled

on the ground in the ecstasy of divine love, and, transformed by their

jubilation, shouted words of joy with voices of thunder. Tears of love

flowed like rivers from the eyes of those two great masters. And wet with

their tears, the Earth felt blessed. There was no end to the displayof

transcendetal ecstasy shown by those two great souls whose bodies shivered

as tears flowed from their eyes and their hair stood on end, for Caitanya

Mahaprabhu himself danced within their hearts.

 

Nityananda Prabhu said,"Today I have obtained the complete

fulfillment of all the pilgrimages that I have ever performed, for today, my

eyes had beheld the holy feet of Mahavendra Puri. My life is glorified by

witnessing such divine love as his. Holding Nityananda Prabhu in a close

embrace, Mahavendra Puri, choked with divine love, could utter no words of

reply. And in his joy, Madhavendra Puri had no wish to release Nityananda

Prabhu from his embrace. Isvara Prui, Brahmananda Puri, and all the other

disciples of Madhavendra Puri, felt irresitably attracted to Nityananda

Prabhu. Although they had met so many renounced saints, they could detect no

trace of love for Krsna in any of them. And by meeting those unfortunate and

wicked souls, they gaines nothing but grief.

 

And being aggrieved, they sought refuge in the forests. But now they

were relieved of all their sorrows upon beholding in one another the

manifestation of love for Krsna. For days, Nityananda Prabhu travelled in

the company of Madhavedra Puri, delighting in discussing the pastimes of

Krsna. Madhavedra Puri's devotional service is wonderful to speak of. He

would faint upon seeing a blackish cloud. Day and night, intoxicated by love

for Krsna, he laughed and cried, ranted and raved, and shouted in grief just

like a drunkard.

 

And Nityananda Prabhu, intoxicated with the nectar of Govinda's

sweetness, would stagger and stumble. Falling on the ground, he would laugh

heartily. On beholding the wonderful mood of Madhavendra Puri and Nityananda

Prabhu, the brotherhood of disciples constantly chanted the name of Hari.

Intoxicated by the sweet taste of divine love, no one knew when it was day

or night, and time lost all meaning. Who can understand the talks that

Nityananda Prabhu had with Madavedra Puri? Only Krsna knows their meaning.

 

Madhavendra Puri could not bear to part company with Nityananda

Prabhu, but took delight in his constant association. He said, "Although I

have traveled to many holy tirthas, I could find no divine love of Godhead

such as yours anywhere. Having obtained the company of such a friend as

Nityananda Prabhu, I have realized the mercy of Krsna. Krsna is so kind!

Wherever one can get the association of Nityananda Prabhu, that place is

more than Vaikuntha and all the holy tirthas combined. If one only hears of

the devotion of such a devotee as Nityananda Prabhu, he is sure to attain

Sri Krsnacandra. And whoever has the least bit of aversion to Nityananda

Prabhu, can never be loved by Krsna even if he is a devotee of Krsna.

 

In this way, Madhavedra Puri glorified Nityananda Prabhu day and

night and served him with love and attention. Nityananda Prabhu himself

thought of Madhavendra Puri as his guru and thus engaged, those two great

souls were so absorbed in love of Krsna that they could not tell whether it

was day or night. In this way, after passing some time in the company of

Madhavendra Puri, Nityananda Prabhu set out on his journey to the bridge of

Rama known as Setubandha, at the southernmost tip of India.

 

Madhavendra Puri went off to visit the Sarayu river. Being

completely absorbed in Krsna, neither of them could remember anything of

their own physical bodies. Completely forgetful of their own selves, they

passed their days in the agony of separation from each other and so their

life was preserved. For if any external consciousness had remained, it would

have been impossible for them to survive the agony of separation. Whoever

hears this account of Nityananda Prabhu and Madhavendra Puri with faith and

devotion, obtains the treasure of love for Krsna.

 

In this way, Nityananda Prabhu wandered about in the ecstasy of

divine love and after some time arrived at Setubandha, the bridge of Rama.

After bathing in the ghat at Dana-tirtha, he went to Ramesvara, and from

there, arrived in Vijayanagar. Having visited Mayapuri, Avanti, and

Godavari, the Lord arrived at the seat of Jiyur-Nrsimhadeva. He visited

Trimala, and the sacred shrine of Kurmanatha. At last he set out to behold

Sri Jagannatha-deva, the moon of Nilacala.

 

All glories to Sri Nityananda and Madhavendra Puri prabhus!!!