Gauranga blesses Ramanuja

[Guest guest]

Here's how actually the Ramanujacharya was empowered to preach the bhakti

cult by the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

 

Once while Ramanuja Acarya was staying in Jagannath Puri he

offered prayers to Lord Jagannatha, who became very pleased.

 

Lord Jagannatha appeared before Ramanuja and said, "Ramanuja, go

and visit Sri Navadwipa, for very soon I shall appear there in the house

of Jagannatha Misra. Sri Navadwipa is My most beloved abode and is a part

of the spiritual sky manifest in this worl d. As my eternal servant and a

leader amongst My devotees, you should go there. Let your students stay

here, for they are absorbed in dasya rasa (servitorship in awe and

reverence) and will not understand the advanced devotional mood, so travel

there alon e. Any living entity who does not go to see Sri Navadwipa has

been born uselessly. Just one portion of Sri Navadwipa contains Ranga

Ksetra, Venkatesvara and Yadava Acala. Therefore go to Sri Navadwipa and

see My form of Gauranga. After gaining the Lord_s blessing go to Kurma

Sthana and rejoin your disciples."

 

Folding his hands, Ramanuja humbly requested Lord Jagannatha, "My

dear Lord, You have mercifully told me something about Gauranga, but

exactly who He is, I do not know?"

 

The Lord answered, "It is known to you that Lord Sri Krsna, the

Lord of Goloka, is the Supreme Absolute Truth. That much is well known to

My devotees. That same Supreme Personality of Godhead who resides in Sri

Vrindavana is fully manifest as Gauranga, a nd His beloved abode, Sri

Vrindavana, is manifest as the holy land of Sri Navadwipa. Navadwipa is

the Supreme spiritual abode and it is transcendental to the influence of

the material nature. In that divine land, Lord Gauranga eternally resides.

By My mer cy that holy abode has come to exist within the universe, but it

remains completely unaffected by maya. This is the verdict of the

scriptures. If anyone thinks that Sri navadwipa is only a material

location, then whatever devotion he has developed will wi ther and perish.

By My will, My inconceivable energy preserves this transcendental abode

within this material world. Simply by studying the scriptures, one will

not be able to understand the Absolute Truth. Only by My mercy can My

devotees understand."

 

Hearing these words of Lord Jagannatha, Ramanuja was filled with

love. "My dear Lord," he said, "Your pastimes are truly astounding. The

scriptures cannot fully describe Your opulences. Why is Gauranga-lila not

described in the scriptures? Upon reflectio n, I find some hint of

Gauranga tattva in the srutis and puranas. Now, however, all my doubts are

gone and I am ready to execute Your will. If it is Your desire, I will go

to Sri Navadwipa and from there, I will set out to preach about Lord

Gauranga throu ghout the three worlds, giving evidences from the

scriptures to all, converting them to the devotional service of Gauranga.

Please instruct me. You have just to give me Your order."

 

Lord Jagannatha replied, "Ramanuja, do not broadcast in this way.

Keep these secrets of Lord Gauranga_s pastimes as they are for the

present. Only after He has concluded His pastimes will the people in

general come to understand them. Preach about me on the level of dasya

rasa as you have always done, but within your heart, worship Lord Gauranga

constantly."

 

Following Lord Jagannatha_s order, Ramanuja secretly cultivated

his attraction for Sri Navadwipa. Being very merciful, Lord Narayana led

him to Vaikunthapura and showed him His transcendental form, worshipped by

manifestations of His different energies, Shri, Bhu & Lila. Ramanuja felt

himself most fortunate to see this, but, as he watched, the Lord manifested

His form as Gauranga, the son of Jagannatha Misra. Ramanuja_s mind became

stunned by the brilliance of His shining golden form. Lord Gauranga then

placed His two lot us feet upon Ramanuja_s head and Ramanuja, filled with

inspiration, began to offer prayers.

 

Ramanuja said, "I must see Your pastimes when You appear here in

Navadwipa My Lord. I shall never leave this place."

 

Lord Gauranga replied, "Your wish will be fulfilled, O son of

Kesava. When My Navadwipa lila is revealed you will again take your birth

here."

 

Lord Gauranga then disappeared. Greatly satisfied by the Lord_s

promise, Ramanuja returned to Kurma Sthana, where he joined his disciples.

During his life he preached devotional service to the Lord in the mood of

dasya rasa, or servitorship throughout th e south of India, whilst

internally he was absorbed in meditating on the pastimes of Lord Gauranga.

By Lord Gauranga_s mercy, he was born again in Sri Navadwipa as a devotee

named Ananta to assist in the Lord_s pastimes. When Lord Caitanya made His

appear ance in Sri Navadwipa, Ananta Vipra was already quite old, He lived

in a cottage which was situated beneath a huge old banyan tree. There,

within his humble abode, he would worship his Deities of Laxmi-Narayana.

None could describe the pure way in which he worshipped Them.

(Extract from Sri Navadwipa dham).