Disappearance of Sri Mukunda Datta - Tuesday, June 5

[Guest guest]

Tuesday, June 5 is the disappearance day of Sri Mukunda Datta, an associate

of Lord Caitanya from childhood known for his extraordinarily sweet and

moving kirtana. During Sundara arati we sing the song, "Gaura-arati" and

remember Sri Mukunda Datta with the following words:

narahari-adi kori' camara dhulaya sanjaya-Mukunda-basu-ghos-adi gaya

"Narahari Sarakara and other associates of Lord Caitanya fan Him with

camaras, and devotees headed by Sanjaya Pandita, Mukunda Datta, and Vasu

Ghosa sing sweet kirtana."

 

 

Adi 10.40

TRANSLATION

Mukunda Datta, a class friend of Lord Caitanya's, was another branch of the

Caitanya tree. Lord Caitanya danced while he sang.

 

PURPORT

Sri Mukunda Datta was born in the Cattagrama district, in the village of

Chanhara, which is under the jurisdiction of the police station named

Patiya. This village is situated ten krosas, or about twenty miles, from the

home of Pundarika Vidyanidhi. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (140) it is

said:

vraje sthitau gayakau yau madhukantha-madhuvratau Mukunda-vasudevau tau

dattau gauranga-gayakau

"In Vraja there were two very nice singers named Madhukantha and Madhuvrata.

They appeared in caitanya-lila as Mukunda and Vasudeva Datta, who were

singers in the society of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu." When Lord Caitanya was

a student, Mukunda Datta was His class friend, and they frequently engaged

in logical arguments. Sometimes Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu would fight with

Mukunda Datta, using tricks of logic. This is described in the

Caitanya-bhagavata, Adi-khanda, Chapters Eleven and Twelve. When Lord

Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned from Gaya, Mukunda Datta gave Him pleasure by

reciting verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam about krsna-lila. It was by his

endeavor that Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami became a disciple of Pundarika

Vidyanidhi, as stated in Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-khanda, Chapter

Seven. When Mukunda Datta sang in the courtyard of Srivasa Prabhu,

Mahaprabhu danced with His singing, and when Lord Caitanya for twenty-one

hours exhibited an ecstatic manifestation known as sata-prahariya, Mukunda

Datta inaugurated the function by singing.

 

Sometimes Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu chastised Mukunda Datta by calling him

khadajathiya beta because he attended many functions held by different

classes of nondevotees. This is stated in the Caitanya-bhagavata,

Madhya-khanda, Chapter Ten. When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu dressed Himself as

the goddess of fortune to dance in the house of Candrasekhara, Mukunda Datta

began the first song.

 

Before disclosing His desire to take the renounced order of life, Lord

Caitanya first went to the house of Mukunda Datta, but at that time Mukunda

Datta requested Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to continue His sankirtana movement

for a few days more before taking sannyasa. This is stated in the

Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-khanda, Chapter Twenty-six. The information of

Lord Caitanya's accepting the renounced order was made known to Gadadhara

Pandita, Candrasekhara Acarya and Mukunda Datta by Nityananda Prabhu, and

therefore all of them went to Katwa and arranged for kirtana and all the

paraphernalia for Lord Caitanya's acceptance of sannyasa. After the Lord

took sannyasa, they all followed Him, especially Sri Nityananda Prabhu,

Gadadhara Prabhu and Govinda, who followed Him all the way to

Purusottama-ksetra. In this connection one may refer to Sri

Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda, Chapter Two. In the place known as

Jalesvara, Nityananda Prabhu broke the sannyasa rod of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Mukunda Datta was also present at that time. He went every year from Bengal

to see Lord Caitanya at Jagannatha Puri.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Adi 10.40

 

 

Adi 17.65

TRANSLATION

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu blessed Mukunda Datta with punishment and in

that way vanquished all his mental depression.

 

PURPORT

Mukunda Datta was once forbidden to enter the association of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu because of his mixing with the Mayavadi impersonalists. When Lord

Caitanya manifested His maha-prakasa, He called all the devotees one after

another and blessed them, while Mukunda Datta stood outside the door. The

devotees informed the Lord that Mukunda Datta was waiting outside, but the

Lord replied, "I shall not soon be pleased with Mukunda Datta, for though he

explains devotional service among devotees, he then goes to Mayavadis to

hear from them the Yoga-vasistha-ramayana, which is full of Mayavada

philosophy. For this I am greatly displeased with him." Hearing the Lord

speak in that way, Mukunda Datta, standing outside, was exceedingly glad

that the Lord would at some time be pleased with him, although He was not

pleased at that moment. But when the Lord understood that Mukunda Datta was

going to give up the association of the Mayavadis for good, He was pleased,

and He at once called to see Mukunda. Thus He delivered him from the

association of the Mayavadis and gave him the association of pure devotees.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Adi 17.65

 

 

Madhya 11.137

TRANSLATION

As soon as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw Vasudeva Datta, the older brother of

Mukunda Datta, He immediately became very happy and, placing His hand on his

body, began to speak.

 

Madhya 11.138

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Although Mukunda is My friend from childhood,

I nonetheless take greater pleasure in seeing you than in seeing him."

 

PURPORT

Vasudeva Datta was the older brother of Mukunda Datta, who was the childhood

friend of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is naturally a great pleasure to see a

friend, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed Vasudeva Datta that although it

was His pleasure to see His friend, His pleasure was increased by seeing the

older brother.

 

Madhya 11.139

TRANSLATION

Vasudeva replied, "Mukunda got Your association in the beginning. As such,

he has taken shelter at Your lotus feet. That is his transcendental

rebirth."

 

Madhya 11.140

TRANSLATION

Thus Vasudeva Datta admitted his inferiority to Mukunda, his younger

brother. "Although Mukunda is my junior," he said, "he first received Your

favor. Consequently he became transcendentally senior to me. Besides that,

You very much favored Mukunda. Thus he is superior in all good qualities."

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Madhya 11.140

 

 

After seeing Jagannatha temple, Bhattacarya returned home and brought with

him much prasada purchased from the temple. He sent all this prasada to Lord

Caitanya through his brahmana servant.

 

He also dispatched two verses written on palm tree leaves and requested

Jagadananda to render him a favor by delivering them. Thus Lord Caitanya was

offered the prasada and the verses on the palm leaves. However, before

reaching the Lord, Mukunda Datta, who had also undertaken the delivery of

the verses, had copied the verses in his book. When Lord Caitanya read the

verses on the palm leaf, he tore them to pieces, for He never liked to be

praised by anyone. The verses only survive because they had been copied by

Mukunda Datta. These verses praised the Lord, the Supreme Original

Personality of Godhead who had descended as Lord Caitanya to preach

detachment, transcendental knowledge and devotional service to the people in

general. Lord Caitanya was praised as the original Personality of Godhead

and was compared with an ocean of mercy. "Let me surrender unto that Lord

Caitanya Mahaprabhu," the verses stated. "The Lord, seeing that devotional

service was absent, descended Himself in the form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to

preach devotional service. Let us all surrender unto His lotus feet and

learn from Him what devotional service actually is." These verses are

considered to be most important jewels by the devotees of the Lord in

disciplic succession, and by virtue of these famous verses Sarvabhauma

Bhattacarya has become known as the highest of devotees.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => TLC 26: Bhattacarya is Converted

 

 

Sri Gadadhara Pandita was especially affectionate towards Mukunda Datta.

Whenever sadhus or sannyasis would come to Navadvipa from somewhere, Mukunda

Datta would tell Gadadhara and together they would go and visit that holy

man. One time, from Cattagrama, Pundarika Vidyanidhi came to Navadvipa. At

that time, Mukunda Datta intimated to Gadadhara that there was a Vaisnava

worth seeing, and suggested they go visit him. With great jubilation at the

prospect of seeing a Vaisnava, Gadadhara Pandita went to visit Pundarika

Vidyanidhi with Mukunda Datta. When Gadadhara Pandita came before Pundarika,

he saw that he appeared to be a great materialist. His faith was somewhat

damaged upon seeing this. He said to himself, "If he is a Vaisnava, why does

he appear to be such a materialist?"

Mukunda Datta, knowing the mind of Gadadhara, sweetly sang a verse about

Krsna-lila. Mukunda Datta had known Pundarika Vidyanidhi, and by sweetly

chanting this verse he awakened his inner consciousness. Hearing Mukunda

Datta singing this verse about Krsna-lila from Srimad-Bhagavatam he began

crying "Krsna! Krsna!" and weeping again and again. The Caitanya-Bhagavata

says that the flowing of tears from his eyes was as if the Ganges had

descended. Finally he fell upon the ground, and after rolling back and

forth for some time lost consciousness.

Upon seeing this, Gadadhara Pandita felt great remorse within his mind. He

began to reconsider his attitude toward Pundarika Vidyanidhi. He thought, "I

thought that this great devotee, this maha-bhagavata, was an ordinary sense

enjoyer. I have committed a great offense. If, however, I accept mantra

initiation from him I may become free from this offense. I see no other

way." In this way, Sri Gadadhara Pandita made up his mind to take

initiation from Pundarika Vidyanidhi.

When Pundarika returned to his external consciousness, Mukunda Datta

introduced Gadadhara Pandita to him. Hearing from Mukunda Datta about the

character of Gadadhara Pandita, Pundarika was delighted. When he heard of

Gadadhara's desire to become his disciple he was pleased. He smiled, saying,

"I consider myself very fortunate. Only after many many births does one get

a disciple like this." Soon after this, one an auspicious day, Sri Gadadhara

Pandita accepted mantra initiation from Pundarika Vidyanidhi.

 

from "Lives of the Saints"

 

 

When the Lord was performing his Navadvipa-lila his chief assistant was

Gadadhara. They who in Vrndavana are Radha-Krsna take the form of

Gaura-Gadadhara in these pastimes in Navadvipa on the banks of the Ganges.

And those who in Vrndavana are gopas and gopis take part in the pastimes of

the Lord in Navadvipa by performing kirtana. One day the Lord was wandering

by the banks of the Ganges when he came upon a small forest grove and sat

down. Gradually he became absorbed in remembering the Vrndavana pastimes.

Mukunda Datta began sweetly singing songs in the purva-raga. Gadadhara,

after gathering flowers in the forest decorated the Lord's neck with a

garland. Just as formerly in Vrndavana, Sri Radha used to decorate Lord

Krsna, in the same way Gadadhara decorated the holy form of Lord Gauranga.

Someone sang a sweet song; someone performed a beautiful dance. At length

Gauranga sat Gadadhara down on the root of a tree, which served as a raised

platform. Sri Advaita Acarya performed the aroti to the two of them. Sri

Nityananda Prabhu was seated on the left of them. Srivasa Pandita Prabhu was

taking flowers and decorating them. Narahari was waving the camara.

Suklambara was offering candana. Murari Gupta was singing glories to the

Lord. Madhava, Vasudeva, Purusottama, Vijaya, and Mukunda, as well as others

sang different songs in various ragas.

 

from "Lives of the Saints"

 

 

When Mother Saci saw that Sri Caitanya was happily engaged in his studies,

her own ecstasy increased. At that time, Sri Isvara Puri came to Navadvipa

in disguise. Caitanya Bhagavata records that Isvara Puri was overwhelmed

with the ecstasy of Krishna-rasa. And yet, as he was very dear to Krishna,

he was also very humble and didn't want to attract any attention to himself

as a great devotee. So that no one would know who he was, he hid his real

identity and went to the temple of Advaita.

 

Upon arriving there, he found that Advaita was busy in service to the Lord

in the temple, so he came in and sat down very cautiously and timidly. But

the power of a great Vaisnava is not easily hidden from another great

Vaisnava. Again and again, Advaita Acarya kept looking away from his duties

in the direction of Isvara Puri. Finally he asked him "O Father! Who art

thou?"

 

With great humility, Isvara introduced himself, saying, "I am a sudra of the

lowest class." In this way, the jewel of learned scholars and the best of

the renounced, Isvara Puri, showed how humility is the true ornament of a

Vaisnava.

 

Immediately upon seeing him, Mukunda Datta recognized that Isvara Puri was a

Vaisnava Sannyasi. At that time, Mukunda Datta very sweetly began to

perform Krishna-lila kirtana. Vrindavana dasa asks, "Who is there who can

remain unmoved when Mukunda Datta performs his sweet kirtana?" Upon

hearing the deeply moving songs of Mukunda Datta, Sri Isvara Puri lost his

composure and fainted on the ground in a trance of deep ecstasy. Tears of

ecstasy rained forth from his eyes. The assembled devotees were dumbstruck

upon seeing such a display of transcendental emotion. When their power of

speech returned, they all remarked that nowhere had any of them ever seen a

Vaisnava such as this. Sri Advaita Acarya also began to experience grave

symptoms of transcendental emotion. After this, they all concluded their

visitor must be none other than the dearmost disciple of Madhavendra

Puri-Sri Isvara Puri. At this, they all joyously began chanting the holy

name of Krishna, saying, "Hari! Hari!" over and over again.

 

from "Lives of the Saints"