Srivasa Pandita

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March 25th, 2003, Tuesday (Astami)

Appearance day of Sri Srivasa Pandita

 

(sorry for posting it late)

:-(

 

 

SRILA SRIVASA PANDITA

 

Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura, the Vyasadeva of Sri Gaurasundara's

pastimes, has sung the praises of Srivasa Pandita in this way:

 

"It was in Srivasa Pandita's house that Sri Caitanya enacted His

pastimes of sankirtana. Those four brothers (Srivasa, Sri Rama, Sripati and

Srinidhi) were continuously engaged in singing the names of Sri Krsna. They

worshiped Sri Krsna and bathed in the Ganges thrice daily."

 

These four brothers previously lived in the district of Sri Hatta.

Later on they came to reside on the banks of the Ganges. There they

regularly used to attend the assembly of devotees who gathered at Sri

Advaita Acarya's house to hear the Srimad-Bhagavatam and engage in

congregational chanting of the Holy Names. Gradually the brothers became

very close friends of Sri Jagannatha Misra, with whom they would chant and

listen to the Bhagavatam.

 

In all matters Srivasa was the leader of the four brothers. By the

strengh of his devotion, he could understand that Sri Krsna was going to

appear in the house of Jagannatha Misra.

 

Srivasa Pandits's wife's name was Sri Malini-devi. She was a very

close friend of Sri Sacidevi and was always very helpful to her.

 

Seing the wretched state of the fallen living entities in Kali yuga,

the devotees began to plaintively pray to the Lord for their deliverance.

Krsna hears the call of His devotees. On the full moon day in tho month of

Phalguna, in the year 1407 (Christian era 1486), the Lord incarnated

Himself. With His appearance there was the simultaneous dawning of

all-auspiciousness within the world as it became filled with Harinama. Just

as Sri Advaita Acarya, from Santipura, could understand that the Lord had

appeared, similarly, Srivasa and some of the other devotees of Navadwipa

also understood.

 

Since previously Malini-devi was engaged in attending upon Sacidevi,

Srivasa and Jagannatha Misra came to her at this time and hinted that she

was especially needed now.

 

As long as the Lord chooses not to reveal Himself, no one can

possibly recognize Him. Therefore, even though from His childhood the Lord

exhibited many supernatural abilities, still, due to His deluding potency,

the devotees could not fully understand His true nature.

 

Their hearts were simply filled with parental affection for Him,

without a trace of awe or reverence. Srivasa and Malini gave Sacidevi and

Jagannatha much advice how to raise their new son. Srivasa and Malini were

just like a mother and father to Sri Gaurasundara. Because young Nimai

Pandita seemed to have grown arrogant by His scholarship, one day Srivasa

Pandita decided to give Him good counsel.

 

"Why do people study? So that they might understand what is devotion

to Sri Krsna," he told Nimai. "If by scholarship one doesn't gain devotion

to Sri Krsna, then how will that learning help him? It becomes simply a

tedious endeavour which in the end is nothing but a waste of time. If you

have actually learned something then begin your worship of Sri Krsna now.

Make haste. This is the purpose of your life."

 

Nimai laughed as He replied, "By your mercy certainly that will come

to be. If you are all kind enough for me, then definitely I'll attain

devotion to Sri Krsna's lotus feet."

 

Shortly thereafter Mahaprabhu journeyed to Gaya where He performed

the pastimes of accepting initiation from Sri Isvara Puri. Thus gradually,

He began to take up His real work of distributing loving devotion to Sri

Krsna.

 

One day, in an ecstatic mood, Lord Gauranga entered Srivasa's house

asking, "Srivas, whom do you worship? Whom do you meditate upon? Now with

your own two eyes, see that person standing before you." [C.B. Madya 2/258]

 

Saying this, Mahaprabhu entered the Deity room within Srivasa's home

temple and sat down on the simhasana of Lord Visnu, revealing His own

four-armed form, holding the conch, disc, club and lotus flower. Seeing this

form, Srivasa was totally stupefied.

 

Sri Gaurasundara then said, "Due to being called by your sankirtana

and the loud roaring of Sri Advaita Acarya, I have left Vaikuntha and have

descended upon this mortal world, accompanied by My eternal associates. I

will destroy the miscreants and deliver the pious. Now, without fear, you

can chant My glories."

 

Hearing these words of His Lord, which dispelled all fear, Srivasa

fell on the ground, offering his obeisances. Then he began to recite hymns

in praise of the Lord.

 

"My obeisances at the lotus feet of the support of the entire

universe Visvambhara, Whose bodily colour is like that of a newly arrived

rain cloud and whose garments are the color of a thunderbolt. My obeisances

at the lotus feet of the son of Saci, who is bedecked with ornaments of

peacock feathers and a garland of read beads (gunja). My obeisances at the

lotus feet of the pupil of Ganga dasa, the beauty of whose lotus face

conquers that of ten million moons. My obeisances at your lotus feet, You

who carry a buffalo horn, stick and flute. The four Vedas have proclaimed

You to be the son of Nanda. Unto You my dear Lord, my obeisances I offer

again and again." [C.B.Madya 2/272]

 

"Today my birth, my activities, my everything has become succesful.

Today my very existence has been crowned with the greatest auspiciousness.

Today the race of my forefathers has finally born fruit, and my house, which

was also their house, has become blessed. Today the great fortune of my eyes

is completely beyond calculation, because I have been able to see that

person whose lotus feet are served by the goddess of fortune, Laksmidevi".

 

Having described the glories of Sri Gaurasundara in various ways,

Sri Gaurasundara showed even more compassion to Srivasa by revealing Himself

to all of his family members. Seeing the niece of Srivasa Pandita present

before Him, Prabhu called to her, "Narayani! Call upon Sri Krsna with tears

in your eyes."

 

And immediately this little girl, only four years of age, as if in a

delirious frenzy began to cry out, "Hari! Krsna!" while shedding tears

incessantly. In fact the flood of tears coursed down her body to such an

extent that the ground around her feet became soaked." [C.B. Mad. 2].

 

Seeing little Narayani totally agitated in ecstatic love, Srivasa's

wife and even the household servants also began to shed tears of love. The

courtyard of Srivasa took on a very beautiful appearance, being decorated

with ecstatic love for Krsna.

 

There was one maidservant in Srivasa Pandita's house by the name

Duhkhi. Every day she used to bring water from the Ganga for Mahaprabhu's

bath. One day Gaurasundara asked Srivasa, "Who brings this water?"

 

"Duhkhi brings it," Srivasa replied.

 

"From today her name is Sukhi." Thus the Lord indicated that those

who serve the Lord and the Lord's devotees are not duhkhi (sad); rather,

they are sukhi (happy).

 

At this time Sri Gaurasundara began His lila as the yuga-avatara at

the house of Srivasa Pandit. Having been reunited with Sri Nityananda Prabhu

He started congregational chanting of the Lord's Holy Names in the courtyard

of Srivasa's house. Nityananda Prabhu took up His residence there. Sri

Malinidevi served Nityananda as though He were her own son.

 

Sri Nityananda was actually Sri Baladeva Himself, and in His

pastimes as Lord Nityananda He behaved somewhat like a madman. He was always

overwhelmed by love of Krsna, and was not aware of the state of His outward

dress or ornaments.

 

One evening, Sri Gaurasundara, accompanied by His associates, was

engaged in chanting and dancing at the house of Srivasa Thakura when one of

Srivas Thakur's sons passed away after having suffered the effects of some

disease. Within the inner apartment of his house, the women began to wail in

lamentation at the boy's untimely death. Srivasa Pandita, who was outside in

the courtyard, understood some tragedy must have taken place. He quickly

entered the house only to find that his son had passed on to the next world.

As he was a very grave devotee and completely conversant in the science of

the Absolute Truth, he was able to console the women in their grief.

 

"You are all aware of Krsna's glories, so please restrain yourselves

and don't cry. Whoever during his last moment hears the Lord's Holy Name,

even though he might be the greatest sinner, attains Krsna's abode. And that

incomparably wonderful Lord, He whose glories are sung by all His servants

up to and including Lord Brahma, is now personally dancing in the courtyard

of your house.

 

"This moment is so auspicious that it is sure this boy has

successfully completed his journey from this world. Is there anything to be

lamented at in this? His good fortune is completely assured. I can

understand that whatever part I have played in this is also crowned with

success." [C.B.M 25.30]

 

He concluded by telling them, "If you can't control your emotions

because of your family affection to the boy, then at least don't cry now,

you can cry later. The Supreme Lord of Gokula Himself, Sri Gaurasundara, is

performing sankirtana accompanied by His devotees in this house. If, due to

your crying, the happiness that He is experiencing from dancing in ecstasy

during sankirtana is disturbed, then I will just this minute jump into the

Ganges and thus give up my own life."

 

"Not a blade of grass moves unless by Krsna's will. To see in this,

happiness or distress, or knowledge or ignorance is simply imagination. Know

that whatever Krsna wills is good, and thus, giving up your own selfish

desires, become free from confusion and unnecessary botheration. Krsna is

giving and Krsna is taking away, and it is Krsna alone Who is maintaining

everyone. Someone He protects and someone He destroys, all according to His

will. If someone contemplates something contrary to Krsna's will, then as a

result of His desire He only get torment. Giving up all lamentation, simply

hear Krsna's name, and thus pass through all difficulties feeling great

happiness. Then your desires will actually be fulfilled.'

 

Having given all of these instructions to those present, Srivasa

again went outside to join Mahaprabhu in ecstatic chanting and dancing. The

women, leaving the dead body, came to hear the kirtan of Mahaprabhu. And so

Mahaprabhu continued His chanting until the middle of the night.

 

When everyone was at last leaving to take rest, Mahaprabhu spoke.

"Today My mind is feeling some tribulation. I think some sad event has

occured in Srivasa's house."

 

The pandit replied, "What possible unhappiness could there be in

that person's house where Your divinely blissful countenance is seen?"

 

"Srivasa! Why wasn't I feeling bliss in kirtana today? What

inauspicious thing transpired in your house?"

 

Srivasa answered, "My Lord, You are Yourself all-auspicious. Where

You are present, no sorrow can be found anywhere!" But the other devotees

informed the Lord that Srivasa's son had passed away.

 

Hearing this news, Gaura Raya cried out, "Alas, what a tragic event.

Why didn't you tell me of this unfortunate news before?"

 

"I will explain," Srivasa Pandita replied. "I couldn't tolerate

disturbing You while You were enjoying sankirtana. If one of my sons dies,

what sorrow is there in that for me? If we all die while seeing You, that

would actually be a matter of great happiness. On the other hand, if You

would have to stop dancing, then perhaps I would have died. My Lord, this

was the danger that I feared, and thus I didn't tell you at the time."

 

Seeing Srivasa Pandita's profound devotion, Sri Gaurasundara said,

"How can I give up such company as this?" With tears in His eyes He

continued. "Due to love for Me, he didn't even feel lamentation at the death

of his son. How will I abandon their companionship?"

 

The Lord continued to cry, and the devotees began to worry within,

having heard Him speak of leaving them.

 

Thereafter Mahaprabhu came to where the dead body of the infant was

lying. Touching it, He called, "Boy! Why are you going away and leaving

Srivasa Pandita?"

 

The life of the dead child returned at the touch of Mahaprabhu's

hand. After offering obeisances to the Lord, he replied, "O Prabhu! Whatever

You ordain is absolute. No one can do anything but what is sanctioned by

You. As many days as I was destined to remain here, that many days I have

stayed. Now that my time has elapsed, I have proceeded to leave.

 

"My Lord, I have taken birth and died repeatedly. But this time, at

the time of death, I passed away quite happily, having taken darsana of Your

beautiful face."

 

After saying this, the child became silent. Sri Gauranga Raya thus

enjoyed a kind of transcendental sport. Having heard the uncommon words of

the dead child, the devotees floated in the ocean of bliss. Srivasa Pandita,

along with his family members, then fell at the lotus feet of Sri

Gaurasundara and cried in ecstatic love.

 

Mahaprabhu then told him, "Since Myself and Nityananda are your two

sons, please don't feel any more distress in your mind over what has

happened." Hearing these compassionate words of their Lord, the devotees

cheers were resounded throughout the heavens. Prooving the statements of

sastra, Their Lordships Gaura-Nityananda became deeply indebted to Srivasa

due to his great love for and service to Them.

 

After Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, Srivasa Pandit came to live at

Kumarhatta. Every year he would go with His brothers to see Mahaprabhu at

Puri. He also regularly came to see Sri Sacimata in Navadwip and would spend

a few days there during those times.

 

When Mahaprabhu came from Nilacala to see His mother and the river

Ganges, He also stopped at Kumarhatta to see Srivasa.

 

"After staying some days at Advaita's house, Mahaprabhu came to

Srivasa's temple at Kumarhatta." [C.B]

 

It was at this time that Mahaprabhu gave this benediction to

Srivasa: "There will never be poverty in your house. If you simply remain

indoors, never even venturing out of your house, whatever you require for

your worship will come to your door."

 

Srivasa Pandita, along with his three brothers, eternally serve Sri

Gaurasundara. He is the incarnation of Narada and accompanied Mahaprabhu in

all His Navadwipa lilas.

 

Across the Ganges from Halisahar (the present name of the village of

Kumarhatta), there is a town of the name Chuchura. Located here are some

very beutiful Deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga. At present the seva-puja is

becoming carried on by Devananda Gaudiya Matha. The resident Swami Maharaja

recalls that when the Gauriya Math took over the sevaitship of this temple,

its name was Srivasa-Mahaprabhu Mandir. Thus there is a strong possibility

that these are the worshipable Deities of Srivasa Pandita. The temple is at

present named 'Uddhavar Gaudiya Math.' It is near 'Chaumatha', close to the

'Chori Mor' intersection where the town clock stands.

 

There is a rail station at Chuchura (Chinsura) on the

Bandel-Navadwip line. Chuchura may also be reached by ferry from Halisahar

on the other side of the Ganga, where Caitanya Boda, the birthplace of Sri

Isvara Puri, is located.