Visnupriya Devi

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February 6th, 2003, Thursday (Pancami)

 

Vasanta Pancami (the first day of spring)

The Appearance day of Srimati Visnu-priya Devi

 

 

SRIMATI VISNU-PRIYA DEVI

 

Sri, Bhu and Nila are three of the energies of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. Srimati Visnu-priya Devi is the manifestation of

Krsna's Bhu sakti. She is also known to be the same as Satyabhama in

Krsna-lila. She has appeared with Sri Gaurasundara to assist in the

distribution of love of Godhead and His Holy Names.

 

There lived in Navadvipa one brahmana, Sanatanaa Misra by name, who

was a great devotee of Lord Visnu. He used to maintain many people,

providing them with food and cloth and was also renowned as a great scholar

(raja-Panditaa).

 

In Dvapara-yuga he was the King Satrajit. As he was a great devotee

of Lord Visnu, from the fruits of his faithful worship of Him, he obtained a

very beautiful jewel of a daughter endowed with all good qualities, by the

name Sri Visnu-priya. From her very childhood she used to take bath in the

Ganga two or three times a day and in imitation of her elders she would

perform various worship ceremonies, vows and service to the Deity and Tulasi

Devi. When she would meet Sacimata at the bathing ghat of the Ganga, she

used to offer her obeisances and Sacimata would in turn bless her saying,

"Yogga pati hauk." (May you get a qualified husband). Saci Mata used to

think to herself that she would make a very fine daughter-in-law.

 

In the meantime Nimai was married to Laksmipriya, who after a short

time passed on to the next world. Ma Saci was very aggrieved at this but the

days passed on. Then she thought to get her son married again. All of her

relatives and close friends all felt this would be a good idea. Sri

Gaurasundara didn't oppose His mother and gave his consent.

 

Sacimata sent one of the servants to call Kasinathaa Panditaa, the

match-maker. Receiving her summons, the Panditaa immediately came to see Ma

Saci, who brought up the point of Sri Gaurasundara's marriage. Kasinatha

Pandita thought this was a very good idea, and urged that the marriage take

place as soon as possible. When he inquired if she had any suitable bride in

mind, Sacima replied, "Sanatana Misra's daughter, Visnu-priya."

 

Kasinatha exclaimed, "Thakurani! I was also thinking to mention her name."

 

Ma Saci replied, "But I am very poor. Do you think he will want to

present his daughter to us? You please discuss this matter with him."

 

Kasinatha replied, "Thakurani, if Sanatana Misra doesn't give his

daughter to such a beautiful boy and a qualified son as your Nimai, then who

will he give her to?" Having spoken these consoling words he set out for

Sanatana Misra's house.

 

Sanatana Misra, seeing that his daughter had attained marriageable

age, was also looking for a suitable bridegroom. But in Nadiya there was no

one more qualified than Nimai Pandita. He was the most handsome, had the

best qualities and was still quite young. One would be considered very

fortunate indeed to be able to give their daughter to such a qualified young

man. Sanatana Misra was thinking like this, but was feeling shy to mention

his plan to anyone. Simply in his mind he was praying to the Lord, "O my

Lord, Oh Hari! If I have accumulated any pious merits in my previous

lifetimes then let the result of those be that my daughter gets Nimai

Pandita as her husband."

 

Finally he brought up the topic of their daughter's marriage with

his wife. Just then who should appear at the door, but Kasinatha Pandita.

 

Sanatana Misra got up to receive him and after having respectfully

seated him brought some sweetmeats and water. As he thought to himself,

"Certainly he has some news of a suitable bridegroom", he inquired,

"Panditaji, what is the news?"

 

Smiling broadly the Pandita replied, "You should give your daughter

in marriage to Vishvambhara Pandita. After having considered the matter in

every respect, this is the best decision. With this in mind I have come to

see you. That excellent boy is the most qualified for your daughter, and

your daughter, being extremely chaste, is the most suitable for him. As Sri

Krsna and Rukmini-devi are mutually compatible, so are Visnu-priya and Nimai

Pandita."

 

When they heard this proposal, Sanatana Misra and his wife felt such

joy that they forgot themselves. Sanatana Misra thought to himself, "The

all-cognizant Supersoul has fulfilled my desires."

 

Sanatana Misra spoke to Kasinatha, "In this regard, what can I say?

If there is any good fortune in my family, then I have a hope to obtain such

a son-in-law."

 

Some of the others present spoke up, "Unless one is highly

fortunate, is it possible to get such a boy? If your daughter is lucky

enough then certainly she will get such a husband."

 

Thereafter Misra Mahadaya discussed various matters in order to

finalize the betrothal agreement. Having arranged everything suitably,

Kasinatha returned to Saci Mata's house and informed her of the proceedings.

 

Sacimata replied, "The Lord is looking out for me, because I have no

one else to."

 

Everyone became very jubilant to hear that Nimai Pandita's wedding

was to take place. His disciples began to discuss among themselves, "We'll

all donate some things for Panditaji's wedding."

 

Buddhimanta Khan, who was quite wealthy spoke up, "I will bear all

the costs of the wedding."

 

To this Mahaprabhu's friends Mukunda and Sanjaya replied, "Our dear

brother, won't you even share some of the expenses with us. This wedding has

to be so gorgeous, that no prince has ever seen the likes of it".

 

News spread throughout the whole of Navadvipa about the upcoming

marriage of Nimai Pandita, and gradually the preparations for the wedding

began. First a huge canopy was suspended above the place where the marriage

ceremony would take place. On the ground various floral and other auspicious

designs were painted with rice flour and then the pavilion was decorated

with banana trees, water pots, mango leaves, lamps, paddy, yogurt and other

auspicious articles. All the Vaisnavas, brahmanas and other noble and

virtuous gentlemen who lived in Navadvipa at that time were invited to the

invocation ceremony preceding the wedding.

 

On the evening of that day the musicians began to play on their

instruments, while the courtyard of Saci's house began to fill up with

relatives and friends. First the worship of the Lord was performed, followed

by arati and the offering of foodstuffs, all conducted with great pomp and

gaiety. Then the preliminary ceremonies to be performed by Sri Gaura before

the wedding were smoothly executed. Within the inner apartments of the

house, the ladies contributed their efforts to the ceremony by yodelling and

blowing conchshells, while the Vaisnavas filled the sky with the vibrations

of the Lord's Holy Names, "Hari! Hari!"

 

In all directions an ocean of happiness began to swell, in

anticipation of the Supreme Lord's marriage ceremony. Following this

preliminary ceremony, sweet preparations of betel nuts and pan leaves were

served, as many as anyone wanted. Gaurasundara personally applied sandalwood

paste and garlanded with flower garlands all those Vaisnavas and brahmanas

who attended the function. In turn they very cheerfully offered their

blessings. No one had ever before seen such a pleasant adhibasa ceremony

(the function preceding the major ceremony). The city of Nadiya began to

float in the midst of an ocean of bliss.

 

On the next day a very vast arrangement began to take place in

preparation for the actual wedding ceremony. In the afternoon Sri

Gaurasundara put on an excellent dhoti and upper garments and then after

first making salutations at the feet of His mother and other Vaisnavas

present, He ascended the palanquin and took his seat within. First they came

to the banks of the Ganges where Sri Gauranga got down out of the palanquin

to offer His obeisances to Srimati Ganga Devi. Then after again getting into

the palanquin, to the accompaniment of the playing of instruments and

auspicious shouting of "Jai! Jai!", which filled up the sky in all

directions, the party began to again proceed along the banks of the Ganges.

Thousands and thousands of lamps were glittering in the evening like so many

little stars coming out. The musicians played their various instruments

while some engaged in singing and dancing.

 

During the Godhuli-lagna (the time when the cows return home from

the pasture and the dust from their hoofs fills the air), the bridegroom and

his party entered the courtyard of Sri Sanatana Misra's house. Sanatana

Misra and his wife presented various articles of worship before the

bridegroom, thus welcoming him and at the same time offering their

blessings.

 

Meanwhile the new bride had been decorated with various ornaments

and she was now brought out of the house and into the wedding pavilion. The

Supreme Goddess of Fortune, after seven times having circumambulated her

eternal consort, Sri Gaura Narayana, offered her entire being at His lotus

feet. Sri Gaura Raya, after having seated His eternal consort on his left

side, then exchanged flower garlands with her.

 

"First of all the Goddess of Fortune, the Mother of the Universe,

kneeling before the lotus feet of the Lord, placed a flower garland around

His neck, thus surrendering herself to Him. Then Sri Gauracandra, smiling

slightly, placed a flower garland around Sri Visnu-priya-devi's neck. Thus

having exchanged flower garlands Sri Sri Laksmi Narayana began Their divine

sports."

 

Sri Sanatana Misra felt himself crowned with success in having

presented his daughter to Sri Gaurasundara with a large dowry. As King

Janaka presented Sita-devi to Ramacandra, as King Bhismaka presented Rukmini

to Sri Krsna, so Sanatana Misra presented Visnu-priya devi to Sri

Gaurasundara. After the wedding ceremony, the bride and bridegroom entered

Their bridal suite and lay down on a bed of flowers.

 

That night the bliss of Vaikuntha made its appearance within the

house of Sri Sanatana Misra. Practically the entire night the musicians

played on their instruments while others sang and danced. In the early

morning, Sri Gaurasundara and his wife Laksmi-devi, got up from Their bed,

and after having washed Their hands and mouths they completed Their morning

bhajana. Sri Sanatana Misra, along with his family and relatives, having had

arranged this grand festival, enjoyed such pleasure as is not possible to

describe.

 

In the afternoon, Sri Gaurasundara, along with His new bride,

proceeded to His own house, being accompanied by the party of musicians,

singers and dancers. As they passed through the town of Nadiya, along the

banks of the Ganga, the local inhabitants gazed at the unprecedented beauty

of Sri Sri Visnu-priya Gauranga and began to comment, "This highly fortunate

girl must have served Laksmi and Parvati for many lifetimes." (in order to

get such a husband).

 

Someone else said, "They look like Haragauri (Lord Siva and Gauri),"

as some one else commented, "I think they must be Laksmi and Sri Hari."

 

"No they must be Kamadeva (Cupid) and Rati," while someone else

offered, "I think they look like Lord Indra and Saci."

 

Another suggested, "They must be Ramacandra and Sita."

 

In this way the pious ladies of Nadiya made various remarks as the

procession passed their houses.

 

Even after executing penances and austerities for many lifetimes,

the yogis are still unqualified to see the divine pastimes of the Lord, but

the ordinary inhabitants of Nadiya, down to the very lowest, were able to

have darshan of this divine pastime of the Lord. Therefore He is called

Dinanatha. The brahmanas and family members were presented with valuable

cloths and all of the dancers, performers (panegyrists) and beggars who were

present were also presented gifts of cloth and money by Sri Gaurasundara.

Thus they went on their way feeling quite happy. Then the Lord Vishvambhara

lovingly embraced Buddhimanta Khan who had born all of the expenses of the

wedding. [CB Adi 15]

 

Hereafter Sri Vrindavana dasa Thakura only occasionally mentions Sri

Visnu-priya devi in Caitanya Bhagavata. When Lord Caitanya returned from

Gaya dham, Sri Visnu-priya, who had been suffering great separation, became

again very happy. But Mahaprabhu was a completely changed person.

 

Sacimata thought that perhaps he had become afflicted with some

disease. She worshipped Mother Ganges and Lord Visnu for the welfare of her

child and brought Sri Visnu-priya and sat her down before her husband.

However, Mahaprabhu, even though looking in her direction, didn't even see

her. He simply used to call out "Krsna! Krsna!", all the while crying.

 

Another time His mother brought His meal, placing the plate before

Him as she also sat down in front of Him. Meanwhile Visnu-priya was watching

everything from within the other room.

 

Mahaprabhu was always absorbed in various ecstatic moods. He had

come to hear of some oppressive behaviour by some atheist miscreants and

exclaimed, "I will destroy them!"

 

One day Sacimata and Sri Gaurasundara were sitting in the room

talking, while Visnu-priya was quietly sitting outside listening. Sacimata

told Gaurasundara, "Early this morning, I saw a dream in which You and

Nityananda were playing with our Deities, Balarama and Krsna. Then the four

of You sat down to take some food and ultimately ended up fighting with one

another. In this way I saw so many of your sports!"

 

Gaurasundara replied, "Such a wonderful dream, Mother! But don't

tell anyone. Balarama and Krsna are personally living in our house. So many

days I saw that someone is stealing and eating their prasadam. I used to

doubt your daughter-in-law. But now I don't have this doubt any more. "

(i.e. Balarama and Krsna are directly eating what is offered to them).

 

Sacimata exclaimed, "Baba, You shouldn't speak like that."

 

Then Visnu-priya who was overhearing everything began to laugh.

 

Another day, the Lord Visvambhara was sitting with Laksmi-devi

(Visnu-priya) in His room. Laksmi-devi was feeling such happiness in being

able to serve her husband by giving Him tambul (pan and betel nut) that she

wasn't aware whether it was night or day. Whenever Laksmi would stay by

Visvambhara's side, Saci felt very content.

 

The Lord Gaura Narayana eternally engages in His divine lila with

Laksmi (Visnu-priya) in Nadiya. He feels very happy to taste the tambul

which Visnu-priya supplies Him. She, by her husband's happiness, then

forgets whether it is day or night. This is the subject of meditation for

the eternal worshipper of Sri Sri Gaura Visnu-priya.

 

When Mahaprabhu played the part of Rukmini-devi in a drama enacted

at the house of Sri Candrasekhara Acarya, Visnu-priya accompanied Sacimata

when she went to see that performance.

 

Hereafter, in the descriptions of the Lord's acceptance of the

sannyasa order, Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura hasn't mentioned Visnu-priya's

name anywhere. Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has only briefly described

her marriage with Sri Gaurasundara in the 8th chapter of the Adi-lila of Sri

Caitanya Caritamrta.

 

Locana dasa Thakura, however, in his Caitanya Mangala, has given the

following narration about the instructions that Mahaprabhu gave to Sri

Visnu-priya on the night of His departure for the acceptance of sannyasa.

 

Mahaprabhu is speaking to Visnu-priya, "You can write this down.

Everything that you see in this universe is completely false. The only

reality is Bhagavan and His devotees. Everything else is for nothing and

this is fit to be sung in song."

 

"Sons, husbands and friends, all of these family relationships are

false. In the end no one belongs to anyone else. Other than the lotus feet

of Sri Krsna, we have no other refuge. Krsna is the Husband (Master) of

everyone and other than Him, everything else is His energy. But no one

understands this. Your name is Visnu-priya. If you worship Sri Visnu, then

your name has been given substance. Don't feel any sorrow needlessly. I am

explaining to you the genuine Truth. Just fix your mind at the lotus feet of

Sri Krsna."

 

Visnu-priya replied, "You are the Supreme Controller, therefore

please withdraw Your illusory energy. Then Visnu-priya can be cheerful."

 

Visnu-priya then felt her sadness and affliction leave her and her

heart full of ecstasy, she found herself gazing at the four armed form of

the Lord. Nevertheless, she couldn't give up thinking of the Lord as her

Lord (husband) and falling at His lotus feet, she told Him, "I just have one

thing to say. I have come into this world, a completely vile and abominable

wretch, but you are my life, my Lord. My worth is that I am Your servant.

Now for what reason am I condemned to become a useless nothing again?"

 

Mahaprabhu replied, "Please hear me, Devi Visnu-priya. I am telling

you this. Whenever and wherever you think of Me, I will immediately come to

be with you. Please know this to be a firm fact."

 

Hearing the order of her Lord, Sri Krsna, Visnu-priya thought to

herself, "You are the Supreme, independent Lord. Whatever makes You happy,

You should do that. Who will try to obstruct You? Therefore I have no

further reply."

 

In the middle of the night, leaving the side of Visnu-priya,

Mahaprabhu came before his Mother's door and offered His salutations to her.

After revealing some of His transcendental opulences He left her in a

bewildered state and crossed the Ganges by swimming. Now He set off in the

direction of Katwa.

 

Sri Vasu Ghosha Thakura has described Visnu-priya's and Sacimata's

condition when they woke up at the end of the night.

 

Visnu-priya, thinking that Sri Gaurasundara was lying by her side,

put her hand out to touch Him, but found simply emptiness beside her.

Touching that empty space, a thunderbolt fell on her head. "Alas! Providence

has cheated me."

 

Crying very piteously, she went to Sacimata's room without binding

her hair. Visnu-priya's crying was rending the very earth itself and the

birds, beasts, creepers and trees, even the rocks, were also crying.

 

"Oh why is it that, being such a sinful person my life is not

leaving this body?!" Falling down and rolling on the ground, her piteous

wail caused her breath to come in gasps. Her mouth dried up and her body was

trembling. Feeling such intense separation from Mahaprabhu, sleep renounced

the eyes of Sri Visnu-priya. If sometimes she might sleep for a little

while, then she would lie down on the ground. Though her bodily radiance

could defeat that of gold, now she appeared very pallid, like a jewel

covered with dirt.

 

Her body was as thin as the moon on the fourteenth day of the dark

fortnight. She would count the chanting of the Holy Names with the aid of

grains of rice, and however much rice would accumulate, that she would cook

and offer to Mahaprabhu. Then a small amount of that she would accept as

prasadam. No one could understand how it was that she was maintaining her

life.

 

In the diary of Murari Gupta there is a description of the

appearance of Mahaprabhu's Deity and Sri Visnu-priya devi's worship of that

murti. Mahaprabhu's very own expansion, in the form of His Deity, was

present before Sri Visnu-priya. He intimated to her, "Sri Krsna is present

in this form."

 

Laksmi devi, (as Visnu-priya) engaged in the worship of this Deity.

This Deity is at present being worshipped in the town of Navadvipa as

Dhameshvara (the Isvara of the Dhama). After Mahaprabhu went away from

Nadiya, Isana Thakura (a servant in the house of Sacimata) used to look

after Visnu-priya and Sacimata. Sri Vamsivadana Thakura also used to stay

with them.

 

Srinivasa Acarya Prabhu received the darshan of Visnu-priya when he

went to Navadvipa.