Isvara Puri

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February 27th, 2003, Thursday (Dvadasi)

Break fast 08:13 - 10:25

(Daylight saving not considered)

 

Disappearance day of Sri Isvara Puri

 

ISVARA PURI

 

Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has described in Sri Caitanya

Caritamrta that the first sprout of the desire tree of devotion was

manifested in the person of Sri Madhavendra Puri, and that that sprout

developed into a sapling in the person of Sri Isvara Puri. Then, in the

person of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who was also the gardener Himself, that

sapling become the trunk of a enormous tree, the desire tree of devotion.

[CC Adi 9.10-11]

 

Sri Isvara Puri appeared in this world on the full moon day of the

month of Jyestha. He served his guru, Sri Madhavendra Puri, very faithfully,

especially during the end of Sri Puri-pada's life. Isvara Puri gave the best

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

him, blessed him, saying, 'My dear boy, I can only pray to Krsna that He

will be pleased with you.' [CC Antya 8.26-29]

 

Sri Isvara Puri, in his travels to various holy places, once came to

Sridhama Navadvipa, where he stayed in the house of Sri Gopinatha Acarya. At

that time Sri Nimai Pandita was absorbed in His pastimes of learning. Isvara

Puri entered Nadiya-nagara in disguise and thus no one could understand who

he really was.

 

"That noble minded gentleman, was always absorbed in the mellows of

devotion to Sri Krsna. He was thus extremely dear to Sri Krsna and he was an

ocean of mercy. No one, however, could recognize him by his dress. By the

will of fate, he came to Sri Advaita Acarya's house." [CB Adi 11]

 

He came to where Sri Advaita Acarya was engaged in worshipping Sri

Krsna and quietly sat down there. By his divine lustre one Vaisnava cannot

remain hidden from another. Advaita Acarya began to look in his direction

again and again. Finally he asked him: "Bap! Who are you? I have a feeling

you are a Vaisnava sannyasi."

 

Sri Isvara Puri very humbly replied: "I am a low class sudra, come

to view your lotus feet." Mukunda Datta, who was also present could also

understand that this is a Vaisnava sannyasi and thus he contrived to expose

him. In his sweet voice, he began a kirtana describing Sri Krsna's pastimes.

When Sri Isvara Puri heard that kirtan he at once fell to the ground, and

the earth beneath him became wet with his tears. The devotees present were

dumbstruck. "We haven't seen a Vaisnava like this before." Advaita Acarya

very firmly embraced him. Now everyone could understand that this is

Madhavendra Puri's dearmost disciple, Sri Isvara Puri. Loud shouts of "Hari!

Hari!" rose up into the air.

 

Sri Isvara Puri remained at Navadvipa for some days. One day when

Nimai Pandita was returning home from the school, he happened by chance to

meet Sri Isvara Puri on the way. Sri Isvara Puri was as though mesmerized

while looking at the son of Saci, and thought to himself, "He has all the

indications of being a divine personage, and appears very grave indeed."

 

Srila Isvara Puri inquired, "Oh Viprabor! May I know your name?

Where do you live? What is that manuscript in Your hand?" Mahaprabhu very

humbly offered His namaskara. Some of his disciples replied, "His name is

Nimai Pandit." Exclaiming, "You are the famous Nimai Pandita!" Isvara Puri

felt very happy to meet Him. Mahaprabhu, coming forward and bowing his head,

humbly requested, "Sripada, please come with Me to My house and be My guest

for lunch."

 

Isvara Puri thought to himself, "What a pleasant demeanor He has!"

As though charmed by some mantra he quietly came along with the Pandit to

His house. Arriving there, Mahaprabhu personally washed his feet, while in

the Deity room, Saci Mata offered the various preparations that she had

prepared to the Lord. Then Mahaprabhu served that prasadam to Sri Isvara

Puri and afterwards accepted his remnants. Thereafter they sat in the temple

(Visnu-grha) and discussed Krsna-katha, by which they both became filled

with ecstatic love.

 

Sri Isvara Puri thus remained at Navadvipa for a few months, staying

at the house of Sri Gopinatha Acarya. Everyday Mahaprabhu would come to have

darsan of his lotus feet and occasionally He would invite him for lunch. At

that time Srila Gadadhara Pandita was just a young boy and Isvara Puri was

very affectionate to him. He began to teach him from the book which he had

composed, "Sri Krsna Lilamrta".

 

One evening when Mahaprabhu had come to offer His obeisances to

Isvara Puri, Srila Puripada spoke to him, "You are a great pandita. I have

composed a manuscript about Sri Krsna's pastimes. If you would please hear

it, then I can recite it before You, and You can correct any mistakes that

there might be. I will be very pleased if You do this."

 

Mahaprabhu replied smilingly, "Whatever a devotee speaks is dictated

by Sri Krsna Himself. If anyone sees any fault in this then he is simply a

sinful wretch. Whatever poems he composes, certainly Krsna is very pleased

by that. Krsna accepts the mood in which things are offered as the most

substantial part of the offering." To Isvara Puri these words were like

drops of nectar and he could understand that Sri Nimai Pandita was an

extraordinary person. After passing some days in Nadia, Isvara Puri

continued his tour of the holy places.

 

Meanwhile Mahaprabhu was bringing His pastimes of learning to a

close and now desired to reveal His true Self and establish the religion of

the age by distributing love of Godhead through the chanting of His Holy

Names. Thus He came to Gaya, ostensibly to offer pinda for His departed

father and forefathers. Sri Isvara Puri was present at that time at Gaya.

 

After having offered pinda at the various holy shrines, he finally

came to the place where the lotus footprints of Sri Visnu are. While taking

darsana and hearing of the glories of the shrine Mahaprabhu fainted and fell

to the ground. By the arrangement of Providence, Sri Isvara Puri happened to

come to that spot just then and learned from Sri Candrashekar Acarya what

had transpired. After a short time Mahaprabhu regained His consciousness,

and seeing Isvara Puri He got up to offer His obeisances. Sri Isvara Puri

embraced Him and the two of them were drenched by each others tears of love.

 

Mahaprabhu addressed Isvara Puri, "My journey to Gaya is successful

just by My seeing your lotus feet. If one offers Pinda at this holy place,

then his forefathers become delivered. But simply by seeing you, tens of

millions of forefathers get liberation. Therefore your presence is even more

auspicious than that of this holy tirtha. All of the holy tirthas pray for

the dust of your lotus feet. Therefore, O Puripada, I am praying at your

lotus feet to ferry me across the ocean of material existence and to cause

me to drink the nectar from Krsna's lotus feet."

 

Srila Isvara Puri replied, "Please hear me Panditji, I have

understood that You are an incarnation of the Supreme Lord. This morning I

saw a very auspicious dream and now that has actually materialized. From the

first day I saw you at Navadvipa, I have always thought of You. I get such

pleasure by seeing You, as much pleasure as I get by seeing Krsna."

 

Hearing this, Mahaprabhu bowed his head and smilingly replied, "This

is my great fortune."

 

On another day Mahaprabhu approached Sri Isvara Puri and requested

that he initiate Him with the divine mantra. "My mind is becoming very

restless in anticipation of this initiation." Srila Puripada very blissfully

replied, "What to speak of mantras, I am prepared to offer You my very

life." [CB Adi 17.10]

 

Thereafter Srila Isvara Puri initiated Mahaprabhu with the divine mantra.

 

diksa-anantare haila, premera prakasa

dese agamana punah premera vilasa

 

"In Gaya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was initiated by Isvara Puri, and

immediately afterwards He exhibited signs of love of Godhead. He again

displayed such symptoms after returning home." [CC Adi 17.9]

 

One morning Srila Isvara Puri came to where Mahaprabhu was staying.

Mahaprabhu was extremely pleased to see him and after offering His

obeisances He invited him to stay for lunch. Isvara Puri replied that,

"Being able to accept foodstuffs from Your hand is a matter of great fortune

for me." Mahaprabhu Himself cooked and then very carefully served His guru

the prasadam. Afterwards he smeared sandalwood paste on his body and put a

garland of flowers around his neck. Thus the Supreme Lord Himself taught how

one should serve his guru. Without serving the great devotees, it is not

possible to receive love of Godhead. Service to the guru is the door to

devotion.

 

On his return from Gaya, Mahaprabhu came by way of Kumarhatta, the

birthplace of His guru, and began to roll on the ground in ecstasy there, as

the ground became wet with His tears. Finally He collected some dust from

that holy place and bound it in the corner of his upper garment, saying,

"This dust is as dear to me as My life." Then he set out for Navadvipa.

 

The birthplace of Srila Isvara Puri is located within the present

town of Halyahor, which is near the Kanchra-para rail station, which is on

the Sealdah-Krsnanagar line. One should get down at Kanchra-para station and

then proceed by rickshaw to Caitanya Doha. Doha means pond, which is what

was created when many followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, following in His

footsteps, came here and collected earth from the birthplace of Srila Isvara

Puri.

 

Thereafter Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa and by the order of His

mother came to live at Jagannath Puri. By this time Isvara Puri had already

left this world. He sent two of his disciples, Sri Govinda and Kasisvara

brahmacari, to serve the Lord at Nilacala.