Talks Between Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Rämänanda Räya

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

 

PAMHO, AGTSP

 

Kindly glorify the pastimes of Srila Ramananda Raya on his disappearnce day on

8th May.

 

Your servant in the mission of Srila Prabhupada

Nanda Gopal Dasa

 

 

Talks Between Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Rämänanda Räya

 

The summary of the Madhya lila Eighth Chapter is given by Çréla Bhaktivinoda

Öhäkura in his Amåta-praväha-bhäñya. After visiting the temple of

Jiyaòa-nåsiàha, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu went to the banks of the river

Godävaré, to a place known as Vidyänagara. When Çréla Rämänanda Räya went there

to take his bath, they met. After introducing himself, Çré Rämänanda Räya

requested Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu to remain in the village for some days.

Honoring his request, Caitanya Mahäprabhu stayed there in the home of some

Vedic brähmaëas. In the evening, Çréla Rämänanda Räya used to come to see Çré

Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Rämänanda Räya, who was clothed in ordinary dress, offered

the Lord respectful obeisances. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu questioned him on the

object and process of worship and also asked him to recite verses from the

Vedic literature.

First of all, Çréla Rämänanda Räya enunciated the system of the varëäçrama

institution. He recited various verses about karmärpaëa, stating that

everything should be dedicated to the Lord. He then spoke of detached action,

knowledge mixed with devotional service, and finally the spontaneous loving

service of the Lord. After hearing Çréla Rämänanda Räya recite some verses, Çré

Caitanya Mahäprabhu accepted the principle of pure devotional service devoid of

all kinds of speculation. After this, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu asked Rämänanda

Räya to explain the higher platform of devotional service. Then Çréla Rämänanda

Räya explained unalloyed devotional service, love of Godhead, and serving the

Lord in the moods of pure servitude, fraternity and parental love. Finally he

spoke of serving the Lord in conjugal love. He then spoke of how conjugal love

can be developed in various ways. This conjugal love attains its highest

perfection in Çrématé Rädhäräëé's love for Kåñëa. He next described the

position of Çrématé Rädhäräëé and the transcendental mellows of love of God.

Çréla Rämänanda Räya then recited a verse of his own concerning the platform of

ecstatic vision, technically called prema-viläsa-vivarta. Çréla Rämänanda Räya

also explained that all stages of conjugal love can be attained through the

mercy of the residents of Våndävana, especially by the mercy of the gopés. All

these subject matters were thus vividly described. Gradually Rämänanda Räya

could understand the position of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and when Çré Caitanya

Mahäprabhu exhibited His real form, Rämänanda Räya fell unconscious. After some

days, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu asked Rämänanda Räya to retire from government

service and come to Jagannätha Puré. These descriptions of the meetings between

Rämänanda Räya and Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu are taken from the notebook of

Svarüpa Dämodara Gosvämé.

 

Srila Ramananda Raya ki Jay!!!