Gauri das Pandita

[Guest guest]

GAURI DASA PANDITA

Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami, in describing the branches of the main trunk

(Nityananda) of the tree nurtured by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, praised Gauri

dasa

Pandita in this way:

"Gauri das Pandit's loving devotion was very intense and powerful. He

especially empowered himself to deliver, as well as to receive, love of Krsna.

He

completely surrendered himself along with his caste distinction and his

religious

dictates at the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu. Lord Caitanya and Lord

Nityananda Prabhu were the Lords of his life." [C.c. Adi 11.26-27]

His father's name was Sri Kamsari Misra and his mother's name Sri Kamala

Devi. Together they had six son: Damodara, Jagannatha, Surya dasa, Gauri dasa,

Krsna dasa and Nrsimha Caitanya. Amongst twelve cowherd boys in Vraja, Gauri

dasa

was Subal Sakha.

Across the Ganges from Santipur, in a small town called Ambika Kalna, which

is within the present district of Barddhama, is where Gauri dasa Pandita's

temple is located. His worshippable Deities Sri Sri Gaura-Nityananda are still

residing in all their splendor there. There is a railway station at Ambika

Kalna

on the Howrah-Navadvipa line. From there one can proceed by rickshaw to

Mahaprabhu Mandira. In the temple is an old copy of the Bhagavad-gita on palm

leaves

which is supposed to have been written by the hand of Mahaprabhu Himself.

There is also an oar from a boat which has an interesting story behind it.

One day, the two Lords Caitanya and Nityananda came to Kalna from Santipur by

boat, paddling it themselves. Lord Caitanya kept the oar in His hand, and

when He entered Gauri dasa's house He gave it to him, saying, "With this you

should cross over the ocean of material existence, taking all the living

entities

with you."

Gauri dasa Pandita's older brother, Surya dasa Sarakkali, had two daughters,

Sri Vasudha and Jahnava Devi. He gave them in marriage to Nityananda Prabhu.

Near the conclusion of His Navadvipa pastimes, when Mahaprabhu desired to

accept sannyasa, He came to Kalna to bid farewell to Gauri dasa. At that time

Gauri

dasa became extremely afflicted by separation. Hereafter is a nice song which

describes what occurred at that time.

"In the Thakur Pandit's house, Lord Gauranga was dancing ecstatically,

revolving around and around, while Lord Nityananda chanted 'Hari! Hari!' Gauri

dasa,

however, was crying very piteously and incessantly. He fell at the Lord's

feet and begged Him, 'Please don't ever go away from here! Just honor this one

request: stay here in Ambikanagar - this is my last submission at your lotus

feet. If You go away, surely I'll die. Don't try to trick me like You did the

gopis, giving some high philosophy about Your 'Bhava-murti' (or anything like

that). I must keep You here in such a way that I can see You. You two brothers

just stay here with me, thus everyone will become liberated. Again I am

petitioning You, don't leave me 'Gaur Hari (what's that mean exactly?). Then

I'll know

that You are the deliverers of the fallen."

"Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu replied, 'Gauri dasa! Give up this idea. You can

just serve My Deity form, for I am personally present in that form also. You

should know this to be a fact. Just accept what I am telling you as the truth."

 

"Hearing this, Gauri dasa simply let out a deep sigh and continued to cry

piteously. Again the two brothers tried to console him but his heart refused to

 

be pacified.

"Dina Krsna dasa is praying at the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, that these

two brothers might remain there. Thus the two of them were bound by the love of

 

Gauri dasa and therefore the Lord is known as bhakta vatsala or one who is

affectionate to His devotees.

"Seeing that Gauri dasa was extremely distraught, Mahaprabhu spoke to him

very gently, 'All right, We'll stay with you. Know in all certainty that We two

 

brothers will stay in your house.'

"Consoling him in this way the two Lords came before him in the company of

two Deities. Seeing the four of them standing before him, Panditji was asto

nished, and though tears continued to flow from his eyes, now it was not out of

 

sadness. The Lord again spoke to him, 'Whichever two you choose, you can keep

in

your room. Whichever two you can recognise as Us will stay with you and depend

on you to feed Us. Know this to be the truth of truths within your heart.

"Having heard Mahaprabhu speak these words, Gauri dasa immediately began to

cook. He fed all four of them sumptuously and then offered them nice cloths and

 

garlanded them with garlands of lotus flowers. Then he offered pan and betal

nuts for chewing and smeared sandlewood paste on Their bodies. By serving them

in various ways, he gradually regained his former composure and at the same

time decided which two he would keep in his house. Due to the Pandita's pure

love, two Lords remained with him and asked him to feed them when they were

hungry, while the other two went to Nilacala Puri. Gauri dasa Pandita served

his

two Lords according to Their whims and enjoyed many pastimes with Them.

"Praying at the lotus feet of such a rare devotee as Pandita Gauri das, Dina

Krsna dasa concludes his song. Becoming subservient to Gauri dasa' love, Sri

Sri Gaur-Nityananda accepted the arca vigraha form and remained with him to

enjoy sporting pastimes."

One day the two Lords smilingly spoke to Panditji "Gauri dasa! Previously you

were our friend, Subal. Don't you remember how we used to play and frolic,

enjoying different pastimes on the banks of the Yamuna?" Speaking in this

sweet

way, suddenly they took the form of Krsna and Balarama. Dressed like cowherd

boys, They held buffalo horn, cane and flute in Their hands. Their heads were

decorated with peacock feathers and around their necks were garlands of forest

flowers, and their lotus feet were decorated with ankle bells. Gauri dasa

also assumed his previous appearance and in this way they enjoyed some fun

together. After some time, Gauri dasa calmed himself, and the two Lords agains

at

down on the simhasana.

Every day, Gauri dasa used to cook many varieties of vegetables and offer

them to Their Lordships. He was always absorbed in their service and never

perceived his own bodily discomfort. As the years went by, gradually he

attained a

ripe old age. Nevertheless he continued to serve his Lordships as before,

cooking many various preparations for Them. Seeing that he was having to exert

himself so much to do so much cooking, one day Sri Sri Gaura-Nityananda feigned

 

anger and refused to eat. Panditji was in turn hurt by this and said, "If You

get happiness by not eating, then why do You have me cook in the first place?"

 

After saying this he became silent.

Lord Gauranga smiled and replied softly, "Your cooking is no small

accomplishment. You prepare rice and so many varieties of vegetables. You won't

listen

if We request you not to make so much but We can't bear to see your hard labor.

 

Whatever you can prepare easily that would be best."

Hearing Their statement, Gauri dasa replied, "Anyway, whatever I have

prepared today, please accept that. From tomorrow I won't feed You with so many

 

preparations. I'll just put some sak on Your plate." Having heard the reply of

 

Gauri dasa, the two Lords laughed and began to eat.

Sometimes Gauri dasa desired to decorate Their Lordships with ornaments.

Coming to know of this, Sri Gaura-Nityananda put on various ornaments and

exhibited themselves in Their full opulence. When Panditji entered the temple,

he

smiled with wonder. "Where did so many ornaments come from?" He was simply

astonished in ecstasy. In this way Sri Sri Gaura-Nityananda began to manifest

Their

opulence through various sporting pastimes in Gauri das's house.

Gauri dasa's dearmost disciple was Sri Hrdayananda. One time, on the occasion

of Lord Gaursundara's birth anniversary, Gauri dasa went to visit some of his

disciples. At the time of going he left Hrdayananda in charge of worshiping

the Deities, which Hrdayananda began to do in full love. Gradually the

appearance day of Mahaprabhu drew very near. When there were only three days

remaining, still Gauri dasa hadn't returned home yet. Hrdayananda deliberated

for

some time about what should be done and finally, being prompted on his own,

sent out invitations to all the devotees and disciples to attend the festival.

 

Just after that, Gauri dasa returned. Hrdayananda informed his gurudeva that

he had written out invitations and had then sent them to the devotees. Within

himself, Gauri dasa was very pleased by Hrdayananda's service, but externally

he feigned great anger and said, "Even in my presence you show so much

independence, sending out invitations hither and thither. Anyway, whatever this

 

upstart has done is done, but he won't be able to remain here."

Hearing this, Hrdayananda offered his obeisances and went to sit underneath a

tree on the banks of the Ganga. Shortly there-after, a rich man passing by in

a boat hailed Hrdayananda, wishing to make a donation. But instead of

accepting the donation himself, Hrdayananda sent him to his guru. However,

Gauri dasa

sent the man back to Hrdayananda and told him to accept the donation and with

it to hold a festival on the banks of the Ganga.

As per the order of his guru, Hrdayananda began to make the necessary

preparations. Gradually, the people that he had sent invitations to began to

arrive,

but upon hearing that a festival was being held on the Ganges riverbank, they

proceeded there first. In the company of the many devotees, Hrdayananda

chanted and dance ecstatically. The sankirtan was so blissful and attractive

that

Their Lordships themselves, Sri Sri Gaura-Nityananda, came to take part in the

dancing and singing. Hrdayananda was very fortunate to see all of this.

Meanwhile, Gauri dasa was also holding a festival in his house. When the time

came for making an offering, the pujari, Boro Ganga dasa Pandita entered the

Deity room only to find that there were no Deities. He immediately informed

Gauri dasa. Gauri dasa could understand the matter very well and, smiling, he

picked up a stick and proceeded towards the kirtana festival on the banks of

the Ganges. Arriving there, he saw the two transcendental brothers engaged in

ecstatic dancing. Sri Sri Gaura-Nityananda also saw Gauri dasa approaching in

an

angry mood with a stick in his hand, and They quickly and silently entered

the temple of Hrdayananda's heart. Seeing this Gauri das couldn't restrain his

 

tears of ecstasy. He forgot his anger and ran towards Hrdayananda with his

arms outstretched. Firmly embracing him he said, "You are so fortunate! From

today your name is Hrday-caitanya."

Gauri dasa began to bathe him with his tears as Hrday-caitanya fell at his

lotus feet. Then Gauri dasa took Hrday-caitanya and all of the devotees to his

 

courtyard where intense chanting and dancing continued. The assembled

Vaishnavas filled the day with the vibrations of "Hari! Hari!" In this way the

 

birth anniversary celebration of Gaursundara was observed. Thereafter Gauri

dasa

appointed Hrday-caitanya as the sevaka of the Deities.

His disappearance is on the thirteenth day of the bright fort-night of the

month of Sravana. In Vrindavana, on the banks of the Yamuna, there is a place

called Dhir Samir. Gauri dasa Pandita's samadhi is located here as are his

worshippable Deities, Sri Sri Shyama-Raya.