SRI VIRACANDRA PRABHU

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SRI VIRACANDRA PRABHU

Sri Viracandra or Virabhadra Prabhu appeared on the ninth day of the dark

fortnight of the month of Kartik. Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami has given this

description of Him in the C.c. Adi 11.8-12:

 

"After Nityananda Prabhu, the greatest branch is Virabhadra Gosani, who also

has innumerable branches and sub-branches. It is not possible to describe

them all. Although Virabhadra Gosani was the Supreme Personality of Godhead,

He presented Himself as a great devotee. And although the Supreme Godhead is

transcendental to all Vedic injunctions, He strictly followed the Vedic

rituals. He is the main pillar in the hall of devotional service erected by

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He knew within himself that He acted as the Supreme

Lord Visnu, but externally He was prideless. It is by the mercy of Sri

Virabhadra Gosani that people all over the world now have the chance to

chant the names of Caitanya and Nityananda. I there take shelter of the

lotus feet of Virabhadra Gosani so that by His mercy my great desire to

write Sri Caitanya-Charitamrta will be properly guided."

 

Sri Birbhadra Gosvami is the son of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and the disciple

of Sri Jahnava Mata. His mother is Srimati Vasudha Devi. In the

Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika it is described that Sri Viracandra Prabhu is an

incarnation of Ksirodakasayi Visnu – one of the expansions of Sri

Sankarsana. He is thus not different from Lord Caitanya Himself.

 

Once upon a time, Isvari (Sri Jahnava Mata) went to the house of one

Jadunandana Acarya of Jhamatpur near Rajbol Hat(ta?)œ and by her mercy he

became a devotee. Jadunanda's wife was extremely devoted to her husband and

his two daughters, Srimati and Narayani, possessed bodily forms which

excelled the limits of mortal beauty. By the desire of Isvari that very

perfect brahmana gave these two daughters in marriage to Prabhu Viracandra.

[b.R.13]

 

Sri Yadunandana Acarya became the disciple of Vircandra Prabhu and Srimati

and Sri Narayani were given initiation in mantra by Sri Jahnava Mata.

Viracandra prabhu had a sister, Srimati Gangadevi, who was none other than

Mother Ganga herself. Her husband Madhavacarya was an incarnation of Raja

Santanu.

 

Taking permission from his mother, Viracandra Prabhu set out on a pilgrimage

to Vrindavana. First he came to Saptagram and proceeded to the house of Sri

Uddharana Datta Thakura where He was met by Uddharana Datta's son, Srinivasa

Datta. Srinivasa greeted Him with respect and showed Him all hospitality for

the two days that he stayed there. From there He went to Santipur where He

was led to Advaita Bhavan in a kirtan procession by Advaita Acarya's son,

Sri Krsna Misra. Next he crossed the Ganges River and came to Gauri dasa

Pandita's house in Ambika Kalna. Sri Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu respectfully

greeted Him and honored Him as His guest. From here He came to Navadvipa, to

the house of Jagannath Misra. When the family members and associates of

Mahaprabhu learned that He was the son of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, they were

highly pleased and showed Him all courtesies.

 

After spending two days there He came to Sri Khanda where He was greeted

very respectfully and affectionately by Sri Raghunandana and to Sri Kanai

Thakura. He spent a few days there, and then went to Srinivasa Acarya

Prabhu's house in Jajigram, where Acarya Prabhu received his exalted guest

by offering Him the appropriate worship. A few days passed In the ecstasy of

sankirtan and then Viracandra Prabhu came to Kantak Nagan (Katwa). He

remained there for one day and then proceeded to Bhudarigram. There He was

received by Sri Govinda Kaviraj who worshipped His lotus feet and offered

Him all hospitality. Sri Viracandra Prabhu was very pleased at his devotion

and remained there for a couple of days. Thereafter He made His auspicious

arrival in Kheturi.

 

As soon as he received news of His arrival, Sri Narottama Thakura came out

in great ecstasy to meet Sri Viracandra Prabhu. He led Him into the

courtyard of the temple of Sri Gauranga where sankirtan accompanied with

ecstatic dancing commenced. A steady crowd of people thronged to get a

glimpse of Prabhu Vircandra.

[b.R. 13]

 

After spending a few days in Kheturi in ecstatic sankirtana, Viracandra

Prabhu set off for Sri Vrindavana Dhama. Along the way many sinful and

atheistic people were delivered by His influence. As news of His arrival

reached Vrindavana, the Gosvamis, namely Srila Jiva Goswami, Srila Krsna

dasa Kaviraj Gosvami, Sri Ananta Acarya, Sri Hari dasa Pandita, Sri Krsna

dasa Brahmacari (Sri Madhu Gopala's pujari, a disciple of Sri Gadadhara

Pandita), Sri Madhu Pandita (pujari of Sri Gopinatha), Sri Bhavananda, Sri

Kasisvara, as well as his disciple Sri Govinda Gosvami and Sri Yadavacarya

were all informed.

 

The Gosvamis, accompanied by many residents of Sri Vrindavana Dhama, all

came out to meet Prabhu Viracandra. Everyone was overwhelmed by His

appearance in ecstatic love, and they all were humming like bumble bees in

discussing His good qualities. Prabhu Viracandra, in the company of these

exalted souls, took darshana of Sri Madana Mohana, Sri Govindaji, Sri

Gopinatha, the principal Deities in Vrindavana.

[b.R. 13]

 

After receiving the consent of Sri Jiva Gosvami and Sri Bhugarbha Gosvami,

Prabhu Viracandra set out to wander in the twelve forests of Vrajamandala,

becoming completely overwhelmed by seeing the various places of Krsna's

pastimes, like Sri Radha Kunda, Sri Shyama Kunda and Giri Govardhana. His

display of ecstatic symptoms captivated the Brijbasis. After seeing the

sights of Sri Vrajadhama, Bircandra Prabhu returned to Gaudadesa.

 

All of the divine qualities of His father, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, were fully

present in Him. Those who were fortunate enough to witness His ecstatic love

praised His glories far and wide.

 

Gopijana Vallabha, Rama Krsna and Ramacandra, who are thought by some to be

the sons of Virabhadra Gosai, were actually His disciples. The youngest,

Rama Krsna, who resided at Khardaha, belonged to the Sandilya Gotra and was

a member of the Batabyal brahmana community, known for their great

accomplishment in studying the Vedas. The oldest, Gopijana Vallabha, lived

at Latagram near Manakar, in the district of Barddhaman. The middle one,

Rama­candra, lived at Ganeshpur near Maldah. Because their gotras and

surnames (titles) were different, and because they lived at different

places, it is concluded they were not actually Vira­candra Prabhu's sons.

 

His birthplace is at Khardaha, which now is a rail station on the

Sealdah-Krsnanagar line. The village where Nityananda Prabhu made His advent

in this world - Ekacakra - is also named Viracandra­pur. Here the Deity of

Sri Bankim Raya was worshipped by Vira­candra Prabhu