Sri Srivasa Pandita-Disappearence day-20-6-06

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Sri Srivasa Pandita asyaartho vivrtas tair yah

sa sankshipyaa vilikhyate

bhakta-rupo gaurachandro

yato 'sau nandanandanah

 

bhakta-swarupo nityanando

vraje yah sri-halayudhah

bhaktaavatara acaryo

'dvaito yah sri-sadaasivah

 

bhaktaakhyaah srinivaasaadyaa

yatas te bhakta-rupinah

bhakta-shaktir dvi jaagranyah

sri-gadaadhara-panditah

 

"I shall now summarily explain the meaning of these words. In this

Pancha-tattwa, the bhakta-rupa (form of a devotee) is Lord Chaitanya

Mahaprabhu, who formerly appeared as Sri Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaj. The

bhakta-swarupa (devotional incarnation) is Lord Nityananda, who formerly

appeared in Vrajabhumi as Lord Balarama. The bhaktaavatara (devotional

manifestation) is Lord Advaita Acarya, who is not different from Sadaashiva.

The bhataakhya (pure devotee) is Srinivasa and other great devotees as well.

The bhakta-shakti (devotional energy) is Gadadhara Pandita, the foremost of

brahmanas." (Gaura Ganodesh Dipika 11.)

 

sri-visvambharaadvaita-

nityanandaavadhutahah

atra trayah samunneyaa

vighraha prabhavaash ca te

 

eko mahaaprabhur jneyah

sri-caitanya dayaambudhih

prabhu dvau sri-yutau nityaa-

nandaadvaitau mahaashayau

 

goswaamino vighrash ca

te dvi jaash ca gadaadharah

pancha-tattwaatmaka ete

srinivaasas ca panditah

 

"Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda Avadhuta, and Lord Advaita, are all

incarnations of the supremly exalted Personality of Godhead, and They are all

known by the title Prabhu (Master). Among Them, Lord Chaitanya, Who is an ocean

of mercy, is known as Mahaprabhu (The Great Master), and the great

personalities Lord Nityananda and Lord Advaita are known only as Prabhu

(Master). All three are also known as Goswami (Master of the Senses).

Gadaadhara is called by the title Dvija (Brahmana, and Srinivaasa is called by

the title Pandita (Learned Scholar). These are the titles of the members of the

Pancha-tattwa." (Gaura Ganodesha Dipika 13.)

 

"O my Lord Gaurahari, You are the abode of auspiciousness which is as beautiful

as the kirtana of Krsna. You are the ocean of elegance, bestower of constant

flow of devotion and mountain of love which is as bright as gold. Your

beautiful features give soothing relief to the eyes of every living being and

you are mankind's salvation from all kinds of misfortune. You are the center of

the Lila Vilasa, and the life of the devotees. Be kind to me."

(Bhakti-ratnakara. KJÄ1.)

 

"O my Prabhu, Sri Gopala Bhatta, the bee at the lotus like feet of Sri Gaura.

You are the sun which destroys the darkness of illusion, the ocean of kindness

and the greatest of all the brahmanas. You are the son of Sri Venkata Bhatta

and a valuable ornament of divine love and devotion. You are the destroyer of

worldly miseries and a resort of happiness to the misery stricken people. O

Lord save me." (Bhakti-ratnakara. KJÄ.2.)

 

"O my Prabhu, Srila Gopala Bhatta, a bee at the lotus like feet of Mahaprabhu.

You are the most skillful devotee of the Lord. O my Prabhu Srinivasa, whose

complexion is as golden as Sri Sacinandana, you are the king amongst all the

brahmanas. Please bless me." (Bhakti-ratnakara. KJÄ3.)

 

"I constantly worship the companions of Srinivasa Prabhu who is like the

wishing tree of devotional love of Sri Krsna Caitanya Candra."

(Bhakti-ratnakara. KJÄ4.)

 

"My dear listeners, please repeatedly and joyfully hear the Bhaktiratnakara

which is the life of all Vaisnavas and the destroyer of all miseries and

misfortunes." (Bhakti-ratnakara. KJÄ5.)

 

"Sri Gadadhara is expansion Radharani and Srinivasa is the expansion of Narada

Muni, or in other words they are the internal and the devotional energy

respectively." (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad. 27th May 1970. Letter to

Tamal Krishna.)

 

srivas-pandito dhimaan

yah pura narado munih

purvataakhyo muni-varo

ya aasin narada-priyah

sa raama-panditah srimams

tat-kanistha-sahaodarah

 

"Intelligent Srivaasa Pandita had previously been Narada Muni, the best of the

sages. Srivaasa's younger brother, Sriman Rama Pandita, had previously been

Narada's close friend Parvata Muni" (Gaura Ganodesh Dipika 90.)

 

Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura, the Vyasadeva of Sri Gaurasundara's pastimes,

has sung the praises of Srivasa Pandita in this way:

 

"It was in Srivasa Pandita's house that Sri Caitanya enacted His pastimes of

sankirtana. Those four brothers (Srivasa, Sri Rama, Sripati and Srinidhi) were

continuously engaged in singing the names of Sri Krsna. They worshipped Sri

Krsna and bathed in the Ganges thrice daily."

 

These four brothers previously lived in the district of Sri Hatta. Later on

they came to reside on the banks of the Ganges. There they regularly used to

attend the assembly of devotees who gathered at Sri Advaita Acarya's house to

hear the Srimad Bhagavatam and engage in congregational chanting of the Holy

Names. Gradually the brothers became very close friends of Sri Jagannatha

Misra, with whom they would chant and listen to the Bhagavatam.

 

In all matters Srivasa was the leader of the four brothers. By the strength of

his devotion, he could understand that Sri Krsna was going to appear in the

house of Jagannatha Misra.

 

Srivasa Pandits's wife's name was Sri Malinidevi. She was a very close friend

of Sri Sacidevi and was always very helpful to her.

 

Seeing the wretched state of the fallen living entities in Kali yuga, the

devotees began to plaintively pray to the Lord for their deliverance. Krsna

hears the call of His devotees. On the full moon day in the month of Phalguna,

in the year 1407 (Christian era 1486), the Lord incarnated Himself. With His

appearance there was the simultaneous dawning of all-auspiciousness within the

world as it became filled with Harinama. Just as Sri Advaita Acarya, from

Santipura, could understand that the Lord had appeared, similarly, Srivasa and

some of the other devotees of Navadwipa also understood.

 

Since previously Malinidevi was engaged in attending upon Sacidevi, Srivasa and

Jagannatha Misra came to her at this time and hinted that she was especially

needed now.

 

As long as the Lord chooses not to reveal Himself, no one can possibly

recognize Him. Therefore, even though from His childhood the Lord exhibited

many supernatural abilities, still, due to His deluding potency, the devotees

could not fully understand His true nature.

 

Their hearts were simply filled with parental affection for Him, without a

trace of awe or reverence. Srivasa and Malini gave Sacidevi and Jagannatha much

advice how to raise their new son. Srivasa and Malini were just like a mother

and father to Sri Gaurasundara. Because young Nimai Pandita seemed to have

grown arrogant by His scholarship, one day Srivasa Pandita decided to give Him

good counsel.

 

"Why do people study? So that they might understand what is devotion to Sri

Krsna," he told Nimai. "If by scholarship one doesn't gain devotion to Sri

Krsna, then how will that learning help him? It becomes simply a tedious

endeavour which in the end is nothing but a waste of time. If you have actually

learned something then begin your worship of Sri Krsna now. Make haste. This is

the purpose of your life."

 

Nimai laughed as He replied, "By your mercy certainly that will come to be. If

you are all kind enough for me, then definitely I'll attain devotion to Sri

Krsna's lotus feet."

 

Shortly thereafter Mahaprabhu journeyed to Gaya where He performed the pastimes

of accepting initiation from Sri Isvara Puri. Thus gradually, He began to take

up His real work of distributing loving devotion to Sri Krsna.

 

One day, in an ecstatic mood, Lord Gauranga entered Srivasa's house asking,

"Srivas, whom do you worship? Whom do you meditate upon? Now with your own two

eyes, see that person standing before you." [C.B. Madhya 2/258]

 

Saying this, Mahaprabhu entered the Deity room within Srivasa's home temple and

sat down on the simhasana of Lord Visnu, revealing His own four-armed form,

holding the conch, disc club and lotus flower. Seeing this form, Srivasa was

totally stupefied.

 

Sri Gaurasundara then said, "Due to being called by your sankirtana and the

loud roaring of Sri Advaita Acarya, I have left Vaikuntha and have descended

upon this mortal world, accompanied by My eternal associates, will destroy the

miscreants and deliver the pious. Now, without fear, you can chant my glories."

 

Hearing these words of His Lord, which dispelled all fear, Srivasa fell on the

ground, offering his obeisances. Then he began to recite hymns in praise of the

Lord.

 

"My obeisances at the lotus feet of the support of the entire universe

Visvambhara, Whose bodily colour is like that of a newly arrived rain cloud and

wore garments which are the color of a thunderbolt. My obeisances at the lotus

feet of the son of Saci, who is bedecked with ornaments of peacock feathers and

a garland of read beads (gunja-mala). My obeisances at the lotus feet of the

pupil of Ganga dasa, the beauty of whose lotus face conquers that of ten

million moons. My obeisances at your lotus feet, You who carry a buffalo horn,

stick and flute. The four Vedas have proclaimed You to be the son of Nanda.

Unto You my dear Lord, my obeisances I offer again and again." [C.B.Madhya

2/272]

 

"Today my birth, my activities, my everything has become successful. Today my

very existence has been crowned with the greatest auspiciousness. Today the

race of my forefathers has finally born fruit, and my house, which was also

their house, has become blessed. Today the great fortune of my eyes is

completely beyond calculation, because I have been able to see that person

whose lotus feet are served by the goddess of fortune, Laksmi­devi".

 

Having described the glories of Sri Gaurasundara in various ways, Sri

Gaurasundara showed even more compassion to Srivasa by revealing Himself to all

of his family members. Seeing the niece of Srivasa Pandita present before Him,

Prabhu called to her, "Narayani! Call upon Sri Krsna with tears in your eyes."

 

And immediately this little girl, only four years of age, as if in a delirious

frenzy began to cry out, "Hari! Krsna!" while shedding tears incessantly. In

fact the flood of tears coursed down her body to such an extent that the ground

around her feet became soaked." [C.B. Madhya. 2].

 

Seeing little Narayani totally agitated in ecstatic love, Srivasa's wife and

even the household servants also began to shed tears of love. The courtyard of

Srivasa took on a very beautiful appearance, being decorated with ecstatic love

for Krsna.

 

There was one maidservant in Srivasa Pandita's house by the name Duhkhi. Every

day she used to bring water from the Ganga for Mahaprabhu's bath. One day

Gaurasundara asked Srivasa, "Who brings this water?"

 

"Duhkhi brings it," Srivasa replied.

 

"From today her name is Sukhi." Thus the Lord indicated that those who serve

the Lord and the Lord's devotees are not duhkhi (sad); rather, they are sukhi

(happy).

 

At this time Sri Gaursundor began His lila as the yuga-avatara at the house of

Srivasa Pandit. Having been reunited with Sri Nityananda Prabhu He started

congregational chanting of the Lord's Holy Names in the courtyard of Srivasa's

house. Nityananda Prabhu took up His residence there. Sri Malinidevi served

Nitya­nanda as though He were her own son.

 

Sri Nityananda was actually Sri Baladeva Himself, and in His pastimes as Lord

Nityananda He behaved somewhat like a madman. He was always overwhelmed by love

of Krsna, and was not aware of the state of His outward dress or ornaments.

 

One evening, Sri Gaurasundara, accompanied by His associates, was engaged in

chanting and dancing at the house of Srivasa Thakura when one of Srivas

Thakur's sons passed away after having suffered the effects of some disease.

Within the inner apartment of his house, the women began to wail in lamentation

at the boy's untimely death. Srivasa Pandita, who was outside in the courtyard,

understood some tragedy must have taken place.

He quickly entered the house only to find that his son had passed on to the

next world. As he was a very grave devotee and completely conversant in the

science of the Absolute Truth, he was able to console the women in their grief.

 

"You are all aware of Krsna's glories, so please restrain yourselves and don't

cry. Whoever during his last moment hears the Lord's Holy Name, even though he

might be the greatest sinner, attains Krsna's abode. And that incomparably

wonderful Lord, He whose glories are sung by all His servants up to and

including Lord Brahma, is now personally dancing in the courtyard of your

house.

 

"This moment is so auspicious that it is sure this boy has successfully

completed his journey from this world. Is there anything to be lamented at in

this? His good fortune is completely assured. I can understand that whatever

part I have played in this is also crowned with success." [C.B.M 25.30]

 

He concluded by telling them, "If you can't control your emotions because of

your family affection to the boy, then at least don't cry now, you can cry

later. The Supreme Lord of Gokula Himself, Sri Gaurasundara, is performing

sankirtana accompanied by His devotees in this house. If, due to your crying,

the happiness that He is experiencing from dancing in ecstasy during sankirtana

is disturbed, then I will just this minute jump into the Ganges and thus give

up my own life."

 

"Not a blade of grass moves unless by Krsna's will. To see in this happiness or

distress, or knowledge or ignorance is simply imagination. Know that whatever

Krsna wills is good, and thus, giving up your own selfish desires, become free

from confusion and unnecessary botheration. Krsna is giving and Krsna is taking

away, and it is Krsna alone Who is maintaining everyone. Someone He protects

and someone He destroys, all according to His will. If someone contemplates

something contrary to Krsna's will, then as a result of His desire He only get

torment. Giving up all lamentation, simply hear Krsna's name, and thus pass

through all difficulties feeling great happiness. Then your desires will

actually be fulfilled.'

 

Having given all of these instructions to those present, Srivasa again went

outside to join Mahaprabhu in ecstatic chanting and dancing. The women, leaving

the dead body, came to hear the kirtan of Mahaprabhu. And so Mahaprabhu

continued His chanting until the middle of the night.

 

When everyone was at last leaving to take rest, Mahaprabhu spoke. "Today My

mind is feeling some tribulation. I think some sad event has occurred in

Srivasa's house."

 

The pandit replied, "What possible unhappiness could there be in that person's

house where Your divinely blissful countenance is seen?"

"Srivasa! Why wasn't I feeling bliss in kirtana today? What inauspicious thing

transpired in your house?"

 

Srivasa answered, "My Lord, You are Yourself all auspicious. Where You are

present, no sorrow can be found anywhere!" But the other devotees informed the

Lord that Srivasa's son had passed away.

 

Hearing this news, Gaura Raya cried out, "Alas, what a tragic event. Why didn't

you tell me of this unfortunate news before?"

 

"I will explain," Srivasa Pandita replied. "I couldn't tolerate disturbing You

while You were enjoying sankirtana. If one of my sons dies, what sorrow is

there in that for me? If we all die while seeing You, that would actually be a

matter of great happiness. On the other hand, if You would have to stop

dancing, then perhaps I would have died. My Lord, this was the danger that I

feared, and thus I didn't tell you at the time."

 

Seeing Srivasa Pandita's profound devotion, Sri Gaurasundara said, "How can I

give up such company as this?" With tears in His eyes He continued. "Due to

love for Me, he didn't even feel lamentation at the death of his son. How will

I abandon their companionship?"

 

The Lord continued to cry, and the devotees began to worry within, having heard

Him speak of leaving them.

 

Thereafter Mahaprabhu came to where the dead body of the infant was lying.

Touching it, He called, "Boy! Why are you going away and leaving Srivasa

Pandita?"

 

The life of the dead child returned at the touch of Mahaprabhu's hand. After

offering obeisances to the Lord, he replied, "O Prabhu! Whatever You ordain is

absolute. No one can do anything but what is sanctioned by You. As many days as

I was destined to remain here, that many days I have stayed. Now that my time

has elapsed, I have proceeded to leave.

 

"My Lord, I have taken birth and died repeatedly. But this time, at the time of

death, I passed away quite happily, having taken darsana of Your beautiful

face."

 

After saying this, the child became silent. Sri Gauranga Raya thus enjoyed a

kind of transcendental sport. Having heard the uncommon words of the dead

child, the devotees floated in the ocean of bliss. Srivasa Pandita, along with

his family members, then fell at the lotus feet of Sri Gaursundara and cried in

ecstatic love.

 

Mahaprabhu then told him, "Since Myself and Nityananda are your two sons,

please don't feel any more distress in your mind over what has happened."

Hearing these compassionate words of their Lord, the devotees cheers were

resounded throughout the heavens.

Proving the statements of sastra, Their Lordships Gaura-Nitya­nanda became

deeply indebted to Srivasa due to his great love for and service to Them.

 

After Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, Srivasa Pandit came to live at Kumarhatta.

Every year he would go with His brothers to see Mahaprabhu at Puri. He also

regularly came to see Sri Sacimata in Navadwip and would spend a few days there

during those times.

 

When Mahaprabhu came from Nilacala to see His mother and the river Ganges, He

also stopped at Kumarhatta to see Srivasa.

 

"After staying some days at Advaita's house, Mahaprabhu came to Srivasa's

temple at Kumarhatta." [C.B]

 

It was at this time that Mahaprabhu gave this benediction to Srivasa: "There

will never be poverty in your house. If you simply remain indoors, never even

venturing out of your house, whatever you require for your worship will come to

your door."

 

Srivasa Pandita, along with his three brothers, eternally serve Sri

Gaurasundara. He is the incarnation of Narada and accompanied Mahaprabhu in all

His Navadwipa lilas.

 

Across the Ganges from Halisahar (the present name of the village of

Kumarhatta), there is a town of the name Chuchura. Located here are some very

beautiful Deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga. At present the seva-puja is

becoming carried on by Devananda Gaudiya Matha. The resident Swami Maharaja

recalls that when the Gaudiya Math took over the sevaitship of this temple, its

name was Srivasa- Mahaprabhu Mandir. Thus there is a strong possibility that

these are the worshippable Deities of Srivasa Pandita. The temple is at present

named 'Uddhavar Gaudiya Math.' It is near 'Chaumatha', close to the 'Chori Mor'

intersection where the town clock stands.

 

There is a rail station at Chuchura (Chinsura) on the Bandel-Navadwip line.

Chuchura may also be reached by ferry from Halisahar on the other side of the

Ganga, where Caitanya Boda, the birthplace of Sri Isvara Puri, is located.

 

 

CHANT HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE AND BE HAPPY

Your humble servant

radhabhava gaur das

 

 

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