Srivas Acarya Mayapur Celebration

July 11, 2003

Dear devotees

We had an ecstatic celebration today in Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya mandir about the Appearance day of Srivas Pandit. This morning's Srimad Bhagavatam lecture in english was delivered by H.H.Subhag Maharaja. Maharaja gave very sweet descriptions of the pastimes of Srivas Thakur. We had abhiseka at 11:00 at Sri Panca Tattva temple, followed by puspanjali, prasadam, and constant kirtan.

Below is some brief information about the life and glories of Srivas Pandit.

Srivasa Pandit appeared in Srihatta, West Bengal, about 30 years before Lord Gauranga.Srivasa Pandit,fifth member of the Panca-tattva,Sri Krishna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda,Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasadi,Gaura Bhakta Vrnda lived in Navadvipa before the advent of Lord Caitanya. He led his younger brothers, Srinidhi, Sripati and Srirama, in worshipping Lord Krsna, performing devotional service and bathing thrice daily in the Ganges.

On his order, they moved to Navadvipa and began to associate with the senior respected Sri Advaita Prabhu. Meeting with Sri Advaita Acarya Prabhu, they studied Bhagavatam, performed hari-nama sankirtana and prayed for an incarnation of the Supreme Lord.What did they pray? Because only an avatara of Krishna could reestablish Vaisnavism among the staunch atheists, logicians and proud pandits harassing Nadia at that time.

Srivasa Pandita and his wife Malini Devi became intimate friends of Jagannatha Misra and Sacimata. When Lord Visvambhara appeared, the hearts of all the devotees were filled with parental affection(vatsalya bhava).

After birth of Lord Caitanya, Malini would regularly visit, and give advice to the younger Sacimata how to raise her wonderful child.She served Nimai as a nurse. Malini's mood was always friendly, and she tried to satisfy Saci Devi in every possible way. Nimai looked upon Srivasa and Malini just like His parents.Gaurachandra loved Malini and Srivasa as a second mother and father.

Srivasa 's house was located 200 hundred yards north of Nimai's house.

Srivasa Pandit's palatial home had large comfortable rooms, a high protective boundary wall, and lush densely foliated gardens and groves.

Everynight Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and His dearest friends would enjoy ecstatic kirtans here and taste the mellows of Vrndavana.It was here that the angry muslim kazi broke the sacred mrdanga in his foolish attempt to stop Sri Krishna's sankirtana movement. Henceforeward, Srivasa's house was known as KHOL BANGA DANGA (place where the mrdanga was broken)

Kazi passed an ordinance prohibiting sankirtana. Violators would be converted to the muslim faith and lose their property. Although most Nadia vasis panicked over this, Srivasa Pandit laughed at the fanatical law.

Glories of Srivasa Pandita:

1. He is jiva-tattva or the marginal potency of Sri Krsna.

2. He appears on earth as suddha bhakta or unalloyed devotee of Lord Caitanya.

3. He is the perfect brahmana Vaisnava, and the foremost devotee of Lord.

4. He was an accomplished Kirtana leader. Every year at Ratha-Yatra he would lead one of the Kirtana parties for the pleasure of Lord Caitanya.

5.Lord Gauranga-Sundara showed His divine form to all His eternal associated in Srivasa's angam.

6.The house of Srivasa Pandit served as the headquarters of Gauranga's Sankirtana movement.It was here that daily Bhagavatam classes, nightly kirtans, and many confidentials Vraja pastimes of Lord Gaura Raya occured here.

7.He dedicated all His energy to the Lord's Hari-Nama Sankirtana movement.

8.He surrended his mind body friends family and possession to Lord Gaura's service.

9.He knew no other gods and goddesses.

10.He maintained his family, not because they were his relatives, but because they were Sri Caitanya's loving servants.

His excellent pastimes:

1. Srivasa instructs Nimai

2. Srivasa's faith is Tested.

3. Gauranga shows that He is the Supreme Lord (form to Srivasa)

4. Srivasa's dead son revived by Gauranga

5. Srivasa Pandita exonerated the leper from all offenses

6. Srivasa restores Gopala Capala's health

7. A muslim meat-eater who lived near Srivasa Pandita's house