Sri Madhavendra Puri's Devotional Service

[Govindaram]

Sri Madhavendra Puri's Devotional Service

 

Bhaktivedanta Vedabase: Sri Caitanya Caritamrita

 

CC Madhya 4 Summary

 

CC Madhya 4.1: I offer my respectful obeisances unto Madhavendra Puri, who was given a pot of sweet rice stolen by Sri Gopinatha, celebrated thereafter as Ks?ira-cora. Being pleased by Madhavendra Puri's love, Sri Gopala, the Deity at Govardhana, appeared to the public vision.

 

CC Madhya 4.2: All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu! All glories to Nityananda Prabhu! All glories to Advaita Prabhu! And all glories to all the devotees of Lord Caitanya!

 

CC Madhya 4.3-4: The Lord went to Jagannatha Puri and visited Lord Jagannatha's temple. He also met with Sarvabhauma Bhat?t?acarya. All these pastimes have been very elaborately explained by Vr?ndavana dasa T?hakura in his book Caitanya-bhagavata.

 

CC Madhya 4.5: By nature all the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are very wonderful and sweet, and when they are described by Vr?ndavana dasa T?hakura, they become like a shower of nectar.

 

CC Madhya 4.6: Therefore I very humbly submit that since these incidents have already been nicely described by Vr?ndavana dasa T?hakura, I would be very proud to repeat the same thing, and this would not be very good. I do not have such powers.

 

CC Madhya 4.7: I am therefore presenting only a synopsis of those events already described elaborately by Vr?ndavana dasa T?hakura in his Caitanya-mangala [now known as Caitanya-bhagavata].

 

CC Madhya 4.8: Some of the incidents he did not describe elaborately but only summarized, and these I shall try to describe in this book.

 

CC Madhya 4.9: I thus offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vr?ndavana dasa T?hakura. I hope that I will not offend his lotus feet by this action.

 

CC Madhya 4.10: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu proceeded toward Jagannatha Puri with four of His devotees, and He chanted the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Kr?s?n?a mantra, with great eagerness.

 

CC Madhya 4.11: Each day Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally went to a village and collected a great quantity of rice and other grains for the preparation of prasadam.

 

CC Madhya 4.12: There were many rivers on the way, and at each river there was a tax collector. They did not hinder the Lord, however, and He showed them mercy. Finally He reached the village of Remun?a.

 

CC Madhya 4.13: The Deity of Gopinatha in the temple at Remun?a was very attractive. Lord Caitanya visited the temple and offered His obeisances with great devotion.

 

CC Madhya 4.14: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered His obeisances at the lotus feet of the Gopinatha Deity, the helmet of flowers on the head of Gopinatha fell down and landed on the head of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

CC Madhya 4.15: When the Deity's helmet fell upon His head, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became very pleased, and thus He chanted and danced in various ways with His devotees.

 

CC Madhya 4.16: All the servants of the Deity were struck with wonder due to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's intense love, His exquisite beauty and His transcendental qualities.

 

CC Madhya 4.17: Because of their love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they served Him in many ways, and that night the Lord stayed at the temple of Gopinatha.

 

CC Madhya 4.18: The Lord remained there because He was very eager to receive the remnants of sweet rice offered to the Gopinatha Deity, having heard a narration from His spiritual master, Isvara Puri, of what had once happened there.

 

CC Madhya 4.19: That Deity was known widely as Ks?ira-cora-gopinatha, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu told His devotees the story of how the Deity became so famous.

 

CC Madhya 4.20: Formerly the Deity had stolen a pot of sweet rice for Madhavendra Puri; therefore He became very famous as the Lord who stole the sweet rice.

 

CC Madhya 4.21: Once, Sri Madhavendra Puri traveled to Vr?ndavana, where he came upon the hill known as Govardhana.

 

CC Madhya 4.22: Madhavendra Puri was almost mad in his ecstasy of love of Godhead, and he did not know whether it was day or night. Sometimes he stood up, and sometimes he fell to the ground. He could not discriminate whether he was in a proper place or not.

 

CC Madhya 4.23: After circumambulating the hill, Madhavendra Puri went to Govinda-kun?d?a and took his bath. He then sat beneath a tree to take his evening rest.

 

CC Madhya 4.24: While he was sitting beneath a tree, an unknown cowherd boy came with a pot of milk, placed it before Madhavendra Puri and, smiling, addressed him as follows.

 

CC Madhya 4.25: "O Madhavendra Puri, please drink the milk I have brought. Why don't you beg some food to eat? What kind of meditation are you undergoing?"

 

CC Madhya 4.26: When he saw the beauty of that boy, Madhavendra Puri became very satisfied. Hearing His sweet words, he forgot all hunger and thirst.

 

CC Madhya 4.27: Madhavendra Puri said, "Who are You? Where do You reside? And how did You know that I was fasting?"

 

CC Madhya 4.28: The boy replied, "Sir, I am a cowherd boy, and I reside in this village. In My village, no one fasts.

 

CC Madhya 4.29: "In this village a person can beg food from others and thus eat. Some people drink only milk, but if a person does not ask anyone for food, I supply him all his eatables.

 

CC Madhya 4.30: "The women who come here to take water saw you, and they supplied Me with this milk and sent Me to you."

 

CC Madhya 4.31: The boy continued, "I must go very soon to milk the cows, but I shall return and take back this milk pot from you."

 

CC Madhya 4.32: Saying this, the boy left the place. Indeed, He suddenly could be seen no more, and Madhavendra Puri's heart was filled with wonder.

 

CC Madhya 4.33: After drinking the milk, Madhavendra Puri washed the pot and put it aside. He looked toward the path, but the boy never returned.

 

CC Madhya 4.34: Madhavendra Puri could not sleep. He sat and chanted the Hare Kr?s?n?a maha-mantra, and at the end of the night he dozed a little, and his external activities stopped.

 

CC Madhya 4.35: In a dream Madhavendra Puri saw the very same boy. The boy came before him and, holding his hand, took him to a bush in the jungle.

 

CC Madhya 4.36: The boy showed Madhavendra Puri the bush and said, "I reside in this bush, and because of this I suffer very much from severe cold, rain showers, winds and scorching heat.

 

CC Madhya 4.37: "Please bring the people of the village and get them to take Me out of this bush. Then have them situate Me nicely on top of the hill.

 

CC Madhya 4.38: "Please construct a temple on top of that hill," the boy continued, "and install Me in that temple. After this, wash Me with large quantities of cold water so that My body may be cleansed.

 

CC Madhya 4.39: "For many days I have been observing you, and I have been wondering, 'When will Madhavendra Puri come here to serve Me?'

 

CC Madhya 4.40: "I have accepted your service due to your ecstatic love for Me. Thus I shall appear, and by My audience all fallen souls will be delivered.

 

CC Madhya 4.41: "My name is Gopala. I am the lifter of Govardhana Hill. I was installed by Vajra, and here I am the authority.

 

CC Madhya 4.42: "When the Muslims attacked, the priest who was serving Me hid Me in this bush in the jungle. Then he ran away out of fear of the attack.

 

CC Madhya 4.43: "Since the priest went away, I have been staying in this bush. It is very good that you have come here. Now just remove Me with care."

 

CC Madhya 4.44: After saying this, the boy disappeared. Then Madhavendra Puri woke up and began to consider his dream.

 

CC Madhya 4.45: Madhavendra Puri began to lament, "I saw Lord Kr?s?n?a directly, but I could not recognize Him!" Thus he fell down on the ground in ecstatic love.

 

CC Madhya 4.46: Madhavendra Puri cried for some time, but then he fixed his mind on executing the order of Gopala. Thus he became tranquil.

 

CC Madhya 4.47: After taking his morning bath, Madhavendra Puri entered the village and assembled all the people. Then he spoke as follows.

 

CC Madhya 4.48: "The proprietor of this village, Govardhana-dhari, is lying in the bushes. Let us go there and rescue Him from that place.

 

CC Madhya 4.49: "The bushes are very dense, and we will not be able to enter the jungle. Therefore take choppers and spades to clear the way."

 

CC Madhya 4.50: After hearing this, all the people accompanied Madhavendra Puri with great pleasure. According to his directions, they cut down bushes, cleared a path and entered the jungle.

 

CC Madhya 4.51: When they saw the Deity covered with dirt and grass, they were all struck with wonder and pleasure.

 

CC Madhya 4.52: After they had cleansed the body of the Deity, some of them said, "The Deity is very heavy. No single person can move Him."

 

CC Madhya 4.53: Since the Deity was very heavy, some of the stronger men assembled to carry Him to the top of the hill. Madhavendra Puri also went there.

 

CC Madhya 4.54: A big stone was made into a throne, and the Deity was installed upon it. Another big stone was placed behind the Deity for support.

 

CC Madhya 4.55: All the brahman?a priests of the village gathered together with nine waterpots, and water from Govinda-kun?d?a lake was brought there and filtered.

 

CC Madhya 4.56: When the Deity was being installed, nine hundred pots of water were brought from Govinda-kun?d?a. There were musical sounds of bugles and drums and the singing of women.

 

CC Madhya 4.57: During the festival at the installation ceremony, some people sang and some danced. All the milk, yogurt and clarified butter in the village was brought to the festival.

 

CC Madhya 4.58: Various foods and sweetmeats, as well as other kinds of presentations, were brought there. I am unable to describe all these.

 

CC Madhya 4.59: The villagers brought a large quantity of tulasi leaves, flowers, and various kinds of garments. Then Sri Madhavendra Puri personally began the abhis?eka [bathing ceremony].

 

CC Madhya 4.60: After all inauspicious things were driven away by the chanting of the mantra, the Deity's bathing ceremony started. First the Deity was massaged with a large quantity of oil, so that His body became very glossy.

 

CC Madhya 4.61: After the first bathing, further bathings were conducted with pañca-gavya and then with pañcamr?ta. Then the maha-snana was performed with ghee and water, which had been brought in one hundred pots.

 

CC Madhya 4.62: After the maha-snana was finished, the Deity was again massaged with scented oil and His body made glossy. Then the last bathing ceremony was performed with scented water kept within a conchshell.

 

CC Madhya 4.63: After the body of the Deity was cleansed, He was dressed very nicely with new garments. Then sandalwood pulp, tulasi garlands and other fragrant flower garlands were placed upon the body of the Deity.

 

CC Madhya 4.64: After the bathing ceremony was finished, incense and lamps were burned and all kinds of food offered before the Deity. These foods included yogurt, milk and as many sweetmeats as were received.

 

CC Madhya 4.65: The Deity was first offered many varieties of food, then scented drinking water in new pots, and then water for washing the mouth. Finally pan mixed with a variety of spices was offered.

 

CC Madhya 4.66: After the last offering of tambula and pan, bhoga-aratrika was performed. Finally everyone offered various prayers and then obeisances, falling flat before the Deity in full surrender.

 

CC Madhya 4.67: As soon as the people of the village had understood that the Deity was going to be installed, they had brought their entire stocks of rice, dhal and wheat flour. They brought such large quantities that the entire surface of the top of the hill was filled.

 

CC Madhya 4.68: When the villagers brought their stock of rice, dhal and flour, the potters of the village brought all kinds of cooking pots, and in the morning the cooking began.

 

CC Madhya 4.69: Ten brahman?as cooked the food grains, and five brahman?as cooked both dry and liquid vegetables.

 

CC Madhya 4.70: The vegetable preparations were made from various kinds of spinach, roots and fruits collected from the forest, and someone had made bad?a and bad?i by mashing dhal. In this way the brahman?as prepared all kinds of food.

 

CC Madhya 4.71: Five to seven men had prepared a huge quantity of chapatis, which were sufficiently covered with ghee [clarified butter], as were all the vegetables, rice and dhal.

 

CC Madhya 4.72: All the cooked rice was stacked on palasa leaves, which were on new cloths spread over the ground.

 

CC Madhya 4.73: Around the stack of cooked rice were stacks of chapatis, and all the vegetables and liquid vegetable preparations were placed in different pots and put around them.

 

CC Madhya 4.74: Pots of yogurt, milk, buttermilk and sikharin?i, sweet rice, cream and solid cream were placed alongside the vegetables.

 

CC Madhya 4.75: In this way the Annakut?a ceremony was performed, and Madhavendra Puri Gosvami personally offered everything to Gopala.

 

CC Madhya 4.76: Many waterpots were filled with scented water for drinking, and Lord Sri Gopala, who had been hungry for many days, ate everything offered to Him.

 

CC Madhya 4.77: Although Sri Gopala ate everything offered, still, by the touch of His transcendental hand, everything remained as before.

 

CC Madhya 4.78: How Gopala ate everything while the food remained the same was transcendentally perceived by Madhavendra Puri Gosvami; nothing remains a secret to the devotees of the Lord.

 

CC Madhya 4.79: The wonderful festival and installation of Sri Gopalaji was arranged in one day. Certainly all this was accomplished by the potency of Gopala. No one but a devotee can understand this.

 

CC Madhya 4.80: Madhavendra Puri offered water to Gopala for washing His mouth, and he gave Him betel nuts to chew. Then, while arati was performed, all the people chanted, "Jaya, Jaya!" ["All glories to Gopala!"].

 

CC Madhya 4.81: Arranging for the Lord's rest, Sri Madhavendra Puri brought a new cot, and over this he spread a new bedspread and thus made the bed ready.

 

CC Madhya 4.82: A temporary temple was constructed by covering the bed all around with a straw mattress. Thus there was a bed and a straw mattress to cover it.

 

CC Madhya 4.83: After the Lord was laid down to rest on the bed, Madhavendra Puri gathered all the brahman?as who had prepared the prasadam and said to them, "Now feed everyone sumptuously, from the children on up to the aged!"

 

CC Madhya 4.84: All the people gathered there sat down to honor the prasadam, and by and by they took food. All the brahman?as and their wives were fed first.

 

CC Madhya 4.85: Those who took prasadam included not only the people of Govardhana village but also those who came from other villages. They also saw the Deity of Gopala and were offered prasadam to eat.

 

CC Madhya 4.86: Seeing the influence of Madhavendra Puri, all the people gathered there were struck with wonder. They saw that the Annakut?a ceremony, which had been performed before during the time of Kr?s?n?a, was now taking place again by the mercy of Sri Madhavendra Puri.

 

CC Madhya 4.87: All the brahman?as present on that occasion were initiated by Madhavendra Puri into the Vais?n?ava cult, and Madhavendra Puri engaged them in different types of service.

 

CC Madhya 4.88: After taking rest, the Deity must be awakened at the end of the day, and immediately some food and some water must be offered to Him.

 

CC Madhya 4.89: When it was advertised throughout the country that Lord Gopala had appeared atop Govardhana Hill, all the people from neighboring villages came to see the Deity.

 

CC Madhya 4.90: One village after another was pleased to beg Madhavendra Puri to allot them one day to perform the Annakut?a ceremony. Thus, day after day, the Annakut?a ceremony was performed for some time.

 

CC Madhya 4.91: Sri Madhavendra Puri did not eat anything throughout the day, but at night, after laying the Deity down to rest, he took a milk preparation.

 

CC Madhya 4.92: The next morning, the rendering of service to the Deity began again, and people from one village arrived with all kinds of food grains.

 

CC Madhya 4.93: The inhabitants of the village brought to the Deity of Gopala as much food grains, ghee, yogurt and milk as they had in their village.

 

CC Madhya 4.94: The next day, almost as before, there was an Annakut?a ceremony. All the brahman?as prepared foods and Gopala accepted them.

 

CC Madhya 4.95: The ideal place to execute Kr?s?n?a consciousness is Vrajabhumi, or Vr?ndavana, where the people are naturally inclined to love Kr?s?n?a and Kr?s?n?a is naturally inclined to love them.

 

CC Madhya 4.96: Throngs of people came from different villages to see the Deity of Gopala, and they took maha-prasadam sumptuously. When they saw the superexcellent form of Lord Gopala, all their lamentation and unhappiness disappeared.

 

CC Madhya 4.97: All the villages in neighboring Vrajabhumi [Vr?ndavana] became aware of the appearance of Gopala, and all the people from these villages came to see Him. Day after day they all performed the Annakut?a ceremony.

 

CC Madhya 4.98: In this way not only the neighboring villages but all the other provinces came to know of Gopala's appearance. Thus people came from all over, bringing a variety of presentations.

 

CC Madhya 4.99: The people of Mathura, who are very big capitalists, also brought various presentations and offered them before the Deity in devotional service.

 

CC Madhya 4.100: Thus countless presentations of gold, silver, garments, scented articles and eatables arrived. The store of Gopala increased daily.

 

CC Madhya 4.101: One very rich ks?atriya of the royal order constructed a temple, someone made cooking utensils, and someone constructed boundary walls.

 

CC Madhya 4.102: Each and every family residing in the land of Vrajabhumi contributed one cow. In this way, thousands of cows became the property of Gopala.

 

CC Madhya 4.103: Eventually two brahman?as in the renounced order arrived from Bengal, and Madhavendra Puri, who liked them very much, kept them in Vr?ndavana and gave them all kinds of comforts.

 

CC Madhya 4.104: These two were then initiated by Madhavendra Puri, and he entrusted them with the daily service of the Lord. This service was performed continuously, and the worship of the Deity became very gorgeous. Thus Madhavendra Puri was very pleased.

 

CC Madhya 4.105: In this way the Deity worship in the temple was very gorgeously performed for two years. Then one day Madhavendra Puri had a dream.

 

CC Madhya 4.106: In his dream, Madhavendra Puri saw Gopala, who said, "My bodily temperature still has not decreased. Please bring sandalwood from the Malaya province and smear the pulp over My body to cool Me.

 

CC Madhya 4.107: "Bring sandalwood pulp from Jagannatha Puri. Kindly go quickly. Since no one else can do it, you must."

 

CC Madhya 4.108: After having this dream, Madhavendra Puri Gosvami became very glad due to ecstasy of love of Godhead, and in order to execute the command of the Lord, he started east toward Bengal.

 

CC Madhya 4.109: Before leaving, Madhavendra Puri made all arrangements for regular Deity worship, and he engaged different people in various duties. Then, taking up the order of Gopala, he started for Bengal.

 

CC Madhya 4.110: When Madhavendra Puri arrived at the house of Advaita Acarya in Santipura, the Acarya became very pleased upon seeing the ecstatic love of Godhead manifest in Madhavendra Puri.

 

CC Madhya 4.111: Advaita Acarya begged to be initiated by Madhavendra Puri. After initiating Him, Madhavendra Puri started for South India.

 

CC Madhya 4.112: Going into South India, Sri Madhavendra Puri visited Remun?a, where Gopinatha is situated. Upon seeing the beauty of the Deity, Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed.

 

CC Madhya 4.113: In the corridor of the temple, from which people generally viewed the Deity, Madhavendra Puri chanted and danced. Then he sat down there and asked a brahman?a what kinds of foods they offered to the Deity.

 

CC Madhya 4.114: From the excellence of the arrangements, Madhavendra Puri understood by deduction that only the best food was offered.

 

CC Madhya 4.115: Madhavendra Puri thought, "I shall inquire from the priest what foods are offered to Gopinatha so that by making arrangements in our kitchen, we can offer similar foods to Sri Gopala."

 

CC Madhya 4.116: When the brahman?a priest was questioned about this matter, he explained in detail what kinds of foods were offered to the Deity of Gopinatha.

 

CC Madhya 4.117: The brahman?a priest said, "In the evening the Deity is offered sweet rice in twelve earthen pots. Because the taste is as good as nectar [amr?ta], it is named amr?ta-keli.

 

CC Madhya 4.118: "This sweet rice is celebrated throughout the world as gopinatha-ks?ira. It is not offered anywhere else in the world."

 

CC Madhya 4.119: While Madhavendra Puri was talking with the brahman?a priest, the sweet rice was placed before the Deity as an offering. Hearing this, Madhavendra Puri thought as follows.

 

CC Madhya 4.120: "If, without my asking, a little sweet rice is given to me, I can then taste it and make a similar preparation to offer my Lord Gopala."

 

CC Madhya 4.121: Madhavendra Puri became greatly ashamed when he desired to taste the sweet rice, and he immediately began to think of Lord Vis?n?u. While he was thus thinking of Lord Vis?n?u, the offering was completed, and the arati ceremony began.

 

CC Madhya 4.122: After the arati was finished, Madhavendra Puri offered his obeisances to the Deity and then left the temple. He did not say anything more to anyone.

 

CC Madhya 4.123: Madhavendra Puri avoided begging. He was completely unattached and indifferent to material things. If, without his begging, someone offered him some food, he would eat; otherwise he would fast.

 

CC Madhya 4.124: A paramaham?sa like Madhavendra Puri is always satisfied in the loving service of the Lord. Material hunger and thirst cannot impede his activities. When he desired to taste a little sweet rice offered to the Deity, he considered that he had committed an offense by desiring to eat what was being offered to the Deity.

 

CC Madhya 4.125: Madhavendra Puri left the temple and sat down in the village marketplace, which was vacant. Sitting there, he began to chant. In the meantime, the temple priest laid the Deity down to rest.

 

CC Madhya 4.126: Finishing his daily duties, the priest went to take rest. In a dream he saw the Gopinatha Deity come to talk to him, and He spoke as follows.

 

CC Madhya 4.127: "O priest, please get up and open the door of the temple. I have kept one pot of sweet rice for the sannyasi Madhavendra Puri.

 

CC Madhya 4.128: "This pot of sweet rice is just behind My cloth curtain. You did not see it because of My tricks.

 

CC Madhya 4.129: "A sannyasi named Madhavendra Puri is sitting in the vacant marketplace. Please take this pot of sweet rice from behind Me and deliver it to him."

 

CC Madhya 4.130: Awaking from the dream, the priest immediately rose from bed and thought it wise to take a bath before entering the Deity's room. He then opened the temple door.

 

CC Madhya 4.131: According to the Deity's directions, the priest found the pot of sweet rice behind the cloth curtain. He removed the pot and mopped up the place where it had been kept. He then went out of the temple.

 

CC Madhya 4.132: Closing the door of the temple, he went to the village with the pot of sweet rice. He called out in every stall in search of Madhavendra Puri.

 

CC Madhya 4.133: Holding the pot of sweet rice, the priest called, "Will he whose name is Madhavendra Puri please come and take this pot! Gopinatha has stolen this pot of sweet rice for you!"

 

CC Madhya 4.134: The priest continued, "Would the sannyasi whose name is Madhavendra Puri please come and take this pot of sweet rice and enjoy the prasadam with great happiness! You are the most fortunate person within these three worlds!"

 

CC Madhya 4.135: Hearing this invitation, Madhavendra Puri came out and identified himself. The priest then delivered the pot of sweet rice and offered his obeisances, falling flat before him.

 

CC Madhya 4.136: When the story about the pot of sweet rice was explained to him in detail, Sri Madhavendra Puri at once became absorbed in ecstatic love of Kr?s?n?a.

 

CC Madhya 4.137: Upon seeing the ecstatic loving symptoms manifest in Madhavendra Puri, the priest was struck with wonder. He could understand why Kr?s?n?a had become so much obliged to him, and he saw that Kr?s?n?a's action was befitting.

 

CC Madhya 4.138: The priest offered his obeisances to Madhavendra Puri and returned to the temple. Then, in ecstasy, Madhavendra Puri ate the sweet rice offered to him by Kr?s?n?a.

 

CC Madhya 4.139: After this, Madhavendra Puri washed the pot and broke it into pieces. He then bound all the pieces in his outer cloth and kept them nicely.

 

CC Madhya 4.140: Each day, Madhavendra Puri would eat one piece of that earthen pot, and after eating it he would immediately be overwhelmed with ecstasy. These are wonderful stories.

 

CC Madhya 4.141: Having broken the pot and bound the pieces in his cloth, Madhavendra Puri began to think, "The Lord has given me a pot of sweet rice, and when the people hear of this tomorrow morning, there will be great crowds."

 

CC Madhya 4.142: Thinking this, Sri Madhavendra Puri offered his obeisances to Gopinatha on the spot and left Remun?a before morning.

 

CC Madhya 4.143: Walking and walking, Madhavendra Puri finally reached Jagannatha Puri, which is also known as Nilacala. There he saw Lord Jagannatha and was overwhelmed with loving ecstasy.

 

CC Madhya 4.144: When Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed in the ecstasy of love of Godhead, he sometimes stood up and sometimes fell to the ground. Sometimes he laughed, danced and sang. In this way he enjoyed transcendental bliss by seeing the Jagannatha Deity.

 

CC Madhya 4.145: When Madhavendra Puri came to Jagannatha Puri, people were aware of his transcendental reputation. Therefore crowds of people came and offered him all sorts of respect in devotion.

 

CC Madhya 4.146: Even though one may not like it, reputation, as ordained by providence, comes to him. Indeed, one's transcendental reputation is known throughout the entire world.

 

CC Madhya 4.147: Being afraid of his reputation [pratis?t?ha], Madhavendra Puri fled from Remun?a. But the reputation brought by love of Godhead is so sublime that it goes along with the devotee, as if following him.

 

CC Madhya 4.148: Madhavendra Puri wanted to leave Jagannatha Puri because the people were honoring him as a great devotee; however, this threatened to hinder his collecting sandalwood for the Gopala Deity.

 

CC Madhya 4.149: Sri Madhavendra Puri told all the servants of Lord Jagannatha and all the great devotees there the story of the appearance of Sri Gopala.

 

CC Madhya 4.150: When all the devotees at Jagannatha Puri heard that the Gopala Deity wanted sandalwood, in great pleasure they all endeavored to collect it.

 

CC Madhya 4.151: Those who were acquainted with government officers met with them and begged for camphor and sandalwood, which they collected.

 

CC Madhya 4.152: One brahman?a and one servant were given to Madhavendra Puri just to carry the sandalwood. He was also given the necessary traveling expenses.

 

CC Madhya 4.153: To get past the toll collectors along the way, Madhavendra Puri was supplied with the necessary release papers from government officers. The papers were placed in his hand.

 

CC Madhya 4.154: In this way Madhavendra Puri started for Vr?ndavana with the burden of sandalwood, and after some days he again reached the village of Remun?a and the Gopinatha temple there.

 

CC Madhya 4.155: When Madhavendra Puri reached the temple of Gopinatha, he offered his respectful obeisances many times at the lotus feet of the Lord. In the ecstasy of love, he began to dance and sing without cessation.

 

CC Madhya 4.156: When the priest of Gopinatha saw Madhavendra Puri again, he offered all respects to him and, giving him the sweet rice prasadam, made him eat.

 

CC Madhya 4.157: Madhavendra Puri took rest that night in the temple, but toward the end of the night he had another dream.

 

CC Madhya 4.158: Madhavendra Puri dreamed that Gopala came before him and said, "O Madhavendra Puri, I have already received all the sandalwood and camphor.

 

CC Madhya 4.159: "Now just grind all the sandalwood together with the camphor and then smear the pulp on the body of Gopinatha daily until it is finished.

 

CC Madhya 4.160: "There is no difference between My body and Gopinatha's body. They are one and the same. Therefore if you smear the sandalwood pulp on the body of Gopinatha, you will naturally also smear it on My body. Thus the temperature of My body will be reduced.

 

CC Madhya 4.161: "You should not hesitate to act according to My order. Believing in Me, just do what is needed."

 

CC Madhya 4.162: After giving these instructions, Gopala disappeared, and Madhavendra Puri awoke. He immediately called for all the servants of Gopinatha, and they came before him.

 

CC Madhya 4.163: Madhavendra Puri said, "Smear the body of Gopinatha with this camphor and sandalwood I have brought for Gopala in Vr?ndavana. Do this regularly every day.

 

CC Madhya 4.164: "If the sandalwood pulp is smeared over the body of Gopinatha, then Gopala will be cooled. After all, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is completely independent; His order is all-powerful."

 

CC Madhya 4.165: The servants of Gopinatha became very pleased to hear that in the summer all the sandalwood pulp would be used to anoint the body of Gopinatha.

 

CC Madhya 4.166: Madhavendra Puri said, "These two assistants will regularly grind the sandalwood, and you should also get two other people to help. I shall pay their salaries."

 

CC Madhya 4.167: In this way Gopinathaji was supplied ground sandalwood pulp daily. The servants of Gopinatha were very pleased with this.

 

CC Madhya 4.168: In this way the sandalwood pulp was smeared over the body of Gopinatha until the whole stock was finished. Madhavendra Puri stayed there until that time.

 

CC Madhya 4.169: At the end of summer Madhavendra Puri returned to Jagannatha Puri, where he remained with great pleasure during the whole period of Caturmasya.

 

CC Madhya 4.170: Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally praised the nectarean characteristics of Madhavendra Puri, and while He related all this to the devotees, He personally relished it.

 

CC Madhya 4.171: Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Nityananda Prabhu to judge whether there was anyone within the world as fortunate as Madhavendra Puri.

 

CC Madhya 4.172: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Madhavendra Puri was so fortunate that Kr?s?n?a personally appeared before him on the plea of delivering milk. Three times the Lord gave orders to Madhavendra Puri in dreams.

 

CC Madhya 4.173: "Being obliged because of the loving affairs of Madhavendra Puri, Lord Kr?s?n?a Himself appeared as the Gopala Deity, and, accepting his service, He liberated the whole world.

 

CC Madhya 4.174: "On account of Madhavendra Puri, Lord Gopinatha stole the pot of sweet rice. Thus He became famous as Ks?ira-cora [the thief who stole the sweet rice].

 

CC Madhya 4.175: "Madhavendra Puri smeared the sandalwood pulp over the body of Gopinatha, and in this way he was overpowered with love of Godhead.

 

CC Madhya 4.176: "In the provinces of India governed by the Muslims, there was much inconvenience in traveling with sandalwood and camphor. Because of this, Madhavendra Puri might have gotten into trouble. This became known to the Gopala Deity.

 

CC Madhya 4.177: "The Lord is very merciful and attached to His devotees, so when Gopinatha was covered with sandalwood pulp, Madhavendra Puri's labor became successful."

 

CC Madhya 4.178: Caitanya Mahaprabhu placed the standard of Madhavendra Puri's intense love before Nityananda Prabhu for judgment. "All his loving activities are uncommon," Caitanya Mahaprabhu said. "Indeed, one is struck with wonder to hear of his activities."

 

CC Madhya 4.179: Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "Sri Madhavendra Puri used to remain alone. He was completely renounced and always very silent. He was uninterested in everything material, and for fear of talking about mundane things, he always lived without a companion.

 

CC Madhya 4.180: "After receiving the transcendental orders of Gopala, this great personality traveled thousands of miles just to collect sandalwood by begging.

 

CC Madhya 4.181: "Although Madhavendra Puri was hungry, he would not beg food to eat. This renounced person carried a load of sandalwood for the sake of Sri Gopala.

 

CC Madhya 4.182: "Without considering his personal comforts, Madhavendra Puri carried one maund [about eighty-two pounds] of sandalwood and twenty tolas [about eight ounces] of camphor to smear over the body of Gopala. This transcendental pleasure was sufficient for him.

 

CC Madhya 4.183: "Since there were restrictions against taking the sandalwood out of the Orissa province, the toll official confiscated the stock, but Madhavendra Puri showed him the release papers given by the government and consequently escaped difficulties.

 

CC Madhya 4.184: "Madhavendra Puri was not at all anxious during the long journey to Vr?ndavana through the provinces governed by the Muslims and filled with unlimited numbers of watchmen.

 

CC Madhya 4.185: "Although Madhavendra Puri did not have a farthing with him, he was not afraid to pass by the toll officers. His only enjoyment was in carrying the load of sandalwood to Vr?ndavana for Gopala.

 

CC Madhya 4.186: "This is the natural result of intense love of Godhead. The devotee does not consider personal inconveniences or impediments. In all circumstances he wants to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

CC Madhya 4.187: "Sri Gopala wanted to show how intensely Madhavendra Puri loved Kr?s?n?a; therefore He asked him to go to Nilacala to fetch sandalwood and camphor.

 

CC Madhya 4.188: "With great trouble and after much labor, Madhavendra Puri brought the load of sandalwood to Remun?a. However, he was still very pleased; he discounted all the difficulties.

 

CC Madhya 4.189: "To test the intense love of Madhavendra Puri, Gopala, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, ordered him to bring sandalwood from Nilacala, and when Madhavendra Puri passed this examination, the Lord became very merciful to him.

 

CC Madhya 4.190: "Such behavior exhibited in loving service between the devotee and the devotee's lovable object, Sri Kr?s?n?a, is transcendental. It is not possible for a common man to understand. Common men do not even have the capacity."

 

CC Madhya 4.191: After saying this, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu read the famous verse of Madhavendra Puri. That verse is just like the moon. It has spread illumination all over the world.

 

CC Madhya 4.192: Continuous rubbing increases the aroma of Malaya sandalwood. Similarly, consideration of this verse increases one's understanding of its importance.

 

CC Madhya 4.193: As the Kaustubha-man?i is considered the most precious of valuable stones, this verse is similarly considered the best of poems dealing with the mellows of devotional service.

 

CC Madhya 4.194: Actually this verse was spoken by Srimati Radharan?i Herself, and by Her mercy only was it manifest in the words of Madhavendra Puri.

 

CC Madhya 4.195: Only Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has tasted the poetry of this verse. No fourth man is capable of understanding it.

 

CC Madhya 4.196: Madhavendra Puri recited this verse again and again at the end of his material existence. Thus uttering this verse, he attained the ultimate goal of life.

 

CC Madhya 4.197: "O My Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathura! When shall I see You again? Because of My not seeing You, My agitated heart has become unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now?"

 

CC Madhya 4.198: When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recited this verse, He immediately fell to the ground unconscious. He was overwhelmed and had no control over Himself.

 

CC Madhya 4.199: When Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fell to the ground in ecstatic love, Lord Nityananda quickly took Him on His lap. Crying, Caitanya Mahaprabhu then got up again.

 

CC Madhya 4.200: Exhibiting ecstatic emotions, the Lord began to run here and there, making resounding noises. Sometimes He laughed, and sometimes He cried, and sometimes He danced and sang.

 

CC Madhya 4.201: Caitanya Mahaprabhu could not recite the whole verse. He simply said, "Ayi dina! Ayi dina!" repeatedly. Thus He could not speak, and profuse tears were in His eyes.

 

CC Madhya 4.202: Trembling, perspiration, jubilant tears, shock, fading of the bodily luster, disappointment, moroseness, loss of memory, pride, joy and humility were all visible in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's body.

 

CC Madhya 4.203: This verse uncovered the door of ecstatic love, and when it was exhibited, all the servants of Gopinatha saw Caitanya Mahaprabhu dance in ecstasy.

 

CC Madhya 4.204: When many people crowded around Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He regained His external senses. In the meantime, the offering to the Deity had been finished, and there was a resounding arati performance.

 

CC Madhya 4.205: When the Deities were laid down to rest, the priest came out of the temple and offered all twelve pots of sweet rice to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

CC Madhya 4.206: When all the pots of sweet rice, remnants left by Gopinatha, were placed before Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He became very pleased. In order to feed the devotees, He accepted five of them.

 

CC Madhya 4.207: The seven remaining pots were pushed forward and delivered to the priest. Then the five pots of sweet rice the Lord had accepted were distributed among the five devotees, and they ate the prasadam.

 

CC Madhya 4.208: Being identical with the Gopinatha Deity, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had already tasted and eaten the pots of sweet rice. Yet just to manifest devotional service, He again ate the pots of sweet rice as a devotee.

 

CC Madhya 4.209: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed that night at the temple engaged in congregational chanting. In the morning, after seeing the mangala-arati performance, He departed.

 

CC Madhya 4.210: In this way, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally tasted with His own mouth the transcendental qualities of Gopalaji, Gopinatha and Sri Madhavendra Puri.

 

CC Madhya 4.211: Thus I have described both the transcendental glories of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's affection for His devotees and the highest limit of ecstatic love of God.

 

CC Madhya 4.212: One who hears this narration with faith and devotion attains the treasure of love of Godhead at the lotus feet of Sri Kr?s?n?a.

 

CC Madhya 4.213: Praying at the lotus feet of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kr?s?n?adasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamr?ta, following in their footsteps.

 

 

 

Copyright © His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Kr?s?n?a Consciousness