Sri Gadadhara Pandit Goswami

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Shri Gadadhara Pandit Goswami

 

Sri Gadadhar was the consant companion of Mahaprabhu from the time of their

childhood. His father's name was Sri Madhva Misra and his mother's name Sri

Ratnavati-devi. They lived very near the house of Sri Jagannatha Misra in

Mayapura. Ratnavati-devi thought of Saci-devi as her own sister, and always

used to visit her.

 

During their childhood, Sri Gaura Hari and Gadadhara would play together,

sometimes at Mahaprabhu's house and sometimes at Gadadhara's house. They

both studied together at the same school. Gadadhara was a few years younger

then Nimai. Nimai couldn't remain without Gadadhara even for a moment and

Gadadhara likewise couldn't stand to be separated from Nimai.

 

In the Gaur-ganoddesa-dipika, it is described that that person who in Vraja

was the daughter of Sri Vrsabhanu Raja, namely Srimati Radharani, is now

celebrated as Sri Gadadhara Pandita.

 

Srila Svarupa Damodara has written in his diary: avani sura bavah Sri

Panditakhyo jatindrah / sa khalo bhavati Radha Srila Gauravataro.

 

Sri Vasudeva Ghosa Thakura has also written:

 

Agam agocar gora akhil brahma-par, veda upar, najane pasandi mati bhora

Nitya-nityananda Caitanya Govinda Pandit Gadadhar Radhe Caitanya yugala-rupa

kebol raser kup avatar sadsiva sadhe Antare nave-ghana bahire gaura tanu

yugalrupa parkase Kahe Vasudeva Ghose yugal bhajan base janame janame rahu

asa

 

"Lord Gaurasundara, who is beyond the perview of the scriptures, beyond the

entire Brahman, and above even the Vedas, can never be known by the atheists

whose intelligence is dull. Lord Nityananda is His eternal self. Lord

Caitanya is Lord Govinda Himself and Pandita Gadadhara is none other than

Sri Radha. The divine couple, who are present in Sri Caitanya, are a well of

rasa. Advaita Acarya (Sadasiva) has prayed for His descent.

 

Within He is blackish but of a golden hue without, the manifestation of the

divine couple. Thus Vasudeva Ghosa sings of the beauty of this divine couple

- Sri Gaura-Gadadhara - in whose worship he has been completely subjugated.

He prays that he will desire to serve them birth after birth."

 

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrta we likewise find:

 

Panditer bhav mudre kahan na jay gadadhar pran nath nam hoila jay panditer

krpa prasad lehan na jay gadai gauranga kari sarvaloke gay

 

"The emotions and expressions of Pandita Gadadhara are not possible to

describe. Another name of Lord Gauranga is the 'Lord of the life of

Gadadhara.' Who can understand what mercy has been bestowed upon him? Their

glories are sung by everyone as Gadai- Gauranga."

 

During the time when Sri Isvara Puri was present for a few months in

Navadwipa at the house of Sri Gopinath Acarya, he taught Gadadhara from the

book he had composed, Sri Krsna Lilamrta.

 

Gadadhara was from his very childhood very serene, patient, calm, quiet,

fond of solitude and very renounced. Nimai Pandit during the time of His

precocious youth would ask his fellow students meaningless, fallacious

questions in logic. Gadadhara however, was not especially fond of this

pastime, and therefore he sometimes used to remain at some distance from

Nimai. But Nimai wouldn't allow him to get away. He would tell him -

"Gadadhara! In a very short time I'll become such a Vaisnava that Lord

Brahma and Lord Siva themselves will come to My door."

 

Sri Gadadhara Pandita was very affectionate towards Mukunda datta. Whenever

any Vaisnava came to Navadwipa, Mukunda would inform Gadadhara and they

would both go to have darsana. One time Pundarika Vidyanidhi came from

Cattagram to Navadwipa and Mukunda invited Gadadhara to come along and meet

him. Gadadhara was very excited to meet such a Vaisnava and thus the two of

them happily set out together to take advantage of sadhu-sanga with the

famous Pundarika Vidyanidhi.

 

However, when Gadadhara saw that Pundarika Vidyanidhi dressed and acted like

a wealthy materialist, he lost whatever reverence he had previously felt

even before speaking with him. Gadahara thought to himself, "How can a

Vaisnava look and act as if he was so addicted to sense enjoyment?"

 

However, Mukunda knew the real character of Pundarika Vidyanidhi, and he

could also sense the doubts in the mind of Gadadhara Pandita. Thus he

recited some slokas from the Srimad Bhagavatam in a very sweet voice. When

Pundarika Vidyanidhi heard his beautiful recitation of these slokas, in a

fit of ecstasy he began to cry while calling, "Krsna, Krsna", and finally

fainted dead away on the floor. [Chaitanya Bhagavat. Madhylila 7.78-79].

 

Gadadhara now felt very remorseful in his mind. He thought to himself,

"Because I have ignorantly considered this highly advanced soul to be an

ordinary materialist, what an offense I have committed! In order that I

might be saved from the reaction of this offense, I think the only solution

is to accept initiation from him."

 

Gadadhara Pandita submitted his proposal to Mukunda, who presented it to

Pundarika Vidyanidhi with a full account of the pandita's high

qualifications. "Hearing this proposal, Pundarik became very happy.

'Providence has bestowed upon me a great jewel; certainly I will accept him.

You shouldn't have any doubt about that. It is the result of many lifetimes

of good fortune that one gets a disciple like this.'" [Chaitanya Bhagavat.

Madhylila 7.117-118]. On an auspicious day, Sri Gadadhara Pandita received

the divine mantra from Pundarika Vidyanidhi.

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, upon going to Gaya Dham, first began to manifest

Krsna-prema. There he enacted the pastime of accepting the shelter of Sri

Isvara Puri. After returning to His house He began to exhibit a new life.

 

Day and night He floated in the ocean of love of Krsna. Gadadhara, upon

seeing the Lord showering of tears in love for Krsna, also began to cry in

ecstatic love. From this time, Gadadhara Pandita was always at Mahaprabhu's

side.

 

One day Sri Gadadhara brought some pan to Sri Gauranga, Who, in an

exuberance of emotion asked him, "Gadadhara! Where is that beautiful

blackish boy Who is dressed in yellow garments?" After asking this, He began

to shed tears.

 

Gadadhara couldn't immediately think of what to say. He finally respectfully

suggested, "He is in your heart." Hearing this, Mahaprabhu began to tear at

his chest with his nails, but Gadadhara quickly grabbed his hands. Prabhu

said to him, "Gadadhara! Let go of My hands. I cannot remain a moment more

not seeing Krsna."

 

Gadadhara replied, "Just try to be a little patient and calm Yourself. Krsna

will come any minute now." Hearing this, Mahaprabhu became somewhat

composed.

 

Sacimata heard all this from a distance and then came running there. Being

very pleased with Gadadhara, she declared, "Though He is just a boy, He is

very intelligent. I am frightened to go before my son when He is in these

moods. But Gadadhara has very cleverly pacified him."

 

"Sacimata told Gadadhar, 'Gadadhara! You must please remain with Nimai

always. If you stay with Him then I won't have to worry."

 

One day, Sri Gadadhara, having heard that Mahaprabhu will speak Krsna-katha

at Suklambara Brahmacari's house, went there and sat down inside. Meanwhile,

Mahaprabhu arrived outside on the verandah and began to speak about Krsna to

an audience of devotees there; Gadahara Prabhu listened from within the

house. Soon Mahaprabhu became totally absorbed in the ecstacy Krsna-prema,

which quickly spread to the assembly of devotees. For some time they

continued to taste the mellows of love of Krsna together and then becalmed

themselves.

 

Gadadhara, however, couldn't restrain his ecstacy. With his head bowed down,

he continued to cry very loudly. Hearing his pitiful sobbing, Mahaprabhu

inquired, "Who is crying within the room?" Suklambara Brahmacari replied,

"Your Gadadhara."

 

Mahaprabhu exclaimed, "Gadadhara! You are so pious and virtuous. Since your

very childhood you were so devoted to Krsna. My life has been wasted. Due to

my previous evil activities I cannot get the association of the Lord of my

life, Sri Krsna."

 

Saying this Prabhu embraced Gadadhara in great love.

 

When Mahaprabhu began His pastimes in Navadvipa, Gadadhara was his chief

companion. Radha-Krsna of Vraja are now sporting on the banks of the Ganga

as Gadai-Gauranga, and the cowherd boy-friends of Vraja are assisting in His

pastimes of kirtana.

 

One day after roaming throughout the town of Navadwipa, Mahaprabhu came to a

forest and seated Himself there. Then He began to remember His pastimes in

Vraja. Mukunda began to sing the purva-vag (courtship) songs in a very sweet

voice while Gadadhara collected some flowers from that forest and after

stringing a garland placed it on Prabhu's neck. Previously, in the way that

Sri Radha used to decorate Sri Krsna, Gadadhara began to dress Prabhu in

that exact same manner. Some were singing beautiful songs, while others

began to dance in a very graceful style. Then Sri Gaurasundara taking

Gadadhara by His side seated Himself on a dias at the base of one tree,

while Adwaita Acarya began to offer arati. Nityananda seated Himself on

Prabhu's right side and Srivasa Pandita began to decorate everyone with

flower garlands. Narahari was fanning that Divine couple with a whisk made

from the tail hairs of forest cows. Suklambar decorated them all with

sandalwood paste while Murari Gupta recited the premdhani. Madhava,

Vasudeva, Purusottama, Vijaya, and Mukunda began to sing songs in the

various ragas.

 

Then Prabhu closed his pastimes in Nadiya and as per his mother's request he

took up his residence at Nilacala. Gadadhara also went there to live at this

time. He engaged himself in the service of Sri Tota Gopinatha. Mahaprabhu

would very often visit His dear friend Gadadhara and lose Himself in

discussions on the topics of Sri Krsna. The temple of Sri Tota Gopinathji is

located near the ocean at Yameshvar.

 

When Lord Caitanya traveled to Sri Vrindavana, Gadadhara, not being able to

bear separation from Him, wanted to go also but Mahaprabhu reminded him of

his vow of Ksetra-sannyasa (by which he was to remain constantly in Sri

Ksetra in the service of Sri Gopinatha) and sent him back.

 

Sri Gadadhara Pandita would regularly recite Srimad Bhagavatam. Sri

Gaurasundara, along with His associates, would listen.

 

Then one might ask a question, if Lord Chaitanya is Radha and Krsna

combined, where is the necessity for the appearance of Gadadhara Pandit?

 

The answer to this is that it has been explained that Mahaprabhu is Krsna in

search of the loving sentiment of Radha for Krsna. Sri Gadadhara Pandita

represents that bhava personified, and thus he has appeared to be at the

side of Mahaprabhu to assist him in his search. In this explanation,

Gadadhara gives his unalloyed love to Lord Gauranga willingly.

 

It has also been explained that Krsna has stolen the bhava of Radha and

appears as Mahaprabhu, Radha Krsna combined. Gadadhara represents that which

is left of Radha after Krsna steals her bhava. The mood is that seeing that

neither Sri Radha nor Sri Krsna appear on the purnima tithi (full moon), but

when The Divine couple combine as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this appearance

in the world occurs on the Purima in Navadwipa.

 

Sri Gadadhara pandit appears on the new moon and leaves the world on the

same day. New moon means no moon - dark moon or Amavasya tithi. He also

appeared in a land that is desert-like, dry and vacant in contrast to the

lush Ganga basin of Navadwipa.

 

All of this indicates the condition of the heart or nature of Sri Gadadhara.

He is thus feeling empty, and lets everyone know about it too. It is said

that what remains in him is the bhava of Rukmini, who is Radha's expansion

in Dvaraka. Thus his surface mood in Gaura lila is like that of a dakshine

(right wing) gopi rather than a vama (left wing) gopi (Vama type is little

aggressive in nature, and fights with the lover). However, to prove

Gadadhar's dedication as right-wing He is submissive to the extreme (daksina

type tolerates everything whatever comes, only with a defensive attitude he

stands. That is daksina path, that is as in Srimati Rukmini Devi. So when

the spirit of Radharani of that opposing nature was drawn out by Mahaprabhu,

then what remains is compared like that of Rukmini, as a passive seer,

without any power to assert, only onlooker. Onlooker and bearing everything,

a very pitiable condition. The idea is to awaken kindness and sympathy from

everyone).

 

"What is he and what is she and what is her position now. And how her lover

has taken up everything from her, looted everything from her, leaving her as

a beggar wandering in the street. So much looted. Radharani when looted to

such a degree by Krsna, that becomes Gadadhara, the pitiable figure. The

wealth of course cannot go forever. She is the proprietor, owner cannot be

far off. After a long time, that must come to her again, one day. And those

that are helping her in her day of distress, they will get how much

remuneration at that time. When she will get back all property."

 

Just as in Vraj Srimati Radharani is the Queen and proprioter of everything,

so Gadadhara is master of everything, but still here He has given everything

to His master, and thus in one sense He is empty. This mood of His being

empty is unique, he is playing in such a way, as His part or play, as

Gadadhara Pandita. His is the highest position of self-sacrifice.

 

"Nimai Pandita showed His character as an aggressor, impertinent, and an

extraordinary genius. Gadadhara Pandita was just the opposite. He had some

natural inclination, that was in His submission and total dedication towards

Nimai Pandita. And Nimai Pandita also had some special attraction for

Gadadhara Pandita. But Gadadhara Pandita could not face Nimai Pandita

directly. Some sort of shyness He felt about Nimai Pandita. So, this is what

we know about Gadadhara Pandita. Gadadhara Pandita had very intimate

relationship with Mahaprabhu, in which the acaryas, Swarupa Damodara, Rupa,

Sanatana, Kaviraja Goswami, Raghunatha Dasa, all of them, could see

Radharani and Rukmini both in his personality, and according to that we can

try to understand him."

 

It is true that Gauranga Mahaprabhu is Vrajendranandana Krsna, within Him,

as is the case with svayam bhagavan Krsna, all of His expansions are

present. Thus as Gaura-Narayana He consorts with Rukmini in Her appearance

as Laksmipriya devi. Furthermore, just as Vrajendranandana Krsna never

leaves Vrndavana, similarly Sacinandana Gaura Krsna never leaves Navadvipa

Dhama.

 

Thus the lila of Mahaprabhu in Puri, which is representative of Dvaraka, is

imbued with aisvarya (opulence) not found in Nadiya (Bengal). Indeed this

aisvarya is said to have weighed heavily on Gadadhara Pandita and influenced

His loving sentiment of bhava. Srila Krsna dasa Kaviraja Goswami says of

Gadadhara in Puri Dhama that because He was influenced by aisvarya-jnana of

Gauranga, He was, as Srila Prabhupada comments further, always submissive

(daksina-nayiki). He could not be angered by Mahaprabhu even when Mahaprabhu

tried to anger Him and see the mood of Radha (vama-nayiki) in Him.

 

Krsna dasa Kaviraja pointed out that even as Krsna in the form of Mahaprabhu

tried to anger Gadadhara (Radha) He could not draw out this sentiment from

Him because he maintained a temperament like that of Rukmini's

(daksina-nayiki) due to the fact that Mahaprabhu had already stolen the

vama-nayiki aspect of Radha from him. Indeed, Svarupa Damodara Goswami asked

Gadadhara why He did not reproach Mahaprabhu and instead tolerated

Mahaprabhu's criticisms of Him. To this Gadadhara replied, prabhu svatantra

sarvajna-siromani tanra sane 'hatha' kari,--bhala nahi mani, "The master is

independent. He is the topmost omniscient person. If I speak on an equal

level with Him, this will not be good for Me."

 

The above opinion is one that is shared by the late Om Visnupada Bhakti

Pramode Puri Goswami. In his book, 'Heart of Krsna' that contains a series

of articles originally written in Bengali during the manifest presence of

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, Puri Goswami Maharaja states, "That

which is left over after the bhava and luster of Radha has been plundered by

Krsna is Gadadhara Pandita."

 

It is stated that no one loves Lord Gauranga more than Sri Gadadhara. Yet

even though He takes much abuse and neglect from Gauranga, still He cannot

leave Him. His necessity and dependency is very great. The understanding is

that without Mahaprabhu She/He is transcendentally incomplete, thus He/She

wants to get His/Her bhava back from Krsna to again become complete, the

complete united whole Radha-Krsna. To unite Gaura with Gadadhara (Radha

Krishna) is the highest ideal of Gaudiya Vaisnavism.

 

The worship of Gaura-Gadadhara is in madhurya-rasa so is not for the

kanistha adhikari on the beginning stages of devotional service where one

strives to follow the principles and avoid offences, rather this is for

advanced devotees who are already steady (nistha) in Krsna consciousness and

getting a genuine taste (ruchi). Then in transcendental view They are

worshipped like Radha and Krishna. Thus Sri Gadadhara pandit is like Sri

Radha standing next to the Gaura (Krsna) who has stolen Her/His bhava

(love), and She wants it back. When They are united, then the divine couple

Radha-Krsna/Gaura-Gadadhara are present. Sometimes the devotees will see

them as Radha-Krsna, and sometimes as Gaura-Gadadhara according to that pure

devotee's mood. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written an arati song for

Gaura-Gadadhara describing Radha-Krsna. This is the internal reality. It is

all very esoteric and not to be imitated. Who can understand such wonderful

and intimate pastimes, thus we use ordinary terms to try to explain them but

these mellows are not ordinary.

 

smara gaura-gadadhara keli kalam

bhava gaura-gadadhara paksa caram

srnu gaura-gadadhara caru katham

bhaja godruma-kanon kunja-vidhum

[srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura]

 

"Remember Gaura-Gadadhara during the time of Their pastimes, Meditate on

Gaura-Gadadhar, the Divine couple, the par-excellence of beauty. Hear

beautiful discussions on the topics of Gaura-Gadadhara, and worship them in

the forest grove of Godruma, bathed in the light of the moon."

 

gadadhar pandit prabhu age bosi

pare bhagavat - sudha dhale rasi rasi

[b.R. 3/107]

 

After enacting His pastimes on this planet for forty-eight years, it was

seen by witnesses that Sri Gaurasundara entered into the body of Sri

Tota-Gopinathji, who was the Deity in Puri on the Nilachala beach served by

Sri Gadadhara Pandita.

 

nyasi siromani cesta bujhe sadya kar

akasmat prithini karila andhakar

pravesila ei gopinatha mandire

hoila adarsan, punah na aila bahire

[b.R. 8.356-357]

 

In the diary of one Orissan devotee, Mahaprabhu is said to have first went

missing inside the Gundica Mandira. Then the devotees began to comb the four

directions in search of their Beloved Lord. Finally, outside of Tota

Gopinatha Mandira, at Yameswar, the outer garment of Mahaprabhu was found

lying on the ground.

 

There's a story in connection with Sri Gadadhar Pandit that when He was very

old and trying to render service to Tota-Gopinath that He couldn't any more

reach to put the garland around the neck of the Deity. To reciprocate with

His loving service the Deity knelt down to accept the flower garlands of His

beloved Gadadhar, Who is none other than His beloved Srimati Radharani

incarnate as mentioned previously.

 

To this day the Deity of Tota-Gopinath in the temple remains in a kneeling

position to accept the eternal service of His beloved Gadadhar. A slight

crack which is still to be found near the right knee of Sri Gopinathji is

the spot where Mahaprabhu is said to have entered the Deity.

 

His appearance is on the amavasya (new moon) of the month of Vaisakha.