Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja Tirobhava Tithi

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January 7th 2007, The divine disappearance day of Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja

Portion of a lecture given by Srila Narayana Maharaja in Badger, May 18, 2003.

 

[Just after the devotees sang Bhajahu Re Mana by Sri Govinda dasa Kaviraja, Srila Narayana Maharaja gave a short history of the author and his brother, Ramacandra Kaviraja:]

 

doya koro sri acarya prabhu srinivasa

ramacandra-sanga mage narottama dasa.

 

["Be merciful, O Prabhu Srinivasa Acarya! Narottama dasa begs for the company of Ramacandra." (Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu Doya Koro More, by Srila Narrottama dasa Thakura)]

 

[srila Narayana Maharaja:] Srila Narrottama dasa Thakura prays, "Please give me the association of Ramacandra Kaviraja. Please place me with him."

 

Narottama dasa Thakura, Srinivasa Acarya, and Syamananda prabhu were associates. Srinivasa Acarya was a high class of acarya. Once he was sitting in an asrama, and nearby were a newly wedded girl and her husband. Approaching the asrama, the carriers of the wedding palanquins thought to stop there for water and cooling shade. They put the palanquins down there and took water. Seeing the wedding party, Srinivasa Acarya said, "This foolish person has obtained a poisonous black snake, and he is keeping it around his neck. That very snake will bite him, and he will die, but he does not know this."

 

Hearing the words of Srinivasa Acarya, the bridegroom at once approached him and said, "What are you saying? I could not understand thoroughly." Srinivasa replied, "He who marries does not know that his wife is a black serpent – a very poisonous snake – and that she will bite him and he will die." The bridegroom’s eyes were at once opened, and he told the palanquin carrier, "Return this girl to her father."

 

As the carrier then began returning the weeping girl to her father’s house, that boy told Srinivasa Acarya, "I want to serve you forever. I am giving myself to you; my life is now in your hands." He later became known as Ramacandra Kaviraja. He was a very elevated devotee, a realized soul.

 

Once, the brother of Ramacandra Kaviraja named Durgadha became very sick. Although several people tried to save his life by administering many medicines and by worshipping the demigoddess Durga, still, day by day his health was decreasing and he was now about to die. Ramacandra Kaviraja came to him and asked, "Why are you worshipping Durga? Why aren’t you worshipping Krsna, Govinda? Take responsibility for yourself and chant "Govinda," one-pointedly. In this way you’ll be cured, your life will be saved, and you’ll be happy forever." Hearing this, Durgadha agreed: "Durga couldn’t help me". He took initiation from his elder brother and gradually, in three or four days, as if by some magical effect his illness was cured, his health was restored, and he began to do bhajana under the guidance of his guru.

 

From then on he became known as Govinda dasa Kaviraja. He was an excellent writer and poet, and after he wrote "Bhajahu re mana, sri nanda-nandana abhaya-caranaravinda re," he sent it to Srila Jiva Gosvami. When Jiva Gosvami heard the bhajana of Govinda dasa Kaviraja, he appreciated it so much that he told him, "Continue to compose kirtanas like these. You are very qualified, so you should compose more and send them to me in Vrndavana." Srila Govinda dasa Kaviraja then composed many poems of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Radha-Krsna.

 

Abhaya-caranaravinda re. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada gave this name, Abhaya Caranaravinda, to Parama-pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja. Bhajahu re mana has been a favorite bhajana in our guru-parampara, and Srila Swami Maharaja used to sing this song, weeping and his heart melting. Bhajahu re mana, sri nanda-nandana abhaya-caranaravinda re. He was meeting with his own name, and he used to weep.

 

We should also have strong faith in this, bhajahu re mana. Every one of these songs has a history behind them.

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[gaurachandra 0]

This seems to be a very nice peice of information.......Hari bol

 

Where did you get this info. ?

 

Gaurachandra

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e-mail harikatha@harikatha.com to or go to purebhakti.com and use google search.

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Madhavananda Das

Srinivasa Acarya and Ramacandra Kaviraja, Narrations from Yadunandana's Karnananda

Jun 5 2006, 07:58 PM

 

 

The affectionate relationship between Srinivasa and his disciple, Ramacandra, is matchless. I will be posting some excerpts from Yadunandana's Karnananda and some other hagiographical works to illustrate the depth and beauty of these two maha-purusas. The first series of posts is taken from the third chapter of the work. The source is an anonymous translation in the form of an e-text, slightly edited by myself, and where needed, checked against the original Bengali text. (I have not proofread this extensively.)

 

Chapter Three

 

By the mercy of Sri Krishna Caitanya, Nityananda Prabhu, Advaitacandra, and all the devoted disciples of Gaura, I shall now discuss some unrevealed narrations which may be beneficial for the listeners. I shall first attempt to describe the glories of Ramacandra, whose generosity knew no bounds.

 

One day my spiritual master, Sri Hemalata, revealed the glories of Ramacandra to me. After hearing her description of his exalted character, I was filled with divine pleasure. Prabhu Ramacandra was a very grave men, yet his heart was filled with love and kindness. He was a famous psychiatrist and also known for his sweet and loving disposition.

 

Once Srinivasa was sitting with his two wives in his house in Visnupura. His wives considered themselves the most fortunate to have such an exalted and attractive husband. At that time, Srinivasa began to talk about the pastimes of Sri Krishna, attracting the minds of his wives. While speaking, Prabhu suddenly fell into an ecstatic state. Overwhelmed with emotion, he fell on the ground and fainted, calling out the name of Sri Gauracandra. In this ecstatic condition, he sometimes cried out the name of Sri Rupa, Sanatana, and sometimes the name of Sri Bhatta Gosvami. After a long time, he composed himself and went to take his bath.

 

After bathing, he put on a fresh white cloth, sitting before the deity. Wearing a scarf printed with manakshana, he marked his forehead with tilak and began to recite prayers in a sweet voice. Srinivasa happily worshiped Sri Vamsivadana with sadalwood paste and tulasi-leaves, and then sat, absorbed in deep meditation. In this state, he was able to witness the divine pastimes of Radha and Krishna. With great pleasure, he saw Radha and Krishna taking bath on the banks of the Yamuna. Surrounded by the gopis, Krishna appeared like a cloud surrounded by lightning. The gopis decorated Krishna's body with many ornaments. Krishna then entered the water. Sri Rupa Manjari, Sri Lavanga Manjari, Sri Guna Manjari, and Sri Rati Manjari remained standing on the bank of the river to observe Krishna's beautiful pastimes. With their wet saris tightly clinging to their bodies, the other gopis began splashing water on Krishna's face.

 

Observing this scene, Srinivasa was entirely enchanted by the beauty of the gopis, the movement of their bodies, the swinging of their hips, hands, and legs. Even when they frowned, they were gorgeous. He was amazed to hear their sweet talks with Krishna, and to see them splashing water directly in the eyes of Krishna. They all laughed loudly and fought with Krishna, sometimes in knee-deep water, sometimes in hip-deep water, sometimes breast deep, and sometimes in neck-deep water. They would fight with Krishna sometimes face to face, sometimes breast to breast, sometimes eye to eye, and sometimes nail to nail. With their fighting, the water of the river overflowed its banks. Sri Krishna then stole the garments of the gopis and climbed up in a tree, from where he could observe the beauty of gopis' bodies in Yamuna's blue water. The divine nectar of these divine pastimes cannot be understood by ordinary persons. Kaviraja Gosvami has further explained this pastime in his book, Sri Govinda-lilamrta.

Note: Srinivasa Acarya is the Sri Mani Manjari mentioned in the narration.

 

 

 

After finishing her bath, Srimati Radharani left the water. However, in doing so, she did not notice that her nose-stud had fallen out. The gopis followed her, and Krishna returned all of their garments and ornaments. Beautifully dressed, they all entered into the kunja-vana. Vrinda brought various types of fruit, sweets, and numerous preparations, and they dined together happily. The gopis were captivated by the beauty of Radha and Krishna, and lovingly served them attentively.

 

Suddenly they noticed that Sri Radha had lost her nose-stud. Thinking it had most probably been lost in the water, they became distraught. Sri Rupa Manjari and Sri Guna Manjari winked at Sri Mani Manjari, and told her that since she knew the mind of Sri Radha very well and was accustomed to searching for Radha's lost ornaments, she should go in search of the lost nose-stud. Since Sri Radha was in the habit of losing her ornaments, sometimes in the water of a kunda or in the Yamuna, sometimes at day and sometimes at night, Manji Manjari was frequently sent to search for the lost items.

 

Mani Manjari happily went to the bank of the Yamuna in search of the lost nose-stud, but failed to find it there. She then entered into the water of the Yamuna river, which glittered in the sunshine like a shining mirror, yet to her disappointment she did not find it there either. The nose-stud had actually fallen on the footprints of Radha Krishna, covered by the leaf of a lotus – therefore Mani Manjari was unable to find it.

 

Meanwhile, the wives of Srinivasa found that their husband remained in a state of deep meditation, for a long time. Evening had arrived, but still Srinivasa did not break his meditation. The wives saw that the body of their husband had become stiff, his breath seemed to have stopped, and there was no quivering in his belly. Seeing Srinivasa's extrordinary state, they were reminded of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Fearing for the life of their beloved husaband, the wives began to loudly chant the holy name into his ear, yet still he did not return to exernal consciousness. As Prabhu remained in this state until the late hours of the night, his wives began to think about many bad omens, weeping loudly and rolling on the ground in grief. After some hours, they pacified themselves and began fanning him. (more later)

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When the king heard about the condition of Srinivasa, his heart was filled with grief and he hurried to Prabhu's house. Falling flat before Srinivasa, he tried to feel the breath of Prabhu by placing his hand near Srinivasa's nostrils, failing to detect any sign of life in him. When Thakurani explained to him that he had been in this condition since early in the day, the king became filled with anxiety and tried to devise out a method for bringing him back to his senses.

 

Disciples such as Sri Vallabhii Kaviraja, Sri Vyasacarya, Sri Krishna Vallabha, Janaki Das, and Prasada Das rushed to see their master. They also tried their best to revive Srinivasa Prabhu. When everyone failed, they lost all hope for the life of their guru. As the first three hours of the night had passed, Prabhu's wives began weeping loudly, falling on the ground and rolling in grief. The disciples of Prabhu tried their best to give them solace, explaining that Prabhu was simply absorbed in a highly spritual state and would certainly regain his senses after some time. This pacified the wives to some extent, and they sat down by the side of their husband, trying to think of some way to revive their lord. In this way the night passed and the dawn appeared, yet still Srinivasa had not returned to consciousness.

 

The king and all the disciples also sat anxiously, waiting form Srinivasa to regain consicousness. In this way, the first three hours of the day passed. As time passed, Prabhu's disciples began to think that they had lost their master forever. Thinking that they would never again have the opportunity for such exalted association, they began to weep loudly. Thakurani then placed some cotton balls under the nose of Srinivasa to detect his breath. When they did not even slightly quiver, she pulled at her hair and fell to the ground in despair. In their grief, sometimes they wept and sometimes they fainted on the ground.

Suddenly Srimati Ji remembered something that gave her encouragement, immediately calming her down. Seeing Sri Isvari's change of mood, everyone inquired curiously as to what had calmed her mind. She gladly told them that a long time ago, Srinivasa Prabhu had told her about Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja, who was capable of understanding everything about Sri Acarya. She said that she was certain that Kaviraja would arrive there that day, as this had previously been foretold to her in a dream.

 

As she was speaking, Ramacandra Kaviraja suddenly arrived at the spot. He fell at the feet of Srinivasa, reciting prayers with folded hands. At once Srinivasa regained external consciousness. He embraced Kaviraja and asked about his well-being. Kaviraja replied, "Without your darsana, how can I be in a good state of mind?" Prabhu took him in hands and placed him on a seat beside himself. Together they happily discussed Sri Krishna's pastimes. After they both took bath, they discussed more on divine matters. Overcome with emotion they both wept, calling out the names of Rupa, Sanatana, Sri Bhatta Gosvami and Radha-Krishna.

 

Srinivasa bowed before the Deity of Sri Vamsivadana, changing changed his dress and painted tilak on his forehead. Repeatedly he called out the names of Sri Kunda and Govardhana. After watering the Tulasi plant, he worshiped the Salagrama-sila and offered various types of sweets. He then offered betel leaf to the deity and performed arati. Again and again, he humbly bowed before the deity. Returning to his house, he ate the prasada and gave the rest of it to Kaviraja.

 

The wives of Srinivasa cooked and offered it to their dear husband. Prabhu first offered the food to the Salagrama-sila. He then put the Lord to rest, fanning him slowly for some time. Afterwards, Srinivasa came out form the temple and bowed before the deity, streetching himself out flat on the ground. Thereafter he invited all the devotees who were waiting in his house to dine with him. He requested them to take their seats, personally serving them. After satisfying them with profuse prasada, Prabhu offered them betel leafs and requested them to take rest. He then entered into his room and was pleased to find Kaviraja waiting for him there.

 

His wives cleaned the place where he would take his seat to dine, requesting Prabhu to take his seat along with Kaviraja. However, Srinivasa said that Kaviraja would take his food after he had finished. Kaviraja then began to fan Srinivasa while he respected prasada. After Srinivasa finsished, Kaviraja sat down and ate from the plate of Prabhu. While eating, Kaviraja became filled with spiritual emotions. After completing his meal, Kavirjaja sat down near Prabhu, and Srinivasa offered him his chewed betel leaf. Srinivasa then laid down to rest while Ramacandra massaged his legs.

 

After some time, Srinivasa awoke from sleep. His wives then asked him, "O Prabhu, previously you often spoke with great admiration about Kaviraja. Now we have observed how he ate from your plate and drank water form your glass without any hesitation. Please explain this to us." Srinivasa explained that Ramacandra is an exceptional devotee, beyond their understanding, and that in time they would come to know all about him. The wives were very pleased to hear this, and requested Prabhu to give them the remnants of his chewed betel leaves. (to be continued)

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The next day, as Srinivasa entered into the compound of his house with Kaviraja, they saw what appeared to be a snake, jumping across it in fear. Kaviraja searched for the snake but was unable to find it – rather he discovered that Prabhu had mistaken a coil of straw to be a snake. Nevertheless, he did contradict his master. When Srinivasa himself discovered that it was a coil of straw and pointed it out, Ramacandra at once accepted his opinion. Prabhu and Kaviraja then sat down in the room to converse.

 

Later, when the wives of Srinivasa were resting, Sri Acarya came to them and began to explain the exalted characteristics of Ramacandra. He compared Ramacandra to Arjuna by citing one story form the Mahabharata:

 

"Once upon a time Dronacarya was engaged in teaching the art of using weapons to Duryodhana and his hundred brothers, along with Yudhistira and his four brothers. Dronacarya put a bird on the highest branch of a tree and ordered them all to hit the eye of the bird with one arrow. Duryodhana and his brothers took up their weapons and happily aimed at the mark. Dronacarya then asked them what they were seeing at that moment, and they replied that they saw the tree, its branches, and the bird. Drona was angry and dissatified with their answer and rebuked them, saying that they would never be able to learn the art of using weapons. He then called Arjuna to aim at the bird, then asked him the same question.

 

"Arjuna replied that he saw nothing other than the eye of the bird. Drona ordered him to shoot, and Arjuna's arrow perfectly hit the eye of the bird. Greatly satisfied, Drona explained to all that Arjuna never diverted his attention from the eye of the bird, and that is why he passed the test. Arjuna bowed to the feet of his master and took his seat among the other disciples. With content, Drona told Arjuna that he would be the only person who could be parallel his master, and that he was his best disciple. Duryodhana was deeply unhappy to hear these words of praise."

 

Srinivasa took great pleasure in describing this incident and comparing Kaviraja with Arjuna, because Ramacandra never disobeyed his master. He always sincerely listened to Prabhu, even when the latter ordered him to take his food after everyone else. Srinivasa further described Ramacandra's faithfulness by citing explaining about the time when Prabhu had mistaken the coil of straw to be a snake, and although Ramacandra knew this, he nevertheless tried to find out the snake in the courtyard as ordered by Srinivasa. Yet when Prabhu told him that it was a coil of straw, not a snake, Ramacandra at once accepted his master's opinion.

 

Ramacandra humbly submitted to Srinivasa, saying that without the favor of his master, how could he know what was right or wrong. Thus Srinivasa openly declared that as Arjuna was the dearest disciple of Dronacarya, so Ramacandra was most dear to him. "From now on," Srinivasa said, "everyone should take it for granted that Ramacandra's opionion is the same as mine." Srinivasa explained that Ramacandra and Narottama were his two eyes, thus both of them were identical. Kaviraja Govinda and Cakravarti Govinda were the two persons who understood the characteristics of Ramacandra and Narottama. Srinivasa said, "He who receives the favour of Ramacandra, he also attains the blessings of Sri Krishna." In this way Sri Acarya took great pleasure in glorifying Ramacandra.

 

In this regard, Srinivasa's wife once narrated a story to the disciples. Once Srinivasa was eating with Ramacandra seated on one side of him, and Narottama on the other side. They happily talked about Sri Krishna, while Prabhu took food from his two disciples after it had been touched by their hands. Srinivasa's wives were surprised to see this behavior; they could not understand how it was possible for a disciple to offer food to his master after touching it with his own hand. Thus they decided to wait for an opportunity to ask him about this. After eating and washing their hands and mouths, Srinivasa and his two disciples became absorbed is discussions about Krishna. All three of them became extremely emotional and shed tears of joy.

 

When the opportunity arose, Isvari asked her husband about the question that had arisen in her mind in regards to how he accept food which had been touched by his disciples. Srinivasa explained that Ramacandra and Narottama were exactly like his two hands and two eyes. Since they were like parts of his own body, it did not matter if the food had been touched by Ramacandra and Narottama.

 

While discussing this topic, the left eye of Isvari suddenly began to dance. Her left thigh and left side also began to quiver. She took this to indicate that Ramacandra would soon arrive there. Similarly, the right eyes of the men present began to quiver. Thus, they were not surprised when Ramacandra arrived at their place. Everyone happily received them, including the Srinivasa's wives, who rushed forward to greet him.

 

Upon meeting Isvari, Ramacandra fell at her feet. Seeing her face dark with grief, he inquired as to the cause of her distress. Isvari explained that Srinivasa had been lost in deep meditation for three long days which caused her great anxiety, but now, upon seeing Ramacandra, her anxieties had disappeared. Hearing this, Ramacandra fell at Isvari's feet, and then stood before her humbly with folded hands. He then went to see Srinivasa, who laid in a state of deep meditation. His body was stiff, and no sign of breathing could be detetected.

 

Ramacandra tried to feel his breath by placing his hand under Srinivasa's nostril, but he felt nothing. Turning to Isvari, he explained that Srinivasa was immersed in a deep state of meditation, similar to the ecstatic absorbtion Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu formerly manifested. Calling the name of Sri Radha and beseeching Her blessings, Ramacandra covered the body of Srinivasa with a cloth and slid under the cover along with Prabhu. By exercising the powers given to him by the grace of Srinivasa, Ramacandra also entered into a deep trance and in his siddha-deha he came to understand everything about Srinivasa's trance. Ramacandra then assured Thakurani that if after two hours Srinivasa did not regain consciousness, she should chant the holy name loudly into his ear.

 

Thereafter, Ramacandra, in his siddha-deha, went to the bank of the Yamuna where Sri Mani Manjari was searching for the nose-stud of Radha that had dropped on Radha Krishna's footprints under the water, covered by a lotus leaf. Mani Manjari happily greeted her confidante, and together they continued the search for the nose-stud. They both entered the water and eventually picked up the lotus leaf which had been concealing the nose-stud. Mani Manjari praised him profusely for helping her in finding the nose-stud. They then rushed to the spot were Radha and Krishna were taking rest.

 

All of the confidantes of Radha were anxiously waiting for Mani Manjari to return with the nose-stud. When they caught sight of Mani Manjari and Ramacandra, they happily received them, relieved to hear that the lost ornament had been recovered. Sri Rupa Manjari took the nose-stud and skillfully placed it through the hole on Radha's nose. Back in its rightful position, the nose-stud throbbed slowly along with the breathing of Sri Radha.

 

Sri Rupa Manjari gently grasped one of Radha's legs and began to massage it. After some time, Sri Guna Manjari requested Mani Manjari to massage the other leg of Sri Radha. With great ecstacy, Mani Manjari accepted this service. Later Sri Guna Manjari told her that she had kept for her the remnants of Sri Radha's chewed betel leaf. Mani Manjari happily accepted it and was most pleased to see that she had also kept a portion of it for her confidante (Ramacandra).