Pastimes of Lord Caitanya...where can I find?

Govindaram · February 11, 2004

Hare Krishna

In a lecture by HH Radhanath Maharaja, he talks about when Lord Caitanya sat down on Vyasa of Lord Vishnu and gave benedictions to His devotees, does anybody know where I can read this pastime on-line?

Govindaram · February 11, 2004

Dowloaded from here http://www.acbspn.com/books/default.htm

Here is part of the pastime, to read fully I suggest you download from the above link!

Nectar!..

------

MADHYA LILA Chapter 9

Lord Sri Gauracandra is the Controller of the Universe and He accepted the garb of a sannyasi not for His own sake but for everyone's benefit. All glory to the son of Jagannatha Misra and Mother Saci, and all glory to His sankirtana movement. All glory to Lord Chaitanya, the very Life of Lord Nityananda and Gadadhara Pandita, and He is the most beloved by Advaita and Srivasa Pandita, Jagadananda Pandita and Haridasa Thakura, Vakreswara Pandita and Pundarika Vidyamidhi, Yasudeva and Srigarbha. Be merciful O Lord! and look upon every living entity graciously. May the Lord and all His associates be glorified, for hearing about the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya one immediately attains the supreme goal of Bhakti, love of God. Please listen intently to the narration in Madhya Khanda because they depict pastimes of Lord Chaitanya. Now hear the descriptions of Lord Chaitanya's "Mahaprakasa" lila or great revealation, for this fulfils the desire of all Vaisnavas. 1-8

The Lord manifested th glorious "Sat Praharia bhava" or Twenty one hour long devotional emotions. In this pastime He wonderfully revealed His different incarnations, extraordinary feat at feasting and freely giving away to the devotees pure love ìof Godhead. And all the Vaisnavas honored the Lord in a grand bathing ceremony known as "Raja Rajeswar" fit only for the most powerful Kings of the Universe. 9-11

One day Lord Gaurasundar came to Srinivasa Pandita's house accompanied by Lord Nityananda, who was beside Himself with joy. Gradually all the Vaisnavas assembled there. Lord Gaurasundara, who was then fully engrossed within Himself, looked about Him - as a regal Personality surveys His surroundings with intensely powerful glances. The devotees could perceive the Lord's mood and immediately they started loud kirtana. 12-15

On other days the Lord would dance in the ecstasy of a devotee servant of the Supreme Lord, Then changing that mood momentarily He revealed His identity as the Omnipotent Supreme Lord, that mood also would quickly change and he would again revert back to the mood of a devotee. But today, to the good luck of the assembled devotees, the Lord stood up as if to dance as usual, and instead sat on the throne of Lord Visnu. On previous occasions the Lord would sit on Lord Visnu's throne immersed in devotional ecstasy, as if unaware of His own conduct. No so today; today He did not obfuscate His real identity with the cloak of His internal energy. But sat on the throne continously for twenty one hours. The devotees stood in front of Him with folded hands and hearts efferescent with joy. It was a wonderful sight the devotees were fully content, they spontanesouly ìexpressed that it felt like they were in Vaikuntha. And so it was, The Lord also sat amidst all like the Lord of Vaikuntha and everyone present there became totally free from the influence of the illusory material potency. 16-22

Lord Chaitanya instructed, "Sing that bathing song". THe devotees were very pleased and they began to sing. The Lord gently swayed His head sideways in time with the song and showered the devotees with His merciful glances. The devotees now could survice the Lord's mood and they desired to perform His `abhiset' or bathing ceremony. 23-25

The devotees brought water from the Ganga. First they strained the Ganga water. Then they added musk, sandal pasted, saffron and camphor into it proportionately, preparing everything with increasing love of the Lord. They began the ceremony with jubilant shouts and started chanting appropriate mantras. 26-28

Lord Nityananda was the first to pour water on the Lord's head, He kept repeating "Jaya, jaya" as He did so with great pleasure. Other leading devotees like Adviata Acharya and Srivasa Pandita bathed the Lord, chanting the famous "Purasa Sukta" prayers. The devotees of Lord Gauranga are very well versed in the science of the scriptures and of chanting Vedic hymns, so they poured water accompanying it with mantras. 29-31

Mukunda and others were singing sweetly the bathing ceremony song and other devottes wept or danced with overwhelming happiness. The upright and chaste wives were uluating with joy. The entire assembly was immersed in an ocean of bliss. The Lord of Vaik untha Lord Gauranga remained seated and the devotees one by one poured water on His head bathing the Lord. Usually on such religious occasions 108 pots of water were supposed to be required but today it far exceeded that number. 32-35

Even the demigods came there not wanting to miss the opportunity to make more spiritual progress, but were disguised so as not to be recognised. 36

Where even a drop of water offered to the Lord's lotus feet, that also in meditation, is sufficient to ward off punishment given out by the God of death, What to speak about the good fortune of the people who were able to bathe the Lord directly, who were present there in person. 37-38

All the servants and maid servants in Srivasa Pandita's house were also engaged in bringing water for the Lord. The wonderful result that one enjoys from serving the Lord was amply proved by one incident. One of the maid servants, a pious woman named "Dukkhi" (sad), was one of the water carriers. The Lord saw her actively engaged and told her, "Bring, bring more," the Lord was so impressed with her devotional service attitude that He changed ìher name to `Sukhi' or happy, indicating He had taken away her distress. 39-41

Having bathed the Lord. Accompainied with the chanting of the Vedic mantras, the devotees dried the Lord's body. They dressed Him in fresh new clothes and smeared His transcendental and exquisite body with fragnant sandal wood paste. They cleaned Lord Visnu's throne and arranged everything properly and the Lord sat on the throne which was truly His. Lord Nityananda held the umbrella over the Lord's head, while one of the more fortunate devotees began to whisk the Lord with the `camara'. The devotees collected the paraphernalia for offering worship to the Lord and began to worship Him. 42-46

Their offering tray was packed with ckaranamrita, fruits, acamani, inscence, frangnant oil, lamp, new clothes, brahmanas thread etc. As customary they worshipped Him with sixteen ingredients. Applying sandal wood paste on Tulsi manjaris they offered it at His lotus feet. The Gopala mantra consisting of ten syllables was chanted while they offered worship, followoing strictly the rules of this particular worship. All the devotees were offering their prayers to Him. 47-50

All the stalwart associates of the Lord, like Advaita Acharya Prabhu fell before the Lord's feet like rods and offered full obeisances to Him. All the devotees were experiencing spiritual ìlove for the Supreme Lord and tears cascading down their cheeks mingled and flowed like a river. They constantly chanted verses eulogizing the Lord, and the Lord heard everything with great satisfaction. 51-52

They prayed "All glory to the Lord of the Universe, kindly direct Your merciful glance on this world now ablaze with the three fold suffering. All glory to the Original cause of everything, the Maintainer of everyone, You have advented to mangurate the congregational chanting to the holy name. You establsih the Savatam Dharma of the Vedas and You are the Protector of the pious, the Original Soul of all the fourteen worlds. All glory to Lord Chaitanya for He is the redeemer of the most fallen souls, an ocean of teanscendental qualities, the Supreme Shelter of the meek and poor. All glory to Lord Chaitanya who is Vrajendra nandana Krishna and who expands to Lard Visnu and lies on the ocean of milk like Ksirodakasaji Visnu, He appears as an incarnation for the pleasure of His devotees. All glory to Lord Gauranga who is the Original and Absolute inconceivable, unprecievabl. He is always transcendentally situated, the compassionate Supreme Person. All glory to Lord Chaitanya. He was born in a family of Brahmanas as the crest jewel of this class as well as to liberate the entire brahmana population; He is the origin of the Vedic religion the life and soul of every living entity. All glory to Lord Chaitanya who saved Arjuna from an inglorious death and He gave liberation to the demoness ìPutana. All glory to Lord Chaitanya who never sees the faults of living entities, He is the husband of the Goddess of fortune." With such chosen words the devotees praised the Lord. 53-61

The Lord's servitors were drowning in an ocean of bliss seeing Lord Chaitanya manifest this extraordinary mood. The Lord mercifully removed the veil of maya from everyone's heart and offered His lotus feet to be worshipped by His devoted servitors. Some devotees brought sweetly perfumed oil and smeared it on the Lord's lotus feet, other's worshipped Him with an offering of tender tulasi leaves. Again more came offering precious gems, gold and silver ornaments and paid obeisances at His feet. Many valuable gifts were offered to the Lord, white, blue and bright yellow silken clothes, a variety of precious metal containers were placed in offering at the lotus feet of the Lord, the gifts were countless. 62-67

All the household servants in Srivas Pandita's house by dint of serving a pure Vaisnava now could directly serve Lord Gauracandra's lotus feet, Whose lotus feet are desired by all, even Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Laksmi devi aspire for that mere opportunity. 68-69

They offered many items of worship to the Lord without fear or hesitation, the Lord having removed His revenential mood. They brought unhusked rice, tulasi, durba grass, musk, saffron, ìcamphor and varieties of fruits, fragnant blossoms, sandal wood and placed them at His lotus feet. Each one worshipped according to his heart's inclination following different rules of worship.

Govindaram · February 11, 2004

70-74

Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Lord of Vaikuntha, exhibited another of His extra ordinary pastimes. He said to the devotees, "Get Me something I want to eat" and held out His hand. Whatever the devotees offered He ate it. 75-76

The different Vaisnavas brought a variety of foodstuff to eat, banana, mung dal, yoghurt, sweet condensed milk, butter, milk. They gave it in the Lord's hands nad He undisturbed ate everything. Some of the devotees hurried to the market and rushed back with the choicest articles. They offered the Lord coconuts, a variety of milk sweets, in huge quantities, black berries, green melons, sugan cane. Some even brought water from the Ganga; The Lord ate everything. Seeing the Lord was happily eating everything they offered, they generous helpings of more delicacies many times over. Hundreds of devotees gave gallons of Ganges water and the Lord, Who is the Greatest of the Mystics drank all. 77-84

Hundreds of barrels of yoghurt, sweet condensed milk, milk, hundreds of bunches of bananas; huge amounts of `mung dal'; mountains of milk sweet preparations, camphor, betel, fruits and ìnuts were instantly consumed by the Lord in front of the amazed and gaping devotees. 85-87

The Lord contendedly ate everything offered to Him and inturn He revealed all the details of the devotees past life. When the devotees heard their individual stories they remembered their earlier days and fell to the ground in ecstasy. 88-89

The Lord addressed Srivasa Panidta, "Do you remember, you use to hear lectures on the Srimad Bhagavata at Devananda Pandita's house. Every line of the Bhagavatam is saturated with the nectar of divine love of Godhead, and so your heart melted on hearing those recitations of Bhagavatam. You had cried loudly and had fallen unconscious to the ground. The neophyte an dignorant students there, not knowledgeable in the matters of "Bhakti yoga", could not understand the reason for your extraordinary behavior. You were engrossed within Yourself in the ecstasy of love of Krishna oblivious of the external world and so did not know as they had carried you out of their door outside. Devananda Pandita, their teacher, witnessed the entire happening without dissuading his students. Since he himself was inexperienced in the science of Krishna consciousness, it is expected that his students will also be like him. On waking and finding yourself outside on the street you picked yourself up and returned home feeling sad. Your saddness persisted and so you preferred to be alone; you desired to read the Bhagavatam again. Seeing your ìsorrowful state I descended from Vaikuntha into your heart and made you weep with the ecstatic emotions of your love for Me. You experienced happiness again reading the Bhagavatam ad submerged with your tears the place you were siting in". 90-100

When Srivasa Pandita heard this he was overcome with emotions and he fell to the ground crying and rooling breathing fast and heavily. In this way the Lord spoke to Advaita Acharya Prabhu and different devotees and brought back to them recollection of their earlier days. He submerged the devotees in an ocean of bliss while He sat on His throne chewing betel leaf. The devotees danced and performed kirtana singing, "Jaya Sacinananda" all glory to the son of Mother Saci. 101-104

If perchance a devotee is absent immediately the Lord had him brought before Him. He put His hand out and would say to him, "Give Me something to eat", And whatever was offered to Him by them He ate it all. Then the Lord would say, "Do you remember that night I came to you as a doctor sat next to your bed, I had cured your fever". On hearing this from the Lord the devotees would fall down overwhelmed by uncontrolled spiritual emotions. 105-108

Seeing Gangadas the Lord said, "Can your mind recall. That night you were escaping from the Muslim king fearing capture? Your whole family was accompanying you and what you arrived at the ìferry stand there were no boats, you were in a great dilema. The night was turning to dawn and still no boats were in sight you began weeping in anxiety. You shuddered at the thought that the Muslims might molest your family in your presence and so it was better to drown in the Ganges, you thought. At that moment I appeared as a boat man rowing a boat towards you. Your spirits lifted seeing the approaching boat. You spoke to Me, the boatman with affection saying, "My dear brother, please take me across, I surrender my body, wealth, life, everything to you I solely depend upon you, here is a couple of ruprees for your endeavor, take me and my family to safety. Then I ferried you and your family across and returned to My eternal Vaikuntha abode.109-117

Gangadas was carried on the waves of blissful ecstasy from hearing the Lord, such are the wonderful pastimes of Lord Gaurasundara. the Lord continued, "Do you recall that incident, you were so worried you were so worried, and I came to your rescue and brought you across". Gangadasa unable to contain himself further fell to the ground rolling in ecstasy. 118-120

Lord Chaitanya, the Lord of Vaikuntha is sitting on His throne, His body covered with sandal wood paste and nicely decorated with fragnant flower garlands. One of His dear servants is fanning Him, another is arranging His hair, some other is preparing betel and offering it to Him, many of them were dancing in ecstasy around Him. 121-123

How the entire day passed and how the darkness of night stole in went unnoticed. Realizing that it was night the devotees got busy lighting up the lamps and they offered the lamps in worship at the Lord's lotus feet. They began to perform kirtana playing kartal, gongo, conch shell, mridanga drum and string instruments. The Lord continued sitting in a benevolent mood but remained silent, in spite of the devotees various activities.

124-127

Devotees offered different kinds of flowers at His lotus feet and postrated themselves before Him saying, `O Lord protect me'. Some devotees prayed to the Lord with great humility others were singing loudly in praise of the Lord; the sound of jubilant crying was the only thing one could hear. Everyone present experienced such an indesriable and wonderful elated feeling right at this moment that everyone joining the assembly felt like immediately being transformed tot he Vaikunthas. In this way the Lord exhibited a mood of Supreme opulence while all the devotees stood circling the Lord with folded hands in reverence. 128-131

Lord Gaurasundara behaved in a casual manner with His disciple placing His lotus feet on them and in this manner He performed His transcendental pastimes. Lord Gaurasundara was in His unificient mood ready to disburse boons to His devotees, and the devotees remained surrounding Him with folded hands. The Lord ìshowered His causeless mercy on everyone as He performed the pastime of twenty one hour ecstasy. 132-134

The Lord then ordered, "Go and bring Sridhara, immediately, let him see My opulence. He is constantly thinking about Me in separation. I want him to come right away. Go to the outskirts of the town and sit there waiting for anyone tht calls for Me. and bring them here to Me." The Vaisnavas rushed to fulfill the Lord's order and went in the direction of Sridhar's residence. 135-138

Now hear some stories about Sridhar, how he made a living from selling "khola" ( or the trunk of the banana tree). He buys the khola joint and then cutting it into short pieces he sells them. Whatever in a day half of it he spend in buying offering for mother Ganga. With the other half he uses to maintain himself. This is the test of a true devotee ofthe Supreme Lord. 139-142

Sridhar is a very honest and truthful person, like Yudhisthira Maharaj, he always quotes the correct price of his wear and never once vacillates from it. Those who know this fact buys from him at the price he quotes. In this humble way this great soul lives in Navadvipa, known to people only as the `khola seller'; his real self was unknown to all. He would spend the entire night engrossed in chanting the holy name of Krishna, forgetting everything including sleep. 143-146

The atheistic neighbors protested saying, "we cannot sleep in the night, Sridhar's screaming shatters the eardrums. That poor vagabond cannot fill his body and so now in the night he is kept awake by the pangs of hunger." 147-148

The atheistic neighbors invited sure doom for themselves in speaking in thismanner, but Sridhara continued his spiritual activities unperturbed and remained always joyful. He loudly chanted the holy name all night long with overflowing love for Krishna. 149-150

The devotees who had gone to find Sridhara had covered only half of the way to his house, and could already hear his loud chanting. Following the voice they came to Sridhara's house. They said to him, "Please come with us O holy one and meet Lord Chaitanya, we are greatly blessed being in your august presence."

151-153

When Sridhara heard the mention of Lord Chaitanya he became overwhelmed with ecstatic feelings and feel unconscious to the ground. Quickly the devotees picked him up, and they very slowly and gently led him to the Lord. 154-155

Lord Chaitanya was extremely happy to see Sridhara and called out loud and warm invitations to him saying, "Come, come, You have ìamply worshipped Me, many lifetimes you spent in My devotional sevice. In ths life you have rendered abundant devotional service, I have tasted your `khola' countless of times. many times I took different things from your hands, you have forgotten the verbal exchanges we had." 156-159

Govindaram · February 11, 2004

When Lord Chaitanya was manifesting His pastimes as a scholar, He acted bold and insolant. During this time hiding His real identity the Lord would daily enjoy Sridar's company under the pretext of bargaining with him. He would go to his shop and purchase banana, spathe etc. Daily they argue about the price for several hours and finally the Lord returned with His purchases bought at half the actual price. The truthful Sridhar always quoted the correct price but Lord picked the goods Himself and paid only halfprice. Then this would excite Sridhar, he would jump up and try to take the goods back from the Lord.

160-165

The Lord would then say, "Why my dear brother Sridhar! You are a renounced person, I think you are very rich. Then why do youtry to snatch away these things from My hand. I am also surprised that in all this time you do not know who I am." 166-168

The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Chaitanya saw there was no trace of anger on Sridhar's face and so He snatched away the articles. 169

Lord Gaurasundara was looking so beautiful that He could capitivate even Cupid's mind. His fine forehead was decorated with radiant urdhapurdra tilaka marks. He wore the dhoti in a most attractive manner tucking it in three different places, His earrings were nicely designed and slightly slanting. The Lord's temperamental and eyes were both extremely agile and restless. The shining white brahmin thread goes elegantly around His shoulder; Lord Ananta Sesa has accepted this very thin form of a brahmin thread to decorate the Lord. He smiled at Sridhara with cherry lips reddened from chewing betel and again picked up the articles. 170-172

Sridhara said to the Lord, "Listen O Brahmana, please forgive me this time. I am just Your dog". The Lord replied, "I know you, you are very cunning. You have saved much money selling these banana spathes". Then Sridhara spoke, "Are there not any other shops besides mine, please purchase from there at a cheaper rate." 173-175

Lord Chaitanya said, "I do not want to so easily abandon a steady supplier like you, give me these spathes and take the money fot it." Sridhara was helpless against Visvambhara's charm and so he smiled at Him capitivated by His extraordinary beauty, while Visvambhara continued His harangue being very pleased with His external associate and devotee Sridhara. 176-177

Lord Chaitanya said, "Every day you buy offerings for Mother Ganga, then why can you not sell me your things at a discount? I am the father of Mother Ganga you worship daily, this truth I am revealing to you." 178-179

Sridhara shocked at hearing this covered his ears with his palms and repeated Lord, Visnu's name, and seeing that Visvambhara was in an insolent mood gave Him the bananna spathes. In this way the Lord bargained and fought with Sridhara everyday; Sridhara thought of the boy as a very restless youn brahmana boy.180-181

Sridhara finally agreed, "I give in to you, I will give you something free of cost, but then please leave me alone. What will I lose if I give away a piece of banana spathe, a banana flower and a slice of banana root?182-183

Lord Chaitanya replied, "Good, good that is enough, do not give anymore," the Lord daily ate dishes prepared with Sridhara's gifts. The Lord loves to receive gifts from His devotees. He would never ask for anything from a non devotee.184-185

The Lord desired to perform this pastime and so by His arrangement he had Sridhara sell `khola' who can understand these transcendental exchanges between the Supreme Lord and His devotee. No one can perceive these super mundane activities ìwithout the blessings of the Lord, this fact is being reminded by the Lord.186-188

The Lord Chaitanya said, "O Sridhara, behold My beauty, today I will bestow you with eight mystic perfections".189

The great devotee Sridhara lifted up his head and saw that Lord Visvambhara had changed His complexion and become as dark as the bark of the Tamal tree, He was holding a flute in His hands and on His right stood Lord Balarama and the entire scene was engulfed in a glowing radiance.190-191

He saw Lord Brahma and Lord Siva approach their Lordships and offering lotus and betel they began reciting verses in praise of the Supreme Lord. Lord Ananta Sesa standing behind the Lord His hood above the Lord's head like am umbrella, and saintly personalities like Sameka, Narada and Sukla deva Gosvami offered prayers to the Lord. All around the beautiful heavenly damsels sang glorifying the Lord with folded hands.192-194

Sridhara seeing this wonder of wonders was so astounded that in the next moment he slumped to the ground. The Lord called out Sridhara's name asking him to rise, Sridhara on hearing the Lord's command awoke from his swoon and stood up.195-196

Lord Chaitanya instructed Sridhara, "Sridhara, say something ìglorifying Me". Sridhara replied, "Dear Lord I am an illiterate and foolish, what intelligence do I possess to glorify Your Lordship". But the Lord said, "Anything you speak is always glorifying Me."197-198

By the Lord's order Mother Saraswati the Goddess of learning, now presided over Sridghara's power of speech, and Sridhara began to glorify the Lord.199

"All glory, all glory to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, all glory to Lord Visvambhara, the Lord of Navadvipa. All glory to the Lord of the entire cosmic manifestation, all glory to the son of Mother Saci, Visvambhara. All glory to Lord Chaitanya whose incarnation and activities are a mystery even in the Vedas, he has appeared as the best of the brahmanas, He appears in every millenium to uphold religious principles taking different forms. Secretly you went about the town managing and maintaining everythin, Your real identity unkniwn to all, and it is impossible for anyone to know Your real self without Your mercy."

200-203

"O Lord You are the religious Principles, the prescribed duties, the devotional service, knowledge, scriptures, the Vedas and the object of all meditation. You are the mystic perfections, the ever increasing opulence, the enjoying spirit, the path of mystic yoga. You are the faith in man, benevolence, illusion, and ìgreed. You are Indra, the king of heaven, the moon, fire, water. You are the sun, the air, wealth and strength, devotion, liberation; You are Lord Brahma and Lord Siva. O Lord, You are not in need of anything because eveything belongs to You."204-207

You had told me earleir that mother Ganga I worship has emanated from Your lotus feet and yet due to my sinful heart I would not recognise You, I had no realisation of Your Supreme position. You are the same Supreme Personality who had preciously blessed Gokula with Your appearance and now have again incarnated as the sweet Lord of Navadvipa.208-210

You are the embodiment of the highest esoteric process, that same devotional science You have propagated all over Navadvipa.211

Bhisma defeated You (making You break Your promise) in battle because of his devotional service, and for the same reason Mother Yasoda bound You.212

Satyabhamadevi could once sell You her, husband Lord Krishna, because of her desire and love for You; capitivated by the love of Your devotees You carried the young cowherd boys on Your shoulders.213

The entire living creation carries and cherishes Your thoughts in ìtheir hearts, yet You carried Sridham on Your shoulders. It is a great secret and mystery how You are defeated by Your devotees.

214