From the Biography of Ishan Nagara
"Ishan Thakur was Jagannath Mishra’s household servant. Only an eternal associate of the Supreme Lord could have the good fortune to render him personal service in his own home. The Lord accepts the service of his own confidential associates. When Mahaprabhu was born, Ishan had the chance to take the Lord on his lap and to hold him affectionately. He tolerated all of little Nimai’s childhood pranks and answered his every whim. Nimai was unable to go without Ishan for even a moment.
Ishan Thakur is counted as one of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s branches: Srinath Mishra, Subhananda, Sri Rama, Ishan, Srinidhi, Sri Gopikanta, Bhagavan Mishra [were branches of Chaitanya’s tree]. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.10.110)
How can I understand the activities of Ishan Thakur, whom Nimai used to lovingly call “father”? The son of Sachi, Nimai Chand, was his very life and Nimai would not go anywhere without him. In his childhood, Nimai was very naughty and he would make all kinds of capricious demands that Ishan would do his best to fulfill. (Bhakti-ratnakara 12.95-7)
Ishan Thakur also had the chance to serve Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s other self. Before the two sat down to eat in Sachi’s house, Ishan Thakur would bring water to wash their feet. The Lord would plea with his mother to be able to invite Nitai and when she finally agreed would go himself to invite him."
Lord Advaita Acarya
by Shrila Ishana Nagara
Chapter One
Mangalacarana
shriladvaita gurum vande harinadvaitam eva tam
prakashitam param brahma yo 'vatirnah kshitau harih
“I offer my respectful obeisances to my spiritual master, Shri Advaita Prabhu, who is nondifferent from Lord Hari. He induced the Supreme Lord Hari to manifest in this world.”
antah krishnam bahir goram krishna-chaitanya samjnakam
premabdhim sac-cid-anandam sarva-shaktashrayam bhaje
“I worship Lord Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is outwardly of a fair complexion but is inwardly Krishna Himself. He is an ocean of love, eternally full of knowledge and bliss, and the origin of all energies.”
shri nityananda-ramam hi dayalum prema-dipakam
gadadharam ca shrivasam vande radhesha sevinam
“I offer my obeisances unto Shri Nityananda Rama, who is most merciful and who illuminates love of God. I offer my obeisances to Gadadhara and Shrivasa, who are engaged in the service of the Lord of Radharani.”
All glories to Shri Chaitanya! All glories to Sitanatha! All glories to Nityananda, along with all the devotees!
When the five-headed Lord Shiva saw Kali-yuga was filled with terrible sins, he thought, “How can I deliver the living entities?” After a long discussion with Yogamaya, he concluded that no one other than Lord Hari could deliver the fallen souls. Sadashiva, who is always joyful at heart, then went to the shore of the Causal Ocean. That great yogi then sat in yogic meditation for seven hundred years, until Maha-Vishnu, the Lord of the universe, was pleased by his severe austerities and appeared before him. When the five-headed Shiva saw Lord Narayana there, he offered many indescribable prayers. Maha-Vishnu then said, “You and I are nondifferent except for our separate bodies.”
Saying this, He embraced Lord Shiva and their two bodies became one. Who could understand His mind? It was most wonderful how they became one form with pure golden effulgent limbs, chanting, “Krishna! Krishna!” Suddenly there was a miraculous voice from the sky saying, “Listen, Maha-Vishnu! You first descend in this form in the womb of Labha, later I will descend in the district of Nadia in the house of Saci and Jagannatha. Balarama and other devotees will also take birth in order to deliver the living entities.”
On hearing this, Maha-Vishnu, who is nondifferent from Lord Shiva, entered the womb of Labha in Shantipura. Labha was the austere, chaste, religious-minded wife of Kuvera Pandita. Previously, the well-to-do Kuvera Pandita had devotedly performed austerities and chanted mantras to get Lord Shiva as his son. Lord Shiva was pleased by his austerities and agreed by saying, “So be it. Your desire will be fulfilled.” That is why Kuvera took birth in this world. He was given the name Shriman Kuvera Acarya, and by dint of his knowledge and religiousness he was worshipable by all. I am unable to describe all his good qualities. People glorify him as the son of Nrisimha.
Nrisimha was a descendant of Aru Ojha and was also known as Nadiyala. He could remember anything he heard and was famous throughout the three worlds for being well-versed in the scriptures and expert in their explanations. By the strength of Nrisimha's counsel, Shri Ganesha captured the throne of Gauda-desha by killing the Badasaha. The class of Kapa brahmanas who resided in Lauda were formed by his daughter's marriage.
Kuvera Acarya was an inspiration to his family line by his role as the King's Pandita. After marriage he gradually had many sons, but when they all died he had some realization. He went to beautiful Shantipura on the bank of the Ganges and stayed there with Labha for some days. One day he noted symptoms of pregnancy in Labha's form. He therefore worshiped Lord Narayana with various articles and satisfied the brahmanas, the poor, and the blind by feeding them.
At that time Kuvera got a letter from the King, so he returned home with his wife. His residence was in Nava-grama, in the district of Lauda, where Divyasimha was reigning. When he returned to Nava-grama, the residents offered him a warm reception. Delighted on seeing the Acarya after many days, the King greeted him and inquired about his well-being. The King said, “Tell me some good news. Why have you been delayed? Your good association is a source of joy for me. I consider my kingdom void without you.”
The Acarya replied, “You are an ocean of mercy. You are always kind to the poor brahmanas. The bank of the Ganges is an enchanting holy place. Living there is equal to living in Svarga. I returned because of your order, otherwise I had no desire to leave that place. By the will of the Lord, my wife has again became pregnant, for whatever is destined becomes manifest.”
The King said, “As she became pregnant in a holy place, I'm sure the result will be auspicious. Forget your past lamentation. Pray to the Lord, and He will bless you with a wonderful son.”
In this way they had many discussions. At that time a brahmana astrologer came there. The astrologer said, “Listen, Pandita Mahashaya. There is no doubt that you will get a divine son. He will live a long life and be fully conversant with the religious codes of the scriptures. I can see that He will widely preach devotional service.”
Saying this, the astrologer disappeared. Later, the King searched for him, but he could not be found. Considering this very astounding, people considered that the astrologer must have been some demigod.
The Acarya was pleased by the astrologer's prediction. He returned home and explained everything to Labha, who replied, “The Lord's glories are unlimited. By His grace our miseries may disappear. Saintly persons say that whoever worships Lord Vishnu with devotion will meet good fortune everywhere.”
On hearing this, Acarya, who is situated in pure knowledge, said, “Yes, dear, this is the Vedic conclusion. By worshiping Vishnu, all demigods are worshiped, all perfection is attained, and one is freed from all illusion.”
Kuvera then devotedly worshiped Lord Narayana in great opulence with many articles. He offered vishnu-prasada to the brahmanas and gave clothes to the poor, the blind, and the distressed.
Now listen to a wonderful story. Once at the end of night Labha Thakurani had a dream in which she saw Lord Harihara appear in her lotus heart. The beauty of the Lord's limbs illumined all directions. He sweetly chanted the holy name of Hari and danced with raised arms. Tears of love flowed from His eyes, and He lost all external consciousness. He chanted Hare Krishna and roared loudly. Hearing His chanting, Yamaraja, the son of Surya, came there.
Yamaraja saw that the sweetness of Harihara's combined form resembled that of Hara-Gauri. The enchanting effulgence of His body defeated the shining of millions of suns. Who has the capacity to describe that beauty? As He chanted Hare Krishna, His hairs stood on end and tears incessantly flowed from His eyes like the Ganges. His body was inundated with ecstatic love, and the waves of that love expanded as He danced. Seeing His transcendental mood, the beloved son of Surya offered full obeisances and various prayers.
With folded hands, Yamaraja sweetly said, “O Lord, please listen. This Kali-yuga is covered with the darkness of ignorance. It is certainly wonderful that You incarnate in such an age. By seeing You, the sinful will be delivered and my authority will be finished. Therefore, dear Lord, kindly remain unmanifest and deliver this servant of Yours from danger.”
Hearing Yamaraja's appeal, the Lord slightly smiled and said, “O Dharmaraja, you are in illusion. Be peaceful. Don't you realize how much the sinful living entities are suffering? Learned persons and saints feel sorry for the sufferings of others. If someone is suffering the reactions of his karma, then who has the power to free him? Being covered by illusion, the living entity does not know his own self-interest. He foolishly considers insignificant sense enjoyment as his self-interest. One who is attached to material life is bound by his fruitive work just as a diseased person suffers when he takes the wrong food. Particularly in Kali-yuga the living entity becomes whimsical and suffers in the blazing fire of material life. Seeing their unbearable distress, My mind became impatient and I made a vow. The maha-mantra counteracts the bondage of karma and enables one to attain pure krishna-prema. By teaching sinful persons the transcendental holy name, I will empower and deliver them. That is why I will take birth now. Later, saints will sing the glories of Kali-yuga.
“I have one more staunch vow. I will without doubt make the Lord Himself descend. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu will descend along with His followers, and the whole country will be overflooded with pure krishna-prema. Your authority will not be lost by this, however, for blasphemers and atheists will never be delivered.”
On hearing this, Yamaraja returned to his abode. Labhadevi then woke from her dream and described the wonderful vision to her husband, Kuvera Pandita, who was amazed to hear the story.
The chaste Labhadevi passed ten months in pregnancy, and then Advaita Prabhu took birth on the auspicious seventh day of the waxing moon in the month of Magha [January-February].
On that auspicious day all the ladies took bath, gave charity, chanted the holy names, and made auspicious sounds of hulu. Although the devotees did not understand the cause of their happiness, their bliss knew no bounds.
In due course of time Kuvera called an astrologer, who after calculation named the child Kamalaksha. At the age of five the child looked strikingly wonderful. He didn't eat anything other than krishna-prasada. Thereafter, on an auspicious day, Kuvera gave his son His first lesson, and within a month Advaita Prabhu mastered the entire alphabet.
Praying at the the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya and Shri Advaita, always desiring Their mercy, I, Ishana Nagara, narrate Shri Advaita Prakasha.
Replies
Chapter Four
Sri Advaita Prakasha
Advaita Prakasha: Lord Advaita Acarya by Shrila Ishana Nagara, translated by HH Subhag Swami.All glories to Shri Chaitanya! All glories to Sitanatha! All glories to Nityananda, along with all the devotees!
Advaita Prabhu then engaged in the service of His parents, obediently carrying out their orders. For the next one year the two were immensely pleased to accept service in this way from the Lord.
Then one day Kuvera said to Kamalaksha, "You have appropriately served Your father and mother. Whoever devotedly serves his father and mother will enjoy increased life span, wealth, and fame. Now listen as I tell You something confidential. Your mother and I have both passed ninety years. A flower airplane will soon come for us. After we leave this world, please offer oblations at the feet of Vishnu on our behalf."
As he spoke, a celestial airplane that was visible only through eyes of knowledge arrived there. The couple rode in that airplane to Vaikuntha, while Advaita Prabhu chanted the name of Hari and roared loudly. After performing the standard rituals, Advaita Prabhu lamented like an ordinary person. The son of Labha then remembered His father's instructions and went to Gaya, the abode of Vishnu, where He offered oblations at the lotus feet of Vishnu. He passed a few days there in order to complete His forefather's rites.
Advaita Prabhu then thought, "If Jagannatha is merciful to Me, I will go to Nabhi-gaya (near Yajapura, Orrisa) from here." On the way to Jagannatha Puri, Advaita Prabhu went to Remuna and had darshana of Gopinatha. Seeing the sweetness of Gopinatha, Advaita was overwhelmed in ecstasy. One moment He laughed, the next moment He cried, and another moment He danced. After some time Advaita Prabhu regained His external consciousness and then offered obeisances and prayers to Gopinatha. After leaving that place, He went to Nabhi-gaya and offered oblations to His forefathers. In this way He felt gratified. From Nabhi-gaya, Advaita Prabhu went to Puri, where Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra perform their pastimes.
Advaita Prabhu offered dandavats to Lord Jagannatha by falling on the ground like a rod. He offered many prayers to the Lord, who manifested before Advaita Prabhu as Krishna. Seeing Lord Jagannatha in this way, Advaita was overwhelmed in ecstasy and exclaimed, "O Lord of My life!" He then fainted. When Advaita regained His consciousness after some time, He cried out, "Now I have obtained Krishna!" He jumped high and danced beyond description. One moment He laughed, and the next moment He cried loudly.
Advaita Prabhu was absorbed in great ecstasy throughout the whole day and night until the next morning when the sun rose and He regained external consciousness. After Advaita took bath in that king of holy places, He was delighted to obtain Lord Jagannatha's maha-prasada. Advaita noted how all the temples in Shri Kshetra-dhama were overflowing with love of God.
After passing some time in Puri, Advaita Prabhu departed for Rameshvaram. On the way He took bath in the Godavari River and visited many places of pilgrimage. Sometimes He went east and sometimes He went west. There was no particular sequence in His travels, for He was always mad in ecstasy. Advaita Prabhu visited Vishnu-kanci, Shiva-kanci, and so many other places of pilgrimage that they cannot be described.
Advaita Prabhu took bath in the Kaveri River, and then He visited Papanashanam and other places like Madurai. Eventually Advaita arrived at the great pilgrimage place of Setubandha, Rameshvaram, where He joyfully took bath at Dhanustirtha. He offered respects to Rameshvara-Shiva and devotedly worshiped and offered many prayers to Shiva. "Lord Ramacandra is his Lord, and he is Rama's servant." Saying this, Advaita felt great bliss. Raising His arms, Advaita began dancing—sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, and sometimes losing consciousness. Sometimes He cried, "Where is Rama, the Lord of My life?" Thinking in this way, He slapped His cheeks and clapped His hands. Restraining His ecstatic feelings, He passed that night reading Ramayana.
Thereafter Advaita Prabhu visited many other holy places until He eventually arrived in Udupi. Many saintly followers of Shrila Madhvacarya were residing there, relishing the nectar of devotional service. They expounded the science of devotional service from the Shandilya-sutras and Narada-sutras with full devotion. On hearing their explanations, the Lord displayed ecstatic symptoms. He repeatedly prayed to Bhaktidevi to be merciful to them. He danced wonderfully with His arms raised and ran here and there crying. Gradually the waves of the ocean of love overflowed and the Lord fell unconscious to the ground.
Seeing this, Madhavendra Puri said, "He must be situated on the highest platform of devotional service. An ordinary living entity cannot display such symptoms of love. He must be situated in transcendence, on the spiritual platform. He is drinking the elixir of pure love and enjoying internal bliss, with no external consciousness. All the symptoms of a great personality are manifest in His body. I can understand that He has appeared to deliver the whole world."
All the saintly persons there surrounded Advaita Prabhu and jubilantly chanted, "Hari, Hari!" Drinking the powerful medicine of the holy names, Advaita begged for devotional service and roared loudly. All the devotees floated in waves of love as Advaita Prabhu manifested various ecstatic symptoms.
After some time, when Advaita calmed down, He offered His obeisances to Madhavendra Puri, who is like a desire tree. Overwhelmed in ecstasy, Madhavendra Puri embraced Advaita and then inquired about His name and residence. "You are a storehouse of pure love. We are most fortunate to have You here."
Advaita Prabhu replied, "My name is Kamalaksha, and My residence is in Shantipura, on the bank of the Ganges. You are the acarya of devotional scriptures, and you are most renounced. Please accept Me as your servant and teach Me the science of devotional service."
Greatly pleased to hear His earnest request, Madhavendra kept Advaita Prabhu with him. Madhavendra Puri explained Shri Madhvacarya's commentary on the Shrimad Bhagavatam to Advaita Prabhu. Just by hearing that explanation, Advaita committed it to memory. The devotees there were amazed to see this.
Then one day Advaita told Madhavendra Puri, "By the present influence of Kali, living entities are not accepting devotional service. Wherever one goes, he sees only unclean habits. One never even hears the name of Krishna. I don't find any means for the people's deliverance. Please suggest some means."
Madhavendra Puri said, "Kamalaksha, You are an ocean of compassion. You are always thinking of the welfare of the living entities. This sort of consciousness is not manifest in ordinary people. Only one who is divinely empowered manifests such godly opulence. Unless the Supreme Personality of Godhead incarnates, there is no easy way to deliver the living entities. Therefore the original Supreme Lord will appear in order to establish religion in Kali-yuga. The primary evidence about His appearance is in the Ananta-samhita, and there is further reference in the Shrimad Bhagavatam."
Advaita Prabhu said, "Where in the Ananta-samhita may this be found? I have a strong desire to see it."
Hearing His request, Madhavendra Puri showed Him the reference in the Ananta-samhita. Advaita Prabhu was most delighted to read it and said, "The son of Nanda Maharaja, who is full in six opulences, will appear in Navadvipa as Lord Gauranga! He will deliver the entire world by giving people love of God through the chanting of the holy names. Thus He will fulfill the desire of this fallen soul."
As Advaita said this, He was filled with ecstatic symptoms, and He chanted Gauranga's name for three hours:
gaura mora pranapati yanha tare pana
veda-dharma langhi mui taha cali yana
"Lord Gauranga is the Lord of My life. I will go wherever I find Him, even if I have to transgress the Vedic injunctions."
Advaita sang this verse and danced as other devotees joined along. Gradually the waves of pure love swelled up like the Ganges in flood. They cried in ecstasy as they chanted the name of Gauranga. Exclaiming, "I've attained Gauranga!" the Lord rushed to and fro, sometimes losing consciousness and rolling on the ground. Later, after the Lord restrained His ecstatic symptoms, He had that reference in the Ananta-samhita copied down.
Then one day Advaita Prabhu got up in the morning, offered obeisances to Madhavendra Puri, and left. Continuing on His travels, He visited hundreds of holy places until He came to Dandakaranya. He visited the sites around Nasika, and then He left for Dvaraka. Absorbed in love, He offered His respects and prayers to Lakshmi, Vasudeva, and others. He then went to other holy places like Prabhasa and Pushkara, until He eventually arrived at Kurukshetra. As He continued His pilgrimage, He went to Haridvara to take bath in the Ganges. Thereafter He visited Shri Badrikashrama, the topmost holy place, where He had darshana of Nara-narayana and Vyasadeva. After He danced in ecstasy and offered His obeisances, He continued with His travels. In a few days He arrived at Gomukha, the source of the Ganges. Then He went to the Gandaki River, where shalagrama-shilas are found. He took bath there, rested a while, and then incessantly chanted the holy name of the Lord. He found a shalagrama-shila marked with a cakra and other auspicious marks, and He devotedly took it with Him when He left. Then Advaita Prabhu went to Mithila, the birthplace of Sita. He rolled on the ground there and then chanted and danced in ecstasy.
Now hear about the wonderful incident that took place at that time. The Lord heard a sweet, melodious song in glorification of Krishna. He rushed in the direction of the sound and found a first-class brahmana sitting under a banyan tree singing the nectarean glories of Lord Krishna like a Gandharva. Advaita Prabhu was struck with wonder on hearing the descriptions of Krishna's form. He was filled with love and embraced the brahmana. On the pretext of embracing the brahmana, Advaita bestowed His mercy by giving him love of God just as iron is turned to gold by the contact of touchstone.
The brahmana understood that Advaita was the Supreme Lord and offered Him obeisances. Advaita remembered Lord Vishnu and asked the brahmana his name and the name of the author of the nectarean song.
Advaita Prabhu said, "Such a sweet composition is hardly heard, and the pleasing sound of your voice is most excellent. I became intoxicated by hearing that nectarean song of yours, and out of attraction I came running here."
The brahmana said, "My name is Vidyapati. Since I am maintained by the king, my consciousness is contaminated. I composed this song in this maddened condition. You became pleased with the song because You are a paramahamsa, who has accepted the essence of everything. Otherwise, who has the power to attract You? You have delivered me simply due to Your saintly qualities."
Advaita Prabhu said, "What to speak of ordinary living entities, even Krishna Himself is attracted by your nectarean song. By some great fortune Krishna has bestowed His mercy on Me and I am able to associate with Vidyapati, the composer of this song."
Saying this, Advaita embraced him again and then started for Ayodhya while remembering Lord Hari. At Ayodhya, He saw the birthplace of Lord Ramacandra. He offered His obeisances and His hairs stood on end. Remembering the wonderful pastimes of Lord Ramacandra, He cried profusely in ecstasy. As the waves of the ocean of love overflowed, He shouted, "Kill Ravana!"
In this ecstatic mood Advaita Prabhu imitated the pastimes of Lord Ramacandra. After some time Advaita regained His composure and took bath in the Sarayu River, where He saw the pastimes of Lord Ramacandra's bathing. Thereafter, He continued on His travels.
Eventually Advaita Prabhu arrived in Varanasi, where He took bath in the Ganges River at Manikarnika-ghata. Seeing the Adi-keshava Deity, Advaita blissfully offered His obeisances and many prayers. Advaita Prabhu then went and chanted and danced in ecstatic love before Bindu Madhava. His ecstatic feelings grew as He repeatedly offered obeisances and prayers.
With folded hands, He prayed to the Lord, "O Madhava! O Hari! How wonderful is Your mercy on Me! Your transcendental form is like a kalpa-vriksha tree that fulfills the desires of Your devotees. You give liberation here even to one who is spiritually dead. Your glories are not understood by even Lord Brahma or Lord Shiva, so how can an insignificant being like Me describe Your glories?"
Advaita Prabhu then went in an ecstatic mood to the temple of Vishveshvara in order to instruct people how to worship Lord Shiva. Advaita Prabhu requested Lord Shiva for the benediction of devotional service. He offered prayers and then chanted and danced with raised arms. After offering His obeisances, Advaita went to the temple of Annapurna Devi and offered prayers to the goddess. Advaita Prabhu offered His respects to the goddess and then went to visit various other holy places, where He had darshana of Lord Shiva and other demigods.
In His travels, Advaita explained the supremacy of devotional service to many yogis, sannyasis, and renounced saintly persons. One evening Advaita Prabhu met Shri Vijaya Puri, a topmost devotee of the Lord. They blissfully discussed topics of Lord Krishna and then laughed and cried while chanting the name of Govinda. Sometimes they rolled on the ground, sometimes they lost consciousness, and sometimes they embraced each other in ecstasy. After that auspicious night passed, they suffered greatly as they parted ways.
Advaita Prabhu traveled on in this way until He arrived at Prayaga. There He had His head shaved, and then He bathed in the confluence of the holy rivers and devotedly offered oblations to His forefathers according to regulations. Next He went and offered prayers and obeisances to Veni Madhava, and then He saw Bhima's club, which He repeatedly glorified.
Shri Advaita Prabhu then left for Mathura, the site of Lord Krishna's eternal pastimes. When He arrived in the transcendental abode of the Lord, He manifested ecstatic feelings and cried out, "Alas, Krishna!" The entire city of Mathura was inundated with love—children, youth, and elders were all drowned in that flood. Upon seeing the Yamuna, Advaita felt overjoyed. He offered so many prayers and obeisances that it cannot be described.
In ancient times there was a devotee by the name Dhruva. The place where he worshiped Krishna is known as Dhruva-ghata. Anyone who offers oblations to his forefathers there will achieve one hundred times the results as obtained in Gaya.
After taking bath in the Yamuna at Dhruva-ghata, Advaita offered oblations with love and devotion. He next went to see the Deity of Krishna there and became stunned in ecstasy. Advaita experienced unlimited bliss as He visited the sites of Krishna's pastimes.
Advaita Prabhu then went on to visit Shri Vraja-dhama. Just by touching that transcendental abode, He was enchanted with love. Even though Mathura is a transcendental abode, the ecstasy of love is greater in Vraja because of the gopi's presence.
When Advaita came to His external consciousness, He cried and said, "Where is the Lord of My heart?" Intoxicated in ecstasy, He ran to and fro. Then He rolled in the dust while glorifying its spiritual nature. Sometimes He laughed, sometimes He jumped high dancing, and sometimes He called the name of Krishna and roared loudly. From time to time He manifested symptoms of ecstasy like perspiring, shivering, and being stunned. In this mood He approached Govardhana Hill.
Upon seeing Govardhana, Advaita was overcome with feelings of ecstasy, and He began dancing with His arms raised high. He then visited other sites of Radha-Krishna's pastimes and finally took rest at the base of a banyan tree. Towards the end of night, Advaita had a dream in which Shri Nanda-nandana appeared to Him.
Krishna appeared with the complexion of a newly-formed rain cloud, enchanting to the whole world. He had a peacock feather in His crown, and He danced while playing His flute. He was dressed in yellow cloth, and golden ankle-bells adorned His feet. His body was as soft as butter and full of transcendental mellows. Seeing Krishna's exquisitely beautiful form, Advaita felt overjoyed and began dancing with His two arms raised.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna, said, "You are part of My body. Your association inundates Me with jubilation. As Gopeshvara Mahadeva, You are most merciful. Now You have appeared for the welfare of the living entities. You are reestablishing the lost holy places, You are establishing the supremacy of devotional service, and You are delivering the living entities by distributing the name of Krishna. My transcendental Deity form named Madana-mohana is situated within one kunja. The Deity is hidden slightly under the ground on the bank of the Yamuna at Dvadashaditya-tila. Previously this Deity was nicely served by Kubja, but the Deity was hidden in fear of rogues. Bring some people from the village and uncover My Deity. Establish My Deity's worship for the benefit of the world."
Lord Krishna then disappeared, and Advaita Prabhu awoke, filled with loving sentiments. He began loudly singing the holy names and dancing with His arms raised. When Advaita entered the village, the people were pleased to see a saintly person and they gathered around Him. Advaita Prabhu told them, "All of you come quickly to Dvadashaditya-tila on the bank of the Yamuna. Everyone—young and old—come with Me and we will uncover a beautiful threefold bending Deity of Krishna."
Everyone became jubilant on hearing His words. They quickly brought their axes and shovels and hurried to the spot. Then with great efforts the Vrajavasis took the Deity out. When they saw the Deity's wonderful form, everyone became completely enchanted. They built a straw hut under the banyan tree and then bathed and installed the Deity there. Advaita Prabhu engaged one qualified brahmana Vaishnava in the service of the Deity and then went on Vrindavana parikrama.
Now hear what took place by the will of Providence. Some wicked Yavanas heard about the Deity installation. They considered breaking the Deity and thus smashing the Hindu's pride. They conspired together in this way, and then they went with weapons to Advaita-vata. Fearing the wicked mlecchas, Madana-mohana hid under some flowers as a cowherd boy. When the mlecchas entered the temple they could not find the Deity, so they went away frustrated.
When the brahmana priest came to worship the Deity and found Him missing, he cried out in lamentation. Then one child told the brahmana that some mlecchas had come to create mischief. Thinking that the mlecchas had taken away the Deity, the brahmana thought that he had lost the Lord's favor. He was thus aggrieved and abstained from eating. Later in the evening, Shri Advaita Prabhu arrived there. The brahmana related the incidents to Advaita, who wept on seeing the empty temple. Advaita Prabhu said, "Being kind on us, the Lord came by His own will. Now perhaps due to some offense He has left us."
Advaita felt greatly distressed, and He abstained even from water as He passed the night under the tree. That night Madana-mohana appeared to Advaita in a dream and pacified Him with sweet words, "Wake up Advaita! I hid Myself under the flowers out of fear from the mlecchas. Even Lord Brahma is unable to see this form, which You see due to Your loving devotion. I will again appear in the same transcendental form, and people will enjoy unlimited happiness by seeing Me."
After seeing that dream, Advaita rushed to the temple and found Gopala under the flowers. Finding that Deity, the embodiment of transcendental mellows and full of all sweetness, Advaita was overwhelmed in unalloyed love and lost His external consciousness. One moment He was stunned, the next moment His hairs stood on end, one moment He chanted the name of Hari, another moment He danced, and then He lost consciousness. After some time He regained His external consciousness and offered fruits and water to Shri Gopala.
Advaita Prabhu then accepted Lord Gopala's prasada and meditated on His incomparable mercy. Early the next morning as Advaita went to the Yamuna for taking bath He saw the brahmana priest on the bank. Advaita told him, "Go quickly to the temple. Wake the Lord and offer Him worship. The Deity should now be worshiped by the name of Madana-gopala. There is no need for you to know exactly why."
The brahmana said, "The Deity is not in the temple."
Advaita replied, "Krishna cannot leave His devotee."
In wonder, the brahmana went to the temple, opened the door, and saw the Deity on the altar. Overwhelmed in love, the brahmana offered many prayers and worshiped the Deity in the name of Madana-gopala. From that day on the Deity became known as Madana-gopala.
One day Madana-gopala again appeared to Advaita Prabhu in a dream. In a sweet voice, Madana-gopala said, "O Advaita Acarya, a man by the name of Caube will come here from Mathura. There is danger from the wicked mlecchas here. Therefore hand Me over to Caube, so that he can keep Me safe."
Advaita Prabhu said, "O Madana-gopala, You are the treasure of My life. You give Me happiness and strength. Without You, how can I maintain My life? Can a fish live without water?"
Madana-gopala smiled and replied, "I am forever under Your control. Without You, My pastimes are incomplete. I always reside with You. Kindly fulfill My devotee's desire by offering the Deity to him. Remember what has been previously described. This Deity is nondifferent from the painting that Shri Vishakha made. Shri Radhika Herself became enchanted on seeing that painting. That transcendental painting is still there in Nikunjavana. Go there, and without doubt You will easily find it. Take that picture to Shantipura and deliver the living entities by inaugurating its worship."
Seeing that dream, Advaita Prabhu was inundated with love. He began chanting the Lord's name and dancing with raised arms. After a couple of hours He became perfectly calm. At that time Caube arrived there from Mathura. With grass between his teeth and folded hands, Caube came before Advaita Prabhu, offered his obeisances, and said, "You are the incarnation of the Lord. You know everything. You have recovered the Deity that was worshiped by Kubja. Madana-gopala ordered me in a dream to promptly take Him to Mathura and install Him there. Therefore I have come here to visit You. Please entrust the Deity in my care and make me fortunate."
On hearing his supplication, Advaita handed the Deity over to Caube and began crying in separation. Leaving that place, Advaita wandered around and eventually came to Nikunjavana. Finding that picture, He drown in an ocean of love. Advaita Prabhu carefully took that transcendental picture and returned to His residence in Shantipura.
Praying at the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya and Shri Advaita
Chapter Five;
All glories to Shri Chaitanya! All glories to Sitanatha! All glories to Nityananda, along with all the devotees!
One day the best of the sannyasis, Shri Madhavendra Puri, appeared in Shantipura as the moon appears in the sky. The name of Krishna always adorned his lips, and his body was filled with the topmost ecstasy of love of God. He was the incarnation of a desire-tree of Vraja. He was most renounced, for he had no external dependence. Still, out of affection, he came to Advaita Prabhu's residence.
Advaita Prabhu was filled with ecstasy on seeing Madhavendra Puri. Putting a cloth around His neck as a sign of humility, Advaita offered dandavats by falling on the ground like a rod before Madhavendra Puri. Madhavendra Puri embraced Advaita and inquired about His well-being. Advaita Prabhu said, "Madana-gopala has bestowed His mercy on Me."
Madhavendra Puri said, "Devotional service is full of transcendental potency by which the living entity can attain the Lord's supreme abode."
Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed in ecstasy—sometimes he laughed, sometimes he cried, and sometimes he danced. Who can understand the position of Madhavendra Puri? After some time he regained his external senses and revealed an easy way to attain Krishna.
He said, "Dear Advaita, You have pure love of Godhead. Now make a painting of Shri Radhika, for by seeing Radha and Krishna one develops the loving sentiments of the gopis. Therefore the worship of both Radha and Krishna is the topmost process. Please hear attentively one other thing I have to say. You should get married and lead a Krishna conscious life. By Krishna's grace, You will father many sons who will distribute the holy names and thus deliver the living entities."
Advaita Prabhu said, "Deity worship is very auspicious, but if someone commits an offense, his family goes to hell."
Madhavendra Puri said, "Krishna is an ocean of mercy and is controlled by You. He will not consider any offense from the next fourteen generations of Your family."
Following His guru's instruction, Advaita Prabhu joyfully prepared a painting of Shri Radhika. By seeing those two paintings, one easily develops love for Shri Shri Radha-Krishna.
Madhavendra Puri then delightedly bathed Radha-Madana-gopala. He offered the Lord various kinds of sweets, water for washing the mouth, camphor, and betel nut. Everyone who came to see the divine couple offered obeisances and various prayers. Being attracted by the transcendental aroma of the maha-prasada, they honored Krishna's remnants with love and devotion.
Then, to teach people the process of Krishna consciousness, Advaita accepted the topmost Krishna mantra from Madhavendra Puri. After some days Madhavendra Puri expressed a desire to leave, but Advaita Prabhu earnestly begged him to stay.
Madhavendra Puri said, "I want to go to Jagannatha Puri. Gopala has ordered me to collect sandalwood."
Advaita Prabhu said, "Why has Gopala asked for sandalwood? I am eager to hear the reason."
Madhavendra Puri said, "Gopala is the completely independent Supreme Lord. He has appeared out of compassion on this fallen soul. Recently Shri Gopala told me in a dream, `I am feeling warm. Bring some Malayan sandalwood from Jagannatha Puri. If I am smeared with that fragrant sandalwood, My body will cool down.'
"Who can violate Gopala's firm order? Therefore I came this side to look for sandalwood. I have come now to Your abode of peace here in Shantipura due to being attracted by the strong desire of Your shining sunlike devotion to Lord Krishna."
Hearing from Madhavendra Puri about the extent of Krishna's mercy, Advaita Acarya loudly cried out in loving ecstasy. He said, "Krishnacandra is most merciful. He is the reservoir of supreme potency and is always affectionate to His devotees. He always increases the transcendental qualities of His devotee. For the sake of His devotee He appears without consideration of time."
After speaking in this way, Advaita Prabhu became stunned. Madhavendra Puri helped Advaita recover and then asked to take leave. Advaita Prabhu offered obeisances to Madhavendra Puri, and Madhavendra Puri embraced Advaita.
Then Madhavendra Puri went in great ecstasy to Remuna, where Gopinatha resides. He took darshana of Gopinatha there and then chanted and danced with raised arms. After some time Shri Madhavendra Puri regained his external consciousness and offered obeisances to Gopinatha. As he sat and chanted the holy name in the temple, one brahmana came. Madhavendra inquired from him, "O best of the brahmanas, please tell me which fortunate person has made this Deity."
The brahmana said, "O saintly one, listen and I will tell you what wise men have previously told me. Lord Ramacandra, the Supreme Brahman, dressed as a mendicant and went to live in the forest with His wife, Sita, to fulfill His father's promise. One day Lord Ramacandra slightly smiled as He watched a herd of cows wander with their calves in the forest. Seeing Him smile, Sita inquired as to the reason. Rama, however, replied, "It is not necessary for you to know."
"Sita said, `I fall at Your lotus feet. Please tell me.'
"Out of affection, the Supreme Lord is always controlled by His devotees. The Lord always bestows ecstatic love on His devotees. Shri Sitadevi is the pleasure potency of the Lord and the crest-jewel of devotional service. Therefore, in order to please her, the jewel of the Raghu dynasty said, `Listen, Janaki, at the close of Dvapara-yuga I will perform My pastimes as Krishna in the land of Vraja. I will be known by the name of Gopala, and I will engage in protecting cows in the association of other cowherd boys and girls.'
"Shri Janaki said, `O Lord, You are full of mercy. Please show me that form.'
"The Supreme Lord and master of the universe then personally prepared this Deity of Krishna from a precious stone. Seeing that Deity of Krishna, Sita was astounded and said, `I have never seen such a sweet form. This form of Krishna is the reservoir of transcendental mellows and He attracts the minds of all. The beauty of His transcendental form is more attractive than a newly formed raincloud.'
"The chaste Sitadevi then devotedly worshiped the Deity with various fruits and flowers. This Deity is now famous by the name Gopinatha. Whoever sees this Deity obtains pure devotion to Lord Krishna. This is a brief description of the Deity's history. By hearing this narration, all one's desires are fulfilled."
After Madhavendra Puri heard the wonderful pastimes of Gopinatha, he worshiped the Deity with love and devotion. Again and again he pleaded, "O Gopinatha, please be merciful to me!"
Everyone present was amazed to see his devotional sentiments. After seeing the arati, Madhavendra left the temple. He went and sat under a tree and chanted japa. Later that night the pujari came there with a pot of kshira [condensed milk] in his hand, calling, "Where is Madhavendra Puri?"
Madhavendra Puri said, "I am that contemptible person."
The brahmana said, "The ocean of your good fortune is overflowing. Gopinatha has stolen kshira on your behalf. He ordered me in a dream to bring that kshira to you."
The brahmana then gave the kshira to Madhavendra Puri and returned home. Madhavendra Puri exclaimed, "Krishna has bestowed inconceivably wonderful mercy on me!" and then he lost external consciousness. After weeping profusely, he settled his mind and honored that kshira-prasada with great devotion. Again, after honoring the prasada, he was filled with ecstasy. He danced with raised arms for a long time.
I offer millions of obeisances at the feet of Shri Madhavendra Puri, by whose devotion Gopinatha was named Kshira-cora.
Madhavendra Puri then continued on until he arrived at Nilacala. When he saw Lord Jagannatha, he danced jubilantly. He offered obeisances and many prayers to the Lord, then he loudly chanted the holy names in great ecstasy. After resting there for a few days, Madhavendra Puri collected some high quality sandalwood and then departed. When he again arrived in Remuna, he offered his respects and prayers to Gopinatha.
That night in a dream Shri Gopala said, "Listen, Madhavendra. Faithfully smear the aromatic sandalwood on Gopinatha and the heat of My body will diminish. Have no doubt."
After seeing the dream, Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed with ecstatic love and said, "What an astounding order Gopala has given! Who can understand the resolute will of the inconceivable Lord? Whatever He orders, I must accept."
Madhavendra Puri thus offered all the sandalwood to Gopinatha and then rested there for some days. Sometimes he would devotedly visit Nilacala, and sometimes out of love he returned to see Gopinatha in Remuna. In this way Madhavendra Puri often traveled back and forth, but in his last days he attained perfection at the lotus feet of Gopinatha.
The transcendental qualities of Madhavendra Puri are like an ocean. Shri Advaita Prabhu glorified those qualities. I am fallen and not able to touch even a drop of those qualities. Following the order of the Lord, I have simply given a hint.
Ch Seven
All glories to Shri Chaitanya! All glories to Sitanatha!
All glories to Nityananda, along with all the devotees! Now listen to the story of Brahma Haridasa, which I will describe in brief. Lord Krishna, the original Personality of Godhead performed His pastimes in the mood of a cowherd boy in Shri Vrindavana-dhama. While tending the cows one day, Shri Nanda-nandana ate the remnants of one of the other cowherd boys. When four-headed Brahma saw this, he thought, "This boy cannot be the source of creation! His behavior is just like that of an ordinary boy. If He were the Lord, how could He engage in such degraded activities?"
Thinking in this way, Lord Brahma meditated and with divine vision saw Krishnacandra in His abode of Vrindavana. When he saw that Krishna was again eating some remnants, he thought, "This is not Krishna, it is someone else." Lord Brahma was thus bewildered by Krishna's illusory energy, and he stole away the cowherd boys and calves. Understanding what Brahma had done, Krishna, the original Narayana, performed a wonderful pastime that astonished even Balarama.
Expanding His internal potency, Krishna took the exact form of the cowherd boys and calves. He then continued His pastimes as before. Those pastimes, which are inconceivable to the yogis, continued for the next one year. After one year, Lord Brahma returned and was astonished to see Krishna engaged in tending the cows as before. Brahma thought, "Where did He get these calves and boys? They are still there where I kept them."
With eyes of knowledge Brahma then saw that Krishna had taken the form of the calves and cowherd boys. Brahma thought to himself, "I am a fool for not recognizing Krishna. By stealing the calves and cowherd boys I have committed a great sin. I will pray to be forgiven."
Thinking in this way, Lord Brahma approached Krishna. In order to teach Brahma the truth about Himself, Krishna manifested a spiritual city there. He sat on a divine throne and mentally called innumerable Brahmas, Vishnus, and Shivas there. Ananta Shesha, the associate of Maha-Vishnu, also came, and they all took shelter at Krishna's lotus feet.
When the four-headed Brahma arrived at the door, he saw it was guarded by an eight-headed Brahma. Seeing the four-headed Brahma, the eight-headed Brahma smiled and inquired, "Please tell me who you are and where you want to go."
The four-headed Brahma replied, "I am known as Brahma, and I want to see Krishna in His form as a cowherd boy."
The eight-headed Brahma laughed loudly and said, "I have never heard that there was a four-headed Brahma. Till now I thought I was the smallest Brahma in Narayana's creation."
On hearing this, the four-headed Brahma was astonished and thought, "I never imagined there was an eight-headed Brahma." His face dried up, he folded his hands and requested, "Please be merciful and let me see Krishna."
The eight-headed Brahma replied, "I am an insignificant Brahma. There are other more powerful Brahmas guarding the many other doors. You are requesting me to let you in, but without Krishna's permission, who can allow you in? Since brahmanas are not prohibited entry into Krishna's inner palace, you may wait here while I get permission."
While the eight-headed Brahma was speaking, Ananta Shesha, who always glorifies Krishna, arrived there. Seeing Ananta's transcendental form, the lotus-born Lord Brahma offered his obeisances and took the dust from His feet.
Shri Anantadeva inquired, "Who are you?"
Brahma replied, "I am the four-headed Brahma. I am here to see Lord Krishna. Please cast Your merciful glance on me and take me to Krishna."
Shri Anantadeva inquired, "Please tell Me exactly who you are. There are so many four-headed Brahmas."
Brahma then thought, "How amazing it is that there are innumerable Brahmas! How can an insignificant being like me know the glories of Krishna? Now what kind of introduction can I give to save myself from this embarrassment?" Thinking in this way, Brahma fainted.
By the mercy of Krishna, Brahma regained consciousness and said, "The four Kumaras, headed by Sanat, are my sons."
Shri Anantadeva said, "Now I understand who you are. I have seen your sons in Goloka dressed as perfect yogis."
Brahma thought, "I am most fortunate! By unlimited pious activities I have such wonderful sons. Actually these sages were born from me like the moon is born from the ocean. Now by the inconceivable potency of Krishna's devotees I have now become free from shame, which is equal to death."
Then Brahma folded his hands and said, "Please be merciful and show me the rare moonlike face of the Lord."
Shri Anantadeva said, "Without the Lord's permission, who is able to go to the site of Krishna's pastimes?"
After saying this, Shri Anantadeva went to Govinda and said, "The father of Sanat-kumara is at the door waiting to see You."
Shri Govinda replied, "Bring him here. He is the engineer of this small universe."
Shri Anantadeva thought, "The father of Krishna's devotee is certainly fortunate. That is why Brahma is respected."
Shri Anantadeva rushed back and took Brahma to the second door. On seeing the four-headed Brahma, the sixteen-headed Brahma there inquired, "Who is this?"
Sankarshana replied, "He is a Brahma."
In this way the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, had many hundreds of Brahmas guarding the many hundreds of doors. As they proceeded on, the Brahmas had progressively more and more heads.
"There is no end to Narayana's creation. He has so many assistants who are superior to me." Conversing in this way, they passed through many doors until they arrived at Govinda's transcendental assembly hall. In that hall Brahma saw countless Brahmas, Shivas, Ganeshas, and Vishnus. He saw thousands of devarshis, Gandharvas, Indras, Karttikeyas, and associates of Ananta. Who could count the millions of Candras and Suryas? The personified Vedas were engaged there in offering prayers.
The superexcellent effulgence of Krishna's body derided the radiance of millions of suns. As the lotus is not seen in the sunshine, His body, colored like a fresh black cloud, was invisible, being covered by His effulgence. That effulgence could not be compared with the shining of millions of mountains of emeralds.
Krishna's supreme pleasure potency was standing on His left side. Her transcendental effulgence pervades the three worlds. Radharani's bodily effulgence defeated the effulgence of the moon, which shines like hundreds of millions of golden lotuses. Indeed, Radha's effulgence intoxicates the mind of Krishna. The brilliance of Radha's body derides that of hundreds of mountains of gorocana.
Relishing loving exchanges as they engaged in Radha-Krisna's service, Lalita and the other sakhis were standing on all sides. Seeing that assembly, the four-headed Brahma trembled. Still, he could not see Radha-Krishna; he could see only Their effulgence.
The grandfather of the universe prayed to Shri Anantadeva, "Where is Govinda? Please show Him to me."
Shri Anantadeva replied, "You are unable to see Him due to your serious offense of stealing the calves."
Hearing Shri Ananta's statement, Brahma admitted his guilt and then prayed to Krishna with tears in his eyes. Lord Madhava is very kind to His devotees. He is an ocean of mercy. He was pleased to hear Brahma's prayers, so He revealed His eternal form to Brahma and said, "You are excused of the offense of stealing the cows. You will be born in Kali-yuga in a family of Yavanas, and by seeing Shri Krishna Chaitanya you will be delivered."
Brahma was astonished to see Krishna's form and overwhelmed with an ocean of ecstatic love on hearing His order. After Brahma offered repeated obeisances to Radha-Shyama, he received Krishna's permission and returned to his abode.
On seeing the advent of Kali-yuga, Brahma took birth on earth in the year 1450 in the village of Budana. Some people say that Prahlada Maharaja descended as Haridasa, but Advaita Prabhu said that they both combined together. The main purpose of his appearance was to deliver the living entities. Although he was famous for being born a Yavana, he was not tinged with even a trace of impurity from that birth. While being brought up in the house of a Yavana, he lived on milk alone. Thus he grew day by day as the moon waxes.
Brahma Haridasa was born with memory of his previous life, so due to his previous habits he would constantly chant the holy names. He left home as a five-year-old boy and visited many places before finally arriving in Shantipura. Haridasa had long arms and an effulgent body, so Advaita, the reservoir of all knowledge, recognized him as the incarnation of Lord Brahma. Following social traditions, however, Advaita inquired from Haridasa, "Which caste have you taken birth in? What brought you here?"
Haridasa replied, "I am a lowborn mleccha. I have come to see Your lotus feet."
Advaita Prabhu said, "Stay here. Study the scriptures and all your desires will be fulfilled."
Haridasa said, "I am fortunate to obtain the association of an ocean of mercy. By Your loving dealings, my mind and heart feel relieved."
Thus Haridasa stayed with Advaita Prabhu and carefully studied grammar and literature. He gradually became knowledgeable by studying subjects like philosophy, and he attained pure devotional service after studying the Shrimad Bhagavatam. Haridasa's glories are unlimited. He could remember anything by hearing it only once. His explanation on verses was like a jeweled necklace.
One day while sitting in a lonely place, Haridasa submissively inquired from Advaita Prabhu, "I have realized that You are an incarnation of the Lord. Other than You, who can deliver the fallen living entities?"
Hearing his humble words, Advaita replied, "Listen, My dear Haridasa. By the authoritative opinion of the scriptures I cannot say who is inferior or who is superior. But I consider one with saintly behavior to be the best person. If a mleccha is engaged in the eight kinds of bhakti, he is no longer considered a mleccha. Rather, he is accepted as a brahmana. Whoever worships Krishna is the best of mankind, and whoever is averse to Krishna is the lowest. Without attaining the mood of the gopis, one cannot attain the lotus feet of Krishna. Therefore by attaining that mood one achieves the greatest treasure."
Haridasa said, "The inconceivable mood of the gopis is not attained by millions of lives of pious activities. Therefore, O Lord, please tell me a simple process for conquering maya and attaining Krishna."
In reply, Advaita Prabhu said, "Nothing is unknown to you, yet still you accept Me as your instructor. You constantly chant the holy names in order to establish religious principles and deliver the living entities. All of the Supreme Lord's unlimited spiritual energies are invested in His holy names. One becomes free from the threefold miseries simply by a reflection of chanting of the holy names. Indeed, by chanting the holy names one is freed from the bondage of maya. The holy names of the Lord are like touchstone, as they are nondifferent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna. When one is fixed in chanting the holy names, pure love begins to awaken. And by continually chanting, one achieves the treasure of love of God. Krishna, the original Personality of Godhead, is the fruit of the desire tree of transcendental love. When the tree deeply rooted, the fruit becomes attainable. Even Krishna says that His name is superior to Himself. One is relieved of all offenses by chanting the holy names. Therefore it is best to chant the holy names, for all one's desires are fulfilled if he has a taste for chanting.
"One who does not accept instructions from a guru or Vaishnava will not achieve perfection in Krishna consciousness for millions of yugas. Vaishnavism is the perfection of all religious systems. Among such followers, one who does not identify with any ashrama is unlimitedly glorious. The sannyasi is symptomized by complete renunciation. He possesses the qualities of a brahmana, and he wears a kaupina and outer cloth. If someone develops such detachment for material life and attachment for Krishna's devotional service, then he is counted amongst those who are indifferent to external formalities. A person with such pure symptoms will certainly attain the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna."
After instructing Haridasa in this way, Advaita had him shave his head and decorate his body with tilaka and tulasi beads. Advaita had Haridasa dress in kaupina and outer cloth, and then He initiated him in chanting the holy names. Haridasa then began chanting the holy names in a cave on the bank of the Ganges. As he became intoxicated with love of God, he became known as the crest jewel amongst the Vaishnavas.
Coming to his external consciousness, Haridasa offered his obeisances to Advaita, who blessed him by saying, "May you attain Krishna. Your name is Brahma Haridasa."
Haridasa replied, "I am Your servant."
Haridasa then accepted simple cloth and vowed to chant three hundred thousand names in a day. After finishing his vow of chanting, he would engage in preaching. People were amazed to see his transcendental activities.
Listen to the astonishing incident that took place one day as Haridasa was engaged in sankirtana. At that time the crest jewel of logicians came there and remarked, "This fellow must be a Baula."
On hearing this, the great Pandita Krishnadasa said, "He is intoxicated with love of God and does not have the slightest feeling of material miseries. The transcendental goddess of learning, Sarasvati, resides on his tongue, therefore he incessantly chants the holy names. All the scriptures reside within his heart. By the order of his spiritual master, his name is Brahma Haridasa."
Then the meaning of his name "Brahma Haridasa" was fulfilled as the logician proudly asked him a question. "It is said both that the Supreme Brahman has form and has no form. Who can say which is factually the beginningless cause of everything? Why does that Supreme Brahman create something that has such variety? Why are there different gradations in the living entities' happiness and distress? From this, it appears that there is some fault in the Supreme Lord's management.
Hearing this, Haridasa humbly replied in the following sweet words, "Though I am an insignificant living entity, I would like to say something in reply. Let Krishnadasa Pandita be the mediator. Kindly listen, O brahmana. The scriptures state that the Supreme Lord has a beginningless form of eternity, knowledge, and bliss. His bodily effulgence is formless and all-pervading like the sun rays. The eternal form of the Supreme Brahman is unknown to the jnanis, therefore they accept the Lord's effulgence as the Supreme Brahman. But the fortunate devotees of the Lord are able to see His eternally perfect form, for the Lord is known by pure devotion, which is inaccessible to others. The scriptures state that just as the omnipotent Lord is eternal, His material creation is also. The eternally existing creation is sometimes manifest and sometimes unmanifest according to the direction of the Supreme Lord. I will briefly describe how the creation is wound up after the final devastation.
"Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu relishes eternal bliss. He is the cause of all causes and the original being. The Vedas confirm that Maya creates the material world after being empowered by the Lord. Because Maya appears to act independently, the Vedas say that the Supreme Brahman is impersonal. The conditioned souls enjoy happiness and distress while wandering through various types of bodies according to their fruitive activities. There is, however, no fault of partiality in the Supreme Brahman because of this. Don't get angry, but consider the truth in this matter."
Hearing Haridasa's conclusive statements, the brahmana was astonished. At that time, Advaita Prabhu arrived there and manifested an effulgence as brilliant as millions of suns. Seeing His effulgent body, the brahmana offered respects with folded hands. Advaita said, "O Mahashaya, why are you so humble before Me?"
The brahmana said, "O Lord, I have understood who You are."
Advaita Prabhu said, "I am fallen and powerless."
The brahmana said, "You are the Supreme Lord. You can deliver one from his sinful reactions."
Out of compassion, the all-merciful Lord empowered him to chant the Krishna mantra. Then Shri Yadunandana offered his obeisances to the Lord, who blessed him to obtain the treasure of love of Godhead. Shri Yadunandana is one branch of Shri Advaita Prabhu's disciplic line. He became known everywhere as the crest jewel of logicians. He was equal to the Gandharvas in the musical science. By the mercy of Advaita Prabhu he attained the essence of Krishna consciousness.
Brahma Haridasa possesses transcendental potency. He obtained pure love of God by daily chanting three hundred thousand holy names of the Lord. He chanted sometimes in his mind, sometimes softly with his tongue, and sometimes loudly. After finishing his chanting, he would accept maha-prasada and relish hearing topics of Krishna from Advaita Prabhu.
One who always remembers Haridasa Thakura's transcendental activities certainly becomes fixed in Krishna consciousness. Brahma Haridasa is a reservoir of compassion. I offer millions of obeisances at his lotus feet.