Sri Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has described in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita that the first sprout of the desire tree of devotion was manifested in the person of Sri Madhavendra Puri, and that sprout developed into a sapling in the person of Sri Ishvara Puri. Then, in the person of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Who was also the gardener Himself, that sapling became the trunk of an enormous tree, the desire tree of devotion.
Sri Ishvara Puri, in his travels to various holy places, once came to Sridhama Navadvipa. At that time Sri Nimai Pandita was absorbed in His pastimes of learning. Ishvara Puri entered Nadiya nagara in disguise and thus no one could understand who he really was.
He was always absorbed in the mellows of devotion to Sri Krishna. He was thus extremely dear to Sri Krishna and he was an ocean of mercy. No one, however, could recognize him by his dress.
He came to where Sri Advaita Acharya was engaged in worshipping Sri Krishna and quietly sat down there. By his divine lustre, one Vaishnava cannot remain hidden from another. Advaita Acharya began to look in his direction again and again. Finally he asked him: "Who are you? I have a feeling you are a Vaishnava sannyasi."
Sri Ishvara Puri very humbly replied: "I am a low class shudra, come to view your lotus feet." Mukunda Datta, who was also present, could also understand that this is a Vaishnava sannyasi and thus he contrived to expose him. In his sweet voice, he began a kirtana describing Sri Krishna's pastimes. When Sri Ishvara Puri heard that kirtan he at once fell to the ground, and the earth beneath him became wet with his tears. The devotees present were dumbstruck. "We haven't seen a Vaishnava like this before."
Everyone could now understand that this is Madhavendra Puri's dear most disciple, Sri Ishvara Puri.
Sri Ishvara Puri remained at Navadvipa for a few months, staying at the house of Sri Gopinatha Acharya. Mahaprabhu would come to have darshan of his lotus feet everyday and at times would invite him for lunch. One evening when Mahaprabhu had come to offer His obeisances to Ishvara Puri, Srila Puripada spoke to him, "You are a great pandita. I have composed a manuscript about Sri Krishna's pastimes. If you would please hear it, then I can recite it before You, and You can correct any mistakes that there might be." To which Mahaprabhu smilingly replied, "Whatever a devotee speaks is dictated by Sri Krishna Himself. If anyone sees any fault in this then he is simply a sinful wretch. Krishna accepts the mood in which things are offered as the most substantial part of the offering." To Ishvara Puri these words were like drops of nectar and he could understand that Sri Nimai Pandita was an extraordinary person. After passing some days in Nadia, Ishvara Puri continued his tour of the holy places.
Meanwhile Mahaprabhu was bringing His pastimes of learning to a close and now desired to reveal His true self and establish the religion of the age by distributing love of Godhead through the chanting of His Holy Names. Thus He came to Gaya, ostensibly to offer pinda for His departed father and forefathers. Sri Ishvar Puri was present at that time at Gaya.
Mahaprabhu addressed Ishvara Puri, "My journey to Gaya is successful just by My seeing your lotus feet. If one offers pinda at this holy place, then his forefathers become delivered. But simply by seeing you, tens of millions of forefathers get liberation. Therefore your presence is even more auspicious than that of this holy tirtha. All of the holy tirthas pray for the dust of your lotus feet. Therefore, O Puripada, I am praying at your lotus feet to ferry me across the ocean of material existence and to cause me to drink the nectar from Krishna's lotus feet."
Srila Ishvara Puri replied, "Please hear me, I have understood that You are an incarnation of the Supreme Lord. I saw a very auspicious dream and now that has actually materialized. From the first day I saw you at Navadvipa, I have always thought of You. I get such pleasure by seeing You, as much pleasure as I get by seeing Krishna."
Hearing this, Mahaprabhu bowed his head and smilingly replied, "This is my great fortune."
On another day Mahaprabhu approached Sri Ishvara Puri and requested that he initiate Him with the divine mantra. "My mind is becoming very restless in anticipation of this initiation.” Srila Puripada very blissfully replied, "What to speak of mantras, I am prepared to offer You my very life."
Comments
After taking initiations for Srila Isvara Puri, Gauranga Mahaprabhu began to manifest all the sympoms of Krsna prema. Upon embracing his initiator guru, Both He and Isvara Puri were in rapturous trance of love of Krsna. So many tears He shed, that whole gardens of flowers could be watered thereby.
In humble gratitude of devotion, He came to the place of Iswara Puris birth and took some earth from that blessed land. Then, tying some of it in the corner of his clothing, He wept tears of great joy and love of Guru and Godhead. Later, every so often He would eat a little of this dust of the birthplace of His spiritual mster.
Gaya is a quaint little town, near to a main railway line and easily reached, with several very nice tall temples clustered near a central market area, one bearing the footprints in stone of Lord Vishnu, visited by Chaitanya. Buddhists also revere this place as associated with Lord Buddha, and many pilgrims both Vaisnava and Buddhist are seen, come for their particualr reasons of worship and ritual.
When i visited there I was a young brahmacary unfamiliar with Sri Caitanya Caritamrta except most superifically, yet I could appreciate this holy place just a little, and visited the footprints of Mahapabhu kept there, and touched them, chanted Hare Krsna, and then proceeded with my journey.
(Current structure)
The Vishnupada Mandir (Hindi: विष्णुपद मन्दीर) is the 220 year old temple in Gaya, India. It is a Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Vishnupad Mandir
The Vishnupada Mandir (Hindi: विष्णुपद मन्दीर) is the 220 year old temple in Gaya, India. It is a Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
This temple is located along the Falgu River, marked by a footprint of Lord Vishnu known as Dharmasila, incised into a block of basalt. TheBhumihar Brahmins have been the traditional priests at Vishnupad Mandir in Gaya as Gayawar Pandas and in the adjoining districts likeHazaribagh.[3] Several legendary saints as Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Sankaradeva and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu have visited this shrine.
The construction date of temple is unknown and it is believed that Rama along with Sita had visited this place.[4] The present day structure was rebuilt by Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the ruler of Indore, in 1787,[5] on the banks of the Falgu river. A flight of 1000 stone steps leads to the top of the Brahmajuni hill, 1 km southwest of the Vishnupad mandir. Visitors prefer to go to the top of Brahmajuni hill see magnificent view of temple from top.[6] There are many small temples near this temple.[7]History and location
once a Demon known as Gayasura, did a heavy penance and sought a boon that whoever sees him should attain salvation (Moksham). Since salvation is achieved through being extreme orthodox and too good (committing no known or unknown mistakes) in one's lifetime, people started obtaining it easily. Unable to withstand this, Lord vishnu asked Gayasura to go beneath the earth and did so by placing his Right foot on Asura's head. After pushing Gayasura below the surface of earth, Lord Vishnu's foot print remained on the rock that we see even today. The footprint consists of Nine different symbols including shankam, Chakram and Gadham, which are his weapons, believed to be on the heels of the lord. Being an Asura or Rakshasha, Gayasura pleaded for food. Lord Vishnu Gave him the boon that every day, someone or the other will feed him. Whoever who does so, will show Vaikuntam/swargam for the departed soul/souls. The day Gayasura doesn't get food, it is believed that he will come out. Every day, one or the other from different parts of India will pray for welfare of his departed and offer food at this point, thus feeding Gayasura and wishing his pitrus to attain heaven.
Architecture
This is believed that the temple was built with the footprints of Lord Vishnu in the centre.[8] In Hinduism, this footprint marks the act of Lord Vishnu subduing Gayasur by placing his foot on his chest. Inside the Vishnupad Mandir, the 40 cm long footprint of Lord Vishnu is imprinted in solid rock and surrounded by a silver plated basin.[9] The height of this temple is 30 meter and it a has 8 rows of beautifully carved pillars which support the pavilion.[10] The temple is built of large gray granite blocks jointed with iron clamps. The octagonal shrine faces east. Its pyramidal tower rises up a 100 feet. The tower has sloping sides with alternately indented and plain sections. The sections are set at an angle to create a series of peaks joined at the top.[11] Within the temple stands the immortal banyan tree Akshayabat where the final rituals for the dead takes place.
Srimad Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami writes: "All glories to Madhavendra Puri, the storehouse of all Krishna-prema! He is a desire tree of bhakti, and it is to him that the seed of bhakti first fructified. The seed of Krishna-prema next fructified in the fore of Sri Ishvara Puri, and then the gardener himself, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, became the main trunk of the tree of bhakti."
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati comments on this section of the Caitanya Caritamrita (CC Adi 9.10): "Sri Isvara Puri was a resident of Kumarahatts. (At this place there is now a railway station known as Kamarhatty. Nearby there is also another station named Halisahara, which belongs to the eastern railway that runs from the eastern section of Calcutta). Isvara Puri appeared in a brahmin family and was the most beloved disciple of Sri Madhavendra Puri."
The nature of Sri Ishvara Puri's personal devotional service to the lotus feet of his guru, Sri Madhavendra Puri, is mentioned in another part of the Caitanya Caritamrita by Kaviraj Goswami as follows: "At the last stage of his life, Sri Madhavendra Puri became an invalid and was completely unable to move, and Isvara Puri so completely engaged himself in his service that he personally cleaned up his stool and urine. Always chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and reminding Sri Madhavendra Puri about the pastimes of Lord Krishna in the last stage of his life, Ishvara Puri gave the best service among his disciples. Thus Madhavendra Puri, being very pleased with him, blessed him, saying, ³May you have Krishna prema.²
Thus Ishavara Puri, by the grace of his spiritual master, Sri Madhavendra Puri, became a great devotee in the ocean of love of Godhead."
Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada points out in his commentary on this verse, "It is by the mercy of the spiritual master that one becomes perfect, as vividly exemplified here. A Vaishnava is always protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but if he appears to be an invalid, this gives a chance to his disciples to serve him. Ishvara Puri pleased his spiritual master by service, and by the blessings of his spiritual master he became such a great personality that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted him as his spiritual master."
Before initiating Sri Caitanya, Ishvara Puri stayed at the house of Gopinatha Acarya in Nabadwip-dham. There he lived for a few months. At that time he met Sri Caitanya, when he was Nimai Pandit, and requested him to help him with his book, Krishna-lilamrita. The Lord was highly pleased with Ishvara Puri's devotion and highly praised his book, saying that it was faultless. Still, when he was pressed, he made some corrections with his own lotus hands. This pastime is elaborately described in the Caitanya Bhagavata. The following is a synopsis of Vrindavan Dasa Thakur's account of Sri Ishavara Puri.
When Mother Saci saw that Sri Caitanya was happily engaged in his studies, her own ecstasy increased. At that time, Sri Ishvara Puri came to Nabadwipa in disguise. Caitanya Bhagavata records that Ishavara Puri was overwhelmed with the ecstasy of Krishna-rasa. And yet, as he was very dear to Krishna, he was also very humble and didn't want to attract any attention to himself as a great devotee. So that no one would know who he was, he hid his real identity and went to the temple of Advaita.
Upon arriving there, he found that Advaita was busy in service to the Lord in the temple, so he came in and sat down very cautiously and timidly. But the power of a great Vaishnava is not easily hidden from another great Vaishnava. Again and again, Advaita Acaraya kept looking away from his duties in the direction of Ishvara Puri.
Finally he asked him "O Father! Who are you?"
With great humility, Ishvara introduced himself, saying, "I am a sudra of the lowest class." In this way, the jewel of learned scholars and the best of the renounced, Ishvara Puri, showed how humility is the true ornament of a Vaishnava.
Immediately upon seeing him, Mukunda Datta recognized that Ishavara Puri was a Vaishnava Sannyasi. At that time, Mukunda Datta very sweetly began to perform Krishna-lila Kirtan. Vrindavana Dasa asks, "Who is there who can remain unmoved when Mukunda Datta performs his sweet kirtan?"
Upon hearing the deeply moving songs of Mukunda Datta, Sri Ishvara Puri lost his composure and fainted on the ground in a trance of deep ecstasy. Tears of ecstasy rained forth from his eyes. The assembled devotees were dumbstruck upon seeing such a display of transcendental emotion. When their power of speech returned, they all remarked that nowhere had any of them ever seen a Vaishnava such as this. Sri Advaita Acarya also began to experience grave symptoms of transcendental emotion. After this, they all concluded their visitor must be none other than the dearmost disciple of Madhavendra Puri - Sri Ishvara Puri. At this, they all joyously began chanting the holy name of Krishna, saying, "Hari! Hari!" over and over again.
Sri Ishavara Puri stayed in Nabadwipa for a while. One day, the footpath near where he stayed was blessed by the divine footsteps of Sri Gaurasundara. Mahaprabhu was going home from school. Upon seeing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Ishavara Puri was amazed by his perfect body and supremely grave disposition. He wanted to somehow make contact with the Lord. Finally, he called out, "O best of the brahmins! What is your name? Where is your house? And what book are you reading?"
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with great humility offered his humble obeisances to Sri Ishvara Puri. Mahaprabhu's disciples said, "His name is Nimai Pandit."
Ishavara Puri said, "You are THE Nimai Pandit!?"
Ishavara Puri's joy knew no bounds. Mahaprabhu with great humility bowed his head and said, "Sripada, have mercy upon me and kindly grace my house with your company. This very afternoon we shall prepare prasada for your pleasure. Please accept it."
With these sweet and humble words, Mahaprabhu extended his invitation to Ishavara Puri. Accepting the invitation, Ishavara Puri went to the house of Mahaprabhu.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu washed the lotus feet of Ishavara Puri with his own hands. Sri Saci devi quickly prepared various wonderful kinds of preparations and offered them to the Deity. After it had been offered, Mahaprabhu accepted it.
Later, the two of them entered the temple of Vishnu and discussed Krishna with each other at great length. And gradually Krishna-prema sprang up in their hearts and flooded them with the ecstasy of love of Godhead.
In this way, for one month, Sri Ishavara Puri stayed at the house of Sri Gopinatha Acarya. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would constantly invite Ishavra Puri to visit him. And from time to time Ishvara Puri would invite Mahaprabhu to visit him.
At this time, Sri Gadadhara was a young boy. Sri Ishvara Puri was very affectionate to him. He would read to Gadadhara from the book he had written, "Sri Krishna-Lilamrita." Every day around sunrise Mahaprabhu would come and offer his obeisances to Sri Ishavara Puri.
One day, Ishvara Puri told Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "You are the topmost of pundits; I am writing a book about Krishna's pastimes. You must help me by pointing out whatever faults you may find in this work. This will give me great pleasure."
Sitting at the holy feet of Sri Ishvara Puri and hearing these words, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu smiled and said, "The words of Krishna's devotees are as good as Krishna himself. They are in the same category as he is, they are from his ³alphabet,² not from any material alphabet. Such words are not mundane. One who finds fault with Krishna or his devotees is a great sinner. What a bhakta writes is not mere poetry; it is completely different - it is dear to Krishna, and so is perfect."
"A devotee's prayers of love for Krishna have nothing to do with the rules of grammar and does not depend on them. Krishna is only interested in the love in such prayers. They are dear to Krishna in any case, whether they are properly constructed according to the rules of grammar or not. One who looks for faults in the words of a devotee will never be pleasing to Krishna."
Upon hearing Caitanya Mahaprabhu's words, Ishvara Puri felt as if his senses had been drenched in nectar. Ishvara Puri could understand that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Person. A few days later, Ishvara Puri left Navadwip with some devotees to continue visiting the holy places of pilgrimage.
In this way, Sri Gaurasundara's pastimes of scholarship reached their completion, and the Lord wanted to manifest his divinity. He wanted to reveal himself and distribute the nectar of the holy name of Krishna, and inundate the world in Krishna-prema, thus delivering the world. But first, he went to Gaya to offer oblations to his ancestors. At that time, Sri Ishavara Puri was in Gaya.
After staying in Gaya for some time, when Mahaprabhu had finished his offerings to his ancestors, he went to complete his worship of the lotus feet of Vishnu. When he had darshan of the holy feet of the Lord, and had heard the glories of the Lord he began to drown in the ecstasy of love of Godhead, and fell to the ground in wonder and delight. By divine arrangement, it was at that time that Ishvara Puri arrived. Upon seeing Sri Gaurasundara, he became speechless.
Candrashekaracarya, who was close by was informed of all this. A little time later, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to external consciousness and saw Ishavara Puri nearby. At once he arose and then offered his humble obeisances at the lotus feet of Sri Ishvara Puri.
At that time, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Ishvara Puri heartily embraced one another. Soon the two of them were drowning in an ocean of tears that poured incessantly from their lotus eyes. At that time, Mahaprabhu said, "Now my visit to Gaya has really been fruitful, as by coming here I have had the chance to see your lotus feet. By traveling to a holy place and offering pinda one may deliverer one's ancestors - that is the person who offers the pinda may deliver only his ancestors. But one who sees you automatically delivers millions of ancestors, and not only will they become free from certain of their sins, but they will all attain eternal deliverance from material bondage. Therefore this pilgrimage I have undertaken is unparalleled, because of your holiness having rendered everything perfectly auspicious."
In this way, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in great humility told Ishvara Puri, "All my visiting of holy places has become perfect because I have seen you. A saintly person is a real ³tirtha,² or holy place, since he sanctifies the holy places by his very presence. Therefore you are the supreme fulfillment of all holy places. All the holy places pray for the dust of your lotus feet. O Ishvara Puri, in the same way, I am praying for the dust of your lotus feet, knowing which I shall become free from the ocean of repeated birth and death and drink the nectar of divine rasa at the lotus feet of Sri Krishna. Because you alone can free me from the ocean of repeated birth and death, I offer you this body to do with as you wish. You alone can make me drink the nectar of divine rasa at the lotus feet of Krishna, and my desire is that you grant me this gift."
Hearing this from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Ishavara Puri spoke as follows: "Listen Pandit: Upon seeing your learning and character, I can understand that you are divinity Himself, descended amongst men. This very day, I had a beautiful dream. In my dream were many people, and their hands were laden with fruit. O Pandit! To speak truthfully, upon seeing you, I am filled with an unusual feeling of transcendental bliss that surpasses ordinary joy. In fact, after I first saw you in Nabadwipa-dhama, from that time on, I couldn't think of anything else but you. I didn't want to think of anything else but you. I am speaking the truth! Upon seeing you I am as happy as if I were seeing Krishna Himself! "
Upon hearing all this, Mahaprabhu humbly lowered his head in respect and smiling, said: "I am supremely fortunate."
A few days later, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in a mood of great humility sought out Ishavara Puri and said, "Your holiness, please show mercy upon me and initiate me in the Gayatri mantram as your disciple. For want of the Gayatri mantra my mind is very much disturbed. "
Sri Ishvara Puri, upon hearing the words of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very happy and spoke as follows: "Whether I am giving you my words in speech or a mantra, it is my life I wish to give you; I wish to give you everything I have."
After this, Sri Ishvara Puri initiated Sri Gaurasundara in the divine mantra. One day, Sri Ishvara Puri came to the residence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Upon seeing him, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became ecstsatic. He offered his obeisances and all proper respects and greetings and begged him to stay for lunch.
Ishvara Puri said, "I would consider myself extremely fortunate to accept some rice from your lotus hand." Mahaprabhu cooked with his own hands and with great care fed Sri Ishavara Puri. After lunch, the Lord smeared sandalwood pulp over the limbs of Sri Ishvara Puri and offered him a nice garland of flowers.
In this way, in order to acquaint us with the way in which to properly worship the guru, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has instructed us all by his personal example how to serve the guru-parampara. One who does not understand how to honor a saintly person can never attain Krishna-prema-bhakti. Service to the lotus feet of the guru is the gateway to Krishna-bhakti.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was returning to Nabadwipa from Gaya, he passed through Kurmarhatta, the divine birthplace of Sri Ishvara Puri. Upon arriving there, he became filled with divine love and his voice choked up in ecstasy. He soaked the earth with the tears of divine love from his lotus eyes. Before he left Kumarahatta, he went to the place of Ishavara Puri's birth and took some dust from his birthsite. As he left for Nabadwipa, he announced, "This dust is my life and soul!"
After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa and went to Jagannatha Puri on the order of his mother. At that time, Sri Ishvara Puri had finished his role in the Lord's manifest pastimes. At the time of his passing into the unmanifest pastimes of the Lord, he ordered his two disciples, Govinda and Kashishvara Pandit to live near Mahaprabhu and render service to Him.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta has written: "The best of sannyasis, Madhavendra Puri had as his foremost disciples Ishvara Puri, Nityananda and the great Advaita. In order to honor Sri Ishavara Puri, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the guru of the whole world accepted him as his spiritual master."