ayi déna-dayärdra nätha he
mathurä-nätha kadävalokyase
hådayaà tvad-aloka-kätaraà
dayita bhrämyati kià karomy aham
TRANSLATION
“O My Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathura! When shall I see you again? Because of my not seeing You, My agitated heart has become unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now?”
On the advice of Rupa and Sanatan Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Jagannath Puri
In this verse Mädhavendra Puré teaches, how to achieve ecstatic love for Krishna. By feeling separation form Krishna one become spiritual situated. Mädhavendra Puré sowed the seed of ecstatic love for Krishna within this material world and then departed. That seed later became a great tree in the form of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sincerely welcomed everyone to Sri Sri Radha Gopinath temple for weekly Sunday festival especially, we just entering into the festival of Gaur Purnima; the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Today we are celebrating the Tirobhava or the disappearance of Srila Mädhavendra Puré. We spoke briefly about the subject this morning I would like to say something else at this time with your permission. It was on this day that there was a glories celebration for the disappearance of Mädhavendra Puré that was performed by Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityananda, Haridas Thakur, Saci Mata, and Murari Gupta at the house of Advaitya Acharya in Shantipur. I would speak something about that and the events that led to it. Lord Caitanya during his first attempt to go to Vrindavan from Jagannath Puri when he came to Kuliya Gram in Navadwip millions of people came see him. There even those persons who were most critical and offensive were forgiven and were given life greatest treasure love for Krishna. From Kuliya the Lord continues traveling and ultimately came to Ramakeli where there were so many people doing Naam Sankirtan. Rupa and Sanatan Goswami met him for the first time there and advice him that you should not go to Vrindavan with such large crowd of people, many of us have that experience. Go yourself or one or two other then you will really able to appreciate. So from Kanhainaat Shaala which by the way in our next Yatra devotees in the advance party have made great efforts to bring everyone who comes to Ramakeli and Kanhainaat Shaala but be prepare it for little of tapasya. So Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the advice of Rupa and Sanatan and while everyone was anticipating going to Mathura, Vrindavan with him. He suddenly proclaimed I will go to see Lord Jagannath in Puri and he turned around.
Advaitya Acharya answers the question of the sanyaasi
Meanwhile as he was approaching in that direction in Shantipur, Advaitya Acharya he had no idea about this, as far as concern Lord Caitanya was on his way to Vrindavan. He was at home, in very; very deep spiritual emotion was worshiping the deities of the Lord Madan Gopal in his home in Shantipur. Without any advance notice a Sanyaasi appeared at his house, now Advaitya being a householder with wife and children it was a great honor to serve the Sanyaasi. So he bowed down to the Sanyaasi, Sanyaasi bowed down to him. Advaitya Acharya said please how can I serve you come into my house, he gave him a nice seat, he said please take Prasad. That Sanyaasi said I have a question for you just answer my question. Advaitya Acharya was not accustom to such a guest, he said I will answer whatever question no problem, but now you be comfortable we have nice Prasad arrange for you, have Prasad. He said no, I will not take anything until you answer my question. Advaitya Prabhu said what is your question? He said my question to you is what is the relationship between Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Keshava Bharati Maharaj? Shri Advaitya was wondering, why is he asking this question? It is quite obvious, Lord Caitanya took initiation of Sanyaas by Keshav Bharati Maharaj therefore he is his guru, everybody knows that, but still he is asking. So I can answer this question from a normal social point of view which is that he is the guru of Lord Caitanya or I can answer from the internal spiritual significant that Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is absolute truth, the Supreme personality of Godhead but still by his own Lila he accepts a guru to teach the world. Just like, Krishna is ahaà béja-pradaù pita he is the father of all living beings, he is the mother of all living being, he is unborn but still we call him Devakinandan. He is the son of Devaki, so for the sake of Lila he appears to have the relationship of mother, father and guru and all of these things. Advaitya was thinking, anyways it better to first answer question according to the normal social perspective. Then he spoke to the sanyaasi, he said Keshav Bharati is Lord Caitanya’
s guru, but you already know that why did you asked this question?
Advaitya Acharya was very happy by seeing Acutananda’s love for Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
As soon as he said that, the son of Advaitya came running in the room his name of Acutananda he was very small, he had very, very soft limb, and he was only five years. He was outside playing his body was covered with dust; he was clothed in only the four directions. He came running in and he was very angry but in his anger he smiled. He said father what did I hear you say, the sanyaasi was very interested in this. Advaitya was standing motionless, as little Acutananda he said father what did I hear you say, how could you possibly speak such a thing? Could I have heard wrong impossible but yet you said it. You said that Keshav Bharati is Lord Caitanya’s guru, now I know that Kali Yuga is really set in. Father you are in illusion, material illusion. Even Lord Brahma, even Lord Shiva sometime fall under this spell of this illusory potency of the Lord and now I see that even you have fallen under this spell of illusion, how can you say such a thing? Lord Caitanya is the supreme God of all Gods. It is he who is mere expansion of him as Maha Vishnu by his inhalation he destroys the entire cosmic manifestation. Expansion of Lord Caitanya who is laying in Garbodaksayee Ocean as Garbodak Vishnu. From him a lotus flower sprout from his naval and on that naval lotus Lord Brahma is born. Nothing else exist, Lord Brahma doesn’t know who he is? Where he is what is suppose to do? He is in complete darkness, he climbs down the steam of the lotus trying to find what I am supposed to do, where am I? Who am I? Then he climbs back to the top of the lotus and he sits and he hear the word, Tapa. He begins to meditate and at that time the supreme Lord, the guru of all guru’s initiates Brahma by speaking transcendental knowledge through his heart. Hridaye Brahma, from the heart Brahma is initiated by the Lord. Then Lord Brahma helps to create the universe and he instructs the four kumara’s, he instructs Narada Muni and then whole disciplic succession of guru’s has been passed down from the beginning of creation. Then the original guru of all guru’s is Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krishna himself and you my father are saying that Lord Caitanya has a guru. You are my father, you are my instructing spiritual master, and how could you give such terrible misinformation. Then he became silent, Sanyaasi was watching Advaitya Acharya heart filled with exploded with pride and joy he started weeping tears. He picked it up his little five years old chubby son Acutananda and embraced him bathing him with tears. He said son, my son, my son now I accept that you are my father and I am your son; please forgive my offenses to you. Advaitya was so happy his son has understood so deeply at a young age who is Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu such philosophical conviction and such devotion. When the Sanyaasi saw this, Acutananda was very -very embarrassed he just looked down and was very silent. Sanyaasi was thinking like father like son and the Sanyaasi seeing this beautiful loving exchange he offered obeisance’s hundreds of times repeatedly to Acutananda and his father. Then without saying anything to anyone he left, he was completely satisfied, he didn’t need any other Prasad and Advaitya Acharya forgotten that he even existed. Advaitya Acharya started taking dust from Acutananda’s feet and just smearing it all over its body for his own purification and then Acutananda kind of ran away, Advaitya Acharya was dancing ecstasy. Because a loving father what is more pleasurable by seeing one’
s child loving God so intimately.
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced little five years old boy Acutananda
So Advaitya Acharya was dancing and dancing and dancing Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at his door without any announcement. This was a great shock for Shri Advaitya he became stunned then he immediately ran to Lord Caitanya, Lord Caitanya embraced him. Advaitya felt to the ground and took Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet and pressed it upon his heart, they were both praising each other very nicely. He offered Lord Caitanya raise sit and while Lord Caitanya was sitting there little five years old Acutananda came running into the room and he ran right up to Lord Caitanya and ran right to his feet. Lord Caitanya lifted him up and put the child on his lap and embraced him, Lord Caitanya was so happy this boy’s love was so pure. He wouldn’t let go off little Acutananda and little Acutananda wouldn’
t let go off the Lord. Seeing this relationship Advaitya Acharya was very, very happy. So Shri Advaitya invited Lord Caitanya pleased stay at my house and let us performs Naam-Sankirtaan for some days.
Saci Mata’s love for her beloved Nimai
Advaitya being a great Vaishnava is always eager to share his happiness with others; this is the nature of a good person. Whatever good we have we want to share with other and what is the greatest thing we can have, devotion to the supreme Lord. It’s give joy to the body, to the mind and most of all, its only thing that gives joy to the soul. Whatever good fortune a devotee has he or she wants to share with everyone and anyone. So Advaitya immediately sent a messenger with a Palanquin to Navadwip to bring Lord Caitanya’s mother Saci Devi to Shantipur. Saci Mata was living in such deep separation from her son after he took Sanyaas. She was in spiritual Trans, practically, constantly. She would go out of her house and first person she see, she cry out where is my children’s Krishna and Balaram have they gone to herd the cows today. Then she go in another mood Krishna and Balaram they have been taken by that cruel hearted Akrüra to Mathura and that evil man Kamsa is there. Has he been destroyed yet this Kamsa; is Krishna and Balaram safe when will they come home. This was Saci Mata ecstasy; she would cook all the things Nimai would love to eat. She bring on alter and offer it to the Lord and she would simply cry, and cry and cry, because Nimai was not there to eat it. Although actually in his own divine form that nobody could see Lord Caitanya himself said whenever Saci Mata would cook I would personally come and eat everything. Sometimes Saci Mata when she was be cooking she would actually him in almost see him eating there but she just would refuse to believe that it could be true; this is how she were spending here days. When the messenger of Advaitya came to her house, they said Saci Mata your son Gaur Sunder is now in Shantipur he wants to see come get o this Palanquin I will take you. She became like a Statue, motionless she couldn’
t believe the good fortune. She got on the Palanquin and was brought to Shantipur. When Murari Gupta and all the other devotees of Navadwip heard about this they all rushed with Saci Mata to Shantipur, they all assembled at the house of Advaitya.
Lord Caitanya praises his beloved mother Saci Mata
When Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw his mother he began to cry, here is the crest jewel of all Sanyaasi’
s seeing his mother and crying. He offered his prostrated obeisances again and again and again and after he got up he circumambulate his mother again and again and again. Then with folded palms he began to praise his mother. Whoever sees you and whoever is seen by you will certainly attain love for Krishna that is your power my mother. From my very birth with so much devotion and affection you raised me and Lord Caitanya said whatever love for Krishna I have, I have learned from you my mother. It is all by your grace whatever good I am and whatever I could give to anyone; this is the nature of the Lord. Most of us we try to take credit for what God empowered us to do. But God himself gives all credit to his devotees, takes no credit for himself this is the nature of loving exchange. A devotee gives all credit to Krishna and Krishna gives all credit to his devotees. In Bhagavatam Krishna explains the only reason I have power to deliver the fallen souls is because I am empowered by the love of my devotees. Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then said to Saci Mata, he said you are the mother of the universe; you are the very personification of love and devotion. You are eternal mother of God, you are Devaki and Yashoda and your child is Krishna. You are Devahuti and your child is Kapila, you are Prishni and your child is Prishnigarbha, you are Aditi and your child is Vamana Dev, you are Kausalya and your child was Ramachandra. You are the very, very mother of devotion he was praising her in this way. Yet I have been so foolish that I went and took Sanyaas and left you please know I am forever your property. Seeing this loves between the Lord and his mother all the devotees were weeping and they were so happy. Saci Mata had only one requested that as long you are here please allow me to cook for you my son. She cooked a wonderful feast for the Lord and all day long and practically all night long this great reunion was celebrated with dancing in temple room of Advaitya Prabhu as everyone with their arms raised loudly chanted the holy name, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.
One who offend Vaishnava, even God cannot forgive him
One day a miserable man entered into Advaitya’s house he was suffering from acute leprosy, finger, nose, toes melted away, skin was deteriorating, and worms were eating up his body he was in a miserable state. This man came and fell at the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya and cried endless tears and then got up with folded hands he prayed please forgive me for my offenses. I am suffering so miserably I cannot bear it any more you are the deliverer of the most fallen I am the most fallen please save me. Everybody looked on, the Lord looked at him and became extremely angry he said you want to be saved let me tell you this you sinful rascal this suffering of leprosy is only beginning of the punishment that you deserve birth after birth after birth because you have criticize the Vaishnava’s. Due to the envy of your heart you have, criticized, you have blasphemed, you have tried to hurt the Lord dear devotees and this is the natural reaction. This leprosy is just preparing you for your meeting with Yamaraj, so this man was very much shaken he said please tell what do I have to do to atone my offense I will do anything, I am sorry deeply, I regret. Lord Caitanya said you have offended Srivasa Thakur a very loving devotee of Krishna, he is all merciful, and he is the only one that can forgive you. Even God could not forgive an offender of a devotee, only that devotee can give the forgiveness. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said if you get a thorn in your foot you have to take another thorn and take it out of your foot. If you get thorn in your foot you can’
t start massaging your shoulder and think you are going to get better. Go to Srivas, so the leper went to Srivas and feel at his feet and Srivas was so soft hearted. He just prayed to the Lord please give forgiveness to this person. He picked him up and embraced him and not only the leper was cured with leprosy but his heart was cured of all material illusion, he attained the perfection of life. From that day on he became one of the associates of the Lord, dancing and chanting in ecstatic love the holy name, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Through this story the Lord wanted to teach us we have to be very careful in our dealings with devotees, Madbhaktäù püjäbhyadhikäù. Krishna says that service to my devotees gives me more pleasure than service to me directly. Criticism of my devotee burns my heart more than any criticism that you can inflict upon me that is the nature of love.
Mädhavendra Puré is declared to be the seed of the tree of love of God
So for many days in Shri Advaitya Bhavan in Shantipur there was wonderful Naam-sankirtaan and then this day, the disappearance of Mädhavendra Puré approached, every year Advaitya Acharya would utilize everything he had to celebrate this festival out of love for his guru. Our scriptures tell us of how Advaitya Acharya first met Mädhavendra Puré. Sripad Mädhavendra Puré was a great Sanyaasi in the Brahma-Madhva Sampradaya he was disciple of Laxmipati Tirth. In that Sampradaya Gaura-gaëoddeça-dépikä explains he was the first to light up the world with the Madhuraya Raas, the loving sentiments of the Gopis love for Krishna in this Sampradaya. Shri Caitanya-caritämåta tells how whenever the supreme Lord descends in this earth first he sends his senior elders who are his loving devotees from the spiritual world. So before Lord Caitanya personally came he sent Jagannath Mishra, Saci Mata, Mädhavendra Puré, Ishvara Puri, Paramananda Puri, and Nityananda Prabhu many such people. Mädhavendra Puré is declared to be the seed of the tree of love of God. In Caitanya-caritämåta Lord Caitanya is explained to be a love of God with unlimited fruits to be distributed throughout the world. He was the tree, the trunk of the tree and it is described on very upper portion of the tree the trunk divided into two parts Nityananda Prabhu and Advaitya Prabhu. Covering the whole trunk of the tree are unlimited branches which are all the loving devotees, associates of Lord Caitanya, Mädhavendra Puré is the seed of the tree. Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu it is explained here from this verse that we read today that was the very seed of the mood of the Lord Caitanya, “O My Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathura! When shall I see you again? Because of my not seeing You, My agitated heart has become unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now?”
we will discuss this verse a little bit later.
Mädhavendra Puré was unhappy by seeing people in forgetfulness of Krishna
Lord Caitanya, he accepted initiation from disciple of Mädhavendra Puré, of all people in the entire universe he wanted to be connected to this great saint. Mädhavendra Puré he was roaming the various holy places of India. He could not tolerate hearing anything except the glories of Krishna, he was constantly chanting the holy names of Krishna and he was feeling such great joy in doing so, he wanted to share that joy with everyone. But everywhere he looked he saw people in forgetful of their spiritual nature trying to enjoy materialistic life. Even in the name of religion people were worshiping God or Demi-gods simply for money, for expanding their family for better prestige and power and all these various material facilities, it broke his heart. For a saintly seeing a Millionaire or even Billionaire without love of God he is not impressed. They see this person is in total poverty, real wealth is of the heart, real wealth is in love, spiritual love that is the vision of the saint that was Mädhavendra Puré. Where ever he went he was trying to explain people take the name of Krishna, hear about Krishna worship Krishna but nobody had time. Prabhupada sided one something he saw on a newspaper where the wife is telling the husband Chant, Chant, Chant and the husband replied can’t, can’t, can’t, I don’t have time I have so many other things I have to do, that’s sound familiar. Now to most of us it’s a little sad but to the degree we are spiritual elevated it actually breaks our heart because the great devotee is para-duhkha-dukhi. The sorrow of other is his or her sorrow and the joy of others is his or her joy, but real joy is in loving God and sharing that love of God with others. Without it all so called material festival are miserable plight. So he was searching for someone who had devotion to the supreme Lord but he couldn’t found any one. So finally he decided that I will just associate with Sanyaasi’s who have renounced this material world all together. But then every Sanyaasi he found was saying that I am Narayan, I am the supreme Lord, I am one with the absolute and this broke his heart even more. He couldn’t associate with the material people; he couldn’
t associate with the people who renounced material life. He was looking for some devotees somewhere, he was wondering about.
Meeting of Mädhavendra Puré and Advaitya Acharya
Finally he came to the conclusion I just go into the forest and not look at anybodies face ever again. But at his way to the forest he met Advaitya Acharya, actually it is explained in Caitanya-Caritämåta that when Mädhavendra Puré was on his way from Vrindavan to Jagannath Puri he stopped in Shantipur and he came to the house of Shri Advaitya. Here Shri Advaitya who is the Avataar of Käraëodakaçäyé Viñëu when he saw Mädhavendra Puré he felt at the feet of this great Sage. Mädhavendra Puré picked him up and embraced him. In association with one another they experienced Krishna, even the greatest souls are always seeking the association of others devotees. Because in that company,
mac-cittä mad-gata-präëä
bodhayantaù parasparam
kathayantaç ca mäà nityaà
tuñyanti ca ramanti ca
The greatest joy for a devotee is to share Krishna with another devotee, to speak about him, to chant together. Mädhavendra Puré and Advaitya Acharya chanted and dance and deep Krishna Katha Day and night for many days. It was that time that Shri Advaitya Prabhu accepted initiation from Mädhavendra Puré and from that time Mädhavendra Puré found great hope.
Disciples of Mädhavendra Puré were very dear to Lord Caitanya
He continued his wondering, when he was in west coast of India he met Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Nityananda Prabhu accepted him as his spiritual master. Some of the other great saints who accepted Mädhavendra Puré as their guru were Ishvara Puri, Paramananada Puri. Paramananda, Lord Caitanya accepted him like his own uncle. It is explained in Krishna’s Lila he was Udhava, Krishna’s dearest cousin brother friend. He came to Puri on the request of Lord Caitanya and while he was there Lord Caitanya arranged for him to have nice little Ashrama, monastery to live. There was a well, Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very happy to see Paramananda Puri coming to see Lord Jagannath every day. But Paramananda Puri to do his worship and everything he needed water so there in that well. One morning Lord Caitanya came and said oh! You had such a nice well and Paramananda Puri said no it’s horrible, it’s all polluted salty water, and I can’t get any good water out of this well. Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said what he looked at the well and he called out Ganga Devi come and filled up this well. Paramananda Puri looked down and there was crystal clear Ganges water. Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said anyone’s who drinks the water from the well of Paramananda Puri will get love for Krishna. How many you had drunk that water, just be patient its coming. The doors are open but still you have to surrender. So Paramananda Puri was one of the disciples of Mädhavendra Puré. Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi who is Vrishabhanu father of Srimati Radharani in Krishna’s Lila incarnated as Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi he accepted Mädhavendra Puré as his guru, Lord Caitanya called him as father, he was the embodiment of ecstatic prema. Brahmananda Bharati, there was another disciple Mädhavendra Puré Sanoòiyä brähmaëa who lived in Mathura. When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to Mathura he meets this Sanoòiyä brähmaëa and Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu understood just by seeing that he must have a connection with Mädhavendra Puré. Sanoòiyä brähmaëa also saw Lord Caitanya’s love and understood he must have connection with Mädhavendra Puré. Brahman told Lord Caitanya when Mädhavendra Puré was in Vrajbhumi he came to my and even though I am a low class person in the Brahmana community and generally a Sanyaasi will never accept food from my home, he accepted my food I cooked for him and he accepted it, how merciful. When he gave food to Balabadra Bhatacarya Lord Caitanya’
s assistance and said please cook for him and Lord Caitanya said no you cook for me I will take food in your home; he said no, no how can I, you are Bharati Sanyaasi how can I cook for you. Lord Caitanya said, there is no question of Varana Ashram considerations, Daivi Varnashram. You have been blessed by Mädhavendra Puré therefore anything you cook for anyone is going to liberate them. It is my great honor and blessing this is the power of the great Vaishnava. Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu he would praise Mädhavendra Puré and anyone who is connected to him, the Lord himself became the servant of that person and offered him all honor and respects.
Advaitya Acharya celebrating Mädhavendra Puré’
s disappearance day
So Advaitya Prabhu he told Lord Caitanya that now I am going to prepare for this festival and all the devotees started making nice arrangements. Advaitya Acharya somehow other by his mystic powers they were just unlimited resources that became available. Saci Mata said I will do the cooking and all the house wife of the Shantipur neighbor said we will assist you, we will assist you. Nityananda Prabhu said I will in charge of worshipping all the Vaishnava’s. Then the whole team of people started voluntary to assist him, another devotee said I will be the in charge of Garland making, another I will be in charge of sweeping and washing all the floors. Each person had so many people volunteering to help. I will grind the sandal wood, I will go out and collect camphor, and I will go out and collect cut vegetables. The arrangements were being made, it was such buzzing festival, and everyone was busy, busy, and busy. Lord Caitanya had arranged in the main hall of the house there was constant Kirtaan Mrudanga’s, Kartaals, Gong, bells conch shell blowing devotees dancing, loudly chanting the holy name, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Lord Caitanya was going from room to room to inspect things, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, he is the husband of Goddess of fortune he couldn’
t believe it there were five rooms filled with rice, five rooms filled with wheat, entire room full of spinach and different rooms and rooms of individual vegetable and rooms of milk and room full of ghee, rooms full of cooking all and mustard oil they liked there in Bengal, rooms and rooms of leaf plate for eating up, rooms and rooms filled with flowers for the Garlands and other types of decoration. All the devotees were so busy, so enthusiastic just preparing to glorify Mädhavendra Puré. As the kirtaan went on and on and on and on, through the entire day until the evening they were chanting and dancing, chanting and dancing. There was an Aarti, there was an offering and finally Lord Caitanya when he saw he said this Advaitya Acharya he just started preparing for this festivals this morning and so many arrangements. Then Lord Caitanya declared; only possibility is Advaitya Acharya is Lord Shiva there is no other possibility. Vrindavan das Thakur in this instance start glorifying Lord Shiva, Vaishnava Yatha Shambu the greatest, the greatest of all devotees. Whoever does not love Lord Shiva cannot love Lord Krishna, Vrindavan Das Thakur says, because you cannot love Krishna without loving his dear devotees.
Lord Caitanya and all the devotees feasting on Saci Mata’
s Prasad
Advaitya then as the kirtaan came to crescendo and there was a beautiful Aarti, he said now let us take Prasad they all sat down. Saci Mata, everything was cooked by her it was all brought in. She cooked for Lord Caitanya and all the devotees, she knew that Nimai her son loved “Saak”, spinach. She cooked with the same spinach leaf she cooked twenty preparations, each of them totally unique in its taste, in its site, and in its flavor, fragrance twenty spinach preparation. Every vegetable that was there, she cooked ten to twenty varieties from every vegetable what to speak of grains, hundreds and hundreds of preparation she made. When Lord Caitanya started eating the spinach every spinach in Bengal has a different name, I am sorry I don’t remember all the names there is one called “Achuta Saak”. He said anyone who taste this Achuta Saak will get love for Krishna, then there was another anyone who taste this particular spinach will get liberation will get liberation from all material suffering. He says anyone who taste this spinach will get all powers to show compassion to others, he was giving benediction to every particular spinach. As he was eating more and more and as he was eating they kept bringing more and more and he was eating more and they were bringing more and he was so happy and all the devotees were feasting on Saci Mata’s Prasad. Ultimately Lord Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at the end of the feast he declared to the world, anyone who taste Mahaprasad from the feast offered to Mädhavendra Puré on his disappearance day will surely get Krishna’
s love in due course. So we did happen to make a feast in honor of Mädhavendra Puré today and if you stay till the end of the lecture, might be a tapasya but then you get to enjoy the feast also, it is good benediction.
Glories of Mädhavendra Puré
The disappearance pastime of Mädhavendra Puré is very deep and instructive; he lived a very long life. By Krishna arrangements in order to teach the world through his devotees in his very old age Mädhavendra Puré became invalid physically, he could no longer walk or stand up. He was bedridden; he would just lay there and cry out the names of Krishna just cry the names of Krishna. Especially in his last days he would repeatedly cry out this verse, “O My Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathura! When shall I see you again? Because of my not seeing You, My agitated heart has become unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now?” This may sound like a common Shloka but it so deep; Shastra’s tell us there are only three people that exist that fully understand the purport of this verse. You and me, we will never understand the full purport of this verse. But three people are Srimati Radharani, Lord Caitanya who is rädhä-bhäva-dyuti-suvalitaà naumi kåñëa-svarüpam. Lord Caitanya is Krishna with the devotional, Maha Bhava of Srimati Radharani and her golden complexion as well. Krishna descended into this world in the form of Gauranga Mahaprabhu to taste the sweetness of Radha’
s love for him. What it is about me that he loved so much that bring her so much happiness? What is she feel when she tastes the sweetness of my love? What is the glory of her love?
vedähaà samatétäni
vartamänäni cärjuna
bhaviñyäëi ca bhütäni
mäà tu veda na kaçcana
Krishna tells in Bhagavad-Gita, I know everything past, present and future; I know all living being, I know everything. But the extent of the pleasure that the Radharani was experiencing in her love for Krishna, even Krishna could not understand. The only way to realize radha’
s love was to descend with the mood of Radharani. Three people understand this verse in its fullness Srimati Radharani, Lord Caitanya who is Radharani and Mädhavendra Puré no fourth person can understand it in full, that is the glory of Mädhavendra Puré.
Radharani was burning in separation from Krishna
In ecstasy he was singing this verse; he was in the mood of Srimati Radharani after Krishna had left with Akrüra for Mathura. Lord Caitanya taught us this verse,
tåëäd api sunécena
taror api sahiñëunä
amäninä mänadena
kértanéyaù sadä hariù
That one should be humble Lord like a blade of grass, tolerant like a tree, ready to offer all respect to others and not expect any respect for oneself, only in this mood that one chat the holy name of the Lord with real feeling, constantly. It is an instruction to us how to discipline our self develop the characteristics of humility, tolerance and respect and detachment. But deeper than that in the Gambhira in Jagannath when Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when this verse emerged from his heart, it’s expressive something profoundly deep. Its Radharani’s mood of separation she gave everything for Krishna, she was willing abundant her body, her mind, her soul, her chastity her everything for Krishna and then Krishna left to be in Mathura with all sorts of sophisticated ladies. Can you imagine the humble position of Srimati Radharani? tåëäd api sunécena in her ecstasy of love. When Udhava came to Vrindavan to give them message to save their lives, Udhava witness the nature of the gopis love. Although Udhava was Krishna’
s constant companion in Mathura when he saw the gopis love in separation he realize I have no love at all and he prayed to be a blade of grass, Gurmalata a little creeper roaring in the ground of Brajbhumi; he was willing to give up his position as a royal prince as a Yadu Dynasty and the best friend of Krishna to be a little creeper in the ground of Brajbhumi. So that he could just for that most fortunate blessing of Gopis stepping on his head and he could take the dust of their feet. Then maybe he could also be blessed with their love, being a prince he did not want to embarrass them by taking the dust from their feet. So, near Kusum Sarovar he is eternally residing as a creeper to show the glory of the love of Vrindavan. When Udhava saw Radharani love in separation, burning in separation; he was absolutely in all worshiping her.
Ramchandra Puri offended his guru and loses all his good quality
It was this mood, the mood of shri Radha in separation from Krishna that Mädhavendra Puré was experiencing especially at the end part of his life. This is the same verse that Srimati Radharani was crying from her heart, that Mädhavendra Puré was repeating. One disciple of Mädhavendra Puré named Ramchandra Puri, he heard his guru praying like this weeping and crying. Where is Krishna, when I see you again? What shall I do now? Ramchandra Puri, he said great souls are supposed to be equipoise and peaceful. Just meditate on Brahman; he was thinking he was being compassionate to his guru by speaking this. Mädhavendra Puré became very angry, he said get out from here I never ever want to see your sinful face again, out; this rascal I am crying in separation from Krishna and he is coming and telling me to meditate on the impersonal Brahman. Because he displeased his guru Ramchandra Puri lost all of his good character from that point on his only happiness was to find fault in other devotees. He would strategically arrange to find faults also. I will give one example but I won’
t go into the story too much. He came to Puri and Jagadananda Pandit; Jagadananda pandit brought really nice Mahaprasad of Jagannath and served Ramchandra Puri to his full satisfaction. After eating Ramchandra Puri said now let me feed you, Jagadananda Pandit said no, no, no you are sanyaasi; you are disciple of Mädhavendra Puré how can I be served by you. He said no, no I want to serve you it would be great happiness to serve you, sit down and he gave him Jagannath Prasad. Then Jagadananda pandit said enough, enough I had enough, puran, puran; Ramchandra Puri please take more, please I want you to take more, he said no, no I am already full. He said please take more I will be very happy if you take more, all right to make you happy I will take more and then Ramchandra Puri kept feeding him more and more. Jagadananda Pandit was fighting but somehow other he was so insisting that he kept eating and then after he finished, washed his hands, washed his mouth. Then Ramchandra scolded him, yelled at him now I see the truth, the followers of Lord Caitanya are simply sense enjoyers who eat too much; look at how much you have eaten. Disgusting, you are suppose to be detached, to are suppose to eat for your maintenances, sense enjoyer. This is what he did to every devotee, Hare Krishna.
yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo
yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ‘pi
When the guru is pleased Krishna is pleased, when the guru is displeased we cannot please Krishna. Because of his arrogance, he became like a fly just eager to find faults in other.
Isvara Puri humbly served Mädhavendra Puré
During that same Antya Lila of Mädhavendra Puré there was another, Isvara Puri who is constantly rendering humble service to his guru dev. Every single instruction that Mädhavendra Puré gave to Isvara Puri he accepted as his life and soul. In the end with his hands he gratefully would serve his guru by cleaning his urine, by cleaning his stool, by massaging his body, by doing every type o menial service for someone who cannot move anymore. But he considered whatever little service he was doing for his guru dev to be the greatest fortune of his life. Mädhavendra Puré was in a humblest state, cry out for Krishna in separation, feeling himself as to be the most unfortunate. Isvara Puri to give pleasure to his guru was constantly reciting the pastimes of Lord Krishna and constantly chanting the holy names of Lord Krishna, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. This is very deep and very mysterious because Isvara Puri knew that Mädhavendra Puré is the top most realized saint but Mädhavendra Puré was considering himself so low and so fallen and were just begging in separation to reminded of Krishna. He was begging his disciple to help him remember Krishna that was his exalted humility. To please is Guru, Isvara Puri was constantly reciting the pastimes and the names of Krishna. Mädhavendra Puré was so happy with him, he embraced him. Mädhavendra Puré put his arms around Isvara Puri and hugged closed to his heart with tears of affection he said to his disciple may you achieve the treasure of Krishna prema. With that blessing Isvara attain the same love as Mädhavendra Puré, the ecstatic love of separation, vipralamba seva.
To achieve pure devotional service we must be sincere, serious without ulterior motives
Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted initiation and became the humble servant of Isvara Puri to show the world. Who is the guru not one who claims to be someone great, not one who claims to be God. But who is the most humble servant of the servant of the servant. That person who is happy and grateful to day and night to clean the stool and urine of his own guru, that person is my guru that was Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu message. Today is the disappearance day of Sripad Mädhavendra Puré. Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when he tasted the sweetness of this verse he would go into transcendental Samadhi, he would chant this verse of Mädhavendra Puré and he weep Torrance of tears. He would fall to the ground unconscious, he would get up again and become stunned like a pillar, and his hairs would stand on end. Chanting this verse he would run in circles and dance and sing and scream. This verse is the very seed of the mood of Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the very essence of what he has given to the world, the highest form of the love of the gopis and Shri Radharani for Krishna.
parama koruëa, pahü dui jana,
nitäi gauracandra,
golokera prema-dhana, hari-näma-saìkértana
That the holy name of the supreme Lord has descended from Goloka Shri Vrindavan in the spiritual world. Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has come with this Hare Krishna Mahamantra to give us that love. Not just some material relief, not just a clear mind to do our business, not just peace in a world in a stress and distress, not just some super natural powers to show people how we are above and beyond all of them. Not liberation,
anyäbhiläñitä-çünyaà
jïäna-karmädy-anävåtam
Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught that all of this things, the desire of any of these is a disturbance to pure Bhakti. He has come to give the highest, purest, spiritual love, the love of the gopis from separation from Krishna.
parama koruëa, pahü dui jana,
nitäi gauracandra
saba avatära-sära çiromaëi,
kevala änanda-kanda
He is the essence of al incarnations and the method and which he is giving for this highest blessing is so simple, is so joyful, chanting, dancing and feasting. But as we spoke this morning, Srila Prabhupada explains the inner secret of how to achieve rarest of all gifts, prema Bhakti. One must have the proper attitude, we must be sincere, serious and without ulterior motives. If we simply have that attitude as we chant the holy names, come to Srimad Bhagvatam katha and serve the Vaishnava and try to be instruments of the Lord compassion to all souls to this world. We are simply sincere, serious and have no ulterior motives than Krishna easily gives pure devotional service to everyone and to anyone. Krishna is not concern with your sex, or your caste or your nationality or your race. He is simply concern that you are sincere, you are serious and you have no ulterior motives. samsiddhir hari toshanam, our only motive is to please Krishna, to please his devotees and in this spirit to chant the holy name, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare .
Radhanath Swami Maharaj and Madam Mohanji Brajvasi’s were present at crucial time of Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaj
His holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaj he so mercifully called me to be at his bed side for over seven weeks during his last days. Throughout that entire seven weeks we would meet everyday sometimes for some hours and the foundational premise of all our talks was this verse. We began with this verse, every day we would chant this verse together and then we would have discussions that would just emerged from this particular beautiful verse of Mädhavendra Puré. During that time, I got phone call at this time Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj in his Nirjan Bhajan, he was not seeing anyone. I got a phone call that the Brijavasi headed by Panditji, Narshinga Baba and Madan Mohanji they wanted to talk to me. I asked where are you, they didn’t know where I am somebody else made the phone call and I said where you? They said they were in Harrisburg, which is forty minutes from Geeta Nagri or where Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj was living. In all places in the planet earth they were in Harrisburg, they turned it into Hari’s burg. So they invited me to come to see us or I asked Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj could I bring them if I could convince them to come, he said please, please. So I went and we met it some very, very wealthy men’s house, very big house big garden and we had kirtaan together and then we went someone else’s house, we had Kirtaan and we had Prasad. Then I asked them if they would come back to be with Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaj, they were very excited. Because it appeared he could leave at any moment. We sat at his bed side and Madan Mohan Brijivasi we asked him to sing. I cannot explain what happen, when Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj heard the purity and the devotion of Madan Mohanji voice in his singing the praise of Radha and Krishna. Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj right in the front of his personal assistance and myself he went into ecstasy, no one has ever seen him like this. Do you remember? Tears were pouring like Torrance from his eyes, they were pouring from his eyes and he was screaming, he was screaming in happiness, he was howling, it was unbelievable. More he chanted the more Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj’s emotion was just increasing, increasing and increasing. Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj when Kirtaan finally ended he was just so profusely thanking Madan Mohanji for coming. He said I was thinking of going to Vrindavan to leave this world but I decided to leave this world in Geeta Nagari just to show people that all those places that Srila Prabhupada established are holy places. He said, but Vrindavan has come in the form of these Brajvasi’
s to me at the hour of my greatest need, whoever was there will never forget that. Thank you Madan Mohanji, this way a very, very intimate crescendo for our meditation on the verse the prayer of Mädhavendra Puré,
“O My Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathura! When shall I see you again? Because of my not seeing You, My agitated heart has become unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now?” it is this gift that His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has given his life and soul to give to the world. Would you like to hear Madan Mohanji singing, Madam Mohanji if you can chant Mahamantra for everyone’s great happiness?
Srila Prabhupada ki jai!
Thank you very much!
