|
|
|
|
Sri Bhakti Ratnakara May 15, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Sri Bhakti Ratnakara by Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur.
In the dead of night he decided to rest at a place near the Singha-Dwara and absorbed himself in chanting the holy name. Tears streamed from his eyes and he lost his balance and fell on the ground. Due to the wish of Prabhu he slept and Lord Jagannatha with Balarama and Subhadra, appeared in a dream.92-95 Lord Jagannatha glanced mercifully at Srinivasa and then disappeared. While Srinivasa was observed in an ecstatic mood, a brahmin came to him and said, "My dear son of a brahmin, I think you have not eaten for a long time. Take this Sri Mahaprasad and eat it." Then the brahmin disappeared.96-99 Srinivasa wondered, "How could that brahmin have known my sorrow? Then after giving me Sri Mahaprasad he disappeared." While he was thinking about the incident the Lord appeared before him and consoled him. Srinivasa accepted the mercy of Prabhu Jagannatha and gladly ate the mahaprasad. Then he washed his hands and mouth with the water of Sri Narendra Sancha which he had kept in a water pot and then he also drank the water. He chanted quietly and gradually fell asleep.100-105
In his sleep Srinivasa dreamed that Prabhu Sri Gauranga surrounded by his associates looked like Purandara, the king of the demigods, sitting with his subjects in his court. Gadadhara Pandita sat before the Lord and read melodiously from the Bhagavatam. All the listeners cried perspiring and quivering in ecstasy. Then the dream faded away.106-109 When he awoke Srinivasa began to chant again and once again fell asleep. Again he dreamed that Gauracandra and his associates were coming through the Srsinha Dwara gate.110-111 Sri Gaura's body could put shame to a golden mountain. His hands were long, reaching his knees. His face was as beautiful as numerous moons. His smile seemed to shower nectar. His lotus eyes spread out to his ears and constantly shed tears of love. A garland of tulsi hung from his beautiful neck, and he wore a beautiful dress. The glittering brightness of his body seemed to charm the whole universe. He walked in an ecstatic mood with the beautiful gait of a lion. Srinivasa was so charmed that in ecstatic love he fell asleep on the ground and bowed to the feet of Prabhu. Prabhu looked at his favorite servant with a sad glance and said to him, "Do not be sorry. Your heart will forever be the resting place of mine." Then Prabhu disappeared and Srinivasa woke from lhs sleep in the morning.112-120
Srinivasa calmed his heart and started for Markanda after asking the way from some passing travellers. After finishing his scheduled morning duties he took his bath in Markanda. He asked an old brahmin for directions to the temple of Sri Gopinatha. That old brahmin took him to the temple where lived Sri Gadadhara who had become half-dead due to the disappearance of Mahaprabhu. Srinivasa was so sad to see the condition of Gadadhara. He fell prostrate at the feet of Gadadhara and hastily went to the temple of Sri Gopinatha. Everyone in that place asked Srinivasa who he was and where he had come from. Srinivasa replied that he had come from Gauda and that his father was Sri Caitanyadasa and he himself was Srinivasa. They all were very glad and embraced him most lovingly.121-134 Sri Pandita Gosvami was sitting alone in a solitary place. His mental state was beyond description. His moon-like face and beautiful body had grown pale like a lotus deprived of water. He cried constantly, and his tears soaked his body as well as the Bhagavatam he held in his lap. In a choked voice he recited slokas from the Bhagavatam. From time to time he uttered the name of Sri Gaura Sundara and he heaved sighs as hot as fire. By the wish of Prabhu, Gadadhara had remained alive only to meet Srinivasa, so when Srinivasa bowed at his feet Gadadhara regained his normal condition. Someone introduced him to Srinivasa.135-146 Gadadhara eagerly embraced Srinivasa and they cried madly in utter misery, soaking each other with tears. Although Gadadhara was in a wretched state of mind, he derived some happiness from seeing Srinivasa. Gadadhara ordered one of his followers to introduce Srinivasa to the other Vaisnava Gosvamis living there. Soon all the devotees knew that Srinivasa had come to meet Pandita Gosvami.147-154
Rai Ramananda used to come everyday to the house of Sarvabhauma where they would sing the glories of Sri Gaura. Srinivasa went to Sarvabhauma's house where he met both of them and fell at their feet. Seeing Srinivasa their ocean of misery overflowed its limits. They embraced Srinivasa in ecstatic love and Srinivasa repeatedly bowed at their feet with tears in his eyes. They embraced him again and ordered one follower to take him to meet Vakreswara Pandita.155-164 Srinivas fell at the feet of Vakreswara Pandita who most affectionately embraced the boy. He said, "It is good that you have come, my dear son. Mahaprabhu will perform many duties through you. He also ordered Srinivasa to meet other Gosvamis. 165-172 Sri Paramananda and other sannyasis had been living miserably since the disappearance of Mahaprabhu. They had their strength and energy and without sense of day or night they lived in a half dead state. Srinivasa met each of them and paid his respects whereupon each of the sannyasis embraced him affectionately. They all cried, embracing one another and after a long time they controlled themselves and advised Srinivasa to meet other devotees.173-180 Srinivasa met many Vaisnavas in the house of Sikhi Mahiti. The devotees greeted Srinivasa tearfully and Srinivasa spoke to each one of them. Kanai Khutia told Srinivasa, "My dear son Srinivasa, today you have come like a light to our blind eyes." He and his sister said, "We are alive only for you."181-185 Sri Pattanayaka Banknath and others were also happy to meet Srinivasa and advised him to meet the other devotees and give them relief.186-187 Taking permission from Baninatha, Srinivasa met Govinda and Sankara. He found them sitting in a lonely place, lamenting the absence of Prabhu Gauranga. They had become so thin that even a puff of wind could have dispatched them. Srinivasa fell at their feet and they at once took in their arms. They all cried loudly and lamented in various ways. Srinivasa fell on the ground unconscious but with utmost care the devotees consoled him and advised him to meet the others.188-193 With a disquieted mind Srinivasa went to meet Gopinatha Acarya who became very emotional upon seeing Srinivasa and took him in his arms. After a long time Sri Acarya said, "I have had a desire to meet you. A few days ago Prabhu disappeared but unfortunately you could not come in time. Do not be sorry, Prabhu will always remain in your heart. Now go and meet the other companions of the Lord." Thus Srinivasa went everywhere and met the great devotees who accepted him affectionately. 194-203 Due to the disappearance of Mahaprabhu the devotees had fallen into a miserable condition which was beyond description even by lakhs of mouths. Srinivasa visited all the places where the deities of the Lord had been installed and he met the devotees who remained as inert as the deities. It seemed that they stayed alive only to meet Srinivasa.204-206 Srinivasa cried in despair because he could not get the association of Raghunatha and Svarupa. Raghunatha had become disheartened upon the disappearance of Prabhu and the absence of Svarupa and had gone to Vrndavana. Srinivasa could not meet the two devotees and he lamented in different ways. Nevertheless he went with a heavy heart to visit the place where Raghunatha had lived. Who can describe the glorious character of Sri Raghunatha who was the disciple of Sri Yadunandana Acarya? 207-211 In the drama Sri Caitanya Candrodaya Sri Sivanandana Sen gives the identity of Yadunandana Acarya who was the favorite disciple and friend of Sri Vasudeva Dutta Thakura. Everyone in Nilacala had known Sri Raghunatha for he was a handsome young man and a favorite follower of Sri Caitanya deva.212
| |
