Chapter 11

The Expansions of Lord Nityananda

As the branches and subbranches of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu were described in the Tenth Chapter, in this Eleventh Chapter the branches and subbranches of Sri Nityananda Prabhu are similarly listed.

TEXT 1

nityananda-padambhoja-
bhrngan prema-madhunmadan
natvakhilan tesu mukhya
likhyante katicin maya

SYNONYMS

nityananda--of Lord Sri Nityananda; pada-ambhoja--lotus feet; bhrngan--the bumblebees; prema--of love of Godhead; madhu--by the honey; unmadan--maddened; natva--offering obeisances; akhilan--to all of them; tesu--out of them; mukhyah--the chief; likhyante--being described; katicit--a few of them; maya--by me.

TRANSLATION

After offering my obeisances unto all of the devotees of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who are like bumblebees collecting honey from His lotus feet, I shall try to describe those who are the most prominent.






TEXT 2

jaya jaya mahaprabhu sri-krsna-caitanya
tanhara caranasrita yei, sei dhanya

SYNONYMS

jaya jaya--all glories; mahaprabhu--unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sri-krsna-caitanya--known as Krsna Caitanya; tanhara carana-asrita--all who have taken shelter at His lotus feet; yei--anyone; sei--he is; dhanya--glorious.

TRANSLATION

All glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! Anyone who has taken shelter at His lotus feet is glorious.






TEXT 3

jaya jaya sri-advaita, jaya nityananda
jaya jaya mahaprabhura sarva-bhakta-vrnda

SYNONYMS

jaya jaya--all glories; sri-advaita--unto Sri Advaita Acarya; jaya--all glories; nityananda--unto Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu; jaya jaya--all glories; mahaprabhura--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sarva--all; bhakta-vrnda--devotees.

TRANSLATION

All glories to Sri Advaita Prabhu, Nityananda Prabhu and all the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu!






TEXT 4

tasya sri-krsna-caitanya-
sat-premamara-sakhinah
urdhva-skandhavadhutendoh
sakha-rupan ganan numah

SYNONYMS

tasya--His; sri-krsna-caitanya--Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu; sat-prema--of eternal love of Godhead; amara--indestructible; sakhinah--of the tree; urdhva--very high; skandha--branch; avadhuta-indoh--of Sri Nityananda; sakha-rupan--in the form of different branches; ganan--to the devotees; numah--I offer my respects.

TRANSLATION

Sri Nityananda Prabhu is the topmost branch of the indestructible tree of eternal love of Godhead, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I offer my respectful obeisances to all the subbranches of that topmost branch.






TEXT 5

sri-nityananda-vrksera skandha gurutara
tahate janmila sakha-prasakha vistara

SYNONYMS

sri-nityananda-vrksera--of the tree known as Sri Nityananda; skandha--main branch; gurutara--extremely heavy; tahate--from that branch; janmila--grew; sakha--branches; prasakha--subbranches; vistara--expansively.

TRANSLATION

Sri Nityananda Prabhu is an extremely heavy branch of the Sri Caitanya tree. From that branch grow many branches and subbranches.






TEXT 6

malakarera iccha jale bade sakha-gana
prema-phula-phale bhari' chaila bhuvana

SYNONYMS

mala-karera--of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; iccha-jale--by the water of His wish; bade--increase; sakha-gana--the branches; prema--love of Godhead; phula-phale--with flowers and fruits; bhari'--filling; chaila--covered; bhuvana--the whole world.

TRANSLATION

Watered by the desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, these branches and subbranches have grown unlimitedly and covered the entire world with fruits and flowers.






TEXT 7

asankhya ananta gana ke karu ganana
apana sodhite kahi mukhya mukhya jana

SYNONYMS

asankhya--innumerable; ananta--unlimited; gana--devotees; ke--who; karu--can; ganana--count; apana--the self; sodhite--to purify; kahi--I speak; mukhya mukhya--only the chief; jana--persons.

TRANSLATION

These branches and subbranches of devotees are innumerable and unlimited. Who could count them? For my personal purification I shall try to enumerate only the most prominent among them.

PURPORT

One should not write books or essays on transcendental subject matter for material name, fame or profit. Transcendental literature must be written under the direction of a superior authority because it is not meant for material purposes. If one tries to write under superior authority, he becomes purified. All Krsna conscious activities should be undertaken for personal purification (apana sodhite), not for material gain.






TEXT 8

sri-virabhadra gosani----skandha-mahasakha
tanra upasakha yata, asankhya tara lekha

SYNONYMS

sri-virabhadra gosani--of the name Sri Virabhadra Gosani; skandha--of the trunk; maha-sakha--the biggest branch; tanra--his; upasakha--subbranches; yata--all; asankhya--innumerable; tara--of that; lekha--the description.

TRANSLATION

After Nityananda Prabhu, the greatest branch is Virabhadra Gosani, who also has innumerable branches and subbranches. It is not possible to describe them all.

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura describes Virabhadra Gosani as the direct son of Srila Nityananda Prabhu and a disciple of Jahnava-devi. His real mother was Vasudha. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 67, he is mentioned as an incarnation of Ksirodakasayi Visnu. Therefore Virabhadra Gosani is nondifferent from Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In a village of the name Jhamatapura, in the district of Hugali, Virabhadra Gosani had a disciple named Yadunathacarya, who had two daughters--a real daughter named Srimati and a foster daughter named Narayani. Both these daughters married, and they are mentioned in Bhakti-ratnakara (Thirteenth Wave). Virabhadra Gosani had three disciples who are celebrated as his sons--Gopijana-vallabha, Ramakrsna and Ramacandra. The youngest, Ramacandra, belonged to the Sandilya dynasty and had the surname Vatavyala. He established his family at Khadadaha, and its members are known as the gosvamis of Khadadaha. The eldest disciple, Gopijana-vallabha, was a resident of a village known as Lata, near the Manakara railway station in the district of Burdwan. The second, Ramakrsna, lived near Maladaha, in a village named Gayesapura. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura notes that since these three disciples belonged to different gotras, or dynasties, and also had different surnames and lived in different places, it is not possible to accept them as real sons of Virabhadra Gosani. Ramacandra had four sons, of whom the eldest was Radhamadhava, whose third son was named Yadavendra. Yadavendra's son was Nandakisora, his son was Nidhikrsna, his son was Caitanyacanda, his son was Krsnamohana, his son was Jaganmohana, his son was Vrajanatha, and his son was Syamalala Gosvami. This is the genealogical table given by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura for the descendants of Virabhadra Gosani.






TEXT 9

isvara ha-iya kahaya maha-bhagavata
veda-dharmatita hana veda-dharme rata

SYNONYMS

isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ha-iya--being; kahaya--calls Himself; maha-bhagavata--great devotee; veda-dharma--the principles of Vedic religion; atita--transcendental; hana--being; veda-dharme--in the Vedic system; rata--engaged.

TRANSLATION

Although Virabhadra Gosani was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He presented Himself as a great devotee. And although the Supreme Godhead is transcendental to all Vedic injunctions, He strictly followed the Vedic rituals.






TEXT 10

antare isvara-cesta, bahire nirdambha
caitanya-bhakti-mandape tenho mula-stambha

SYNONYMS

antare--within Himself; isvara-cesta--the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bahire--externally; nirdambha--without pride; caitanya-bhakti-mandape--in the devotional hall of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tenho--He is; mula-stambha--the main pillar.

TRANSLATION

He is the main pillar in the hall of devotional service erected by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He knew within Himself that He acted as the Supreme Lord Visnu, but externally He was prideless.






TEXT 11

adyapi yanhara krpa-mahima ha-ite
caitanya-nityananda gaya sakala jagate

SYNONYMS

adyapi--until today; yanhara--whose; krpa--mercy; mahima--glorious; ha-ite--from; caitanya-nityananda--Sri Caitanya-Nityananda; gaya--sing; sakala--all; jagate--in the world.

TRANSLATION

It is by the glorious mercy of Sri Virabhadra Gosani that people all over the world now have the chance to chant the names of Caitanya and Nityananda.






TEXT 12

sei virabhadra-gosanira la-inu sarana
yanhara prasade haya abhista-purana

SYNONYMS

sei--that; virabhadra-gosanira--of Sri Virabhadra Gosani; la-inu--I take; sarana--shelter; yanhara--whose; prasade--by mercy; haya--it becomes so; abhista-purana--fulfillment of desire.

TRANSLATION

I therefore take shelter of the lotus feet of Virabhadra Gosani so that by His mercy my great desire to write Sri Caitanya-caritamrta will be properly guided.






TEXT 13

sri-ramadasa ara, gadadhara dasa
caitanya-gosanira bhakta rahe tanra pasa

SYNONYMS

sri-ramadasa--of the name Sri Ramadasa; ara--and; gadadhara dasa--of the name Gadadhara dasa; caitanya-gosanira--of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; bhakta--devotees; rahe--stay; tanra pasa--with Him.

TRANSLATION

Two devotees of Lord Caitanya, named Sri Ramadasa and Gadadhara dasa, always lived with Sri Virabhadra Gosani.

PURPORT

Sri Ramadasa, later known as Abhirama Thakura, was one of the twelve gopalas, cowherd boyfriends, of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 126, states that Sri Ramadasa was formerly Sridama. In Bhakti-ratnakara (Fourth Wave), there is a description of Srila Abhirama Thakura. By the order of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Abhirama Thakura became a great acarya and preacher of the Caitanya cult of devotional service. He was a very influential personality, and nondevotees were very afraid of him. Empowered by Sri Nityananda Prabhu, he was always in ecstasy and was extremely kind to all fallen souls. It is said that if he offered obeisances to any stone other than a salagrama-sila, it would immediately fracture.

Ten miles southwest of the Canpadanga railway station on the narrow-gauge railway line from Howrah, in Calcutta, to Amta, a village in the Hugali district, is a small town named Khanakula-krsnanagara, where the temple of Abhirama Thakura is situated. During the rainy season, when this area is inundated with water, people must go there by another line, which is now called the southeastern railway. On this line there is a station named Kolaghata, from which one has to go by steamer to Ranicaka. Seven and a half miles north of Ranicaka is Khanakula. The temple of Abhirama Thakura is situated in Krsnanagara, which is near the kula (bank) of the Khana (Dvarakesvara River); therefore this place is celebrated as Khanakula-krsnanagara. Outside of the temple is a bakula tree. This place is known as Siddha-bakula-kunja. It is said that when Abhirama Thakura came there, he sat down under this tree. In Khanakula-krsnanagara there is a big fair held every year in the month of Caitra (March-April) on the Krsna-saptami, the seventh day of the dark moon. Many hundreds and thousands of people gather for this festival. The temple of Abhirama Thakura has a very old history. The Deity in the temple is known as Gopinatha. There are many sevaita families living near the temple. It is said that Abhirama Thakura had a whip and that whoever he touched with it would immediately become an elevated devotee of Krsna. Among his many disciples, Sriman Srinivasa Acarya was the most famous and the most dear, but it is doubtful that he was his initiated disciple.






TEXTS 14-15

nityanande ajna dila yabe gaude yaite
mahaprabhu ei dui dila tanra sathe

ataeva dui-gane dunhara ganana
madhava-vasudeva ghoserao ei vivarana

SYNONYMS

nityanande--unto Lord Nityananda; ajna--order; dila--gave; yabe--when; gaude--to Bengal; yaite--to go; mahaprabhu--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ei dui--these two; dila--gave; tanra sathe--with Him; ataeva--therefore; dui-gane--in both the parties; dunhara--two of them; ganana--are counted; madhava--of the name Madhava; vasudeva--of the name Vasudeva; ghoserao--of the surname Ghosa; ei--this; vivarana--description.

TRANSLATION

When Nityananda Prabhu was ordered to go to Bengal to preach, these two devotees [Sri Ramadasa and Gadadhara dasa] were ordered to go with Him. Thus they are sometimes counted among the devotees of Lord Caitanya and sometimes among the devotees of Lord Nityananda. Similarly, Madhava and Vasudeva Ghosa belonged to both groups of devotees simultaneously.

PURPORT

There is a place named Danihata, near the Agradvipa railway station and Patuli in the district of Burdwan, where the Deity of Sri Gopinathaji is still situated. This Deity accepted Govinda Ghosa as His father. Even until today, the Deity performs the sraddha ceremony on the anniversary of the death of Govinda Ghosa. The temple of this Deity is managed by the raja-vamsa family of Krsnanagara, whose members are descendants of Raja Krsnacandra. Every year in the month of Vaisakha, when there is a baradola ceremony, this Gopinatha Deity is taken to Krsnanagara. The ceremony is performed with eleven other Deities, and then Sri Gopinathaji is brought back to the temple in Agradvipa.






TEXT 16

ramadasa----mukhya-sakha, sakhya-prema-rasi
solasangera kastha yei tuli' kaila vamsi

SYNONYMS

rama-dasa--of the name Ramadasa; mukhya-sakha--chief branch; sakhya-prema-rasi--full of fraternal love; solasa-angera--of sixteen knots; kastha--wood; yei--that; tuli'--raising; kaila--made; vamsi--flute.

TRANSLATION

Ramadasa, one of the chief branches, was full of fraternal love of Godhead. He made a flute from a stick with sixteen knots.






TEXT 17

gadadhara dasa gopibhave purnananda
yanra ghare danakeli kaila nityananda

SYNONYMS

gadadhara dasa--of the name Gadadhara dasa; gopi-bhave--in the ecstasy of the gopis; purna-ananda--fully in transcendental bliss; yanra ghare--in whose house; dana-keli--performance of danakeli-lila; kaila--did; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

TRANSLATION

Srila Gadadhara dasa was always fully absorbed in ecstasy as a gopi. In his house Lord Nityananda enacted the drama Danakeli.






TEXT 18

sri-madhava ghosa----mukhya kirtaniya-gane
nityananda-prabhu nrtya kare yanra gane

SYNONYMS

sri-madhava ghosa--of the name Sri Madhava Ghosa; mukhya--chief; kirtaniya-gane--amongst the performers of sankirtana; nityananda-prabhu--of the name Nityananda Prabhu; nrtya--dance; kare--does; yanra--whose; gane--in song.

TRANSLATION

Sri Madhava Ghosa was a principal performer of kirtana. While he sang, Nityananda Prabhu danced.






TEXT 19

vasudeva gite kare prabhura varnane
kastha-pasana drave yahara sravane

SYNONYMS

vasudeva--of the name Vasudeva; gite--while singing; kare--does; prabhura--of Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; varnane--in description; kastha--wood; pasana--stone; drave--melt; yahara--whose; sravane--by hearing.

TRANSLATION

When Vasudeva Ghosa performed kirtana, describing Lord Caitanya and Nityananda, even wood and stone would melt upon hearing it.






TEXT 20

murari-caitanya-dasera alaukika lila
vyaghra-gale cada mare, sarpa-sane khela

SYNONYMS

murari--of the name Murari; caitanya-dasera--of the servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; alaukika--uncommon; lila--pastimes; vyaghra--tiger; gale--on the cheek; cada mare--slaps; sarpa--a snake; sane--with; khela--playing.

TRANSLATION

There were many extraordinary activities performed by Murari, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sometimes in his ecstasy he would slap the cheek of a tiger, and sometimes he would play with a venomous snake.

PURPORT

Murari Caitanya dasa was born in the village of Sar-vrndavana-pura, which is situated about two miles from the Galasi station on the Burdwan line. When Murari Caitanya dasa came to Navadvipa, he settled in the village of Modadruma, or Mamagachi-grama. At that time he became known as Sarnga or Saranga Murari Caitanya dasa. The descendants of his family still reside in Sarer Pata. In the Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-lila, Chapter Five, there is the following statement: "Murari Caitanya dasa had no material bodily features, for he was completely spiritual. Thus he would sometimes chase after tigers in the jungle and treat them just like cats and dogs. He would slap the cheek of a tiger and take a venomous snake on his lap. He had no fear for his external body, of which he was completely forgetful. He could spend all twenty-four hours of the day chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra or speaking about Lord Caitanya and Nityananda. Sometimes he would remain submerged in water for two or three days, but he would feel no bodily inconvenience. Thus he behaved almost like stone or wood, but he always used his energy in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. No one can describe his specific characteristics, but it is understood that wherever Murari Caitanya dasa passed, whoever was present would be enlightened in Krsna consciousness simply by the atmosphere he created."






TEXT 21

nityanandera gana yata----saba vraja-sakha
srnga-vetra-gopavesa, sire sikhi-pakha

SYNONYMS

nityanandera--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; gana--followers; yata--all; saba--all; vraja-sakha--residents of Vrndavana; srnga--horn; vetra--cane stick; gopa-vesa--dressed like a cowherd boy; sire--on the head; sikhi-pakha--the plume of a peacock.

TRANSLATION

All the associates of Lord Nityananda were formerly cowherd boys in Vrajabhumi. Their symbolic representations were the horns and sticks they carried, their cowherd dress and the peacock plumes on their heads.

PURPORT

Jahnava-mata is also within the list of Lord Nityananda's followers. She is described in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 66, as Ananga-manjari of Vrndavana. All the devotees who are followers of Jahnava-mata are counted within the list of Sri Nityananda Prabhu's devotees.






TEXT 22

raghunatha vaidya upadhyaya mahasaya
yanhara darsane krsna-prema-bhakti haya

SYNONYMS

raghunatha vaidya--the physician Raghunatha; upadhyaya mahasaya--a great personality with the title Upadhyaya; yanhara--whose; darsane--by visiting; krsna-prema--love of Krsna; bhakti--devotional service; haya--awakened.

TRANSLATION

The physician Raghunatha, also known as Upadhyaya, was so great a devotee that simply by seeing him one would awaken his dormant love of Godhead.






TEXT 23

sundarananda----nityanandera sakha, bhrtya marma
yanra sange nityananda kare vraja-narma

SYNONYMS

sundarananda--of the name Sundarananda; nityanandera sakha--a branch of Nityananda Prabhu; bhrtya marma--very intimate servant; yanra sange--with whom; nityananda--Lord Nityananda; kare--performs; vraja-narma--activities of Vrndavana.

TRANSLATION

Sundarananda, another branch of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, was Lord Nityananda's most intimate servant. Lord Nityananda Prabhu perceived the life of Vrajabhumi in his company.

PURPORT

In the Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-lila, Chapter Fives, it is stated that Sundarananda was an ocean of love of Godhead and the chief associate of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika he is stated to have been Sudama in krsna-lila. Thus he was one of the twelve cowherd boys who came down with Balarama when He descended as Sri Nityananda Prabhu. The holy place where Sundarananda lived is situated in the village known as Mahesapura, which is about fourteen miles east of the Majadiya railway station of the eastern railway from Calcutta to Burdwan. This place is within the district of Jeshore, which is now in Bangladesh. Among the relics of this village, only the old residential house of Sundarananda still exists. At the end of the village resides a baula (pseudo-Vaisnava), and all the buildings, both the temples and the house, appear to be newly constructed. In Mahesapura there are Deities of Sri Radhavallabha and Sri Sri Radharamana. Near the temple is a small river of the name Vetravati. Sundarananda Prabhu was a naisthika-brahmacari: he never married in his life. Therefore he had no direct descendants except his disciples, but the descendants of his family still reside in the village known as Mangaladihi in the district of Birbhum. In that same village is a temple of Balarama, and the Deity there is regularly worshiped. The original Deity of Mahesapura, Radhavallabha, was taken by the Saidabad Gosvamis of Berhampur, and since the present Deities were installed, a Zamindar family of Mahesapura has looked after Their worship. On the full moon day of the month of Magha (January-February), the anniversary of Sundarananda's disappearance is regularly celebrated, and people from the neighboring areas gather together to observe this festival.






TEXT 24

kamalakara pippalai----alaukika rita
alaukika prema tanra bhuvane vidita

SYNONYMS

kamalakara pippalai--of the name Kamalakara Pippalai; alaukika--uncommon; rita--behavior or pastime; alaukika--uncommon; prema--love of Godhead; tanra--his; bhuvane--in the world; vidita--celebrated.

TRANSLATION

Kamalakara Pippalai is said to have been the third gopala. His behavior and love of Godhead were uncommon, and thus he is celebrated all over the world.

PURPORT

In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 128, Kamalakara Pippalai is described as the third gopala. His former name was Mahabala. The Jagannatha Deity at Mahesa in Sri Ramapura was installed by Kamalakara Pippalai. This village of Mahesa is situated about two and a half miles from the Sri Ramapura railway station. The genealogy of the family of Kamalakara Pippalai is given as follows. Kamalakara Pippalai had a son named Caturbhuja, who had two sons named Narayana and Jagannatha. Narayana had one son named Jagadananda, and his son's name was Rajivalocana. During the time of Rajivalocana, there was a scarcity of finances for the worship of the Jagannatha Deity, and it is said that the Nawab of Dacca, whose name was Shah Suja, donated 1,185 bighas of land in the Bengali year 1060 (A.D. 1653). The land being the possession of Jagannatha, the village was named Jagannatha-pura. It is said that when Kamalakara Pippalai left home his younger brother Nidhipati Pippalai searched for him and in due course of time found him in the village of Mahesa. Nidhipati Pippalai tried his best to bring his elder brother home, but he would not return. Under these circumstances, Nidhipati Pippalai, with all his family members, came to Mahesa to reside. The members of this family still reside in the vicinity of the Mahesa village. Their family name is Adhikari, and they are a brahmana family.

The history of the Jagannatha temple in Mahesa is as follows. One devotee of the name Dhruvananda went to see Lord Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra at Jagannatha Puri, wanting to offer food to Jagannathaji that he had cooked with his own hands. This being his desire, one night Jagannathaji appeared to him in a dream and asked him to go to Mahesa on the bank of the Ganges and there start worship of Him in a temple. Thus Dhruvananda went to Mahesa, where he saw the three deities--Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra--floating in the Ganges. He picked up all those deities and installed them in a small cottage, and with great satisfaction he executed the worship of Lord Jagannatha. When he became old, he was very anxious to hand over the worship to the charge of someone reliable, and in a dream he got permission from Jagannatha Prabhu to hand it over to a person whom he would meet the next morning. The next morning he met Kamalakara Pippalai, who was formerly an inhabitant of the village Khalijuli in the Sundaravana Forest area of Bengal and was a pure Vaisnava, a great devotee of Lord Jagannatha; thus he immediately gave him charge of the worship. In this way, Kamalakara Pippalai became the worshiper of Lord Jagannatha, and since then his family members have been designated as Adhikari, which means "one who is empowered to worship the Lord." These Adhikaris belong to a respectable brahmana family. Five types of upper-class brahmanas are recognized by the surname Pippalai.






TEXT 25

suryadasa sarakhela, tanra bhai krsnadasa
nityanande drdha visvasa, premera nivasa

SYNONYMS

suryadasa sarakhela--of the name Suryadasa Sarakhela; tanra bhai--his brother; krsnadasa--of the name Krsnadasa; nityanande--unto Lord Nityananda; drdha visvasa--firm faith; premera nivasa--the reservoir of all love of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Suryadasa Sarakhela and his younger brother Krsnadasa Sarakhela both possessed firm faith in Nityananda Prabhu. They were a reservoir of love of Godhead.

PURPORT

In the Bhakti-ratnakara (Twelfth Wave), it is stated that a few miles from Navadvipa is a place called Saligrama that was the residence of Suryadasa Sarakhela. He was employed as a secretary in the Muslim government of that time, and thus he amassed a good fortune. Suryadasa had four brothers, all of whom were pure Vaisnavas. Vasudha and Jahnava were two daughters of Suryadasa Sarakhela.






TEXT 26

gauridasa pandita yanra premoddanda-bhakti
krsna-prema dite, nite, dhare mahasakti

SYNONYMS

gauridasa pandita--of the name Gauridasa Pandita; yanra--whose; prema-uddanda-bhakti--the most elevated in love of Godhead and devotional service; krsna-prema--love of Krsna; dite--to deliver; nite--and to receive; dhare--empowered; mahasakti--great potency.

TRANSLATION

Gauridasa Pandita, the emblem of the most elevated devotional service in love of Godhead, had the greatest potency to receive and deliver such love.

PURPORT

It is said that Gauridasa Pandita was always patronized by King Krsnadasa, the son of Harihoda. Gauridasa Pandita lived in the village of Saligrama, which is situated a few miles from the railway station Mudagacha, and later he came to reside in Ambika-kalana. It is stated in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 128, that formerly he was Subala, one of the cowherd boyfriends of Krsna and Balarama in Vrndavana. Gauridasa Pandita was the younger brother of Suryadasa Sarakhela, and with the permission of his elder brother he shifted his residence to the bank of the Ganges, living there in the town known as Ambika-kalana. Some of the names of the descendants of Gauridasa Pandita are as follows: (1) Sri Nrsimha-caitanya, (2) Krsnadasa, (3) Visnudasa, (4) Bada Balarama dasa, (5) Govinda, (6) Raghunatha, (7) Badu Gangadasa, (8) Auliya Gangarama, (9) Yadavacarya, (10) Hrdaya-caitanya, (11) Canda Haladara, (12) Mahesa Pandita, (13) Mukuta Raya, (14) Bhatuya Gangarama, (15) Auliya Caitanya, (16) Kaliya Krsnadasa, (17) Patuya Gopala, (18) Bada Jagannatha, (19) Nityananda, (20) Bhavi, (21) Jagadisa, (22) Raiya Krsnadasa and (22 1.2) Annapurna. The eldest son of Gauridasa Pandita was known as big Balarama, and the youngest was known as Raghunatha. The sons of Raghunatha were Mahesa Pandita and Govinda. Gauridasa Pandita's daughter was known as Annapurna.

The village Ambika-kalana, which is situated just across the river Ganges from Santipura, is two miles east of the Kalana-korta railway station, on the eastern railway. In Ambika-kalana there is a temple constructed by the Zamindar of Burdwan. In front of the temple there is a big tamarind tree, and it is said that Gauridasa Pandita and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu met underneath this tree. The place where the temple is situated is known as Ambika, and because it is in the area of Kalana, the village is known as Ambika-kalana. It is said that a copy of the Bhagavad-gita written by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu still exists in this temple.






TEXT 27

nityanande samarpila jati-kula-panti
sri-caitanya-nityanande kari pranapati

SYNONYMS

nityanande--to Lord Nityananda; samarpila--he offered; jati--caste distinction; kula--family; panti--fellowship; sri-caitanya--Lord Caitanya; nityanande--in Lord Nityananda; kari--making; prana-pati--the Lords of his life.

TRANSLATION

Making Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda the Lords of his life, Gauridasa Pandita sacrificed everything for the service of Lord Nityananda, even the fellowship of his own family.






TEXT 28

nityananda prabhura priya----pandita purandara
premarnava-madhye phire yaichana mandara

SYNONYMS

nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; prabhura--of the Lord; priya--very dear; pandita purandara--of the name Pandita Purandara; prema-arnava-madhye--in the ocean of love of Godhead; phire--moved; yaichana--exactly like; mandara--the Mandara Hill.

TRANSLATION

The thirteenth important devotee of Sri Nityananda Prabhu was Pandita Purandara, who moved in the ocean of love of Godhead just like the Mandara Hill.

PURPORT

Pandita Purandara met Sri Nityananda Prabhu at Khadadaha. When Nityananda Prabhu visited this village, He danced very uncommonly, and His dancing captivated Purandara Pandita.The pandita was in the top of a tree, and upon seeing the dancing of Nityananda he jumped down on the ground and proclaimed himself to be Angada, one of the devotees in the camp of Hanuman during the pastimes of Lord Ramacandra.






TEXT 29

paramesvara-dasa----nityanandaika-sarana
krsna-bhakti paya, tanre ye kare smarana

SYNONYMS

paramesvara-dasa--of the name Paramesvara dasa; nityananda-eka-sarana--completely surrendered to the lotus feet of Nityananda; krsna-bhakti paya--gets love of Krsna; tanre--him; ye--anyone; kare--does; smarana--remembering.

TRANSLATION

Paramesvara dasa, said to be the fifth gopala of krsna-lila, completely surrendered to the lotus feet of Nityananda. Anyone who remembers his name, Paramesvara dasa, will get love of Krsna very easily.

PURPORT

The Caitanya-bhagavata states that Paramesvara dasa, known sometimes as Paramesvari dasa, was the life and soul of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. The body of Paramesvara dasa was the place of Lord Nityananda's pastimes. Paramesvara dasa, who lived for some time at Khadadaha village, was always filled with the ecstasy of a cowherd boy. Formerly he was Arjuna, a friend of Krsna and Balarama. He was the fifth among the twelve gopalas. He accompanied Srimati Jahnava-devi when she performed the festival at Kheturi. It is stated in the Bhakti-ratnakara that by the order of Srimati Jahnava-mata, he installed Radha-Gopinatha in the temple at Atapura in the district of Hugali. The Atapura station is on the narrow-gauge railway line between Howrah and Amata. Another temple in Atapura, established by the Mitra family, is known as the Radha-Govinda temple. In front of the temple, in a very attractive place among two bakula trees and a kadamba tree, is the tomb of Paramesvari Thakura, and above it is an altar with a tulasi bush. It is said that only one flower a year comes out of the kadamba tree. It is offered to the Deity.

Paramesvari Thakura belonged, it is said, to a vaidya family. A descendant of his brother's is at present a worshiper in the temple. Some of their family members still reside in the district of Hugali, near the post office of Canditala. The descendants of Paramesvari Thakura took many disciples from brahmana families, but as these descendants gradually took to the profession of physicians, persons from brahmana families ceased becoming their disciples. The family titles of Paramesvari's descendants are Adhikari and Gupta. Unfortunately, his family members do not worship the Deity directly; they have engaged paid brahmanas to worship the Deity. In the temple, Baladeva and Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha are together on the throne. It is supposed that the Deity of Baladeva was installed later because according to transcendental mellow, Baladeva, Krsna and Radha cannot stay on the same throne. On the full moon day of Vaisakha (April-May), the disappearance festival of Paramesvari Thakura is observed in this temple.






TEXT 30

jagadisa pandita haya jagat-pavana
krsna-premamrta varse, yena varsa ghana

SYNONYMS

jagadisa pandita--of the name Jagadisa Pandita; haya--becomes; jagat-pavana--the deliverer of the world; krsna-prema-amrta varse--he always pours torrents of devotional service; yena--like; varsa--rainfall; ghana--heavy.

TRANSLATION

Jagadisa Pandita, the fifteenth branch of Lord Nityananda's followers, was the deliverer of the entire world. Devotional love of Krsna showered from him like torrents of rain.

PURPORT

Descriptions of Jagadisa Pandita are available from Caitanya-bhagavata, Adi-lila, Chapter Six, and Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Fourteen. He belonged to the village of Yasada-grama, in the district of Nadia near the Cakadaha railway station. His father, the son of Bhatta Narayana, was named Kamalaksa. Both his father and mother were great devotees of Lord Visnu, and after their death, Jagadisa, with his wife Duhkhini and brother Mahesa, left his birthplace and came to Sri Mayapur to live in the company of Jagannatha Misra and other Vaisnavas. Lord Caitanya asked Jagadisa to go to Jagannatha Puri to preach the hari-nama-sankirtana movement. After returning from Jagannatha Puri, on the order of Lord Jagannatha he established Deities of Jagannatha in the village of Yasada-grama. It is said that when Jagadisa Pandita brought the Deity of Jagannatha to Yasada-grama, he tied the heavy Deity to a stick and thus brought Him to the village. The priests of the temple still show the stick used by Jagadisa Pandita to carry the Jagannatha Deity.






TEXT 31

nityananda-priyabhrtya pandita dhananjaya
atyanta virakta, sada krsna-premamaya

SYNONYMS

nityananda-priya-bhrtya--another dear servant of Nityananda Prabhu; pandita dhananjaya--of the name Pandita Dhananjaya; atyanta--very much; virakta--renounced; sada--always; krsna-prema-maya--merged in love of Krsna.

TRANSLATION

The sixteenth dear servant of Nityananda Prabhu was Dhananjaya Pandita. He was very much renounced and always merged in love of Krsna.

PURPORT

Pandita Dhananjaya was a resident of the village in Katwa named Sitala. He was one of the twelve gopalas. His former name, according to Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 127, was Vasudama. Sitala-grama is situated near the Mangalakota police station and Kaicara post office in the district of Burdwan. On the narrow railway from Burdwan to Katwa is a railway station about nine miles from Kutwa known as Kaicara. One has to go about a mile northeast of this station to reach Sitala. The temple was a thatched house with walls made of dirt. Some time ago, the Zamindars of Bajaravana Kabasi, the Mulliks, constructed a big house for the purpose of a temple, but for the last sixty-five years the temple has been broken down and abandoned. The foundation of the old temple is still visible. There is a tulasi pillar near the temple, and every year during the month of January the disappearance day of Dhananjaya is observed. It is said that for some time Pandita Dhananjaya was in a sankirtana party under the direction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and then he went to Vrndavana. Before going to Vrndavana, he lived for some time in a village named Sancadapancada, which is six miles south of the Memari railway station. Sometimes this village is also known as "the place of Dhananjaya" (Dhananjayera Pata). After some time, he left the responsibility for worship with a disciple and went back to Vrndavana. After returning from Vrndavana to Sitala-grama, he established a Deity of Gaurasundara in the temple. The descendants of Pandita Dhananjaya still live in Sitala-grama and look after the temple worship.




TEXT 32

mahesa pandita----vrajera udara gopala
dhakka-vadye nrtya kare preme matoyala

SYNONYMS

mahesa pandita--of the name Mahesa Pandita; vrajera--of Vrndavana; udara--very liberal; gopala--cowherd boy; dhakka-vadye--with the beating of a kettledrum; nrtya kare--used to dance; preme--in love; matoyala--as if a madman.

TRANSLATION

Mahesa Pandita, the seventh of the twelve gopalas, was very liberal. In great love of Krsna he danced to the beating of a kettledrum like a madman.

PURPORT

The village of Mahesa Pandita, which is known as Palapada, is situated in the district of Nadia within a forest about one mile south of the Cakadaha railway station. The Ganges flows nearby. It is said that formerly Mahesa Pandita lived on the eastern side of Jirat in the village known as Masipura or Yasipura, and when Masipura merged into the riverbed of the Ganges, the Deities there were brought to Palapada, wh ich is situated in the midst of various villages such as Beledanga, Berigrama, Sukhasagara, Candude and Manasapota. (There are about fourteen villages, and the entire neighborhood is known as Pancanagara Paragana.) It is mentioned that Mahesa Pandita joined the festival performed by Sri Nityananda Prabhu at Panihati. Narottama dasa Thakura also joined in the festival, and Mahesa Pandita saw him on that occasion. In the temple of Mahesa Pandita there are Deities of Gaura-Nityananda, Sri Gopinatha, Sri Madana-mohana and Radha-Govinda, as well as a salagrama-sila.






TEXT 33

navadvipe purusottama pandita mahasaya
nityananda-name yanra mahonmada haya

SYNONYMS

navadvipe purusottama--Purusottama of Navadvipa; pandita mahasaya--a very learned scholar; nityananda-name--in the name of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; yanra--whose; maha-unmada--great ecstasy; haya--becomes.

TRANSLATION

Purusottama Pandita, a resident of Navadvipa, was the eighth gopala. He would become almost mad as soon as he heard the holy name of Nityananda Prabhu.

PURPORT

It is stated in the Caitanya-bhagavata that Purusottama Pandita was born in Navadvipa and was a great devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. As one of the twelve gopalas, his former name was Stokakrsna.






TEXT 34

balarama dasa----krsna-prema-rasasvadi
nityananda-name haya parama unmadi

SYNONYMS

balarama-dasa--of the name Balarama dasa; krsna-prema-rasa--the nectar of always merging in love of Krsna; asvadi--fully tasting; nityananda-name--in the name of Sri Nityananda Prabhu; haya--becomes; parama--greatly; unmadi--maddened.

TRANSLATION

Balarama dasa always fully tasted the nectar of love of Krsna. Upon hearing the name of Nityananda Prabhu, he would become greatly maddened.






TEXT 35

maha-bhagavata yadunatha kavicandra
yanhara hrdaye nrtya kare nityananda

SYNONYMS

maha-bhagavata--a great devotee; yadunatha kavicandra--of the name Yadunatha Kavicandra; yanhara--whose; hrdaye--in the heart; nrtya--dancing; kare--does; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

TRANSLATION

Yadunatha Kavicandra was a great devotee. Lord Nityananda Prabhu always danced in his heart.

PURPORT

In the Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-lila, Chapter One, it is said that a gentleman known as Ratnagarbha Acarya was a friend of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's father. They were residents of the same village. He had three sons--Krsnananda, Jiva and Yadunatha Kavicandra.






TEXT 36

radhe yanra janma krsnadasa dvijavara
sri-nityanandera tenho parama kinkara

SYNONYMS

radhe--in West Bengal; yanra--whose; janma--birth; krsnadasa--of the name Krsnadasa; dvija-vara--the best brahmana; sri-nityanandera--of Nityananda Prabhu; tenho--he; parama--first-class; kinkara--servant.

TRANSLATION

The twenty-first devotee of Sri Nityananda in Bengal was Krsnadasa Brahmana, who was a first-class servant of the Lord.

PURPORT

Radha-desa refers to the part of Bengal where the Ganges does not flow.






TEXT 37

kala-krsnadasa bada vaisnava-pradhana
nityananda-candra vinu nahi jane ana

SYNONYMS

kala-krsnadasa--of the name Kala Krsnadasa; bada--great; vaisnava-pradhana--first-class Vaisnava; nityananda-candra--Lord Nityananda; vinu--except; nahi jane--he did not know; ana--of anything else.

TRANSLATION

The twenty-second devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu was Kala Krsnadasa, who was the ninth cowherd boy. He was a first-class Vaisnava and did not know anything beyond Nityananda Prabhu.

PURPORT

In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 132), it is said that Kala Krsnadasa, who was also known as Kaliya Krsnadasa, was formerly a gopa (cowherd boy) of the name Lavanga. He was one of the twelve cowherd boys. Kaliya Krsnadasa had his headquarters in a village named Akaihata, which is situated in the district of Burdwan within the jurisdiction of the post office and police station of Katwa. It is situated on the road to Navadvipa. To reach Akaihata, one has to go from the Vyandela junction station to the Katwa railway station and then go about two miles, or one has to get off at the Danihata station and from there go one mile. The village of Akaihata is very small. In the month of Caitra, on the day of Varuni, there is a festival commemorating the disappearance day of Kala Krsnadasa.






TEXT 38

sri-sadasiva kaviraja----bada mahasaya
sri-purusottama-dasa----tanhara tanaya

SYNONYMS

sri-sadasiva kaviraja--of the name Sri Sadasiva Kaviraja; bada--great; mahasaya--respectable gentleman; sri-purusottama-dasa--of the name Sri Purusottama dasa; tanhara tanaya--his son.

TRANSLATION

The twenty-third and twenty-fourth prominent devotees of Nityananda Prabhu were Sadasiva Kaviraja and his son Purusottama dasa, who was the tenth gopala.






TEXT 39

ajanma nimagna nityanandera carane
nirantara balya-lila kare krsna-sane

SYNONYMS

ajanma--from birth; nimagna--merged; nityanandera--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; carane--in the lotus feet; nirantara--always; balya-lila--childish play; kare--does; krsna-sane--with Krsna.

TRANSLATION

From birth, Purusottama dasa was merged in the service of the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, and he always engaged in childish play with Lord Krsna.

PURPORT

Sadasiva Kaviraja and Nagara Purusottama, who were father and son, are described in the Caitanya-bhagavata as maha-bhagyavan, greatly fortunate. They belonged to the vaidya caste of physicians. The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 156, says that Candravali, a most beloved gopi of Krsna's, later took birth as Sadasiva Kaviraja. In verses 194 and 200 it is said that Kamsari Sena, the father of Sadasiva Kaviraja, was formerly the gopi named Ratnavali in Krsna's pastimes. All the family members of Sadasiva Kaviraja were great devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Purusottama dasa Thakura sometimes lived at Sukhasagara, near the Cakadaha and Simurali railway stations. All the Deities installed by Purusottama Thakura were formerly situated in Beledanga-grama, but when the temple was destroyed the Deities were brought to Sukhasagara. When that temple merged into the bed of the Ganges, the Deities were brought with Jahnava-mata's Deity to Sahebadanga Bedigrama. Since that place also has been destroyed, all the Deities are now situated in the village named Candude-grama, which is situated one mile up from Palapada, as referred to above.






TEXT 40

tanra putra----mahasaya sri-kanu thakura
yanra dehe rahe krsna-premamrta-pura

SYNONYMS

tanra putra--his son; mahasaya--a respectable gentleman; sri-kanu thakura--of the name Sri Kanu Thakura; yanra--whose; dehe--in the body; rahe--remained; krsna-prema-amrta-pura--the nectar of devotional service to Krsna.

TRANSLATION

Sri Kanu Thakura, a very respectable gentleman, was the son of Purusottama dasa Thakura. He was such a great devotee that Lord Krsna always lived in his body.

PURPORT

To go to the headquarters of Kanu Thakura, one has to proceed by boat from the Jhikaragacha-ghata station to the river known as Kapotaksa. Otherwise, if one goes about two or two and a half miles from the Jhikaragacha-ghata station, he can see Bodhakhana, the headquarters of Kanu Thakura. The son of Sadasiva was Purusottama Thakura, and his son was Kanu Thakura. The descendants of Kanu Thakura know him as Nagara Purusottama. He was the cowherd boy named Dama during krsna-lila. It is said that just after the birth of Kanu Thakura, his mother, Jahnava, died. When he was about twelve days old, Sri Nityananda Prabhu took him to His home at Khadadaha. It is ascertained that Kanu Thakura was born some time in the Bengali year 942 (A.D. 1535). It is said that he took birth on the Ratha-yatra day. Because he was a great devotee of Lord Krsna from the very beginning of his life, Sri Nityananda Prabhu gave him the name Sisu Krsnadasa. When he was five years old he went to Vrndavana with Jahnava-mata, and upon seeing the ecstatic symptoms of Kanu Thakura, the Gosvamis gave him the name Kanai Thakura.

In the family of Kanu Thakura there is a Radha-Krsna Deity known as Pranavallabha. It is said that his family worshiped this Deity long before the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When there was a Maharashtrian invasion of Bengal, the family of Kanu Thakura was scattered, and after the invasion one Harikrsna Gosvami of that family came back to their original home, Bodhakhana, and re-established the Pranavallabha Deity. The descendants of the family still engage in the service of Pranavallabha. Kanu Thakura was present during the Khetari utsava, when Jahnava-devi and Virabhadra Gosvami were also present. One of Kanu Thakura's family members, Madhavacarya, married the daughter of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who was named Gangadevi. Both Purusottama Thakura and Kanu Thakura had many disciples from brahmana families. Most of the disciplic descendants of Kanu Thakura now reside in the village named Gadabeta, by the river Silavati, in the Midnapore district.






TEXT 41

maha-bhagavata-srestha datta uddharana
sarva-bhave seve nityanandera carana

SYNONYMS

maha-bhagavata--great devotee; srestha--chief; datta--the surname Datta; uddharana--of the name Uddharana; sarva-bhave--in all respects; seve--worships; nityanandera--of Lord Nityananda; carana--lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

Uddharana Datta Thakura, the eleventh among the twelve cowherd boys, was an exalted devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. He worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda in all respects.

PURPORT

The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 129, states that Uddharana Datta Thakura was formerly the cowherd boy of Vrndavana named Subahu. Uddharana Datta Thakura, previously known as Sri Uddharana Datta, was a resident of Saptagrama, which is situated on the bank of the Sarasvati River near the Trisabigha railway station in the district of Hugali. At the time of Uddharana Thakura, Saptagrama was a very big town, encompassing many other places such as Vasudeva-pura, Bansabediya, Krsnapura, Nityananda-pura, Sivapura, Sankhanagara and Saptagrama.

Calcutta was developed under British rule by the influential mercantile community, and especially by the suvarna-vanik community who came down from Saptagrama to establish their businesses and homes all over Calcutta. They were known as the Saptagrami mercantile community of Calcutta, and most of them belonged to the Mullik and Sil families. More than half of Calcutta belonged to this community, as did Srila Uddharana Thakura. Our paternal family also came from this district and belonged to the same community. The Mulliks of Calcutta are divided into two families, namely, the Sil family and De family. All the Mulliks of the De family originally belong to the same family and gotra. We also formerly belonged to the branch of the De family whose members, intimately connected with the Muslim rulers, received the title Mullik.

In the Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya-khanda, Chapter Five, it is said that Uddharana Datta was an extremely elevated and liberal Vaisnava. He was born with the right to worship Nityananda Prabhu. It is also stated that Nityananda Prabhu, after staying for some time in Khadadaha, came to Saptagrama and stayed in the house of Uddharana Datta. The suvarna-vanik community to which Uddharana Datta belonged was actually a Vaisnava community. Its members were bankers and gold merchants (suvarna means "gold," and vanik means "merchant"). Long ago there was a misunderstanding between Balla Sena and the suvarna-vanik community because of the great banker Gauri Sena. Balla Sena was taking loans from Gauri Sena and spending money extravagantly, and therefore Gauri Sena stopped supplying money. Balla Sena took revenge by instigating a social conspiracy to make the suvarna-vaniks outcastes, and since then they have been ostracized from the higher castes, namely, the brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas. But by the grace of Srila Nityananda Prabhu, the suvarna-vanik community was again elevated. It is said in the Caitanya-bhagavata, yateka vanik-kula uddharana haite pavitra ha-ila dvidha nahika ihate: there is no doubt that all the community members of the suvarna-vanik society were again purified by Sri Nityananda Prabhu.

In Saptagrama there is still a temple with a six-armed Deity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that was personally worshiped by Srila Uddharana Datta Thakura. On the right side of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is a Deity of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, and on the left side is Gadadhara Prabhu. There are also a Radha-Govinda murti and a salagrama-sila, and below the throne is a picture of Sri Uddharana Datta Thakura. In front of the temple there is now a big hall, and in front of the hall is a Madhavi-lata plant. The temple is in a very shady, cool and nicely situated location. When we returned from America in 1967, the executive committee members of this temple invited us to visit it, and thus we had the opportunity to visit this temple with some American students. Formerly, in our childhood, we visited this temple with our parents because all the members of the suvarna-vanik community enthusiastically take interest in this temple of Uddharana Datta Thakura. In the Bengali year 1283 (A.D. 1876) one babaji of the name Nitai dasa arranged for a donation of twelve bighas of land for this temple. The management of the temple later deteriorated, but then in 1306 (A.D. 1899), through the cooperation of the famous Balarama Mullik of Hugali, who was a subjudge, and many rich suvarna-vanik community members, the management of the temple improved greatly. Not more than fifty years ago, one of the family members of Uddharana Datta Thakura named Jagamohana Datta established a wooden murti(statue) of Uddharana Datta Thakura in the temple, but that murti is no longer there; at present, a picture of Uddharana Datta Thakura is worshiped. It is understood, however, that the wooden murti of Uddharana Thakura was taken away by Sri Madana-mohana Datta and is now being worshiped with a salagrama-sila by Srinatha Datta.

Uddharana Datta Thakura was the manager of the estate of a big Zamindar in Naihati, about one and a half miles north of Katwa. The relics of this royal family are still visible near the Dainhata station. Since Uddharana Datta Thakura was the manager of the estate, it was also known as Uddharana-pura. Uddharana Datta Thakura installed Nitai-Gaura Deities that were later brought to the house of the Zamindar, which was known as Vanaoyaribada. Srila Uddharana Datta Thakura remained a householder throughout his life. His father's name was Srikara Datta, his mother's name was Bhadravati, and his son's name was Srinivasa Datta.






TEXT 42

acarya vaisnavananda bhakti-adhikari
purve nama chila yanra 'raghunatha puri'

SYNONYMS

acarya--teacher; vaisnavananda--of the name Vaisnavananda; bhakti--devotional service; adhikari--fit candidate; purve--previously; nama--name; chila--was; yanra--whose; raghunatha puri--of the name Raghunatha Puri.

TRANSLATION

The twenty-seventh prominent devotee of Nityananda Prabhu was Acarya Vaisnavananda, a great personality in devotional service. He was formerly known as Raghunatha Puri.

PURPORT

In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 97, it is said that Raghunatha Puri was previously very powerful in the eight mystic successes. He was an incarnation of one of the successes.






TEXT 43

visnudasa, nandana, gangadasa----tina bhai
purve yanra ghare chila thakura nitai

SYNONYMS

visnudasa--of the name Visnudasa; nandana--of the name Nandana; gangadasa--of the name Gangadasa; tina bhai--three brothers; purve--previously; yanra--whose; ghare--in the house; chila--stayed; thakura nitai--Nityananda Prabhu.

TRANSLATION

Another important devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu was Visnudasa, who had two brothers, Nandana and Gangadasa. Lord Nityananda Prabhu sometimes stayed at their house.

PURPORT

The three brothers Visnudasa, Nandana and Gangadasa were residents of Navadvipa and belonged to the Bhattacarya brahmana family. Both Visnudasa and Gangadasa stayed for some time with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri, and the Caitanya-bhagavata states that formerly Nityananda Prabhu stayed at their house.






TEXT 44

nityananda-bhrtya----paramananda upadhyaya sri-jiva pandita nityananda-guna gaya

SYNONYMS

nityananda-bhrtya--servant of Nityananda Prabhu; paramananda upadhyaya--of the name Paramananda Upadhyaya; sri-jiva pandita--of the name Sri Jiva Pandita; nityananda--Lord Nityananda Prabhu; guna--qualities; gaya--glorified.

TRANSLATION

Paramananda Upadhyaya was Nityananda Prabhu's great servitor. Sri Jiva Pandita glorified the qualities of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.

PURPORT

Sri Paramananda Upadhyaya was an advanced devotee. His name is mentioned in the Caitanya-bhagavata, where Sri Jiva Pandita is also mentioned as the second son of Ratnagarbha Acarya and a childhood friend of Hadai Ojha, the father of Nityananda Prabhu. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 169, it is said that Sri Jiva Pandita was formerly the gopi named Indira.






TEXT 45

paramananda gupta----krsna-bhakta mahamati
purve yanra ghare nityanandera vasati

SYNONYMS

paramananda gupta--of the name Paramananda Gupta; krsna-bhakta--a great devotee of Lord Krsna; maha-mati--advanced in spiritual consciousness; purve--formerly; yanra--whose; ghare--in the house; nityanandera--of Lord Nityananda Prabhu; vasati--residence.

TRANSLATION

The thirty-first devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu was Paramananda Gupta, who was greatly devoted to Lord Krsna and highly advanced in spiritual consciousness. Formerly Nityananda Prabhu also resided at his house for some time.

PURPORT

Paramananda Gupta composed a prayer to Lord Krsna known as Krsna-stavavali. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verses 194 and 199, it is stated that he was formerly the gopi named Manjumedha.






TEXT 46

narayana, krsnadasa ara manohara
devananda----cari bhai nitai-kinkara

SYNONYMS

narayana--of the name Narayana; krsnadasa--of the name Krsnadasa; ara--and; manohara--of the name Manohara; devananda--of the name Devananda; cari bhai--four brothers; nitai-kinkara--servants of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

TRANSLATION

The thirty-second, thirty-third, thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth prominent devotees were Narayana, Krsnadasa, Manohara and Devananda, who always engaged in the service of Lord Nityananda.






TEXT 47

hoda krsnadasa----nityananda-prabhu-prana
nityananda-pada vinu nahi jane ana

SYNONYMS

hoda krsnadasa--of the name Hoda Krsnadasa; nityananda-prabhu--of Lord Nityananda; prana--life and soul; nityananda-pada--the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda; vinu--except; nahi--does not; jane--know; ana--anything else.

TRANSLATION

The thirty-sixth devotee of Lord Nityananda was Hoda Krsnadasa, whose life and soul was Nityananda Prabhu. He was always dedicated to the lotus feet of Nityananda, and he knew no one else but Him.

PURPORT

The residence of Krsnadasa Hoda was Badagachi, which is now in Bangladesh.






TEXT 48

nakadi, mukunda, surya, madhava, sridhara
ramananda vasu, jagannatha, mahidhara

SYNONYMS

nakadi--of the name Nakadi; mukunda--of the name Mukunda; surya--of the name Surya; madhava--of the name Madhava; sridhara--of the name Sridhara; ramananda vasu--of the name Ramananda Vasu; jagannatha--of the name Jagannatha; mahidhara--of the name Mahidhara.

TRANSLATION

Among Lord Nityananda's devotees, Nakadi was the thirty-seventh, Mukunda the thirty-eighth, Surya the thirty-ninth, Madhava the fortieth, Sridhara the forty-first, Ramananda the forty-second, Jagannatha the forty-third and Mahidhara the forty-fourth.

PURPORT

Sridhara was the twelfth gopala.






TEXT 49

srimanta, gokula-dasa hariharananda
sivai, nandai, avadhuta paramananda

SYNONYMS

sri-manta--of the name Srimanta; gokula-dasa--of the name Gokula dasa; hariharananda--of the name Hariharananda; sivai--of the name Sivai; nandai--of the name Nandai; avadhuta paramananda--of the name Avadhuta Paramananda.

TRANSLATION

Srimanta was the forty-fifth, Gokula dasa the forty-sixth, Hariharananda the forty-seventh, Sivai the forty-eighth, Nandai the forty-ninth and Paramananda the fiftieth.






TEXT 50

vasanta, navani hoda, gopala, sanatana
visnai hajara, krsnananda, sulocana

SYNONYMS

vasanta--of the name Vasanta; navani hoda--of the name Navani Hoda; gopala--of the name Gopala; sanatana--of the name Sanatana; visnai hajara--of the name Visnai Hajara; krsnananda--of the name Krsnananda; sulocana--of the name Sulocana.

TRANSLATION

Vasanta was the fifty-first, Navani Hoda the fifty-second, Gopala the fifty-third, Sanatana the fifty-fourth, Visnai the fifty-fifth, Krsnananda the fifty-sixth and Sulocana the fifty-seventh.

PURPORT

Navani Hoda appears to have been the same person as Hoda Krsnadasa, the son of the King of Badagachi. His father's name was Hari Hoda. One can visit Badagachi by taking the Lalagola-ghata railway line. Formerly the Ganges flowed by Badagachi, but now it has become a canal known as the Kalsira Khala. Near the Mudagacha station is a village known as Saligrama in which King Krsnadasa arranged for the marriage of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, as described in the Bhakti-ratnakara,(Twelfth Wave). It is sometimes said that Navani Hoda was the son of Raja Krsnadasa. His descendants still live in Rukunapura, a village near Bahiragachi. They belong to the daksina-radhiya-kayastha community, but, having been reformed as brahmanas, they still initiate all classes of men.






TEXT 51

kamsari sena, ramasena, ramacandra kaviraja
govinda, sriranga, mukunda, tina kaviraja

SYNONYMS

kamsari sena--of the name Kamsari Sena; ramasena--of the name Ramasena; ramacandra kaviraja--of the name Ramacandra Kaviraja; govinda--of the name Govinda; sriranga--of the name Sriranga; mukunda--of the name Mukunda; tina kaviraja--all three are Kavirajas, or physicians.

TRANSLATION

The fifty-eighth great devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu was Kamsari Sena, the fifty-ninth was Ramasena, the sixtieth was Ramacandra Kaviraja, and the sixty-first, sixty-second and sixty-third were Govinda, Sriranga and Mukunda, who were all physicians.

PURPORT

Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja, the son of Khandavasi Ciranjiva and Sunanda, was a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya and the most intimate friend of Narottama dasa Thakura, who prayed several times for his association. His youngest brother was Govinda Kaviraja. Srila Jiva Gosvami very much appreciated Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja's great devotion to Lord Krsna and therefore gave him the title Kaviraja. Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja, who was perpetually disinterested in family life, greatly assisted in the preaching work of Srinivasa Acarya and Narottama dasa Thakura. He resided at first in Srikhanda but later in the village of Kumara-nagara on the bank of the Ganges.

Govinda Kaviraja was the brother of Ramacandra Kaviraja and youngest son of Ciranjiva of Srikhanda. Although at first a sakta, or worshiper of Goddess Durga, he was later initiated by Srinivasa Acarya Prabhu. Govinda Kaviraja also resided first in Srikhanda and then in Kumara-nagara, but later he moved to the village known as Teliya Budhari, on the southern bank of the river Padma. Since Govinda Kaviraja, the author of two books, Sangita-madhava and Gitamrta, was a great Vaisnava kavi, or poet, Srila Jiva Gosvami gave him the title Kaviraja. He is described in the Bhakti-ratnakara (Ninth Wave).

Kamsari Sena was formerly Ratnavali in Vraja, as described in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verses 194 and 200.






TEXT 52

pitambara, madhavacarya, dasa damodara
sankara, mukunda, jnana-dasa, manohara

SYNONYMS

pitambara--of the name Pitambara; madhavacarya--of the name Madhavacarya; dasa damodara--of the name Damodara dasa; sankara--of the name Sankara; mukunda--of the name Mukunda; jnana-dasa--of the name Jnana dasa; manohara--of the name Manohara.

TRANSLATION

Among the devotees of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, Pitambara was the sixty-fourth, Madhavacarya the sixty-fifth, Damodara dasa the sixty-sixth, Sankara the sixty-seventh, Mukunda the sixty-eighth, Jnana dasa the sixty-ninth and Manohara the seventieth.






TEXT 53

nartaka gopala, ramabhadra, gauranga-dasa
nrsimha-caitanya, minaketana ramadasa

SYNONYMS

nartaka gopala--the dancer Gopala; ramabhadra--of the name Ramabhadra; gauranga-dasa--of the name Gauranga dasa; nrsimha-caitanya--of the name Nrsimha-caitanya; minaketana rama-dasa--of the name Minaketana Ramadasa.

TRANSLATION

The dancer Gopala was the seventy-first, Ramabhadra the seventy-second, Gauranga dasa the seventy-third, Nrsimha-caitanya the seventy-fourth and Minaketana Ramadasa the seventy-fifth.

PURPORT

The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 68, describes Minaketana Ramadasa as an incarnation of Sankarsana.






TEXT 54

vrndavana-dasa----narayanira nandana
'caitanya-mangala' yenho karila racana

SYNONYMS

vrndavana-dasa--Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura; narayanira nandana--son of Narayani; caitanya-mangala--the book of the name Caitanya-mangala; yenho--who; karila--did; racana--composition.

TRANSLATION

Vrndavana dasa Thakura, the son of Srimati Narayani, composed Sri Caitanya-mangala [later known as Sri Caitanya-bhagavata].






TEXT 55

bhagavate krsna-lila varnila vedavyasa
caitanya-lilate vyasa----vrndavana dasa

SYNONYMS

bhagavate--in Srimad-Bhagavatam; krsna-lila--the pastimes of Lord Krsna; varnila--described; veda-vyasa--Dvaipayana Vyasadeva; caitanya-lilate--in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya; vyasa--Vedavyasa; vrndavana dasa--Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura.

TRANSLATION

Srila Vyasadeva described the pastimes of Krsna in Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Vyasa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Vrndavana dasa.

PURPORT

Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura was an incarnation of Vedavyasa and also a friendly cowherd boy named Kusumapida in krsna-lila. In other words, the author of Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura, the son of Srivasa Thakura's niece Narayani, was a combined incarnation of Vedavyasa and the cowherd boy Kusumapida. There is a descriptive statement by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in his commentary on Sri Caitanya-bhagavata giving the biographical details of the life of Vrndavana dasa Thakura.






TEXT 56

sarvasakha-srestha virabhadra gosani
tanra upasakha yata, tara anta nai

SYNONYMS

sarva-sakha-srestha--the best of all the branches; virabhadra gosani--of the name Virabhadra Gosani; tanra upasakha--His subbranches; yata--all; tara--of them; anta--limit; nai--there is not.

TRANSLATION

Among all the branches of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Virabhadra Gosani was the topmost. His subbranches were unlimited.






TEXT 57

ananta nityananda-gana----ke karu ganana
atma-pavitrata-hetu likhilan kata jana

SYNONYMS

ananta--unlimited; nityananda-gana--followers of Sri Nityananda Prabhu; ke karu--who can; ganana--count; atma-pavitrata--of self-purification; hetu--for the reason; likhilan--I have written; kata jana--some of them.

TRANSLATION

No one can count the unlimited followers of Nityananda Prabhu. I have mentioned some of them just for my self-purification.






TEXT 58

ei sarva-sakha purna----pakva prema-phale
yare dekhe, tare diya bhasaila sakale

SYNONYMS

ei--these; sarva-sakha--all branches; purna--complete; pakva prema-phale--with ripened fruits of love of Godhead; yare dekhe--whomever they see; tare diya--distributing to him; bhasaila--overflooded; sakale--all of them.

TRANSLATION

All these branches, the devotees of Lord Nityananda Prabhu, being full of ripened fruits of love of Krsna, distributed these fruits to all they met, flooding them with love of Krsna.






TEXT 59

anargala prema sabara, cesta anargala
prema dite, krsna dite dhare mahabala

SYNONYMS

anargala--unchecked; prema--love of Krsna; sabara--of everyone of them; cesta--activity; anargala--unchecked; prema dite--to give love of Krsna; krsna dite--to deliver Krsna; dhare--they possess; mahabala--great strength.

TRANSLATION

All these devotees had unlimited strength to deliver unobstructed, unceasing love of Krsna. By their own strength they could offer anyone Krsna and love of Krsna.

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung, krsna se tomara, krsna dite para, tomara sakati ache. In this song, Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes that a pure Vaisnava, as the proprietor of Krsna and love of Krsna, can deliver both to anyone and everyone he likes. Therefore to get Krsna and love of Krsna one must seek the mercy of pure devotees. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura also says, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatih kuto 'pi: "By the mercy of the spiritual master one is blessed by the mercy of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master one cannot make any advancement." By the grace of a Vaisnava or bona fide spiritual master one can get both love of Godhead, Krsna, and Krsna Himself.






TEXT 60

sanksepe kahilan ei nityananda-gana
yanhara avadhi na paya 'sahasra-vadana'

SYNONYMS

sanksepe--in brief; kahilan--described; ei--these; nityananda-gana--devotees of Lord Nityananda; yanhara--of whom; avadhi--limitation; na--does not; paya--get; sahasra-vadana--the thousand-mouthed Sesa Naga, on whom Lord Visnu lies.

TRANSLATION

I have briefly described only some of the followers and devotees of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Even the thousand-mouthed Sesa Naga cannot describe all of these unlimited devotees.






TEXT 61

sri-rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa

SYNONYMS

sri-rupa--Srila Rupa Gosvami; raghunatha--Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami; pade--at the lotus feet; yara--whose; asa--expectation; caitanya-caritamrta--the book named Caitanya-caritamrta; kahe--describes; krsna-dasa--Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami.

TRANSLATION

With an ardent desire to serve the purpose of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunatha, I, Krsnadasa, narrate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, following in their footsteps.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Eleventh Chapter, in the matter of the expansions of Lord Nityananda.


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