Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Book Compilation

By His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on 8th January 2021 in

Śrīdhāma Māyāpur, India

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram

hariḥ oṁ tat sat

Introduction: Today we are continuing with the compilation of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya book, today’s chapter entitled:

Lord Caitanya Decides to Travel to All Holy Tīrthas

Under the Section, Lord Caitanya Begins His Travels to South India

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.3

māghe sannyāsa, phālgune purī-dhāme vāsa, caitre sārvabhaumoddhāra, vaiśākhe dākṣiṇātya-bhramaṇecchā :—

ei-mate sārvabhaumera nistāra karila
dakṣiṇa-gamane prabhura icchā upajila

Translation: After delivering Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, the Lord desired to go to South India to preach.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.4

māgha-śukla-pakṣe prabhu karila sannyāsa
phālgune āsiyā kaila nīlācale vāsa

Translation: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the renounced order during the waxing fortnight of the month of Māgha. During the following month, Phālguna, He went to Jagannātha Purī and resided there.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.5

phālgunera śeṣe dola-yātrā se dekhila
premāveśe tāṅhā bahu nṛtya-gīta kaila

Translation: At the end of the month of Phālguna, He witnessed the Dola-yātrā ceremony, and in His usual ecstatic love of God, He chanted and danced in various ways on the occasion.

Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 7.6

caitre rahi’ kaila sārvabhauma-vimocana
vaiśākhera prathame dakṣiṇa yāite haila mana

Translation: During the month of Caitra, while living at Jagannātha Purī, the Lord delivered Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and at the beginning of the next month (Vaiśākha), He decided to go to South India.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, these verses tell the chronology of how He is taking sannyasa, going to Jagannātha Purī and staying in Jagannātha Purī and delivering Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, and after attending the dola yātrā deciding to go to South India. So, these verses talk about the chronology, happening very quickly one after the next. Māgha month is the winter in India and Vaiśākha is the spring.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.13.1-2

evaṁ katipayaṁ kālaṁ krīḍitvā saha vaiṣṇavaiḥ
śrī-kāśīnātha-miśreṇa vaiṣṇavāgryeṇa dhīmatā
saṁmantrya bhagavān kṛṣṇas tīrthānāṁ pāvanecchayā
pūṇyānya-kṣetra-gamane matiṁ cakre mahā-dyutiḥ

Translation: Gaura Krsṇa then accepted an invitation to reside in the home of the intelligent and exalted vaiṣṇava, Kāśīnātha Miśra. The reservoir of limitless opulence, then passed some time in sportive pastimes with the Vaiṣṇavas. Then, desiring to purify the tīrthas, He resolved to leave Śrī Kṣetra, the land of Jagannātha Svāmī.

Jayapatākā Swami: We got to tīrthas to get purified, He goes to tīrtha to purify it. Pilgrims visiting the holy places leave their sinful reactions behind. When the Lord visited, he would liberate those sinful reactions and purify the holy tīrthas.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.13.3

tato gatvā jagannāthaṁ dṛṣṭvā śrī-puruṣottamam
natvā taṁ bhakti-bhāvena netra-dhārā-pariplutaḥ

Translation: Thus He went to see Lord Jagannātha. When He saw that best of males, He bowed down before Him with ardent devotion and became drenched by torrents of tears.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 3.13.4

uvāca madhurāṁ vāṇīṁ sa-gadgada-girā hariḥ
kṛtāñjali-puṭaḥ prema-paripūrṇa-suvigrahaḥ

Translation:  Śrī Gaura Hari, whose noble form is the ultimate consummation of kṛṣṇaprema, with hands folded in supplication, falteringly addressed Jagannātha Svāmī with these charming words:

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 13.5

deva tvat-kṣetra-vāse me nādhikāro yato’bhavat
tato’nya-kṣetra-gamane matir me jāyate prabho

Translation: “O Divine Lord, because I am not worthy to reside in Your holy land, a desire has arisen in My heart to visit other lands.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 13.6-7

vaktraṁ rākāpati-prakhyaṁ śarat-paṅkaja-locanam
dīrgha-bimbauṣṭha-radana-cchadaṁ sādhu-suvakṣasam
dṛṣṭvā kasya mano yāti kṣetrāntara-gatau hare
tasmān nāsty atra me deva sthitau te tādṛśī kṛpā

Translation: “Your face is bright as the lord of the night. Your eyes resemble the blossoming lotuses of autumn. Your wide lips, red as bimba fruit, hide pearl-like teeth. How sublime! Who, having beheld Your broad chest, can desire to go to any other land? Therefore, O Lord Hari, You have not bestowed very great mercy on Me.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 13.8

kṣetrāṇy anyāni gacchāmi tava draṣṭuṁ janārdana
tathā māṁ kuru me deva yathā tīrtham ahaṁ vraje

Translation: “O Janārdana, who inspires the hearts of all, I am going to see Your other kṣetras. O Divine Lord! Bless Me with the power to wander throughout the holy places.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 13.9

yāvat syāc cañcalaṁ cittaṁ na syād yāvat sunirmalam
tāvat tīrthāni puṇyāni vicaret sarvataḥ pumān

Translation: “As long as his mind is flickering and is not fully purified, a man should wander throughout all the holy tīrthas.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 13.10

tataḥ sunirmale citte sthira-dhīḥ puruṣottame
nivāsaṁ kurute nityaṁ pathikaḥ svāśrame yathā

Translation: “Then, when his mind is fully purified, he should return and perpetually reside in Śrī Puruṣottama-dhāma with fixed determination, as a traveler happily returns to his own āśrama.”

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 13.11

evaṁ vadati caitanye grīvāyāś cānulambitam
mālyaṁ papāta kṛṣṇasya pāda-siṁhāsanopari

Translation: As Śrī Caitanya was thus speaking, a garland hanging from Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s neck fell to the foot of His lion-seat.

Murāri Gupta Kaḍaca 13.12

pratihārī tad ādāya jagannāthājñayā mudā
dadau prasāda-rūpaṁ tan mālyaṁ caitanya-mūrdhani

Translation: Then the attendant priest, in accordance with Jagannātha Svāmī’s order, joyously placed that garland upon the head of Śrī Caitanya as a sign of the Lord’s blessing.

Jayapatākā Swami: When the deities drop some flower or garland, that is a sign that They are blessing the devotees, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja wanted the blessing to write the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, the deities dropped the garland. Lord Caitanya wanted to go to South India to visit all the holy places throughout India and come and reside in Jagannātha Purī, Lord Jagannātha dropped His flower garland, which was a sign of blessing for Lord Caitanya.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.94

aṣṭādaśāhāni sa tatra nītvā
vilokya taṁ devam atīva-harṣāt
pracakrame caṅkramaṇāya nātho
vimohayan kāṁścana viprayogaiḥ

Translation: Spending eighteen days there, Mahāprabhu saw Jagannātha in great joy and, bewildering the devotees with separation, prepared to leave.

Caitanya Carita Mahā Kāvya 12.95

dṛṣṭvā jagannātha-mahāprabhuṁ taṁ
mahāprabhur gaura-sudhā-mayūkhaḥ
ādāya tasyaiva nideśam ādau
yayau pramodād diśi dakṣiṇasyām

Translation: After seeing the great Lord Jagannātha, Mahāprabhu, effulgent as gold nectar, took his permission and departed for the south in joy.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.1

(tataḥ praviśati sārvabhaumaḥ)

(Sarvabhauma enters).

sārvabhaumaḥ: aho, katham adyāsamaya eva gajapatinā samāhūto’smi | tad ucitam upasarpitum | (ity upasarpati |)

Sarvabhauma: Why has Mahārāja Prataparudra called for me at this unusual hour? I must go to him. (He walks).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.2

(tataḥ praviśati rājā, abhitaś ca parivāraḥ |)

(Accompanied by his associates, the king enters).

rājā: kaḥ ko’tra bhoḥ? samāhūyatāṁ bhaṭṭācāryaḥ |

The King: Who is here? Who is here? Summon the Bhaṭṭācārya.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.3

(upasṛtya) bhaṭṭācāryaḥ: eṣo’ham anāhvānenaivāgataḥ |

Bhattacarya: (approaching) It is I. I have come in response to your call.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.4

rājā (praṇamya): idam āsanam | āsyatām |

The King: (bowing down to offer respects) Here is a seat. Please sit down.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.5

(bhaṭṭācārya āśiṣaṁ prayujyāsanam adhyāste |)

(The Bhattacarya first blesses the king, and then sits down).

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.6

bhaṭṭācārya, śrutaṁ mayā ko’pi mahā-prabhāvaḥ parama-kāruṇiko yatīndraḥ samprati gauḍād āgato’sti |

The King: Bhaṭṭācārya, I have heard that a very exalted and merciful sannyāsī has come here from Bengal.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.7

bhaṭṭācāryaḥ: atha kim |

Bhattacarya: Yes. It is so.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.8

rājā: kathaṁ mayā tasya caraṇa-vandanaṁ kriyate |

The King: How may I offer respects to His feet?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.9

bhaṭṭācāryaḥ : idaṁ tv atidurghaṭam | virala-pracārāṇāṁ teṣāṁ niṣkiñcanenaiva darśanaṁ labhyate | tatrāpi dina-katipayāny adya dakṣiṇasyāṁ diśi calitāḥ santi |

Bhattacarya: That is difficult to attain. He lives a secluded life and allows only those in the renounced order to see Him. Also, for some days He has been travelling in the south.

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.10

rājā: kim iti jagannātha-mahāprabhoḥ samīpaṁ vihāya calitavantaḥ ?

The King: Why would He leave Lord Jagannātha and go travelling?

Caitanya Candrodaya Nāṭaka 7.11

bhaṭṭācāryaḥ: tīrthīkurvanti tīrthāni svāntaḥsthena gadā-bhṛtā [bhā.pu. 1.13.10] iti sāmānyānām eva mahatām ayaṁ nisargaḥ | ayaṁ tu bhagavān eva svayam |

Bhattacarya: The śāstra says:

tīrthī-kurvanti tīrthāni
svāntaḥ-sthena gadābhṛtā

“My Lord, devotees like Your good self are verily holy places personified. Because you carry the Personality of Godhead within your heart, you turn all places into places of pilgrimage.” *

This is the nature of general saintly persons. And He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, as we said before one of the pastimes of the Lord is to purify the holy places. During the Kuruksetra war, Lord Balarāma visited the holy places and therefore He visited the holy places and purified them. He also came to Māyāpur and He liberated the Māyāsura demon. Lord Jagannātha, Baladeva and Subadrā are still present in Simantadvīpa.

Gaurāṅga-līlā Smaraṇa Maṅgala Stotra 43

tatroṣitvā katipaya-divā dakṣiṇātyaṁ jagāma

Translation: After staying for some days at Jagannātha Purī, the Lord travelled to south India.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, this is how the decision was made and His majesty Prataprudra just missed Lord Caitanya.

So, tomorrow is Saphala Ekādaśī, the Kṛṣṇa paksa, Pausa masa, and it is very good to read the glories to different Ekādaśī. Just by hearing the glories, one also gets spiritual benefits. I wonder how many devotees will observe this Saphala Ekādaśī fully and offer the results for my good health? Every Ekādaśī has some specialty, this Ekādaśī it is especially recommended to offer Kṛṣṇa whatever fruits are available. In that way, once the son of a great king, a crown prince, he had become very sinful and offensive. He was rejected by the king and he was sent to the forest to live, His name was Lumpaka. Somehow, he accidentally observed this Saphala Ekādaśī, and he was so purified that he became a pure devotee and then he could return back to his king and take up the royal duties. So it is a very special Ekādaśī, and it is the system to offer the fruits to anyone. Of course sometime some Ekādaśīs, the king offererd the result to His father and as a result the father got liberated from hell, and was elevated to the spiritual world. On this Ekādaśī, the person Lumpaka he purified himself. Anyway all the days of Ekādaśīs are very special. Once Śrīla Prabhupāda told us to fast from grains, pulses and cereals, so there is some calculation. Since we are following Śrīla Prabhupāda, I don’t know how it falls, but in some ways you can get 50% and if you follow fully, staying awake, and chanting all night you get 100%. Anyway one does. And I also want to thank all the devotees who are offering Nrsiṁha Kavaca, extra rounds, for my health. Some medicines just arrived from USA. So in a short time I have to retire, we are going to see some devotees quickly.

Thus ends the chapter entitled, Lord Caitanya Decides to Travel to All Holy Tīrthas.

Transcribed and Verified by JPS Archives team, 08th January 2021