Category Archives: Early pastimes of Chaitanya

Goradaha (Gaura-daha) | Lord Gauranga’s Lake, Gadigacha (Godrumadvipa) | Mahaprabhu and the crocodile

(An excerpt from Sri Jagadananda Pandita’s ‘Sri Prema Vivarta‘)

(Sri Jagadananda Pandita says) I write whatever pastimes of Lord Gauranga come to my mind, even if they are not in proper chronological sequence.

Gauranga’s Prasada (Food remnants)

One day mother Saci, very affectionately, handed me over the plate containing Lord Gauranga’s food remains.
I was delighted to taste Lord Gauranga’s prasad and it appeared just like nectar.
Will I ever be able to relish such delicious food again? Mother Saci cooked foodstuffs with wild spinach (abona Acyuta Sak), banana flowers (mocha ghanta), edible roots (Kachu Sak) with balls of fried pulses, manchaki, nimba patal, and patties of fried pulses in yoghurt (dadhi-bari).

Visiting the village of Gadigacha

Having happily enjoyed my feast, I moved like a swan in the company of Nityananda, Gauranga, and their associates. Traversing along the bank of the Ganges, and chanting the holy names of Lord Hari, we finally reached the village of Gadigacha.
Sri Govinda Ghosh played Mridanga while Sri Vasudeva Ghosh chanted Harinama. Sri Gadadhara Pandita and Vakresvar danced to the tunes. Hearing the sound of ‘Haribol’, there was cheering in all directions. Everyone was intoxicated in divine love with Gauranga.
I do not know how to sing or dance. Yet I dance with my arms upraised. This is occurring because Lord Gauranga has entered my body and is driving me to do so.
I have no sense of tune or rhythm. Yet I continue to dance and sing. I do not know how my moon-like Gauranga reasons.

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Gaura Purnima Pastimes -Divine appearance of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

gaura purnima

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, had mercifully appeared at Yogpeeth (in Mayapur) about 500 years ago (in the year 1486 AD). This day is celebrated as ‘Gaura Purnima’ by the Gaudiya Vaishnava devotees worldwide. The word ‘Yoga’ means ‘connection’ and the term ‘Yogpeeth’ denotes the place where the Supreme Lord connects with or descends into this material world. The identity of Lord Chaitanya as the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be verified in several Vedic scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, Garuda Purana, Nrsimha Purana, Padma Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Narada Purana, etc. We are quoting just two of such references below, for the pleasure of the devotees.

aham purno bhavisyami yuga sandhyau visesatah
mayapure navadvipe bhavisyami saci sutah
(Garuda Purana)

Translation – In the future, in first part of Kali yuga, I shall appear in my complete spiritual form at Mayapura, Navadvipa and become the son of Saci.

The mission of the Lord, along with a description of His golden complexion and how He descends with His confidential associates in this age of Kali, to initiate the Sankirtana Yajna is revealed in Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) –

Krishna varnam tvishakrishnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32)

Gaura Purnima – The dire situation of Navadvipa before Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had appeared:

Before Sri Chaitanya had appeared in Navadvipa, its residents were largely preoccupied with material pursuits. People were egoistic about their material possessions and lacking in God consciousness. Those who engaged in discussing Bhagavad Gita or Srimad Bhagavatam, did not touch upon its essence of devotional service. The holy names of Krishna were nowhere to be heard in the entire town of Navadvipa. Being absorbed in the illusory potency of the Lord, people remained in forgetfulness of their eternal master. They misused their wealth in extravagant wedding ceremonies of their children. 

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Kolavecha Sridhara and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | Mischievous Nimai – Part 4

kolavecha

According to Sri Gaura Gannodesha Deepika, Kolavecha Sridhara is none other than the incarnation of Kusumasavah, one of the twelve famous cowherd boys (Dvadasha Gopala) of Vrindavana. Sridhara was his name and he was nicknamed ‘Kolavecha’, as he traded banana and banana products for a living (‘kola’ translates to banana’ in Bengali). In Mahaprabhu’s nectarean pastimes, Kolavecha was a very poor man, who wore shredded clothes and lived in a broken hut with leaks in the roof. Kolavecha was so impoverished that he slept on the floor and drank from a broken water pot. Lord Chaitanya was very fond of Kolavecha and devised new means of teasing him daily. In this way, Nimai engaged in mischievous pastimes with His beloved servant.

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Nimai spoils Murari Gupta’s lunch | Nimai’s rage | Mischievous Nimai – Part 3

Nimai’s fit of Rage :

One day, before going to bathe, Lord Chaitanya revealed His desire to worship mother Ganges. Hence He asked for a nice flower garland and some sandalwood paste from His mother. Saci devi requested Nimai to wait for some time as she would have to go and bring the requisite puja paraphernalia. As soon as Nimai discovered that it would take some time to procure the garland, He grew enraged.

Janani kahen – ‘Baap shuno mon diya,
Khaneka apeksha kara , mala ani giya’
‘Ani giya’ yei matra shunila vachana
Krodhe rudra hailen Saci-ra nandana
–
Mother Saci replied -’My dear, please hear attentively. Please wait for sometime as I go and bring the flower garlands’. As soon as Nimai heard the words ‘Let me go and bring’, He became enraged. He appeared as angry as Rudra (Lord Shiva).
(Chiatanya Bhagavat, Adi, 8.129-130)

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Saci Mata’s Sashti puja | Lord Chaitanya teases the residents of Navadvipa | Mischievous Nimai – Part 2

‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ proudly presents to you the Mischievous pastimes enacted by Nimai of Nadia. In the second article of this series, we shall endeavor to recite the naughty playful pastimes of Lord Viswambhara where He taunts and teases His friends, His family and the other residents of Navadvipa. 

Saci mata performs Sashti Puja :

Sri Chaitanya Mangala recites an enchanting pastime concerning Sri Saci devi’s desire to perform Sashti Puja along with the neighborhood ladies. Accordingly, she gathered the required paraphernalia and the foodstuffs for the worship. It is worthwhile mentioning at this point that Sashti is a demigoddess who protects the children and hence it is a common practice in Bengal that mothers pray to her for their child’s safety. Covering the puja paraphernalia with the end of her saree, Saci Mata proceeded towards the banyan tree where these were to be subsequently offered. Just then, Nimai, who was playing nearby, came over to see what His mother was carrying. Nimai opened His arms and obstructed Saci devi’s way. Little Nimai was impatient to know what His mother was carrying. Saci devi then explained to Him that she was taking foodstuffs to be offered unto mother Sashti and directed Nimai to play over there until she returned. She also assured Nimai of sweets (Sandesh) and bananas upon her return. She added that she would plead for the boon that Nimai gets relieved from all afflictions and inauspiciousness.

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‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ proudly presents to you the Mischievous pastimes enacted by Nimai of Nadia. In the second article of this series, we shall endeavor to recite the naughty playful pastimes of Lord Viswambhara where He taunts and teases His friends, His family and the other residents of Navadvipa. 

Saci mata performs Sashti Puja :

Sri Chaitanya Mangala recites an enchanting pastime concerning Sri Saci devi’s desire to perform Sashti Puja along with the neighborhood ladies. Accordingly, she gathered the required paraphernalia and the foodstuffs for the worship. It is worthwhile mentioning at this point that Sashti is a demigoddess who protects the children and hence it is a common practice in Bengal that mothers pray to her for their child’s safety. Covering the puja paraphernalia with the end of her saree, Saci Mata proceeded towards the banyan tree where these were to be subsequently offered. Just then, Nimai, who was playing nearby, came over to see what His mother was carrying. Nimai opened His arms and obstructed Saci devi’s way. Little Nimai was impatient to know what His mother was carrying. Saci devi then explained to Him that she was taking foodstuffs to be offered unto mother Sashti and directed Nimai to play over there until she returned. She also assured Nimai of sweets (Sandesh) and bananas upon her return. She added that she would plead for the boon that Nimai gets relieved from all afflictions and inauspiciousness.

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Mischievous Nimai – Part 1 | Lord Chaitanya plays mischief at the Ganges

Mischievous Nimai

‘The Gaudiya Treasures of Bengal’ proudly presents to you the Mischievous pastimes enacted by Nimai of Nadia. In the first article of this series, we shall try to describe the enchanting pastimes of Lord Gaurahari on the bank of mother Ganges. As Lord Vishwambhara grew up, He absorbed Himself in the restless mood of a young boy and engaged Himself in manifesting mischievous pastimes with other young brahmana boys of Navadvipa. Little Nimai could not be restrained. He would taunt other boys and pick up fights with them. He would always win a quarrel as He was more powerful than anyone else. The coverings of dust and spots of ink seemed to enhance the beauty of Little Nimai’s golden effulgent form. Every day after finishing His studies at noon, Nimai would go and happily bathe in the holy Ganges. Countless people, including householders, sannyasis, distinguished gentlemen and children would accompany the Lord in these water pastimes. The young boys splashed water towards each other. Who can estimate the endless fortune of these people? Mahaprabhu would sometimes float, sometimes swim inside the water and engage in numerous sporting activities. The water that washed the lotus feet of Lord Gaurahari, the supreme personality of Godhead, would touch the body of these supremely fortunate people of Navadvipa.

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