Sri Isvara Puri
Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has described in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta that
the first sprout of the desire tree of devotion was manifested in the person of
Sri Madhavendra Puri, and that that sprout developed into a sapling in the
person of Sri Isvar Puri. Then, in the person of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who
was also the gardener Himself, that sapling become the trunk of a enormous tree,
the desire tree of devotion. [C. C. Adi 9.10-11]
Sri Isvara Puri appeared in this world on the full moon day of the month of
Jyestha. He served his guru, Sri Madhavendra Puri, very faithfully, especially
during the end of Sri Puripada's life. [C. C. Antya 8.26]
Sri Isvara Puri, in his travels to various holy places, once came to Sridhama
Navadwipa, where he stayed in the house of Sri Gopinatha Acarya. At that time
Sri Nimai Pandita was absorbed in His pastimes of learning. Iswara Puri entered
Nadiya nagara in disguise and thus no one could understand who he really was.
"That noble minded gentleman, was always absorbed in the mellows of devotion to
Sri Krsna. He was thus extremely dear to Sri Krsna and he was an ocean of mercy.
No one, however, could recognize him by his dress. By the will of fate, he came
to Sri Advaita Acarya's house." [C. B. Adi 11]
He came to where Sri Advaita Acarya was engaged in worshipping Sri Krsna and
quietly sat down there. By his divine lustre one Vaishnava cannot remain hidden
from another. Advaita Acarya began to look in his direction again and again.
Finally he asked him: "Bap! Who are you? I have a feeling you are a Vaishnava
sannyasi."
Sri Isvara Puri very humbly replied: "I am a low class shudra, come to view your
lotus feet." Mukunda Datta, who was also present could also understand that this
is a Vaishnava sannyasi and thus he contrived to expose him. In his sweet voice,
he began a kirtana describing Sri Krsna's pastimes. When Sri Isvara Puri heard
that kirtan he at once fell to the ground, and the earth beneath him became wet
with his tears. The devotees present were dumbstruck. "We haven't seen a
Vaishnava like this before."
Advaita Acarya very firmly embraced him. Now everyone could understand that this
is Madhavendra Puri's dearmost disciple, Sri Isvar Puri. Loud shouts of "Hari!
Hari!" rose up into the air.
Sri Isvara Puri remained at Navadwipa for some days. One day when Nimai Pandita
was returning home from the school, he happened by chance to meet Sri Isvara
Puri on the way. Sri Isvara Puri was as though mesmerized while looking at the
son of Saci, and thought to himself, "He has all the indications of being a
divine personage, and appears very grave indeed."
Srila Isvara Puri inquired, "Oh Viprabori ! May I know your name? Where do you
live? What is that manuscript in Your hand?" Mahaprabhu very humbly offered His
namaskar. Some of his disciples replied, "His name is Nimai Pandit." Exclaiming,
"You are the famous Nimai Pandita!" Isvara Puri felt very happy to meet Him.
Mahaprabhu, coming forward and bowing his head, humbly requested, "Sripada,
please come with Me to My house and be My guest for lunch."
Isvara Puri thought to himself, "What a pleasant demeanour He has!" As though
charmed by some mantra he quietly came along with the Pandit to His house.
Arriving there, Mahaprabhu personally washed his feet, while in the Deity room,
Saci Mata offered the various preparations that she had prepared to the Lord.
Then Mahaprabhu served that prasadam to Sri Isvara Puri and afterwards accepted
his remnants. Thereafter they sat in the temple (Visnu grha) and discussed
Krsna-katha, by which they both became filled with ecstatic love.
Sri Iswara Puri thus remained at Navadwipa for a few months, staying at the
house of Sri Gopinatha Acarya. Everyday Mahaprabhu would come to have darshan of
his lotus feet and occasionally He would invite him for lunch. At that time
Srila Gadadhara Pandita was just a young boy and Isvara Puri was very
affectionate to him. He began to teach him from the book which he had composed
"Sri Krsna Lilamrta".
One evening when Mahaprabhu had come to offer His obeisances to Isvara Puri,
Srila Puripada spoke to him, "You are a great pandita. I have composed a
manuscript about Sri Krsna's pastimes. If you would please hear it, then I can
recite it before You, and You can correct any mistakes that there might be. I
will be very pleased if You do this."
Mahaprabhu replied smilingly, "Whatever a devotee speaks is dictated by Sri
Krsna Himself. If anyone sees any fault in this then he is simply a sinful
wretch. Whatever poems he composes, certainly Krsna is very pleased by that.
Krsna accepts the mood in which things are offered as the most substantial part
of the offering." To Isvara Puri these words were like drops of nectar and he
could understand that Sri Nimai Pandita was an extraordinary person. After
passing some days in Nadia, Isvara Puri continued his tour of the holy places.
Meanwhile Mahaprabhu was bringing His pastimes of learning to a close and now
desired to reveal His true Self and establish the religion of the age by
distributing love of Godhead through the chanting of His Holy Names. Thus He
came to Gaya, ostensibly to offer pinda for His departed father and
forefathers. Sri Isvara Puri was present at that time at Gaya. After having
offered pinda at the various holy shrines, he finally came to the place where
the lotus footprints of Sri Visnu are. While taking darshan and hearing of the
glories of the shrine Mahaprabhu fainted and fell to the ground. By the
arrangement of Providence, Sri Isvara Puri happened to come to that spot just
then and learned from Sri Candrashekar Acarya what had transpired. After a short
time Mahaprabhu regained His consciousness, and seeing Isvara Puri He got up to
offer His obeisances. Sri Isvara Puri embraced Him and the two of them were
drenched by each others tears of love.
Mahaprabhu addressed Isvara Puri, "My journey to Gaya is successful just by My
seeing your lotus feet. If one offers Pinda at this holy place, then his
forefathers become delivered. But simply by seeing you, tens of millions of
forefathers get liberation. Therefore your presence is even more auspicious than
that of this holy tirtha. All of the holy tirthas pray for the dust of your
lotus feet. Therefore, O Puripada, I am praying at your lotus feet to ferry me
across the ocean of material existence and to cause me to drink the nectar from
Krsna's lotus feet."
Srila Isvara Puri replied, "Please hear me Panditji, I have understood that You
are an incarnation of the Supreme Lord. This morning I saw a very auspicious
dream and now that has actually materialized. From the first day I saw you at
Navadwipa, I have always thought of You. I get such pleasure by seeing You, as
much pleasure as I get by seeing Krsna."
Hearing this, Mahaprabhu bowed his head and smilingly replied, "This is my great
fortune."
On another day Mahaprabhu approached Sri Isvar Puri and requested that he
initiate Him with the divine mantra. "My mind is becoming very restless in
anticipation of this initiation. "Srila Puripada very blissfully replied, "What
to speak of mantras, I am prepared to offer You my very life." [C. B. Adi 17.10]
Thereafter Srila Isvara Puri initiated Mahaprabhu with the divine mantra.
One morning Srila Isvara Puri came to where Mahaprabhu was staying. Mahaprabhu
was extremely pleased to see him and after offering His obeisances He invited
him to stay for lunch. Isvara Puri replied that, "Being able to accept
foodstuffs from Your hand is a matter of great fortune for me." Mahaprabhu
Himself cooked and then very carefully served His guru the prasadam. Afterwards
he smeared sandalwood paste on his body and put a garland of flowers around his
neck. Thus the Supreme Lord Himself taught how one should serve his guru.
Without serving the great devotees, it is not possible to receive love of
Godhead. Service to the guru is the door to devotion.
On his return from Gaya, Mahaprabhu came by way of Kumarhatta, the birthplace of
His guru, and began to roll on the ground in ecstasy there, as the ground became
wet with His tears. Finally He collected some dust from that holy place and
bound it in the corner of his upper garment, saying, "This dust is as dear to me
as My life." then he set out for Navadwipa.
The birthplace of Srila Isvara Puri is located within the present town of
Halyahor, which is near the Kanchra-para rail station, which is on the Sealdah -Krsnanagar
line. One should get down at Kanchra-para station and then proceed by rickshaw
to Caitanya Doha. Doha means pond, which is what was created when many followers
of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, following in His footsteps, came here and collected
earth from the birthplace of Srila Isvara Puri.
Thereafter Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa and by the order of His mother came to
live at Jagannath Puri. By this time Isvara Puri had already left this world. He
sent two of his disciples Sri Govinda and Kasisvara brahmacari to serve the Lord
at Nilacala.
Note: Special thanks to Jaya Tirtha Caran prabhu from NZ for allowing
us to use some of the content from his site to compile these pages -
http://www.hknet.org.nz
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