Sri Srivasa Pandita
asyaartho vivrtas tair yah
sa sankshipyaa vilikhyate
bhakta-rupo gaurachandro
yato 'sau nandanandanah
bhakta-swarupo nityanando
vraje yah sri-halayudhah
bhaktaavatara acaryo
'dvaito yah sri-sadaasivah
bhaktaakhyaah srinivaasaadyaa
yatas te bhakta-rupinah
bhakta-shaktir dvi jaagranyah
sri-gadaadhara-panditah
"I shall now summarily explain the meaning of these words. In this Pancha-tattwa,
the bhakta-rupa (form of a devotee) is Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who formerly
appeared as Sri Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaj. The bhakta-swarupa
(devotional incarnation) is Lord Nityananda, who formerly appeared in Vrajabhumi
as Lord Balarama. The bhaktaavatara (devotional manifestation) is Lord Advaita
Acarya, who is not different from Sadaashiva. The bhataakhya (pure devotee) is
Srinivasa and other great devotees as well. The bhakta-shakti (devotional
energy) is Gadadhara Pandita, the foremost of brahmanas." (Gaura Ganodesh Dipika
11.)
sri-visvambharaadvaita-
nityanandaavadhutahah
atra trayah samunneyaa
vighraha prabhavaash ca te
eko mahaaprabhur jneyah
sri-caitanya dayaambudhih
prabhu dvau sri-yutau nityaa-
nandaadvaitau mahaashayau
goswaamino vighrash ca
te dvi jaash ca gadaadharah
pancha-tattwaatmaka ete
srinivaasas ca panditah
"Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda Avadhuta, and Lord Advaita, are all
incarnations of the supremly exalted Personality of Godhead, and They are all
known by the title Prabhu (Master). Among Them, Lord Chaitanya, Who is an ocean
of mercy, is known as Mahaprabhu (The Great Master), and the great personalities
Lord Nityananda and Lord Advaita are known only as Prabhu (Master). All three
are also known as Goswami (Master of the Senses). Gadaadhara is called by the
title Dvija (Brahmana, and Srinivaasa is called by the title Pandita (Learned
Scholar). These are the titles of the members of the Pancha-tattwa." (Gaura
Ganodesha Dipika 13.)
"O my Lord Gaurahari, You are the abode of auspiciousness which is as beautiful
as the kirtana of Krsna. You are the ocean of elegance, bestower of constant
flow of devotion and mountain of love which is as bright as gold. Your beautiful
features give soothing relief to the eyes of every living being and you are
mankind's salvation from all kinds of misfortune. You are the center of the Lila
Vilasa, and the life of the devotees. Be kind to me." (Bhakti-ratnakara. KJÄ1.)
"O my Prabhu, Sri Gopala Bhatta, the bee at the lotus like feet of Sri Gaura.
You are the sun which destroys the darkness of illusion, the ocean of kindness
and the greatest of all the brahmanas. You are the son of Sri Venkata Bhatta and
a valuable ornament of divine love and devotion. You are the destroyer of
worldly miseries and a resort of happiness to the misery stricken people. O Lord
save me." (Bhakti-ratnakara. KJÄ.2.)
"O my Prabhu, Srila Gopala Bhatta, a bee at the lotus like feet of Mahaprabhu.
You are the most skillful devotee of the Lord. O my Prabhu Srinivasa, whose
complexion is as golden as Sri Sacinandana, you are the king amongst all the
brahmanas. Please bless me." (Bhakti-ratnakara. KJÄ3.)
"I constantly worship the companions of Srinivasa Prabhu who is like the wishing
tree of devotional love of Sri Krsna Caitanya Candra." (Bhakti-ratnakara. KJÄ4.)
"My dear listeners, please repeatedly and joyfully hear the Bhaktiratnakara
which is the life of all Vaisnavas and the destroyer of all miseries and
misfortunes." (Bhakti-ratnakara. KJÄ5.)
"Sri Gadadhara is expansion Radharani and Srinivasa is the expansion of Narada
Muni, or in other words they are the internal and the devotional energy
respectively." (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad. 27th May 1970. Letter to
Tamal Krishna.)
srivas-pandito dhimaan
yah pura narado munih
purvataakhyo muni-varo
ya aasin narada-priyah
sa raama-panditah srimams
tat-kanistha-sahaodarah
"Intelligent Srivaasa Pandita had previously been Narada Muni, the best of the
sages. Srivaasa's younger brother, Sriman Rama Pandita, had previously been
Narada's close friend Parvata Muni" (Gaura Ganodesh Dipika 90.)
Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura, the Vyasadeva of Sri Gaurasundara's pastimes, has
sung the praises of Srivasa Pandita in this way:
"It was in Srivasa Pandita's house that Sri Caitanya enacted His pastimes of
sankirtana. Those four brothers (Srivasa, Sri Rama, Sripati and Srinidhi) were
continuously engaged in singing the names of Sri Krsna. They worshipped Sri
Krsna and bathed in the Ganges thrice daily."
These four brothers previously lived in the district of Sri Hatta. Later on they
came to reside on the banks of the Ganges. There they regularly used to attend
the assembly of devotees who gathered at Sri Advaita Acarya's house to hear the
Srimad Bhagavatam and engage in congregational chanting of the Holy Names.
Gradually the brothers became very close friends of Sri Jagannatha Misra, with
whom they would chant and listen to the Bhagavatam.
In all matters Srivasa was the leader of the four brothers. By the strength of
his devotion, he could understand that Sri Krsna was going to appear in the
house of Jagannatha Misra.
Srivasa Pandits's wife's name was Sri Malinidevi. She was a very close friend of
Sri Sacidevi and was always very helpful to her.
Seeing the wretched state of the fallen living entities in Kali yuga, the
devotees began to plaintively pray to the Lord for their deliverance. Krsna
hears the call of His devotees. On the full moon day in the month of Phalguna,
in the year 1407 (Christian era 1486), the Lord incarnated Himself. With His
appearance there was the simultaneous dawning of all-auspiciousness within the
world as it became filled with Harinama. Just as Sri Advaita Acarya, from
Santipura, could understand that the Lord had appeared, similarly, Srivasa and
some of the other devotees of Navadwipa also understood.
Since previously Malinidevi was engaged in attending upon Sacidevi, Srivasa and
Jagannatha Misra came to her at this time and hinted that she was especially
needed now.
As long as the Lord chooses not to reveal Himself, no one can possibly recognize
Him. Therefore, even though from His childhood the Lord exhibited many
supernatural abilities, still, due to His deluding potency, the devotees could
not fully understand His true nature.
Their hearts were simply filled with parental affection for Him, without a trace
of awe or reverence. Srivasa and Malini gave Sacidevi and Jagannatha much advice
how to raise their new son. Srivasa and Malini were just like a mother and
father to Sri Gaurasundara. Because young Nimai Pandita seemed to have grown
arrogant by His scholarship, one day Srivasa Pandita decided to give Him good
counsel.
"Why do people study? So that they might understand what is devotion to Sri
Krsna," he told Nimai. "If by scholarship one doesn't gain devotion to Sri Krsna,
then how will that learning help him? It becomes simply a tedious endeavour
which in the end is nothing but a waste of time. If you have actually learned
something then begin your worship of Sri Krsna now. Make haste. This is the
purpose of your life."
Nimai laughed as He replied, "By your mercy certainly that will come to be. If
you are all kind enough for me, then definitely I'll attain devotion to Sri
Krsna's lotus feet."
Shortly thereafter Mahaprabhu journeyed to Gaya where He performed the pastimes
of accepting initiation from Sri Isvara Puri. Thus gradually, He began to take
up His real work of distributing loving devotion to Sri Krsna.
One day, in an ecstatic mood, Lord Gauranga entered Srivasa's house asking, "Srivas,
whom do you worship? Whom do you meditate upon? Now with your own two eyes, see
that person standing before you." [C.B. Madhya 2/258]
Saying this, Mahaprabhu entered the Deity room within Srivasa's home temple and
sat down on the simhasana of Lord Visnu, revealing His own four-armed form,
holding the conch, disc club and lotus flower. Seeing this form, Srivasa was
totally stupefied.
Sri Gaurasundara then said, "Due to being called by your sankirtana and the loud
roaring of Sri Advaita Acarya, I have left Vaikuntha and have descended upon
this mortal world, accompanied by My eternal associates, will destroy the
miscreants and deliver the pious. Now, without fear, you can chant my glories."
Hearing these words of His Lord, which dispelled all fear, Srivasa fell on the
ground, offering his obeisances. Then he began to recite hymns in praise of the
Lord.
"My obeisances at the lotus feet of the support of the entire universe
Visvambhara, Whose bodily colour is like that of a newly arrived rain cloud and
wore garments which are the color of a thunderbolt. My obeisances at the lotus
feet of the son of Saci, who is bedecked with ornaments of peacock feathers and
a garland of read beads (gunja-mala). My obeisances at the lotus feet of the
pupil of Ganga dasa, the beauty of whose lotus face conquers that of ten million
moons. My obeisances at your lotus feet, You who carry a buffalo horn, stick and
flute. The four Vedas have proclaimed You to be the son of Nanda. Unto You my
dear Lord, my obeisances I offer again and again." [C.B.Madhya 2/272]
"Today my birth, my activities, my everything has become successful. Today my
very existence has been crowned with the greatest auspiciousness. Today the race
of my forefathers has finally born fruit, and my house, which was also their
house, has become blessed. Today the great fortune of my eyes is completely
beyond calculation, because I have been able to see that person whose lotus feet
are served by the goddess of fortune, Laksmidevi".
Having described the glories of Sri Gaurasundara in various ways, Sri
Gaurasundara showed even more compassion to Srivasa by revealing Himself to all
of his family members. Seeing the niece of Srivasa Pandita present before Him,
Prabhu called to her, "Narayani! Call upon Sri Krsna with tears in your eyes."
And immediately this little girl, only four years of age, as if in a delirious
frenzy began to cry out, "Hari! Krsna!" while shedding tears incessantly. In
fact the flood of tears coursed down her body to such an extent that the ground
around her feet became soaked." [C.B. Madhya. 2].
Seeing little Narayani totally agitated in ecstatic love, Srivasa's wife and
even the household servants also began to shed tears of love. The courtyard of
Srivasa took on a very beautiful appearance, being decorated with ecstatic love
for Krsna.
There was one maidservant in Srivasa Pandita's house by the name Duhkhi. Every
day she used to bring water from the Ganga for Mahaprabhu's bath. One day
Gaurasundara asked Srivasa, "Who brings this water?"
"Duhkhi brings it," Srivasa replied.
"From today her name is Sukhi." Thus the Lord indicated that those who serve the
Lord and the Lord's devotees are not duhkhi (sad); rather, they are sukhi
(happy).
At this time Sri Gaursundor began His lila as the yuga-avatara at the house of
Srivasa Pandit. Having been reunited with Sri Nityananda Prabhu He started
congregational chanting of the Lord's Holy Names in the courtyard of Srivasa's
house. Nityananda Prabhu took up His residence there. Sri Malinidevi served
Nityananda as though He were her own son.
Sri Nityananda was actually Sri Baladeva Himself, and in His pastimes as Lord
Nityananda He behaved somewhat like a madman. He was always overwhelmed by love
of Krsna, and was not aware of the state of His outward dress or ornaments.
One evening, Sri Gaurasundara, accompanied by His associates, was engaged in
chanting and dancing at the house of Srivasa Thakura when one of Srivas Thakur's
sons passed away after having suffered the effects of some disease. Within the
inner apartment of his house, the women began to wail in lamentation at the
boy's untimely death. Srivasa Pandita, who was outside in the courtyard,
understood some tragedy must have taken place.
He quickly entered the house only to find that his son had passed on to the next
world. As he was a very grave devotee and completely conversant in the science
of the Absolute Truth, he was able to console the women in their grief.
"You are all aware of Krsna's glories, so please restrain yourselves and don't
cry. Whoever during his last moment hears the Lord's Holy Name, even though he
might be the greatest sinner, attains Krsna's abode. And that incomparably
wonderful Lord, He whose glories are sung by all His servants up to and
including Lord Brahma, is now personally dancing in the courtyard of your house.
"This moment is so auspicious that it is sure this boy has successfully
completed his journey from this world. Is there anything to be lamented at in
this? His good fortune is completely assured. I can understand that whatever
part I have played in this is also crowned with success." [C.B.M 25.30]
He concluded by telling them, "If you can't control your emotions because of
your family affection to the boy, then at least don't cry now, you can cry
later. The Supreme Lord of Gokula Himself, Sri Gaurasundara, is performing
sankirtana accompanied by His devotees in this house. If, due to your crying,
the happiness that He is experiencing from dancing in ecstasy during sankirtana
is disturbed, then I will just this minute jump into the Ganges and thus give up
my own life."
"Not a blade of grass moves unless by Krsna's will. To see in this happiness or
distress, or knowledge or ignorance is simply imagination. Know that whatever
Krsna wills is good, and thus, giving up your own selfish desires, become free
from confusion and unnecessary botheration. Krsna is giving and Krsna is taking
away, and it is Krsna alone Who is maintaining everyone. Someone He protects and
someone He destroys, all according to His will. If someone contemplates
something contrary to Krsna's will, then as a result of His desire He only get
torment. Giving up all lamentation, simply hear Krsna's name, and thus pass
through all difficulties feeling great happiness. Then your desires will
actually be fulfilled.'
Having given all of these instructions to those present, Srivasa again went
outside to join Mahaprabhu in ecstatic chanting and dancing. The women, leaving
the dead body, came to hear the kirtan of Mahaprabhu. And so Mahaprabhu
continued His chanting until the middle of the night.
When everyone was at last leaving to take rest, Mahaprabhu spoke. "Today My mind
is feeling some tribulation. I think some sad event has occurred in Srivasa's
house."
The pandit replied, "What possible unhappiness could there be in that person's
house where Your divinely blissful countenance is seen?"
"Srivasa! Why wasn't I feeling bliss in kirtana today? What inauspicious thing
transpired in your house?"
Srivasa answered, "My Lord, You are Yourself all auspicious. Where You are
present, no sorrow can be found anywhere!" But the other devotees informed the
Lord that Srivasa's son had passed away.
Hearing this news, Gaura Raya cried out, "Alas, what a tragic event. Why didn't
you tell me of this unfortunate news before?"
"I will explain," Srivasa Pandita replied. "I couldn't tolerate disturbing You
while You were enjoying sankirtana. If one of my sons dies, what sorrow is there
in that for me? If we all die while seeing You, that would actually be a matter
of great happiness. On the other hand, if You would have to stop dancing, then
perhaps I would have died. My Lord, this was the danger that I feared, and thus
I didn't tell you at the time."
Seeing Srivasa Pandita's profound devotion, Sri Gaurasundara said, "How can I
give up such company as this?" With tears in His eyes He continued. "Due to love
for Me, he didn't even feel lamentation at the death of his son. How will I
abandon their companionship?"
The Lord continued to cry, and the devotees began to worry within, having heard
Him speak of leaving them.
Thereafter Mahaprabhu came to where the dead body of the infant was lying.
Touching it, He called, "Boy! Why are you going away and leaving Srivasa Pandita?"
The life of the dead child returned at the touch of Mahaprabhu's hand. After
offering obeisances to the Lord, he replied, "O Prabhu! Whatever You ordain is
absolute. No one can do anything but what is sanctioned by You. As many days as
I was destined to remain here, that many days I have stayed. Now that my time
has elapsed, I have proceeded to leave.
"My Lord, I have taken birth and died repeatedly. But this time, at the time of
death, I passed away quite happily, having taken darsana of Your beautiful
face."
After saying this, the child became silent. Sri Gauranga Raya thus enjoyed a
kind of transcendental sport. Having heard the uncommon words of the dead child,
the devotees floated in the ocean of bliss. Srivasa Pandita, along with his
family members, then fell at the lotus feet of Sri Gaursundara and cried in
ecstatic love.
Mahaprabhu then told him, "Since Myself and Nityananda are your two sons, please
don't feel any more distress in your mind over what has happened." Hearing these
compassionate words of their Lord, the devotees cheers were resounded throughout
the heavens.
Proving the statements of sastra, Their Lordships Gaura-Nityananda became
deeply indebted to Srivasa due to his great love for and service to Them.
After Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, Srivasa Pandit came to live at Kumarhatta. Every
year he would go with His brothers to see Mahaprabhu at Puri. He also regularly
came to see Sri Sacimata in Navadwip and would spend a few days there during
those times.
When Mahaprabhu came from Nilacala to see His mother and the river Ganges, He
also stopped at Kumarhatta to see Srivasa.
"After staying some days at Advaita's house, Mahaprabhu came to Srivasa's temple
at Kumarhatta." [C.B]
It was at this time that Mahaprabhu gave this benediction to Srivasa: "There
will never be poverty in your house. If you simply remain indoors, never even
venturing out of your house, whatever you require for your worship will come to
your door."
Srivasa Pandita, along with his three brothers, eternally serve Sri Gaurasundara.
He is the incarnation of Narada and accompanied Mahaprabhu in all His Navadwipa
lilas.
Across the Ganges from Halisahar (the present name of the village of Kumarhatta),
there is a town of the name Chuchura. Located here are some very beautiful
Deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga. At present the seva-puja is becoming carried
on by Devananda Gaudiya Matha. The resident Swami Maharaja recalls that when the
Gaudiya Math took over the sevaitship of this temple, its name was Srivasa-
Mahaprabhu Mandir. Thus there is a strong possibility that these are the
worshippable Deities of Srivasa Pandita. The temple is at present named 'Uddhavar
Gaudiya Math.' It is near 'Chaumatha', close to the 'Chori Mor' intersection
where the town clock stands.
There is a rail station at Chuchura (Chinsura) on the Bandel-Navadwip line.
Chuchura may also be reached by ferry from Halisahar on the other side of the
Ganga, where Caitanya Boda, the birthplace of Sri Isvara Puri, is located.
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