Srimati Jahnava Devi
Sri Surjadas Sarekhela was a resident of Shaligram. He had five brothers -
Damodar, Jagannath, Gauri das, Krsna das and Nrsimha Caitanya. His father's name
was Sri Kamsari Misra. His mother's name, Sri Kamala devi. He received the title
"Sarakhela" as he used to keep the accounts for the king of Gaur desh. His two
daughters were named Sri Vasudha and Sri Jahnava, who was the youngest.
In Gaur-ganoddesh-dipika it is stated that they are the expansions of Baruni and
Revati in Brindaban and Surjadas Sarakhela, whose body effulgence is like the
sun, is an expansion of Kakudmir, the king of Raivat. The two Lords Gauranga and
Nityananda were very affectionate to him. Seeing that his two daughters had
reached the full bloom of their youth, he began to contemplate their marriage.
Thinking in this way, he fell asleep and in his dream he saw that in a very
happy mood he was presenting his two daughters to Nityananda Prabhu. Having seen
such a wonderful dream, he began to float in an ocean of bliss.
In the morning when he awoke, he told his dream to one brahmana friend of his,
"I saw in my dream that Nityananda Prabhu is none other than Baladeva. His
bodily effulgence was shining in all directions and his body was decorated with
various shining ornaments. On either side of him my two daughters appeared as
Baruni and Revati. Now if I cannot give my daughters in marriage to Nityananda
Prabhu then there will be no peace for me." Having confided in his friend in
this way, he sent him to the house of Srivas Pandit in Navadwip. That brahmana
came to Navadwip very quickly and found that Nityananda Prabhu was living at
Srivas Pandit's house. The brahmana explained everything in detail to Srivas
Pandit who later at the proper time divulged all of this news to Nityananda
Prabhu. Lord Nityananda having assured the brahmana that he would fulfill the
desire of Surja das, sent him back to Shaligram. Advaita Acarya as well as
Srivas Pandit were very happy to have heard this news and urged that the
marriage take place as soon as possible. The brahmana, in the meantime having
returned to Shaligram, delivered this auspicious news to Surja das who was
overjoyed that his dream would now come true.
In the village of Borgachi lived the son of Raja Hari Hora, Sri Krsna das, who
was a very dear devotee of Nityanan¼da Prabhu. He offered to bear all of the
expenses for the wedding and to have it conducted at his house. With this in
mind he requested Nityananda Prabhu to kindly come to his house, and after
bringing him there he began to make the necessary arrangements for the wedding.
Srivas Pandit, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Candrasekhar, Sri Murari Gupta and many
other devotees all arrived and began Harinam Sankirtan. Surja das Pandit's
brother, Sri Krsna das soon arrived at Bordachi and then Nityananda Prabhu and
the other devotees accompanied Him to Shaligrama. When Surjadas saw that the
devotees along with Nityananda Prabhu had arrived, in great happiness he came
out to greet them and then ushered them into his house where he offered his
dandavats to Lord Nityananda.
Surja das fell down at the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, his eyes brimming with
tears of ecstatic love. He caught hold of His two lotus feet and wanted to offer
some prayers but he could not express anything due to being overcome by ecstatic
emotions. Lord Nityananda smiled sweetly and embraced him in great love.
Surjadas was always absorbed in intense happiness. Who can understand his inner
self.
Seeing these loving pastimes of his brother, Gauri das lost his patience and
felt great bliss within himself. Then, after worshipping the two lotus feet of
Lord Nityananda, he offered his two daughters in marriage to him.
Thus the marriage ceremony was very auspiciously performed and Nityananda Prabhu
remained at Shalagram with his two newly wedded wives for a few days. Thereafter
he came to Sri Krsna das's house at Borgachi, where he remained for a couple of
days. Next He came to Navadwip. Along with his two wives He offered His
obeisances at the feet of Saci Mata. Saci Ma was extremely pleased to see them
and she showed a great deal of affection to the new brides.
The other Vaishnavas also began to show them great affection. Then taking leave
of Sacimata, Nityananda came to Advaita Acarya's house in Santipur. Sri Sita
Thakurani began to float in the ocean of bliss after seeing Vasudha and Jahnava
devi. Taking them in her lap she was very affectionate to the new brides. After
remaining there for a few days Nityananda Prabhu came to Uddharon Datta Thakur's
house at Saptagram at his insistent invitation. There they all engaged in a
festival of sankirtan for a few days after which Nityananda Prabhu came to
Khardaha. [Bhakti-Ratnakar 12th Taranga]
After the disappearance of Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Srivas
Pandit and various other associates of Sri Goursundar, three especially
empowered manifestations of the compassion of the Lord, Mahaprabhu, namely
Srinivas Acarya, Narottama Thakur Mahasay and Shyamananda Prabhu continued to
flood the land with Hari Nam Sankirtan. Sri Nityananda Prabhu's sakti Sri
Jahnava Mata, was especially requested by these three Acaryas to be present at
the celebrated festival which was conducted by them at Kheturigram, under the
patronage of Narottama Thakur Mahasoy's cousin, Raja Santosh Datta. Present with
her were Sri Krsna das Misra (her uncle), Mineketan Ramdas, Murari Caitanya,
Jnana das, Sri Paramesvari das, Balarama das, Sri Brindavan das Thakur, and
other dear devotees of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.
First she came to her uncle Gauri das Pandit's temple at Kalna where she was
nicely received by Hrdoy Caitanya Prabhu. Here she cooked for the two Lords,
Nitai-Gauranga, and in the evening they had a festival of sankirtan. When she
came to Navadvip and realized that she wouldn't be able to see Sri Saci Mata any
more, she was very sad and cried. Then Sripati and Srinidhi came and took her to
their house. But again she was plunged into grief due to the pangs of separation
at not being able to see Srivas Pandit and Malini devi. At Santipur Sri
Acyutananda and Gopal tried to
console her in the absence of Advaita Acarya and Sita Thakurani. Then she came
by way of Kantak Nagar to Teliya Bhudari gram where Sri Govinda Kaviraj received
her with all respect. The next day the party set out for Kheturi. When they
reached the banks of the Padma river they found that Raja Santosh Datta had
already made arrangements for crossing the river. From the opposite bank
palanquins were waiting to take them to Kheturi.
After presiding over the festival of Kheturi, Ma Jahnava decided to go to
Brindavan. One day when she was bathing in the Jamuna, a small black hand
grabbed the end of her cloth as she was getting out of the water. When she
looked, however, there was no one there. Then Gopinath spoke to her, "I want to
come and stay with you. When you're taking bath in the Ganga one day I'll come
and join you."
After passing some days in great happiness in Sri Brindaban Dham, Sri Jahnava
Mata set out on the path back to Gaurdesh. First she came to Kheturi, and then
to Bhudari gram where she arranged the marriage of Bor Ganga das with Sri
Hemalata, the daughter of Sri Shyamdas Cakravarti (brother of Bansi das). After
the marriage, Sri Iswari entrusted the worship of Shyamsunderji to Borgangadas.
Then she came to Ekcakra, the birthplace of her worshippable Lord. From there
she passed through Kantak Nagar, Jajigram, Navadwip, Ambika kalna, Saptagram,
before finally arriving back at Khardaha.
As she was bathing in the Ganges one day, something touched her body in the
water. Then she lifted that object out of the water and beheld the enchanting
form of Sri Gopinathji, while tears of love streamed from her eyes. This Deity
is at present being worshipped by the descendant of Ganga devi, the daughter of
Nityananda Prabhu, at Jirat, Hugli. There is a rail station at Jirat between
Bandel and Kalna station. From the Jirat station one should proceed by rickshaw
to "Gopinath Tala".
"Having fallen into the ocean of material existence I am completely distraught
and filled with anxiety. Floating in this ocean, without any refuge, I am trying
to find a shore; but without any success, I am losing all hope of ever finding
it. What activity will bring me there? or what knowledge will bring me there?
Conducting some fruitive sacrifices, engaging in some mystic yoga process or
conducting austerities - none of these have any power or effect. I am getting
very weak and I cannot swim much longer. Now in this extremely dangerous
situation, will no one come to save me? Alas! To make matters worse, having
caught sight of the crocodile of worldly affairs, I am petrified with fear and
the current of lust is always churning the water. I can barely keep my head
above the water, the winds carrying the results of activities performed in
previous lives, is blowing and making the water so choppy. I am losing my mind
and now I am simply crying frantically. I can't see anyone who can get me out of
this ocean of woes. O my dear Sri Jahnava devi, please have compassion on your
servant and bless me with some of your divine qualities. Please extend me the
rope of your mercy and alleviate this intense pain that I am experiencing.
"I have taken shelter of the boat of your lotus feet and I have full faith that
you can carry me across this ocean.
You are the divine energy of Lord Nityananda and the bestower of Krsna bhakti.
Please bless me at your feet, which can bestow all one's desires. You have
already delivered so many despicable creatures, now today here is one more
destitute and hateful wretch, come to your lotus feet." [Kalyan Kalpataru]
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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