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Sri Bhakti Ratnakara May 08, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Sri Bhakti Ratnakara by Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur.
At an auspicious moment, (The moment of the fourth of the twenty seven stars of Hindu astronomy) during the Rohini Muhurta at day time on the day of the full moon in the month of Vaishaka, Lakshmipriya gave birth to a son.156 There were many good signs at the time of the birth of Srinivasa.157 At the time of his son's birth Caitanyadasa saw many miraculous visions in his dreams. His ecstasy increased when he saw his son's beautiful golden complexion.158-159
The brahmin couple gladly dedicated their son to the gracious feet of Mahaprabhu.160 Hearing the news of Srinivasa's birth, many respectable men came to the house of the brahmin to bless the child.161-162 The women of the village were happy to see the beautiful boy and blessed him from the core of their hearts. They congratulated Caitanyadasa for his good fortune. The boy grew day by day just like the moon.163-165
At the correct time the brahmin arranged for the child's Anna-Prasana ceremony and then the Nama-Karama ceremony. With the permission of others he gave the name Srinivasa to his son. The name was gladly accepted by the guests attending the ceremonies.166-169
Everyone was pleased to see the child crawling on the ground. By holding the finger of his mother, the boy learned to walk. Sometimes he used to fall on the ground while walking but his mother would quickly take him on her lap and smile. All the women of the village used to come to the house of the brahmin and hold him on their laps affectionately.170-174 One day Lakshmipriya asked her son to speak the names of Gaura Visvambhara, Gadadhara, Srivasevara, Sri Krsna Caitanya and Nityananda Haladhara as well as the name of Sri Advaita Prabhu, and Krsna the son of Sri Nanda. She encouraged him to speak the names of Sri Govinda, Gopinatha, Madana Mohan and the associates of Prabhu. Srinivasa delightfully tried to repeat the names but he could not speak them all at the same time. His sweet words were so pleasing to the ears of the listeners that they felt the boy was showering nectar from his mouth. When Srinivasa was five years old he wanted to start his education. His father agreed to educate him and the expert child very easily learned all the subjects.175-183
After a few days the ceremony of Chuda-Karana of Srinivasa took place and he looked very beautiful with a sacred thread.184 People were astonished by his capacity to quickly grasp Vyakarana, Kosha, Alankara and Tarka, etc. His teacher Dhananjaya Vidyavacaspati taught him most satisfactorily. In a short while he became the pride of the village of Cakhandi.185-187 The old and expert brahmin worshippers of Lord Visnu told one another that they had never in their lives seen so meritorious a boy as Srinivasa who had obtained knowledge of all the scriptures within such a short time. They also spoke of his devotion to Krsna.188-190 They were enchanted to see the beauty of the boy and wondered if he was an embodiment of some demigod because no ordinary child could have possessed such a beautiful golden complexion, a moon-like face, a beautiful mouth with well set teeth, beautiful curly hair, a broad chest, a well shaped neck, hands, legs and shoulders. Above all else, his sweet yet humble style of speaking charmed them all.191-195 They acknowledged that Caitanyadasa's good fortune was due to the mercy of Mahaprabhu. Because of that mercy he gained this jewel-like son. They blessed Srinivasa from the core of their hearts and wished him all success in his life.196-198
One man said that although he himself had many children he nevertheless loved Srinivasa more than his own. He decided to suggest that Caitanyadasa give his son in marriage at an early age. In this way they all blessed Srinivasa in various ways. Srinivasa regularly visited the houses of the devotes who lived in Cakhandi village.199-203
Sri Govinda Ghosh was a great devotee of Sri Gauracandra and was always absorbed in the Lord's pastimes. Little by little a feeling of intense affection for Srinivasa grew in his heart. He told everyone that Srinivasa was an embodiment of Sri Gauracandra. The village people felt great affection for Srinivasa.204-207 Sri Narahari and Sri Raghunandana of Srikhanda were eager to see Srinivasa who was also eager to meet them. However Srinivasa could not go to Srikhanda alone. By chance a person came from Jajigrama and with him Srinivasa returned to Jajigrama in order to meet Narahari and Raghunandna.208-210 Thakura Narahari and his followers were going to the Ganges for a bath via Jajigrama when they met Srinivasa. Srinivasa and Narahari were glad to meet each other. Srinivasa humbly fell at the feet of Narahari who most affectionately embraced him.211-214
Thakura Narahari told Srinivasa, "My eyes become soothed by seeing you, my dear son, because I have been eager to meet you for a long time." He stroked the body of Srinivasa with his lotus hands as they spoke. Srinivasa folded his hands and said, "please be kind to me and grant me every success. I am an ignorant person; I know nothing. Please save me from all types of misfortune." Srinivasa wept as they spoke and Thakura Narahari consoled him and took him to his own house.215-219
According to Sri Gaura-ganoddesa-Dipika Sri Sarkar Thakura was formerly Madhumati, a most favorite confidante of Sri Vrsabhanu-nandini Radhika in Vrndavana. She had now appeared as Narahari Sarkar, the favorite follower of Mahaprabhu.220-222 The verses composed by Kavi Karnapura also quote the same facts about Sri Narahari Thakura.223 The experts of Vaisnava literature have described the great affectionate felt for Srinivasa. Having learned many important things and received useful advice from Sri Thakura, Srinivasa returned to Cakhandi.224-226
Srinivasa eagerly requested his father to tell him about the life of Sri Gauranga.227 Sri Caitanyadasa said, "Being an ignorant person, how can I describe the pastimes of Gauracandra? He is beyond the reach of even Lord Brahma."228 "My dear son Srinivasa, listen to me. Visvambhara Rai is himself Vrndavan candra Krsna. When he was merely a boy playing with other young boys, we were studying. We were students taking our lessons from our teachers. At that time we had no clear conception of devotion. We heard about Mahaprabhu and his wonderful activities and cherished the hope of meeting him even once. But wicked people would not let us go to him. Those persons were so proud of their knowledge that they would mock Mahaprabhu. I felt depressed and prayed to Krsna to give him an opportunity to meet Prabhu Gaura Rai. I also prayed to him to destroy the pride of the upstarts. Now listen how the Lord Himself destroyed their pride."229-236
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