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Sri Bhakti Ratnakara May 12, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Sri Bhakti Ratnakara by Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur.
Mahaprabhu privately advised Sri Kashiswara to go to Vrndavana, but Kashiswara lamented because he did not wish to leave Prabhu. Gaurahari's realised the state of his devotees mind and gave him a deity of himself. Mahaprabhu and Krsna (in the form of the deity) ate rice and other foodstuffs simultaneously to please his devotee.438-441 Prabhu taught Kashiswara how to worship the deity of Sri Gaura Govinda and then sent him to Vrndavana. Upon reaching Vrndavana Kashiswara placed the deity of Sri Gaura Govinda on the right side of the deity of Sri Govinda deva and served them both with great sincerity and devotion. 442-443 The book Sri Sadana Dipika has narrated everything about this incident.444-445 Only favored person can understand the lila of Sri Govinda deva. He had two types of lilas -- Prakata and Aprakata. His Aprakata lila was manifest in his inanimate form.446-447 My dear son Srinivasa, what can I say to you? Sri Govinda revealed himself in his Prakata form to Sri Rupa.448
Sri Vrndadevi appeared before Sri Rupa in his dream and by the order of Mahaprabhu Sri Rupa unearthed Sri Vrndadevi from the bank of Brahma Kunda. What a beautiful form was possessed by Sri Vrndadevi who could immediately fulfill the desires of her devotees. The book Sri Sadana Dipika has narrated everything about this incident.449-453 My dear son Srinivasa, I am utterly unable to describe the activities of Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana who lived occasionally in Mahavana.454-455
Sanatana once saw Sri Madan Gopala playing with his friends on the bank of the Jamuna. Madan Gopala, who was bound by the love of Sanatana, also appeared in his dream and said, "I do not like living in Mahavana. I want to stay in your cottage." Then he disappeared, leaving Sanatana in an ecstatic state of mind.456-459 Sanatana who thoroughly understood the Lord's intention, ecstatically received the Lord in his cottage the next morning. He engaged himself at once in the service of the Lord. But he was unhappy because he could offer only dry chappati to the king of kings, Sri Madan Gopala. The Lord could understand his devotees depression and arranged for his own food.460-463
A rich man from Multana named Krsnadasa Kapura was an influential Kapura Kshatriya. He left his boat and fell at the feet of Sanatana Gosvami with tears in his eyes. Sanatana blessed the man and dedicated him to the feet of Sri Madan Mohan. From that very day Krsnadasa began to build a temple for the Lord, decorating it with many valuable jewels. He offered many kinds of foods for his offerings. Sanatana was satisfied by all these arrangements and the Vrajabasis were happy to see Sri Madan Mohan, the light of Sanatana.464-472
Who can understand how Prabhu revealed himself to his devotees? Paramananda Bhattacarya and Sri Madhu Pandita were two great devotees whose deep devotional love bound Krsna, Vrajendra Kumar. They installed the deity of Sri Gopinatha near the famous Vamshivata. The book Sri Sadana Dipika has described this incident.473-477 When Madhu Pandit saw Madan Mohan he fell at the feet of the Lord, lying flat on the ground. Suddenly the Lord appeared before them and Madhu Pandita was appointed as high priest for his daily service. Sri Paramananda Bhattacarya had an affectionate attachment for Madhu Pandita.478-480 The people of vraja were overwhelmed by the glittering brightness of the complexion of the Lord and they came in crowds for the darshan of Gopinatha. Sri Caitanyadasa admitted to his son that he was eager to go to Vrndavna.481-485 While describing these incidents to his son, Sri Caitanyadasa began to cry so miserably that tears rolled down his cheeks and soaked his body. Srinivasa held the feet of his father and also cried, wondering when his own desires would be fulfilled. After a long time they controlled each other's emotional outbursts and remained absorbed in the lilas of Krsna. Those who attentively listen to this narration of the father and son are sure to obtain the precious gem of devotion. The poet Sri Narahari Dasa taking the feet of Sri Advaita Prabhu has taken the responsibility to narrating the book Sri Bhakti Ratnakara.486
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