Mar 23, 2021 — CANADA (SUN) — By Srila Narahari Chakravarti Thakur.
Sanatana Gosvami Receives Lord Chaitanya's Mercy in a Dream
"O Shrinivasa, by the order of Mahaprabhu, Sanatana Gosvami came here to Vrindavana to stay. When Sanatana heard that Lord Chaitanya would come, he arranged a secluded place for the Lord to stay. Understanding Sanatana Gosvami's anxiety, Gaurahari appeared to him in a dream at this place. Lord Chaitanya was sitting on a wonderful asana. Seeing the Lord, Sanatana fell at His feet. The Lord then tightly embraced Sanatana and after comforting him in every way, He disappeared. Who can understand the Lord's wonderful pastimes? By His own will He always enjoys in Vrindavana.
See here is Praskandana-kshetra. By taking bath here one is freed of his sins, and by giving up one's life here he attains Vishnuloka."
The Adi-varaha Purana says: "O Vasundhare! Please hear about another holy place. There is an auspicious abode named Praskandana-kshetra, which is the destroyer of all sins. Whoever takes bath there is delivered from all sins, and whoever leaves his body there surely attains My abode."
O Shrinivasa, due to the heat from twelve suns, the Lord's cold body became warm and began to perspire. The perspiration entered the Yamuna River and therefore this place is called Praskandana-tirtha.
The Vraja-vilasa-stava gives this description: "This great tirtha was born from the perspiration of Govinda's body due to the excess heat of the twelve suns. I offer my respectful prayers unto Praskandana-kshetra, which is filled with the fragrant water that emanated from the soft beautiful body of the Lord."
After showing this Praskandana-tirtha to Shrinivasa, Raghava Pandita continued to speak very sweetly.
Shrila Advaita Prabhu's Appearance and Activities
Shrila Advaita Prabhu, who is nondifferent from Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, stayed here in this forest for some days. He used to worship Lord Krishna under this vata tree. Who can understand His inner desire? Please listen and I will describe briefly the appearance and activities of Shrila Advaita Prabhu.
Madhavendra Puri, Ishvara Puri, Shacimata, and Jagannatha Mishra appeared along with Advaita Acarya. Shrila Advaita Prabhu is unlimitedly merciful to the living entities. The whole of Bengal was glorified by His appearance there.
In Bengal there is a village near Shrihatta named Nava-grama where Kuvera Pandita, the son of Nrisimha lived. Kuvera Pandita was exalted on the path of devotion. He knew nothing except the lotus feet of Lord Krishna. On the same standard of devotion was his chaste wife Nabhadevi, the mother of Advaita, who was worshipable by all. They settled in Shantipura near the Ganges and were always absorbed in discussing krishna-katha.
One day Shri Kuvera Pandita and his wife wanted to die after hearing Vaishnava blasphemy. Seeing their state, one fortunate soul pacified them by the desire of Lord Krishna. Even though they were still unhappy, they both fell asleep. After a short time, they both had a wonderful dream. A beautiful effulgent person, whose bodily luster defeated the beauty of a mountain of molten gold, appeared before them. This person was holding the hand of another exceedingly beautiful person and in sweet words said to Him: "You should quickly incarnate to relieve the unhappiness of the living entities who are suffering under the onslaughts of Kali-yuga. By Your loving invitation, I will be unable to remain here. I will quickly appear along with My elder brother.'
Hearing these words, the second person became very happy and at an auspicious moment He entered the womb of Nabhadevi. Seeing this, Kuvera Pandita became very blissful and, as he awoke, his heart became overwhelmed.
Kuvera Pandita, who was a learned scholar in all the shastras, considered in his mind that the Supreme Lord would appear in Kali-yuga in the form of guru. Thinking this way along with his wife, he again became overwhelmed and could not check his tears.
From that day on, Nabhadevi manifested signs of pregnancy and she therefore returned to Nava-grama. Soon the whole world became joyful as Advaita Prabhu appeared in the village of Nava-grama.
Suddenly a voice arose from Him, "Shri Krishna Chaitanya will appear in this world along with Shri Nityananda Rama. Together with Their associates, They will enjoy wonderful pastimes. They will distribute loving devotional service in each and every house, thereby destroying the unhappiness and lamentation of the living entities. The ocean of bliss arising from the sankirtana movement will overflow and inundate everyone without exception. This Kali-yuga is so glorious!'
Hearing this voice, everyone became joyful. The house of Kuvera Pandita became filled with auspiciousness. Fortunate people who witnessed Advaita Acarya grow day by day were filled with jubilation. Advaita would sometimes hide Himself, and only by the will of Shri Chaitanya was He found. Having Advaita in their village, the residents of Nava-grama floated in bliss forgetting all unhappiness and lamentation.
Although the Lord had two names—Kamalaksha and Advaita, everyone called Him Advaita. The childhood pastimes of Advaita were very wonderful, only fortunate persons were able to witness them. Who has the power to describe them? Shri Advaita Prabhu was like the pupil of everyone's eyes. They glorified Him in lying down and in their dreams. Again and again I say that all His associates were glorious as is the land of Bengal by the Lord's incarnation there.
Shri Kuvera Pandita, who was most sober and full of loving devotion told everyone, "We will move to the banks of the Ganges." Then along with his friends and other villagers, they all came to Shantipura from Nava-grama. Staying with a happy heart in Shantipura, sometimes he would go to Navadvipa to meet his friends. Kuvera Pandita carefully arranged for the Lord to study the shastras. Within a short time the Lord, the deliverer of the fallen, also became known as a pandita for His learning.
Although the mother and father of Advaita knew the truth about Him, still they forgot everything due to their parental affection. All the learned people of Shantipura were astonished seeing the activities of Advaita. Someone said, "Advaita Acarya could not be a human for, how could a human being attract the heart of everyone the way He does? Kuvera Pandita is a glorious personality because he had such a son by whom everyone is benefited."
In this way the people spoke as Advaita became the life and soul of everyone. Who can understand the desire of Advaita Prabhu, who gave His parents so much happiness in various ways?
After some time the Lord's mother and father disappeared and Advaita went to Gaya to offer shraddha. Taking the opportunity He visited all the holy places along the way. At that time He took mantra diksha from Madhavendra Puri. Who has the power to understand the activities of Advaita, who travelled always filled with ecstatic love of God?
While traveling thus, Advaita Prabhu arrived at Mathura-mandala. Seeing the beauty of Vraja, He became overwhelmed in ecstasy. After seeing all the places, He came to Vrindavana, whereupon all the Vraja-vasis carefully arranged His stay. Eating only some fruits, roots, and milk, people were astonished seeing His luster. Mad in ecstatic love, the Lord roared and cried out, "Will I see Krishna?'
In this way Advaita Acarya would feel various ecstatic moods at different times. The Lord would worship Krishna near the Yamuna. Then, knowing that the time had come for the appearance of Lord Chaitanya, He left Vrindavana and returned to Bengal. The pastimes of Advaita Acarya are like nectar, but only the fortunate can taste them.
O Shrinivasa, the tree under which Advaita Acarya used to stay became well known as Advaita-vata. Just by seeing this Advaita-vata one's sinful reactions are mitigated and the very rare gift of devotional love is obtained.
See the plants and creepers on the bank of Kalindi which are always fresh and beautiful. This is the very old tintidi tree [tamarind tree known as Amli-tala] where Radha and Krishna enjoyed Their pastimes with Their associates. Remembering His previous activities, Lord Chaitanya came here and sat in unlimited happiness."
