May 25, 2024 — CANADA (SUN) — By Sri Vrindaban Das Thakur – Antya lila, Chapter One, Part Five.
The devotees were just recently deprived of their Lord's presence and now to be again in His company by His mercy was certainly cause for extreme exhilaration and celebration. They surrounded their Lord and danced and pranced oblivious of everything else. They fell on each other, bumped against each other, and rolled on the ground smearing their bodies with the dust of everyone's feet. Someone pressed another devotee's feet against his chest and remained saturated in bliss, tears of joy flowing unrestrained from his eyes. The devotees could not contain their happiness having regained their beloved Lord and master. The Lord of Vaikuntha dancing free from all care with His associates is indeed an extraordinary sight.
Above the sounds of dancing, the singing of the Lord's name rang out loud and clear. Advaita Acarya's house resounded with sounds of mirth, of which only Nityananda Prabhu was fully aware. Lord Chaitanya went around embracing His loving associates and infusing them with love of Godhead. Receiving the Lord's divine touch, the devotees became mad with joy. In a loud voice that resembled the rumbling of thunder they expressed their boundless bliss. This further increased the pleasure of others. As the Lord danced with His associates, Mother Earth seemed to sway and tilt. Nityananda, Advaita and the others all were caught in a maelstrom of infinite ecstacy, and they freely allowed their limbs and body to express their ceaseless happiness. After awhile the Lord stopped dancing and entering a mood of divine Lordship He sat down upon the throne of Lord Visnu.
The devotees stood around Him in great awe and reverence with folded palms as the Lord began to reveal His real identity as the Supreme Lord. He said, "I am Krishna, Rama, Narayana, and Matsya. I have assumed these incarnations and more. I am Kurma, Varaha, Vamana, Buddha, and will be Kalki. I am Prsnigarbha, Hayagriva, the Supreme Lord of lords. I am the moon of Nilacala, Lord Jagannatha; I am Kapila and Nrsima. All living entities visible and invisible are My servitors. The Vedas sing of My supramundane excellences, and I am served by the endless planetary systems. I am time, the destroyer of everything except My devotees. All dangers are easily eradicated simply by remembering Me. I rescued Draupadi from great public shame and insult. I also saved the Pandavas from the fire trap in the house of lac. I protected Siva by slaying the terrible demon Vrkasura. I liberated My servant, Gajendra the elephant, from excruciating death pains. I stood by Prahlada in all his tortures. I protected the cowherd boys from all kinds of harm and attacks. I churned the milk ocean to extract the nectar of immortality. I deprived the demons of that nectar and gave it to the demigods, thus aiding them to victory. I slew the obnoxious demon Kamsa, who was threatening My devotees. I finished the demon King Ravana, destroying his entire race. I lifted Govardhana Hill with My left hand, and I tamed the vicious snake- demon, Kaliya. I appeared in Satya-yuga to propagate the practice of austerity and meditation, and in Tretya-yuga to introduce the performance of sacrifices. In Dvapara-yuga My purpose was to establish proper procedures of temple worship. Presently in Kali-yuga I have come to promulgate the congregational chanting of the holy names of God. Even the Vedas fail to enumerate all My incarnations. In Kali-yuga by participating in this sankirtana movement every sincere soul will taste the nectar of love of Godhead. This is the reason for My appearance in this yuga. The entire Vedic literature instructs the searching soul to seek My shelter, but I am always to be found in the company of My surrendered devotees. They are everything to Me - father, mother, friend, son, brother. Although I am absolutely independent, My nature is to be captivated by My devotees' pure love for Me. All of you are My eternal associates. All My incarnations are only for your pleasure and protection. Know for certain that I cannot remain even for a moment bereft of your association."
Out of His causeless mercy for His devotees and all the living entities, the Lord revealed the confidential knowledge of Himself. The devotees were jubilant. They fell flat on the ground offering obeisances. They were so devotionally perturbed that they were unable to do anything. They prayed and rolled on the ground, relishing the highest ambrosia of love of Godhead. The Lord's associates were now saturated, their previous heartaches due to separation from the Lord were now cured. The compassionate Lord is expert in alleviating everyone's grief, so why should suffering humanity not take shelter of the Lord. Lord Gaurachandra is an ocean of mercy. He always discounts the wayward soul's faults and sees his goodness.
Thereafter, withdrawing His mood of supreme opulence and absolute autocracy, the Lord was back to His normal self, calm and composed. He led everyone down to the Ganga to bathe. He played and frolicked in the waters with the devotees. On returning, He watered the tulasi plant, indicating the others should follow, and circumambulated her. Then they all went to the temple room, offered obeisances to Lord Visnu, and circumambulated the Lord. Lord Gaurahari called everyone, and they sat down together to eat. The Lord sat down beside Lord Nityananda amidst happy and cheerful devotees. The Lord was the cynosure of everyone, with His smiling face and golden body covered with sandalwood paste. The scene of the devotees sitting around the Lord with Nityananda Prabhu sitting beside Him was an exact replica of Krishna and Balarama sitting in the forest of Vrndavana surrounded by Their cowherd boyfriends having a picnic with Their packed lunches. Who can fully describe this wonderful happening? As soon as the Lord had finished and left, the devotees jumped up and grabbed His remnants from His plate. Even the old men acted like little boys; such is the transformation that takes place due to contact with the Lord's divine potency. One who hears these pastimes of the Lord and His associates, of their reunions, sankirtana and eating together, will certainly attain Lord Chaitanya's mercy and relish love of Godhead.
Sri Krishna Chaitanya and Nityananda Prabhu are my life and soul. I, Vrndavana dasa, humbly offer this song at Their lotus feet.
