Dec 12, 2022 — CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Sri Bhakti Ratnakara by Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur.
Chapter Twelve - Rudra Dvipa
There situated on the east side of the Ganges the village named Radupura which was also called by Rudrapura by many persons. Sri Ishana Thakur told Srinivasa that this Rudupura formerly known as Rudrapur had been a flourishing place but now it became a name only. The name Rudrapura came from an incident.
Sri Rudra (Siva) became very delighted to know that Gaura candra would appear in Nadia. He with his followers began to sing madly the praise of Gaura Carita. He also began to dance madly with various types of musical instruments. The earth began to tremble with his dancing.751-758
Observing the dance of Sri Rudra, the deities began to shower flowers on him. Rudradeva began to tell everyone that now mankind would be rescued from miseries. Though Prabhu had not yet taken his bath, yet Rudra sang the birth of Prabhu, "now Prabhu must take his birth in Nadiia and I shall cool my eyes by seeing the sport of Prabhu's birth." So hearing this, the deities in the heaven also began dancing in joy.759-762
While singing the praise of Prabhu, Rudra forgot his own entity which made Prabh Himself very anxious. Prabhu imperceptively appeared before Rudradeva and pacified him by saying that he would very soon appeared in Nadia with his followers to fulfill the intention of Rudradeva. Being pacified Rudradeva became very glad and eulogised Prabhu in various ways. Sri Gaura Sundara embraced Sri Rudradeva and then disappeared. Sri Rudra deva with his followers took his seat here and began to sing the praise of Gaura Carita.763-769
For this reason, this place became famous by the name of Rudradvipa. Sri Rudra helped one to attain devotion to the lotus like feet of Prabhu in one once caught sight of this place.
770-771
After telling the glorious history of Rudradvipa, Sri Ishana gladly advanced towards the Velapaukhera village which had been formerly known as Villyapaksha. Now Ishana started describing the history of this name. This place had possessed on idol of Panchavaktra Siva.772-775
Panchvakta Siva used to fulfill the desires of those who were genuine Krsna devotees. Once some ascetic brahmins began to worship Siva for the fulfillment of their desires. They had worshipped Siva with marmelo leaves (Villya Patra) for fifteen days at a stretch which pleased Siva very much. "He told the brahmins demand what you want." The brahmin said, "we want the capability of doing greatest deeds." Siva being astonished said to them, "what are you saying?" I know that the act of worshipping Krsna is the greatest of all deeds." The brahmin said, "we know that the act of serving Krsna is the greatest of all deeds but how will it possible for us to obtain. O my Lord, kindly grant us that capacity."776-782
Panchavaktra told them, do not worry, you will get that capacity of serving Krsna. Within a very few days, Krsna will reveal himself in a brahmin family in Nadia.783-784
"You also will be born at that time. You all will give him much pleasure taking education from him. You all will serve him with his other devotees.785-787
On hearing panchavaktra Mahadeva, they became very delighted and fell at the feet of Mahadeva. They took their leave and remained absorbed in the thought of the lotus like feet of Krsna. Due to the wish of Prabhu, Pnchvaktra disappeared from this place. As the brahmins worshipped Siva with marmelo leaves for fifteen days, this place became famous by the name of Villya Paksha.
788-792
Here, Vishyamvara with his followers had performed many sports. Describing in this way, Sri Ishana Thakura started towards the direction of Variadanga a famous holy place. Sri Ishana told Srinivasa that this place had been formerly known as Varadvaja tila. saint Varadwaja from his pilgrimage came to Chakradaha near the Ganges. The name Chakradaha had been changed later as Chakdah from where the saint went to Navadvipa. he decided to stay humbly in the forest of this tila for worshipping Gauracandra in seclusion. Being pleased with Varadwija, Prabhu Gaurahari appeared before him whom the saint eulogised in various ways. Prabhu being satisfied told him to demand why he had cherished in his mind. "O my Lord, favor me by enabling to see your sport in Nadia."793-803
Prabhu granted him his prayer and disappeared. Varadwija paid his homage to Navadvipa bhumi and started for his toru programmed. As Varadvija used to live here, this place became known as Varadvaija tila. Prabhu Gauranga had revealed many sports here.
804-808
Sri Ishana now started for Suvarna-Vihara village with Srinivasa and Narottama and Ramacandra. Ishana told Srinivasa, "look at this village. It is called Suvarna Vihara. Its former name was also Suvarna Vihara. Now listen as I will describe the former history of this village."809-811
The king of this country was a very fortunate man who had great devotion for Krsna. One of the disciples of Narada came to the court of the king. The king welcomed him with great reverence by bowing at his feet and by stretching his body at his feet and offered him a seat. The king asked him about the number of incarnations of Pabhu. The person made the question clear to him. Being pleased with the king, the person told him, "Prabhu will revel himself as an incarnation with yellow complexion in the Kaliyuga and will perform many sports in Navadvipa. He will madden the world with his san kirtan which is a precious thing even to Brahma and other Gods. He will give happiness to his disciples by his dancing in sankirtana just like Krsna dancing on the ceremony of maharasa in Vrindavana. The Providence has created this village of Navadvipa for enjoying the sport of Prabhu. The real history of Navadvipahana is beyond the realisation of ordinary people. Only he can realise it who has got the favor of Prabhu's associates.812-821
In this way that person favored the king in various ways and then took his leave. The king began to think in his mind. "Fie to this human life and fie to my own life. Being absorbed in material things all the time I fail to make any ascetic association. After a long time I get the favor of an ascetic and now I come to know that Nadia will become a dhama of Prabhu." Having judged himself in this way the king became ecstatic in love. 822-826
He began to weep by looking at Navadvipa and repeatedly paid his homage at that place.827
He prayed to Navadvipadhana, "please do me the favor by which I can take my birth in Navadvipa at that time." At once he saw an oracle from the sky telling him, "let your desire be successful."
828-829
Though the king became full of joy at this, yet he could not keep his patience.830
The great lover of devotees Prabhu Visvambara Rai showed the king in a dream the sport of himself surrounded by musical instruments. Prabhu had been dancing in the middle of his devotees just like the moon. That time Prabhu took the image of Syama Krsna. Again Prabhu took the form of the complexion of Gaura. The king became very puzzled on seeing the Suvarna Vigraha in the middle of the devotees singing sankirtana. Before getting the answer, his dream broke. When he came to his senses he began to meditate on the sport of Suvarna Vigraha. for this reason this place came to be known as Suvarna Vigraha dancing in sankirtana. Some said that they had never seen in their life such beautiful color or complexion. They also had never seen in their life such a beautiful spot. One who once saw this village, could absorb in the sports of Sri Gauranga.831-844
From there Ishana went to the house of Misra in Mayapura. Mayapura was a very beautiful place which was the soothing relef to the eyes of mankind. It was beyond the reach of anybody to realise the glory of Mayapur. Even Brahma and other Gods remained always concerned about this place. Ishana with Srinivasa, Narottama and Ramacandra came to the house of Misra in the village of Mayapur. While entering into Misra's house, Ishana became very emotional over the former memory of Prabhu. They stood at one side of the house and began to look at the beauty of the house. He told Srinivasa that this house of Misra was the Mahayaga pitta. This house had increased the elegance of the sport of Prabhu which had been beyond the realisation of others. Upendra nandana Misravana with his wife Sachi used to worship Visnu all the time. Everyone would appreciate the devotional efforts of Jagannatha Misra and Saci. Sri Nilambara Chakravarty gave in marriage his daughter Saci to Jagannatha Misra. Sri Saci gradually gave birth to eight daughters and a son named Visnurupa whose qualities were beyond any description.
845-858
In Sri Krsna Caitany Carita - First chapter. Henceforth, Sri Gauradeva who was an expert in scriptures and a great scholar also, gave him the name of Sri Pundara Misra. One day, the broad minded, virtuous and great Kulina Smimat Nilamvara Chakravarty gave in marriage his daughter Sri Sacidevi to Sri Pundara Misra. Sri Pundara Misra was very happy to get her as a wife. He began to prosper in all spheres of life since then. He took a great effort in increasing his devotional prosperity such as nursing guests, customs like Shanti Sasrayana Saucha etc. Due to all these good activities, within a short while he obtained eight daughters, but unfortunately they died one after another. Sri Saci devi being very grief stricken, took refuge at the lotus feet of Sri Hari. Even Sri Misra for the desire of getting a son performed a ritual called Pitriyangya. Just like a poor man became happy on receiving riches so also Sri Pundara to get a deity-like son. He gave the son the name Visvarupa. After a time Visvarupa became a scholar in the Vedas, Naya Shastra and Vakti yoga etc. Visvarupa was a very calm and quiet natured, kind hearted and versatile genius and he never though of material gains. On the contrary he used to absorb in meditation of Sri Hari and used to read Sri Madvagvaita all the time. 859-868
O my dear Srinivasa, who can understand what is lying hidden in the mind of Visvyarupa?869
Sri Advaita Acarya became very happy in his mind as Prabhu would soon appear in Navadvipa.870
He used to worship Prabhu with water of the Ganges, Tulsi and sandal paste flowers with an ecstatic roar.871
Being attracted by the roar Prabhu took his form in the womb of mother Saci. Saci devi and Jaganntha became very happy while Prabhu Gaura candra delightfully began to grow up in his mother's womb.872-873
Six months had gone in counting that Prabhu kept on growing in his mother's womb. One day suddenly Sri Advaita came to visit the house of Jagannatha Misra and began to worship the womb of Sri Saci with sandal paste and perfumes. Then he performed the act of going round Saci devi and went to his own house. Here Sri Saci and Jagannatha became very perplexed by his behavior.874-876
Even Brahma and other Gods used to worship Saci and Prabhu in the womb of his mother looked at all in great fun. He lived in his mother's womb for thirteen months. What a transcendental sport of his it was.877-878
In Sri Krsna Caitanya Caritamrta (2nd. chapter, 24th sloka)
Gradually the thirteen months of Prabhu's living in the womb had gone. Then came the most auspicious moment of the month of falguna and the end of the fourteenth month for which the whole world had been waiting.879
It was the most auspicious moment of Falguni Nakshatra and Falguni Purnima in the Saka ere of fourteen hundred and seven. At the auspicious moment of the lunar eclipse Visvambhara took his birth in the house of Misra. Everyone present at that time became mad in joy to see the beauty of the new born baby of Jaganantha Misra.880-882
