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Sri Bhakti Ratnakara Jul 29, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Sri Bhakti Ratnakara by Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur.
It was decided that on that day Srinivasa would recite verses fromt he Bhagavatam and explain their meanings. Raghunandana was happy with this decision and at once arranged for proper seats and invited the mahantas. Sri Pati, Sri Mohi and others took their seats; Krsna Misra, Gopala and Prabhu Vira Bhadra sat on celestial asanas. After Sri Raghunandana affectionately escorted Srinivasa to his seat, all the mahants requested Srinivasa to recite the Bhagavatam. They assured him that they would not mind him reciting for them and told him he should feel no hesitation to speak. Srinivasa bowed to the feet of the mahantas and then offered a flower, tulasi leaves and sandal paste to the holy book. He began his recitation with Mangala Carana. His voice was sweet like a cuckoo and the entire audience was enchanted by his recitation. He cried as he recited the verses of Sri Rasa Vilasa and then he explained the meaning of the Sanskrit verses in sweet language. The audience was fully satisfied by his recitation. Mesmerised by Srinivasa's sweet voice some of the mahantas said that the spirit of Sri Suka had entered Srinivasa. One person felt that Srinivasa had been empowered by Sri Veda Vyasa in his lucid explanation of the verses. Another person felt that it was the mercy of Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami which enabled Srinivasa to speak so sweetly. Others gave credit to Srivasa saying that his mercy enabled Srinivasa to chant rhythmically. Another person felt that Sri Gauranga himself had explained the verses through the mouth of Srinivasa. Time passed unnoticed for the listeners were all absorbed in the sweet recitations of Srinivasa. Finding that day was soon becoming night, Srinivasa stopped his reading of the Bhagavatam, paid respects to the books most humbly and then lay prostrate at the feet of Mahaprabhu's companions. Being satisfied with Srinivasa they affectionately placed their hands on his head and blessed him by saying that he had be able to pacify their grief stricken hearts. They prayed that Mahaprabhu would fulfill Srinivasa's desires and they felt that whoever dedicated himself to the feet of Srinivasa would certainly get the favor of Sri Krsna Caitanya. "By Your mercy, the living entities will get exemption from their miseries," said one devotee. While one devotee embraced him intensely, another bent to touch the feet of Raghunandana, thanking him for arranging the recitation of the Srimad Bhagavatam by Srinivasa. Sri Raghunandana directed his followers to assemble in the courtyard of Gauranga Mandir without delay. They decorated the pavillon and arranged everything for the beginning of san kirtana. he brought a khola, karatala and other musical instruments and prepared them for the kirtana. After the arrangements were made Raghunandana invited the mahantas. They first performed the Sandhya arati of the deity of Mahaprabhu and then began the san kirtana. They were happy to see the musical instruments, scented sandal paste, and beautiful flower garlands which were being kept in various containers. Raghunandana had prepared sandal paste and flower garlands for each mahanta in a different container and he requested each mahanta to accept it. They also offered sandal wood paste and flower garlands to the khola and kartalas of Sri Mahaprabhu. Sri Raghunandana and Sri Locana then took sandal paste and flower garlands to offer to Krsna Misra and Sri Gopala, the mahantas were enchanted by the beauty of the those two Vaisnavas. They also decorated the body of Sri Vira Bhadra with sandal paste and flower garlands. Then Prabhu Vira Bhadra signaled Srinivasa to give him sandal paste and flower garlands which he in turn offered to Sri Raghunandana. Sri Raghunandana was embarrassed and perplexed by Vira Bhadra's behavior so he turned and offered sandal paste and flower garlands to Srinivasa very affectionately. It was a beautiful scene with the great mahantas all exchanging sandal paste and garlands amongst themselves. As they stood beneath a beautifully decorated canopy some of the mahantas began to play the instruments. An auspicious roar resounded through the air and hundreds of lamps were lit around the compound where the san kirtana was held. The sounds of Khola, karatala, khanjala and kanja created a peculiar divine sensation. The main singers started kirtana by introducing their songs distinctly. The entire assembly was enchanted by the notations, tuning, scale, modulation of voice, musical time keeping and trilling of the kirtana. Whoever took part in the kirtana felt as though he had regained his youth. The compound was soon overcrowded and both the audience and the participants of the san kirtana had tears streaming down his face. Even demigods mingled with the ordinary people and enjoyed the san kirtana, floating in a ocean of happiness. Forgetting their own existence the mahantas chanted and danced madly in a kirtana which mesmerised the entire universe. How can I describe the dancing of Sri Krsna Misra and Sri Gopala? Whoever saw the dancing of Sri Vira Bhadra forgot his miseries. The devotees lamented that they had only two eyes to see the beautiful dance. A blind man who was listening to the kirtana asked another man the name of the dancer. When he heard the name Vira Bhadra, he thought that the name contained the power to sweep away all evils the word Vira means destroying the wicked, and the word Bhadra means protecting the good. He lamented his blind illness and begged the Lord silently to correct his misfortune. His crying touched the heart of Nityananda Nandana who glanced affectionately towards the blind man. The blind man got back his vision and became mad with joy. A tremendous ovation acknowledged the glory of Vira Bhadra. They passed the entire night in san kirtana, crying they remembered the glory of Mahaprabhu. Lifting their hands in the air they called out the name of Prabhu and his intimate associates, namely Nityananda Rama, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Pandita Gadadhara, Haridasa, Sri Vasa, Svarupa, Ramananda, Sri Madhava, Vasu, Murari, Mukunda, Gadadhara dasa and Narahari. They repeatedly requested Mahaprabhu to appear before them once with all his followers. As they rolled on the ground in despair and their bodies became covered with dust, the sound of their crying filled the air. Mahaprabhu could not restrain his affection toward such sincere devotees and he appeared before them. In this miraculous appearance, Mahaprabhu consoled his devotees in many ways, took away all their miseries, and drowned them in an ocean of divine happiness. In great satisfaction they bowed to one another, embraced each other and shared tears of joy. The night passed and in the morning they observed the Mangala arati for Sri Mahaprabhu. After observing the behavior of the mahantas, the village people began to shout the name of Hari. But the people had various opinions. One person lamented the short duration of the night and blamed Providence. In his opinion, such an ekadasi day as this came very rarely in one's life. On that day they had all observed the rainfall of love caused by the mahantas. Another person commented that the Vaisnavas had an important qualification in that they could fast or remain for the entire day and night. Another person said that it was only possible for the associates of Caitanya to observe the ekadasi day in such a way. One person felt that no one should ever take food on the day of ekadasi. Whoever took food or offered food t anyone on that day would be committing a great sin. But another person felt that only one who got the favor of the companions of Mahaprabhu could properly observe the ekasasi barata. In humility one man questioned whether he could get sufficient faith about observing the auspicious ekadasi day since he was a sinner. One person expressed his ignorance about the sanctity of the auspicious day while another man lamented his own misfortune at not taking the opportunity to prostrate himself at the feet of the Vaisnavas. One man tried to console others who were lamenting and then all of them went together to the compound of the san kirtana to offer obeisances to the Vaisnava mahantas. By this action they were able to get the mercy of the companions of Mahaprabhu. The mahantas appreciated the sincere efforts of Sri Raghunandana. It was the opinion of one person that whoever received the affectionate of Sri Raghunandana would certainly get the mercy of Sri Krsna Caitanya. Another person especially appreciated Raghunandana for his kindness towards poor, worthless and miserable people. Another person appreciated his humble disposition and his politeness. Someone else was enchanted by his beauty which could be compared with that of a kandarpa. One person appreciated his efficiency in singing, playing musical instruments and dancing while another person appreciated his arrangements for the kirtana which they had all enjoyed so much. While the mahantas were discussing the good qualities of Raghunandana, he arrived at that spot. He was embarrassed to hear his own glories for he was a humble person. Observing Raghunandana's humble state of mind, the mahantas were overwhelmed with emotion and embraced him for a long time. Sri Raghunandana asked the mahantas how they should perform the observance of the day of Sri Dadashi Parana. The mahants suggested that they should celebrate the day by eating the prasad of Sri Gauranga together. Sri Raghunandana was happy to hear that suggestion and without delay he gathered a variety of ingredients and ordered his disciples to cook them carefully. The mahantas went to the houses and completed their routine morning duties of evacuating, bathing and chanting their religious prayers. Meanwhile many items were cooked and the priest of the temple offered them to Mahaprabhu. After Mahaprabhu had had sufficient time to honor the food, the priest took the preparations from the deity room. Sri Raghunandana called the mahantas and showed them the various items which had been offered to the Lord. They were all pleased to see the great variety of foodstuffs that had been offered to Mahaprabhu. After the performance of arati, the mahantas took their seats. Devotees placed banana leafs and cups of scented drinking before each seat and carefully offered each mahanta the prasad of Mahaprabhu. Within the temple, the devoted priest affectionately performed the duties related to the Lord's bed time. He bowed to the Lord repeatedly and then left the deity room to serve prasad to the Mahantas. He distributed both cooked food and fruits to the mahantas and after that h gave them the holy water by which the feet of the Lord had been washed. The mahants requested Raghunandana to eat with them, but he humbly refused, saying that he preferred the pleasure of watching them all eat together. They invoked the name of Sri Hari and then they all began to eat. Sri Raghunandana greatly enjoyed the scene.
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