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Sri Bhakti Ratnakara Aug 20, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Sri Bhakti Ratnakara by Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur.
Absorbed in their discussions time passed deep into the night, they ate something and went to bed and in the morning Sri Isvari consoled the wife of Sri Acarya and left for Sri Khanda. Sri Raghunandana and a group of Vaisnavas came forward to receive her as she entered Sri Khanda. A village brahmin who saw the Vaisnavas commented that Mukunda, Madhava and Naahari the three sons of Narayana dasa were very fortunate, the son of Mukunda, Raghunanda Thakura was the personification of love and devotion and had always brought relief to the people of the village. That brahmin accompanied the Vaisnavas as they travelled. Raghunandana had a beautiful young son named Sri Kanai who was always absorbed in memories of Sri Gauracandra. When Kanai saw the Mahantas coming he asked his father their names. Sri Raghunandana introduced him to each of the mahantas, and with tears in his eyes Thakura Kanai bowed at their feet as each one in turn embraced him. Sri Isvari and her followers happily entered Sri Khanda and went directly to the courtyard of Sri Gauranga where they observed the beautiful face of the deity. They also saw a beautiful form of Sri Madana Gopala, to whom Sri Raghunandana fed Laddu. After resting for sometime in the courtyard they went to their selected houses near the temple. They bathed, ate mahaprasad and in the evening they enjoyed nama sankirtana.
Sri Raghunandana was very sad when the devotees left for Khardaha. He offered various essential gifts to Sri Paramesvari dasa. Krsnadasa Sarkhel and others accompanied Sri Isvari to Khardaha.
From Sri Khanda Sri Isvari went first to Nadia which she found vacant because of the disappearance of most of the associates of Mahaprabhu. Sri Isana and some of his friends, the only persons still living, came forward to receive Isvari and others. They all felt some relieve from meeting Sri Isvari and for the time being they could forget their misery. However they could not control their grief when they entered the house of Srivasa. Throughout the night Sri Isvari sat awake and in the early morning she slept for a few hours. At that time Mahaprabhu and his associates to her in a dream. She was quite happy to see Sri Gauracandra with his beautiful clothes and his curling black hair. Gadadhara was on his left side and Nityananda on his right. Sri Advaita, Srivasa and others were in front of him. They started san kirtana and Gauracandra was the first to dance, followed by Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasa, Murari, Vakreswara and Haridasa. Sri Isvari was enchanted by the vision. Govinda Vasu, Madhava and Mukunda danced madly as they sang to the tune of different musical instruments. Th whole of Navadvipa became absorbed in sankirtan and the demigods appeared in person to enjoy the festival. Residents of heaven showered flowers on the great Bhagavatas and as she watched the wonderful sankirtana, Sri Jahnava's miseries. Just as the dream had come providing her intense so also it faded away, driving her back into misery. By the wish of the Lord she controlled her emotions and spoke to no one about her dream. She consoled Sri Isana in many ways and pacified him in many ways saying that Srinivasa would soon come.
After passing two days in Nadia Sri Isvari went to Ambika where she cried emotionally as she visited the various places frequented by Nityananda and Sri Caitanya. She stayed there for one day according to the wish of Gaura and Nityananda and then sent a message to Khardaha. The Vaisnavas who lived near the bank of the Ganga came forward to receive Sri Isvari and she went directly to the house of Uddharana Dutta where she decided to stay. A large crowd assembled there to meet Sri Isvari, but she passed her time remembering Uddharana Dutta who was a favorite disciple of Sri Nityananda. From his house Sri Isvari boarded a boat and sailed for Khardaha. The residents of Khardaha were happy to receive Sri Isvari and she happily entered her own house. Ganga and Viracandra affectionately fell at her feet and her eyes filled with tears out of affection for the children. Sri Jahnava then bowed to the feet of Sri Vasudeva and the crowd who assembled there enjoyed the loving reunion of the family members. Sri Vasudeva inquired about her travels and were satisfied with the report. Sri Isvari Jahnava then ordered Nayana, the sculptor to begin work on the deity of Radhika. Whoever attentively hears this narration will certainly attain the spirit of pure devotion. In the memory of Srinivasa Acarya, Dasa Narahari takes pleasure in writing the book Bhaktiratnakara.
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