Chapter 5 of Advaita Prakash

[Paramananda das]

dear vaisnavas Please accept my humble obaisences all glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga All glories to Srila Prabhupada Advaita Acarya worshipped Radha Madan Gopal in Shantipura , actually this worship of Radha Krsna is said to really have started with Madhavendra Puri that is an incarnation of a Kalpa Vriksa tree from Goloka Vrindavan that distributes love of Krsna in all 5 rasas,Srila Visvanath Chakravati Thakura has also given a beautiful prayer to Madan Gopal in his Stavamrta Lahari,so it must be accepted that the Deity he worshipped in Shantipure and the one He discovered are all one and the same Krsna, Padma Purana states those who think the Arcavigraha is simply stone is a great offender, as the Archa igraha is all Krsna.So many temples with Radha Krsna deities but they are all the one and same Supreme Lord.In our line the proper worship of Radha Krsna is done through the media of Guru and Gauranga (in our case Srila Prabhupada),Srila Prabhupada gave the order to chant minimum 16 rounds, but really tried to introduce 64 rounds in ISKCON that was the standard of his GuruMaharaja.The chanting of the holy name helps countereacts any offences that may inattentively  made in deity worship.In Salagram and Govardhana Sila worship one is advised not to take prasadam before Krsna has accepted His offerings .As He is the Supreme Lord , worship is to be offered first and bhoga offered, real strict followers of Lord Caitanya also has the standard to finish 100.000 names of the Maha mantra before taking prasadam.At least we can do 16 rounds before honoring Krsna prasadam. We see in this chapter Madhavendra Puri had given a picture to Advaita Acarya made by Visakha of Krsna.In this chapter we see how he orders Advaita Acarya to make a picture of Sri Radha. In  ISKCON we can see how many beautiful paintings have been done by different devotees that inspires a devotees meditation ,also there is so many such inspiring paintings in ISKCON Delhi, and ISKCON Juhu and other places, and in many temples in US we find original paintings.Mother Jadurani  has made some very detailed paintings of Radha Krsna ,like the Divine couple in Nikunja lila, the details are very inspiring. Krsna states in Bhagavad Gita 6.47, yoginam api sarvesam, that His devotees always meditate on His transcendental form . In ISKCON we follow Lord Caitanya that has stressed this worship of Radha Krsna.We read in this chapter how Madhavendra Puri went to Shanti Pura before going to Puri to obatain Sandalwood for Gopal (this pastime is described in detail in the CC).Here in Advaita Prakash we hear how Madhavendra Puri obtains the "transcendental information" that  Gopinath in Remuna was sculptured by Lord Ramachandra Himself of the request of Sitadevi (Janaki) to see this sweet form of Krsna.Gopinath steals the Ksira and gives it to Madhavendra Puri ,and since that time this deity is known as Ksira cora Gopinath. Our obeisances at the lotusfeet of the vaisnavas, we aspire to be the servant of their servants servants servants million fold, all glories to Sri Advaita Acarya ,Madhavendra Puri and the merciful  Ksira cora Gopinath that is not different from Gopal. Vaisnavas will understand these conclusions  others will not. Those who read this chapter and  chapters in the CC madhya lila chapter 5 that describes how Lord Caitanya went to Remuna will be very blissful, it is interesting to note that Lord Caitanya also first visited Advaita Acarya before going to Remuna as described in CC Madhya lila chapter 3. I pray this may give pleasure to all those non envious devotees ,that are very eager to hear such discussions    your humble servant PARAMANANDA das Click here to load whole tree

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Chapter Five

All glories to Shri Chaitanya! All glories to Sitanatha! All glories to Nityananda, along with all the devotees!

One day the best of the sannyasis, Shri Madhavendra Puri, appeared in Shantipura as the moon appears in the sky. The name of Krishna always adorned his lips, and his body was filled with the topmost ecstasy of love of God. He was the incarnation of a desire-tree of Vraja. He was most renounced, for he had no external dependence. Still, out of affection, he came to Advaita Prabhu's residence.

Advaita Prabhu was filled with ecstasy on seeing Madhavendra Puri. Putting a cloth around His neck as a sign of humility, Advaita offered dandavats by falling on the ground like a rod before Madhavendra Puri. Madhavendra Puri embraced Advaita and inquired about His well-being. Advaita Prabhu said, “Madana-gopala has bestowed His mercy on Me.”

Madhavendra Puri said, “Devotional service is full of transcendental potency by which the living entity can attain the Lord's supreme abode.”

Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed in ecstasy—sometimes he laughed, sometimes he cried, and sometimes he danced. Who can understand the position of Madhavendra Puri? After some time he regained his external senses and revealed an easy way to attain Krishna.

He said, “Dear Advaita, You have pure love of Godhead. Now make a painting of Shri Radhika, for by seeing Radha and Krishna one develops the loving sentiments of the gopis. Therefore the worship of both Radha and Krishna is the topmost process. Please hear attentively one other thing I have to say. You should get married and lead a Krishna conscious life. By Krishna's grace, You will father many sons who will distribute the holy names and thus deliver the living entities.”

Advaita Prabhu said, “Deity worship is very auspicious, but if someone commits an offense, his family goes to hell.”

Madhavendra Puri said, “Krishna is an ocean of mercy and is controlled by You. He will not consider any offense from the next fourteen generations of Your family.”

Following His guru's instruction, Advaita Prabhu joyfully prepared a painting of Shri Radhika. By seeing those two paintings, one easily develops love for Shri Shri Radha-Krishna.

Madhavendra Puri then delightedly bathed Radha-Madana-gopala. He offered the Lord various kinds of sweets, water for washing the mouth, camphor, and betel nut. Everyone who came to see the divine couple offered obeisances and various prayers. Being attracted by the transcendental aroma of the maha-prasada, they honored Krishna's remnants with love and devotion.

Then, to teach people the process of Krishna consciousness, Advaita accepted the topmost Krishna mantra from Madhavendra Puri. After some days Madhavendra Puri expressed a desire to leave, but Advaita Prabhu earnestly begged him to stay.

Madhavendra Puri said, “I want to go to Jagannatha Puri. Gopala has ordered me to collect sandalwood.”

Advaita Prabhu said, “Why has Gopala asked for sandalwood? I am eager to hear the reason.”

Madhavendra Puri said, “Gopala is the completely independent Supreme Lord. He has appeared out of compassion on this fallen soul. Recently Shri Gopala told me in a dream, `I am feeling warm. Bring some Malayan sandalwood from Jagannatha Puri. If I am smeared with that fragrant sandalwood, My body will cool down.'

“Who can violate Gopala's firm order? Therefore I came this side to look for sandalwood. I have come now to Your abode of peace here in Shantipura due to being attracted by the strong desire of Your shining sunlike devotion to Lord Krishna.”

Hearing from Madhavendra Puri about the extent of Krishna's mercy, Advaita Acarya loudly cried out in loving ecstasy. He said, “Krishnacandra is most merciful. He is the reservoir of supreme potency and is always affectionate to His devotees. He always increases the transcendental qualities of His devotee. For the sake of His devotee He appears without consideration of time.”

After speaking in this way, Advaita Prabhu became stunned. Madhavendra Puri helped Advaita recover and then asked to take leave. Advaita Prabhu offered obeisances to Madhavendra Puri, and Madhavendra Puri embraced Advaita.

Then Madhavendra Puri went in great ecstasy to Remuna, where Gopinatha resides. He took darshana of Gopinatha there and then chanted and danced with raised arms. After some time Shri Madhavendra Puri regained his external consciousness and offered obeisances to Gopinatha. As he sat and chanted the holy name in the temple, one brahmana came. Madhavendra inquired from him, “O best of the brahmanas, please tell me which fortunate person has made this Deity.”

The brahmana said, “O saintly one, listen and I will tell you what wise men have previously told me. Lord Ramacandra, the Supreme Brahman, dressed as a mendicant and went to live in the forest with His wife, Sita, to fulfill His father's promise. One day Lord Ramacandra slightly smiled as He watched a herd of cows wander with their calves in the forest. Seeing Him smile, Sita inquired as to the reason. Rama, however, replied, “It is not necessary for you to know.”

“Sita said, `I fall at Your lotus feet. Please tell me.'

“Out of affection, the Supreme Lord is always controlled by His devotees. The Lord always bestows ecstatic love on His devotees. Shri Sitadevi is the pleasure potency of the Lord and the crest-jewel of devotional service. Therefore, in order to please her, the jewel of the Raghu dynasty said, `Listen, Janaki, at the close of Dvapara-yuga I will perform My pastimes as Krishna in the land of Vraja. I will be known by the name of Gopala, and I will engage in protecting cows in the association of other cowherd boys and girls.'

“Shri Janaki said, `O Lord, You are full of mercy. Please show me that form.'

“The Supreme Lord and master of the universe then personally prepared this Deity of Krishna from a precious stone. Seeing that Deity of Krishna, Sita was astounded and said, `I have never seen such a sweet form. This form of Krishna is the reservoir of transcendental mellows and He attracts the minds of all. The beauty of His transcendental form is more attractive than a newly formed raincloud.'

“The chaste Sitadevi then devotedly worshiped the Deity with various fruits and flowers. This Deity is now famous by the name Gopinatha. Whoever sees this Deity obtains pure devotion to Lord Krishna. This is a brief description of the Deity's history. By hearing this narration, all one's desires are fulfilled.”

After Madhavendra Puri heard the wonderful pastimes of Gopinatha, he worshiped the Deity with love and devotion. Again and again he pleaded, “O Gopinatha, please be merciful to me!”

Everyone present was amazed to see his devotional sentiments. After seeing the arati, Madhavendra left the temple. He went and sat under a tree and chanted japa. Later that night the pujari came there with a pot of kshira [condensed milk] in his hand, calling, “Where is Madhavendra Puri?”

Madhavendra Puri said, “I am that contemptible person.”

The brahmana said, “The ocean of your good fortune is overflowing. Gopinatha has stolen kshira on your behalf. He ordered me in a dream to bring that kshira to you.”

The brahmana then gave the kshira to Madhavendra Puri and returned home. Madhavendra Puri exclaimed, “Krishna has bestowed inconceivably wonderful mercy on me!” and then he lost external consciousness. After weeping profusely, he settled his mind and honored that kshira-prasada with great devotion. Again, after honoring the prasada, he was filled with ecstasy. He danced with raised arms for a long time.

I offer millions of obeisances at the feet of Shri Madhavendra Puri, by whose devotion Gopinatha was named Kshira-cora.

Madhavendra Puri then continued on until he arrived at Nilacala. When he saw Lord Jagannatha, he danced jubilantly. He offered obeisances and many prayers to the Lord, then he loudly chanted the holy names in great ecstasy. After resting there for a few days, Madhavendra Puri collected some high quality sandalwood and then departed. When he again arrived in Remuna, he offered his respects and prayers to Gopinatha.

That night in a dream Shri Gopala said, “Listen, Madhavendra. Faithfully smear the aromatic sandalwood on Gopinatha and the heat of My body will diminish. Have no doubt.”

After seeing the dream, Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed with ecstatic love and said, “What an astounding order Gopala has given! Who can understand the resolute will of the inconceivable Lord? Whatever He orders, I must accept.”

Madhavendra Puri thus offered all the sandalwood to Gopinatha and then rested there for some days. Sometimes he would devotedly visit Nilacala, and sometimes out of love he returned to see Gopinatha in Remuna. In this way Madhavendra Puri often traveled back and forth, but in his last days he attained perfection at the lotus feet of Gopinatha.

The transcendental qualities of Madhavendra Puri are like an ocean. Shri Advaita Prabhu glorified those qualities. I am fallen and not able to touch even a drop of those qualities. Following the order of the Lord, I have simply given a hint.

Praying at the the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya and Shri Advaita, always desiring Their mercy, I, Ishana Nagara, narrate Shri Advaita Prakasha.

 

[Paramananda das]

please note Sri Advaita acarya got initiated into the Hare Krsna Mahamantra