Prema Vilasa chapter 8 ,the importance of Kanai Natasala and Srila Narottama das Thakur

[Paramananda das]

Please accept my humble obaisences

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Kanai Natasala is the place where Lord Caitanya had darshan of Krsna as He returned to Navadvipa from Gaya, this is explained in Caitanya Bhagavad chapter 2 of Madhya lila:

 Kanai Natsala

“Kotha gale paimu se murolibadon!”

Bolite charoye shwas, koroye krondon. 175

 

Sthir hoi’ prabhu sab-aptagon-stahne,

Prabhu bole,-“mor dukh knro nivedane”.176

 

Prabhu bole,-“mor se dukher anto nai

Paiao harainu se jibon-kanai”.177

 

Sabar santosh hoilo rahosya shunite,

Shradhwa kori, sobe bosilen charivite.178

 

“Kanahir natshala-name ek gram,

Gaya hoyite asite dekhinu sei sthan.179

 

Tamal-shyamal ek balak sundar,

Nawagunja-sohit kuntal monohar.180

 

Bichitra mayorpuchha shove tadupari,

Jhalmal monigan,- lokhite na pari.181

 

Hatete mohon banshi porom sundar.

Charone nupur shove ati-monohar.182

 

Nil-stambha jini’ vuje ratna-alognkar,

Sribatsa-koustav bakshe shove manihar.183

 

Ki kohibo se pit-dhatir poridhan,

Maker-kundal shove komol-nayan.184

 

Amar samipe aila hasite-hasite,

Ama’ alingia palaile kon vite.”185

 

At other times He cried out, releasing heavy sighs, "Where can I find the sweet face of My Lord that always (flowers the fruit?)" Then gradually becoming still, the Lord revealed the pain in His heart saying, "Please be merciful and hear My pitiful condition. There is no end to My sorrows. Although I have found My life, My dear Krishna, Now I have lost Him."

 

The devotees were greatly pleased to hear these words that explained the mystery and increased their faith and reverence. Sitting around the Lord, they all listened as the Lord continued, "While returning from Gaya I came to a village named Kanai Natsala. There I saw a young boy of exquisite beauty. He had a glowing dark complexion, the color of the bark of the tamala tree. His curly hair was decorated with wild flowers. He wore a beautiful crown with a peacock feather stuck in it. All His jewelry and gems shined brightly like the sun. It is impossible for Me to describe the beauty of the delicately ornamented flute He held in His hand which captured everyone's heart, and His fine lotus feet which looked so attractive with ankle bells softly touching His skin. His graceful, strong arms were more formidable than a blue pillar, and were covered with sparkling jewels and gems. From His neck hung the famous kaustubha jewel, and His chest was marked with the srivatsa. How will I describe to you the beauty of His yellow golden silken dhoti, His dangling fish earrings, and His lazy lotus petal eyes? Smiling sweetly, He approached Me and embraced Me; then suddenly He ran away, fearing what I do not know."

Srila Visvanatha Chakravati Thakura has given a very nice prayer in glorification of Lord Caitanya returning from Gaya ,this is from his Stavamrta Lahari

where we also find the Samsara davanala lika loka prayer, Guruvastakam: http://kksongs.org/authors/stavamrta_lahari.html

Sri Saci-nandana-vijayastaka
Eight Prayers Describing the Glories of the Son of Saci
1 gadadhara yada parah sa kila ksacanalokito
maya srita-gayadhavana madhura-murtir ekas tada
navambuda iva bruvan dhrta-navambudo netrayor
luthan bhuvi niruddha-vag vijayate saci-nandanah
One day, Gadadhara Pandita heard the following words: O Gadadhara! I saw the most extraordinary person on the road to Gaya. His form was very handsome, and He roared just like a thundercloud. His eyes rained tears as if they had become rain clouds, and He rolled about on the ground, His voice choked up in the ecstasy of love of God. All glories to that Lord, the son of Saci-devi.
2 alaksita-carim harity-udita-matratah kam dasam
asav ati-budhagranir atula-kampa-sampadikam
vrajann ahaha modte na punar atra sastresv iti
sva-sisya-gana-vestito vijayate saci-nandanah
Oh, what kind of extraordinary state has He attained? Although He is the leader of the scholars, He no longer delights in study. When He holds class, surrounded by his pupils, if He hears the sound „Hari“, He begins to tremble. All glories to that Lord, the son of Saci-devi.
3 haha kim idam ucyate patha pathatra krsnam muhur
vina tam iha sadhutam dadhati kim buddha dhatavah
prasiddha iha varna-sanghatita-samyag-amnayakah
sva-namni yad iti bruvan vijayate saci-nandanah
Once during class Lord Caitanya interrupted a pupil and asked, ‘What are you saying? Instead of these verbs, you should constantly repeat the name of Krsna, the most famous of all worlds according to the Vedas. O students, without Krsna, what benefit can verbs give?’ All glories to Lord Caitanya, the son of Saci-devi, who chants His own holy name in that way.
4 navambuja-dale yad-iksana-savarnata-dirghate
sada sva-hrdi bhavyatam sapadi sadhyatam tat-padam
sa pathayati vismitan smita-mukhah sva-sisyan iti
prati-prakaranam prabhur vijayate saci-nandanah
No matter what the particular topic of study was, He would smile and instruct His astonished grammar students in this way: ‘O students, please place the two large eyes of Sri Krsna, which are as beautiful as two lotus petals, within your hearts, and please place His lotus feet within your hearts in the same way.’ All glories to that Lord, the son of Saci-devi.
5 kva yani karavani kim kva nu maya harir labhyatam
tam udisatu kah sakhe kathaya kah prapadyeta mam
iti dravati ghurnate kalita-bhakta-kanthah suca
sa murchayati mataram vijayate saci-nandanah
At other times, the Lord would say, ‘O friend, where shall I go, and what shall I do to attain Lord Hari?’ Who will show Him to Me? Please tell me who will help me in this way’. Speaking thus, the Lord ran here and there and rolled about on the ground. Their throats filled with grief, the stricken devotees called out to Him. In this way the Lord caused His mother Saci-devi, to faint. All glories to that Lord, the son of Saci-devi.
6 smararbuda-durapaya tanu-ruci-chata-cchayaya
tamah kali-tama-krtam nikhilam eva nirmulayan
nrnam nayana-saubhagam divi-sadam mukhais tarayan
lasann adhi-dharah prabhur vijayate saci-nandanah
The reflection of the splendid beauty of the Lord is not attainable even by millions of Cupids, and with that splendour the Lord uproots the darkness of the ignorance of the age of Kali. Descending with the principal demigods, the Lord delighted the eyes of the residents of this earth planet. All glories to that effulgent Lord, the son of Saci-devi.
7 ayam kanaka-bhudharah pranaya-ratnam uccaih kiran
krpaturataya vrajan abhavad atra visvambharah
yad-aksi-patha-sancarat-suradhuni-pravahair nijam
param ca jagad ardayan vijayate saci-nandanah
He is like a golden mountain that scatters jewels of pure love of God. Because of His great mercy He wandered on this earth planet. That Lord, known as Visvambhara, the maintainer of the universe, inundated His own universe with the currents of the Ganges river of tears of love of Godhead flowing from His eyes. All glories to that Lord, the son of Saci-devi.
8 gato ‘smi mathuram mama priyatama visakha-sakhi
gata nu bata kam dasam vada katham nu vedani tam
itiva sa ni jecchaya vraja-pateh sutah prapitas
tadiya-rasa-carvanam vijayate saci-nandanah
Lord Krsna said to Uddhava: ‘What is the condition of Srimati Radharani now that I have come to Mathura? Please tell me so that I may understand.’ In order to fulfil His own desire, Lord Krsna, the son of the king of Vraja, has descended as Lord Caitanya to taste the mellows of His own devotional service
9 idam pathati yo ‘stakam guna-nidhe saci-nandana
prabho tava padambuje sphurad-amanda-visrambhavan
tam ujjvala-matim nija-pranaya-rupa-varganugam
vidhaya nija-dhamani drutam uri-kurusva svayam
O Lord, O son of Saci-devi, O ocean of transcendental qualities, please place in Your abode all who read these eight verses and are full of faith in Your lotus feet. Please accept those readers whose intelligence is pure and who follow in the footsteps of the great devotees headed by Srila Rupa Govami, who are full of great love for You.

In this chapter Lord Caitanya glorifies Srila Narottama das Thakura who was empowered to distribute the books of the 6 Goswamis and increase the

sankirtana movement even in Lord Caitanyas absence. 

Srila Visvanath Chakravati Thakura has also written a nice prayer in glorification of Srila Narottama das Thakura:

Srila Narottama-prabhor-astaka
Eight Prayers Glorifying Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
1 sri-krsna-namamrta-varsi-vaktra-
candra-prabha-dhvasta-tamo-bharaya
gaurangadevanucaraya tasmai
namo namah srila-narottamaya
I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, a sincere follower of Lord Gaurangadeva. Emitting a shower of the nectar of the holy name, with its splendour, the moon of His mouth destroys the darkness of ignorance.
2 sankirtananandaja-manda-hasya
danta-dyuti-dyotita-dinmukhaya
svedasru-dhara-snapitaya tasmai
namo namah srila-narottamaya
I offer my respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. Blissful by singing Krsna’s glories, he would become bathed in streams of perspiration and the splendour of his teeth and gentle smile would illuminate all directions.
3 mrdanga-nama-sruti-matra-cancat-
padambuja-dvandva-manoharaya
sadyah samudyat-pulakaya tasmai
namo namah srila-narottamaya
I offer my respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. Hearing the mrdangas and the sound of the holy name, he would dance, moving his enchanting lotus feet and the hairs of his body erect in ecstasy.
4 gandharva-garva-ksapana-svalasya-
vismapitasesa-krti-vrajaya
sva-srsta-gana-prathitaya tasmai
namo namah srila-narottamaya
I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. His dancing dispelled the Gandharvas’ pride. His devotional activities filled everyone with wonder. His songs made Him famous.
5 ananda-murcchavani-pata-bhata-
dhuli-bharalankrta-vigrahaya
yad-darsanam bhagya-bharena tasmai
namo namah srila-narottamaya
I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. He would sometimes faint in ecstasy and fall to the ground, his body decorated with dust. The very fortunate would see him in that way.
6 sthale sthale yasya krpa-prabhabhih
krsnanya-trsna jana-samhatinam
nirmulita eva bhavanti tasmai
namo namah srila-narottamaya
I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. In place after place the splendour of his mercy uprooted the people’s thirst for anything other than Krsna.
7 yad-bhakti-nisthopala-rekhikeva
sparsah punah sparsamaniva yasya
pramanyam evam srutivad yadiyam
tasmai namah srila-narottamaya
I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. His firm faith in devotional service to Krsna is like a necklace of precious stones. His touch is like a sparsamani jewel. His words are like the four Vedas.
8 murtaiva bhaktih kim ayam kim esa
vairagya-saras tanuman nr-loke
sambhavyate yah krtibhih sadaiva
tasmai namah srila narottamaya
I offer respectful obeisances to Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. The devotees always wonder: Is he devotional service personified? Is he the essence of renunciation who has descended to the world of human beings in this form?
9 rajan-mrdanga-karatala-kalabhiramam
gauranga-gana-madhu-pana-bharabhiramam
sriman-narottama-padambuja-manju-nrtyam
bhrtyam krtarthayatu mam phalitesta-krtyam
May the dancing of Sri Narottama’s lotus feet, which is graceful with the melodious sounds of karatalas and mrdangas, and which is sweet with the honey of Lord Gauranga, fulfil the spiritual desires of me, his servant.

There is Narottama Vilasa that gives great happiness to devotees, I have seen an online translation done by Dravida das   that is excellent  ,it was written by Narahari das.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/57399988/Narottam-vilasa

  

 

CHAPTER 8

 

          All glories to the ever merciful Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. All glories to the resort of all devotee, Nityananda Prabhu.  All glories to Visvanvara*, the image of kindness.  All glories to Advaitacandra, and Viracandra, the ocean of love.  All glories to all the devotees of the Lord.  Simply by hearing the pastimes of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu the mind becomes surcharged devotion.  Listen carefully as I continue the narration of the loving pastimes of the Lord and His devotees.  Now I shall describe the biography of Narottama dasa Thakura.

          Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu decorated Gauda with the ornament of the chanting of the holy name.  This sankirtana movement is the only means of strength in this age of Kali, simply by hearing the holy name one's desires are fulfilled and the mind is filled with love.  He who has no faith in Harinama, is surely devoid of devotional love.  He who desires to attain the lotus feet of Krishna, must chant the holy name of the Lord sincerely.

          Once Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu started for Vrndavana from Gauda, however, along the way He changed His plans and went to Natsala, saying that He would remain there rather than go to Vrndavana.  Nityananda Prabhu humorously said, "Previously you accepted the life of an ascetic and left Navadvipa.  Now you have decided to stay on the bank of the Padmavati.  It is good of you."**  Prabhu said, "Shripada, listen to Me, **the place which can give divine pleasure is the actual place of birth.  You will know why I had left Vrndavana and come to Nilacala.  When Sanatana will meet Rupa, they will guide the other acaryas." Mahaprabhu took his leave and went to a nearby village named Catnapura in Gauda.  There he met Sanatana and after instructing him on the science of devotional service, the Lord went to Natsala.  As Natsala was a place of Krishna, as soon as Prabhu arrived there, He became ecstatic in love which only Vrndavana could give.

          One day while dancing in kirtana, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu suddenly began to call out the name of Narottama.  Holding on to Nityananda for support, the Lord shed streams of tears.  Thinking Mahaprabhu was in trance, the devotees stopped kirtana and standing around Prabhu, they began to chant softly and sweetly. Chanting Harinama, the Lord dropped to the ground, Nityananda being unable to support His weight any longer.  Mahaprabhu sat on the ground with his arms around the neck of Nityananda Prabhu, crying out the name of Mathura repeatedly, which pierced the hearts of the devotees.  The residents of Natsala rushed to see the spectacle, as the Lord rolled on the ground, sometimes shouting the name of Mathura and sometimes calling out to Lalita, Visakha, or Campakalata. 

          Shri Chaitanya's state was so drastic that Nityananda Prabhu was frightened that He would give up His life.  In great consternation He began to wonder why he had brought the Lord to this village. 

          In desperation the devotees began chanting the name of Jagannatha loudly.  This brought Gaurachandra back to His senses. Getting up, He again called out, "Narottama, Narottama."

          Speaking amongst themselves the devotees decided that they should take Chaitanya Mahaprabhu back to Nilacala.  They thought that taking the Lord across the river Padmavati would save Him. The devotees could understand by Prabhu's behaviour that some great devotee must be about to take his birth.

          Shri Chaitanya continued to wet the body of Nityananda Prabhu with His tears.  Nityananda did His best to pacify the Lord and asked Him where they should go.  Prabhu answered, "Let us go to Nilacala, much work is to done there."  Nityananda agreed, but out of curiosity, asked why the Lord had called out the name of Narottama during sankirtana.

          Mahaprabhu replied, "Listen carefully Nityananda. Sankirtana is everything to Me, I want to assure that in the future the nectarean ocean of the sankirtana movement will continue to flow.  As long as you are alive My love will not vanish, but what will happen after We have gone.  Therefore I want to keep deposit My love in a suitable person, so that the sankirtana movement will continue to spread and flood the entire universe."

          Nityananda Prabhu asked, "Is there a proper person to whom you can distribute Your love?

          Mahaprabhu replied, "I shall keep My love in Gadera Hata on the bank of the Padmavati.  In the future Padmavati will give it to Narottama, who will take birth during My lifetime."

          "Where is Gadera Hata," Nityananda asked.  "Please take Me there."

          Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, Both the banks of the Padmavati are very pleasant places and Padmavati is flowing between them.**" Nityananda was very pleased to hear this and insisted on going there.  Thus they went to the village of Kudorapura, where they witnessed the beauty of Padmavati.

          The following morning Mahaprabhu went to the river Padmavati.  He took his bath and then began kirtana.  While singing, again, the Lord shouted the name of Narottama. Nityananda Prabhu stopped kirtana and explained to the devotees that something extraordinary was about to take place.  The amazed devotees, entered into the waters of the Padmavati, along with Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu.  Padmavati, whose banks where overflowing, became completely still upon experiencing the loving touch of the Lord. Meanwhile, the people of the village where suddenly overcome with feelings of divine love.  Padmavati then surged forth, overflowing her banks and flooding the entire village.  As it was not the rainy season, now one could understand why the village was flooded.

          Nityananda Prabhu said to the Lord, "Prabhu, it is good that You are distributing Your love, but the whole village has been inundated by the river."

          Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu turned to Padmavati and said, "Take My love and keep it with you for Narottama."  Padmavati replied, "Prabhu, how will I know who Narottama is?"  The Lord said, "He whose touch will force you to surge forth with floods, will be Narottama. You will give this love to that Narottama."  Filled with happiness, Padmavati took the love from Mahaprabhu.  When the Lord bade farewell, the floods in the village immediately receded and the residents were greatly relieved. 

          Nityananda Prabhu told Gaurachandra that the beauty of the village tempted Him to stay there.  **Prabhu said, "Well you will help Narottama to get this love.  I shall be very near to Narottama."  Thereafter they crossed the Padmavati and continued on to Nilacala.

          The actual meaning of love and how it is to be attained is very difficult to comprehend.  I am unqualified to speak on the subject matter, but all of this has been explained by Shri Rupa Gosvami.  Simply under the order of My Prabhu, I have disclosed this beautiful pastime in Gadera Hata.  One who simply listens respectfully to such stories can easily attain divine love. Remaining faithful to the feet of Shri Jahnava and Viracandra, I, Nityananda dasa narrate Prem Vilasa. (88-94)