Srila Gadadhara Pandita

[Paramananda das]

Srila Gadadhara Pandita

Please accept my humble obaisences

all glories to my Gurudeva Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Sri Kavi Karnapura states in Gaura Ganodessa Dipika that in Vraja lila Gadadhara Pandit is the daughter of King Vrsabhanu-Srimati Radharani. Gadad­hara Pandit served as Lord Gaura's chief assistant during His Navadvipa . Sri-Sri Radha Krishna in Vrndavana appear as Gaura-Gadadhara to perform pastimes in Navadvipa in the forest groves beside the Ganges. shri-radha-prema-rupa ya pura vrindavandeshvari sa shri-gadadharo gaura-vallabhah panditakhyakah nirnitah shri-Svarupair yo vraja-lakshmitaya yatha pura vrindavane lakshmih shyamasundara-vallabha sadya gaura-prema-lakshmih shri-gadadhara-panditah radham anugata yat tal lalitapy anuradhika atah pravishad esha tam gaura-candrodaye yatha The incarnation of love who previously was the queen of Vrindavan, Radha, is now the beloved of Gaura named Srila Gadadhara Pandit. Svarupa Damodar himself indicated that he was Vraja’s goddess of fortune, the Lakshmi who was previously the beloved of Shyamasundara in Vrindavan. She today has become the goddess of fortune of love for Gaura and is known as Srila Gadadhara Pandit. Lalita, who is also known as Anuradha, is Radha’s closest friend and confidante. She has also entered into Gadadhara, as was shown in the play Chaitanya-candrodaya. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 147-150) . "Gadadhara, the best of the brahmanas, is the incarnation of both Srimati Radharani and Lalita-gopi. These two are the transcendental potencies of the Lord, and since the Lord is in one sense not different from His potencies, it may be said that He is present wherever His potencies go. For this reason it may be said that Lord Hari is also present in the body of Gadadhara Pandita. Gadadhara is therefore the incarnation of three persons: Srimati Radharani, Lalita-gopi, and Lord Hari." Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika "No one can describe the characteristics and ecstatic love of Gadadhara Pandit. Therefore another name for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Gadadhara Prananatha, "the life and soul of Gadahara Pandit." (Caitanya-caritamrta)

Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written: smara gaura gadadhara kelikalam bhava gaura gadadhara paksacaram srnu gaura gadadhara carukatham bhaja godruma-kanana kunjavidhum Remember the wonderful pastimes of Gaura and Gadadhara. Become a servant of Gaura and Gadadhara. Listen to the beautiful narrations concerning Gaura and Gadadhara, and worship Lord Gaura, the beautiful moon of the groves of Godruma.

Sri Gadadhara Pandita is Sri Radha and helps Lord Caitanya who is Krsna Himself to appriciate the love of Sri Radha.Lord Gauranga is in the mood of Sri Radha and this is the most confidential reason for His descend to relish this love that He eternally relishes in Goloka Vrindavana

Siddha Krsna das of Govardhana ( a highly empowered and bonafide Gaudiya Vaisnava

has given us something very deep and important about the noon pastimes of Gaura Gadadhara:

MADHYAHNA-LILA OF SRIMAN MAHAPRABHU -- PLAYING DICE WITH GADADHARA from the gutika of Siddha Baba "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His devotees are seated in a pavilion of the six-seasonal flower garden of Srivasa Pandit, completely absorbed in ecstasy. Mahaprabhu hears from the mouth of Svarupa Damodara the glorification of each and every limb of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna described by the shuka and sarika parrots. He also hears how Radha and Krsna fondle their individual shuka and sarika parrots and offer them fruits as a reward. When Mahaprabhu hears these descriptions, He roars in ecstasy and attains external consciousness. His associates also attain external consciousness. Srivasa Pandit then decorates the three Lords and the devotees with flower garlands and sandalwood pulp. Knowing Mahaprabhu's feelings, Svarupa Gosai sings about Radha and Krishna playing dice and performing surya puja. Srivasa Pandit then brings various dice for the dice game and places them before Mahaprabhu. In great ecstatic love, the Lord begins to play dice with Gadadhara. Absorbed in the songs of Svarupa Damodara, everyone is immersed in their own braja bhava.

This is the Sri Gadadhara astakam :

Sri Gadadharastakam by Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami

Text 1

sva-bhakti-yoga-lasinam sada vraje viharinam hari-priya-ganagragam cacisuta-priyecvaram sadha-krsna-sevana-prakasakam mahasayam bhajamy aham gadadharam supanditam gurum prabhum

I worship the greatly learned and exalted spiritual master, Srila Gadadhara Prabhu, who appears very splendid, engaged in the Lord's devotional service. He always performs pastimes in Vraja, where he is very prominent among the gopis, who are very dear to Lord Hari. Lord Caitanya, the Son of Saci is the dear Lord of Gadadhara Prabhu, who is preaching the service of Radha and Krsna.

Text 2

navojjvaladi- bhavana-vidhana-karma-paragam vicitra-gaura-bhakti-sindhu-ragga-bhagga-lasinam suraga-marga-darsakam vrajadi-vasa-dayakam bhajamyaham gadadharam supanditam gurum prabhum

I worship the greatly learned spiritual master, Srila Gadadhara Prabhu. He is expertly absorbed in meditation on the nine rasas of devotional service, beginning with ujjvala-rasa (conjugal love), and he dances in the waves of the amazing ocean of devotional service to Lord Caitanya. He preaches the path of raganuga-bhakti (spontaneous devotional service), and He is a fit person to attain residence in the transcendental land of Vraja.

Text 3

sacisutagghri-sara-bhakta-vrnda-vandya-gauravam gaura-bhava-citta-padma-madhya-krsna-vallabham mukunda-gaura-rupinam svabhava-dharma-dayakam bhajamyaham gadadharam supanditam gurum prabhum

I worship the greatly learned spiritual master, Srila Gadadhara Prabhu. The best of those who are devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya, the Son of Saci-devi, offer respecful obeisances to him and treat him with great importance, and he is very dear to Lord Krsna, Who is seated in the middle of the lotus flower which is his heart, assuming His golden form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He preaches that Lord Mukunda has assumed the golden form of Lord Caitanya, and he returns the living entities to their constitutional position as servants of the Lord.

Text 4

nikunja-sevanadika-prakasanaika-karanam sada sakhi-rati-pradam maha-rasa-svarupakam sadacritagghri-pankajam sariri-sad-gurum varam bhajamyaham gadadharam supanditam gurum prabhum

I worship the greatly learned and exalted spiritual master, Srila Gadadhara Prabhu. It is only because of him that the truth of the exalted devotional service performed by the intimate associates of Krsna in the forests and groves of Vrndavana has been revealed. He is preaching the ecstatic love attained by the gopis, and he is indeed a personification of the mellows of devotional service. The saintly devotees take shelter of his lotus feet, and he teaches the truth of spiritual life to the living entities.

Text 5

mahaprabhor maha-rasa-prakasanagkuram priyam sada maha-rasagkura-prakasanadi-vasanam mahaprabhor vrajagganadi-bhava-moda-karakam bhajamy ahamgadadharam supanditam gurum prabhum

I worship the greatly learned spiritual master, Srila Gadadhara Prabhu. He is very dear to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and it is as if he had sprouted from the manifestation of the Lord`s ecstatic love. He is always adorned with the garments of ecstatic love of Godhead, and He delights Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu by arousing in the Lord the ecstatic emotional love experienced by the gopis of Vraja.

Text 6

dvijendra-vrnda-vandya-pada-yugma-bhakti-vardhakam nijesu radhikatmata-vapuh-prakasanagraham asesa-bhakti-sastra-siksayojjvalamrta-prabam bhajamyaham gadadharam supanditam gurum prabhum

I worship the greatly learned spiritual master, Srila Gadadhara Prabhu, who expands the mellows of devotional service and whose lotus feet are worshipped by the kings of the brahmanas. Among his confidential associates, he reveals his actual form as Srimati Radharani. He distributes the nectar of the ecstatic mellow of the gopis conjugal love, strictly following the instructions of all the devotional scriptures.

Text 7

muda nija-priyadika-svapada-padma-sindhubhir maha-rasarnavamrta-pradesta-gaura-bhaktidam sadast-sattvikanvitam nijesta-bhakti-dayakam bhajamyaham gadadharam supanditam gurum prabhum

I worship the greatly learned spiritual master, Srila Gadadhara Prabhu. With delight he is giving the devotional service of Lord Caitanya which reveals the nectarean ocean of the most exalted mellows of devotional service, along with the nectar flowing from the lotus feet of the gopis, headed by Srimati Radharani, who is most dear to Krsna. Gadadhara Prabhu is decorated with the eight transcendental ecstatic symptoms of sattvika-bhava,and he is distributing devotional service to his worshippable Lord Krsna.

Text 8

yadiya-riti-raga- bhagga-digdhamanaso naro `api yati turnam eva narya-bhava-bhajanam tam ujjvalakta-cittam etu citta-matta-catpado bhajamy aham gadadharam supanditam guram prabhum

I worship the greatly learned spiritual master, Srila Gadadhara Prabhu. Even a conditioned soul, whose mind becomes anointed by the colorful waves of spontaneous devotional service as delineated by Srila Gadadhara Prabhu, quickly attains the highest level of devotional service. He becomes like a maddened bumble bee whose mind is anointed with the mellow of ujjvala-rasa (conjugal love).

Text 9

maha-rasamrta-pradam sada gadadhara-astakam pathet tu yah subhaktito vrajaggana-ganotsavam saci-tanuja-pada-padma-bhakti-ratna-yogyatam labheta radhika-gadadharagghri-padma-sevaya

"These eight verses glorifying Srila Gadadhara Prabhu distribute the nectar of the most exalted mellow of devotional service, and they are like a festival for the gopis of Vraja. If one regularly reads these verses and serves the lotus feet of Srila Gadadhara Prabhu, who is an incarnation of Srimati Radharani, then he will become qualified to attain the jewel of pure devotional service for the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya,the son of Sacidevi."

There is one important song by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura :

(1) yadi te hari-pāda-saroja-sudhā- rasa-pāna-paraḿ hṛdayaḿ satatam parihṛtya gṛhaḿ kali-bhāva-mayaḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(2) dhana-yauvana-jīvana-rājya-sukhaḿ nahi nityam anukṣaṇa-nāśa-param tyaja grāmya-kathā-sakalaḿ viphalaḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(3) ramaṇī-jana-sańga-sukhaḿ ca sakhe carame bhayadaḿ puruṣārtha-haram hari-nāma-sudhā-rasa-matta-matir bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(4) jaḍa-kāvya-raso nahi kāvya-rasaḥ kali-pāvana-gaura-raso hi rasaḥ alam any-kathādy-anuśīlanayā bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(5) vṛṣabhānu-sutānvita-vāma-tanuḿ yamunā-taṭa-nāgara-nanda-sutam muralī-kala-gīta-vinoda-paraḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(6) hari-kīrtana-madhyagataḿ svajanaiḥ pariveṣṭita-jāmbunadābha-hariḿ nija-gauḍa-janaika-kṛpā-jaladhiḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(7) girirāja-sutā-parivīta-gṛhaḿ nava-khaṇḍa-patiḿ yati-citta-haram sura-sańgha-nutaḿ priyayā sahitaḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

( kali-kukkura-mudgara-bhāva-dharaḿ hari-nāma-mahauṣadha-dāna-param patitārta-dayārdra-sumūrti-dharaḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(9) ripu-bāndhava-bheda-vihīna-dayā yad abhīkṣṇam udeti mukhābja-tatau tam akṛṣṇam iha vraja-rāja-sutaḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(10) iha copaniṣat-parigīta-vibhur dvija-rāja-sutaḥ purṭābha-hariḥ nija-dhāmani khelati bandhu-yuto bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(11) avatāra-varaḿ paripūrṇa-phalaḿ para-tattvam ihātma-vilāsa-mayam vraja-dhāma-rasāmbudhi-gupta-rasaḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(12) śruti-varṇa-dhanādi na yasya kṛpā- janane balavad-bhajanena vinā tam ahaituka-bhāva-pathā hi sakhe bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(13) api nakra-gatau hrada-madhya-gataḿ kam amocayad ārta-janaḿ tam ajam avicintya-balaḿ śiva-kalpa-taruḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(14) surabhīndra-tapaḥ-parituṣṭa-mano vara-varṇa-dharo harir āvirabhūt tam ajasra-sukhaḿ muni-dhairya-haraḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(15) abhilāṣa-cayaḿ tad abheda-dhiyam aśubhaḿ ca śubhaḿ ca tyaja sarvam idam anukūlatayā priya-sevanayā bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(16) hari-sevaka-sevana-dharma-paro hari-nāma-rasāmṛta-pāna-rataḥ nati-dainya-dayā-paramāna-yuto bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(17) vada yādava mādhava kṛṣṇa hare vada rāma janārdana keśava he vṛṣabhānu-sutā-priyanātha sadā bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(18) vada yāmuna-tīra-vanādri-pate vada gokula-kānana-puñja-rave vada rāsa-rasāyana gaura-hare bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(19) cala gaura-vanaḿ nava-khaṇḍamayaḿ paṭha gaurahareś caritāṇi mudā luṭha gaura-padāńkita-gāńga-taṭaḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

(20) smara gaura-gadādhara-keli-kalāḿ bhava gaura-gadādhara-pakṣa-caraḥ śrṇu gaura-gadādhara-cāru-kathāḿ bhaja godruma-kānana-kuñja-vidhum

TRANSLATION

1) If you want you heart to be always absorbed in drinking the ambrosial mellows of the lotus feet of Lord Hari, then give up household life, which is full of quarrels and strife, and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

2) Material riches, youth, long duration of life, and royal happiness — none of these are eternal. At any moment they may be destroyed. Give up all useless topics of mundane conversation and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

3) O Friend, ultimately the pleasure to be had in the company of beautiful young women turns to fearfulness and distracts one from the real goal of life. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers with your mind intoxicated by the nectarine mellows of the holy name.

4) The taste of mundane poetry does not afford the sweet taste of actual poetry. The sweet mellows of true poetry are found in descriptions of Lord Caitanya, the savior of all souls in the Kali yuga. Enough with the study of any other topics! Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

5) Krishna, the transcendental paramour, stands on the banks of the Yamuna with Radha, the daughter of Vrsabhanu, on His left side. He is absorbed in the pastime of playing soft, melodious songs on His flute. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers, Lord Caitanya, who is non-different from the son of Nanda.

6) He is Lord Hari, shining like molten gold and surrounded by His loving devotees in the midst of hari-kirtana, He is the only ocean of mercy for the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

7) Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers — Lord Caitanya, who along with His beloved wife Visnu-priya is glorified by all demigods and saintly persons. His home, Navadvipa, is surrounded by the river Ganga, the daughter of the Himalayas. He is the Lord of Navadvipa and the stealer of the hearts of all sannyasi’s.

Lord Gauranga is like a powerful hammer which smashes the sin and oppression of the mad-dog of the Kali-yuga. and He is absorbed in distributing the holy name of Krishna, which is the greatest medicine to release one from the material existence. His transcendental form is beautiful , and His heart is full of compassion for the suffering, fallen souls of this world. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

9) Compassion which is free from the duality of “Friend” and “enemy” is always manifest of his lotus face. He is the son of Maharaja Nanda — Krishna, who has appeared in a golden form in the land of Navadvipa. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

10) In this world and in the Upanishads He is celebrated as the all-pervading Supreme Lord. He appeared as the son of a brahmana and is Lord Hari Himself, with a shining complexion of molten gold. In His own abode He sports with His cowherd boy friends. Just worship this Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

11) He is the most wonderful of all avataras because He is the source of all other expansions of God. He is the Supreme Truth, enjoying His pastimes here in this world. He is the embodiment of the most confidential flows that exist in the ocean of rasa.

12) Without strong devotional worship and service, mere mundane scholarship, high family lineage , wealth and so on are not effective for invoking the causeless mercy of the Lord. O friend, just worship Lord Gaura, the beautiful moon of Godruma’s forest bowers, by the path of unmotivated devotion.

13) In His appearance as Hari, the Lord liberated Gajendra, the king of elephants, from the grasp of the crocodile in the lake, and in His appearance as Sri Caitanya, He delivered King Gajapati Prataparudra from the jaws of the kali-yuga crocodile who was lying in the lake of politics. Lord Sri Caitanya is unborn, possesses inconceivable power ,and is likened to an auspicious desire tree. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

14) Lord Krsna, who was pleased with the penances and austerities of Indra and the Surabhi cow, appeared in this world as Lord Caitanya, possessing a golden complexion. He is eternal happiness and the captivator of the intelligence of all learned sages. Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

15) Give up all worldly desires, monistic meditation and relative conceptions of inauspiciousness and auspiciousness. In a favorable mood, with loving devotion, just engage yourself in just worshipping Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

16) Remaining devoted to the service of the Vaishnava’s, being addicted to drinking the sweet nectar of the name of Hari, and with a mentality endowed with modesty, humility, and compassion, just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

17) Always worship Lord Gaura, the beautiful moon of Godruma’s forest bowers, and call out to the Lord,” O Yadava, ! O Madhava O Krishna, O Hari, O Rama O Janardana, O Keshava, O beloved Lord of Radha!”

18) Just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers and call out to the Lord “O Lord of the Vrindavana forest, which lies along the banks of the Yamuna! O Lord of Govardhana Hill! O sun of the forest of Gokula! O giver of life to the rasa dance.! O Gaurahari!

19) Go to Navadvipa, the land of Lord Caitanya, Read and recite with great joy the wonderful pastimes of Lord Gaurahari. Roll about in ecstasy on the banks of the Ganges, which are marked with the footprints of Lord Caitanya, and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers. Remember the wonderful pastimes of Gaura and Gadadhara.

20) Become a servant of Gaura and Gadadhara. Listen to the beautiful narration’s concerning Gaura and Gadadhara and just worship Lord Gaura, the moon of Godruma’s forest bowers.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura installed a few Gaura Gadadhara Arca Vigrahas in Navadvipa as did Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has described in his Navadvipa Bhava Taranga:

76 In the northern part of Kola-dvipa is the village called Champa Hatta, which perpetually shines beautifully within Navadvipa Dhama. This Champa Hatta is a great holy place and is quite an enchanting village. It is where the poet Jayadeva worships the moonlike Gaura.

77 Here, in the home of Vani-natha, the Son of Sachi performed the congregational chanting of the holy names in the company of His associates. Thus there was a great, great festival in which Lord Gauranga displayed the spiritual opulence of His own ecstatic love.

78 In this village of Champa Hatta is also a forest of champaka trees, from which the gopi names Champaka-lata regularly gathers flowers (for making Radha and Krishna's garlands). This village in Navadvipa is non-different from the forest of Khadiravan in Braja, where Krishna and Balarama like to take rest.

Sri Gaura Gadadhara Gaudiya Math is a temple located at Champahatti in Koladvipa, one of the nine islands in Navadvipa. It was erected by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja. The presiding deities are Lord Gaura and Gadadhara. This ancient temple was renovated by Sri Paramananda Brahmacari.

It is known among all Gaudiya Vaisnavas: "If you do not worship Gaura-Gadadhara then you cannot understand Radha and Krsna."

krsna-lila amrta-sara, tara sata sata dhara dasa-dike vahe yaha haite sri caitanya-lila haya, sarovara aksaya mano-hamsa caraha tahate

"The pastimes of Krsna are the quintessence of all divine nectar, and Caitanya-lila is an inexhaustible lake of that nectar which, flowing in hundreds of streams, floods the hearts of the devotees in all directions. Therefore, O nectar-seeking friend, please let your mind swim in that lake like a regal swan." (C.c. Madhya-lila 25.271)

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, bhale gora-gadadharer arati nehari nadiya-puraba-bhave jau bolihari "As I behold the wondrous arati of my Lords Gaura and Gadadhara, I enter into the mood of Their existence previous to appearing in Nadiya (Their Vrndavana-lila as Sri Sri Radha-Madhava). It is simply indescribable."

At his place of bhajana in Godrumadvipa known as Svananda Sukhada-kunja, Bhakivinoda Thakura installed beautiful Deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhara and composed these beautiful prayers.

ha ha mora gaura-kisora kabe doya kori' sri godruma-bane dekha dibe mana-cora "Oh, my most youthful Lord Gaura-kisora! When will You be merciful and show Yourself to me, thus stealing my mind within the forest of Godruma?"

ananda-sukhada, kunjer bhitore, gadadhare bame kori' kancana-barana, cancara cikura, natana suvesa dhori'

"Within the grove of Ananda-sukhada-kunja, You stand with Sri Gadadhara on Your left side, radiating the effulgence of pure gold. With beautiful curling hair, You are wearing the fine dress of a dramatic actor."

dekhite dekhite, sri radha-madhava, rupete koribe ala sakhi-gana-sange, koribe natana, galete mohana-mala

"In an instant Sri Sri Radha-Madhava will appear and brilliantly illuminate the entire scene. Accompanied by all of Their confidential friends and associates, They will dance with Their necks decorated with various types of golden necklaces."

ananga-manjari, sadoy hoiya, e dasi-korete dhori' duhe nivedibe, dunhara maduri, heribo nayana bhari'

"The merciful Ananga Manjari, catching the hands of this maidservant, will take me to offer me in devotion unto Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, and my eyes will be brimming with pleasure to behold the beauty and sweetness of Them both."

your servant

Paramananda das