Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s

Jévan-Carita

a
Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s
Jévan-Carita
 Table of Contents
Maìgaläcaraëa
— Auspicious Invocation  i

Çré Gadädhara Paëòit’s Jévan-Carita 1

Çrématé Rädhäräëé Is Gadädhara Paëòita in Gaura-Lélä 3
Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Were Very Close Friends 4
Gadädhara-Präëanätha
— “The life and soul of Gadädhara Paëòita” 4
Gadädhara Did Not Appreciate Gaurasundara’s Fickleness 5
Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi Appears as a Great Materialist 6
Kåñëa Accepts Only the Good Things 7
Gadädhara Paëòita Commits a Great Offence 7
Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi Obtains a Precious Jewel 8
You Purify Even the Holy Places 9
You Are Parama-Tértha
— The Tértha of Térthas 10
Mahäprabhu Changed 11
Kåñëa Is in Your Heart 12
Kåñëa-Lélä-Kértana 13
Räi-Känäi Are Gaura-Gadädhara 14
Sandhya Ärati Saìgéta 14
Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Go to Jagannätha Puré 15
The Deity of Öoöä-Gopénätha Sits Down 15
Questions & Answers 17

Front cover and inside cover painting by Anjana dasa.

Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s
Jévan-Carita

Çré Çrémad
Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja
A lecture delivered by Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja on 9th September
1993, Bhubaneswar, India.

TAT T VA   V I C A R A   P U B L I C AT I O N S
www.tvpbooks.com
 Maìgaläcaraëa
Auspicious Invocation
Compiled by Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami Mahäräja,
who would recite these verses each time before giving a class
on a verse from Çré Caitanya-caritämåta.

oà ajïäna-timirändhasya
jïänäïjana-çaläkayä
cakñur unmélitaà yena
tasmai çré-gurave namaù

“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual

master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto him.”

çré-caitanya-mano-‘bhéñöaà
sthäpitaà yena bhü-tale
svayaà rüpaù kadä mahyaà
dadäti sva-padäntikam

“When will Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé Prabhupäda, who has

established within this material world the mission to fulfill the
desire of Lord Caitanya, give me shelter under his lotus feet?”

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 Maìgaläcaraëa
vande ‘haà çré-guroù çré-yuta-pada-kamalaà
çré-gurün vaiñëaväàç ca
çré-rüpaà sägrajätaà saha-gaëa-raghunäthänvitaà taà sa-jévam
sädvaitaà sävadhütaà parijana-sahitaà kåñëa-caitanya-devaà
çré-rädhä-kåñëa-pädän saha-gaëa-lalitä-çré-viçäkhänvitäàç ca

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my

spiritual master and unto the feet of all Vaiñëavas. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé
along with his elder brother Sanätana Gosvämé, as well as
Raghunätha Däsa and Raghunätha Bhaööa, Gopäla Bhaööa,
and Çréla Jéva Gosvämé. I offer my respectful obeisances to
Lord Kåñëa Caitanya and Lord Nityänanda along with Advaita
Äcärya, Gadädhara, Çréväsa, and other associates. I offer my
respectful obeisances to Çrématé Rädhäräëé and Çré Kåñëa
along with Their associates Çré Lalitä and Viçäkhä.”

he kåñëa karuëä-sindho
déna-bandho jagat-pate
gopeça gopikä-känta
rädhä-känta namo ‘stu te

“O my dear Kåñëa, You are the friend of the distressed and

the source of creation. You are the master of the gopés and the
lover of Rädhäräëé. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.”

tapta-käïcana-gauräìgi
rädhe våndävaneçvari
våñabhänu-sute devi
praëamämi hari-priye

“I offer my respects to Rädhäräëé, whose bodily complexion

is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Våndävana. You

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 Auspicious Invocation

are the daughter of King Våñabhänu, and You are very dear to
Lord Kåñëa.”

väïchä-kalpatarubhyaç ca
kåpä-sindhubhya eva ca
patitänäà pävanebhyo
vaiñëavebhyo namo namaù

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaiñëava

devotees of the Lord. They can fulfill the desires of everyone,
just like desire trees, and they are full of compassion for the
fallen souls.”

namo mahä-vadänyäya
kåñëa-prema-pradäya te
kåñëäya kåñëa-caitanya-
nämne gaura-tviñe namaù

“O most munificent incarnation! You are Kåñëa Himself

appearing as Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu. You have
assumed the golden colour of Çrématé Rädhäräëé, and You are
widely distributing pure love of Kåñëa. We offer our respectful
obeisances unto You.” (Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya-lélä 19.53)

yad advaitaà brahmopaniñadi tad apy asya tanu-bhä

ya ätmäntaryämé puruña iti so ‘syäàça-vibhavaù
ñaò-aiçvaryaiù pürëo ya iha bhagavän sa svayam ayaà
na caitanyät kåñëäj jagati para-tattvaà param iha

“What the Upaniñads describe as the impersonal Brahman

is but the effulgence of His body, and the Lord known as the
Supersoul is but His localised plenary portion. Lord Caitanya
is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa Himself, full

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with six opulences. He is the Absolute Truth, and no other
truth is greater than or equal to Him.” (Caitanya-caritämåta,
ädi-lélä 1.3)

rädhä kåñëa-praëaya-vikåtir hlädiné çaktir asmäd

ekätmänäv api bhuvi purä deha-bhedaà gatau tau
caitanyäkhyaà prakaöam adhunä tad-dvayaà caikyam äptaà
rädhä-bhäva-dyuti-suvalitaà naumi kåñëa-svarüpam

“The loving affairs of Çré Rädhä and Çré Kåñëa are

transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-
giving potency. Although Rädhä and Kåñëa are one in Their
identity, They separated Themselves eternally. Now these
two transcendental identities have again united, in the
form of Çré Kåñëa Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has
manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of
Çrématé Rädhäräëé although He is Kåñëa Himself.” (Caitanya-
caritämåta, ädi-lélä 1.5)

ciräd adattaà nija-gupta-vittaà

sva-prema-nämämåtam aty-udäraù
ä-pämaraà yo vitatära gauraù
kåñëo janebhyas tam ahaà prapadye

“The most munificent Supreme Personality of Godhead,

known as Gaurakåñëa, distributed to everyone — even the
lowest of men — His own confidential treasury in the form
of the nectar of love of Himself and the holy name. This was
never given to the people at any time before. I therefore offer
my respectful obeisances unto Him. (Caitanya-caritämåta,
Madhya-lélä 23.1)

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 Auspicious Invocation

gauraù sac-caritämåtämåta-nidhiù gauraà sadaiva-stuve

gaureëa prathitaà rahasya-bhajanaà gauräya sarvaà dade
gaurädasti kåpälu-ratra na paro gaurasya bhrityo bhavaà
gaure gauravamäcarämi bhagavan gaura-prabho rakña mäm

“I pray to Çrémän Gauräìga Mahäprabhu whose ecstatic

transcendental pastimes are like a river of nectar. Gaura
has given the path of confidential devotional service. I will
completely surrender to Gaura. Is there anyone more merciful
than Gaura? I will become a servant of Gaura. I shall preach the
glories of Gaura. May my Lord Gaura protect me.” (Gauräìga-
virudävalé by Srila Raghunandan Goswami)

mädhuryyaiù-madhubhiù sugambhi-bhajana çvarëambhujänäà vanam

käruëyämåta nirjharai-rupacitah sat-prema hemacälaù
bhaktämbodhara dharaëé vijayané niskampa sampävalé
daivo na kula daivatäà vijayatäà caitanya-kåñëa-hariù

“I worship the golden hued Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu

Who is absorbed in the enchanting mellows of mädhurya-rasa.
May the transcendental love of Kåñëa that Mahäprabhu is
distributing, pour down on this earth like a waterfall of nectar.
All glories to that Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu.”

äjänu-lambita-bhujau kanakäva-dätau
saìkértanaika-pitarau kamaläya-täksau
visvambharau dvijavarau yuga-dharma-pälau
vande jagat priyakarau karuëävatärau

“I worship Their Lordships Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and

Nityänanda Prabhu whose long arms extend down to Their
knees, whose beautiful complexions are radiant yellow like
molten gold and whose elongated eyes are like red lotuses.

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 Maìgaläcaraëa
They are the topmost brähmaëas, the guardians of religious
principles for this age, the most munificent benefactors of all
living entities, and the most compassionate incarnations of
Godhead. They initiated the congregational chanting of the
names of Lord Kåñëa.” (Caitanya-bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 1.1)

anarpita-caréà cirät karuëayävatérëaù kalau

samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasäà sva-bhakti-çriyam
hariù puraöa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandépitaù
sadä hådaya-kandare sphuratu vaù çacé-nandanaù

“May that Lord, who is known as the son of Çrématé Çacédevé,

be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your
heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has
appeared in the age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow
what no incarnation ever offered before: the most sublime and
radiant spiritual knowledge of the mellow taste of His service.”
(Vidagdha-mädhava 1.2)

The following three verses are from Prema-bhakti-chandrikä by

Çréla Narottama däsa Öhäkura section 10, verses 12-14.

çré-kåñëa-caitanyadeva rati-mati bhave bhaja

prema-kalpa-taru-bara-dätä
çré-vraja-räja-nandana rädhikä-jévana-dhana
aparüpa ei saba kathä

“O brother, always worship Çré Kåñëa Caitanyadeva who is

the great philanthropist giving away the treasure of the desire
tree of pure love for Kåñëa. This Lord Caitanya is actually Lord
Kåñëa, the prince of Vraja and the life of Çrématé Rädhäräëé.
Descriptions of Him are spiritual sounds. They are not at all
material.” (Prema-bhakti-chandrikä, verse 12)

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 Auspicious Invocation

navadvépe avatari´ rädhä-bhäva aìgékari´

täìra känti aìgera bhüñaëa
tina väïchä abhiläñé´ çacé-garbhe parakäçi´
saìge laïä pariñada-gaëa

“Lord Kåñëa desired to appear in Navadvépa to understand

the intense love Çrématé Rädhäräëé felt for Him, and accept
Her golden complexion as His bodily ornament. In order to
fulfill these three desires, the Lord appeared in Çacédevé’s
womb. When the Lord appeared like this in the material
world, all His associates followed Him, and also appeared in
the world.” (Prema-bhakti-chandrikä, verse 13)

gaura-hari avatari ´premera vädara kari´

sädhilä manera tina käja
rädhikära präëa-pati kivä bhäve käìde niti
ihä bujhe bhakata-samäja

“The Lord appeared in the golden form of Lord Caitanya,

and preached the message of pure love for Kåñëa. In this way
He fulfilled the three desires in His mind. Only the devotees
are able to understand in what a wonderful way Kåñëa, who
is the Lord of Çrématé Rädhäräëé’s life, continually cried in
ecstatic love of God.” (Prema-bhakti-chandrikä, verse 14)

uttama adhama kichu na bächila yäciyä dilaka kola

kahe premänanda emana gauräìga hådaye dhariyä bola
bhaja gauräìga kaha gauräìga laha gauräìga näma (re)
ye jana gauräìga bhaje sei haya ämära präëa (re)

“Never discriminating who was a fit candidate, elevated or

degraded, the son of mother Çacé magnanimously accepts one

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 Maìgaläcaraëa
and all onto His lap in a loving embrace crying; ‘Come to My
fold, come to My fold!’ The poet Premänanda Däsa begs you
all to constantly chant the sweet name of Kåñëa while holding
tightly to that son of mother Çacé in the innermost core of
your heart. Worship Gauräìga! Speak about Gauräìga! Oh
please take to gaura-näma! Whoever worships Gauräìga is my
life and soul.” (Premänanda Däsa )

yasyaiva pädämbuja-bhakti-läbhyaù
premäbhidhänaù paramaù pum-arthaù
tasmai jagan-maìgala-maìgaläya
caitanya-candräya namo namas te

“O Lord Caitanyacandra, by devotedly serving Your lotus

feet one can attain the pure love for Lord Kåñëa that is the
ultimate goal of all endeavours. O Lord Caitanyacandra, O great
auspiciousness of the world, I offer my respectful obeisances
unto You. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.” (Çréla
Prabhodhänanda Sarasvaté, Çré Caitanya-candrämåta, text 9)

änanda-lélämaya-vigrahäya
hemäbha-divya-cchavi-sundaräya
tasmai mahä-prema-rasa-pradäya
caitanyacandräya namo namas te

“O Lord Caitanyacandra, O Lord whose form is full of

blissful pastimes, O Lord whose complexion is as splendid as
gold, O Lord who gives in charity the nectar of pure love for
Lord Kåñëa. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I offer
my respectful obeisances unto You.” (Çré Caitanya-candrämåta,
text 11)

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yan näptaà karma-niñöhair na ca samadhi-gataà

yat tapo dhyäna-yogair
vairägyais tyäga-tattva-stutibhir api na yat tarkitaà cäpi kaiçcit
govinda-prema-bhäjäm api na ca kalitaà yad rahasyaà svayaà tan
nämnaiva präduräséd avatarati pare yatra taà naumi gauram

“Not attainable by the faithful performers of pious deeds, not

understood by those engaged in austerity, meditation, and yoga,
not guessed by those absorbed in detachment, renunciation
of the fruits of work, philosophical speculation or recitation
of prayers, and unknown even to the devotees full of love for
Lord Govinda, the secret of pure devotional service has been
revealed by the holy name during Lord Gaura’s advent. Let me
glorify that Lord Gaura.” (Çré Caitanya-candrämåta, text 3)

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 Çré Gadädhara Paëòit’s
Jévan-Carita

sei sei, — äcäryera kåpära bhäjana

anäyäse päila sei caitanya-caraëa

“By the mercy of Advaita Äcärya, the devotees who

strictly followed the path of Caitanya Mahäprabhu attained
the shelter of Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet without difficulty.”
(Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 12.74)

acyutera yei mata, sei mata sära

ära yata mata saba haila chärakhära

“It should be concluded, therefore, that the path of

Acyutänanda is the essence of spiritual life. Those who did not
follow this path simply scattered.” (Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä
12.75)

sei äcärya-gaëe mora koöi namaskära

acyutänanda-präya, caitanya — jévana yäìhära

“I therefore offer my respectful obeisances millions of times

to Acyutänanda’s actual followers, whose life and soul was Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu.” (Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 12.76)

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 Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s
Jévan-Carita
ei ta’ kahiläì äcärya-gosäïira gaëa
tina skandha-çäkhära kaila saìkñepa gaëana

“Thus I have briefly described the three branches

[Acyutänanda, Kåñëa Miçra and Gopäla] of Çré Advaita
Äcärya’s descendants.” (Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 12.77)

çäkhä-upaçäkhä, tära nähika gaëana

kichu-mätra kahi’ kari dig-daraçana

“There are multifarious branches and sub-branches of

Advaita Äcärya. It is very difficult to enumerate them fully. I
have simply given a glimpse of the whole trunk and its branches
and sub-branches.” (Caitanya-caritämåta Ädi-lélä 12.78)

çré-gadädhara paëòita çäkhäte mahottama

täìra upaçäkhä kichu kari ye gaëana

“After describing the branches and sub-branches of

Advaita Äcärya, I shall now attempt to describe some of the
descendants of Çré Gadädhara Paëòita, the most important
among the branches.” (Caitanya-caritämåta, Ädi-lélä 12.79)

agam agocarä gorä akhila brahma-para veda upara,

nä jäne päñaëòé mati-bhorä
nitya nityänanda caitanya govinda paëòita gadädhara rädhe
caitanya yugala-rüpa kevala rasera küpa avatära sadä-çiva sädhe
antare nava-ghana bähire gaura-tanu yugala-rüpa parakäçe
kahe väsudeva ghoña yugala-bhajana-rase janame janame rahu äçe

“Lord Gaurasundara, who is beyond the purview of the

scriptures, beyond the entire Brahman, and above even the
Vedas, can never be known by the atheists whose intelligence

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 Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s
Jévan-Carita
is dull. Lord Nityänanda is His eternal self. Lord Caitanya is
Lord Govinda Himself and Paëòita Gadädhara is none other
than Çré Rädhä. The Divine Couple, who are present in Çré
Caitanya, are a well of loving mellows, rasa. Advaita Äcärya
(Sadäçiva) has prayed for His descent. Within, He is blackish
but of a golden hue without; the manifestation of the Divine
Couple. Thus Väsudeva Ghoña sings of the beauty of this
Divine Couple, Çré Gadäi-Gauräìga, in whose worship he
has been completely subjugated. He prays that he will desire
to serve Them birth after birth.” (Çré-sädhanä-dépikä, by Çré
Väsudeva Ghoña Öhäkura)

Before speaking about the branches of Gadädhara Paëòita,

I will speak briefly about the holy life history, jévan-carita, of
Gadädhara Paëòita, which ought to be known.

Çrématé Rädhäräëé Is Gadädhara Paëòita in Gaura-Lélä

In Gaura-gaëoddeça-dépikä it is mentioned that Çrématé

Rädhäräëé, the daughter of King Våñabhänu, in kåñëa-lélä, is
Gadädhara Paëòita in gaura-lélä. Svarüpa Dämodara Gosvämé has
written this also in his kaòacä, notebook and Vasudeva Ghosh
Öhäkura has also written the same thing,

nitya nityänanda caitanya govinda paëòita gadädhara rädhe

caitanya yugala-rüpa kevala rasera küpa avatära sadä-çiva sädhe
antare nava-ghana bähire gaura-tanu yugala-rüpa parakäçe
kahe väsudeva ghoña yugala-bhajana-rase janame janame rahu äçe

Kåñëa and Rädhä are both there, antare nava-ghana bähire

gaura-tanu, Gauräìga is inside Kåñëa with a bluish hue, and on the
outside Gauräìga’s hue is like molten gold. Gadädhara is Rädhä,

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 Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s
Jévan-Carita
Våñabhänu-nandiné, the daughter of King Våñabhänu. This is
yugala-rüpa, two forms, Rädhä and Kåñëa. Yugala-rüpa parakäçe,
kahe väsudeva ghoña yugala-bhajana-rase janame janame rahu äçe,
Väsudeva says, “Let Me be engaged in the bhajana of these Two,
life after life.”

Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Were Very Close Friends

Gadädhara Paëòita was Mahäprabhu’s friend from a very young

age. The name of Gadädhara Paëòita’s father was Madhava Miçra
and his mother’s name was Ratnavaté-devé. They lived close
by the house of Jagannätha Miçra in Mäyäpura. Ratnavaté-devé
respected Çacémätä as her elder sister and was always associating
with her. While manifesting Their boyhood lélä, Mahäprabhu
and Gadädhara Paëòita always played together. Sometimes They
played in Çacémätä’s courtyard, and sometimes They would play
in the courtyard of Ratnavaté-devé, Gadädhara’s mother. They
both studied in the village named Päçälä. Gadädhara was one or
two years younger than Mahäprabhu. Mahäprabhu did not want
to leave Gadädhara’s company, and Gadädhara also did not want
to leave the company of Mahäprabhu.

Gadädhara-Präëanätha
“The life and soul of Gadädhara Paëòita”

In Caitanya-caritämåta it is mentioned,

paëòitera bhäva-mudrä kahana nä yäya

gadädhara-präëa-nätha’ näma haila yäya

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 Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s
Jévan-Carita
“No one can describe the characteristics and ecstatic love of
Gadädhara Paëòita. Therefore another name for Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu is Gadädhara-präëanätha, ‘the life and soul of
Gadädhara Paëòita’.”

paëòite prabhura prasäda kahana nä yäya

’gadäira gauräìga’ bali’ yäìre loke gäya

“No one can say how merciful the Lord is to Gadädhara

Paëòita, but people know the Lord as gadäira gauräìga, ‘the
Lord Gauräìga of Gadädhara Paëòita’.” (Caitanya-caritämåta,
Antya-lélä 7.163-4)

No one can understand the activities of Gadädhara Paëòita,

and also no one can conceive Gadädhara Paëòita’s kåpä, mercy.
Both of Them, Gadäi-Gauräìga, Gauräìga Mahäprabhu and
Gadädhara Paëòita, are well known.
While Éçvara Puré was staying for a few months in Navadvépa,
Mäyäpura, in the house of Gopénätha Äcärya, Éçvara Puré made
Gadädhara read his book named Kåñëa-lélämåta. This is mentioned
in Caitanya-bhägavata:

gadädhara-paëòitere äpanära kåta

puìthi paòäyena näma ‘kåñëa-lélämåta’
(Caitanya-bhägavata, Ädi-khaëòa 11.100)

Gadädhara Did Not Appreciate

Gaurasundara’s Fickleness

From an early age Gadädhara was very sober, peaceful and

fond of solitary places, He was detached from material activity,

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 Çré Gadädhara Paëòita’s
Jévan-Carita
whereas Gaurasundara was very fickle during His boyhood days.
Gadädhara did not appreciate Gaurasundara’s fickleness, and kept
Himself aloof sometimes from Gaurasundara for that very reason,
but Gaurasundara never wanted to leave Gadädhara. Sometimes
Gaurasundara would say, “Gadädhara, you will see, after a few
days I will be a Vaiñëava like you. Then Brahmä, Çiva, and all the
demigods will come to our house.”

Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi Appears as a Great Materialist

Gadädhara Paëòita liked Mukunda Datta very much. Whenever

a sädhu-sannyäsé, Vaiñëava came to Navadvépa, Mukunda Datta
would inform Gadädhara Paëòita, and then both of them would
go to have the darçana of that sädhu sannyäsé.
Once, when Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi came to Navadvépa,
Mukunda Datta took Gadädhara Paëòita with him to see Puëòaréka
Vidyänidhi. Externally Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi appeared like a
materialistic person. He was wearing gorgeous clothes, chewing
pän, and he was spitting that pän into a valuable gold pot. He
wore valuable gold rings encrusted with jewels and gems on all
fingers. Seated on a soft cushioned chair he appeared to enjoy the
luxurious life of a great materialist, but this was only external.
Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi was a great devotee, a mahä-bhägavata. No
one could understand what was truly inside. This is vaïcana. A
sädhu has two features; kåpä and vaïcana, mercy and cheating.
One, who deserves mercy, receives mercy, and one who deserves
cheating, will be cheated. A real sädhu knows what you deserve.
So, this was Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi’s cheating: his appearance as a
materialist. Seeing him, Gadädhara Paëòita was thinking, “Why
did Mukunda Datta bring me to see such a materialist? Why does
he appear as a great materialistic person? What is this?” Mukunda

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Datta knew that Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi was a mahä-bhägavata, a
great devotee, and an exalted Vaiñëava. He understood this and
immediately recited a famous verse from the Çrémad-Bhägavatam.

Kåñëa Accepts Only the Good Things

aho baké yaà stana-käla-küöaà

jighäàsayäpäyayad apy asädhvé
lebhe gatià dhätry-ucitäà tato ‘nyaà
kaà vä dayäluà çaraëaà vrajema
(Çrémad-Bhägavatam 3.2.23)

Baké means Pütanä, the sister of Bakäsura. To kill baby Kåñëa,

she smeared a very dreadful poison on her breast, and then allowed
baby Kåñëa to suck her breast. She came with that motive, but still
Kåñëa accepted the good. Her motive was very bad, but the good
thing was that she allowed Kåñëa to suck her breast. That means
she did the work of a mother, like mother Yaçodä. Kåñëa sucks the
breast of Yaçodä, so Pütanä did the work of Yaçodä. Baby Kåñëa,
while sucking her breast, sucked her life out. Baby Kåñëa is the
Supreme Lord; He is not an ordinary baby. Could a baby suck
out the life of anyone? One should not think that baby Kåñëa is
an ordinary baby. No. Kaà vä dayäluà, Kåñëa is so merciful that
He only accepted the good. Pütanä died, but Kåñëa gave her the
place of mother because she did the work of a mother. This is the
meaning of this verse.

Gadädhara Paëòita Commits a Great Offence

When Mukunda recited this verse in a very sweet voice, the

bhäva inside Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi swelled up, and up, and up.

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Hearing the nice pastime of Kåñëa depicted by the verse, he became
ecstatic and uttered, “Kåñëa! Kåñëa! Kåñëa!” Shedding tears he
rolled on the ground crying, and kicking away his cushion, his
spitting pot, everything. He shed tears as the ecstasy manifested,
and then at last he fainted. Tears flowed down from his eyes like
the flowing of the Ganges, gaìgä-dhära, gaìgädevé rahilätavah.
When Gadädhara Paëòita saw this he became ashamed, and
chastised himself within his mind, “What have I done? I have
committed a great offence by thinking such a mahä-bhägavata to
be a great materialist. How can I be freed from the reactions for
this offence? I must be punished. If I am not punished by this
mahä-bhägavata then my offences cannot be destroyed. Therefore
I must become his disciple and accept mantra from him. Then he
will inflict punishment on me and my offence will be destroyed.”

Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi Obtains a Precious Jewel

Thereafter, Mukunda Datta introduced Gadädhara Paëòita to

Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi, and he revealed Gadädhara’s mind to him.
When Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi heard all this he became very much
pleased.

çuniyä häsena puëòaréka vidyänidhi

ämäre ta’ mahäratna miläilä vidhi

“On hearing this, Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi smiled and said,

“I have obtained a precious jewel by the arrangement of
providence.” (Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-khaëòa 7.117)

karäimu, ihäte sandeha kichu näi

bahu janma-bhägye se e-mata çiñya päi

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“I will certainly initiate him, there is no doubt about it. By
good fortune, after many births one attains such a disciple.”
(Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-khaëòa 7.118)

Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi became very much pleased and said,

“I am very fortunate to obtain such a çiñya, disciple, in my life.
Vidhätä, the Creator has been very merciful to me and therefore
He gave me such a disciple. Unless one is very, very fortunate he
cannot get a disciple like him. I must accept him as my disciple
and give him mantra.”
Puëòaréka Vidyänidhi gave mantra to Gadädhara Paëòita on an
auspicious day, and Gadädhara became his mantra-çiñya, disciple.

You Purify Even the Holy Places

prabhu bale, — “gayä-yäträ saphala ämära

yata-kñaëe dekhiläìa caraëa tomära
(Caitanya Bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.50)

The Lord said, “My journey to Gayä has become successful the
moment I was able to see your lotus feet.”

térthe piëòa dile se nistare pitå-gaëa

seha, — yäre piëòa deya, tare’ sei jana
tomä’ dekhilei mätra koöi-pitå-gaëa
sei-kñaëe sarva-bandha päya vimocana
(Caitanya-bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.51-52)

“If one offers oblations to his forefathers in a holy place,

then those forefathers are delivered. Yet, one delivers only the
forefathers to whom the oblations were offered. By seeing you,

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however, millions of forefathers are immediately freed from
material bondage.”

ataeva tértha nahe tomära samäna

térther o parama tumi maìgala pradhäna

“Therefore holy places are not equal to you, for you purify
even the holy places.” (Caitanya-bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.53)

saàsära-samudra haite uddhäraha more

ei ämi deha samarpiläìa tomäre

“Please deliver Me from the ocean of material existence. I

surrender Myself unto you.” (Caitanya-bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa
17.54)

You Are Parama-Tértha

The Tértha of Térthas

Mahäprabhu went to Gayä to pay piëòa for His deceased father

Jagannätha Miçra and He met His spiritual master Éçvara Puré
there. When Mahäprabhu came back from Gayä He said,

prabhu bale, — “gayä-yäträ saphala ämära

yata-kñaëe dekhiläìa caraëa tomära

térthe piëòa dile se nistare pitå-gaëa

seha, — yäre piëòa deya, tare’ sei jana

tomä’ dekhilei mätra koöi-pitå-gaëa

sei-kñaëe sarva-bandha päya vimocana

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ataeva tértha nahe tomära samäna
térther o parama tumi maìgala pradhäna
(Caitanya-bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.50-53)

“My Gayä-yäträ has become successful because I met you,

O My spiritual master Çrépad Éçvara Puré. I saw your lotus feet
there. If someone goes to a tértha, a holy place, to offer piëòa, that
pitå-puruña to whom piëòa is offered may be delivered, however,
when someone sees you, a most elevated Vaiñëava, millions upon
millions of pitå-puruñas will be delivered. Therefore this tértha, this
holy place is not equal to you. You are parama-tértha, the tértha of
térthas; the supreme tértha.”

saàsära-samudra haite uddhäraha more

ei ämi deha samarpiläìa tomäre

Then Mahäprabhu said, “Please deliver Me from the ocean

of material existence. I surrender Myself unto you.” (Caitanya
Bhägavata, ädi-khaëòa 17.54)

Mahäprabhu Changed

After His return from Gayä, Mahäprabhu had changed. He

was drowning in an ocean of kåñëa-prema and was always shedding
tears of love, premäçru. Tears rolled down from His eyes like
torrents of rain. When Gadädhara Paëòita saw this wonderful
change in Mahäprabhu, that He was always crying for Kåñëa and
mad after kåñëa-prema, then Gadädhara also cried for Kåñëa. From
that day on, Gadädhara Paëòita did not leave the company of
Gaurasundara even for a moment.

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Kåñëa Is in Your Heart

One day Gadädhara Paëòita was offering tämbüla, pän, (betel

nut) to Mahäprabhu. Rädhäräëé gives pän to Kåñëa, so Gadädhara
Paëòita was offering tämbüla, pän to Mahäprabhu. Mahäprabhu
was very ecstatic, always thinking of Kåñëa, and crying for Kåñëa.
He said, “Gadädhara, where is that Çyämasundara? Where is
that péta-väsä-sundaré Çyämasundara, who dresses in yellow?
Where is He, Çyämasundara?” Just saying this Mahäprabhu
started weeping, crying, and crying. Gadädhara did not know
what to say, then with some apprehension he said, “Kåñëa is in
Your heart.” When Gadädhara said, “Kåñëa is in Your heart”
Mahäprabhu started to tear open His heart with His nails. Not
knowing what to do Gadädhara became afraid. Immediately he
caught hold of Mahäprabhu’s hand to stop Him. Mahäprabhu
said, “No Gadädhara, leave My hand! Leave My hand! I want to
see Kåñëa! I want to see Kåñëa! I cannot live without seeing Kåñëa.
Don’t check Me. Don’t prevent Me. Leave My hands! Leave My
hands!” Gadädhara quickly thought of something else and said,
“O Gaurasundara, be patient, be patient. Kåñëa will come now.
He will come right now. Have patience.” Then Mahäprabhu
became pacified.
It is mentioned in Caitanya-bhägavata that Çacémätä was
observing this incident from a distance, and came running,
saying, “O Gadädhara, though you are a small boy, still you are
very intelligent.”

muïi bhaye nähi päri sammukha haite

çiçu hai’ kemana prabodhila bhäla-mate
(Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-khaëòa 2.210)

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“I was so afraid of coming before Nimäi, but how intelligently

you made Him calm down.” Çacémätä said, “Gadädhara, you
should always be with Nimäi. If you stay with Nimäi I will be free
from anxiety.”

Kåñëa-Lélä-Kértana

One day in the house of Çuklämbara Brahmacäré, Mahäprabhu

was sitting outside on the veranda narrating kåñëa-lélä, doing
kåñëa-lélä-kértana. Hearing the nice kåñëa-lélä-kértana Gadädhara
went and sat down inside. While Mahäprabhu was speaking about
Kåñëa, He became ecstatic and shed tears, relishing the sweet
mellow, lélä-rasa emanating from the transcendental lélä of Kåñëa.
Gadädhara, who could hear everything from inside, also became
ecstatic and started crying. When Mahäprabhu heard him cry He
said, “Who is crying inside the room?” Çuklämbara Brahmacäré
said, “It is Your Gadädhara.” Mahäprabhu said, “Gadädhara!
Oh, you are very, very fortunate. From this young age you have
developed so much love and affection for Kåñëa. I am unfortunate!
I am unfortunate! I am unfortunate! My birth, My whole life has
been spoiled. I cannot develop the love that you have for Kåñëa.
That is My karma-doña, the reaction of My bad karma. I cannot
find Kåñëa. Gadädhara, you are very, very fortunate. You have
obtained Kåñëa from boyhood and have developed so much love
for Him, whereas I have no love at all.” Saying this Mahäprabhu
embraced Gadädhara tightly. This is Mahäprabhu’s Navadvépa
lélä with Gadädhara.

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Räi-Känäi Are Gaura-Gadädhara

Mahäprabhu is Kåñëa, and Gadädhara is Rädhä, They are Räi-

Känäi in Vrajabhümi. Räi means Rädhärani, and Känäi means
Kähëa, Kåñëa. Now Räi-Känäi are Gaura-Gadädhara and are
manifesting Their lélä on the bank of the Gaìgä. In the same way
as They manifest Their lélä on the bank of the Yamunä in Vraja,
now here in Navadvépa They are manifesting Their lélä on the
bank of the Gaìgä.

Sandhya Ärati Saìgéta

One day when Mahäprabhu came to the bank of the Gaìgä,

He entered into one of the upavanas, beautiful gardens there,
remembering vraja-lélä, the pastimes of Kåñëa in Vrajabhümi. At
that time Mukunda Datta started singing the songs depicting
Kåñëa’s vraja-lélä very sweetly. Mahäprabhu became ecstatic.
Gadädhara picked some flowers from that garden and made a
nice garland and put it around Mahäprabhu’s neck, just as in
Våndävana where Rädhäräëé puts a garland around the neck of
Kåñëa. Gadädhara started decorating Mahäprabhu in the same
way as Rädhäräëé decorates Kåñëa. At that time Mukunda Datta
and others began to sing, and some started dancing. Taking
Gadädhara with Him, Gaurasundara sat down underneath a tree
on an elevated area. Gadädhara was sitting on the left side of
Mahäprabhu. Advaita Äcärya arranged the ärati plate to offer
ärati. At that time Nityänanda Prabhu also came and sat down on
Mahäprabhu’s right side, dakhiëe nitäicänd, bäme gadädhara. This
is described in a song called sandhya ärati saìgéta.

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Çréväsa Paëòita picked more flowers and made more flower
garlands to decorate Gaura-Gadädhara and Nityänanda Prabhu,
and placed the garlands around Their necks. Narahari-ädi kori’
cämara dhuläya, Narahari Sarakära and other associates fanned
Them with cämaras, and Çuklämbara Brahmacäré smeared sandal
paste, candana-laya, on Their foreheads. Murari Gupta said, “Jaya!
Jaya! Jaya-dhvani!” Mädhava, Vasudeva, Puruñottama, Vijaya and
Mukunda were all singing and dancing, while performing kértana.
This is such a nice lélä, the Navadvépa lélä of Gaurasundara.

Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Go to Jagannätha Puré

Then Mahäprabhu took sannyäsa, and by the order of His

mother Çacémätä He stayed in Jagannätha Puré Dhäma. When
Mahäprabhu left for Néläcala, Puruñottama Dhäma, Jagannätha
Puré Dhäma, Gadädhara went with Him. There, Gadädhara
Paëòita was engaged in serving his Deity Öoöä-gopénätha, in the
Öoöä Gopénätha Temple. Mahäprabhu would visit Gadädhara’s
Öoöä Gopénätha Temple every day and speak kåñëa-kathä, sing
kåñëa-lélä, and dance in ecstasy. When Mahäprabhu was leaving
Jagannätha Puré to go to Våndävana, Gadädhara Paëòita was
feeling pangs of separation from Mahäprabhu and wanted to go
with Him, but Mahäprabhu said, “No, you stay here and take care
of Öoöä-gopénätha.” Mahäprabhu did not want to take him with
Him. Somehow Mahäprabhu pacified him and made him stay
behind.

The Deity of Öoöä-Gopénätha Sits Down

Every day Gadädhara Paëòita would read from the Çrémad-

Bhägavatam. Mahäprabhu would come and sit down with His

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devotees, and listen to Gadädhara Paëòita reading from Bhägavata.
Mahäprabhu would relish the nectarean sweet mellow coming
from Çrémad-Bhägavatam.
These léläs of Mahäprabhu and Gadädhara Paëòita are very
wonderful. That Öoöä Gopénätha Mandira is still there. That
Deity of Öoöä-gopénätha was Gadädhara Paëòita’s Deity, and he
would daily offer worship.
Mahäprabhu’s prakata käla, manifested pastimes, lasted forty-
eight years. It is mentioned in Bhakti-ratnäkara that, when
Mahäprabhu manifested His disappearance lélä, He entered into
the Deity of Öoöä-gopénätha, praveçilä ei gopénätha mandire haila
darçana, and that He did not emerge. There is still a crack in the
Deity’s knee where Mahäprabhu entered. Formally, that Deity
was standing up, but now it is in a sitting posture. Although the
Deity is in a sitting posture, it is still very large, and is dressed in
such a way that everything is covered. No one knows how a Deity
that size, changed from a standing posture into a sitting position.
When Gadädhara Paëòita became very old, he was bent over, and
it was very difficult for him to garland His tall Deity. Gopénätha,
or Kåñëa is bhakta-vatsala, dear to His devotees, and He could see,
“My devotee cannot garland Me.” Therefore He sat down; the
Deity sat down. This is the lélä.
Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura has written a nice song that we can
chant,

smara gaura-gadädhara-keli-kaläà
bhava gaura-gadädhara-pakña-caraù
çåëu gaura-gadädhara-cäru-kathäà
bhaja godruma-känana-kuïja-vidhum

“Just remember the artistically playful pastimes of Gaura

and Gadädhara. Just become a loyal follower of Gaura and

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Gadädhara’s camp. Just listen to the captivating stories of Gaura
and Gadädhara, and just worship the beautiful Moon of Godruma’s
forest bowers.” (Çré Godruma-Candra-Bhajana-Upadeça, Verse 20,
by Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura)

Jaya Gadädhara Paëòita Gosvämé ki jaya!

Gaura-Gadädhara ki jaya!
May you all have the mercy and blessings of Gaura-Gadädhara.
Gaura-Gadädhara ki jaya!

Questions & Answers

Devotee: Was Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura worshiping Gaura-

Gadädhara Deities?
Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. If you put Gaura with
Rädhä-Kåñëa on one altar, you may put Gadädhara. Then you
cannot put Nityänanda with Him.
We never worship Rädhä-Kåñëa without Gaura in our temples.
Gaura must be there. That is a Gauòéya Äcärya Temple. If there is
no Gaura, but only Rädhä-Kåñëa, then you must understand that
it is not a Gauòéya temple. This is the gauòéya-dhärä. That is our
process. Gaura must be with Rädhä-Kåñëa, because without the
mercy of Gaura we cannot approach Rädhä-Kåñëa. That is our
process. That is siddhänta, tattva. So, in all our temples, if there is
Rädhä-Kåñëa, there must be Gaura. If you want to put someone
else with Gaura on that same altar, then it should be Gadädhara.
No one else can be there. Only Gaura-Gadädhara can be on the
same altar with Rädhä-Kåñëa, not Gaura-Nityänanda. It has to be
either Gaura alone, or Gaura-Gadädhara.

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Devotee: With Gaura-Nitäi or Gaura-Gadädhara?

Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami: No, no, no! It has to be
Gaura-Gadädhara with Rädhä-Kåñëa. Put Gaura alone, or put
Gaura-Gadädhara with Rädhä-Kåñëa. Don’t put Gaura-Nitäi
with Rädhä-Kåñëa on the same altar. If you put Gaura-Nitäi, then
make a completely separate altar.

Devotee: Are we going to have a single Gaura here [Bhubaneswar]

in the Rädhä-Kåñëa temple?
Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. We will have Rädhä-
Gopénätha with single Gaura here, yes.

Devotee: The worship of Gaura-Gadädhara Deities, as

Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura did, that is very, we may say, rasik, or …
Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes, worship Gaura-Gadädhara
with Rädhä-Kåñëa, not only Gaura-Gadädhara. Bhaktivinoda
Öhäkura worshipped Rädhä-Kåñëa with Gaura-Gadädhara. Yes.

Devotee: They can be on the same altar?

Çré Çrémad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Single Gaura, or Gaura-
Gadädhara can be on the same altar with Rädhä-Kåñëa.

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“No one can describe the
characteristics and ecstatic
love of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.
Therefore another name for
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is
Gadādhara-prāṇanātha,
‘the life and soul of
Gadādhara Paṇḍita’.”
Cc. Antya 7.163

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