Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: Adi-lila
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter 13

Adi13.36

TEXT 36

setubandha, ara gauda-vyapi vrndavana

prema-nama pracariya karila bhramana

SYNONYMS

setubandha—Cape Comorin; ara—and; gauda—Bengal; vyapi—extending; vrndavana—to Vrndavana; prema-nama—love of Krsna and the holy name of Krsna; pracariya—distributing; karila—performed; bhramana—touring.

TRANSLATION

Beginning from Cape Comorin and extending through Bengal to Vrndavana, during these six years He toured all of India, chanting, dancing and distributing love of Krsna.

Adi13.37

TEXT 37

ei ’madhya-lila’ nama--lila-mukhyadhama

sesa astadasa varsa--’antya-lila’ nama

SYNONYMS

ei—these; madhya-lila nama—named the middle pastimes; lila—pastimes; mukhya-dhama—principal place; sesa—last; astadasa—eighteen; varsa—years; antya-lila—the final pastimes; nama—named.

TRANSLATION

The activities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His travels after He accepted sannyasa are His principal pastimes. His activities during His remaining eighteen years are called antya-lila, or the final portion of His pastimes.

Adi13.38

TEXT 38

tara madhye chaya vatsara bhaktagana-sange

prema-bhakti laoyaila nrtya-gita-range

SYNONYMS

tara madhye—out of that; chaya vatsara—six years; bhakta-gana-sange—along with devotees; prema-bhakti—love of Krsna; laoyaila—induced; nrtya—dancing; gita—chanting; range—in transcendental bliss.

TRANSLATION

For six of the eighteen years He continuously stayed in Jagannatha Puri, He regularly performed kirtana, inducing all the devotees to love Krsna simply by chanting and dancing.

Adi13.39

TEXT 39

dvadasa vatsara sesa rahila nilacale

premavastha sikhaila asvadana-cchale

SYNONYMS

dvadasa—twelve; vatsara—years; sesa—balance; rahila—remained; nilacale—at Jagannatha Puri; prema-avastha—a state of ecstasy; sikhaila—instructed everyone; asvadana-chale—under the plea of tasting it Himself.

TRANSLATION

For the remaining twelve years He stayed in Jagannatha Puri, He taught everyone how to taste the transcendental mellow ecstasy of love of Krsna by tasting it Himself.

PURPORT

A person who is advanced in Krsna consciousness always feels separation from Krsna because such a feeling of separation excels the feeling of meeting Krsna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in His last twelve years of existence within this world at Jagannatha Puri, taught the people of the world how, with a feeling of separation, one can develop His dormant love of Krsna. Such feelings of separation or meeting with Krsna are different stages of love of Godhead. These feelings develop in time when a person seriously engages in devotional service. The highest stage is called prema-bhakti, but this stage is attained by executing sadhana-bhakti. One should not try to elevate himself artificially to the stage of prema-bhakti without seriously following the regulative principles of sadhana-bhakti. prema-bhakti is the stage of relishing, whereas sadhana-bhakti is the stage of improving in devotional service. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught this cult of devotional service in full detail by practical application in His own life. It is said, therefore, apani acari’ bhakti sikhaimu sabare. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself, and in the role of a krsna-bhakta, a devotee of Krsna, He instructed the entire world how one can execute devotional service and thus go back home, back to Godhead, in due course of time.

Adi13.40

TEXT 40

ratri-divase krsna-viraha-sphurana

unmadera cesta kare pralapa-vacana

SYNONYMS

ratri-divase—day and night; krsna-viraha—feelings of separation from Krsna; sphurana—awakening; unmadera—of a madman; cesta—activities; kare—performs; pralapa—talking inconsistently; vacana—words.

TRANSLATION

Day and night Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt separation from Krsna. Manifesting symptoms of this separation, He cried and talked very inconsistently, like a madman.

Adi13.41

TEXT 41

sri-radhara pralapa yaiche uddhava-darsane

seimata unmada-pralapa kare ratri-dine

SYNONYMS

sri-radhara—of Srimati Radharani; pralapa—talking; yaiche—as She did; uddhava-darsane—by meeting Uddhava; sei-mata—exactly like that; unmada—madness; pralapa—talking inconsistently; kare—does; ratri-dine—day and night.

TRANSLATION

As Srimati Radharani talked inconsistently when She met Uddhava, so also Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu relished, both day and night, such ecstatic talk in the mood of Srimati Radharani.

PURPORT

In this connection one should refer to Srimati Radharani’s soliloquy after meeting Uddhava in Vrndavana. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu presented a similar picture of such ecstatic imaginary talking. Full of jealousy and madness symptomizing neglect by Krsna, Srimati Radharani, criticizing a bumblebee, talked just like a madwoman. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in the last days of His pastimes, exhibited all the symptoms of such ecstasy. In this connection one should refer to the Fourth Chapter of Adi-lila, verses 107 and 108.

Adi13.42

TEXT 42

vidyapati, jayadeva, candidasera gita

asvadena ramananda-svarupa-sahita

SYNONYMS

vidyapati—the author of the name Vidyapati; jayadeva—of the name Jayadeva; candidasera—of the name Candidasa; gita—their songs; asvadena—tastes; ramananda—of the name Ramananda; svarupa—of the name Svarupa; sahita—along with.

TRANSLATION

The Lord used to read the books of Vidyapati, Jayadeva and Candidasa, relishing their songs with His confidential associates like Sri Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara Gosvami.

PURPORT

Vidyapati was a famous composer of songs about the pastimes of Radha-Krsna. He was an inhabitant of Mithila, born in a brahmana family. It is calculated that he composed his songs during the reign of King Sivasimha and Queen Lachimadevi in the beginning of the fourteenth century of the Saka Era, almost one hundred years before the appearance of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The twelfth generation of Vidyapati’s descendants is still living. Vidyapati’s songs about the pastimes of Lord Krsna express intense feelings of separation from Krsna, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu relished all those songs in His ecstasy of separation from Krsna.

Jayadeva was born during the reign of Maharaja Laksmana Sena of Bengal in the eleventh or twelfth century of the Saka Era. His father was Bhojadeva, and his mother was Vamadevi. For many years he lived in Navadvipa, then the capital of Bengal. His birthplace was in the Birbhum district in the village Kendubilva. In the opinion of some authorities, however, he was born in Orissa, and still others say that he was born in southern India. He passed the last days of his life in Jagannatha Puri. One of his famous books is Gita-govinda, which is full of transcendental mellow feelings of separation from Krsna. The gopis felt separation from Krsna before the rasa dance, as mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the Gita-govinda expresses such feelings. There are many commentaries on the Gita-govinda by many Vaisnavas.

Candidasa was born in the village of Nannura, which is also in the Birbhum district of Bengal. He was born of a brahmana family, and it is said that he also took birth in the beginning of the fourteenth century, Sakabda Era. It has been suggested that Candidasa and Vidyapati were great friends because the writings of both express the transcendental feelings of separation profusely. The feelings of ecstasy described by Candidasa and Vidyapati were actually exhibited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He relished all those feelings in the role of Srimati Radharani, and His appropriate associates for this purpose were Sri Ramananda Raya and Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami. These intimate associates of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu helped the Lord very much in the pastimes in which He felt like Radharani.

Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments in this connection that such feelings of separation as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu enjoyed from the books of Vidyapati, Candidasa and Jayadeva are especially reserved for persons like Sri Ramananda Raya and Svarupa Damodara, who were paramahamsas, men of the topmost perfection, because of their advanced spiritual consciousness. Such topics are not to be discussed by ordinary persons imitating the activities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. For critical students of mundane poetry and literary men without God consciousness who are after bodily sense gratification, there is no need to read such a high standard of transcendental literature. Persons who are after sense gratification should not try to imitate raganuga devotional service. In their songs, Candidasa, Vidyapati and Jayadeva have described the transcendental activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mundane reviewers of the songs of Vidyapati, Jayadeva and Candidasa simply help people in general become debauchees, and this leads only to social scandals and atheism in the world. One should not misunderstand the pastimes of Radha and Krsna to be the activities of a mundane young boy and girl. The mundane sexual activities of young boys and girls are most abominable. Therefore, those who are in bodily consciousness and who desire sense gratification are forbidden to indulge in discussions of the transcendental pastimes of Sri Radha and Krsna.

Adi13.43

TEXT 43

krsnera viyoge yata prema-cestita

asvadiya purna kaila apana vanchita

SYNONYMS

krsnera—of Lord Krsna; viyoge—in separation; yata—as many; prema—loving affairs; cestita—activities; asvadiya—tasting them; purna—fulfilled; kaila—made; apana—own; vanchita—desires.

TRANSLATION

In separation from Krsna, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu relished all these ecstatic activities, and thus He fulfilled His own desires.

PURPORT

In the beginning of Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that Lord Caitanya appeared in order to taste the feelings Radharani felt upon seeing Krsna. Krsna Himself could not understand the ecstatic feelings of Radharani toward Him, and therefore He desired to accept the role of Radharani and thereby taste these feelings. Lord Caitanya is Krsna with the feelings of Radharani; in other words, He is a combination of Radha and Krsna. It is therefore said, sri-krsna-caitanya radha-krsna nahe anya. By worshiping Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu alone, one can relish the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna together. One should therefore try to understand Radha-Krsna not directly but through Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and through His devotees. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura therefore says, rupa-raghunatha-pade haibe akuti, kabe hama bujhaba se yugala-piriti: “When shall I develop a mentality of service toward Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and the other devotees of Lord Caitanya and thus become eligible to understand the pastimes of Sri Radha and Krsna?”

Adi13.44

TEXT 44

ananta caitanya-lila ksudra jiva hana

ke varnite pare, taha vistara kariya

SYNONYMS

ananta—unlimited; caitanya-lila—the pastimes of Lord Caitanya; ksudra—a small; jiva—living entity; hana—being; ke—who; varnite—describe; pare—can; taha—that; vistara—expanding; kariya—doing so.

TRANSLATION

The pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu are unlimited. How much can a small living entity elaborate about those transcendental pastimes?

Adi13.45

TEXT 45

sutra kari’ gane yadi apane ananta

sahasra-vadane tenho nahi paya anta

SYNONYMS

sutra—aphorisms; kari’-making; gane—counts; yadi—if; apane—personally; ananta—Sesa Naga, the Personality of Godhead; sahasra-vadane—by thousands of mouths; tenho—He also; nahi—does not; paya—get; anta—the limit.

TRANSLATION

If Sesanaga Ananta personally were to make the pastimes of Lord Caitanya into sutras, even with His thousands of mouths there is no possibility that He could find their limit.

Adi13.46

TEXT 46

damodara-svarupa, ara gupta murari

mukhya-mukhya-lila sutre likhiyache vicari’

SYNONYMS

damodara-svarupa—of the name Svarupa Damodara; ara—and; gupta murari—of the name Murari Gupta; mukhya-mukhya—most important; lila—pastimes; sutre—in notes; likhiyache—have written; vicari’-by mature deliberation.

TRANSLATION

Devotees like Sri Svarupa Damodara and Murari Gupta have recorded all the principal pastimes of Lord Caitanya in the form of notes, after deliberate consideration.

Adi13.47

TEXT 47

sei, anusare likhi lila-sutragana

vistari’ varniachena taha dasa-vrndavana

SYNONYMS

sei—that; anusare—following; likhi—I write; lila—pastimes; sutra-gana—notes; vistari’-very explicitly; varniyachena—has described; taha—that; dasa-vrndavana—Vrndavana dasa Thakura.

TRANSLATION

The notes kept by Sri Svarupa Damodara and Murari Gupta are the basis of this book. Following those notes, I write of all the pastimes of the Lord. The notes have been described elaborately by Vrndavana dasa Thakura.

Adi13.48

TEXT 48

caitanya-lilara vyasa,--dasa vrndavana

madhura kariya lila karila racana

SYNONYMS

caitanya-lilara—of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya; vyasa—the authorized writer Vyasadeva; dasa vrndavana—Vrndavana dasa Thakura; madhura—sweet; kariya—making it; lila—pastimes; karila—did; racana—compilation.

TRANSLATION

Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura, the authorized writer of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, is as good as Srila Vyasadeva. He has described the pastimes in such a way as to make them sweeter and sweeter.

Adi13.49

TEXT 49

grantha-vistara-bhaye chadila ye ye sthana

sei sei sthane kichu kariba vyakhyana

SYNONYMS

grantha—of the book; vistara—of expansion; bhaye—being afraid; chadila—gave up; ye ye sthana—which different places; sei sei sthane—in those places; kichu—something; kariba—I shall make; vyakhyana—description.

TRANSLATION

Being afraid of his book’s becoming too voluminous, he left some places without vivid descriptions. I shall try to fill those places as far as possible.

Adi13.50

TEXT 50

prabhura lilamrta tenho kaila asvadana

tanra bhukta-sesa kichu kariye carvana

SYNONYMS

prabhura—of the Lord; lilamrta—the nectar of the pastimes; tenho—he (Vrndavana dasa Thakura); kaila—did; asvadana—taste; tanra—his; bhukta—of food; sesa—remnants; kichu—something; kariye—I do; carvana—chew.

TRANSLATION

The transcendental pastimes of Lord Caitanya have actually been relished by Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura. I am simply trying to chew the remnants of food left by him.

Adi13.51

TEXT 51

adi-lila-sutra likhi, suna, bhakta-gana

sanksepe likhiye samyak na yaya likhana

SYNONYMS

adi-lila—the first part of His pastimes; sutra likhi—I write a synopsis; suna—hear; bhakta-gana—all you devotees; sanksepe—in brief; likhiye—I write; samyak—full; na—not; yaya—possible; likhana—to write.

TRANSLATION

My dear devotees of Lord Caitanya, let me now write a synopsis of the adi-lila; I write of these pastimes in brief because it is not possible to describe them in full.

Adi13.52

TEXT 52

kona vancha purana lagi’ vrajendra-kumara

avatirna haite mane karila vicara

SYNONYMS

kona—some; vancha—desire; purana—fulfillment; lagi’-for the matter of; vrajendra-kumara—Lord Krsna; avatirna haite—to descend as an incarnation; mane—in the mind; karila—did; vicara—consideration.

TRANSLATION

To fulfill a particular desire within His mind, Lord Krsna, Vrajendra-kumara, decided to descend on this planet after mature contemplation.

Adi13.53

TEXT 53

age avatarila ye ye guru-parivara

sanksepe kahiye, kaha na yaya vistara

SYNONYMS

age—first of all; avatarila—allowed to descend; ye ye—all those; guru-parivara—family of spiritual masters; sanksepe—in brief; kahiye—I describe; kaha—to describe; na—not; yaya—possible; vistara—expansively.

TRANSLATION

Lord Krsna therefore first allowed His family of superiors to descend on the earth. I shall try to describe them in brief because it is not possible to describe them fully.

Adi13.54-55

TEXTS 54-55

sri-saci-jagannatha, sri-madhava-puri

kesava bharati, ara sri-isvara puri

advaita acarya, ara pandita srivasa

acaryaratna, vidyanidhi, thakura haridasa

SYNONYMS

sri-saci-jagannatha—Srimati Sacidevi and Jagannatha Misra; sri-madhava puri—Sri Madhavendra Puri; kesava bharati—of the name Kesava Bharati; ara—and; sri-isvara puri—of the name Sri Isvara Puri; advaita acarya—of the name Advaita Acarya; ara—and; pandita srivasa—of the name Srivasa Pandita; acarya-ratna—of the name Acaryaratna; vidyanidhi—of the name Vidyanidhi; thakura haridasa—of the name Thakura Haridasa.

TRANSLATION

Lord Sri Krsna, before appearing as Lord Caitanya, requested these devotees to precede Him: Sri Sacidevi, Jagannatha Misra, Madhavendra Puri, Kesava Bharati, Isvara Puri, Advaita Acarya, Srivasa Pandita, Acaryaratna, Vidyanidhi and Thakura Haridasa.

Adi13.56

TEXT 56

srihatta-nivasi sri-upendra-misra-nama

vaisnava, pandita, dhani, sad-guna-pradhana

SYNONYMS

sri-hatta-nivasi—a resident of Srihatta; sri-upendra-misra-nama—by the name of Upendra Misra; vaisnava—a devotee of Lord Visnu; pandita—learned; dhani—rich; sat-guna-pradhana—qualified with all good qualities.

TRANSLATION

There was also Sri Upendra Misra, a resident of the district of Srihatta. He was a great devotee of Lord Visnu, a learned scholar, a rich man and a reservoir of all good qualities.

PURPORT

Upendra Misra is described in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 35, as the gopala named Parjanya. The same personality who was formerly the grandfather of Lord Krsna appeared as Upendra Misra at Srihatta and begot seven sons. He was a resident of Dhaka-daksina-grama in the district of Srihatta. There are still many residents of that part of the country who introduce themselves as belonging to the Misra family of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Adi13.57-58

TEXTS 57-58

sapta misra tanra putra--sapta rsisvara

kamsari, paramananda, padmanabha, sarvesvara

jagannatha, janardana, trailokyanatha

nadiyate ganga-vasa kaila jagannatha

SYNONYMS

sapta misra—seven Misras; tanra—his; putra—sons; sapta—seven; rsi—great saintly persons; isvara—most influential; kamsari—of the name Kamsari; paramananda—of the name Paramananda; padmanabha—of the name Padmanabha; sarvesvara—of the name Sarvesvara; jagannatha—of the name Jagannatha; janardana—of the name Janardana; trailokyanatha—of the name Trailokyanatha; nadiyate—at Navadvipa; ganga-vasa—living on the bank of the Ganges; kaila—did; jagannatha—the fifth son of Upendra Misra.

TRANSLATION

Upendra Misra had seven sons, who were all saintly and most influential: (1) Kamsari, (2) Paramananda, (3) Padmanabha, (4) Sarvesvara, (5) Jagannatha, (6) Janardana and (7) Trailokyanatha. Jagannatha Misra, the fifth son, decided to reside on the bank of the Ganges at Nadia.

Adi13.59

TEXT 59

jagannatha misravara--padavi ’purandara’

nanda-vasudeva-rupa sadguna-sagara

SYNONYMS

jagannatha misra-vara—Jagannatha Misra, who was the chief among the seven; padavi—designation; purandara—another name of Vasudeva; nanda—Nanda, the father of Krsna; vasudeva—the father of Krsna; rupa—like; sat-guna—good qualities; sagara—ocean.

TRANSLATION

Jagannatha Misra was designated as Purandara. Exactly like Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva, he was an ocean of all good qualities.

Adi13.60

TEXT 60

tanra patni ’saci’-nama, pativrata sati

yanra pita ’nilambara’ nama cakravarti

SYNONYMS

tanra patni—his wife; saci—of the name Saci; nama—named; pati-vrata—devoted to her husband; sati—chaste; yanra—whose; pita—father; nilambara—of the name Nilambara; nama—named; cakravarti—with the title Cakravarti.

TRANSLATION

His wife, Srimati Sacidevi, was a chaste woman highly devoted to her husband. Sacidevi’s father’s name was Nilambara, and his surname was Cakravarti.

PURPORT

In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 104, it is mentioned that Nilambara Cakravarti was formerly Garga Muni. Some of the family descendants of Nilambara Cakravarti still live in the village of the name Magdoba in the district of Faridpur in Bangladesh. His nephew was Jagannatha Cakravarti, also known as Mamu Thakura, who became a disciple of Pandita Gosvami and stayed at Jagannatha Puri as the priest of Tota-gopinatha. Nilambara Cakravarti lived at Navadvipa in the neighborhood of Belapukuriya. This fact is mentioned in the book Prema-vilasa. Because he lived near the house of the Kazi, the Kazi was also considered one of the maternal uncles of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The Kazi used to address Nilambara Cakravarti as kaka, or “uncle.” One cannot separate the residence of the Kazi from Vamanapukura because the tomb of the Kazi is still existing there. Formerly the place was known as Belapukuriya, and now it is called Vamanapukura. This has been ascertained by archeological evidence.

Adi13.61

TEXT 61

radhadese janmila thakura nityananda

gangadasa pandita, gupta murari, mukunda

SYNONYMS

radha-dese—the place where there is no Ganges; janmila—took birth; thakura nityananda—Nityananda Prabhu; gangadasa pandita—of the name Gangadasa Pandita; gupta murari—of the name Murari Gupta; mukunda—of the name Mukunda.

TRANSLATION

In Radhadesa, the part of Bengal where the Ganges is not visible, Nityananda Prabhu, Gangadasa Pandita, Murari Gupta and Mukunda took birth.

PURPORT

Here radha-dese refers to the village of the name Ekacakra in the district of Birbhum, next to Burdwan. After the Burdwan railway station there is another branch line, which is called the Loop Line of the eastern railway, and there is a railway station of the name Mallarapura. Eight miles east of this railway station Ekacakra Village is still situated. Ekacakra Village extends north and south for an area of about eight miles. Other villages, namely Viracandra-pura and Virabhadra-pura, are situated within the area of the village of Ekacakra. In honor of the holy name of Virabhadra Gosvami, these places are renowned as Viracandra-pura and Virabhadra-pura.

In the Bengali year 1331 (A.D. 1924) a thunderbolt struck the temple of Ekacakra-grama. Therefore the temple is now in a broken state. Before this, there were no such accidents in that quarter. Within the temple there is a Deity of Sri Krsna established by Sri Nityananda Prabhu. The name of the Deity is Bankima Raya or Banka Raya.

On the right side of Bankima Raya is a Deity of Jahnava, and on His left side is Srimati Radharani. The priests of the temple describe that Lord Nityananda Prabhu entered within the body of Bankima Raya and that the Deity of Jahnava-mata was therefore later placed on the right side of Bankima Raya. Afterwards, many other Deities were installed within the temple. On another throne within the temple are Deities of Muralidhara and Radha-Madhava. On another throne are Deities of Manomohana, Vrndavana-candra and Gaura-Nitai. But Bankima Raya is the Deity originally installed by Nityananda Prabhu.

On the eastern side of the temple is a ghata known as Kadamba-khandi on the bank of the Yamuna, and it is said that the Deity of Bankima Raya was floating in the water and Lord Nityananda Prabhu picked Him up and then installed Him in the temple. Thereafter, in a place known as Bhaddapura, in the village of Viracandra-pura, about half a mile west, in a place underneath a nima tree, Srimati Radharani was found. For this reason, the Radharani of Bankima Raya was known as Bhaddapurera Thakurani, the mistress of Bhaddapura. On another throne, on the right side of Bankima Raya, is a Deity of Yogamaya.

Now the temple and temple corridor rest on a high plinth, and on a concrete structure in front of the temple is a meeting hall. It is also said that on the northern side of the temple there was a Deity of Lord Siva named Bhandisvara and that the father of Nityananda Prabhu, Hadai Pandita, used to worship that Deity. At present, however, the Bhandisvara Deity is missing, and in his place a Jagannatha Svami Deity has been installed. Lord Nityananda Prabhu did not factually construct any temples. The temple was constructed at the time of Virabhadra Prabhu. In the Bengali year 1298 (A.D. 1891), the temple being in a dilapidated condition, a brahmacari of the name Sivananda Svami repaired it.

In this temple there is an arrangement to offer foodstuffs to the Deity on the basis of seventeen seers of rice and necessary vegetables. The present priestly order of the temple belongs to the family of Gopijana-vallabhananda, one of the branches of Nityananda Prabhu. There is a land settlement in the name of the temple, and income from this land finances the expenditures for the temple. There are three parties of priestly gosvamis who take charge of the temple management, one after another. A few steps onward from the temple is a place known as Visramatala, where it is said that Nityananda Prabhu in His childhood used to enjoy sporting with His boyfriends by enacting the rasa-lila and various other pastimes of Vrndavana.

Near the temple is a place named Amalitala, which is so named because of a big tamarind tree there. According to a party named the Nedadi-sampradaya, Virabhadra Prabhu, with the assistance of twelve hundred Nedas, dug a great lake of the name Svetaganga. Outside of the temple are tombs of the Gosvamis, and there is a small river known as the Maudesvara, which is called the water of Yamuna. Within half a mile from this small river is the birthplace of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. It appears that there was a big meeting hall in front of the temple, but later it became dilapidated. It is now covered by banyan trees. Later on, a temple was constructed within which Gaura-Nityananda Deities are existing. The temple was constructed by the late Prasannakumara Karapharma. A tablet was installed in his memory in the Bengali year 1323 (A.D. 1916), in the month of Vaisakha (April-May).

The place where Nityananda Prabhu appeared is called Garbhavasa. There is an allotment of about forty-three bighas (fourteen acres) of land to continue the worship in a temple there. The Maharaja of Dinajapura donated twenty bighas (6.5 acres) of land in this connection. It is said that near the place known as Garbhavasa, Hadai Pandita conducted a primary school. The priests of this place, listed in a genealogical table, were as follows: (1) Sri Raghavacandra, (2) Jagadananda dasa, (3) Krsnadasa, (4) Nityananda dasa, (5) Ramadasa, (6) Vrajamohana dasa, (7) Kanai dasa, (8) Gauradasa, (9) Sivananda dasa and (10) Haridasa. Krsnadasa belonged to the Cidiya-kunja at Vrndavana. The date of his disappearance is Krsna-janmastami. Cidiya-kunja is a place now managed by the gosvamis of Singara-ghata in Vrndavana. They are also known as belonging to the Nityananda family, most probably on the basis of their relationship with Krsnadasa.

Near Garbhavasa is a place called Bakulatala, where Sri Nityananda Prabhu and His boyfriends used to take part in sporting activities known as jhala-jhapeta. There is a bakula tree there that is wonderful because all its branches and subbranches look like the hoods of serpents. It has been suggested that by the desire of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Anantadeva manifested Himself in that way. The tree is very old. It is said that formerly it had two trunks, but later on, when the playmates of Nityananda Prabhu felt inconvenience in jumping from the branches of one trunk to those of the nother, Nityananda Prabhu, by His mercy, merged the two trunksinto one.

Another place nearby is named Hantugada. It is said that Lord Nityananda Prabhu brought all the holy places there. Therefore the people in the surrounding villages go there instead of to the Ganges to take bath. It is named Hantugada because Srila Nityananda Prabhu used to perform the dadhi-cida festival of distributing chipped rice with yogurt prasada there and He took the prasada kneeling down. A sanctified lake in this place is always full of water throughout the year. A great fair is held there during Gosthastami, and there is another big fair on the birthday of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika it is described that Halayudha, Baladeva, Visvarupa and Sankarsana appeared as Nityananda Avadhuta.

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