Lets Chant Together

6th July 2026
Glories of Vakreshwar Pandit.

Vakreshwar Pandit is the fifth branch of Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as described in Caitanya Caritamrita (Adi-lila, Chapter 10), indicating his intimate relationship with Mahaprabhu. According to Gaura Ganoddesha Dipika by Kavi Karnapura, Vakreshwar Pandit is the incarnation of Aniruddha of Vaikuntha combined with Shashilekha Gopi, and some acharyas also identify Tungavidya Gopi within his personality. Although little is known about his family background, his contribution to Mahaprabhu’s pastimes is immense.

Vakreshwar Pandit was renowned for his extraordinary devotional ecstasy. Caitanya Caritamrita states that he danced continuously for 24 prahars (72 hours). While teams of mridanga and kartal players changed repeatedly, he continued dancing without interruption. Among Mahaprabhu’s associates, he was the foremost dancer, while devotees like Govinda Ghosh, Madhava Ghosh, Vasudeva Ghosh, Govinda Dutta, and Vasudeva Dutta were prominent singers. Such was his devotion that Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself would sing while Vakreshwar Pandit danced. During Ratha Yatra, Mahaprabhu organized seven kirtan parties, each with a principal dancer, singer, four mridanga players, and eight kartal players. Vakreshwar Pandit led the fifth party, accompanied by Govinda Ghosh.

Once Mahaprabhu invited Vakreshwar Pandit to ask for a boon. He requested ten thousand Gandharvas to assist him in singing the Lord’s glories. A similar desire had been expressed by Chitraketu. Jiva Goswami explains that although such a request appears material, anything desired solely for the Lord’s service constitutes pure devotion. Mahaprabhu replied, “Vakreshwar, you are My one wing. If I had another, I would fly into the sky.” He further declared, “When you dance, Krishna dances in your heart,” and even said, “I am surrendered to you. You may give Me to whomever you wish.” As Jagadananda Pandit writes: ‘nāma nāce jīva nāce, nāce prema-dhana.’

Vakreshwar Pandit also became the instrument for delivering Devananda Pandit from Vaiṣṇava aparādha. Devananda, though a learned speaker on Bhagavatam, had offended Srivasa Thakur by allowing him to be expelled from an assembly while absorbed in ecstatic devotion. Mahaprabhu openly condemned this offense. Later, Vakreshwar Pandit stayed at Devananda’s house and performed kirtan. Devananda protected him from the pressing crowds throughout his prolonged dancing, rendering sincere service. Pleased by this, Mahaprabhu personally visited Devananda and declared that He had come only because Vakreshwar Pandit had blessed him.

Mahaprabhu explained that Vaiṣṇava aparādha can be removed in only two ways: serving a Vaiṣṇava or glorifying Vaiṣṇavas with the same mouth that committed the offense. Rituals such as yajña or pilgrimage cannot erase such offenses. Similarly, Jagai and Madhai were instructed to offer obeisances and glorify Vaiṣṇavas to atone. A similar principle is illustrated through Narayana Pandit, author of ‘Narayaniyam’, who overcame the reactions of Vaiṣṇava aparādha by glorifying the Lord and His devotees. As Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings: chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā.

After Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa, Vakreshwar Pandit remained closely associated with Him and later stayed at Gambhira in Jagannath Puri. His disciple Gopala Guru Goswami earned the title “Guru” when, as a child, he reminded Mahaprabhu that the holy name is eternally pure:

nāma cintāmaṇiḥ kṛṣṇaḥ
caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ
pūrṇaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto
abhinnatvāt nāma-nāminoḥ

Mahaprabhu acknowledged Gopala as His guru on that occasion. Later, Gopala Guru was initiated by Vakreshwar Pandit, and together they established the Krishna-kanta Deity at Gambhira.
The concluding lesson is the importance of remembering the Lord with both mind and speech. Mere mechanical chanting is insufficient; at death, the state of the mind determines one’s destination. Therefore:

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me (Bg. 18.65)

The example of Ramanujacharya, Kanchipurna, and Lord Varadaraja teaches that while the Lord promises to help sincere devotees remember Him at death, one must continuously strive to keep the mind fixed on Him throughout life.
Vakreshwar Pandit Ki Jai!

The auspicious bath of the divine Lord!

Srila Prabhupada reveal “Jagannath” to the world.
We know how our Founder-Acharya, Srila Prabhupada, took Lord Jagannath outside of India. It is the immense and boundless mercy of Srila Prabhupada. For every devotee, Lord Jagannath Himself walks out to sit upon the chariot so that thousands and millions of people can have His darshan. But Prabhupada for devotees outside India,who would not be able to come to India, took Lord Jagannath Himself outside of India. Prabhupada truly fulfilled the meaning of the name “Jagannath”—the Lord of the Universe—by taking Lord Jagannath to the entire world.

Festivals at Jagannath Puri.
Indians are fond of festivals. The amount of gatherings in the festivals is the proof. Jagannath Rathayatra has largest gathering and second largest gathering being at Pandharpur during Ashadhi Ekadashi. At Puri, Snan Yatra, Rath Yatra, Shayan Yatra , Uttarayan, Dakshinayan, Parshva Parivartan, Utthapan, Dola yatra, Chandan Yatra, Bahuda Yatra, Niladri Vijay like that 13 major festivals are there. Chain of these festivals begin from Snan yatra. it is said that ‘the appearance day of Lord Sri Hari falls on Jyeshtha Purnima, and the Snana Yatra done at this time, is a highly exalted and auspicious act. Anyone who witnesses this grand event does not need to perform any arduous penance. Their worldly bonds and the bondages by past sinful deeds are severed effortlessly.

Lord Vitthala is Jagannath.
Saint Ekanath beautifully describes in one of his bhajans
māya Jagannath bāpa Jagannath |
anāthānchā nātha Janārdana ||
Translation:
“Lord Jagannath is my mother, and Lord Jagannath is my father. He is the supreme ultimate protector and guardian (Nath) of those who have no one else in this world (Anath).”
Vitthala in Pandharpur is Jagannath Himself.
Lord Vitthala is speaking about the innermost feelings of His heart—which in Marathi is referred to as ’guja’, means the innermost feelings of the heart. He says, “If you cannot come and stay here forever, then at least do this: make sure to come twice a year to Pandharpur to have My darshan. During Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi come to have My darsan.”

The first Snan yatra
When Lord Jagannath bestowed His mercy upon King Indradyumna in Jagannath Puri and granted him darshan, He expressed His heart’s desire to him, saying:
“O Indradyumna, it is my wish—the desire of my heart—that on the day of Jyestha Purnima, which is also My birth anniversary, you must perform My Mahasnan (grand holy bath) through various scriptural rituals and sixteen types of offerings (Shodasha Upachara).”
we must , plan meticulously, and make our Lord’s festivals as grand for His satisfaction.
The Lord’s service must be performed very carefully and beautifully.

Rituals at Snan Yatra
During Snan Yatra,for the Lord’s bath, as mentioned earlier, 108 pots of water are brought from the Sonara Kua (Golden Well) located in the north direction.
The 108 pots of water used for the Lord’s bath are infused with Camphor (Kapur), Sandalwood paste (Chandan), Rosewater, Aguru and Saffron (Kesar), Sarva-aushadhih and Maha-aushadhih (mixtures of various sacred medicinal herbs), Nagchampa flowers. All these ingredients are specially mixed to make the water highly purified and fragrant, and it is with this divine water that the Lord is bathed.
Lord Jagannath is bathed with 35 pots of water, Baladev Ji with 33 pots, and Goddess Subhadra with 22 pots. In this manner, the total comes to 108 pots
Phala-Sruti
In Brahma -purana Lord Brahma himself directly tells the sages that any person who sees Lord Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra seated upon their bathing altar (Snana Mandap)—even if they see the three of them seated on that elevated platform just once—attains the eternal, imperishable abode.