Disappearance day of Madhavendra Puri

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Japa Talk : 21 March, 2024 Speaker:H. H. Lokanath Swami Theme: Disappearance day of Madhavendra Puri Sub Theme: Introduction Gauranga! jaya jaya śrī kṛṣṇa caitanya nityānanda; jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura bhakta vrṇda Translation O Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all glories to You. O Prabhu Nityananda, all glories to You.O Lord Advaitacandra, all glories to You. O devotees of Lord Gauranga, all glories to you all.[Song Name: Jaya Jaya Sri Krsna Caitanya Nityananda – Verse No 1] jaya sri-krishna-chaitanya prabhu nityananda sri-adwaita gadadhara shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare je anilo prema-dhana koruna pracur heno prabhu kotha gela madhavendra sripada-thakur Translation He who brought the treasure of divine love and who was filled with compassion and mercy—where has such a personality as Srinivasa Acarya gone [Je Anilo Prema dhana 1] Today, is the disappearance day of Sripad Madhavendra Puri Thakur. It is not an Anand Utsav (utsava meant to be celebrated). There are some days filled with joy and sorrow. We have to morn today. 500 years ago, Sripada Madhavendra Puri on today’s date, entered the eternal pastimes of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. All glories to Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu! Due to this, all the jivas were deprived of his association.

Sub Theme: The External Reasons for the Appearance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Sripada – Madhavendra Puri was the first acharya – to reveal the love of Godhead for the first time. Before the appearance of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – in this material world, his teachers or spiritual masters appeared. pitā mātā guru ādi yata mānya-gaṇa prathame karena sabāra pṛthivīte janama Translation Thus respectable personalities such as His father, mother and spiritual master all take birth on earth first. [CC Adi 3.94] mādhava-īśvara-purī, śacī, jagannātha advaita ācārya prakaṭa hailā sei sātha Translation Mādhavendra Purī, Īśvara Purī, Śrīmatī Śacīmātā and Śrīla Jagannātha Miśra all appeared with Śrī Advaita Ācārya.[CC Adi 3.95] Isvara Puri is the disciple of Madhavendra Puri. Śrīmatī Śacīmātā and Śrīla Jagannātha Miśra appeared as the parents of the Lord Sri Chaitanya. These are the first generation associates – namely Madhavendra Puri Pada, Isvara Puri, Jagannatha Misra, Srimati Saci Mata and Sri Advaita Acarya. They all appeared about 50 years ago before Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s descend. Sri Krṣṇa Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – had descended distribute the love of Godhead and relish the transcendental mellows of the divine love. Madhavendra Puri is the first acharya.

Sub Theme: Who was the spiritual master of Madhavendra Puri?

He had taken initiation from the Madhava Sampradaya. His spiritual master was Laxmipati Tirtha. Laxmipati Tirtha was from the Madhava Sampradaya. In that Sampradaya there was no mellow for Shrigarmik Bhakti. Due to Lord Sri Krṣṇa Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – Laxmipati Tirtha experienced – the love of Godhead in the form of creeper of devotional service. The love of Godhead sprouted or distributed in the heart of Laxmipati Tirtha due to Madhavendra Puri. Madhavendra Puri distributed this love of Godhead to Iswara Puri. In this disciplic succession, Iswara Puri gave the love of Godhead to Lord Sri Krṣṇa Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Iswara Puri became the disciple of Madhavendra Puri. Lord Sri Krṣṇa Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself was the disciple of Iswara Puri. All glories to Mahaprabhu!! It has been shown that Lord Sri Krṣṇa Chaitanya Mahaprabhu got the love of Godhead in disciplic succession. Madhavendra Puri was the first acharya in this disciplic succession. Lord Sri Krṣṇa Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then distributed this love and its has slowly reached us. Prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama, sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama: Translation In every town and village throughout the world," said Lord Caitanya, - the chanting of My holy name will be heard [CB Antya-khanda 4.126] ei-mata nityananda-prabhura bhramana daive madhavendra-saha haila darasana Translation As the Lord traveled in this way, by the will of providence He met ŚrīMādhavendra Purī. [CB Adi 9.154] Nityanada Prabhu was travelling to South India. Due to the will of providence, he met Sri Madhavendra Puri on the way.

Sub Theme: Who was Madhavendra Puri?

madhavendra-puri prema-maya-kalevara prema-maya yata saba sange anucara Translation The body of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī is imbued with ecstatic love ofGod, and his followers partake of those same sentiments. [CB Adi 9.155] krsna-rasa vinu ara nahika ahara madhavendra-puri-dehe krsnera vihara Translation He did not relish anything other than loving sentiments for LordKṛṣṇa, who enjoyed His pastimes in the body of Mādhavendra Purī. [CB Adi 9.156] Madhavendra Puri’s food and drink was mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s divine love. This is from Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata.LordKṛṣṇa, resided in the body of Mādhavendra Purī. When Nityananda saw Madhavendra Puri, He was immediately stunned in ecstatic love and fell to the ground unconscious. While hearing any pastime, we have to – recreate a painting of the pastime in our mind. Lord Nityananda said – “I have visited many – pilgrimage places. Today I have seen your lotus feet. You are the most important of the holy places. My life has become successful by seeing you. I think this is the fruit of my pilgrimage”. Madhavendra Puri stayed at Vrindavan also. All glories to Vrindavan Dham!! Madhavendra Puri performed the Govardhan Parikrama daily. There is a village named Jatipura there. When we go from Govind Kund, there is temple of Puchari ka lota baba. We have to take a turn, then when we proceed towards Radha Kund. On the way, there is a small village – known as Jatipura. A sanyasi is known as Yati. Madhavendra Puri was a sanyasi. The village gets the name Yatipura or Jatipura from Madhavendra Puri. Sometimes due to the Bengali pronounciation Ya becomes Ja, as Yamuna becomes Jamuna or Vrindavan becomes Brindavan. On the banks of Radha Kund-Shyam Kund we find the Madhavendra Puri Baithak. One day, while doing his daily Parikrama, Madhavendra Puri reached Govinda Kund. He was resting on the banks of Govinda Kund. He was tired, after performing his japa. He got the darshan of the Lord. Madhavendra Puri was hungry. He never begged anything from anyone. He would accept if someone gave something, else he would remain hungry. Hari Hari!! Lord came and told him – “Please drink this pot of milk. I will collect the pot later”. Madhavendra Puri asked him how did you know that I am hungry. The cowherd boy replied “Nobody can stay hungry in my village. I will not leave anyone hungry. I will collect the pot later”. Madhavendra Puri waited for him. The boy did not return but he appeared again in Madhavendra Puri’s dream. He instructed – Madhavendra Puri – “I stay as a deity in this bush close by. They have hidden me there. Please take me out of this bush.” Next morning, Madhavendra Puri visited the location as per the Supreme Lord’s instruction. He took out the deity. This deity was one amongst the many deities installed by Vajranabha, the great grandson of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Out of fear of the mughal invaders, he had hidden the deity behind the bushes. Sub Theme: Annakoot Ceremony for Gopal Madhavendra Puri installed the deity on the top of a hill. Many devotees came to pay visit to the deity. Some devotees built a goshala and donated cows. Madhavendra Puri celebrates an “Annakoot” Ceremony for Gopalji. They made big big mountains of rice. This was similar to the Annakoot Ceremony held by Nanda Maharaj as per the instructions of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Lord said “Stop this. Please stop the worship of Indra, instead worship Govardhan”. Following the instructions of the Lord, Nanda Maharaj alongwith various Vrajvasis – celebrated the Annakoot Ceremony or Govardhan Pooja. They made huge mountains with variety of preparations. Lord Kṛṣṇa and Balarama also took active part in the Govardhan Pooja. Sub Theme: Test of Surrender One day, Madhavendra Puri while he was resting had another dream. And in this dream Gopal appeared to him again. Bring sandalwood pulp from Jaggannath Puri. And He said that my bodily temperature still has not decreased.Please bring sandalwood from the Malaya province and smear the pulp over my body to cool me. Madhavendra Puri goes to Orissa from Vrindavan. Sub Theme: Pastime of Kheer Chor Gopinath When Madhavendra Puri arrived in Shantipur, he met Sri Advaita Acharya. Madhavendra Puri later initiates Sri Advaita Acharya. On his way, from Shantipur to Jagannath Puri, he stopped at Remuna where the deity of Gopinath is situated. And upon seeing the beauty of the deity Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed.Then he sat down and asked from the brahman, “What kind of food was offered to the deity?” The priest explained to him the varieties of food that were offered to Gopinath. And then he told him that in the evening, there’s an offering of kheer – in twelve earthen pots. And because the taste is like nectar, it is called Amritakeli. And Madhavendra Puri was thinking, if only I could taste…if without my asking, he was thinking, someone brings me, just a small portion and I can taste it, then I can prepare a similar preparation for the pleasure of Gopal. This is Kṛṣṇa Consciousness, always thinking of serving the Lord. But then he was thinking, “How offensive I am, well Thakurji, Sri Krishna is eating the food and I’m thinking of eating that same food. So he felt very guilty and very bad.” Some pujaris eat the prasadam themselves or distribute it amongst their family members. Not thinking of the highest or sublime good for the people in general. The pujaris were good, I donot want to commit offense at the lotus feet of Pujaris. Madhavendra Puri did not get the prasadam. And just at that time, the bell rang and the aarti began and after aarti Madhavendra Puri offered his prostrated obeisances and left without saying anything to anyone. Then he went to a secluded market place within the village. He did not beg from anybody. He could have asked – “Where is the pujari? Who is the pujari? He could have met him and demanded the prasadam”. That was not his nature. Since, it was night time, the pujari put the deity of Gopinath to rest and also went to rest. But in a dream he saw Gopinath appeared to him and he spoke, “Please get up and open the door of the temple. I have kept one pot of sweet rice for the sanyasi Madhavendra Puri.This pot of sweet rice is just behind my cloth curtain.” Madhavendra Puri had desired to taste the kheer so that he that could make it himself for Gopalji. He did not express his desires to anybody. But the Lord had noted Madhavendra Puri’s desire. The deity form of the Lord is non different from the Supreme Lord. It is sad-cit-anand. Lord understood the desire of Madhavendra Puri, to taste the kheer. Lord also understood that this pujari will not give the kheer to Madhavendra Puri. The offering of kheer was made to Gopinathji in many clay pots. The Lord stole one pot of kheer before the pujari came to clear the offerings. Hence, the deity of Gopinath at Remuna was later known as Kheer Chora Gopinath. Lord stole kheer for Madhavendra Puri. Awaking from the dream, the pujari immediately rose from his bed and took his bath and went into the temple. There he found behind the curtain, behind the deity was hidden one pot of kheer. He was struck with wonder. Then he went out of the temple and closed the door as he went to the village with the pot of sweet rice and he started calling out in every stall and every corner. May he whose name is Madhavendra Puri please come and take this pot. Gopinath has stolen this pot for you. May the sanyasi whose name is Madhavendra Puri please come and take this pot of sweet rice and enjoy the prasad with great happiness. You are the most fortunate person within these three worlds. Hearing the invitation Madhavendra Puri came out and identified himself and the priest knowing what sort of glorious person he is that Gopinath had stolen the kheer just for him. Lord performed this very wonderful pastime. The brahman offered his prostrated obeisance’s to Madhavendra Puri. Madhavendra Puri offered obessainces to the kheer. Then Madhavendra Puri upon taking leave from the brahman priest, he ate the sweet rice offered to him by Krishna in great ecstatic love. And after this he washed the pot and broke it into pieces and bound them in his cloth to take with him. And each day it is said Madhavendra Puri would eat one piece of that earthen pot. And after eating it, he would immediately be overwhelmed with ecstasy. Sub Theme: Unparalleled devotion of Madhavendra Puri Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhutook sanyasa at Katwa. Later, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu started for Jagannath Puri from Mayapur. From Katwa he visited Shantipur, there Saci Mata tell him “O my dear son, please do not go to Vrindavan. It is very far. Please make Jagannath Puri your base or head-quarters.” When Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was going to Jagannath Puri from Shantipur, he happened to – visit – the village named Remuna. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu with his associates namely Nityananda Prabhu, Mukunda Datta, Jagananda Pandit, Damodar Pandit etc. They stayed for one night at Remuna. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Himself glorified the pastimes of Madhavendra Puri which included his life and teachings. Specially the pastime at Remuna, where Lord Gopinath stole the prasadam for Madhavendra Puri. This pastime – depicts their strong bond of love. Lord narrated this pastime at Remuna Himself. Hari Hari!! Madhavendra Puri thought that the Lord has given me a pot of sweet rice and when people would hear of this tomorrow there would be great crowds. So out of humility, he did not want to become famous. He did not want to become very well known as a special Paramhamsa Vaishnava. He left Remuna for Jagannath Puri. Sub Theme: A pure devotee’s fame Madhavendra Puri went to Jagannath Puri to carry the sandalwood for Gopalji. He is an example of extraordinary humility – as he left Remuna to avoid fame. When Madhavendra Puri came to Jaggannath Puri all the people around were aware of his reputation. Every town and every village before he arrived, his reputation had already been understood by everyone and they all greeted him and celebrated him. He did not like this. So he was always going from one place to another. He got lots of help. Some devotees gave – him sandalwood as charity. And in this way he started for Vrindavan with the burden of sandalwood. Lord was waiting for him. So when Madhavendra Puri reached the temple of Gopinath at Remuna he offered his respectful obeisance’s many times at the lotus feet of the Lord.Madhavendra Puri took rest that night but towards the end of the night he had another dream. Madhavendra Puri dreamed that Gopal came before him again and said, “O Madhavendra Puri, I have already received all the sandalwood and camphor.” The Gopal of Vrindavan was speaking to him. Now just grind all the sandalwood together with the camphor and then smear the pulp on the body of Gopinath daily until it is finished. There’s no difference between My body and Gopinath’s body. They are one and the same. Therefore, if you smear the sandalwood on the body of Gopinath, you’ll naturally also smear it on My body. Thus the temperature of My body will be reduced. You should not hesitate to act according to my order. Believing in me, just do as it is needed”. After giving these instructions, Gopal disappeared. Then Madhavendra Puri awoke up and immediately called for the servants of Gopinath and told them that “Smear the body of Gopinath with this camphor and sandalwood that I’ve brought for Gopal in Vrindavan. He later stayed there at Balesor (a small city in Remuna). Madhavendra Puri did not return to Vrindavan. He was very old. Iswara Puri was one of the chief disciples of Madhavendra Puri. Iswar Puri was the spiritual master of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Iswar Puri stayed with Madhavendra Puri at Remuna. He helped Madhavendra Puri in every way. Today – is the disappearance day of Madhavendra Puri which happened at Remuna. All glories to Madhavendra Puri!! His samadhi is at Remuna near the kheer chor Remuna temple. I was fortunate to get the darshan of his samadhi. The love which he tasted and distributed – is now available to us in disciplic succession. My prayer at the lotus feet of Sripad Madhavendra Puri is – May we attain the transcendental love which he attained and distributed. evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh sa kaleneha mahata yogo nastah parantapa Translation This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost. [BG 4.2] I will stop here. All glories to the Disappearance day Maha mohatsava of Sripada Madhavendra Puri!!