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EDITORIAL March 2, 1999 VNN3217 Jagannatha Misra Father Of Lord Caitanya ARIJIT DAS EDITORIAL, Mar 2 (VNN) — Bits and pieces from Sri Krsna das Kaviraj's Sri Caitanya caritamrta A learned brahmana named Upendra Misra, who resided in the district of Sri hatta, was the father of Jagannatha Misra, who came to Navadvipa to study under the direction of Nilambara Cakravarti and then settled there after marrying Nilambara Cakravarti's daughter, Sacidevi. Sri Sacidevi gave birth to eight children, all daughters, who died one after another immediately after birth. After her ninth pregnancy she gave birth to a son, who was named Visvarupa. Then, in 1407 Saka Era (A.D. 1486), in the full-moon evening of the month of Phalguna, with the constellation of Simha (Leo) on the horizon, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared as the son of Sri Sacidevi and Jagannatha Misra. After hearing of the birth of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, learned scholars and brabmanas, bringing many gifts, came to see the newborn baby. Nilambara Cakravarti, who was a great astrologer, immediately prepared a horoscope, and by astrological calculation he saw that the child was a great personality. This chapter describes the symptoms of this great personality. Jagannatha Misra was very unhappy at the death of his children one after another. Therefore, desiring a son, he worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Visnu. After this, Jagannatha Misra got a son of the name Visvarupa, who was most powerful and highly qualified because He was an incarnation of Baladeva. The husband and wife Jagannatha Misra and Sacimata, having gotten Visvarupa as their son, were very pleased within their minds. Because of their pleasure, they specifically began to serve the lotus feet of Govinda. In the month of January in the year 1406 of the Saka Era (A.D. 1485), Lord Krsna entered the bodies of both Jagannatha Misra and Saci. Jagannatha Misra was a brahmana; therefore people would send him all bodily necessities-money, cloth, grain and so on. While Lord Caitanya was in the womb of Sacimata, Jagannatha Misra received all these necessities of life without asking for them. Because of the presence of the Lord in his family, everyone offered him due respect as a brahmana. In other words, if a brahmana or Vaisnava sticks to his position as an eternal servant of the Lord and executes the will of the Lord, there is no question of scarcity for his personal maintenance or the needs of his family. Jagannatha Misra was honored by everyone on the earth and was supplied with all necessities. Similarly, mother Sad saw many demigods in outer space offering prayers to her because of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's presence in her womb. Candrasekhara Acarya and Srivasa Thakura both came to Jagannatha Misra and drew his attention in various ways. They performed the ritualistic ceremonies prescribed at the time of birth according to religious principles. Jagannatha Misra also gave varieties of charity. Whatever riches Jagannatha Misra collected in the form of gifts and presentations, and whatever he had in his house, he distributed among the brabman as, professional singers, dancers, bhaktas and the poor. He honored them all by giving them riches in charity. All glory to Sri Jagannatha Misra and Sri Saci Devi Comment on this Story This story URL: http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET9903/ET02-3217.html
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