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EDITORIAL July 14, 1999 VNN4297 Comment on this story Pandit Shri Shrivas BY ARIJIT DAS  EDITORIAL, Jul 14 (VNN) — That person who was the Vyasa of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimesūShrimad Vrindavan das Thakuraūspeaks of Shrivas Pandit in his Shri Chaitanya Bhagavata: "In Navadwip Dham lived the holy Pandit Shri Shrivas, And at his temple Caitanya peformed his sweet vilas. Srivas and his brothers always sang the holy name, And did their Krishna-puja and Ganges bath three times a day." Shrivas, Shrirama, Shripati and Shrinidhi were four brothers. They used to live in Shri Hatta, but after some time they moved to Navadwip Dham and lived there. The four brothers used to go to the house of Advaita Acharya to listen to the Bhagavatam class, to perform Nam-sankirtan, and to participate in different Vaishnava activities. They were all great friends with Shri Jagannatha Mishra, the father of Shri Chaitanya. The four of them used to love to hear the Bhagavatam and perform sankirtan together. As a result of their devotion, they could understand that Shri Krsna Himself would soon appear in the house of Jagnnatha Mishra. Shrivas Pandit's wife was Malinidevi. She was the contant friend of Sachidevi and the two of them would derive great satisfaction in one another's company. Seeing the terrible situation of the living entites in Kailyuga, the devotees were greatly distressed, and, in order to deliver the fallen souls, began to pray for the appearance of God Himself. The Lord heard the prayers of his devotees. In 1407 Saka era, in the month of Phalguana, on the full moon night Shri Hari Himself advented in the home of Jagannatha Mishra in Mayapura. With his appearance in this world, everything became auspicious. The world was filled with the holy name. When Shri Advaita, who came from Shantipura, could understand that Shri Hari himself had appeared, he went to Shrivasa and all the other devotees and made them understand the importance of His divine appearance. Shrivas Pandit's wife Malini was devoted to Sachidevi and took care of her like a personal nurse. Shrivas Pandit was constantly at the house of Jagannatha Mishra; it was as if he was Jagannatha Mishra's shadow. Srimad Vrnadavan dasa Thakura's mother's name was Sri Narayani Devi. Narayani Devi was the daughter of Srivas Thakura's brother. After the disappearance of Sri Caitanya Mahprabhu, Srivas Thakura went to live in Kumar Hatta. Srivasa Thakura had three brothers: Sripati, Srirama and Srinidhi. He also had one son, but at a young age, his son passed away, returning to the Lord's supreme abode. Srivasa Thakura had previously lived in Sri Hatta, but because he wanted the association of devotees he went to live on the banks of the Ganges in Nabadwip. When Mahaprabhu revealed his divinity in the house of Srivasa, showing his true self to the assembled devotees there, Narayani devi was only four years old . In the Caitanya Bhagavata it is written: "The golden moon, Sri Gauranga, revealed himelf as the soul of all souls. At that time he ordered Narayani to chant the name of Krishna. Although she was only four years old she became mad with love of God. And crying," O Krishna!" she swooned in ecstasy. As she laid on the ground in a trance of bliss, her eyes filled with tears, overwhelmed with divine love." Narayani devi's son was Vrindavana Das Thakura. In the Caitanya Bhagavata he has written of how Narayani was the object of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's affection: "At a result of her great piety, Narayani would get what ever remnants the Lord might leave after eating. All though she was only an unschooled little girl, the Lord would favor Srivas Thakur's niece by giving her the leftovers of food touched by His holy lips." What the Supreme Lord may do from one moment to the next even he himself may not know; how than can anyone else understand his movements? At the time of Mahaprabhu's childhood, he exhibited many supernatural pastimes, but being bewildered by the Lord's Yogamaya ptency, the devotees could not understand them. At the time of his advent all the hearts of the devotees were filled with parental affection. Shrivas Pandita and Malini Devi, in nurturing and raising up the darling boy of Shachi Devi and Jagannatha Mishra gave him instructionon many subjects. And so, Shri Gaurasundara came to accept Shrivasa Pandit and Malini Devi as a second mother and father. . One day, Mahaprabhu, manifesting his mood of the Supreme Controller, God himself, came tothe house of Shrivas Thakura and spoke as follows: "To whom have you performed worship? On whom have you meditated? Now see Him! Look upon the object of your worship! Shirvasa! Who have you worshipped? Look directly upon Him whom you have worshipped." Saying these words, Mahaprabhu entered the Deity room of Vishnu and boldly sat upon the altar, manifesting a four-armed form with conch, lotus, club, and chakra. Upon seeing Chaitanya Mahparabhu in this divine form, Shrivas Pandit was shocked and paralyzed with wonder. At that time the Lord told Shrivas, "I have heard your loud Sankirtan and Advaita's roaring of the holy name of Krishna! And hearing their calls I have left Vaikuntha and appeared here in this material world with my eternal associates. I have come to punish the wicked and deliver the saintly. If you want to become fearless perform my sankirtan. Listening to these fearless words of Mahaprabhu Shrivasa Pandit fell to the earth offering his prostrated obeisances and recited the following prayers: "Unto the lotus feet of Shri Chaitanya Vishvambhara (whose dress is like a yellow cloud) I make my namaskara. I bow before that Krishna (Who is mother Sachi's son) Bedecked with gunja-mala and peacock plume, bright as the sun, Bright as a million moons whose cooling rays eclipse the stars; To Ganga Das Pandit's Nimai, a hundred namaskaras. With horn of buffalo, and cowherd stick, and bamboo flute, Lord Krishna played, and you are He, the Godhead, Supreme Truth. The Vedas sing the glories of Krishna-Nanda Kumara; And thou art He, and so before your feet, my namaskara. My birth and work have reached complete fulfillment here today. My life has dawned a new , auspiciousness is mine today. My ancestors have surely found salvation on this day. My home and wealth have reached their true perfection on this day. My fortune knows no earthly bounds upon this holy day- The blissful vision of your holy feet blessed me today." In this way, Shrivasa offered different prayers and hymns. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was very very kind to Shrivasa, and within the house of Shrivasa he gave darshan of his divine form to all his eternal associates and devotees. When Shrivasa Pandit's niece Narayani came before him, Mahaprabhu, upon seeing her, said, "Narayani, chant Krishna, Krishna!" Chaitanya Bhagavata records, "Although she was only a four year old girl, her behavior was unusal. Chanting "Krishna, Krishna!" again and again, she fell on the ground stunned in ecstasy with tears in her eyes." Such are the wonderful pastimes of the Lord and his Pure devotees. Submitted for the pleasure of the devotees - Arijit das Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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