Origin of 'Hare Krishna' | Antardvipa-3 | Episode 3 | Navadvipa Mandal Parikrama | Sri Sampati Dasa

Summary of YouTube Video Transcript

Key Concepts:

• Nimai Pandit (Lord Chaitanya's childhood name and form)
• Keshava Kashmiri (Digvijayi Pandit, a renowned scholar)
• Barakona-ghat (location of debate between Nimai Pandit and Keshava Kashmiri)
• Sanskrit grammar
• Shastras (scriptures)
• Mother Ganga
• Jnana (knowledge)
• Murari Gupta (intimate friend of Lord Chaitanya, expansion of Hanuman)
• Sripatha (house of Murari Gupta)
• Bhava-roga (birth, death, disease, and old age)
• Krishna-prema (love of Krishna)
• Srivasa Angan (house of Srivasa Pandit, incarnation of Narada Muni)
• Pancha-tattva (Lord Chaitanya and His four main associates)
• Sankirtana (congregational chanting of the holy names)
• Mridanga (a type of drum)
• Chand Kazi (Muslim ruler who opposed Sankirtana)
• Maha-abhishekam (grand bathing ceremony)
• Ishodyana (place where Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda first met)
• Nandanacharya Bhavan (house of Nandanacharya)
• Atma-nivedanam (full surrender to the Supreme Lord)
• Antardvipa (inner island of Navadvipa)
• Navadvipa-mandala Parikrama (pilgrimage around Navadvipa)

Nimai Pandit and Keshava Kashmiri at Barakona-ghat

As Nimai Pandit grew, He became renowned for His scholarship in Navadvipa, starting a school at age 11 to teach Sanskrit grammar. The Srimad-Bhagavatam refers to Lord Chaitanya's incarnation in Kali-yuga as a "hidden incarnation" (channau kalau avatara) because He doesn't openly display His opulences. However, through pastimes in Antardvipa, He revealed some of them.

One such pastime occurred at Barakona-ghat. Keshava Kashmiri, a Digvijayi Pandit (one who has conquered scholars in all directions), arrived in Navadvipa to challenge the local scholars. The scholars, fearing defeat, devised a plan to avoid him. They considered Nimai Pandit arrogant and were envious of His knowledge of the Shastras, especially Sanskrit grammar. They decided to leave Navadvipa, hoping Nimai would debate Keshava Kashmiri. If Nimai won, Keshava Kashmiri would be humiliated by being defeated by a "small boy." If Nimai lost, they could dismiss it as a defeat of a mere boy, not the great scholars of Navadvipa.

While Lord Chaitanya was sitting with His students at Barakona-ghat, Keshava Kashmiri challenged Him to a debate. Lord Gauranga humbly requested Keshava Kashmiri to compose a poem glorifying Mother Ganga. Keshava Kashmiri, feeling proud, composed 100 verses within an hour and recited them rapidly.

Lord Chaitanya praised Keshava Kashmiri's skill but then asked him to explain five good qualities and five faults in his poetry. This angered Keshava Kashmiri, who believed his poetry was flawless. Lord Chaitanya pointed out a specific verse where Keshava Kashmiri incorrectly used the term "Bhavani-bhartu" (husband of Shiva's wife) to address Mother Ganga.

Keshava Kashmiri was astonished by Lord Chaitanya's memory and His ability to identify the mistake despite the rapid recitation. The students of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu started laughing at Keshava Kashmiri, but Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stopped them. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu chose to meet Keshava Kashmiri at Barakona-ghat, away from the city, to avoid public humiliation and facilitate his heart transformation.

Distressed by his defeat, Keshava Kashmiri prayed to Mother Sarasvati, questioning how he could be defeated despite her blessings. Sarasvati revealed that when the Supreme Lord is the opponent, she cannot favor him. She confirmed that Nimai Pandit was none other than the Supreme Lord.

Upon learning this, Keshava Kashmiri felt joy and the next day, he surrendered to Lord Chaitanya, begging for forgiveness and receiving His blessings. Lord Gauranga instructed him to preach the teachings of Lord Krishna and encourage everyone to chant the holy names. This pastime at Barakona-ghat revealed Lord Chaitanya's opulence of Jnana (knowledge).

Murari Gupta Sripatha

Murari Gupta, an intimate friend of Lord Chaitanya, was an expansion of Hanuman. He pleased Lord Chaitanya with his melodious chanting of Srimad-Bhagavatam and his expert singing and dancing at the nightly Kirtan in Srivasa Angan. His house, the Murari Gupta Sripatha, is located east of Yogapitha on the banks of Prithu-kunda.

Chaitanya-charitamrita (Adi 10.49) describes Murari Gupta as a Sakha (intimate friend) and Premera Bhandara (storehouse of love of God). His meekness and humility melted the heart of Lord Chaitanya.

Murari Gupta was born in Srihatta and later moved to Navadvipa during his childhood. He and Lord Chaitanya were school friends and were together in most of the pastimes in Navadvipa, Mayapura.

Murari Gupta was a devoted worshiper of Lord Ramachandra. On one occasion, Lord Chaitanya revealed His form as Sri Ramachandra, along with Sita Devi and Lakshmana, to Murari Gupta.

Murari Gupta was a Vaidya (doctor) by profession. He uniquely treated not only the physical ailments of his patients but also their Bhava-roga (birth, death, disease, and old age) by giving them Krishna-prema and the holy names of Lord Sri Krishna.

Once, Murari Gupta witnessed Lord Chaitanya in the mood of Varaha Avatara. Lord Chaitanya, crying "Varaha! Varaha!", rushed to Murari Gupta's house, entered the altar, and continued chanting. Murari Gupta offered prayers, and Lord Chaitanya revealed His Varaha form, confirming that He, as Varaha, had lifted the Earth.

Lord Chaitanya tested Murari Gupta's unwavering devotion to Lord Ramachandra and chanting of His holy names. Murari Gupta worshiped his beloved Deities of Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana, glorifying Them as Sri rama jagat trayam gurum vande bhajatam satatam ("I always engage in the devotional service and chant the holy names of Lord Rama who is the spiritual master of the three worlds").

Murari Gupta recorded the early pastimes of Lord Gauranga in Antardvipa, which formed the basis for Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, Sri Chaitanya-mangala, and Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata. He also wrote Sri Chaitanya-charita-mahakavya, compiling the glorious activities of Lord Chaitanya.

Srivasa Angan

Srivasa Thakur is considered an incarnation of Narada Muni in Lord Gauranga's Lila in Navadvipa Antardvipa. Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika identifies Srivasa Pandit as śrīvāsa-paṇḍito dhīmān yaḥ purā nārado muniḥ ("He is the Narada Muni himself").

The video shows the temple at the location of Srivasa Pandit's house, where Deities of Lord Chaitanya and His associates are worshiped. Lord Chaitanya is seated on a Simhasana, with Lord Nityananda and Gadadhara Prabhu standing behind Him, Advaita Acharya doing Chamara, and Srivasa Pandita holding an umbrella over Lord Chaitanya. A Deity of Lord Narasimha is present, commemorating Lord Chaitanya revealing His Narasimha form to Srivasa Pandit.

A broken Mridanga is displayed, symbolizing the incident when Chand Kazi broke the drum to stop the devotees from performing Sankirtana.

Srivasa Pandit is renowned for his absorption in Sri Gauranga’s Kirtan. Many early pastimes of Lord Gauranga took place in Srivasa Angan. Lord Gauranga gathered His devotees at Srivasa Angan and instructed them to engage in nightly Sankirtana, chanting the holy names of Lord Sri Krishna.

Devotees like Lord Nityananda, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara Prabhu, and Murari Gupta participated in these Kirtans. Lord Chaitanya would enter ecstasy, jumping, dancing, and going into trance. Once, He remained in trance for 21 hours. Advaita Acharya would secretly collect the dust from Lord Gauranga's lotus feet.

Lord Gauranga's first Maha-abhishekam was performed at Srivasa Pandit's house.

Ishodyana and the Meeting of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda

Ishodyana, where Nandanacharya's house (Nandanacharya Bhavan) was located, is the final stop in the Antardvipa Parikrama. It is the place where Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga first met and exchanged spiritual ecstasy.

Lord Nityananda, an incarnation of Lord Balarama, was searching for Lord Krishna throughout Bharata-bhumi. In Vrindavana, He learned that Lord Krishna had appeared as Lord Chaitanya in Gaura-mandala and was performing Sankirtana pastimes.

Lord Nityananda rushed to Ishodyana and hid in Nandanacharya Bhavan, believing that Lord Chaitanya would recognize Him if He was indeed the Supreme Lord.

Lord Chaitanya had a dream about a Ratha arriving with a spiritually effulgent personality in blue attire. The next morning, He described this person to His devotees and asked them to search for Him. After nine hours of searching, they found Lord Nityananda sitting on a Simhasana in Nandanacharya Bhavan.

Lord Chaitanya asked Srivasa Pandit to recite a verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.21.5) describing Krishna Balarama in Vrindavana (barhāpīḍaṁ naṭa-vara-vapuḥ karṇayoḥ karṇikāraṁ). Hearing this, Lord Nityananda entered the ecstasy of Balarama, falling to the floor and calling out "Krishna! Krishna!". Lord Gauranga also entered spiritual ecstasy, and the two Lords embraced. The devotees celebrated this meeting with loud chants of "Haribol!".

Nandanacharya, a pure devotee, revealed Lord Nityananda to the world at Ishodyana. The temple at Nandanacharya Bhavan depicts Nandanacharya and his wife Sudevi offering prayers to Lord Chaitanya, Nityananda, and Advaita Acharya.

Conclusion

Lord Chaitanya is the most munificent incarnation of Lord Krishna, distributing love of Godhead to even the most fallen beings of Kali-yuga. By chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, abstaining from sinful activities, and associating with devotees, one can attain their constitutional position of eternity, bliss, and knowledge. Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati recommends visiting Antardvipa Mayapura and residing there to cross over the ocean of material existence. The video concludes with the hope that visiting these holy places will inspire Atma-nivedanam (full surrender) to the Supreme Lord.