Shyamananda Prabhu
“Simply by accepting that the associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are eternally perfect, one may attain the service of Krishna in Vrindavana.”—Narottam Das Thakura.
Sri Shyamananda, Shrinivasa and Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura are all eternal associates of Sri Gaurasundara. For the purpose of preaching the holy message of Sri Chaitanya all over the earth they appeared within this world.
Sri Shyamananda Prabhu was born in Utkala, in a place called Dharenda Bhadura Pura. His father’s name was Sri Krishna Mandal. His mother’s name was Sri Durika. Sri Krishna Mandal, who was in the dynasty of the Six Gopas, had sired many sons and daughters who had passed away before this son took his birth. Because of the great misfortune which had befallen his family, Sri Krishna Mandal named the boy Dukhi. Everyone said that the boy would become a great person, a Mahapurush. On an auspicious moment on the full moon day of the month of Caitra, he appeared within this world by the mercy of Lord Jagannatha. Because he had come to preach the glories of Jagannatha, the Lord Himself protected him as he grew up. The boy was so beautiful he was like cupid himself; all eyes were fixed upon him.
Gradually it was time for the child’s “grain-eating ceremony” (that time at which a child is first offered solid food), and soon after that he began going to school. Seeing the amazing brain this child had, the scholars were astonished. In a short time, the boy learned Sanskrit grammar, poetry, and rhetoric. And soon after this he began seriously studying the scriptures. Upon hearing the glories of Sri Chaitanya and Nityananda from the mouths of the local devotees, the boy developed a powerful desire to take shelter at his lotus feet. His father, Sri Krishna Mandala, was a great devotee of Krishna. Seeing his son always engrossed in thoughts of Gaura-Nityananda, he told him to take mantra initiation.
The boy said, “Hriday Chaitanya Prabhu is my guru, he lives in Ambika Kalna. His guru is Gauridas Pandit. Those two great brothers, Sri Gaura and Nityananda always reside in his home. If you give the order, I will go to him and become his disciple.”
Sri Krishna Mandal said, “My boy! That is a long way away! How will you get there?”
Dukhi said, “Father, many people from here will soon go to Gaudadesh to bathe in the Ganges. When they go, I will go with them.”
For a long time, his father thought this over, and finally gave his permission. After receiving the blessings of his father and mother he began his journey to Gaudadesh. Gradually he came to Nabadwipa and Shantipur, and finally arrived in Ambika Kalna. Upon reaching Ambika Kalna, he began inquiring from the local people where the house of Gauridas Pandit was. He paying his obeisances outside the temple of Sri Mahaprabhu at the house of Gauridas Pandit. There he found Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu. Hridaya Chaitanya, upon seeing the boy, said, “Who are you?”
Dukhi said, “I want to render service at your holy feet. I have come a long way—from Dharenda Vahadur Pura. I was born in the dynasty of the Six Gopas. My father’s name is Krishna Mandal. My name is Dukhi.”
Hridaya Chaitanya was pleased with the sweet words of this young boy. He said, “From now on your name is Krishna Das.”
From that day on, Sri Krishna Das assiduously served his guru. Sri Hridaya Chaitanya waited for an auspicious day and soon initiated him in the mantra. Krishna das soon became fixed in his service. Seeing Krishna das’s determined service, his bhakti, and his deep intelligence and understanding, Hridaya Chaitanya ordered him to go to Vrindavana to seek out Jiva Goswami. He ordered him to study the scriptures of the Goswamis and their associates under the guidance of Jiva Goswami.
Sri Krishna das bowed his head and accepted his guru’s order to leave for Vrindavana, and on an auspicious day, he began his journey. At that time, Sri Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu gave many messages to Krishna das to carry to the residents of Vrindavana. He requested him to communicate his dandavats and respects to the lotus feet of the six Goswamis. Dukhi Krishna das first went to Nabadwipa Dhama. There he asked the local people where he could find the old house of Jagannatha Mishra, and if he might be allowed to enter that house.
Arriving at the house of Sri Gauranga, he found Ishan Thakura and offered full obeisances and respectful prayers to him. Ishan was very old. He asked Krishna das, “Who are you?” Krishna das explained who he was. Hearing his story, Ishan bestowed his blessings upon Krishna das. After spending a few days in Nabadwipa, Krishna das turned his sweet face towards Vrindavana and continued on his journey.
On his way, he came to Gayadham to take darshan of the lotus feet of the Vishnu deity there, where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had taken initiation from Ishvara Puri. Remembering how Ishvara Puri had given the mantra to the Lord, he became overwhelmed by ecstasy. After this, he went to Benares, Kashi dhama. There he took darshan of the holy feet of Tapana Mishra, Chandrashekara, and many other devotees, offering prayers and obeisances to all of them. They all bestowed innumerable blessings upon Krishna das, and he continued on his way to Mathura. After a long time, he finally entered Mathura. There he bathed in Vishrama-ghata, took darshan of the Adikeshava deity, and, upon visiting the place where Sri Krishna appeared within this world became choked up with prema. Thereafter he headed in the direction of Vrindavana.
After finding out the exact location of Sri Jiva Goswami’s bhajan-kutir from the local people, he sought out Jiva Goswami. Arriving at his bhajan-kutir, he offered his dandavats and respects to Jiva Goswami. Jiva Goswami asked who he was, and Krishna das told him everything. He explained how he was a disciple of Hridaya Chaitanya, and how Hridaya Chaitanya had sent him to Jiva Goswami for instruction in the scriptures. Jiva Goswami had previously been told by Hridaya Chaitanya, “I have a disciple named Dukhi Krishna Das. I am offering him to you. Teach him well in Krishna consciousness. When his mind is fixed in Krishna consciousness, after he has studied the scriptures carefully under guidance for some time, you may send him back to me.”
Upon knowing that Dukhi Krishna das had been sent by Hridaya Chaitanya to work under his direction, Sri Jiva Goswami was very happy. Krishna das was under his protection. Sri Krishna das carefully served Jiva Goswami and studied the scriptures of the Goswamis very seriously. At that time, Shrinivas Acharya and Narottama das Thakura also came to study the Goswami scriptures under the authority of Jiva Goswami. Krishna das would meet with them and study the scriptures together with Srinivasa Acharya and Narottama das Thakura.
Krishna das prayed for service that would bring him closer to Jiva Goswami. When Jiva Goswami saw this, he said with joy, “Every day you must draw some water from the Kanana-Kunja.” From that day on, Dukhi Krishna das with great affection and eagerness would go to that Kunja to fill Jiva Goswami’s waterpot. The opportunity to serve Jiva Goswami in this way gave Krishna das’s life new meaning. By drawing water for Jiva Goswami every day Krishna das felt a transformation within himself. He would become joyful, and his eyes would fill with tears of ecstasy. Whenever he would hear the name of Radha and Govinda loudly chanted in kirtan and whenever he would remember their divine pastimes, he would become dumbstruck with wonder. From time to time he would notice a girl who seemed to be a beautiful princess drawing water from the same Kunja and carrying it on her head. Brahma and Shiva would be enchanted by her beauty.
In this way, Dukhi Krishna das continued his service of visiting the Kunja and drawing water for Jiva Goswami. His service certainly pleased the prince and princess of Vraja, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, so much so that they wanted to reveal themselves to Krishna das. One day Krishna das was performing his regular duty of filling the waterpot from the Kunja. He was fully absorbed in the samadhi of Krishna prema. At that time, he saw in the water beneath his pot a wonderfully shining bangle, an anklet. Upon seeing it he was astonished by its beauty and overwhelmed by transcendental ecstasy. He reached his hand within the waters of the Kunja and pulled out this unusual bangle. Touching it to his head, he felt a wave of transcendental ecstasy. Then, finding a piece of cloth that appeared to be the border of a woman’s scarf attached to the bangle, he thought to seek out the owner of the bangle in order to return it.
In that place, that very morning, seeing that the bangle from the left foot of Sri Radha Thakurani was missing, her gopi friends were dumbstruck. Sri Radha Thakurani said, “Last night while I was dancing with Krishna by the side of the Kunja, the bangle must have fallen in the Kunja; go there, and after finding it bring it to me. Vishakha devi went to the banks of the Kunja and began searching and searching for the bangle. As she was searching, she came upon Dukhi Krishna das, who at that time was filling his water pot at the Kunja.
Vishakha devi asked him, “Have you found a bangle near here?” Dukhi Krishna das seeing this beautiful girl who appeared to be a goddess from heaven was dazzled by her brilliance. Hearing the ambrosial words from this immortal goddess, he was struck dumb with the ecstasy of love of Godhead. Vishakha devi again asked him, “Have you found a bangle near here?” Dukhi Krishna das humbly offered his respectful obeisances, and meekly said, “Yes, I have it. Please tell me, who are you?” Vishakha said, “I am the daughter of a gopa.”
“Where do you live?”
“I live in this village.”
“Is the bangle yours?”
“No, it’s not mine. At my house there is a newly married girl....”
“How was it lost here?”
“...Yesterday when she was picking flowers here at the Kunja, it somehow slipped off her foot and she lost her bangle in the water. I have come here to find her bangle. Wait here, and I will bring her to you.”
A little while later, Sri Radha Thakurani came with Vishakha devi and hid behind a tree. Vishakha devi said, “O devotee! She has come for her bangle.” From a distance, Dukhi Krishna das could see the brilliant effulgence of the daughter of King Vrishabhanu, and felt as if his soul had been stolen from his body. In great transcendental bliss he gave the bangle to Vishakha devi. Then he had some intuition that a great mystery was being revealed to him. With his eyes filled with the tears of Krishna prema, he fell to the ground and offered his prostrated obeisances in full submission. His voice was choked up in ecstasy. At that time, Vishakha devi said, “O best of the devotees, my girlfriend would very much like to show her gratitude by granting you a benediction. You may ask for whatever you want.”
Dukhi Krishna das replied, “There is nothing that I want; I only pray to take the dust of her lotus feet.”
Vishakha devi replied, “Take bath in this Kund.” Dukhi Krishna das went to bathe in the Kund, he offered his obeisances, and then, when he immersed himself in the water he assumed the form of a beautiful girl. Returning to Vishakha devi, Dukhi Krishna das offered respects to her. Vishakha devi then brought this new gopi to Sri Radha Thakurani. The new gopi offered her obeisances in the dust of the lotus feet of Sri Radha. The other sakhis seated the new gopi in their midst. At that time, Sri Radharani applied some kumkum to the bangle and made a tilak mark on the head of the new gopi, saying, “This tilak must remain on your forehead. From this day on, your name will be Shyamananda. Now go.” At this, Radha Thakurani, along with all her gopi friends, vanished. Dukhi Krishna das’s samadhi meditation broke. In the water he could see in his reflection the effulgent tilak mark the bangle had left on his forehead.
His heart was filled with wonder at the sight, and he thought to himself, “What have I seen!” Saying this, he began to weep with joy. Thereafter, offering hundreds and hundreds of prayers in the name of Sri Radha Thakurani, he returned to the lotus feet of Sri Jiva Goswami.
Seeing the new tilak mark that shined so brilliantly on the forehead of Dukhi Krishna das, Jiva Goswami was dumbstruck. He inquired as to its origin. Dukhi Krishna das bowed before his master and with his eyes filled with tears, he related the entire story to Jiva Goswami. Hearing this, Jiva Gsowami was supremely happy. He said, “Don’t reveal the story of this miracle to the people in general.” From this day on your name will be Shyamananda.
Noticing the change in Dukhi Krishna das’s name and tilak, the Vaishnava community began to talk about him. Gradually word reached Ambika Kalna in Gauda desh. Hearing that his disciple had changed his name and tilak, Hridaya Chaitanya became angry. He quickly left for Vrindavana. When he arrived at the place where Krishna das was staying, Krishna das fell before his gurudev’s lotus feet, offering his dandavats. Sri Hridaya Chaitanya, seeing the new tilak on his disciple’s forehead, became very angry and said, “Your conduct is abominable; you are disgracing me!” In this way, he chastised Dukhi Krishna Das and struck him again and again as the Vaishnavas did their best to pacify Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu. Dukhi Krishna Das bore all his guru’s chastisement with a cheerful face, for he knew that he had never left the service of his guru maharaja.
That night, Sri Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu had a dream in which he saw Sri Radha Thakurani. Srimati Radharani scolded Hridaya Chaitanya, saying: “Because Sri Dukhi Krishna das has pleased me greatly, I have given him this new name and tilak. Why have you instructed him differently?” Hridaya Chaitanya fell at the feet of the princess of Vraja praying for forgiveness, realizing that he had committed a great offense.
The next morning Sri Hridaya Chaitanya called Shyamananda Prabhu to his side and affectionately embraced him again and again. With tears of ecstasy in his eyes he told his disciple: “You are most fortunate.” A few days later Shri Hridaya Chaitanya left Vrajadhama. Then a few days after that, Jiva Goswami ordered Shyamananda Prabhu to return to Gauda Desh.
Shyamananda Prabhu, Shrinivasa Acharya, and Narottama das Thakura in great happiness had spent many days studying the Goswami scriptures under the tutelage of Sri Jiva Goswami and moving through Vrindavana as humble beggars, practicing madhukari. These three devotees practiced their madhukari and performed their bhajan as one. In this way, they were very fixed and determined in their devotional service.
Having been invited to do so by the Goswamis, the three of them went to preach the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu especially as found in scriptures of the Goswamis. One day, Jiva Goswami called the three of them together and let them know how to fulfill the will of the Goswamis. The three of them bowed their heads and received the orders of Jiva Goswami with great respect. After this, on an auspicious day, after seeing Jiva Goswami and having been entrusted by him with the scriptures of the Goswamis, the three of them started for Gaudadesh.
On the way, the King of Vanavishnupura, Birhambir had their scriptures stolen by some of his men. For the purpose of recovering the stolen scriptures, Srinivas Acharya stayed behind. Sri Narottam das Thakura went on to Kheturigram, and Shyamananda Prabhu returned to Ambika Kalna. Upon arriving in Ambika Kalna, Shyamananda Prabhu offered his respects at the lotus feet of Hridaya Chaitanya. The two of them embraced each other with great joy and affection, and Hridaya Chaitanya inquired after the welfare of the great devotees and Goswamis in Vrindavana. Upon hearing of the theft of the Goswamis’ scriptures, Hridaya Chaitanya was deeply shocked and disappointed. Soon Shyamananda was once again offering service to the lotus feet of his gurudeva Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu. After a few days, Shyamananda Prabhu became completely absorbed in guru seva and his happiness grew day by day. Almost all of the personal associates of Sri Chaitanya in Utkala desh had by that time one by one disappeared and entered into the unmanifest pastimes of the Lord. The preaching of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s message had almost disappeared. Sri Hridaya Chaitanya, upon hearing all this became especially concerned. At that time, he ordered Sri Shyamananda Prabhu to go to Utkala desh and preach the message of the Goswamis and the teachings of Sri Chaitanya. As he was leaving his gurudeva behind, Shyamananda felt great pain within his heart. Understanding his heart, Hridaya Chaitanya called Shyamananda to him and made him understand his concern. Having no other course open to him, Shyamananda Prabhu left for Utkala taking his guru’s orders on his head. On his way to Utkala, he passed his old village of Dharenda Bahadurpur. Seeing their own dear Dukhi returning home after having been gone for so long, the townspeople were extremely happy. For a few days he stayed there and preached the holy gospel of Sri Chaitanya. Many people heard him and were enchanted by him and took shelter at his lotus feet.
Thereafter he came to a town called Dandeshwar. There Sri Krishna Mandala had formerly lived. Shyamananda Prabhu blessed the town of Dandeshwar and the devotees who lived there by his holy association, to the extreme happiness of all of them. For many days he preached Harikatha and held a great festival there. Many people, upon hearing the divine message of Shyamananda Prabhu, were charmed by his saintliness and became his disciples. Finally, Shyamananda Prabhu arrived in Utkala, sanctifying the earth there with his holy presence and again he began preaching the message of Sri Chaitanya everywhere.
On the banks of the Suvarna-rekha River lived a pious zamindar by the name of Sri Achyutadeva. Rasikananda was the name of his only son. From the time he was a little boy, he was a paragon of Krishna-bhakti. For the sake of his education, his father had engaged some learned scholars to teach him. Rasikananda would study at the place of the Pandits. But he had no interest in worldly knowledge. In everything he would study he would find Hari-bhakti to be the ultimate conclusion, and he grew anxious to take shelter of the lotus feet of a Vaishnava guru. One day he was sitting alone, thinking. At that time he heard a divine voice say, “Rasikananda! Don’t sit there brooding. Very soon a great devotee, a mahabhagavat named Shyamananda Prabhu will arrive here; go to him and take shelter of his lotus feet.” Hearing that divine voice, he became somewhat encouraged. From that time on, he became very eager to see Shyamananda Prabhu and was always looking down the road for his arrival.
A few days later, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu along with his disciples made his auspicious arrival at the house of Rasikananda dev in the village called Rohini on the banks of the Suvarna-rekha. Sri Rasikananda dev’s bliss knew no bounds. He offered his full obeisances in a mood of great humility and took Sri Shyamananda Prabhu within his house where he offered him the traditional puja, and made all his friends, relatives, and children surrender at Shyamananda’s lotus feet. It was arranged that on an auspicious day, Shyamananda Prabhu would initiate Rasikananda dev Prabhu into the Radha-Krishna mantra.
They began the chanting of Hare Krishna in sankirtan in the home of Rasikananda dev with all the other devotees, inviting all the friends and relatives to take part. Everyone in the village engaged in Sankirtan-yajna, and took darshan of Shyamananda Prabhu. Amazed by his wonderful explanations of the message of Gaura-Nityananda, they all took shelter of his lotus feet. In this way, the town of Rohini had many disciples of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu.
In the town of Rohini was a big yogi named Damodara. One day he went to take darshan of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu. From a long way off he saw a divine effulgence as bright as the sun emanating from Shyamananda Prabhu, blinding his vision. Thereafter, as he approached that great acharya, he fell at his lotus feet and took shelter of him, offering many prayers in submission. Returning the respect shown to him by the yogi, Shyamananda Prabhu with tears in his eyes, said, “If your holiness wishes to develop divine purity, please just always chant the holy names of Gaura and Nityananda. The Lord is supremely merciful. If you only do this, He will bestow Krishna-prema upon you.”
Hearing what Shyamananda Prabhu had said, Yogi Damodara’s heart melted. He replied, “If you will kindly give me your mercy, I shall worship the lotus feet of Gaura-Nityananda from now on.” Shyamananda Prabhu gave the yogi his blessings, and bestowed his transcendental mercy upon him. Yogi Damodara became a great devotee of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. He used to constantly chant the holy name of Gaura and Nityananda with tears of joy pouring from his eyes.
In Balaram Pura lived many rich people. Hearing the glories of Shyamananda Prabhu the people there became very anxious to see him. The pious, faithful, and saintly people there began to pray with great earnestness for Shyamananda Prabhu to come and visit Balaram Pura. Soon, Shyamananda Prabhu gave them his mercy. He promised to respond to the invitation. Not long after this, Shyamananda Prabhu arrived in Balarama Pura with dev and Yogi Damodara, as well as many of his other disciples and devotees. The ecstasy of the saintly persons in Balaram Pura was boundless. They offered puja to the lotus feet of Shyamananda Prabhu, and conducted their bhajan in a very beautiful way, observing all the proper rules and regulations of the shastras. A few days later they held a big kirtan and Hari-katha festival in Balaram Pura. Many people came and surrendered at the lotus feet of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu.
After this, Shyamananda Prabhu went to Nrishinga Pura. In Nrishinga Pura there was quite a large faction of atheists, agnostics, and blasphemers. After a few days, Shyamananda Prabhu held a sankirtan festival. The agnostics and atheistic pandits went to see Shyamananda Prabhu and listened to his sweet and nectarean explanations of Hari-katha. By hearing his words, their hearts were moved. They accepted the shelter of Shyamananda Prabhu’s lotus feet.
Day after day the news of Shyamananda’s glories reached Utkala. From Nrishinga Pura, Shyamananda Prabhu went to Sri Gopi Vallabha Pura. There many wealthy people lived. After taking darshan of his lotus feet, they were astonished. Almost all of them accepted shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu. They prayed at his feet that he might install some deities, that they may engage in deity worship. They begged him with great earnestness to do this. Soon thereafter, the devotees had established a temple of the Lord with a kirtan hall, a shelter for bhoga [unoffered food] to be kept, and a special kitchen where the Lord’s meals could be prepared, as well as an ashram where the deities’ servants could live, and a guest house for visiting Vaishnavas. Near the temple they also constructed a small pond and beautiful gardens. Soon thereafter a great festival was held, and at that time Sri Shyamananda Prabhu installed the deities of Radha Govinda. When the installation ceremonies and festival were concluded, Shyamananda Prabhu left for his hometown of Utkala. Seeing the charming beauty of the Radha-Govinda deities, everyone felt peace in their hearts. After Shyamananda Prabhu had left for Utkala, the residents of Gopi Vallabha Pura entrusted the responsibility of service to the deities to Rasikananda Prabhu.
Arriving in Utkala Pura, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu preached the message of Gaura Nityananda, and finally, returning to Ambika-Kalna, he paid his respects at the lotus feet of Sri Hridaya Chaitanya. Having offered his respects and prayers to Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu, he told him all about his successful preaching of the message of Gaura Nityananda throughout Utkala, Dandeshwar, Rohini, Balaram Pura, Nrishinga Pura, and Gopi Vallabha Pura. Hearing of the victories of his disciple, Sri Hridaya Chaitanya affectionately embraced Shyamananda Prabhu.
After some time, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu was invited to the famous festival in Kheturigram, the birthplace of Narottam das Thakura. After getting this invitation, Shyamananda Prabhu, along with his disciples, set off in the direction of Kheturigram. After arriving in Kheturigram, he found his old lifelong friends, Narottam Thakura and Shrinivas Acharya. Heartily embracing one another, they floated in the waves of happiness. At that festival, Jahnava Mata, Shri Raghunandan Thakura, Sri Achyutananda, Sri Vrindavana Das Thakura, and other eternal associates of Sri Gaurachandra, as well as many great souls and important devotees graced everyone by their auspicious presence. When the festival had come to an end, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu bade farewell to all the assembled devotees and again turned his face in the direction of Utkala in order to make his return journey.
On his way back to Gauda Desh, he stopped off in the town of Kanthak Nagara at the house of Gadadhara Das Thakur in Yajigrama at the house of Shrinivas Acharya, and in Sri Khanda at the house of Raghunandana Thakura. By this time, many of the eternal associates of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had passed away from this earth and entered into the eternal unmanifest pastimes of the Lord.
After a while, Shyamananda reached Utkala. Moving from one devotee’s house to the next, he went from one town to another and graced many devotees with his blessings. Soon he arrived in Sri Gopi Vallabha Pura. At this time, he heard news of the passing away of his guru, Sri Hridaya Chaitanya. Hearing this tragic news, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu fainted. After regaining consciousness, he wept and wept for a long time. He fell into a state of complete anxiety, disappointment and bewilderment. That night, however, he had a dream of Hridaya Chaitanya, and was encouraged by him to preach.
From Utkala desh, the glories of Shyamananda Prabhu were preached to the four directions. As a result of his influence the constant worship and service of Gaura and Nityananda was established far and wide. Rasikananda, Shri Murari, Radhananda, Purushottama, Manohara, Chintamani, Balabhadra, Sri Jagadishvara, Gadadhara, Anandananda, and Sri Radha Mohan and others were the dearmost confidential disciples of Shyamananda Prabhu.
Srila Shymananda Prabhu, having been successful in his many preaching campaigns, returned to Gopi Vallabha Pura, and there, after some days, a big festival took place. After that, in the month of Asarh, on the day of Krishnapratipada, the great acharya, Shyamananda Prabhu, entered into the eternal lila of the Lord. His samadhi may be found in Gopi Vallabha Pura, where the service of his deity goes on to this day.
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