Sri Srivasa Pandita Disappearance Day – June 22, 2014

In the Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika, Srivasa Pandita (Srivasa Thakura) is described as an incarnation of Narada Muni, and Sri Rama Pandita, his younger brother, is said to be an incarnation of Parvata Muni, agreat friend of Narada Muni's. Srivasa Pandita's wife, Malini, is celebrated as an incarnation of the nurse Ambika, who fed Lord Krishna with her breast milk. His niece Narayani, the mother of Thakura Vrindavana Dasa, the author of Sri Chaitanya-bhagavata, was the sister of Ambika in Krishna-lila.

Lord Sri Krishna, before appearing as Lord Chaitanya, requested these devotees to precede Him: Sachi devi, Jagannatha Mishra, Madhavendra Puri, Keshava Bharati, Ishvara Puri, Advaita Acharya, Srivasa Pandita, Acharyaratna, Vidyanidhi and Thakura Haridasa.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu always appeared in four places -- in the household temple of mother Sachi, in the places where Sri Nityananda Prabhu danced, in the house of Srivasa Pandita during congregational chanting, and in the house of Raghava Pandita. He appeared because of His attraction to the  of His devotees.

Srivasa Pandit hailed from Sylhet. He later came to live in Navadvipa where he made an immense contribution to Gauranga lila. From the Chaitanya Bhagavata and Chaitanya Charitamrita we learn that Srivasa lived with his brothers in Navadvipa: Srirama Pandit, Sripati Pandit and Srikanta or Srinidhi Pandit. All four were part of Mahaprabhu's lila.

Srivasa Pandit was one of the four 

On one occasion, Lord Chaitanya was in Srivasa Pandita's house. Suddenly the Lord manifest His real form as the Supreme Godhead with four arms holding the conch shell, disc, mace and lotus; He began to loudly call out, "Garuda, Garuda!" Just then Murari Gupta roaring loudly came running to Srivasa' house in a devotional trance. His person became surcharged with the mood of Garuda and he said, "I am Garuda, that great devotee.”As the Lord called for Garuda again Murari Gupta replied, "I am here my Lord, your servant." The Lord said, "Yes, you are my carrier" and Murari said, "Yes, yes my Lord.”

A brahmachari who was living only on milk and fruits wanted to see the kirtans of the Lord. But the Lord personally shut the doors so that non-devotees may not enter. So this brahmachari would visit Srivasa Pandit everyday and request him to allow him inside the kirtan. Finally one day Srivasa Pandit replied, “I think you are eligible but you have to remain hidden inside the house." The kirtan started and the Lord of the fourteen worlds, Vishvambhar began to dance.

Lord Vishvambhar was fully aware of the brahmachari's presence. After a short while the Lord commented, "Today I do not feel the usual ecstasy while dancing maybe someone is hiding inside the house, please tell me the truth." Srivasa Pandit became very afraid, he said, "My Lord, a fully qualified brahman is here now in hiding. He desired to see You dancing."

Angered the Lord said, "Send him out of the house, what spiritual sadhana does he possess to enable him to see My dancing. A person maybe a renunciate, a sannyasi without worldly attachments, but if he does not surrender to Me then I do not favor him." The brahmachari came out of his concealment thinking, "It has been my great fortune to be able to see what I have seen, and I have also received the commensurate punishment for my misdeed."

The brahmachari started to walk out of the house with these thoughts in his mind. The Lord then had the brahmachari brought back to the house. He placed His lotus feet on his head and blessed him, "Do not try to gain strength by performing austerities and penances. Render loving devotional service to the Supreme Lord Krishna for it is the highest of all other activities." The brahmachari began to weep in joy thinking constantly about the Lord's causeless mercy upon him.

All the household servants in Srivasa Pandita's house by dint of serving a pure Vaishnava now could directly serve Lord Gaurachandra's lotus feet, whose lotus feet are desired by all, even Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and Lakshmi devi.