There is no mention of Sri Madhu Pandit in Caitanya Caritamrta.
Only it is mentioned in Bhakti Ratnakara that Sri Gopinathji
manifested Himself before Him. [BR 2.473]
"Oh Srinivas! What more can I say? The Lord reveals Himself to His
pure devotee, who then preaches His glories to the world. Who can
describe their incomprehensible activities by which the Lord
becomes subservient to their love? Thus did Sri Vrajendra Kumar
reveal himself to Paramananda Bhattacarya and Sri Madhu Pandit, who
is the abode of many wonderful qualities."
"Thus has Sri Gopinathji, Who is an ocean of mercy, and Who sports
on the enchantingly beautiful banks of Vamsivat, become manifested
by the grace of Sri Madhu Pandit." [Sadhana Dipikayam]
Thus Sri Madhu Pandit became the servant of Sri Gopinath, Whose
bodily luster steals away the minds of everyone. Hundreds and
thousands of people came running to see Him, famed as He is as
sweetness personified. When the soothing sweetness and coolness of
His charming form entered their hearts through their eyes, they
found that the burning fire of material existence which had
previously been burning there, was now extinguished. Paramananda
Bhattacarya and Madhu Pandita were disciples of Gadadhara Pandita,
one of the most intimate devotees of Lord Caitanya. Madhu Pandita
would read Srimad Bhagavatam every day.
The Deity of Gopinatha was discovered at Vamsivata by Paramananda
Bhattacarya, who entrusted the Deity’s worship to Madhu Pandita. On
the altar in this temple are Deities of Gopinatha, Srimati
Radharani and Her sister, Ananga Manjari. Madhu Pandita arranged to
have this temple built.
Vajranabha, the great-grandson of Krishna, originally installed
Gopinathji in Vrindavana. When the Muslims raided Vrindavana in
1670, the original Gopinatha Deity was taken to Jaipur. The
Gopinatha Deity in Jaipur is said to exactly resemble Lord Krishna,
from the shoulders down to the waist.
There is a story about this temple that Srimati Jahnava Devi, the
wife of Nityananda, came to Vrindavana, and she came to the evening
aratis at the Radha Gopinatha Temple. Suddenly, Gopinatha jumped
off the altar and took Jahnava Devi onto the altar and closed the
curtains. When the assembled Vaishnavas opened the curtain, Jahnava
Devi was gone and Gopinatha was standing on the altar.
Later the deity of Ananga Manjari, the younger sister of Radharani
was installed on the altar here. Jahnava Devi is Ananga Manjari in
Krishna’s pastimes. Normally Radharani is to the left of Sri
Krishna. In this temple Radharani is to the right of Krishna, and
Ananga Manjari is placed on the left. Deities of Lalita and Visakha
are also on the altar, along with a Deity of Lord Caitanya.
Sri Rayasila Shekhavata, who was given a large amount of land by
Akbar for defeating the Afghans, built the original Gopinatha
temple. It is believed that this temple may have been built before
the Govindaji and Madana-Mohan temples. This temple was broken and
defiled by Aurangzeb’s soldiers. Sri Nanda Kumar Bose of Bengal
constructed a new temple for Gopinatha.
“Sri Srila Gopinatha, who originated the transcendental mellow of
the rasa dance, stands on the shore in Vamsivata and attracts the
attention of the cowherd damsels with the sound of His celebrated
flute. May They all confer upon us Their benediction” (Caitanya
Caritamrita Adi 1.17).
