Tapan Misra was the father of Raghunatha Bhatta.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the bank of the river Padma in
East Bengal, He became acquainted with Tapan Misra, who was a
native of East Bengal and well versed in sastra.
Although Tapan Misra had profusely discussed topics related to the
Absolute Truth, he had not been able to arrive at any substantial
conclusion.
He thus pondered over this matter very seriously, but could see no
solution to his dilemma.
One night the Supreme Lord spoke to him in a dream and told him to
go to Nimai Pandita, who was capable of answering all his
questions.
The voice said, "He is not an ordinary human being, He is God
Himself appearing in the form of a mortal being.
He has appeared in this world to perform His pastimes for the
benefit of all mankind."
Saying this the Lord disappeared.
(CBh. Adi)
The following morning after finishing his routine duties, Tapan
Misra started out in search of Nimai Pandita.
He finally found the Lord on an elevated seat surrounded by his
disciples, looking like a moon amongst the stars.
His resplendent beauty was unsurpassable, with His blooming lotus
petals eyes, curly black hair, brilliant yellow cloth, and a sacred
thread draped across His chest.
Tapan MIsra offered his prostrate obeisances, and with folded hands
humbly said, "Oh kindhearted Prabhu, I am a despicable person,
please be merciful to me."
After introducing himself, Tapan Misra inquired from the Lord about
sadhya and sadhana.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained to him, "For the welfare of all
living entities, the Lord descends to this earth in every age and
teaches how to worship Him.
In Satya-yuga-by meditation; in Treta-yuga-by yajna; in
Dvapara-yuga-by service; and in kali-yuga the recommended method is
nama-sankirtana, chanting the holy names of the Lord.
These are the four kinds of worship recommended for the benefit of
all living entities in the four yugas.
The Supreme Lord instructs everyone on the basis of their strength,
vitality and longevity.
Anything which is performed contrary to this will bear no
fruit.
Thus in Kali-yuga the only way for realization is chanting the name
of Krsna :
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare
Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
By chanting this mantra all truths can be understood.
The holy name of the Lord is the sadhya and also the sadhana.
The name and the owner of the name are non-different."
Hearing this, Tapan Misra fell at the feet of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu offering his heart-felt obeisances.
He then asked permission to accompany the Lord to Navadvipa, but
Mahaprabhu instructed him to go to Kasi where they would soon meet
again.
After a few years Nimai Pandita accepted sannyasa and, according to
the advice of His mother, went to Jagannatha Puri where he stayed
for a few months.
Then on His way to Vrndavana via Jharakhanda He came to Kasi
dhama.
When the Lord came to Manikarnika bathing ghat on the bank of the
Ganges in Kasi, He loudly shouted "Hari, Hari."
At that time Tapan Misra was taking his bath in the area and was
astonished to hear the name of Hari in the midst of the mayavadi
community.
Seeing the beautiful sannyasi, Tapan Misra wondered if it could
possibly be Nimai Pandita as he had heard that He had taken
sannyasa.
When the Lord came out of the water, Tapan Misra's suspicion was
confirmed.
Crying in transcendental joy Tapan Misra immediately offered his
obeisances.
Sri Caitanya picked him up and warmly embraced him.
With great care Tapan Misra brought the Lord to his house and
washed His feet, all the members of his family drank that water and
were overwhelmed with happiness.
When Tapan Misra's child Raghunatha worshiped the feet of
Mahaprabhu, the Lord took him in His arms.
Misra immediately arranged for Balabhadra Bhattacarya to cook for
the Lord.
Meanwhile Mahaprabhu took His bath, performed his other duties, and
then accepted his mid-day meal.
After the Lord had finished eating Misra accepted prasada while
Raghunatha massaged the feet of the Lord as He took rest.
Hearing of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's arrival, Candrasekhar, the
Maharastrian brahmana and other devotees rushed to worship His
lotus feet.
The Lord embraced them and spoke with them at length.
While in Kasi, Mahaprabhu visited Visesvara Siva, Bindumadhava and
Dasasvamedha Ghat.
He stayed in the house of Candrasekhar and went to Tapan Misra's
house to eat.
Sri Candrasekhar was born in a Vaidya family and was a copyist by
profession.
In Kasi three words were continuously heard--Brahma, Atma and
Caitanya.
The Maharastrian brahmana begged Caitanya Mahaprabhu to liberate
the people of Kasi.
He explained to the Lord that thrice he had uttered the name of Sri
Krsna Caitanya to Prakasananda Sarasvati, the preceptor of the
sannyasis in Kasi, but Prakasananda could not utter the words Sri
Krsna, he said Caitanya only.
The Lord replied, "These mayavadis are deluded offenders at the
lotus feet of Lord Krsna, thus the name of Krsna does not come out
of their mouth."
The following day the Lord left for Vrndavana saying, "If Krsna is
merciful all of them will be liberated."
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in Vrndavana for a few days joyfully
visiting various places of pilgrimage, then returned to Kasi
dhama.
One day He met with Prakasananda Sarasvati, whose heart was changed
upon seeing the humility, generosity and radiant beauty of the
Lord.
Thus the sannyasis worshiped the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu and sang His glories.
In this way the sankirtana movement took roots in Kasi and spread
like a tidal wave. The doctrine of illusion was washed a way.
The devotees were delighted to have the Lord's association for ten
days and Tapan Misra, Candrasekhar, the Maharastrian brahmana and
the other devotees served Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to their hearts
content.
Raghunatha, Misra's child, also had the good fortune of serving his
spiritual master for ten days.
Afterwards Caitanya Mahaprabhu bade farewell to the devotees and
started for Puri.
The devotees could not bear to see the Lord leave.
Raghunatha cried and fell at the feet of Mahaprabhu.
The Lord took him on his lap, dusted his body and said, "Remain
here and serve your parents.
Occasionally you can come to visit Me in Puri."
The Lord embraced Tapan Misra, Candrasekhar and other devotees and
left.
Raghunatha very quickly became well-versed in grammar, poems and
scriptures.
He also devoted himself to the service of his old parents.
As soon as Raghunatha was old enough his father instructed him to
go to Puri for darsana of Gaurasundara.
Raghunatha's joy knew no bounds.
His mother prepared various kinds of food for the Lord and put them
in a basket.
With the blessings and permission of his parents, Raghunatha,
accompanied by a servant, started for Puri.
Along the way he met a devotee of Rama named Ramadasa, who was a
kayastha by caste and employed by the government, he was also a
lecturer on Kavya Prakasa.
Ramadasa bowed down to Sri Raghunatha Bhatta and offered his
obeisances.
He took the basket from the servant and carried it on his head.
Raghunatha protested, "What are you doing? You are a learned
man."
Ramadasa replied, "Respected Bhatta, I am a low-born sudra.
By serving a brahmana I can earn religious merit."
Sri Raghunatha insisted, "Panditji, please, I request you to hand
the basket over to the servant."
But still Sri Ramadasa carried the basket.
In the course of their journey they discussed various subject
matters related to scriptures and at last arrived at Puri.
Upon seeing the Lord, Raghunatha fell at His feet offering
obeisances, and the Lord kindly embraced him.
Immediately all Raghunatha's miseries and pain vanished.
While on his way to Puri, Raghunatha had feared that the Lord would
not recognize him, as they had not seen each other for such a long
time.
His anxiety increased as he wondered whether he would be received
cordially by the Lord, for he knew that Caitanya Mahaprabhu was
always surrounded by many devotees who were very dear to Him.
He wondered whether the Lord could possibly remember an ordinary
devotee like himself.
But when the Lord embraced him and addressed him by his name, tears
of joy rolled down his cheeks.
He tearfully touched the Lord's feet saying, "Oh kind-hearted Lord,
how is it that you still remember this despicable person?"
Mahaprabhu replied, "Raghunatha! In this life, and life after life,
I shall never forget the love and affection shown by your
parents.
Everyday they fed me with great love and devotion."
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then introduced Raghunatha to the other
devotees, who were very happy to meet him.
Finally, Raghunatha took out the basket of food sent by his mother
and placed it before the Lord.
Mahaprabhu was extremely pleased, He called Govinda and requested
him to take care of the preparations.
The Lord then inquired about the well-being of his parents, and
Raghunatha gave Him all information in detail.
Raghunatha then brought Ramadasa to meet the Lord.
Ramadasa fell prostrate at Mahaprabhu's feet.
However, the omniscient Lord could understand that Ramadasa had a
desire for deliverance, and thus He did not show much affection
towards him.
The Lord then instructed Raghunatha to go to the sea and take bath,
then to visit the temple of Jagannatha for darsana.
Accompanied by one devotee, Raghunatha did as the Lord said.
When he returned, Govinda served him the remnants of the Lord's
prasada.
Mahaprabhu then arranged for Raghunatha's accommodations and
food.
Occasionally, Raghunatha cooked at his residence and invited the
Lord for prasada, then with great care and devotion he feed
Mahaprabhu.
Sri Raghunatha spent eight months with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at
Nilacala, witnessing the Lord's dancing and singing ecstatically in
front of Jagannatha Deva.
After eight months had passed, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested
Raghunatha to return to Kasi and join his parents.
Raghunatha could not bear the thought of leaving, but the Lord
consoled him and instructed him not to marry, to serve his old
parents, and to read Bhagavata with the Vaisnavas.
Mahaprabhu also instructed him to return to Nilacala again for
darsana of Jagannatha Deva.
The Lord then offered His own garland to Raghunatha, and gave him
Jagannatha prasada to take to his parents and the other devotees in
Kasi.
Raghunatha fell at the Lord's feet, who embraced him affectionately
and bade him farewell.
Feeling intense pangs of separation, Raghunatha started for
Kasi.
In Kasi, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta served his parents and engaged
himself in reading Bhagavata.
When his old parents left this world, he did not marry, but
immediately went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Puri, who was
delighted to see Raghunatha and highly praised his parents.
For eight months Raghunatha spent his days happily in the
association of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
However, one day the Lord called him and requested that he go to
Vrndavana.
The Lord explained that by the order of his mother, Sacidevi, he
was obliged to remain in Puri and could not attend to the work in
Vraja.
Thus he wanted Raghunatha to tend to the work.
When Raghunatha expressed his unhappiness at leaving the Lord,
Mahaprabhu instructed him to stay with Rupa and Sanatana in
Vrndavana and always discuss Bhagavata.
As ordered, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta prepared to go to Vrndavana.
After offering his respects to all the Vaisnavas he came before Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu to bid farewell.
At that time the Lord gave him a garland of Jagannatha Deva which
was seven yards long and betel maha-prasada, and then embraced
Raghunatha.
Raghunatha followed the same route to Vrndavana as the Lord had
previously taken.
When he arrived in Vrndavana, Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana Gosvami
greeted him with great affection, treating him as their own
brother.
Sri Raghunatha pleased them by his humility, politeness, and
impeccable behavior.
In the presence of Rupa Gosvami he continually read the Bhagavata
and was filled with ecstatic love.
Frequently his eyes filled with tears and thus he was unable to
read further.
Sri Raghunatha Bhatta's voice was as sweet as that of a cuckoo.
He used to read every stanza with a different musical tune.
Sri Raghunatha devoted himself to the service of Govinda Deva.
With the help of a rich devotee, he built a temple for Sri Govinda
Deva.
He also had earrings, flute and other ornaments made for the
Deity.
During his meditation he always kept the garland given to him by
the Lord nearby.
He never spoke or listened to any criticism of anyone.
He spent twenty-four hours worshiping the Lord and discussing the
pastimes of Krsna.
According to GGD., Sri Raghunatha Bhatta was Ragamanjari in Krsna
lila.
He was born in Saka 1427 (1505 A.D.), in the month of Asvin
(Sept.-Oct.), on the 12th day of the bright fortnight.
He left this world in Saka 1501 (1579 A.D.), in the month of
Jaistha (May-June), on the 10th day of the bright fortnight.
He lived for 74 years.
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