Sri Sivananda Sen was a very intimate servant of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. Just before the rainy
season (Caturmasya) he would lead the associates of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu from Bengal to Puri, where they would go each year, to
see the Lord. All of the expenses of this journey were born by him,
Sen Sivananda. [C. C. Adi 10.54]. œ
Wealth and opulences are properly engaged in the service of Sri Hari, the guru and the
Vaishnavas. Sivananda Sen used his property and possessions in this
way, in the service of Sri Gauranga and His devotees. His entire
family, sons and servants were all devotees of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.
His three sons, Sri Caitanya Das, Sri Rama das and Sri Karnapur
das, were extremely devoted to Mahaprabhu. His two nephews, Sri
Ballabh sen and Sri Kanta Sen were also great devotees.
Sen Sivananda used to reside at Kumar hatta, which is presently
known as Halisahir. The location of his worshippable Deities, Sri
Sri Gour-gopal is unknown at present. However, the Deities
worshipped by Srinath Pandit, the guru of Kavi Karnapur, are still
residing at Kalyani. This is the temple of Kesto Ray, and is located a few
miles from Caitanya
Doha.
In his Gaur-ganoddesa-dipika, the son of Sivananda, Sri Kavi
Karnapur has written that the gopi in Brindavan by the name Bira,
who was the messenger of Srimati Radharani, is presently known as
Sri Sivananda Sen.
The devotees would depart for Puri one month before the Rathyatra
festival and travelling by foot, they would arrive one month
later.
One day, the devotees set out on their trip, as it was an
auspicious day to begin a journey. At first they came to Sri
Advaita Acarya's house in Santipur. After conducting a festival
there for one day, Advaita prabhu, his wife and son accompanied the
party to Mayapur where they
would have the darshan of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mother, Saci mata.
She was somehow or other passing her days in great separation from
her son.
The devotees all offered their obeisances to her and she in turn
offered obeisances to the feet of Advaita Acarya and his wife Sita
Thakurani. Then, while remembering her son, she began to cry.
Advaita Acarya Prabhu and his wife consoled Saci Mata as best as
they could, and then, along with the other devotees, they commenced
their journey.
Though Lord Caitanya had ordered Nityananda Prabhu to preach in
Bengal, he would also accompany the devotees to see Mahaprabhu.
Also present were Sri Acaryaratna, Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Srivas
Pandit, along with his brothers and their wives, Vasudeva, Govinda,
Madhava Ghosh, Murari Gupta Ojha, Sri Raghava Pandit, Sri
Khandavasi Narahari, Sri Gunaraja Khan, etc. Sen Sivananda would
bring his wife and their sons, and many of the other devotees as
well would bring their wives. The Thakuranis (ladies) would prepare
foodstuffs, which were the favourite preparations of Mahaprabhu.
Sivananda would make the arrangements for everyone's meal as well
as the paying of the tolls at the ferry gates. Wherever they would
halt for the night, they would hold a festival of dancing and
chanting of the Holy names.
Sivananda Sen knew all the paths through Orissa. One day he remained behind at the ghat to
settle their account with
the toll collector, while
the rest of the party went ahead. After walking some distance they
sat down to rest underneath a tree. Sivananda, however, was held up
and not able to come right away and thus there was no arrangements
for their meals. Having walked quite some distance that day,
everyone was very hungry. Nityananda began to abuse his name and
was ready to curse him.
"Where is that Shiva? Everyone is dying of hunger but still he
hasn't come. No one is arranging any prasadam. Let his son die as
well!"
Just then Sivananda arrived. His wife went to him with tears in her
eyes, "You didn't manage any prasadam and now Gosai is very angry.
He has cursed your sons to die." Sivananda replied, "Now don't you
become crazy. No need to cry needlessly. Just try to get a hold of
yourself."
Consoling his wife he came to where Nityananda Prabhu was and
offered his dandavats. Nityananda, still in angry mood, gave him a
good kick. Sivananda felt great pleasure to get this mercy from
Sripad Nityananda and immediately went to the house of one Gaudiya
Vaishnava to arrange prasadam and a place to stay for the devotees. Then he went to
bring Nityananda Prabhu there.
Nityananda Prabhu accepted prasadam with the devotees after which
Sivananda came, and offering his obeisances at Nityananda Prabhu's
lotus feet he prayed to him; "Today in accepting me as your
servant, you punished me fittingly, according to my offense. But
such is your tenderness that under the pretense of punishment you
actually awarded me such great mercy. Who within the three worlds
can understand your character? The dust of your lotus feet is very
difficult to obtain even for Lord Brahma, but even such a low, vile wretch as me
received the touch of these lotus feet on his body. Today my birth
and the heritage of my forefathers has become successful, and today
I have received devotion to Sri Krsna, as well as the ordinary
objects of attainment for human beings - religion, economic
development and sense gratification."
Hearing these words of Sivananda, Nityananda Prabhu became very
happy and he rose up and very lovingly embraced him. [C. C. Ant.
12.31]
One year Sivananda came to Puri, bringing his son, Caitanya Das
with him. One day Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the child: "What is
your name?" To this the child replied, "Caitanya Das". Then
Mahaprabhu asked Sivananda: "What kind of name is this?" Sivananda:
"As I received inspiration in my heart, so I have chosen this
name."
One day Sivananda suggested to his son that he invite Mahaprabhu
for lunch. When Caitanya das made this request Mahaprabhu accepted
the affectionate invitation offered by the boy. Thus Sivananda
along with his wife prepared many preparations of foodstuffs,
feeling very happy in heart that Mahaprabhu would be taking his
lunch at their house that day. When Mahaprabhu arrived Sivananda
offered his obeisances, and after washing Mahaprabhu's feet he
seated Him for lunch. At this point Mahaprabhu told, that today's
invitation has been extended by Caitanya Das. Then Caitanya Das
placed in front of Mahaprabhu yogurt, limes, ginger, flower pakoras
and other salty preparations, arranged very nicely. Seeing this
arrangement Mahaprabhu said: "This boy understands My mind.
Therefore today I am very pleased to accept his invitation. [C. C.
Ant. 20.180]
Thus Mahaprabhu very happily accepted the prasadam and after
finishing, He called Caitanya das and gave him His remnants.
