Sri Surjadas Sarekhela was a resident of Shaligram. He had five
brothers - Damodar, Jagannath, Gauri das, Krsna das and Nrsimha
Caitanya. His father's name was Sri Kamsari Misra. His mother's
name, Sri Kamala devi. He received the title "Sarakhela" as he used
to keep the accounts for the king of Gaur desh. His two daughters
were named Sri Vasudha and Sri Jahnava, who was the youngest.
In Gaur-ganoddesh-dipika it is stated that they are the expansions
of Baruni and Revati in Brindaban and Surjadas Sarakhela, whose
body effulgence is like the sun, is an expansion of Kakudmir, the
king of Raivat. The two Lords Gauranga and Nityananda were very
affectionate to him. Seeing that his two daughters had reached the
full bloom of their youth, he began to contemplate their marriage.
Thinking in this way, he fell asleep and in his dream he saw that
in a very happy mood he was presenting his two daughters to
Nityananda Prabhu. Having seen such a wonderful dream, he began to
float in an ocean of bliss.
In the morning when he awoke, he told his dream to one brahmana
friend of his, "I saw in my dream that Nityananda Prabhu is none
other than Baladeva. His bodily effulgence was shining in all
directions and his body was decorated with various shining
ornaments. On either side of him my two daughters appeared as
Baruni and Revati. Now if I cannot give my daughters in marriage to
Nityananda Prabhu then there will be no peace for me." Having
confided in his friend in this way, he sent him to the house of
Srivas Pandit in Navadwip. That brahmana came to Navadwip very
quickly and found that Nityananda Prabhu was living at Srivas
Pandit's house. The brahmana explained everything in detail to
Srivas Pandit who later at the proper time divulged all of this
news to Nityananda Prabhu. Lord Nityananda having assured the
brahmana that he would fulfill the desire of Surja das, sent him
back to Shaligram. Advaita Acarya as well as Srivas Pandit were
very happy to have heard this news and urged that the marriage take
place as soon as possible. The brahmana, in the meantime having
returned to Shaligram, delivered this auspicious news to Surja das
who was overjoyed that his dream would now come true.
In the village of Borgachi lived the son of Raja Hari Hora, Sri
Krsna das, who was a very dear devotee of Nityanan¼da Prabhu. He
offered to bear all of the expenses for the wedding and to have it
conducted at his house. With this in mind he requested Nityananda
Prabhu to kindly come to his house, and after bringing him there he
began to make the necessary arrangements for the wedding. Srivas
Pandit, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Candrasekhar, Sri Murari Gupta and
many other devotees all arrived and began Harinam Sankirtan. Surja
das Pandit's brother, Sri Krsna das soon arrived at Bordachi and
then Nityananda Prabhu and the other devotees accompanied Him to
Shaligrama. When Surjadas saw that the devotees along with
Nityananda Prabhu had arrived, in great happiness he came out to
greet them and then ushered them into his house where he offered
his dandavats to Lord Nityananda.
Surja das fell down at the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, his eyes
brimming with tears of ecstatic love. He caught hold of His two
lotus feet and wanted to offer some prayers but he could not
express anything due to being overcome by ecstatic emotions. Lord
Nityananda smiled sweetly and embraced him in great love. Surjadas
was always absorbed in intense happiness. Who can understand his
inner self.
Seeing these loving pastimes of his brother, Gauri das lost his
patience and felt great bliss within himself. Then, after
worshipping the two lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, he offered his
two daughters in marriage to him.
Thus the marriage ceremony was very auspiciously performed and
Nityananda Prabhu remained at Shalagram with his two newly wedded
wives for a few days. Thereafter he came to Sri Krsna das's house
at Borgachi, where he remained for a couple of days. Next He came
to Navadwip. Along with his two wives He offered His obeisances at
the feet of Saci Mata. Saci Ma was extremely pleased to see them
and she showed a great deal of affection to the new brides.
The other Vaishnavas also began to show them great affection. Then
taking leave of Sacimata, Nityananda came to Advaita Acarya's house
in Santipur. Sri Sita Thakurani began to float in the ocean of
bliss after seeing Vasudha and Jahnava devi. Taking them in her lap
she was very affectionate to the new brides. After remaining there
for a few days Nityananda Prabhu came to Uddharon Datta Thakur's
house at Saptagram at his insistent invitation. There they all
engaged in a festival of sankirtan for a few days after which
Nityananda Prabhu came to Khardaha. [Bhakti-Ratnakar 12th
Taranga]
After the disappearance of Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Nityananda
Prabhu, Srivas Pandit and various other associates of Sri
Goursundar, three especially empowered manifestations of the
compassion of the Lord, Mahaprabhu, namely Srinivas Acarya,
Narottama Thakur Mahasay and Shyamananda Prabhu continued to flood
the land with Hari Nam Sankirtan. Sri Nityananda Prabhu's sakti Sri
Jahnava Mata, was especially requested by these three Acaryas to be
present at the celebrated festival which was conducted by them at
Kheturigram, under the patronage of Narottama Thakur Mahasoy's
cousin, Raja Santosh Datta. Present with her were Sri Krsna das
Misra (her uncle), Mineketan Ramdas, Murari Caitanya, Jnana das,
Sri Paramesvari das, Balarama das, Sri Brindavan das Thakur, and
other dear devotees of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.
First she came to her uncle Gauri das Pandit's temple at Kalna
where she was nicely received by Hrdoy Caitanya Prabhu. Here she
cooked for the two Lords, Nitai-Gauranga, and in the evening they
had a festival of sankirtan. When she came to Navadvip and realized
that she wouldn't be able to see Sri Saci Mata any more, she was
very sad and cried. Then Sripati and Srinidhi came and took her to
their house. But again she was plunged into grief due to the pangs
of separation at not being able to see Srivas Pandit and Malini
devi. At Santipur Sri Acyutananda and Gopal tried to
console her in the absence of Advaita Acarya and Sita Thakurani.
Then she came by way of Kantak Nagar to Teliya Bhudari gram where
Sri Govinda Kaviraj received her with all respect. The next day the
party set out for Kheturi. When they reached the banks of the Padma
river they found that Raja Santosh Datta had already made
arrangements for crossing the river. From the opposite bank
palanquins were waiting to take them to Kheturi.
After presiding over the festival of Kheturi, Ma Jahnava decided to
go to Brindavan. One day when she was bathing in the Jamuna, a
small black hand grabbed the end of her cloth as she was getting
out of the water. When she looked, however, there was no one there.
Then Gopinath spoke to her, "I want to come and stay with you. When
you're taking bath in the Ganga one day I'll come and join
you."
After passing some days in great happiness in Sri Brindaban Dham,
Sri Jahnava Mata set out on the path back to Gaurdesh. First she
came to Kheturi, and then to Bhudari gram where she arranged the
marriage of Bor Ganga das with Sri Hemalata, the daughter of Sri
Shyamdas Cakravarti (brother of Bansi das). After the marriage, Sri
Iswari entrusted the worship of Shyamsunderji to Borgangadas. Then
she came to Ekcakra, the birthplace of her worshippable Lord. From
there she passed through Kantak Nagar, Jajigram, Navadwip, Ambika
kalna, Saptagram, before finally arriving back at Khardaha.
As she was bathing in the Ganges one day, something touched her
body in the water. Then she lifted that object out of the water and
beheld the enchanting form of Sri Gopinathji, while tears of love
streamed from her eyes. This Deity is at present being worshipped
by the descendant of Ganga devi, the daughter of Nityananda Prabhu,
at Jirat, Hugli. There is a rail station at Jirat between Bandel
and Kalna station. From the Jirat station one should proceed by
rickshaw to "Gopinath Tala".
"Having fallen into the ocean of material existence I am completely
distraught and filled with anxiety. Floating in this ocean, without
any refuge, I am trying to find a shore; but without any success, I
am losing all hope of ever finding it. What activity will bring me
there? or what knowledge will bring me there? Conducting some
fruitive sacrifices, engaging in some mystic yoga process or
conducting austerities - none of these have any power or effect. I
am getting very weak and I cannot swim much longer. Now in this
extremely dangerous situation, will no one come to save me? Alas!
To make matters worse, having caught sight of the crocodile of
worldly affairs, I am petrified with fear and the current of lust
is always churning the water. I can barely keep my head above the
water, the winds carrying the results of activities performed in
previous lives, is blowing and making the water so choppy. I am
losing my mind and now I am simply crying frantically. I can't see
anyone who can get me out of this ocean of woes. O my dear Sri
Jahnava devi, please have compassion on your servant and bless me
with some of your divine qualities. Please extend me the rope of
your mercy and alleviate this intense pain that I am
experiencing.
"I have taken shelter of the boat of your lotus feet and I have
full faith that you can carry me across this ocean.
You are the divine energy of Lord Nityananda and the bestower of
Krsna bhakti. Please bless me at your feet, which can bestow all
one's desires. You have already delivered so many despicable
creatures, now today here is one more destitute and hateful wretch,
come to your lotus feet." [Kalyan Kalpataru]
