After leaving home, Sri Gauranga-sundara crossed to the other side of the Ganga and came to Kantaka-nagara (Katwa). The five close associates to whom He had previously intimated His plans gradually arrived and met Him; Sri Avadhuta Nityananda Prabhu, Srila Gadadhara, Sri Mukunda, Sri Chandrasekhara Acarya and Sri Brahmananda. Then the Supreme Lord, walking with the gait of a maddened lion, went with them to the place of Sri Kesava Bharati.The great and pious Sri Kesava Bharati, observing the wonderful and effulgent form of the Lord, rushed to receive Him with awe and respect. However, the Lord prostrated Himself before Sri Bharati and with folded palms prayed, “My dear sir, please be kind to Me. You are the savior of fallen souls, an infinitely magnanimous personality. You are empowered to give Krsna, the Lord of My heart, because the Supreme Lord, SriKrsnachandra, is always enthroned in your heart. I have no desire other than to become a servant of Krsna, so kindly instruct Me.”By now, the Lord’s body was drenched in His own tears, which flowed freely due to His intense feelings of divine love. Roaring loudly like a lion, He began to dance. No sooner had the son of Mother Saci started His dance than Sri Mukunda and other devotees began to sing. Suddenly from nowhere, people, by the scores, started to pour in attracted by the *kirtana*. When they saw the exquisite beauty of Sri Gaurasundara, they could not take their gaze away, but stared at His face drinking its divine beauty.Then a most incredible incident took place, the Supreme Lord danced and pirouetted in mid-air spraying everyone with His incessant cascade of tears. The people were drenched, soaked to the skin. Men, women, and children were swathed in the tears of divine *krsna-prema*, and they spontaneously chanted, “Hari! Hari!” Different ecstatic symptoms such as shivering, perspiration, swooning etc. manifested upon the Lord’s person in waves. When He fell to the ground like a stick, the assembled public was petrified. Then the Supreme Lord, proprietor of unlimited universes, in utter humility,holding straw between His teeth, went around to all present, begging His own service, the service of Sri KRsna. Seeing the Lord’s humility and compassion, knowing He was about to enter the renounced order, those present began to weep, moved by intense grief.The women were thinking aloud saying, “How will His mother live through this?” “Who could understand the pain of her last night with Nimai at home?” “Who was that most fortunate maiden who had such an ocean of good qualities as a husband but is now bereft?” “By what great misfortune did providence snatch Him away from her.” “We are not His kin, mere outsiders, yet even our hearts are pierced by the sharp arrows of grief- what to speak of His mother and wife!” “How will they survive this?” Sri Caitanya, by His divine potency, had trapped everyone. All had become very attached to Him and inHis absence, they now wept along with the Vaisnavas and His family.After sometime Sri Vishvambhara stopped dancing, became composed and sat down with all His associates around Him. Sri Kesava Bharati was absorbed in an ocean of bliss after seeing the devotional sentiments displayed by the Lord and he began to glorify Caitanya saying, “The devotional that You displayed, which I saw with my own eyes, is a manifestation of the divine potency, which Sri Hari alone possesses. I am certain that You are the original spiritual master, the *guru* of the universe. Hence, no one is qualified to be Your *guru*. However, for the sole purpose of instructing the world You have chosen me to become Your *guru*. This is my opinion.”To this the Lord replied, “Kindly do not put Me into illusion and confuse Me, but initiate Me as Your disciple so that I may be blessed with servitorship to Sri KRsna.” Speaking in this way, the Lord Spend the whole night amongst His associates steeped in the nectar of *krsna-katha*.In the early hours of the next morning, the Lord of the Universe ordered Sri Chandrasekhara Acarya, “You practiced in the performance of all the Vedic rituals, so I am selecting you as My representative, make all necessary arrangements.” Sri Chandrasekhara immediately busied himself in organizing the upcoming event. However, many out of the ordinary and miraculous occurrences happened. Milk, yogurt, ghee, grains, betel leaf, sandal wood, flowers, sacred thread, cloth, etc. were brought in large quantities by people from distant villages without being asked. Unknown persons broughtall varieties of foodstuff in abundance. The activities and atmosphere were surcharged with fervor and echoed with the loud chanting of the Holy Name. In fact, the only sound, loud and clear was, “Hari! Hari! Hari! Hari!” Everyone was chanting in divine bliss.Then Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the life of all, sat down to have His head shaved, including His *sikha. *As soon as the barber came and sat before the Lord, a huge cry and the sound of wailing rent the air. The poor barber instead of taking the razor sat with his head in his hands and wept. Nityananda Prabhu and the other Vaisnavas were inconsolable as they rolled in the dust weeping bitterly. Even ordinary householders and materialistic people were deeply grief-stricken with tear filled eyes.Some of them spoke out of their minds in this manner, “Why did providence create the renounced order?” The ladies wept and released long sighs. The demigods, who were present incognito, wept and wailed. The entire universe were grieving, Gauranga was able to generate *karunya-rasa*, the mellow of compassion, to such an extent that even the nearby brick, stone and wood were melting from within. The Lord manifested all these pastimes simply to liberate the living entities. That everyone wept is the proof.Sri Gauranga could not remain patient due to great upsurges of spiritual emotion accompanied by ecstatic symptoms such as weeping and shivering, caused by *prema-rasa*, divine love. Visvambhara stood up loudly chanting, “Haribol! Haribol!” Mukunda took the cue and began to sing while the Lord broke out into an ecstatic dance. Ecstatic emotions washed over the Lord’s person coming in waves as different symptoms of *prema* manifested. The barber just sat there unable to shave the Lord’s *sikha.*Finally, at the end of the day, the shaving ceremony was conducted amidst jubilant *prema-rasa*. Thereafter, the Lord bathed in the holy Ganga, came back and took His seat at the designated place for the *sannyasa* initiation rituals to begin.The *Vedas* declare the Supreme Lord, Sri Gaurachandra, to be the instructing spiritual master of everyone and everything. He conveyed this truth to Sri Kesava Bharati indirectly. The Lord said, “A great personality appeared in My dream and uttered a *sannyasa-mantra* to Me. Hear it now and discern if this is the proper *mantra* or not.” The Lord then whispered the *mantra* into the ears of Sri Bharati. Thus, with a simple stratagem, theSupreme Lord initiated Sri Bharati as His disciple.Sri Bharati was very astonished, impressed, and said, “This is the most profound amongst all *mantras*. By Sri Krsna’s grace may all mysteries be revealed to you.” As instructed by the Lord, Sri Bharati then repeated the same *mantra* into the ear of Sri Caitanya. The air exploded with the sound of loud chanting of the Holy Name from the assembled devotees and public as the Lord of Vaikuntha was initiated into the *sannyasa* order.The Lord then dressed in a saffron robe and over-shadowed the beauty of millions of cupids. The sandalwood *tilaka* markings upon His forehead and other parts of His divine body were luminescent and heaps of fragrant flower garlands were draped around His neck. In one hand, He held His *sannyasa danda* and in the other the *kamandalu*, water pot. He was completely absorbed in the ecstasy of *prema-rasa*, divine love. The brightness of His beatific face waned the brilliance of millions upon millions of full moons, as exultant tears cascaded down His cheeks.None other than Srila Vyasadeva will give an extensive and detailed description of His *sannyasa* appearance. Actually, Srila Vyasa has already described in the *Visnu-sahasranama-stotra* one of the incarnations of the Supreme Lord, Which embraces the *sannyasa* order. The best of the twice-born *brahmana*, Sri Vishvambhara, has fulfilled that prophecy. The assembled Vaisnavas, who witnessed this event of Sri Caitanya entering the renounced order, understood this truth.The wise and grave Sri Kesava Bharati began to consider in his mind what * sannyasa* name to choose for the Lord. He pondered, “In my experience, I have not come across in all the fourteen worlds, such an exalted Vaisnava as Sri Visvambhara. Therefore, my heart’s wish is to choose a unique name not heard before. According to rule and etiquette, the disciple of a ‘Bharati’ title holder should also be named Bharati, but this does not appeal to me as befitting His status.”As these thoughts were crossing his mind, Sri Sarasvati Devi, in the form of unadulterated transcendental knowledge, came to his assistance. Thus, Sri Bharati found the name for which he was looking, for the topmost jewel amongst *sannyasis*. Placing his hand on the Lord’s chest, Bharati said aloud, “As You have inspired everyone, like no other person, to chant the name of Krsna, thereby awakening their slumbering consciousness, Caitanya; and as You have propagated congregational chanting of the Holy Name, Your Name is Sri Krsna Caitanya! You have benedicted the entire universe.”No sooner, had the exalted *sannyasa*, Sri Bharati, made this announcement than the enthusiastic crowd of devotees and bystanders broke out into loud jubilant shouts and chats of the Holy Name. Everyone was transported to a world of infinite bliss. All the devotees offered sincere respects and obeisances to Sri Kesava Bharati. Sri Caitanya Himself was also extremely happy with His *sannyasa* name. The dveotees prostrated themselves at the Lord’s lotus feet. The Supreme Lord basked in the glory of His newlyacquired status and His original name was broadcast to the world. The Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna Caitanya, is always engaged in performing ever-fresh and unique pastimes. Only those who are recipients of His grace are able to see them.The countless nuances and mellows in the pastimes that were manifest at that place are known completely only by Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Under His orders and directions and by His mercy, I am able to pen down a few of them and compile them into this book.I offer my humble obeisances at the feet of all the Vaisnavas. I pray to them that they do not take offence for this shortcoming on my part. Srila Vyasadeva will describe these pastimes in lengthy detail over many millions verses in the *Vedas*.The *Madhya-khanda *section of this book ends with the Lord receiving * sannyasa*. Whosoever hears this narration will immediately be rewarded with servitorship to His lotus feet. By hearing this most auspicious pastime of * sannyasa* initiation, one certainly receives the ultimate treasure of *krsna-prema*.My only desire is that I may never forget my two most worshipable Lordships, Sri Krsna Caitanya and Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Will I be blessed one day with the wonderful vision of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda surrounded by all the Vaisnava devotees?Sri Gauranga is the Lord of my Lord, Sri Nityananda Prabhu and this gives me great spiritual strength and satisfaction. Anyone who simple utters: ‘I am Nityananda’s servant!’ will certainly be able to see Sri Caitanya.The most dear beloved friend and devotee of Sri Caitanya is Sri Nityananda. Therefore, my heartfelt prayer is that I may never be deprived of the association of the Supreme Lord and His devotees. Sri Nityananda is the distributor of *krsna-prema*. I pray that I, on His behalf can serve Sri Gauracandra.All those who desire to cross over the ocean of material existence and drown in the nectar of ¬*prema-bhakti* worship and serve the lotus-feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. A wooden doll is made to dance by pulling strings, similarly, I write only that which Sri Nityananda Prabhu is making me to write.Furthermore, just as a bird cannot find the limits of the sky, but flies only as much as its strength will allow, similarly, the pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Sri Caitanya, are limitless like the sky and I write only to the extent of my ability.O Sri Caitanya-candra, I offer You my repeated humble obeisances. You are the embodiment of *rasa*, spiritual mellow, and the enactor of the ecstatic pastimes of Sri Krsna. Your beautiful exquisite form is transcendental and covered in golden brilliance beyond human sense perception. You have distributed to the world the priceless gift of the highest nectar of *krsna-prema*.I, Vrndavan dasa, offer this song at the lotus-feet of Sri Krsna Caitanya and Sri Nitayananda Prabhu, Who are my life and soul.Thus ends the *Madhya-khanda* of the *Sri Caitanya-bhagavata*.
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