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Glory to Shri Chaitanya and glory to Nityananda.

Glory to Advaita candra and glory to all Gaura devotees.

Glory to Shri Jahnava and glory to Viracandra whose lotus feet are my only resort.

Glory to the attentive listeners.

 I am going to describe a wonderful narration and it is all true. It is the order of Prabhu to describe the episodes which are connected with the life history of the incarnation which gives you all peace of mind.

The Yuga where Krishna appeared as an incarnation in Vraja was known as Vraja Vrndavana in the scriptures. Vraja Mandala had the circumpherence of 84 miles which belonged all to the companions of Krishna. That Krishna had appeared as the king of Navadvipa with His parents, friends, sakhas and sakhis. Maha Vishnu appeared as Advaita in Santipura who was the ornamental head of all the devotees and who had accomplished all the duties on behalf of Prabhu. Prabhu's 24 ascetic devotees were Madhavendra and others divided into eight separate groups. They all belonged to the family of Krishna. The sakhas and sakhis also were manifested with Krishna in Navadvipa. Saci Thakurani was the wife of Jagannatha Misra and their elder son was Visvarupa who was a beautiful man and a great scholar. Saci and her husband were proud of their son. Saci's father used to live at Belpukhuria and his elder son was Yogesvara Pandita. After him came Ratnagarva Pandita and Saci. The son of Yogesvara Pandit was Lokenath Pandita who was a highly qualified man and a constant companion of Visvarupa. Both of them used to study together. Visvarupa used to regard his father and mother as his very life. After some time he got Advaita as a friend. They all used to spend their time in discussing the different scriptures. They all became great scholars within a short time. Visvarupa became so apathetic towards the material world that he decided to become an ascetic. His parents lamented when he left the house. He gave up the sacred thread and the tuft of hair of a brahmin and accepted the stick, kaupina and saffron colored dress of an ascetic. He was renamed Sankaranya Puri. Pandita Lokenath became his disciple and used to engage in the service of Visvarupa by assisting him on pilgrimages. After two years Visvarupa left this world but was reborn in the womb of Padmavati, the wife of Hadai Pandit of Ekachakra village of Rarha. She first conceived on the day of Ramanavami. Ten months later, he took his birth giving extreme joy to his parents. On the thirteenth day of the solar eclipse in the month of Magha, Nityananda took his birth being a source of happiness to everyone. He spent his first fourteen years in playing with other boys. One day a sannyasi came to his house and he happily gave alms to the sannyasi. The sannyasi being very happy told Hadai Pandita to give him some more alms and Hadai agreed asking him what he wanted. The sannyasi said, "Give me your son, he will assist me in my pilgrimages as he has become old enough. Don't be sorry as you will be very happy later because of him." Hadai kept his promise and offered his son with a broken heart. He took Nityananda away who became an Avadhuta. He used to remain absorbed in the memory of Nandanandana always. Once he met Isvara Puri who told him with a smile, "You have finished your pilgrimage now do something. Krishna has manifested Himself in Navadvipa, search for him. Nityananda and Visvarupa alias Sankaranya were the same who were the manifestation of Sankarsana Balarama. Nityananda was the name given by his parents whereas his sannyasi name was Avadhuta just as Krishna became the son of Saci. Mahaprabhu appeared after the appearances of his associates who were scattered over many countries. Here in Navadvipa, Mahaprabhu began to grow up day by day. As all the rivers used to meet with the ocean in the end so also all the associates of Mahaprabhu like the rivers gradually came in the direction of the ocean of love who was Mahaprabhu.

Now I shall narrate the episode of Jessore, east of Navadvipa. There was a village named Talagadi in Jessore where Lokenath took his birth in the family of Padmanava Cakravarti. His mother was Sita who was the abode of all good qualities. They were Kulina by caste. They educated their son with utmost care who became a great scholar in all countries. Day by day he became apathetic and his parents became very anxious for him. They wanted to give him in marriage so that he would be bound in family life. Lokenath always remembered the feet of Shri Chaitanya and would think of leaving his family. One winter night in the month of Agrahayana, he left the house at midnight and travelled 8 miles at one time until the sun rose in the East. His parents having not found him in the morning became full of misery. Lokenath reached Navadvipa and began to ask the people about the location of Prabhu's house. He began to wonder whether Prabhu would accept him or not. What could he say to Prabhu about himself? Prabhu was sitting with his associates namely Gadadhara, Shrivasa, Murari and others. Observing the beauty of Prabhu he became overwhelmed in love and began to cry in ecstasy. In the meanwhile Prabhu got up and embraced Lokenath and he held the feet of Prabhu. Prabhu helped Lokenath to take a seat beside him. Lokenath and Pandit exchanged their blessings and then Pandita embraced Lokenath. They began discussions on Krishna forgetting everything about the material world. Lokenath also met Nityananda and Advaita. In this way for five days he spent his days in discussing about Krishna with Prabhu. One day Prabhu asked, "Lokenath tell me in detail why and how you left your home?" Lokenath said, "I know that everything except your feet is untrue and useless. I am ignorant and unable to come to you. It is your favor like string that has dragged me to you." Prabhu told Lokenath in private, "O Lokenath, how can I express my miseries? To whom can I tell from where and why I have come? Being unable to tell, I am feeling very disappointed. I can make people believe the objects and manifestations of Nityananda and Advaita but who will hear and feel me? Some used to criticise and some jeer at me. I have come to Gauda with the manifestation of Shri Radha. I want to feel the pain of Shri Radha at not having Krishna. For me Radha has given up her family and wealth and has completely dedicated herself for my sake. The memory of me has caused her to be thin and lean. She does not even care for her dress and never looks at the face of another man. She used to listen to my praises and chant it to all. She is always eager for my company. Being angry with me she used to say bad things about me to the flower groves and the Jamuna but the moment she came to me she used to forget all anger and miseries. One days separation from me is like a hundred years to her. She is my beloved who always used to perform pastimes in Vrndavana. She is my life and I am the same to her. It is because of her that I want to live in Vrndavana. Except for the sakhis no one else knows the actual essence of our pastimes. It is only to you, Lokenath, that I disclose everything. Now listen to another miserable episode. One brahmin has commited a great sin by criticising me. He does not know that Krishna is the only guru of this universe. Being proud he travels everywhere forgetting the superiority of Krishna. He worships other deities not knowing that Krishna is the only true God. He even does not know that all deities have come from the mouth of Krishna. He will surely go to hell for this offense. He does not feel that by discarding Krishna he has become inferior to a Vaisya or Sudra. Now in the month of Magha on the third day of the full moon, I shall accept the life of an ascetic and leave the house on pilgrimage. But who will understand my mind or my desire? I used to do everything by taking the bhava of Shri Radha who used to wear always blue colored clothes as it is the color of my complexion. At the time of separation she used to wear a saffron colored dress. She would regard herself as my maidservant, for me she and her prime confidants have given up their lives. Now I also shall give up my life for her. You will know everything later. I shall accept her color complexion and wear saffron colored dress and shall be glad to become her servant. I shall meditate on her and sing her praises. I cannot repay her even in a hundred years. I am telling you, Lokenath, I shall flood the universe by singing her praises. Otherwise I cannot give her favor. After getting her love I shall dance, cry in sankirtana and roll on the ground." Saying all this Prabhu began to cry helplessly while uttering the names of Radha and Vrndavana. Lokenath took Prabhu in his lap and tried to pacify him as he was trembling. Prabhu again began to say, "Only the groves of Vrndavana are the witnesses to my miseries. O Lokenath, go to Vrndavana, after you go to Rupa and Sanatana and then Shri Gopala Bhatta and Raghunatha Bhatta. After all of them Raghunath Dasa will go. All of you unitedly carry on your worship and writing of the devotional books. I shall send Rupa by empowering him with my own spirit. You are a great devotee, I know that but I want to tell you something about religion. God can be attained through different images. It is called Lakshana. Devotional love is of two kinds - Svakiya and Parakiya. Now I shall explain their actual characteristics. The people of Dvaraka possess Svakiya love and the gopis possess Parakiya love. The girls of Vraja used to perform the vows of the Katyayani worship. There are two leading ladies among the Vraja women - Radha and Candravali. They are of two different natures. Radha used to stand on the left side of Krishna and Candravali on the right side." While saying all this Prabhu's mode of talking was completely changed and he advised Lokenath, "You should follow my advice as they are of prime importance. When an accomplished devotee takes his rebirth, he forgets his past pastimes. Chaitanya himself takes on the responsibilty of teaching that devotee. He can remember everything by listening to the teachings. I shall teach the scriptures. I shall send Rupa and Sanatana where they shall publish many devotional books, you must all accept them or I will be very disappointed." Lokenath, said, "O my Lord, tell me more about it so that all doubts will be removed from my mind. Vyasadeva had written many books in which he had directed the methods of Krishna worship. But I think it is not the real method. O my Lord, please explain it to me." Prabhu said, "Kala Amisa and Vilasa are the features of Krishna. Shastras have explained all this but Vraja worship has been omitted by the Shastras. Vraja worship is based on Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhura bhavas. Aisvarya bhava is missing in it. Madhurya bhava cannot be grasped by all in which the hero used to make love with his beloved only. Parakiya sport has a deeper bhava. No one can realise it. Vyasa had discussed Aisvarya bhava in his Bhagavata and Puranans but had escaped from defining the other bhavas. The Krishna lila which Shri Rupa had seen will be definitely defined by him in his books as he will be empowered by my spirit. Now he is living with the king. I shall send him to Vrndavana later. All of us will spend our days in tasting the esence of Krishna lila. Shri Rupa will propagate the method of worship of Vraja in his books. He will also write the methods of worship through which a devotee will be able to attain the grace of the feet of Shri Radhika. I shall become mad in love of Krishna and shall madden the whole world. The feet for which I am always thirsty, I shall help mankind to attain those feet. You must help me in this. Write to me about all and I shall advise you in these spheres. Vrndavana is your proper place. If I am fortunate enough, I shall again get your darshana. But I want to tell you that without Varnasrama no one can attain the favor of Krishna. I shall stay for sometime in Nilacala, then I shall go to Gauda. I shall travel to all the holy places like an ascetic." Lokenath said, "O my Lord, please tell me about Varnasrama. I want to know more from you. How can a devotee attain the favor of Krishna by following Varnasrama? Or after attaining the favor of Krishna where does the human being go?" Prabhu said, "Listen to me, Lokenath, if a devotee can follow the four types of Varnasrama, he can attain the favor of Krishna. He who can accept family life as the step to reach Krishna can get the association of Krishna. The Vrajabasis do not want to worship Krishna as God. They used to worship Him only through love for which they can give up any sort of pleasure. Raga never cares for the norms of the scriptures. The devotee who realises it can attain the feet of Krishna. Lokenath, you do not know who you are. You are Manjulali, the companion of Radha. Manjulali used to decorate Shri Radha and used to be with Shri Radha all the time. She used to be happy if Radha was happy and be sorry at the sorrow of Radha. In this way, the sakhis became famous for their service." Hearing all this from Prabhu, Lokenath began to cry. Prabhu said, "Please go to Vrndavana, to satisfy me, travel through Girikunda, Govardhana, Yavata and Varsana and other private flower groves and be happy to live in those places. Start at once and do not think about me. By staying in your birth place, try to worship the feet of Kisora kisori (Radha Krishna). Build a cottage in Rasasthali which is surrounded by trees like Tamala, Vakula and Vata etc. You will travel to Vamsivata and Nidhuvana and take rest in Dhira Samira. Bathe in the Jamuna and practise living on alms but do not beg from anybody. As an accomplished devotee, you will get numerous disciples. Rupa and others will join you later." Prabhu is the morning again told Lokenath to go to Vrndavana and embraced him lovingly. When Lokenath fell at his feet, Prabhu put his foot on his head. As Prabhu began to cry while holding the hands of Lokenath, the latter too began to cry forgetting his own entity. Only a loving master and his faithful servant can realise the meaning of this crying. Gadadhara Pandit was present there at that moment. His disciple Bhugarva was there too. He told his guru, "Let me go to Vrndavana for this is my long cherished desire. Please be kind to me." Mahaprabhu said, "Gadai, permit him to go with Lokenath." Gadadhara said, "Well, go with Lokenath happily and travel all the way discussing Krishnalila." Both of them bowed at the feet of Prabhu and Gadadhara Pandit. The other devotees shouted harinama in joy. While Lokenath Gosvami went away to Vrndavana, Prabhu began to cry helplessly and Gadadhara began to cry for his Bhugarva. Who can understand why they were crying after being sent there willingly? In this way Prabhu with Nityananda, Advaita and others began to perform many pastimes in Navadvipa, while Lokenath and Bhugarva covered their journey sometimes in singing the praises of Krishna and sometimes in singing the praise of Gauranga. In this way they reached Rajmahala. They not knowing the actual direction of Vrndavana began to think in which way they should go. At that time the decoits were very notorious on these roads. They began to lament as they could not keep their promise of reaching Vrndavana. They asked the passerbys who advised them not to go to Vrndavana. Both of them then decided to go in the direction of Tajpura. In the morning they started for Tajpura. In this way they reached the village Puraria village out of which they got some joy and after a few days they reached Ayodhya. They began to think as to whether they would ever reach Vrndavana and began to cry at the thought of not being able to keep the wish of Prabhu. After some days they reached the village Lucknow and on the 23rd day they reached Agra. They both took a bath in the Jamuna and then ate some food. At the end of the second day they reached Gokula and visited the birth place of Krishna. The next day they entered into Vrndavana. They met Vaishnava Gosvami and bowed at his feet. Now I shall narrate something wonderful. Gadadhara was the favorite disciple of Shri Gauranga who empowered Gadadhara with his own power. Gadadhara was the incarnation of Shri Radha. Bhugarva Mahasaya was Nandimukhi in a previous lila and was a good friend of Lokenath. Actually in the previous lila Manjulali and Nandimukhi were good friends and Chaitanya knew it very well. Chaitanya candra himself was the only master of this universe and the wishing tree of all his devotees. For this Prabhu Gaura Raya used to visit all the sporting places in Vrndavana. In some places they would roll on the grounds in ecstasy. They observed the beauty of Govardhama and from there they went to Yavata, the abode of Shri Radhika. They acknowledged all the places where the sakhis used to perform their lilas. From there they visited the house of Nanda. They then visited the Sanketa Kunja where Lokenath holding the hands of Bhugarva asked him if he could describe the previous sports of those places which they had observed. Both of them began to cry in the name of Radha and forgot their own entities. They decided to halt there for a day. The people of that place became very glad to see them and took them and brought delicious food for them. They spent a day on the hill of Varsana in ecstatic love. In the morning they took their baths in the lake and after that they went round the place. They decided to stay there that day and the people of Vraja nursed them with great care. They visited the Kali(ya)? lake and Rasasthali and then Nidhuvana. Then they observed Ciraghata and became overwhelmed to see the beauty of that forest. They began to search for a proper place to build their hut. At last they found a tree and built their hut. Lokenath told Bhugarva, "There is no hope of seeing Prabhu again. I am deprived of observing the sports of Prabhu with his devotees. Knowing it well, Prabhu has sent us here. O my Lord, when can I see the feet of Rupa and Sanatana?" Both of them began to wait eagerly for the moment when they would meet Rupa and Sanatana. Now I shall narrate another wonderful event. The people of Vraja announced that two brahmins had come to that place. They regarded them not as ordinary men. They were struck by beauty of these two brahmins with sacred threads. They began to say to one another, that these two sannyasis were so polished and polite in their disposition that they used to behave with all persons in the same way and advise everybody to worship Krishna with devotion. They people from far away places brought different varieties of food for the two of them. They used to live there being very apathetic to material life and liked to be in seclusion. But the people of Vraja regarded them as their very lives.

I have very little power to describe all about these two, only by the order of Shri Jahnava and Viracandra, I am trying to carry out the mission. While Shrimati Thakurani went to Vrndavana, I was with her with my brother Ramacandra Dasa and other Vaishnavas. I had witnessed all this with my own eyes. Isvari met Shri Rupa Gosvami and other Gosvamis there.

Being faithful to the feet of Shri Jahnava and Viracandra, Nityananda Dasa writes Prem Vilasa.