Sri Murari Gupta Thakur
“An expert physician by the name Murari Gupta could cure people of their disease of material existence. Along with so many other Vaisnavas, Advaita Acarya, Sen Sivananda, Jagannath Misra, Nilambar Cakravarti, he also appeared in Sylhet. [C. B. Adi 2.35] Srivas Pandit, Candrasekhara Acarya and Sri Murari Gupta Thakur were all from Srihatta. Murari Gupta came from there to live in Navadwip, near the home of Jagannath Misra. He was a few years older than Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Murari Gupta, Kamalakanta, Sri Krsnananda, etc. all used to study together with Nimai Pandit. Nimai used to like a debate in disputations on logical fallacy but no one could defeat him; rather he could defeat all of them put together. Finally being exasperated by his uncanny sharpness of intelligence, Murari Gupta would resort to slinging mood, until finally they were all pushing one another back and forth as they came to the Ganges to take their bath.
There arose such a hue and cry at the ghat that the ladies couldn’t fill their water pots, the water having become so muddy. Neither the brahmanas could properly take their bath. In this way Sri Gaursundor would play with his friends on the banks of the Ganges. [C. B. Adi 8]
Therefore Nimai became angry and told him; “You are a doctor; what is the use of you studying these subjects? Your business is to collect leaves & creepers to heal the sick. Grammatical science is very abstruse, you won’t find anything in it to help you in dealing with mucus, bila and dyspepsia.”
Hearing this challenge, Murari was pricked, and became angry within, but he didn’t exhibit his anger.
He had brought the Lord to his house so early in the morning. Mahaprabhu replied; “Murari! You forgot already? Last night, all the while saying “Eat! Eat!” you fed Me so much rice with ghee. If you offer me, then how can I refuse? But eating rice with so much ghee I have gotten indigestion. Now give me some medicine.” Hearing this, Murari felt very sorry, but Mahaprabhu immediately told him, “Murari! By eating your nice rice I got indigestion, the medicine for that is your water.” [C. B. Mad. 20.69] Then seeing a lot of water which was sitting there, Mahaprabhu began to drink it up. Seeing this Murari exclaimed, “Prabhu! I am a fallen, low class person. The water in my house is not fit for You.” (Generally at that time brahmanas would not accept water or foodstuffs from the houses of non-brahmanas).
The Lord is known as bhakta-vatsala, who is very affectionate to His devotees. He accepts foodstuffs in the house of His devotee, and submissive to their love for Him, He is happy to remain in whatever condition they keep Him. Whatever they feed Him, He accepts very happily. Whatever they like, He likes. In this way the Lord enacted so many pastimes with His dear devotee, Hanuman (or Garuda, according to others’ opinion).
One day Murari Gupta began to reflect, “If I can leave my body in the Lord’s presence then that will be very good.” For this purpose he fashioned a large dagger and hid it in his house. But the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya, who is totally omniscient immediately came to his house and called, “Murari!, I have so many pastimes to complete in your company. If you go away then how will I go on? I know everything.”
Murari caught hold of the Lord’s feet and began to cry. Thereafter Mahaprabhu consoled him and after explaining to him many things He returned to His own house. Murari Gupta was present with the Lord during all of his pastimes in Nadiya Nagar.
Every year when the devotees would go to Puri, Murari Gupta would go along with his wife and they would take many preparations of foodstuffs to offer to the Lord.
“This was brought by Vasudeva Datta and this by Murari Gupta! This was brought by Buddhimanta Khan. Just see all these various preparations!” [C. C. Antya lila].
There has been a temple constructed by Gaudiya Math, in memory of Murari Gupta Thakur, near Ballal dighi in Sridham Mayapur.
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