Bound by the love and devotion of Madhvendra Puri, the Lord becomes compelled to personally visit him, and then appears in his dreams three times and even commits a sweet act of thievery for him. The unique bond between Lord Gopal and Madhvendra Puri takes the understanding of love to a level that is uncommon in this world.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu establishes a paradigm of intense love by recounting the exemplary actions of Madhvendra Puri to his close associates, as he receives from his spiritual teacher, Isvara Puri. A summary of that narration is provided in the article to illustrate the concept of love in Chaitanya Vaishnavism.
Selfless love attracts the attention of the Lord
Sri Madhavendra Puri once travels to Vrindavan, and after circumambulating the sacred Govardhan hill, he rests under a tree near Govinda-kunda. There, a beautiful cowherd boy offers Madhvendra Puri milk, and promises to return to collect pot but doesn’t. Madhvendra Puri’s anticipation grew as the time passed. Later, in a dream to Madhvendra Puri, the boy returns and reveals his identity and desire.
The boy takes Madhvendra Puri by his hand and leads him to the bushes on Govardhan hill and says, “I’m lying here suffering heat, cold, showers and wind. The boy then reveals his identity as Gopāla, the protector and savior of all, who was installed by the great Vajra. Gopala also reveals His heart, that he had been eagerly waiting for the arrival of Mādhavendra Purī to this place, because He had observed him for many days and was eager to accept service from him. The Lord expresses gratitude for Mādhavendra Purī’s devotion and announces that He would appear before all the world to bless all. The Lord then requests He should be taken out.
The Lord is looking for those who are willing to go beyond the boundaries of material pleasures and gratifications to serve Him. He is delighted when we perform service out of love and devotion, and rewards us with His attention, mercy and grace.
The Lord’s service takes precedence over personal feelings
Madhvendra Puri feels deep remorse upon realizing he has failed to recognize the Lord as a cowherd boy. Despite his initial disappointment, he remembers Gopala’s instructions and regains his composure. The mood of disregarding symptoms of personal ecstatic love and feelings is exemplified by Dāruka, a devotee of Lord Krishna. While fanning Krishna, he manifests symptoms of ecstasy in his body but considers them as hindrances to his engagement and checks them, even though they naturally develop. (Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 37)
Upon hearing the dream, the villagers take out the deity from the bushes and worship the Gopal deity. They perform a grand annakutha ceremony on His installation to celebrate the Lord’s manifestation and show their love and devotion to Him.
Test of Love – Uncertainty and Separation
In a dream, Gopal appears again to Madhvendra Puri, asking him to bring Chandan from Malaya hills. Madhvendra Puri does not consider how he will pay taxes or travel 1000 miles but immediately sets out towards the hills of Malaya to fulfill Gopal’s request. Madhvendra Puri does not even know when he will return back to His beloved Lord Gopal, yet he continues to serve His beloved Lord despite these uncertainties and separation.
The deep affection between Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Six Goswamis serves as a shining example of this type of love. Although they were geographically separated, their unbreakable bond remained as they were steadfast in their commitment to executing Sri Chaitanya’s teachings in Vrindavan. (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya-lila, Chapter 1.19.20)
Getting through obstacles in love
Madhvendra Puri is passionate about serving his beloved Lord Gopal, but he is faced with many obstacles. As a sanyasi, he must travel 1000 miles through territories under Muslim provinces with no arrangement for food or safety. Despite the challenges, Madhvendra Puri overcomes these obstacles in order to please Gopal.
Discomfort
Despite the lack of provisions for food or water during the journey, Madhvendra Puri’s determination to serve Gopal prevails. As a Sanyasi with the ayaacitta vritti, he didn’t not beg for food but rather ate whatever came to him. However, in this journey he will not stay in one location for alms but continue to move and while returning would also be carrying the 80-pound load of chandan.
Security
In the Muslim province, a Sanyasi with no money is not immune to potential dangers that may arise. He has no resources, no assistance, and no laws to protect him in the foreign land.
Unhappiness
During his journey, Madhvendra Puri reaches the temple of Gopinath at the holy site of Remuna. While there, he experiences unhappiness at the thought of tasting the sweet rice before it had been offered to Gopinath, the Supreme Lord. His only desire was to identify the recipe so that he could prepare the same sweet rice and offer it to his beloved Gopal. He feels that he has offended the Lord, so he immediately leaves the temple and goes to sit in the marketplace.
Service hampered by fame
Gopinath is named after this visit of Madhvendra Puri as “kheer-chor Gopinath” (Gopinath who steals sweet-rice). Yes, Lord Gopinath steals sweet-rice for Madhvendra Puri and personally asks Pujari to deliver it to him. Madhvendra Puri, soon becomes well known everywhere he travels. Madhvendra Puri is humbled and grateful for this mercy by Lord Gopinath, but at the same time he is unhappy because people would surround him with praise and offer respects. To avoid this, he immediately leaves Remuna for Puri but news reaches Puri before Madhvendra Puri and people surround him, just as he feared. But this time he stays in Puri! Could it be that Madhvendra Puri succumbs to fame? Madhvendra Puri cannot leave Puri as he has to gather sandalwood for his beloved Gopal. Thus, he remains in Puri to fulfill his commitment, rather than succumb to fame.
The incident reveals a profound insight: any hindrance that impedes one’s service should be regarded as an obstacle, while anything conducive to service should be embraced as the rightful course, even if it entails personal inconvenience. (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 11.676) Madhvendra Puri, exemplifies such a mindset, when he opts for service over fame in both Remuna and Puri, demonstrating an unwavering commitment.
It is a well-known fact that one is willing to go to great lengths to appease their beloved, yet the journey is often fraught with obstacles. However, such challenges serve to intensify and glorify the love shared between individuals. Madhvendra Puri’s handling of the difficulties he encounters provides valuable insights into the process of love. Madhvendra Puri experiences such joy in service that he regards personal struggles as insignificant.
Why did the Lord put his devotee through such suffering?
Upon his return to Remuna, divine guidance was received by Madhvendra Puri. In his dream, Gopal asks him to apply chandan and camphor to the body of Gopinath until it is finished. It is perplexing why Gopal had requested chandan in the first place if he did not want it. But the answer becomes evident from this story: to broadcast Madhvendra Puri’s boundless love for Him to the entire world. The test of Madhvendra Puri’s love is passed, and Gopal relieves him of any further suffering by asking him to anoint Gopinath with chandan.
Definition of love
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu further elucidates this principle, emphasizing the importance of persevering through hardships in the pursuit of love.
pragāḍha-premera ei svabhāva-ācāra
nija-duḥkha-vighnādira nā kare vicāra
This is the natural result of intense love of Godhead. The devotee does not consider personal inconveniences or impediments. In all circumstances he wants to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya-lila, Chapter 4, 186)
This is considered the epitome of “love” as exhibited in Chaitanya Vaishnavism and by Gopis of Vrindavan. Love in separation without personal considerations.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu frequently discussed this pastime of Madhvendra Puri whenever they visited Gopinath at Remuna. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu emphasized that the love between the Lord and His devotees cannot be measured in material terms and is beyond comprehension. The blessings of Acharyas are necessary to obtain a hint of this mode of love. Vaishnava Acaryas explain that this love is passed down from Madhvendra Puri to Isvara Puri, and then to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. According to Krishnadas Kaviraj, Madhvendra Puri is the root of the tree of love for the Godhead of Chaitanya Vaishnavism. Today, the Deity of Gopal, Ksir-chor Gopinath, and the pastime of Madhvendra Puri still exist and provide an understanding of love that involves being willing to endure pain to bring pleasure to Krishna.
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=108222
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