07 Mahesh Pandita

 

"He who was previously a very munificent cowherd boy has now appeared as Mahesa Pandita. In ecstatic love, he dances like a madman as though intoxicated to the beat of a kettle drum." [C.C. Adi 11.32]

 

According to Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, Mahesa Pandita was formerly Mahabahu sakha in Krishna-lila. He was a companion of Nityananda Prabhu, and was present at the Danda Mahotsava held at Paninati. In Bhakti-Ratnakara, Taranga Nine, it is stated that when Narottama dasa Thakura came to visit Khardaha, he had darsana of the lotus feet of Mahesa Pandita. Vrindavana dasa Thakura has described him as a 'param mahanta' due to the fact that he was very dear to Nityananda Prabhu. [C.B. Antya 5.744]

 

Mahesa Pandita's original Shripat at Sukh Sagor merged into the bed of the Ganges, but his worshipable deities of Shri Shri Nitai-Gauranga as well as his samadhi were moved to Palpara. There is a railway station there, between Simrali and Cakdaha stations, on the Sealdah-Krishnanagar line.

 

Shri Bhaktivedanta Swami writes, "The village of Mahesa Pandita, which is known as Palapaaa, is situated in the district of Nadia within a forest about one mile south of the Cakadaha railway station. The Ganges flows nearby. It is said that formerly Mahesa Pandita lived on the eastern side of Jiraaa in the village known as Masipura or Yanipura, and when Masipura merged in the riverbed of the Ganges, the Deities there were brought fto Palapaaa, which is situated in the midst of various villages such as Beleaaaga, Berigrama, Sukhasagara, Canduae and Manasapota. (There are about fourteen villages, and the entire neghborhood is known as Paacanagara Paragaaa.) It is mentioned that Mahesa Pandita joined the festival performed by Sra Nityananda Prabhu at Panihati. Narottama dasa Thakura also joined in the festival, and Mahesa Pandita saw him on that occasion. In the temple of Mahesa Pandita there are Deities of Gaura-Nityananda, Sra Gopanatha, Sra Madana-Mohana and Radha-Govinda as well as a Salagrama-sila.? Mahesa Pandita used to dance in the ecstasy of Krishna-prema just like a madman.