Shri Gaura Gannodesha Dipika

The Great Classic Scripture

by Shrila Kavi Karnapura

The Torchlight revealing the Associates
of Lords Nityananda Gauranga

Translated by Kushakratha dasa

 

1. Dark-complexioned Lord Krishna, whose form is eternal, blissful, and full of knowledge, formerly danced with the golden-complexioned gopis in the land of Vrndavana. By intently embracing them He attained a golden complexion like theirs. In this golden form He has now appeared in the town of Navadvipa.

 

2. We offer respectful obeisances to Lord Advaita and the other dear associates of the Lord, who are all full of compassion for the fallen souls. We offer our respectful obeisances to Shrila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and the other companions of the Lord. As the Lord Himself is full of auspicious transcendental qualities, so are they. As the Lord Himself is full of mercy, so are they. These great devotees are filled with the sweet nectar of Krishna-consciousness. These great devotees remove the grave sins of this material world.

 

3. We offer our respectful obeisances to Shrinatha Cakravarti, our spiritual master, who is very dear to the all-powerful Personality of Godhead. Our spiritual master is like a jewel decorating the earth, or like a splendid moon shining in the brahminical community. Some rare elevated souls in this world are able to understand and relish his nectarean description of Lord Krishna's confidential pastimes in Vrndavana.

 

4. With great devotion, I offer my respectful obeisances to my father, Shri Sivanandana, who is like a brilliant lamp shining in the Sena family, and who is counted among the foremost associates of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

5. Shrila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami and other great Vaishnava authors have written in their books many descriptions of the great associates of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Nityananda, and Lord Advaita. These authors have explained that the associates of Lord Chaitanya h ad previously been cowherd people in Vrndavana during Lord Krishna's advent, and these authors have informed us of the former names of each of these associates of the Lord. I have carefully considered all these writings, and I have also heard the testimonies of the devotees in Bengal, Orissa, and Mathura. Collecting all this evidence, I, Paramananda dasa, write this book describing the previous life of the associates of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

6. Just as Lord Krishnacandra, who is non-different from the Panca-tattva, formerly appeared in this world, so Lord Chaitanya also appeared in this world.

 

7. The members of the Panca-tattva are non-different from Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Had they been different from Him, they would have been known as "catstayam tattvam (the four truths)".

 

8. The members of the Pance-tattva are different from Lord Krishna, and then again they are not different from Him. By employing His internal potency, the Lord has created this condition in which the members of the Panca-tattva are

simultaneously different from Him and not different from Him.

 

9. Shrila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has described the five members of the Panca-tattva in the following words.

 

10. "I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Krishna, who is non-different from His features as a devotee,  devotional incarnation, devotional manifestation, pure devotee, and devotional energy."

 

11. I shall now summarily explain the meaning of these words. In this Panca-tattva, the bhakta-rupa (form of a devotee) is Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who formerly appeared as Lord Krishna, the son of Nanda Maharaja. The bhakta-svarupa (devotional incarnation) is Lord Nityananda, who formerly appeared in Vrajabhumi as Lord Balarama. The bhaktavatara (devotional manifestation) is Lord Advaita Acarya, who is not different from Lord Sadasiva. The bhaktakhya (pure devotee) is Shrinivasa and the other great devotees as well. The bhakta-sakti (devotional energy) is Gadadhara Pandita, the foremost of brahmanas.

 

12. Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda Avadhuta, and Lord Advaita, are all incarnations of the supremely exalted Personality of Godhead, and They are all known by the title Prabhu (Master). Among Them, Lord Chaitanya, who is an ocean of mercy, is known as Mahaprabhu (The Great Master), and the great personalities Lord Nityananda and Lord Advaita are known only as Prabhu (Master). All three are also known as Gosvami (Master of the Senses). Gadadhara is called by the title Dvija (Brahmana), and Shrinivasa is called by the title Pandita (Learned Scholar). These are the titles of the members of the Panca-tattva.

 

13. In this regard Shrila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has explained that the title Mahaprabhu should be used only for Lord Chaitanya, although the title Prabhu may be used for Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda, and Lord Advaita. For this reason the devotees address Lord Chaitanya as Mahaprabhu, and Lord Nityananda and Lord Advaita as Prabhu.

 

14. All the associates of Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda, and Lord Advaita are very exalted personalities. The association of Lord Nityananda were all cowherd boys during Lord Krishna's advent.

 

15. The associates of Lord Chaitanya at Navadvipa are considered the most exalted.

 

16. The next most exalted are the Lord's associates at Jagannath Puri, and after them are the great souls who met Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in His journeys to South India and other places.

 

17. In his description of Lord Chaitanya, Shrila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami has explained that among the exalted associates of the Panca-tattva are devotees that were formerly cowherd boys who performed pastimes with Lord Krishna.

 

18. Some learned devotees say that Navadvipa is identical with the land of Vrndavana. Others say that Navadvipa is actually the spiritual planet Goloka. Some say that Navadvipa is the planet Svetadvipa, and others say that Navadvipa is actually the spiritual sky of Vaikuntha. All glories to the wonderfully splendid land of Navadvipa.

 

19. Taking the name Visvambhara, the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepted residence in the town of Navadvipa. He enjoyed many transcendental pastimes there with His exalted associates, and those pastimes have drowned the minds of this universe's residents in great transcendental bliss.

 

20. The same Supreme Personality of Godhead who appeared in Satya-yuga as the white-complexioned Lord Sukla, the same Supreme Personality of Godhead who appeared in the Treta-yuga as the red-complexioned Lord Makhamuk, the same Supreme Personality of Godhead who appeared in the Dvapara-yuga as the dark-complexioned Lord Syamasundara, has appeared in the Kali-yuga as the golden moon of Lord Chaitanya, and engaged in the chanting of the holy names, the incarnation of Lord Hari.

 

21. In the Kali-yuga there are four Vaishnava sampradayas, known as the Shri, Brahma, Rudra, and Sanaka sampradaya. This is described in the following statement of the Padma Purana:"In the Kali-yuga four Vaishnava sampradayas, the Shri, Brahma, Rudra, and Sanaka smapradayas, will purify the earth."

 

22. I shall now begin this book by describing the disciplic succesion descended from Shripada Madhvacarya. Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe became the disciple of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Narayana. Brahma's disciple was Narada. Narada's disciple was Vyasa. Vyasa then transmitted transcendental knowledge to his disciple Sukadeva. Sukadeva taught the same knowledge to his many disciples and grand-disciples in this world. The famous Madhvacarya received initiation from Vyasa personally. Madhvacaya carefully studied all the Vedas from Vyasa, and later wrote his book Mayavada-sata-dusani, where he proved that the Absolute Truth is the Supreme Person, full of all transcendental qualities, and not the qualityless impersonal Brahman. Madhvacarya's  disciple was the exalted Padmanabhacarya. Padmanabhacarya's disciple was Narahari. Narahari's disciple was Madhava Dvija. Madhava Dvija's disciple was Aksobhya. Aksobhya's disciple was Jayatirtha. Jayatirtha's disciple was Jnanasindhu. Jnanasindhu's disciple was  Mahanidhi. Mahanidhi's disciple was Vidyanidhi. Vidyanidhi's disciple was Rajendra. Rajendra's disciple was Jayadharma Muni. Among Jayadharma Muni's disciples was Shriman Vishnupuri, the famous author of the Bhakti-ratnavali. Another disciple of Jayadharma was Brahmana Purusottama. Purusottama's disciple was  Vyasatirtha, who wrote the famous book Shri Vishnu-samhita. Vyasatirtha's disciple was Shriman Laksmipati, who was like a great reservoir of the nectar of devotional service. Laksmipati's disciple was Madhavendra Puri, a great preacher of devotional service.  Madhavendra Puri was the incarnation of a kalpa-vrksa tree in the abode of Vraja. This tree bears as its fruits the mellows of servitude to Lord Krishna, friendship with Lord Krishna, parental love for Lord Krishna, and conjugal love for Lord Krishna.

 

23. Madhavendra Puri's disciple was Shriman Isvara Puri Svami. Isvara Puri carefully understood the mellows of conjugal love for Lord Krishna, and was able to distribute that fruit to others.

 

24. Shri Advaita Acarya displayed the sentiments of servitorship and friendship for the Lord, and Shriman Ranga Puri manifested the sentiment of parental love for Lord Krishna.

 

25. Lord Chaitanya accepted Shriman Isvara Puri as His spiritual master. The Lord proceeded to flood the entire world with spontaneous transcendental love for Krishna.

 

26. Lord Chaitanya accepted Shrimati Radharani's golden complexion and ecstatic love for Lord Krishna, both of which had never before been seen in this world. Lord Chaitanya was actually Lord Krishna, the son of Maharaja Nanda. He appeared like a great ocean of nectar flooding the entire world.

 

27. When Lord Vasudeva, the first member of the Catur-vyuha, saw the dancing of the Gandharvas at Dvaraka Puri, His mind became agitated with the desire to dance as they did. In order to fulfill this desire, Lord Vasudeva entered the transcendental body of Lord Chaitanya, to participate in the Lord's pastimes of ecstatic dancing.

 

28. The Supreme Personality of Godhead who remains at Dvaraka also entered the body of Lord Chaitanya, the son of Saci-devi, and various other incarnations of the Supreme Lord also entered Lord Chaitanya's body, all of them present there at the same time.

 

29. All these incarnations entered the body of Lord Chaitanya, just as the black incarnation Lord Syama formerly entered the transcendental body of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

30. Although the various incarnations of the Lord, who all manifested inconceivable transcendental qualities, were situated in various parts of the spiritual and material worlds, nevertheless, by the power of the Lord's yogamaya

energy, They all assembled together within the transcendental form of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

31. These inconceivable workings of the yogamaya potency cannot be understood by the limited conceptual power of the conditioned soul. This is confirmed by the following statement of Shrila Vyasadeva in the Prabhasa-khanda

of the Mahabharata: "The activities of the Personality of Godhead are inconceivable. Ordinary material logic does not have the strength to understand them."

 

32. The various incarnations entered the transcendental body of Lord Chaitanya just as formerly Lord Parasurama entered the body of Lord Ramacandra. Narada and other eternal devotees of the Lord also followed Him into this world to perform pastimes with Him in various places, just as the personified Vedas also did.

 

33. According to their individual sentiments of ecstatic love for Lord Krishna, the various eternal devotees of the Lord assumed various roles in the Lord's pastimes in Vraja.

 

34. Just as the moon of Lord Chaitanya was about to rise in this material world, the Lord said to Advaita Acarya: "Some devotees are attached to Me in the spirit of servitude, some are attached to Me in the spirit of friendship, and others are attached to Me with a mixture of the spirits of servitude and friendship. Some have firm faith and love for My forms as Shri Shri Radha-Madhava, and others are attached to My form as the king of Dvaraka. Some are attached to My various incarnations and thus display various kinds of love for me. I shall show them how to love Me as the residents of Vraja did."

 

35. The cowherd man named Parjanya who was Krishna's paternal grandfather in Vrndavana, took birth in the town of Shri Hatta during Lord Chaitanya's pastimes. Parjanya took the name Upendra Misra and became the father of seven sons.

 

36. The gopi named Variyasi-devi, who was Lord Krishna's paternal grandmother in Vraja, appeared as Kamalavati-devi during Lord Chaitanya's advent.

 

37. Shrimati Yasoda-devi and Vraja's king Nanda, who had been like two great oceans of the nectar of love for Krishna during the Lord's pastimes in Vrndavana, appeared during Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Shrimati Saci-devi and Shriman Jagannatha Purandara. Of this there is no doubt.

 

38/39. Some devotees say that the two demigods Aditi and Kasyapa, who incarnated as Kausalya and Dasaratha, Prsni and Sutapa, and also as Devaki and Vasudeva, the parents of Balarama and Krishna, also entered the bodies of

Saci-devi and Jagannatha. These devotees say that if this were not so, then it would not have been possible for Balarama to take birth as their son Visvarupa.

 

40. Rohini and Vasudeva, the parents of Balarama and Krishna, appeared during Lord Chaitanya's advent as the exalted brahmana couple Padmavati and Mukunda. Sumitra and Dasaratha were also present in the bodies of Padmavati and Mukunda.

 

41. The same Paurnamasi who greatly pleased Lord Govinda in Vraja appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Shrila Govinda Acarya, the expert author of songs and poetry.

 

42. Ambika, the nurse who fed infant Krishna with her own breast milk in Vraja, appeared during Lord Caitany's pastimes as Malini-devi, the wife of Shrivasa Pandita.

 

43. Kilambika-devi, who had been Ambika's sister in Vraja, and who had been accustomed to eating the remnants of foodstuff eaten by Lord Krishna, appeared during Lord Caitayna's pastimes as Narayani-devi.

 

44. The same person who was Maharaja Janaka, the king of Mithila, appeared during Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Vallabhacarya. Some people differ from this view, and say that Vallabhacarya was an incarnation of Maharaja Bhismaka.

 

45. The same person who formerly appeared as Janaki-devi and Rukmini-devi appeared during Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Shrimati Laksmipriya, the daughter of Vallabhacarya.

 

46. Vallbhacarya's daughter, Shrimati Laksmipriya, was an incarnation of Shrimati Laksmi-devi, the goddess of fortune. One day, as she was walking with her friends towards the bank of the Ganges to bathe, she entered the path of Lord Chaitanya's vision. In this way the Lord saw Laksmipriya for the first time.

 

47. The same person who formerly appeared as King Satrajit appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Sanatana Misra. Sanatana Misra's daughter was Shrimati Vishnupriya, and she was the incarnation of the Lord's Bhu-sakti, who is the mother of the entire universe.

 

48. That Shrimati Vishnupriya is an incarnation of Bhu-devi is described in the Shri Chaitanya-candrodaya-nataka, where Kali says: "Understanding that Shrimati Vishnupriya was the incarnation of Bhu-devi, Lord Chaitanya accepted her hand in marriage."

 

49. The same person who appeared as Visvamitra Muni, who arranged the marriage of Lord Ramacandra, and who also appeared as the brahmana messenger sent by Shrimati Rukmini-devi to Lord Kesava, also appeared in Lord

Chaitanya's pastimes as Vanamali Acarya, who was famous as a learned astrologer.

 

50. The brahmana named Kulaka, whom Maharaja Satrajit sent to Lord Madhava to arrange the Lord's marriage with Satyabhama, appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Shri Kasinatha.

 

51. The person who appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Jagadananda Pandita was actually an incarnation of Shrimati Satyabhama-devi. What devotee can say otherwise?

 

52. The same person who appeared as Sandipani Muni, the sage who gave Lord Krishna the sacred thread in Mathura, has appeared in  Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Kesava Bharati.

 

53. The same person who formerly appeared as Vasistha Muni, the spiritual master of Lord Ramacandra, appeared in  Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Gangadasa and Sudarsana.

 

54.The same person who was formerly known as Maharaja Vrsabhanu in the district of Vraja, appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as the great personality Pundarika Vidyanidhi.

 

55. When He was afflicted by the feelings of Shrimati Radharani's intense love in separation from Lord Krishna, Lord Chaitanya would address Pundarika Vidyanidhi using the word "father".

 

56/57. Lord Chaitanya was very pleased with Pundarika Vidyanidhi, and the Lord would address him by the name Premanidhi. Because Pundarika Vidyanidhi was a direct disciple of Madhavendra Puri, the Lord would treat him with great respect, as if he were the Lord's own spiritual master. Maharaja Vrsabhanu also appeared as Shri Madhava Misra. Ratnavati-devi Pundarika Vidyanidhi's wife, is considered by the learned devotees to be the incarnation of Kirtida-devi, the wife of Maharaja Vrsabhanu.

 

58.The original form of the Supreme Lord is considered not different from the Lord's direct expansions. For this reason it is considered that Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of Shrimati Saci-devi, is non-different from His expansion Lord Vasudeva, the first member of the Catur-vyuha. In the same way Shri Visvarupa is considered non-different from the incarnation Lord Sankarsana, the second member of the Catur-vyuha.

 

59. Lord Nityananda Avadhuta is also said to be non-different from Lord Sankarsana. That Shri Visvarupa is identical with Lord Sankarsana is described in the Shri Chaitanya-candrodaya-nataka, where Kali says to Dharma the following words:

 

60. "Lord Chaitanya's elder brother Visvarupa is identical with the Personality of Godhead Lord Sankarsana. Visvarupa never married, but accepted the order of parivrajakacarya-sannyasa and left home. It was the transcendental glory of Shri

Visvarupa that caused Lord Chaitanya to accept spiritual initiation from Isvara Puri."

 

61. That Lord Nityananda is also non-differnent from Lord Sankarsana is described in the following statement of the Shri Chaitanya-candradaya-nataka: "Lord Nityananda Avadhuta is non-different from Lord Sankarsana."

 

62. When the eternal Personality of Godhead Lord Visvarupa disappeared from home, He entered the body of Lord Nityananda Avadhuta.

 

63. My father, Sivananda Sena, once said: "Lord Nityananda Avadhuta is actually the Personality of Godhead Lord Balarama. Always staying among the devotees, He shines with the splendor of thousands of suns." Saying this, he began to dance.

 

64. Lord Nityananda incarnates as His plenary expansion Ananta Sesa. As Lord Sesa He transforms His body to become the garments, bracelets, and other ornaments worn by Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna. Expanding again as the pastime-potency, lila-sakti, Lord Sesa is aware of all the details of Lord Krishna's confidential pastimes.

 

65. Lord Balarama's two wives, Shrimati Varuni-devi and Shrimati Revati-devi, appeared during  Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Shrimati Vasudha-devi and Shrimati Jahnavi-devi, the two dear wives of Lord Nityananda, and the daughters of the great personality Shri Surya-dasa. Their father, Surya-dasa, had previously been Maharaja Kakudmi. His bodily luster made him as effulgent as the sun.

 

66. Some say that Shrimati Vasudha-devi is the incarnation of Shrimati Ananga-manjari, and others say that Shrimati Jahnavi-devi is the incarnation of Shrimati Ananga-manjari. In truth, both opinions are correct. They are both incarnations of Shrimati Ananga-manjari.

 

67. The expansion of Lord Sankarsana known as Lord Ksirodakasayi Vishnu appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Viracandra Prabhu. Lord Viracandra was non-different from Lord Chaitanya Himself.

 

68. Lord Viracandra also entered the bodies of the two brothers Nisatha and Ulmuka, who in this way were incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Minaketana Rama dasa and others were also incarnations of Lord Sankarsana in this way.

 

69. The Ganges River, who was born from the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu, appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Shrimati Ganga-devi, the daughter of Lord Nityananda. Her husband, Shri Madhava, had formerly been Maharaja Santanu.

 

70. Lord Pradyumna, the third member of the Catur-vyuha, had formerly appeared in Vrajabhumi  as a close (priya-narma-sakha) friend of Shri Shri Radha-Madhava, where he helped in Their transcendental pastimes. That same Lord Pradyumna appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Shri Raghunananda Thakura, who was non-different from both Lord Chaitanya and Lord Advaita.

 

71. Lord Aniruddha, the fourth member of the Catur-vyuha, appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Vakresvara Pandita. Lord Krishna personally entered Vakresvara's body and caused Him to dance in ecstasy. This ecstatic dancing of Vakresvara Pandita delightes Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

72. One day Vakresvara Pandita sweelty said to Lord Chaitanya: "O merciful Lord, please give me a thousand Gandharva singers to sing as I dance."

 

73. A particle of Lord Chaitanya entered the body of Nakula Brahmacari. In this way Nakula Brahmacari became a saktyavesa incarnation of the Lord.

 

74. In the same way, a particle of Lord Chaitanya also entered the body of Pradyumna Misra. Bhagavan Acarya Khanja is said to be a partial manifestation of Lord Gaura.

 

75. Lord Brahma, the master of the universe, who is considered one of the members of the Navavyuha and who is the original teacher of the Vedas and Tantras, appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Shri Gopinatha Acarya.

 

76. Lord Sadasiva, who formerly appeared as an avesa-incarnation in Vrajabhumi, appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Lord Advaita Gosvami, who is non-different from Lord Chaitanya Himself.

 

77. Assuming the form of a cowherd boy, Lord Sadasiva danced with Lord Krishna in Vrajabhumi. This is confirmed by the following statement of the Siva-tantra, where Bhairava says:

 

78. "One day, during the great festival of lights in the month of Karttika, Lord Krishna enthusiastically danced with Lord Balarama and Their cowherd friends.

 

79. My dear Parvati, when Lord Sadasiva, my spiritual master, saw this transcendental dancing, He yearned to become a cowherd boy and be able thus to dance with Lord Krishna.

 

80. By Lord Krishna's mercy Lord Sadasiva was able to appear in two forms. In one form He remained as Lord Sadasiva, and in the other form He appeared as a cowherd boy in Vraja."

 

81. Lord Siva's friend Kuvera, the king of the Guhyakas, appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Kuvera Pandita, the father of Lord Advaita.

 

82. Formerly, on Mount Kailasa, where the Siddhas and Sadhyas reside, Kuvera, who is very dear to Lord Siva, chanted the transcendental mantra containing the names of Lord Siva.

 

83. Merciful Lord Siva then said to Kuvera: "Please ask for some benediction. It is My desire to give you some gift." Kuvera then asked for a benediction, saying, "O my Lord, please become my son."

 

84. Requested in this way, Lord Sadasiva, the master of the demigods and the best of philanthropists, said to Kuvera: "During my next birth in the material world I shall accept the position of being your son."

 

85. In this way Kuvera attained a very difficult to attain benediction. When the appropriate time arrived, by Lord Sadasiva's mercy, Kuvera became the father of Lord Advaita Acarya.

 

86. The Supreme Lord's yogamaya potency appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Shri Sita-devi, the wife of Lord Advaita Acarya.

 

87. Lord Advaita's son was Acyutananda, who was very dear to Lord Chaitanya. Acyutananda was the dear disciple of Shriman Pandita Gosvami. This I have heard from the devotees.

 

88. Some say that Acyutananda was the incarnation of Karttikeya, and others learned in transcendental mellows say that he is the incarnation of Acyuta-gopi. Both views are correct, for both Karttikeya and Acyuta-gopi were present in the body of Acyutananda. Aside from this, some devotees say that Shri Krishna Misra was also the incarnation of Karttikeya.

 

89. The devotees Nandini and Jangali who were associates of Lord Chaitanya had previously been Jaya and Vijaya in Lord Krishna's pastimes.

 

90. Intelligent Shrivasa Pandita had previously been Narada Muni, the best of  the sages. Shrivasa's younger brother, Shriman Rama Pandita, had previously been Narada's close friend Parvata Muni.

 

91. The devotee named Murari Gupta in  Lord Chaitanya's pastimes had previously been Hanuman. In the same way Shri Purandara had previously been Angadam and Govindananda had been Sugriva.

 

92. The devotee named Ramacandra Puri in  Lord Chaitanya's pastimes had previously been Vibhisana.

 

93. Lord Chaitanya Himself did not accept that Ramacandra Puri was the incarnation of Vibhisana, but the Lord himself said that Ramacandra Puri was the empowered incarnation of Shrimati Radharani's mother-in-law Jatila. This Ramacandra Puri restricted Lord Chaitanya in His acceptance of alms. Rcika Muni's son Brahma Mahatapah, and Prahlada  Maharaja combined to appear as Haridasa Thakur in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes.

 

94/95. In the book Chaitanya-carita, Murari Gupta explains that one morning Mahatapah gave an unwashed tulasi leaf to his father, who became so angry at him for this that he cursed him. Because of this Mahatapah took birth in a yavana family as the great devotee Haridasa Thakura.

 

96/97. The eight mystic powers, beginning with anima-siddhi, which had formerly appeared in Vrndavana, took birth in Bengal during Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as the eight devotees Ananta, Sukhananda, Govinda, Raghunatha, Krishnananda, Kesava, Damodara, and Raghava. All these devotees bore the title Puri after their names.

 

98-101. The nine Jayanteyas, who were fixed in celibacy and equal vision, and who spoke the Shri Bhagavata-samhita to Janaka Rsi, appeared on this earth as nine sannyasis, and continually performed pastimes with Lord Chaitanya. Their names were: Shri Nrsimhananda Tirtha, Shri Satyananda Bharati, Shri Nrsimha Tirtha, Shri Cidananda Tirtha, Shri Jagannatha Tirtha, Shri Vasudeva Tirtha, Shri Rama Tirtha, Shri Purusottama Tirtha, and Shri Garuda Avadhuta, who was also known as Shri Gopendra Asrama.

 

102/103 Kuvera's famous nine treasures, which include his conch and lotus, took birth during  Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as the nine sons of  Nidhiratna-devi. Their names were Shrinidhi, Shrigarbha, Kaviratna, Sudhanidhi, Vidyanidhi, Gunanidhi, the learned brahmana Ratnabahu, Shriman Acaryaratna, and Shri Ratnakara Pandita.

 

104. Before the assembled relatives and friends, Nilambara Cakravarti spoke the astrological prediction of Lord Chaitanya's future life. For this reason it is said the Nilambara Cakravarti is the incarnation of Garga Muni.

 

105. Shrimati Saci-devi's father had formerly been the cowherd Sumukha, who was Yasoda-devi's father. Saci-devi's mother had formerly been Patala-devi, the wife of Sumukha in Vrajabhumi.

 

106. Lord Chaitanya's associate Shri Devananda Pandita, who was very learned in the Puranas, had previously been Bhaguri Muni, the chief pandita in the court of Maharaja Nanda.

 

107. The four learned devotees in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes, named Kasinatha, Lokanatha, Shrinatha, and Ramanatha, were incarnations of the four Kumaras. Of this there is no doubt.

 

108. The names of these four devotees each end with the word 'natha', just as the names of the four Kumaras each end with the word 'kumara'. These four devotees became known as the 'four Nathas'.

 

109. Vedavyasa appeared in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as Vrndavana das Thakura. Lord Krishna's cowherd friend Kusumapida also entered the body of Vrndavana das Thakura.

 

110. Sukadeva Gosvami, the son of Shrila Vyasadeva, appeared during  Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as the devotee named Vallabha Bhatta.

 

111. Shri Jagannatha Acarya, who was also known as Gangadasa Pandita, was very dear to Lord Chaitanya. In his previous life he had been Durvasa Muni, who delighted the gopis and was very dear to them.

 

112. The learned devotees know that Candrasekhara Acarya was an incarnation of the moon-god and Shriman Uddhava dasa was an empowered incarnation of the moon-god.

 

113. Lord Chaitanya personally affirmed that Candrasekhara Acarya was an incarnation of the moon-god, and in the same way the Lord expressly said that Shriman Visvesvara Acarya was an incarnation of the sun-god.

 

114. Bhaskara Thakura was an incarnation of the demigod Visvakarma. Vanamali Tahkura was an incarnation of Sudama Brahmana, who was afflicted by great poverty and obtained great wealth from the Lord.

 

115. Jaya and Vijaya, the two doorkeepers of  Vaikunthaloka, voluntarily appeared in  Lord Chaitanya's pastimes as the two devotees Shri Jagannatha and Shri Madhava.

 

116. The two liberated souls Pundarikaksa and Kumuda, who are very famous in Vaikunthaloka, appeared in Bengal as the two devotees name Govinda and Garuda, who were both very dear to Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

117. Garuda Pandita was the incarnation of Garuda. Gopinatha Simha was the incarnation of Akrura. Some say that Kesava Bharati was the incarnation of Akrura.

 

118. Shri Paramananda Puri had formerly been Uddhava. Maharaja Prataparudra, who was as powerful as Lord Indra, had formerly been Maharaja Indradyumna, who began the worship of Lord Jagannatha.

 

119. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya had formerly been Brhaspati, the foremost scholar in the heavenly planets.

 

120. The cowherd boy Arjuna who was a close friend of the Lord in Vrndavana, and the Pandava Arjuna, both joined to become RamananDa Raya, who was very dear to Lord Gauranga.

 

121. This exalted personality, Ramanda Raya, for many days described to Lord Gauranga the true nature of pure love for Shri Shri Radha-Krishna.

 

122-124 Some say that Ramananda Raya is the incarnation of Lalita-gopi, and others say that because Lord Gauranga directly told Ramananda Raya's father, Bhavananda Raya, that he was the incarnation of Maharaja Pandu, Arjuna's father, therefore Ramananda Raya must be the incarnation of Pandava Arjuna. The most learned devotees say that Ramananda Raya is the incarnation of both the Pandava Arjuna, and a gopi named Arjuniya. This explanation is also supported by the statements of the Padma Purana, Uttara-khanda. From all this we may conclude that Ramananda Raya is the incarnation of Lalita-gopi, Arjuniya-gopi, and Pandava Arjuna.

 

125. Now, as far as I am able, I shall describe the devotees who had previously appeared with the Lord in His Vraja-pastimes.

 

126. The cowherd boy named Shridama appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Ramadasa Abhirama dasa, who carried a flute made of a bamboo stick with sixteen knots.

 

127. Lord Krishna's cowherd friend Sudama appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Sundara Thakura. Lord Krishna's cowherd friend Vasudama appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Shri Dhananjaya Pandita.

 

128. Lord Krishna's dearest friend Subala appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Gauridasa Pandita. The cowherd boy Mahabala appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Kamalakara Pippalai.

 

129. The devotee who had been the cowherd boy Subahu in Vrajabhumi appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Uddharana Datta. Lord Krishna's cowherd friend Mahabahu appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Shriman Mahesa Pandita.

 

130. Lord Krishna's cowherd friend Stokakrishna appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Shri Purusottama das.

 

131. Dama-gopa, who had been Lord Krishna's cowherd friend in Vraja, appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Nagara Purusottama. Nagara Purusottama was born in a family of phyisicians, and his father's name was Sadasiva.

 

132. Lord Krishna's cowherd friend Arjuna appeared as Shri Paramesvara dasa in Lord Gauranga's pastimes. Lavanga, who had been Lord Krishna's cowherd friend in Vrajabhumi, appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Shri Kalakrishna dasa.

 

133. The cowherd boy named Kusumasava, who joked with Lord Krishna and made Him laugh in Vrajabhumi, appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as the learned brahmana named Kholaveca Shridhara.

 

134. The cowherd boy Prabala, who was a close friend of Lord Balarama in Vrajabhumi, appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Halayudha Thakura.

 

135. The cowherd boy Varuthapa who was close friend of Lord Krishnacandra in Vrajabhumi, appeared as Rudra Pandita, who was very dear to Lord Gauranga.

 

136. The devotee who had been the cowherd boy Gandharva in Vrajabhumi appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Kumudananda Pandita.

 

137. Bhrngara and Bhangura, who had been Lord Krishna's servants in Vrndavana, later appeared as Shri Kasisvara and Shri Govinda, the servants of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

 

138. Raktaka and Patraka, who had been Lord Krishna's servants in Vrndavana, later appeared as Haridasa and Brhacchisu, two servants of Lord Gauranga.

 

139. The two cowherdboys Payoda and Varida, who had formerly performed the nira-samskara ceremnoy for Lord Krishna, later appeared as Ramai and Nandai, two famous servants of Lord Gauranga.

 

140. Madhukantha and Madhuvrata, who were singers in Vrajabhumi, later appeared as Mukunda Datta and Vasudeva Datta, two famous singers in Lord  Gauranga's kirtana party.

 

141. Candramukha, the famous dancer in Vrndavana, appeared in Lord Gauranga's pastimes as Makaradhvajakara.