SRI SRI PRABHU SHYAMANANDA
Om Vishnupad Paramhansa Paribrakacharya Tridandi Swami Sri Srimat Bhakti Sravan Tirtha Goswami Maharaj
Gouridas was born at Saligram, about eighteen kilometers away from Sreedham Navadeep. His father was Kansari Mishra, mother Kamala Devi. Suryadas was his elder brother. Suryadas had two daughters, Basudha and Jahnavi.
Suryadas was a boyhood companion of Sri Gouranga. He was a sadhaka of Sakhuyabhava, i.e. friendship with God. He told Gouridas : “Go and live at Ambika-Kalna and do your sadhana and worship at a lovely place near the river Ganga.” What could have been more close to the heart of Fouridas? He left for Ambika.
One day Sri Gouranga was returning from Shantipur. He took a boat at Harinadi village. Pulling the oars with his own hands he crossed the Ganga and arrived at Ambika. But he did not leave the oar behind. He went to Gouridas’ house with the oar in his hand. Gouridas was astounded. Sri Gouranga said : “The oar is meant for you.”
“What shall I do with the oar?”
“What shall you do ? You shall take people across the world-river with the help of this oar.”
With profound reverence Gouridas accepted the oar with folded hands. The Lord also embraced him. He said, “Come with me to Navadweep. I shall give you something there.” Gouridas become full with the Lord’s embrace. He could not comprehend what more than this could be there. What was the thing that lay beyond imagination even ?
It was indeed beyond imagination. The Lord handed over the Gouridas the Gita written with His own hand. From beginning to end it was written with pearl-like letters. The nectar of his winkless gaze is gathered in it. The compassion had incessantly flowed into it from the touch of his hand. It was sheer bliss to look at this writing, to hold it in one’s hand, to read it and to contemplate on it. It was a joy flowing from the absorption of consciousness.
Holding the Gita close to his heart, Gouridas returned to Ambika. How painstakingly must He have written it with His own hands, and yet he gave it to me so unhesitatingly. What meditation and worship would Gouridas do? He was pondering over the incident and was weeping. What love, what play! Gouridas could not fathom its vastness.
When the Lord came to Santipur after His Sannyas, Gouridas did not go to see him because of his hurt feelings. If Prabhu renounces the world in this way, how can we live then? With which shall we live? Prabhu’s elder brother Nityananda is already a Sannyasi. Prabhu is also on the same path. If the light of both the eyes is gone, how shall we spend our days in the darkness of the jungle?
Prabhu himself came to Gouridas’ house along with Nityananda. Gouridas wept and said: “I will not let you go again. Let both of you stay here as permanent captives. I shall serve you to my heart’s content.”
Prabhu smiled and said: “Do one thing. You shall serve our images.”
- Will the images be alive?
- Surely
- Can they sit with a squatting posture?
- Yes, of course.
- Do they take rice with their own hands?
- Yes, certainly. Let you do one thing. Bring a Neem tree from Navadweep and make images of our two brothers from its wood. We shall surely fulfil your wish.
Gouridas wiped his tears. He sent men to Navadweep who brought a neem tree from there. He made two wooden idols out of it – one of Nityananda and another of Gourhari. On the instructions of Sri Advaitadev, his son Achyutananda anointed both the idols with the ten-letter Gopal mantra and installed them. These were the first idols of Nitai-Gourhari. Gouridas was the first founder of serving and worshipping the dual idols.
Prabhu said: “Now feed the four of us.”
- Four of you?
- Yes, four of us. We two brothers, and the two idols. Make places for the four.
- Will these two idols also eat?
- Of course, otherwise, why will you believe in them?
With great joy Gouridas prepared many dishes. He placed four seats. Prabhu and Nityananda and their two idols partook of the food. There were no difference between the real persons and their idols. Prabhu said: “From among us, two will stay at Ambika and two will go to Nilachal. We stay back with you and your wish is also fulfilled.”
Gouridas installed the idols of Gour-Nitai. Now there was the need of a sincere and competent devotee who would undertake the regular service and worship of the idols. In search of such a person Gouridas approached Gadadhar and said : “I have come to beg one thing from you”. Gadadhar looked at his face and said : “I have nothing that I cannot give to you.” Gouridas said: “Please, give your Hridayananda to me.”
Madhab Misra, known for his virtues lived at Bharatpur in the district of Murshidabad. He had two sons, Gadadhar and Kasinath. Kasinath had two sons, Nayananda and Hridayananda. This Gadadhar was one of Mahaprabhu’s close companions. He became known as Gadadhar Pundit, Gadadhar nurtured Hridayananda, gave him education and initiation. Hridaynanda was Gadadhar’s attendant, as well as his student. Gadadhar handed over this Hridayananda to Gouridas. Gouridas gave mantradiksha (initiation with Bijmantra) and appointed him to serve the idols.
There would be a great celebration on the occasion of Mahaprabhu’s birthday. Gouridas went out to beg. He had asked Hridayananda to serve and worship properly. “I shall come back at proper time.” But how was it? There was no news about Gouridas after he had left. If invitation letters were not immediately sent to the Mohants how could they be present on the fixed date? There was lot of related work unfinished. Hridayananda had completed all the arrangements before his Guru returned.
Gouridas returned just the day before the celebration. “Seeing your delay, I have myself completed all the arrangements,” said Hridayananda with some satisfaction. Gouridas did not bless him. Rather, he became angry and asked: “What is the meaning of your independent action without my permission?” Hridayananda fell dumb. “Since you have gone over me and thus have disregarded me, you have no longer a place here. Go somewhere else,” ordered Gouridas.
Hridayananda obeyed Guru’s order with bowed head and with a heavy heart. He took shelter under a tree on the bank of the Ganga.
Gouridas himself started the celebration at the ashram. People were gradually assembling at the ashram on getting the invitation from Hridayananda. One person was coming with huge offerings for the Lord. Seeing Hridayananda by the side of the Ganga he asked the bearers to stop. Hridayananda said, “The celebration is going on at the ashram, not here. Please, take these things to the ashram.”
But Gouridas refused to accept those things. He said, “These have come because of Hridayananda’s invitation. I shall not take them. Tell him to make a separate celebration with the help to these offerings.”
The bearers once again brought the offerings back to Hridayananda. “Has Gurudev asked me to make the celebration separately? So be it” Hridayananda began the celebration under the very tree on the bank of the Ganga. Hearing the commotion of the celebration, most of the invitees started assembling under the tree.
At the other end, Gouridas also was holding the celebration at the Ashram as per his own arrangements. At the time of the midday bhog he ordered priest Gangadas: “Open the door of the temple and make the offering of food”. The door of the temple was opened, but the temple was empty! The idols were missing. Gouridas ran towards the bank of the Ganga with a stick in his hand. “This is definitely the work of Hridayananda. He has removed the idols from the temple.”
On reaching the riverbank he saw a strange sight. Kirtan was going on and in the midst of the kirtanyas the two idols were dancing! Seeing the stick in Gouridas’ hand the two idols wanted to disappear. But Gouridas saw Sri Chaitanyachandra entering into the heart of Hridayananda. With outstretched hands Gouridas closely embrace Hridayananda. He said: “you are truly blessed. From today your name should be Hridaychaitanya.”
Returning to his ashram, Gouridas saw that the two idols were back at their usual places. They were laughing in their bright eyes, as if saying: “Do you comprehend Hridays’ devotion to his Guru ? Do you understand who is enshrined in whose heart?”
This Hridaychaitanya became the Diksha Guru (initiator) of Prabhu Shyamnanda.
Shyamananda’s Childhood name was Dukhi. After taking initiation from Hridaychaitanya his name became Krishnadas.
He was born in a village called Dharenda-Bahadurpur (presently known as Kalaikunda in Midnapur in a family of Milkman caste. His father’s name was Srikrishna Mondol and his mother was Durika.
As the child was born amidst much suffering he was named Dukhi. Some called him Dukhia. His father left his native place and migrated to Dandeshwar in Orissa. Since his very childhood signs of renunciation became visible in him. As soon as he had completed his lessons of grammar, a wish to take a bath in the Ganga suddenly arose in him. He told his father : “I am going to bathe in the Ganga.” Where? With whom? Srikrishna Mondal became very anxious. “A group of bathers is going to Ambika-Kalna. I shall go with them.” There was no point in refusing the permission. The boy could not be held back. Only let it be hoped, he would return home after taking his holy bath.
But Dukhia never returned home. There was chance meeting with Hridaychaitanya at Ambika-Kalna. Hridaychaitanya found that an effulgent lotus of devotion was blooming on the stem of renunciation. He said: “Come, I will give you a mantra.” He gave him Krishna mantra and said: “from this day your name is Krishnadas” Dukhia smiled and said: “Yes, Dhukhi Krishnadas”.
How true! Every living being remains afflicted with misery until he gets Krihsna.
Krishnadas’ heart could not be pacified with the bath in the Ganga alone. He said: “I shall see the Yamuna”. “Yes of course, you shall see it. You shall go Brajadham.” After Krishnadas had spent sometime in serving the Guru, Hridaychaitanya gave him permission to go to Vrindavan.
Dukhi Krishnadas went to Navadweep and from there proceeded to Vrindavan. There he met another Krishna-this was Krishnadas Kaviraj. Dukhi Krishnadas took refuge at the feet of Jiv Goswami. What more could be have asked for! Jiv Goswami began to teach him the scriptures. With the light of knowledge, the darkness of Krishnadas’ ignorance began to melt away.
One morning Dukhi Krishnadas was walking down a lonely path lined with the trees. His forehead was adorned with Gopichandan tilak (tilak of sandalwood), he had prayer beads in his hands and he was singing the praises of Gouranga. While walking thus, he suddenly stopped on the path. A golden anklet was lying on the path. Krishnadas eagerly picked up the anklet, pressed it to his forehead and then held it in his breast with both his hands. After a while he saw a young maiden coming up the path, searching for something on the ground.
“Devi, have you lost something?” asked Krishnadas politely in a soft voice. The maiden looked up, startled. She saw a handsome and dignified young man standing before her. She said, “Yes, something is lost, but it does not belong to me, but to my dear friend”.
“What?”
“The anklet was on my friends’ left foot”. The maiden added a bit more : “Last night while dancing, the anklet had loosened, which is why while returning home, it fell off on the way.” “Please, see if this is the same one.” Krishnadas took out the anklet, which he was keeping close to his heart.
The maiden held out her hand. Before she had said a word or had wanted anything the anklet on its own fell in her hand.
Was it magic? Or was it mirage? The girl disappeared that very instant. Krishnadas fainted and fell to the ground.
When he regained consciousness, Dukhi Krishnadas found that he was lying near Jiv Goswami. Jiv said: You are a blessed soul, you have held on your breast the anklet which adorns the feet of Srimati Radhika, the Goddess of Rasa dance. You have also seen her dear friend Lalita. Having got back her anklet Srimati is definitely delighted and so is her beloved Shyamsundar. From today, let your name be Shyamananda. Shyamananda sat up. “And look”, said Jiv Goswami, “as you had held the anklet to your forehead, a tilak in the shape of the anklet has emerged on your forehead. From today, let your tilak also be in the shape of an anklet, and let this tilak be called Shyamanandi Tilak.”
News reached Hridaychaitanya that Krishnadas had taken initiation anew from Jiv Goswami and has also adopted a new tilak. When Shyamananda returned to Kalna and Hridaychaitanya noticed the new tilak in place of the old one, he became very angry. He renounced Shyamananda.
“I had fixed the form of your tilak. But you have erased it. In its place you have adopted a new form. This disrespect is unbearable. I renounce you. Leave this ashram this very moment.” Said Hridaychaitanya.
Eyes filled with tears, Shyamananda looked on silently. Perhaps Hridaychaitanya felt a bit sorry for him. He said: “If you wash away that tilak and put on the old one once again, I can withdraw my order.”
But how could Shyamananda wipe out the anklet form of tilak form his forehead? It emerges spontaneously as soon as he touches his forehead.
Shyamananda left the ashram and went away. He stayed on the bank of the Ganga without having taken any food.
The idol in the temple could not remain quiet any longer. He appeared before Hridaychaitanya in his dream and said: “What have you done? Have you not banished my joy? It is the sign of my anklet that is on his forehead. It is my anklet that Radhika wears.”
The whole incident was revealed through the dream. Hridaychaitanya realized his mistake. He ran all the way to the riverbank and picked up Shyamananda on his lap. He asked: “Who is your Guru ?” “My Guru is Hridaychaitanya Prabhu”. There were no more doubts. The rapprochement between the Guru and the disciple was complete.
It was in Vrindavan that Shyamananda had befriended Thakur Narottam and Acharya Srinivas. These three remained loyal to Sri Virachandra and planted the victory flag of Vaisnavism in Bengal and Orissa. They released a great flood of love and devotion.
After the holy texts had been plundered at Vishnupur, Srinivas sent Shyamananda to Kheturi. He was present at Kheturi Mahotsav – the great festival at Kheturi. After receiving the information that the plundered texts had been recovered, Shyamananda returned to Kalna. From there he traveled towards Orissa. In a village called Rohini on the banks of the river Subarnarekha, the village chief Achyuta and his son Rasiknanda became the disciples of Shyamananda. Devotion is supreme, devotion is the ultimate-this was what he preached and it drew to him many disciples. Gradually, a large following collected around Shyamananda and thus grew up the Shyamanandi family.
Damodar was a yoga practicing Vedantist. Shymananda defeated him in a debate. He filled the emptiness of his heart with the nectar of devotion. Having become the disciple of Shyamananda, Damodar began to weep with the words ‘Nitai-Chaitanya’ on his lips.
Shyamananda emancipated a Pathan named Sher Khan at Dharenda. His disciple Rasikananda also preached love and devotion and thus transformed many wicked persons into devotees. The land became mad with Shyamananda. The whole of Orissa and Dharinda, Nrisinhapur, Balarampur, Gopiballavpur etc. became the centre of Preaching of love and devotion by Shyamananda and his chief and dearest disciple Rasikananda. The news arrived that Hridaychaitanya had passed away. Shortly after that, Shyamananda installed Rasikananda as the Mahanta of the Sripat had handed over the responsibility of the Shyamanandi sect to him. Then Shyamananda entered into the world of eternal Leela.
Translated from original Bengali by Sukhvinder and
Pabitra Kumar Ghosh
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