Chaitanya's Life And Teachings Part 18

Hari!_

Five days were thus pa.s.sed in delivering the people, and then the Master grew anxious. When He started walking away at night, His five _bhaktas_ followed Him,--_viz._, Tapan Mishra, Raghunath, the Maratha Brahman, Chandra Shekhar, and the singer Paramananda,--all wis.h.i.+ng to accompany Him to Puri. But the Master sent them back gently, giving them leave to come afterwards, as He was returning alone by the Jharikhand route. To Sanatan He said, "Go to Brindaban, to your two brothers. If my _bhakta_ beggars, clad in quilt and bowl in hand, go there, cherish them." So saying He embraced and left them, while they all fell down fainting.

Recovering they sadly took the way back to home.

When Rup reached Mathura, at the Dhruba ghat he met Subuddhi Ray, who had once been governor of Gaur with Sayyid Husain Khan as his servant.

Husain was ordered to dig a tank, and on his committing some fault, his master, the Ray, flogged him. When, afterwards, Husain Shah became Sultan of Bengal, he greatly promoted Subuddhi Ray.

But the Sultana, noticing the scar of the lash on Husain's back, pressed him to murder the Ray. The Sultan declined saying that the Ray was his former patron, a father unto him. But the queen urged him to destroy the Ray's caste while sparing his life. Husain answered that Subuddhi would not survive the loss of his caste. The king was hard pressed by the queen, and at last forced water from his own goglet into the Ray's mouth. At this the Ray left all his possessions, fled to Bewares, and asked the _pandits_ there about the proper penance. Thev replied, "Give up your life by drinking steaming _ghee_. This is not a venial sin!"

The Ray remained perplexed, but when the Master arrived there, he told Him all. Chaitanya advised him to go to Brindaban and ceaselessly chant Krishna's name, as one utterance of the name would wash away all his sins and a repet.i.tion of it would gain him Krishna's feet.

The Ray reached Mathura by way of Prayag, Ayodhya, and the Naimish forest (where he lingered some days). In the meantime the Master returned from Brindaban to Prayag, and Subuddhi on reaching Mathura grieved to miss Him. The Ray sold dry f.a.ggots at Mathura, at five or six piece per bundle. He lived by chewing one pice worth of gram and lodged the rest of his earnings with a _bania_. Whenever he met a poor Vaishnav, he fed him, and to Bengali pilgrims he gave curd, rice and oil for anointing the body. Rup greatly favoured him, and took him through the "Twelve Woods" in his own company.

After a month at Brindaban, Rup hurriedly left to search Sanatan out.

Hearing that the Master had taken the Ganges route to Prayag, Rup and his brother Anupam followed that path. But Sanatan from Prayag went to Mathura by the king's highway, and so missed Rup, who had taken a different route, as Subuddhi Ray told Sanatan on his arrival at Mathura.

Tenderly did the Ray treat Sanatan, who cared not for tender treatment; being very averse to the world, he roamed through the woods, pa.s.sing a day and night under each tree and grove. Securing a copy of the holy book named _Mathura Mahatmya_, he searched the forests to discover the forgotten shrines.

Rup with his youngest brother came to Kas.h.i.+ and there met the Maratha Brahman, Chandra Shekhar, and Tapan Mishra. He lived with Chandra Shekhar, dined with the Mishra, and heard from the latter how the Master had taught Sanatan. Delighted was he to hear from them about the Master's doings at Kas.h.i.+ and His grace to the _sannyasis_, and to see the devotion of the people to him, and hear them chanting _kirtan_.

After a ten days stay there, Rup left for Bengal.

The Master wended His way to Puri, feeling intense bliss in the lonely jungle path. Balabhadra accompanied Him, and He sported with the deer and other animals as during His first journey. Reaching Athara-nala He sent Bhattacharya in advance to summon His followers. At the news of His return, they got a new life as it were, ran to Him in rapture and met Him at the Narendra tank. The Master touched the feet of the Puri and the Bharati, who embraced Him lovingly. Damodar Swarup, Gadadhar Pandit, Jagadananda, Kas.h.i.+shwar, Govinda, Vakreshwar, Kas.h.i.+ Mishra, Pradyumna Mishra, Damodar Pandit, Haridas Thakur, Shankar Pandit, and all other _bhaktas_ fell down at His feet. He embraced each and was over come with love. The faithful swam in the ocean of bliss. With them He went to visit Jagannath, before whom He with His party danced and sang long in rapture. The servitor of the G.o.d presented Him with a garland and _prasad_, while Tulsi Parichha bowed at His feet.

The Master's arrival was [soon] noised abroad in the village.

Sarvabhauma, Ramananda, and Vaninath joined Him. With them all He repaired to Kas.h.i.+ Mishra's house. Sarvabhauma bade Him to dinner, but He declined, and ordering some _maha-prasad_ to be brought, feasted there with all His followers. [Text, canto 25.]

CHAPTER XXIII[1]

The Master teaches His disciples at Puri; the meeting with Sanatan

_Author's words in commencing the Last Acts (Antya Lila)_:--"I bow to the Lord G.o.d Krishna-Chaitanya, whose grace enables a cripple to cross mountains and a dumb man to recite the scriptures. I am blind; this path is difficult, and I am again and again stumbling on it. May the saints be my support by lending me the staff of their compa.s.sion!

"I adore the feel of my six _gurus_,--Rup, Sanatan, Raghunath Bhatta, Jiv, Gopal Bhatta, and Raghunath-das,--who will remove evil (from my path) and fulfil my desire. In the _Madhya Lila_ I have given a brief outline of the _Antya Lila_. I am now stricken with the decrepitude of age, and know death to be near. Therefore, I write in detail such acts of the _Antya Lila_ as have not been described before."

When the Master returned from Brindaban to Nilachal, Swarup Goswami sent word of it to Bengal. Shachi rejoiced to hear of it; all the _bhaktas_ rejoiced. They all set off for Nilachal. The men of Kulin village and the men of Khand all joined Acharya s.h.i.+vananda. s.h.i.+vananda Sen undertook to pa.s.s them through the police out posts (_ghati_) of the road, looked after them, and secured lodgings for them. When they arrived at Nilachal, they all met the Master, as in past years. At the end of four months, the Master sent the _bhaktas_ back to Bengal.

Every year the Bengali adorers used to come, meet the Master, and then return home. From other provinces, too, people used to come to Jagannath-Puri and attain the bliss of gazing at the feet of Chaitanya. But there were many householders who could not come. For their salvation the Master inspired worthy disciples in those countries with His own force, and thus all countries were made Vaishnav.

Bhagaban Acharya, a great Vaishnav, very learned and high-born (_arya_), lived at Jagannath-Puri, seeking the Master's company, as the cow-boys [of Mathura did Krishna's]. He was a comrade of Swarup Goswami, and took absolute refuge at the feet of Chaitanya. At times he used to invite the Master and made Him dine alone in his house.

One day, when the Acharya had bidden the Master to dinner at his house, he called the Master's chanter, the Lesser Haridas, and told him to bring on his behalf a _maund_ of white rice from the sister of s.h.i.+khi Mahiti. She was named Madhavi Devi, an old anchorite and devout Vaishnav. At his meal the Master praised the rice and learnt that it had been supplied by Madhavi through the Lesser Haridas. When He returned to His lodgings, he ordered Govinda to exclude Haridas from the place from that day onwards.

Haridas grieved at the Master's doors being closed to him. For three days he fasted. None knew the reason of his exclusion. Then Swarup and others asked the Master, who replied, "I cannot look at the face of a bairagi who speaks to a woman. Our pa.s.sions are hard to control and take hold of their natural objects of gratification. Even the wooden statue of a woman can steal the heart of an ascetic." (They prayed for His pardon, but in vain. When even Puri Goswami interceded for Haridas, the Master in anger threatened to leave His disciples there and migrate alone to Alalnath). At the sight of Haridas's punishment, terror seized all the _bhaktas_. They gave up conversing with women even in dreams.

Thus did Haridas pa.s.s a year, and yet the Master did not feel any grace for him. So, one night Haridas bowed to the Master [from a distance] and went away to Allahabad without telling anybody. He concentrated his mind on attaining to the Master's feet [in the next life] and gave up his life by plunging into the junction of the three rivers, (_Triveni_ at Allahabad).

An Oriya Brahman boy, handsome, gentle of manner, but fatherless, used to visit the Master at Puri daily, bow to Him and hold converse with Him. The Master was as life unto him, and he enjoyed the Master's favour. Damodar could not bear to see this attachment, and again and again forbade the boy [to come]. But he could not live without seeing the Master; he came daily and the Master showed him great love; it is natural for a boy to come where he meets with love.

The sight grieved Damodar, but he could not say any thing as the boy heeded not his prohibition. One day the boy visited the Master, who lovingly inquired after his [health]. After a time the boy left. Damodar could not contain himself any longer, but burst out with, "In other connections you are called a _Goswami_. We shall soon know what sort of _Goswami_ you are! All men will soon sing the praise of our _Goswami!_ His reputation will be now established at Puri!"

The Master, hearing it, asked, "What is this that you are talking, Damodar?" The man replied, "You are a free G.o.d. You act as you please.

Who can forbid you? But who can shut the mouth of the garrulous world?

You are a wise man. Why then do you not reflect deeply? Why do you love a widow's son? True, she is chaste and an ascetic; but she has the faults of being beautiful and young. You too are youthful and extremely handsome. This will give an opportunity to scandal-mongers to whisper."

Damodar ceased speaking. The Master, pleased at heart, smiled and reflected, thinking "This is a current of the purest love. I have no well-wisher like Damodar."

Another day, the Master took Damodar aside and said, "Damodar, go to Navadwip, and stay there with my mother. I do not see any other guardian for her than you. You have warned me even! I have no candid friend like you among my followers. Unless a man is candid (_lit._, impartial), virtue cannot be guarded. You have done something which even I cannot do. You have reprimanded me, what shall we say of others? Go to my mother's house and remain at her feet. In your presence n.o.body can act freely. Come here occasionally to see me, and then return there quickly.

Convey to mother my millions of salutation. Make her happy with the news of my happiness. Say that I have sent you to her to tell her constantly of me. So saying delight her heart."

(The miracles of the Vaishnav saint Haridas Thakur, _not translated_).

When Rup Goswami, after visiting the Master at Puri, went to Bengal for returning to Brindaban, his brother Sanatan came from Mathura to Nilachal. He travelled by the Jharikhand jungles (Santal parganas), now fasting, now chewing [dry grains]. Scabs broke out on his skin from the bad water of Jharikhand and the irregularity of diet, and exudations ran down his body.

On the way he sadly reflected, "I belong to a low caste. My body is vile. I shall fail to see the Master when I go to Puri. He lives, I hear, near the temple. But I dare not go near it, as the servitors of Jagannath are constantly pa.s.sing there on business and it will be a sin if I [accidentally] touch them. Therefore, I shall renounce my body by throwing myself under the wheels of Jagannath's car when the G.o.d is taken out in the car procession; thus shall I attain at a holy place relief from my pangs and the salvation of my soul."

So resolving, he came to Nilachal and alighted at Haridas's place. He bowed at the feet of Haridas, who learning his name embraced him. His heart yearned for the sight of the Master. Haridas a.s.sured him that He would soon come.

The Master, after witnessing the _Upala-bhog_ of Jagannath, came there with His disciples to meet Haridas. The two prostrated themselves at His feet. The Master raised Haridas and embraced him. Haridas said, "Here is Sanatan, bowing to you." The Master looked at Sanatan with interest and advanced to embrace him, while Sanatan ran backwards shouting, "Touch me not, Master, I beseech Thee. I am of low caste, and in addition my skin is running with exudations." But the Master embraced him by force, and His fair body was stained with Sanatan's sores. He introduced all His disciples to Sanatan, who bowed at their feet. With them all the Master sat down on the raised terrace, while Haridas and Sanatan sat below. He inquired after Sanatan's health, who replied "My supreme bliss is that I have gazed on Thy feet." The Master then asked about the Vaishnavs of Mathura, and Sanatan reported that they were well.

The Master said, "Rup [your brother] was here for ten months, and he left for Bengal only ten days ago. Your [youngest] brother Anupam has died on the bank of the Ganges. He was a staunch devotee of Ram."

Sanatan replied, "I have been born in a low family; All sorts of wickedness and wrongdoing were my hereditary burden. Such a family thou hast accepted, without scorning it! My whole family has been blessed by thy grace. This Anupam was devoted to Ram-wors.h.i.+p from his childhood.

Day and night he used to meditate on the name of Ram, hear the _Ramayan_ read, and chant it. He used to live with Rup and myself constantly and listen with us to Krishna's deeds and the _Bhagabat_. We one day tested him saying, Listen, dear, Krishna is very delicious; he abounds in beauty, sweetness, love, and grace. Do you, therefore, adore Krishna in our company. We three brothers shall dwell together in the delights of discourses on Krishna. So we two urged him again and again.

Our influence turned his mind a little and he responded, How long can I resist your command? Initiate me in the mantra and I shall adore Krishna [in future]. So saying, he paced up and down all the night, waking and crying how he could leave Ram's feet. Next morning he told us, I have sold my head to the feet of Ram, and it pains me excessively to draw my head away thence, Have mercy on me and permit me to wors.h.i.+p Ram's feet birth after birth. Then we two embraced him and praised him saying n.o.ble is the firmness of thy faith. Master, when you bless a family, it enjoys every good, and all its troubles, disappear."

The Master replied, "Just in the same way did I test Murari Gupta before. That _bhakta_ is n.o.ble who does not leave his Lord's feet. That Master is blessed who does not abandon his own devotee. It is well that you have come here. Dwell in the same house with Haridas."

One day the Master came there, as was his daily wont, to meet the two, and began abruptly to speak, "Sanatan! If giving up life could have made one gain Krishna, I could have sacrificed my life a million times over in a moment. It is not by courting death but by adoration that we can gain Krishna. There is no other way of gaining him than _bhakti_.

Suicide and the like are a low dark (_tamas_) kind of _dharma_. But the _tamas_ and _rajas_ kinds of _dharma_ cannot give us the essence of Krishna. Without _bhakti_ there cannot be love, and without love Krishna cannot be attained.

"Suicide and the like are a _tamas dharma_, and the cause of sin; through them a devotee cannot attain to Krishna's feet. The loving _bhakta_ wishes to quit his body when separated from his Lord; but when love has brought Krishna to him, he cannot think of death.

"Give up your evil intention and listen to the _kirtan_, and soon will you get the treasure of love for Krishna. Even a low-caste man is not unfit to adore Krishna. Even a well-born Brahman is not, [merely by reason of his birth] worthy to adore him. He who adores is great; the man wanting in devotion is low and despicable. In the wors.h.i.+p of Krishna there is no distinction of caste or pedigree. The Lord is more gracious to the lowly, while the high-born, the learned, and the rich are too proud [in His eyes]. "Among the methods of adoration the chief are the nine kinds of _bhakti_, which is most potent in giving us, Krishna's love, even Krishna himself. The highest of these is _nam-sankirtan_, chanting the Name. Chant the Name with a pure soul and you will win the treasure of divine love!"

Sanatan marvelled when he heard all this, thinking "The Master is omniscient. He has divined my plan of suicide and forbidden it." Then he clasped the Master's feet, crying, "You are omniscient, gracious, free, and G.o.d. I move like a wooden machine as you turn my handle. I am lowly, a wretch, and wicked of disposition. What would you gain by keeping me alive?"

The Master replied, "Your body is my property. You have given yourself up to me. How dare you think of destroying what is another's property?

Cannot you distinguish between a crime and a just deed? Your body is my chief instrument; with it I shall carry out many purposes. The exposition of the nature of devotion, the devotee and Krishna-_prem_, the duties and daily practices of Vaishnavs, the establis.h.i.+ng of devotion to Krishna, love for Krishna and service, the restoration of forgotten holy places, the teaching of asceticism, the preaching of this faith at Mathura and Brindaban which are my favourite places, all these I wish for. But by my mother's command I live at Nilachal, and therefore I cannot preach the religion at Mathura in person. The body by means of which I want to do all these works, you want to give up. How can I allow it?"

At this Sanatan said, "I bow to thee. Who can fathom the depths of thy heart? As the juggler makes the wooden puppet dance, while it knows not what it plays or what it sings, so, too, does the man whom you inspire, dance with out knowing why he is dancing or through whom."

Thereafter the Master embraced the two and left for His home to do His noontide devotions.

Haridas mourned to Sanatan, "None can be compared with you in good fortune. The Master has declared your body to be His own property. He will do through you at Mathura the work that He cannot do in His own person. Through you He will compose the exegetics of _bhakti_, and lay down its scriptures and practices. [Alas!] my body has been of no service to the Master. My body, though born in the [holy] land of Bharat, has become futile."

But Sanatan consoled him saying, "Who else is your equal? Among the Master's followers you are the most fortunate. The work of His incarnation is the preaching of the Name, and that work He does through you. Daily do you chant the Name three hundred thousand times. Before all do you hold forth on the glory of the Name."

The Bengal _bhaktas_ came on pilgrimage, as before, on the occasion of the Car festival, and stayed with the Master for the four months of the monsoon. The Master introduced to them Sanatan who bowed at their feet and they favoured him. His excellent character and [deep] scholars.h.i.+p endeared Sanatan to all.

In the month of Jyaishtha the Master went to Yameshwar Tota (garden) to dine at the entreaty of His _bhaktas_. At noon He called for Sanatan, who delighted to hear of it, and went to Him by way of the sea-beach. He reached the Master with his two feet blistered [by the hot sand].