Caitanya Bhagavata Madhya ch. 5-read by Dharmavira dasa

This is a reading from Caitanya Bhagavat, Madhya khanda, chapter 5

“The Vyāsa-pūjā of Nityānanda Prabhu”

In the association of Lord Nityānanda, all the devotees passed their time in great joy, discussing the topics of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes. All the assembled Vaiṣṇavas were very elevated souls and unalloyed devotees of the Lord. They became immersed in the nectar of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Nityānanda Prabhu was extremely joyful, and He smiled as He looked around at the Vaiṣṇavas. The meetings were always a scene of extreme ecstasy, and tears of transcendental love and happiness cascaded down from everyone’s eyes.

Seeing this ecstasy, Lord Viśvambhara spoke to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, “Listen, My dear Nityānanda Gosvāmī, where shall we hold Your Vyāsa-pūjā ceremony? Tomorrow is a full moon, and on this day, Śrīla Vyāsadeva is worshiped. Therefore, You may choose anyone’s
home, and make arrangements with him.”

Nityānanda Prabhu could understand Lord Viśvambhara’s mind, so He took Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita by his hand and smiling, said, “Listen Viśvambhara, I will have My Vyāsa-pūjā in this brāhmaṇa’s house.”

Lord Viśvambhara then spoke to Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, “Now you have a heavy responsibility over your head.” Śrīvāsa replied, “No my Lord, this is no botheration, by Your grace everything is in this house.” The paraphernalia required like clothes, grains, Brahmin thread, ghee, etc., are all available here. I have only to borrow the book, which gives the procedure for performing a Vyāsa-pūjā ceremony. Then tomorrow, by my great fortune, I shall witness the Vyāsa-pūjā.” Lord Viśvambhara was very pleased with Śrīvāsa’s reply, and all the devotees were jubilant.

Lord Viśvambhara said, “Listen Nityānanda Gosāñi, let us all make preparations to go to Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita’s house.” Nityānanda very much appreciated Viśvambhara’s words, and immediately proceeded to Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita’s house. The Lord and Nityānanda Prabhu, accompanied by Their associates, looked exactly like Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma in Gokula as They went about accompanied by Their friends.

As they entered Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita’s house, the devotees felt a current of joy run through their bodies. The Lord ordered the doors to be closed, allowing only friends and relatives inside. Then, upon the signal from Lord Viśvambhara, they began singing bhajans and kīrtanas, and gradually the external world faded away into oblivion.

The chanting was ecstatic and befitting the occasion of Vyāsa-pūjā. The two Lords began to dance ecstatically, surrounded by the devotees who were singing. The bond of love and affection exists eternally between Lord Nityānanda and Lord Viśvambhara, and now, as they danced together, each one was immersed in thought of the other.

The devotees were experiencing extraordinary joy. Some began to roar loudly, some fell unconscious, and others could not restrain the flow of joyful tears.

The two Supreme Lords were experiencing all the symptoms of ecstasy like shivering, pallor, horripilation, crying, and falling unconscious. Who can describe all the ecstatic symptoms that They manifested? The two Lords danced, lost in Their ecstasy. Often They would embrace each other, crying. In the mood of brotherly love, They tried to catch each other’s feet. However, because both were wary and cunning, They could not succeed. They were overwhelmed in happiness and They rolled on the ground forgetting Their absolute supreme position. Such are Their wonderful pastimes.

The two Supreme Lords were lost in the nectar of chanting and dancing. Lord Gaurasundara kept repeating, “Chant! Chant!” drenching His whole body with tears of happiness. The Lord, having found the personality whose association He had always desired, His eternal brother, Lord Nityānanda, was floating on an ocean of eternal ever-increasing ecstasy. Lord Viśvambhara’s dancing was completely enchanting and sometimes He would touch His head with His feet.

When Lord Nityānanda Prabhu danced, there seemed to be an earthquake. Thus, the two Supreme Lords danced in ecstasy. Who can describe such scene of great jubilation?

To Nityānanda Prabhu the Lord said, “Immediately bring Me a plough.” At the Lord’s request, Lord Nityānanda stretched out His hands and Lord Gauracandra received the plough with His hands. Some saw the two Lords go through these motions empty-handed, while others actually saw Lord Nityānanda Prabhu give a plough to Lord Caitanya.

Only by the Lord’s mercy can one understand His supreme position. Such confidential pastimes and topics of the Lord as displayed by Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda are known to only a very limited few.

From Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya khanda, chapter 5 by Vrindavan das Thakur

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