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        Srimati Visnupriya's 
          Deity of Sriman Mahaprabhu, continually 
          worshiped in Sri Nabadwip Dham
 1. The Appearance of Srimati 
          Visnupriya Devi Today is the Holy Day of Vasanta-pancami (the fifth day 
          of the light fortnight of the moon, month of Magh, when Krsna is worshipped 
          with the new flowers of spring). On this day, the holy advent of Srimati 
          Visnupriya Devi occurred. Her father was Sri Sanatana Misra of Nabadwip, 
          who was a Brahmana and great devotee of Lord Visnu. Srimati Visnupriya 
          Devi is the Eternal Consort of Sri Gaurasundar in His feature of Gaura 
          Narayana, and according to Sri-Gauranganoddesa-dipika she is 
          directly Satyabhama in Krsna's Dvaraka-lila.  She 
          was the second wife of Sriman Mahaprabhu in the householder period of 
          His Pastimes. From childhood, she was devout in the Divine Service of 
          the Supreme Lord. Kasinatha Pandit was the intermediary in her marriage 
          to Mahaprabhu.  She 
          was the ideal of Divine Self-surrender at the Lotus Feet of Mahaprabhu. 
          When she was only fourteen, Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, and after 
          that she lived the rest of her life in penance. From early morning she 
          would take the Holy Name the whole day, and for every Mahamantra 
          that she chanted, she would put one grain of rice into a clay pot. After 
          chanting her quota, she would take that rice and cook it and offer it 
          to the Lord. That was all she would take for her subsistence, so gradually 
          she became emaciated. She passed her days in this way.  Her 
          brother was her guardian after Sacidevi departed, and ultimately she 
          had a Sri-Murtti (Deity) of Mahaprabhu, and she would worship 
          Him in that Form. And since the time of Visnupriya, that worship is 
          being continued up to the present in the Temple here in Nabadwip known 
          as 'Mahaprabhura Badi' (the Home of Mahaprabhu). So this day of the 
          year is connected with her holy memory, and we may achieve her Grace 
          if we honour this time in her name, discussing her Pastimes. She will 
          be propitiated and Sri Chaitanyadev will also be pleased with us, giving 
          us a step forward in our transcendental march towards Him.    2. The Appearance of Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi 
         
        
        Today 
          is also the appearance day of Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi. He is considered 
          to be Vrsabhanuraja of Varsana, Vrndavana, the father of Srimati Radharani. 
          Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi was born in a Brahmana family at Chattagram, 
          and he bore the title 'Vidyanidhi' on account of his scholarship. Apparently 
          he was a man of luxurious habits. In those days, people who could afford 
          it would have a house in Nabadwip on the banks of the holy Ganges river; 
          they would from time to time visit Nabadwip to regularly bathe in the 
          Ganges and remain for some time in this Holy Place, and then return 
          to their homes to continue their livelihood. So, Pundarika Vidyanidhi 
          also had a house in Nabadwip.  Here, 
          in Gaura-lila, Gadadhara Pandit was the Representation of Srimati 
          Radharani Herself. At that time, Gadadhara Pandit was a young boy. He 
          was younger than Mahaprabhu. Mukunda Datta was a follower and admirer 
          of Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanyadev, and he also came from Chattagram, the 
          village of Pundarika Vidyanidhi. He knew Pundarika Vidyanidhi to be 
          a man of higher religious type, that is, a Bhagavata type or 
          Krsna-bhakta. But outwardly Pundarika Vidyanidhi lived a life 
          of luxury. He was a well-to-do man, a general zamindar (state 
          owner). Mukunda Datta naturally knew him when he came to Nabadwip, since 
          he hailed from the same place. Mukunda Datta went to Gadadhara Pandit 
          and asked him, "Would you like to have the darsana of a Vaisnava?" 
           From 
          childhood Gadadhara Pandit was very fond of Vaisnavas and Krsna-nama. 
          He had much fondness for Nimai Pandit, when the Lord returned from Gaya. 
          Previously he was very much afraid of Nimai Pandit, because whenever 
          They met, Nimai Pandit would always tackle him with some apparent quarrel 
          about etymology or something of that nature. So, after returning from 
          Gaya, when Sri Chaitanyadev expressed his Devotional Aspect, He said 
          one day, "Gadadhara, from your very childhood you are a devotee of Krsna, 
          and My days have been wasted discussing grammar and mundane literature. 
          But you, Gadadhara, My friend  your life is very successful. You have 
          fulfilment of life. From the beginning you are fond of Krsna-nama." 
          So, from the beginning Gadadhara Pandit's heart was towards Krsna. Therefore 
          when Mukunda Datta asked him, "Would you like to see a Vaisnava who 
          has come from afar?" the reply came, "Yes, yes, I shall go; take me 
          there."  So 
          Mukunda Datta took Gadadhara Pandit to Pundarika Vidyanidhi. And what 
          kind of Vaisnava was Pundarika Vidyanidhi? He was sitting on a luxurious 
          bedstead, smoking a very ornate and valuable pipe. His head was adorned 
          with beautiful oiled curly locks, and many valuable pastes were anointed 
          on his body. Two attendants fanned him on either side.  Gadadhara 
          Pandit thought, "Mukunda has brought me to this luxury-loving man sitting 
          on the bedstead and smoking? What type of Vaisnava has he brought me 
          to see?" He was disappointed at heart, and Mukunda could guess it. Mukunda 
          Datta was a very good singer, and in a very sweet tone he sang this 
          sloka of Bhagavatam:  
           
             
              aho 
                baki yam stana-kala-kutam jighamsayapayayad apy asadhvi
 lebhe gatim dhatry ucitam tato 'nyam
 kam va dayalum saranam vrajema
 This 
          sloka was chanted by Mukunda in a very sweet tone, and this created 
          a wonderful effect in Pundarika Vidyanidhi. The Bhagavatam says, 
          "Who else but Krsna should we approach? Who can be so kind, so gracious? 
          There is limitless Grace in Him. Why? Baki - Putana, came to kill Him 
          in a treacherous way, taking the garb of a dhatri, a motherly garb. 
          In this way she came to try and kill Him; yet Krsna gave her a position 
          as a nursemaid in His group of assisting mothers. So gracious is the 
          Lord. Who else can we approach for our good?"   This is the meaning of the 
          verse. "She painted deadly poison on her breast, and came to suckle 
          the boy Krsna. So treacherous was her action. In the garb of motherly 
          affection she tried to murder the boy, and she was given such a high 
          position as an attendant of His mother. She was elevated to the motherly 
          group. Such Grace, such Mercy He showed, without considering or passing 
          judgment on the worth of that action. So other than that kindhearted 
          and gracious Krsna, where else should we go for shelter?"
 This 
          entered the heart of Pundarika Vidyanidhi and began to vibrate, and 
          produced such force that he was stunned; then shivering began, and madly 
          gesticulating, he began to pull his hair and tear his silken dress, 
          kicking over the tobacco and pipe. His rich bedding and dress were ruined, 
          and he began to roll on ground and cry, kam va dayalum saranam vrajema 
           "In whom shall we take shelter other than Him?"  Then 
          Gadadhara Pandit thought, "Oh, I have committed a great offence in my 
          mind, thinking that he was not a Vaisnava, because of his fashionable 
          dress and style. Really, how great a Vaisnava he is  what a wonderful 
          effect the memory of Krsna caused in him!"  Then 
          Gadadhara Pandit revealed his mind.  "Mukunda, 
          I have committed offence against this great Vaisnava. What will be my 
          fate? When I first saw him, I shunned him; I committed offence. I think 
          that if I take mantra from him  become his disciple  then he 
          may forgive all my offences. There is no other way to be absolved from 
          this Vaisnava-aparadha. I shall have to inform my Lord Gaurachandra, 
          Nimai Pandit, about this."  So 
          they left the place of Pundarika Vidyanidhi, and Gadadhara went to take 
          Nimai Pandit's permission to become the disciple of Pundarika Vidyanidhi. 
           Before 
          anyone knew that Pundarika had come from Chattagram to Nabadwip, and 
          even before Mahaprabhu had met him, Mahaprabhu was seen to suddenly 
          cry, "Bap Pundarik! Bap Pundarik!" In the mood of Srimati Radharani, 
          Nimai was taking his name. Bap means 'father.' So He was calling, 
          "Father, Pundarika! Father Pundarika!" Nimai Pandit was chanting like 
          this, in the mood of Radharani.  When 
          Gadadhara made his proposal to Mahaprabhu, the Lord immediately replied, 
          "Yes, very good proposal. Go and accept him at once." Gadadhara Pandit 
          represents Radharani in Gaura-lila, and Pundarika is Radharani's 
          father in Krsna-lila: the Guru is like the father, and the disciple 
          is like the child. So Mahaprabhu at once approved and Gadadhara took 
          initiation from Pundarika Vidyanidhi. He was none other than Vrsabhanuraja, 
          and Gadadhara was the incarnation of Radharani in Gaura-lila. 
           Pundarika 
          Vidyanidhi would not take bath in the Ganges because he could not tolerate 
          that his feet would touch the holy Ganges river. Before daybreak, he 
          would go to the Ganges and take some of the water on his head. He did 
          not go to the Ganges by day, because he could not tolerate to see persons 
          who would dive into the water or spit there and contaminate the pure, 
          holy water by misusing it. Before worship, prayer, etc., the general 
          pandit section may bathe in the Ganges and fast to purify their 
          bodies of sin. But Pundarika Vidyanidhi would rather drink some Ganges 
          water prior to his daily worship and duties, thereby teaching us the 
          proper worshipful respect due to the Ganga. In 
          Puri, his dearmost friend and associate was Sri Svarupa Damodara. When 
          he went to Puri, he felt some pain in his heart that the priestly servants 
          of Lord Jagannath dressed the Lord in starched cloth, which is generally 
          considered impure. When cloth is manufactured by handloom, the thread 
          is soaked in boiled rice water which acts as a paste to hold it firm 
          in the loom. That cloth is considered impure, and must first be rinsed 
          in water before offering it to the Deity. But in Puri, that was not 
          the practice. They directly used  starched cloth for 
          dressing Lord Jagannath, and Pundarika Vidyanidhi could not accommodate 
          this.  
          
             
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                    | Both Jagannath 
                      and Balaram came to him and dealt slaps to his cheeks. |  |  That 
          night, he dreamt that both Jagannath and Balaram came to him and dealt 
          slaps to his  cheeks, 
          saying, "You have come here to point out the defects in My servitors? 
          What 
          is this!"  They 
          both began to slap him, and the  dream 
          was so intense that when he rose in the morning he found that both his 
          cheeks were inflamed.  
        He 
          expressed to his most intimate friend, Svarupa Damodara: "My dear friend, 
          Svarupa Damodara, such is my position. I had this objectionable feeling 
          in my heart towards these servitors, so Jagannath and Balaram have punished 
          me in this way. See the swelling on both cheeks!"  Such 
          was the nature of Pundarika Vidyanidhi. In essence, we are told that 
          he is the father of Srimati Radharani, incarnated here as Pundarika 
          Vidyanidhi. A slight holy association of this day, his appearance day, 
          will help us a great deal in our advancement of spiritual life.   3. The Appearance of Sri Raghunandana Thakur 
           Thirdly, 
          this is also the birthday of Raghunandana Thakur. He was born in a place 
          named Srikhanda, near Katwa, in a Kaviraj family, a lineage of Ayurvedic 
          doctors. Raghunandana was the son of Mukunda Kaviraj, who was such a 
          notable doctor that even kings called for him for treatment. Raghunandana 
          was a bachelor his whole life. His figure was extraordinarily beautiful, 
          and he was very fond of dancing. From the beginning he was, of course, 
          a natural devotee.  The 
          family of Mukunda Thakur worshiped their ancestral Deity at home. Once, 
          when Raghunandana was a growing boy, who had perhaps only recently received 
          the sacred thread and admission to worship, his father asked him, "I'm 
          going out and won't return in time. You please worship the Deity and 
          feed Him  offer bhogam for His food." His expression was, "Please 
          try to feed my Deity."  When 
          he was away, Raghunandana's mother cooked many items and brought them 
          to the temple, and asked Raghunandana to offer them to the Deity. Generally 
          the doors are kept closed during worship, so behind the closed doors 
          Raghunandana offered and prayed to the Lord,  "Please 
          take these dishes I am offering You  please eat."  But 
          the Sri-Murtti did not answer or come forward to eat. Raghunandana 
          began to cry.  "My 
          father will rebuke me! He has requested me to feed You, and You are 
          not eating. I'll be punished. You have to take this food!"  The 
          sincere boy began to cry in such a way that Krsna had to eat. Raghunandana 
          was satisfied, and came out from the Deity room.  His 
          mother came to remove the Prasadam.  "What 
          is this? All the plates are empty!"  Raghunandana replied,  "You 
          asked me to feed the Deity. He has taken."  His 
          mother said angrily,  "You, 
          boy, you have eaten it! The Deity doesn't eat. We offer, everything 
          remains, and afterwards we take the Prasadam. You wicked boy, 
          you have turned out to be such a rogue  you have eaten everything." 
           "No, 
          no, I did not eat, the Deity ate everything."  "This 
          is impossible, you foolish boy! Do you want to make a fool of me? This 
          can never happen!"  He 
          began to cry.  "No, 
          I'm speaking the truth."  "Alright, 
          let your father come, and I shall ask him to punish you."  Mukunda 
          returned, and Raghunandana's mother complained,  "Your 
          boy has grown to be such a rogue! He says the Deity has eaten."  Raghunandana also petitioned his father,  "Yes, 
          the Deity has eaten. He would not take in the beginning, but I began 
          to cry, and then He ate."  "Is 
          this true?"  "Yes, 
          it is true my father, I am not lying."  "Can 
          you show me?"  "I 
          shall try."  So 
          he was given another chance to worship, and from a hidden place his 
          father could see that the Deity had actually taken the food.   Such 
          a devotee was Raghunandana Thakur. When he danced in Sankirttana, 
          it was such a charming scene that even Mahaprabhu was attracted. During 
          the Jagannath Rathayatra seven special groups would chant and 
          dance, and in the party from Srikhanda we find that Raghunandana was 
          the dancer.
 So 
          today is the day connected with the memory of Sri Raghunandana Thakur, 
          who is considered to be Pradyumna Avatara. Many more incidents 
          occur in his pastimes  I have only touched on them. It is also said 
          that near the banks of the lake Madhu-puskarini there is a Jambu tree, 
          and according to his wish two Kadamba flowers bloom on that tree every 
          day for the worship of his Deity. Many miracles are found in his pastimes. 
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