Category Archives: Ritudvipa

Lord Nityananda dispels the doubts of Sri Jiva

Lord Nitayananda

Sri Jiva inquired from Sri Nityananda Prabhu, in order to remove his doubts, “The knowledge of sankhya and logic is very inauspicious. How then did these sciences remain here in the eternal dhama?” Hearing his question, Nityananda embraced Jiva very affectionately and said, “Hari bol! Hari bol! In the holy abode of the Lord there is nothing inauspicious. Logic and sankhya are not so powerful or prominent here independently. They stay here as the servants of bhakti and trap some wicked people who are suffering the results of their bad karma. Bhakti is maha-devi here and all others are her servants. Everyone here assists in manifesting bhakti. In Navadvipa, nine kinds of devotional service exist. Here karma and jnana serve bhakti. Sastra serves to further contaminate the intelligence of those who are adverse to Krishna. But to gentlemen the same sastra gives attachment to Sri Krishna. Praudha Maya is the predominating deity here. Every yuga she remains engaged as the servant of Gauranga in this holy abode. If someone becomes averse to the Vaishnavas due to bad karma, maya makes him blind and gives him much suffering. All sins and all karma are destroyed here by Praudha Maya in her transcendental form. But if someone is offensive to Vaishnavas, Praudha Maya removes him from here. Those wicked people, even though they may possess vast knowledge, still do not attain love at the lotus feet of Sri Krishna. They receive avidya and therefore do not see Sri Gauranga and the opulence of Nadia. Therefore vidya is not inauspicious, only the avidya (the shadow portion of vidya) is inauspicious. Dear Jiva, all these truths will become apparent to you by the mercy of Sri Gauranga and by the will of the Lord you will mention all this in the many scriptures that will manifest through you.”

Srutis blessed by Lord Gauranga

Srutis blessed by Lord Gauranga

In this garden, the Upanishads worshiped Sri Gauranga for a long time. Sri Gaurahari, by means of an unseen sound vibration, informed them that their knowledge had been contaminated by the understanding of impersonalism. “None of you will attain Me in this form of sruti. When you appear as My associates during My manifested pastimes, then you will all see Me. At that time all of you will glorify My qualities.” Hearing this, the srutis kept quiet and stayed here secretly waiting for a suitable time.

The appearance of Sarasvati-devi

Lord Nityananda said, “After the annihilation when the time of creation again arrives, Brahma becomes very fearful witnessing the vast annihilation. At that time the Lord shows him His mercy. Here Brahma offered prayers to the Lord and just as he opened his mouth to begin his offering, Sarasvati-devi appeared from his tongue in her most beautiful form. Then, by the energy of Sarasvati, Brahma offered a stava (prayer) to Lord Sri Krishna with great happiness. When creation takes place, maya covers all directions. Maya, comprised of the three modes of material nature, remains on the bank of the Viraja River. The rishis try to establish knowledge in the material world manifested by maya. This is Sarada-pitha, the place of Sarasvati (Sarada). By taking shelter of this holy place, the rishis defeat avidya (ignorance). They learn the sixty-four varieties of vidya (knowledge) and propagate this knowledge in various places on the earth planet. Whatever branch of vidya they may practice, all of the rishis eternally reside here. Sri Valmiki received kavya-rasa at this place by the mercy of Narada Rishi and compiled the Ramayana. Dhanvantari received Ayur Veda here. Rishis like Visvamitra also came here to learn archery. Saunaka Rishi read the Vedic mantras at this place. Mahadeva Siva also discussed tantra here. Brahma manifested the four Vedas here at the request of the rishis. Kapila Muni compiled sankhya sitting at this place. Sri Gautama Rishi manifested nyaya and tarka (logic) sitting here. Kanada Muni revealed the vaiseshika philosophy, sage Patanjali revealed the yoga-sastra, Jaimini wrote the treatises on mimamsa, Vedavyasa revealed the Puranas, and the Pancaratra was written by five sages including Narada Muni. All these philosophies were manifested here and then taught to the people in general.”

Brihaspati appeared as Vasudeva Sarvabhauma

Sri Nityananda Prabhu explained to Sri Jiva, “This Kali-yuga in which Lord Gauranga has appeared, is blessed and is the cream of all yugas. Lord Gaurasundara manifests His vidya pastimes in this yuga. Therefore Brihaspati descended here along with his associates. Brihaspati took birth as Vasudeva Sarvabhauma to please Lord Gauranga. Knowing His Lord would enjoy the vidya-rasa, Brihaspati along with his associates left Indrasabha (Indra’s court) and appeared at different places for the Lord’s pleasure. Sarvabhauma Mahasaya opened tolas (schools) in Vidyanagara and spread knowledge. He thought, ‘In the future, due to the influence of dry knowledge, I may lose Sri Gauranga.’ Thinking like this he left behind his disciples and went to another area, leaving Nadia before the appearance of the Lord. He thought to himself, ‘If I am a real servant of Gauranga then the Lord, being merciful upon me, will bring me to Him.’ Thinking like this Sarvabhauma went to Nilacala-dhama and established mayavada-sastra there very strongly. Here in Vidyanagara, Gauracandra Mahaprabhu enjoyed vidya-vilasa by defeating the disciples of Sarvabhauma in a very simple way, just by joking with them (parihasa). Whenever Lord Gaura Raya came to Vidyanagara He would defeat all the scholars through nyaya-phanki (debate). All the teachers and students would run away, being defeated by Gauranga. These descriptions of Gauranga’s vidya-lila are very wonderful. Whoever listens to these pastimes becomes free from ignorance.” Hearing this, Sri Jiva rolled on the ground in ecstasy at Vedanagara (the place of the Vedas).