Sri Raghunandana Disappearance (Aug 18th)

Sri Raghunandana Thakura Tirobhava (disappearance)

Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krsna dasa Kaviraja describe the exalted position and glories of Sri Raghunandana Thakura.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015 Compiled by Narasimha dasa and Yasoda nandana dasa

kasite lekhaka sudra-sricandrasekhara
tanra ghare rahila prabhu svatantra isvara

SYNONYMS

kasite—in Varanasi; lekhaka—writer; sudra—born of a sudra family; sri-candrasekhara—of the name Candrasekhara; tanra ghare—in his house; rahila—remained;prabhu—the Lord; svatantra—independent; isvara—the supreme controller.

TRANSLATION

This time Lord Caitanya stayed at the house of Candrasekhara, although he was regarded as a sudra or kayastha, for the Lord, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is completely independent.

PURPORT

Lord Caitanya stayed at the house of Candrasekhara, a clerk, although a sannyasi is not supposed to reside in a sudra's house. Five hundred years ago, especially in Bengal, it was the system that persons who were born in the families of brahmaṇas were accepted as brahmaṇas, and all those who took birth in other families-even the higher castes, namely, the ksatriyas and vaisyas-were considered sudra non-brahmaṇas. Therefore although Sri Candrasekhara was a clerk from a kayastha family in upper India, he was considered a sudra. Similarly, vaisyas, especially those of the suvarna-vaṇik community, were accepted as sudras in Bengal, and even the vaidyas,who were generally physicians, were also considered sudras. 

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, however, did not accept this artificial principle, which was introduced in society by self-interested men, and later the kayasthas, vaidyas and vaniks all began to accept the sacred thread, despite objections from the so-called brahmanas.

Before the time of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the suvarna-vanik class was condemned by Ballal Sen, who was then the King of Bengal, due to a personal grudge. In Bengal the suvarna-vaṇik class are always very rich, for they are bankers and dealers in gold and silver. Therefore, Ballal Sen used to borrow money from a suvarna-vanikbanker. Ballal Sen's bankruptcy later obliged the suvarna-vanik banker to stop advancing money to him, and thus he became angry and condemned the entire suvarna-vanik society as belonging to the sudra community. Ballal Sen tried to induce the brahmaṇas not to accept the suvarṇa-vaniks as followers of the instructions of the Vedasunder the brahminical directions, but although some brahmaṇas approved of Ballal Sen's actions, others did not. 

Thus the brahmaṇas also became divided amongst themselves, and those who supported the suvarna-vanik class were rejected from the brahmaṇa community. At the present day the same biases are still being followed.

There are many Vaisnava families in Bengal whose members, although not actually born brahmaṇas, act as acaryas by initiating disciples and offering the sacred thread as enjoined in the Vaisnava tantras. For example, in the families of Ṭhakura Raghunandana Acarya, Ṭhakura Krsnadasa, Navani Hoda and Rasikananda-deva (a disciple of Śyamananda Prabhu), the sacred thread ceremony is performed, as it is for the caste Gosvamis, and this system has continued for the past three to four hundred years. 

Accepting disciples born in brahmaṇa families, they are bona fide spiritual masters who have the facility to worship the salagrama-sila, which is worshiped with the Deity. As of this writing, salagrama-sila worship has not yet been introduced in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, but soon it will be introduced in all our temples as an essential function of arcana-marga (Deity worship).

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 7: Lord Caitanya in Five Features : Adi 7.45

khandavasi mukunda-dasa, sri-raghunandana
narahari-dasa, ciranjiva, sulocana
ei saba mahasakha--caitanya-krpadhama
prema-phala-phula kare yahan tahan dana

SYNONYMS

khanda-vasi mukunda-dasa—of the name Mukunda dāsa; sri-raghunandana—of the name Raghunandana; narahari-dasa—of the name Narahari dasa; ciranjiva—of the name Ciranjiva; sulocana—of the name Sulocana; ei saba—all of them; maha-sakha—great branches; caitanya-krpa-dhama—of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the reservoir of mercy; prema—love of God; phala—fruit; phula—flower; kare—does; yahan—anywhere; tahan—everywhere; dana—distribution.

TRANSLATION

Sri Khandavasi Mukunda and his son Raghunandana were the thirty-ninth branch of the tree, Narahari was the fortieth, Ciranjiva the forty-first and Sulocana the forty-second. They were all big branches of the all-merciful tree of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead anywhere and everywhere.

PURPORT

Sri Mukunda dasa was the son of Narayaṇa dasa and eldest brother of Narahari Sarakara. His second brother's name was Madhava dasa, and his son was named Raghunandana dasa. Descendants of Raghunandana dasa still live four miles west of Katwa in the village named Srikhanda, where Raghunandana dasa used to live. Raghunandana had one son named Kanai, who had two sons-Madana Raya, who was a disciple of Narahari Thakura, and Vamsivadana. It is estimated that at least four hundred men descended in this dynasty. All their names are recorded in the village known as Srikhanda. 

In the Gaura-gaṇoddesa-dipika, verse 175, it is stated that the gopi whose name was Vrndadevi became Mukunda dasa, lived in Srikhanda village and was very dear to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. His wonderful devotion and love for Krsna are described in the Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, Chapter Fifteen. It is stated in the Bhakti-ratnakara (Eighth Wave), that Raghunandana used to serve a Deity of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Narahari dasa Sarakara was a very famous devotee. Locana dasa Thakura, the celebrated author of Sri Caitanya-mangala, was his disciple. In the Caitanya-mangala it is stated that Sri Gadadhara dasa and Narahari Sarakara were extremely dear to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but there is no specific statement regarding the inhabitants of the village of Śrikhanda.

Ciranjiva and Sulocana were both residents of Srikhanda, where their descendants are still living. Of Ciranjiva's two sons, the elder, Ramacandra Kaviraja, was a disciple of Srinivasacarya and an intimate associate of Narottama dasa Thakura. The younger son was Govinda dasa Kaviraja, the famous Vaisnava poet. Ciranjiva's wife was Sunanda, and his father-in-law was Damodara Sena Kaviraja. Ciranjiva previously lived on the bank of the Ganges River in the village of Kumaranagara. The Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, verse 207, states that he was formerly Candrika in Vṛndavana.
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.78-79

bhagavataaarya, ciranjiva sri-raghunandana
madhavacarya, kamalakanta, sri-yadunandana

SYNONYMS

bhagavatacarya—of the name Bhagavatacarya; ciranjiva—of the name Ciranjiva; sri-raghunandana—of the name Sri Raghunandana; madhavacarya—of the name Madhavacarya; kamalakanta—of the name Kamalakanta; sri-yadunandana—of the name Sri Yadunandana.

TRANSLATION

Bhagavatacarya, Ciranjiva, Sri Raghunandana, Madhavacarya, Kamalakanta and Sri Yadunandana were all among the branches of the Caitanya tree.

PURPORT

Sri Madhavacarya was the husband of Lord Nityananda's daughter, Gangadevi. He took initiation from Purusottama, a branch of Nityananda Prabhu. It is said that when Nityānanda Prabhu's daughter married Madhavacarya, the Lord gave him the village named Panjinagara as a dowry. 

Madhavacarya's temple is situated near the Jirat railway station on the eastern railway. According to the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (169) Sri Madhavacarya was formerly the gopi named Madhavi. Kamalakanta belonged to the branch of Sri Advaita Prabhu. His full name was Kamalakanta Visvasa.
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 1975 Edition : Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 10: The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree : Adi 10.119 :

khandera sampradaya kare anyatra kirtana
narahari nace tahan sri-raghunandana

SYNONYMS

khandera—of the place named Khanda; sampradaya—party; kare—performs; anyatra—in a different place; kirtana—chanting; narahari—Narahari; nace—dances; tahan—there; sri-raghunandana—Raghunandana.

TRANSLATION

Another party was formed by the people of Khanda. These people were singing in a different place. In that group, Narahari Prabhu and Raghunandana were dancing.

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 13: The Ecstatic Dancing of the Lord at Ratha-yatra : Madhya 13.46 :

The wonderful exchange between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Mukunda das regarding the exalted position of Sri Raghunandana

khandera mukunda-dasa, sri-raghunandana
sri-narahari,--ei mukhya tina jana

SYNONYMS

khandera—of the place known as Khanda; mukunda-dasa—Mukunda dasa; sri-raghunandana—Sri Raghunandana; sri-narahari—Sri Narahari; ei—these; mukhya—chief; tina—three; jana—persons.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu then turned His attention to three persons-Mukunda dasa, Raghunandana and Sri Narahari-inhabitants of the place called Khanda.

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 15: The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 15.112 : T

mukunda dasere puche sacira nandana
'tumi--pita, putra tomara--sri-raghunandana?

SYNONYMS

mukunda dasere—unto Mukunda dasa; puche—inquired; sacira nandana—the son of mother Saci; tumi—you; pita—father; putra—son; tomara—your; sri-raghunandana—Sri Raghunandana.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the son of mother Saci, next asked Mukunda dasa, "You are the father, and your son is Raghunandana. Is that so?

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 15: The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 15.113

kiba raghunandana--pita, tumi--tara tanaya?
niscaya kariya kaha, yauka samsaya'

SYNONYMS

kiba—or; raghunandana—Raghunandana; pita—father; tumi—you; tara—his; tanaya—son; niscaya kariya—making certain; kaha—just speak; yauka samsaya—let My doubts be dissipated.

TRANSLATION

"Or is Srila Raghunandana your father whereas you are his son? Please let Me know the facts so that My doubts will go away."

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 15: The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 15.114 :

mukunda kahe,--raghunandana mora 'pita' haya
ami tara 'putra',--ei amara niscaya

SYNONYMS

mukunda kahe—Mukunda dāsa replied; raghunandana—my son Raghunandana; mora—my; pita—father; haya—is; āmi—I; tara—his; putra—son; ei—this; amara—my;niscaya—decision.

TRANSLATION

Mukunda replied,"Raghunandana is my father, and I am his son. This is my decision.
Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 15: The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 15.115

ama sabara krsna-bhakti raghunandana haite
ataeva pita--raghunandana amara niscite

SYNONYMS

ama sabara—of all of us; krsna-bhakti—devotion to Krsna; raghunandana haite—because of Raghunandana; ataeva—therefore; pita—father; raghunandana—Raghunandana; amara niscite—my decision.

TRANSLATION

"All of us have attained devotion to Kṛṣṇa due to Raghunandana. Therefore in my mind he is my father."

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 15: The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 15.116

raghunandana seva kare krsnera mandire
dvare puskarini, tara ghatera upare
kadambera eka vrkṣe phute bara-mase
nitya dui phula haya krsna-avataṁse

SYNONYMS

raghunandana—Raghunandana; sevā kare—serves; kṛṣṇera mandire—in the temple of Lord Krsna; dvare—near the door; puṣkarini—a lake; tara—of it; ghatera upare—on the bank; kadambera—of kadamba flowers; eka vrkṣe—on one tree; phute—blossom; bara-mase—all year around; nitya—daily; dui phala—two flowers; haya—become; krsna-avatamse—decoration for Lord Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"Raghunandana is constantly engaged in serving the temple of Lord Krsna. Beside the entrance of the temple is a lake, and on its banks is a kadamba tree, which daily delivers two flowers to be used for Krsna's service."

Books : Sri Caitanya-caritamrta - 1975 Edition : Cc. Madhya-lila : Madhya 15: The Lord Accepts Prasada at the House of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya : Madhya 15.128-12