Sharanagati

(from a lecture of Swami Tirtha, 17.08.2018, Ludasto)

(continues from the previous Friday)

Now we come back to the original story, where Mahaprabhu is walking with four devotees and He is recalling the story of Madhavendra.

“Thus Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally praised the nectarean characteristics of Madhavendra Puri, and while He related all this to the devotees, He personally relished it. Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Nityananda Prabhu to judge whether there was anyone within the world as fortunate as Madhavendra Puri. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Madhavendra Puri was so fortunate that Krishna personally appeared before him on the plea of delivering milk. Three times the Lord gave orders to Madhavendra Puri in dreams. Being obliged because of the loving affairs of Madhavendra Puri, Lord Krishna Himself appeared as the Gopala Deity, and, accepting his service, He liberated the whole world. On account of Madhavendra Puri, Lord Gopinatha stole the pot of sweet rice. Thus He became famous as Kshira-chora [the thief who stole the sweet rice]. Madhavendra Puri smeared the sandalwood pulp over the body of Gopinatha, and in this way he was overpowered with love of Godhead. In the provinces of India governed by the Muslims, there was much inconvenience in traveling with sandalwood and camphor. Because of this, Madhavendra Puri might have gotten into trouble. This became known to the Gopala Deity. The Lord is very merciful and attached to His devotees, so when Gopinatha was covered with sandalwood pulp, Madhavendra Puri’s labour became successful.” Chaitanya Mahaprabhu placed the standard of Madhavendra Puri’s intense love before Nityananda Prabhu for judgment. “All his loving activities are uncommon,” Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said. Indeed, one is struck with wonder to hear of his activities.” Chaitanya Mahaprabhu continued, “Shri Madhavendra Puri used to remain alone. He was completely renounced and always very silent. He was uninterested in everything material, and for fear of talking about mundane things, he always lived without a companion. After receiving the transcendental orders of Gopala, this great personality travelled thousands of miles just to collect sandalwood by begging. Although Madhavendra Puri was hungry, he would not beg food to eat. This renounced person carried a load of sandalwood for the sake of Shri Gopala. Without considering his personal comforts, Madhavendra Puri carried one maund [about eighty-two pounds] of sandalwood and twenty tolas [about eight ounces] of camphor to smear over the body of Gopala. This transcendental pleasure was sufficient for him. Since there were restrictions against taking the sandalwood out of the Orissa province, the toll official confiscated the stock, but Madhavendra Puri showed him the release papers given by the government and consequently escaped difficulties.”[1]

We know this feeling. Because you know, sometimes borders do exist. And sometimes you have to carry things even without documents. Just recently on the Bulgarian-Serbian border there was a guy; he was very stubborn and he was always very much focused on us. And you know, in the Golden Books of devotional service, the Sofia devotees are especially mentioned for that generosity. Two persons are travelling and yet prasadam is supplied for a village. One time when I was visiting, the same person was there and he stopped us and opened everything up. The next year the same person was there. I said: “How come? Impossible.” And the third year, when we had a fire sacrifice in Sofia – you know with these special little powders and very strange-looking ingredients in a big bag – again he was at the border and said: “Stop! Everything out!” It was January, cold like anything, and if you can pack the car like a Tetris game and then you have to open everything, losing time and… And he enjoyed the position to torture us. I tried to hide this last ritualistic bag in the most hidden corner. But of course he said: “And what is that? Open it up!” And this is full of small little containers and very special items – it’s highly suspicious. Then one of his colleagues also came and they were both mesmerized by the vision, I tell you. Finally he asked: “Are you a sorcerer?” and I said: “Yes! A sorcerer.” “All right, then you go.” Sorcerer – one who can dispel the devil. So, sometimes we have documents, other times we don’t have documents for all the sorcerer’s ingredients.

(to be continued)

[1] Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 4.170-183