Sri Caitanya Candramritam |
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By Prabodhananda Sarasvatipada
Excerpt of his prayers.
stumastam caitanyakriti mativimaryyada parama-
dbhutaudaryam varyam vrajapatikumaram rasayitum
visuddha-sva-premonmada madhura piyusa laharim
pradatum canyebhyah parapada navadvipa prakatam (1)
May the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya be forever glorified. His unificence is astonishing, endowed with grace and dignity, offering preferential treatment to all who come within his domain. He has come to relish the elixir of love (rasa) by churning the ocean of the nectar of his previous exploits as Vrajendranandana Sri Krishna, thus drowning one and all in the waves produced therefrom. Having descended to the transcendental abode of Sri Navadvip Dham (birthplace of the nine limbs of bhakti), He is superiour to all other incarnations. He embodies unlimited wonder and generosity. He is the Supreme Personality of Compassion.
yannaptam karmmanisthairna ca samadhigatam yat tapodhyana yogair
vairagyairstyaga tattvastutibhir api na yat tarkitancapi kaiscit
govinda prema bhajam api na ca kalitam yad rahasyam svayam
tannamnaiva pradurasid avatarati pare yatra tam naumi gauram (2)
That which is unattainable through fruitive activities, which is not to be known by practicing penance, meditation and astanga yoga, which cannot be realised through the practice of penances and austerities, renunciation of the fruits of labour, philosophical analysis, or recitation of hymns and prayers - what more shall I say! That which eludes even those devotees who are very attached to serving Sri Govinda in loving devotion - that most mysterious pinnacle of esoteric love manifests itself through pure chanting of the holy names. I offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Gaurasundar, who brought the chanting of Sri Hari’s holy names with him when he descended to this world.
drstah sprstah kirttitah samsmrito va
durasthairapyanato vadrito va
premnah saram datumiso ya ekah
sri caitanyam naumi devam dayalim (3)
I sing panegyrics to the most merciful Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya, who alone is able to reward one with the essence of all spiritual loving exchanges (prema), even to those who see, touch or glorify him only once, or who simply remember him, offer obeisances or think of him affectionately from a remote distance.
rakso daityakulam hatam kiyadidam yogadi vartmakriya
margo va prakatikrtah kiyadidam srstyadikam va kiyat
medinyuddharanadikam kiyadidam premojjvalaya maha
bhaktair vartmakarim param bhagavatas caitanya murttim stumah (4)
In his incarnation as Lord Rama, Narasimha and others, he removed the atheistic and demoniac forces, but to what degree were these acts highly beneficial and altruistic? Howprofoundly significant was the revelation by his incarnation, Kapiladeva, of the path of sankhya yoga, its philosophy and practice? Is the work of creation, maintenance and annihilation of this cosmic manifestation, carried out by his Gunaavatar incarnations - Brahma, Vishnu and Siva - really that grandiose and impressive? Furthermore, was it such a fortuitous act that the drowning earth was reinstated in its original position after being lifted out of the waters of the causal ocean by Sri Varahadeva? In reality, how beneficial were these acts? (These acts are not of any great magnitude, for they are very insignificant before Gaurasundaras free distribution of love for Krishna to all). We offer our choicest prayers to Sri Krishna Caitanya, the crest jewel of all incarnations, who has illuminated the path to attainment of the highest ecstasy in loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality in the mood of conjugal love.
namas caitanyacandraya koticandranana tvise
premanandabdhi candraya caru candramsuhasine (5)
He is like the full-moon rising from the ambrosial ocean of ecstatic bliss of love for Krishna, his face more radiant than millions of fulll moons. The enchanting beauty of the sweet smile playing on His lips is as luminescent as moonlight. We offer our respectful obeisance to Sri Caitanyacandra.
uccairasphalayantam karacaranam aho hema dandaprakandau
bahu proddhrtya sattandava taralatanum pundarikayataksam
visvasyamangalaghnam kimapi hari harityunmadanandanadair
vande tam deva cudamanim atula rasavista caitanya candram (6)
Aho! Imbued with the emotions of Srimati Radhika, he is possessed by the incomparable mellows (rasa) of intimate loving exchanges with Sri Krishna. His eyes like the blooming petals of a lotus, he is absorbed in dancing with his powerful golden arms raised high above his head. His hands and feet move with restless rhythm, impelled by the force of wild dancing. His body and limbs move to and fro, ebbing and flowing with the waves of his moods, having offered themselves to the dance in ecstatic abandon. Erupting from his lotus mouth are the frenzied cries of ’Hari! Hari!’, uprooting all inauspicousness from the entire universe. I offer my obeisance to Sri Krishna Caitanyacandra, the crest jewel of all devas.
pravahairasrunam navajalada koti iva drsau
dadhanam premarddhya paramapada koti prahasanam
vamantam madhuryairamrta nidhi kotiriva tanu-
cchatabhistam vande harimahaha sannyasa kapatam (7)
Aho! To he from whose eyes rain tears, giving the impression that myriad, monsoon-laden clouds have been trapped in them, whose unlimited treasure of love overshadows all, rendering billions of Vaikunthas as farcical comedies, the enchanting beauty and lustrous charm of his transcendental body agitates the waves of billions of oceans of nectar - to Sri Gaurahari, who has disguised himself as a sannyasi, I offer homage.
simhaskandham madhura-madhura-smeraganda sthalantam
durvijneyojjvalarasamayascarya nanavikaram
vibhrat kantim vikacakanakambhoja garbhabhiramam
ekibhutam vapuravatu vo radhaya madhavasya (8)
His shoulders are raised like a lion’s. A sweet smile plays constantly on his lips, illuminating his cheeks on either side. Various astonishing and astounding ecstatic symptoms, beyond the ken of the common man, are manifest in his person due to spiritual emotions caused by intense feelings of separation. His bodily effulgence is more luminous and enchanting than the whorl of a fully blossomed golden lotus. May the combined form of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, Sri Gaurahari, protect you.
drstva madhyati nutanambudacayam samviksya barham bhaved
atyantam vikalo vilokya valitam gunjavalim vepate
drste syamakisorake ’pi cakitam dhatte camatkarita-
mittham gauratanuh pracarita nijaprema harih patu vah (9)
Upon seeing a multidude of fresh monsoon clouds, he becomes mad with love for Krishna. The sight of a peacock feather causes him to become completely overwhelmed. If he should happen to see a garland of gunja berries, his body begins to tremble in ecstasy while his heart has palpations. Each time he sees a dark-complexioned young boy, he becomes startled, and then feels timid - in this way is he possessed by various and wondrous ecstasies, as he freely distributes his own commodity - love of Krishna.
acaryya dharmmam paricaryya vishnum
vicaryya tirthani vicaryya vedan
vina na gaurapriyapadasevam
vedadi dusprapya padam vidanti (10)
A person may follow the principles of varnashrama dharma, worhip the deity of Lord Vishnu, visit hundreds of places of pilgramage, or even scutinize the entire vedic literature, but still he will not have the slightest clue about the most rare gem amongst spiritual abodes, the transcendental venue of Sri Sri Radha Govinda’s eternal pastimes in Vrindavana, if he has not served the lotus feet of Sri Gaurasundara’s dearmost associates.
trnadapi ca nicata sahaja saumya mugdhakrtih
sudhamadhura bhasita visaya gandha thuhutkrtih
haripranaya vihvala kimapi dhiranalambita
bhavanti kila sadguna jagati gaurabhajamami (11)
The followers of Sri Gauranga are devotees whose immaculate character is ornamented with following excellences: humility more than a blade of grass, their innate nature suffused with simplicity, their peaceful appearance enhanced by an inner grace, their tempered speech nectarian. They are contemptuous of anything that has even a scent of wordly connotion. Inebriated with krishna prema, they are oblivious to the mundane world.
upasatam va guruvaryya kotir
adhiyatam va sruti sastrakotih
caitanya karunya kataksa bhajam
sadyah param syaddhi rahasya labhah (12)
Even if a person worships, serves and glorifies millions of the best amongst so many instructing spiritual masters, or scrutinizingly studies millions of vedic scriptures, there is no possibility for him to quickly attain the essence of all desirable things, namely love of God (prema). However, those who have been graced by the merciful glance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, easily attain within an instant this most mysterious, divine love.
pasanah parisecito’mrta rasairnaivankurah sambhavet
langulam saramapatervivrnatah syadasya naivarjjavam
hastavunnayata budha kathamaho dharyam vidhormandalam
sarvvam sadhanamstu gaurakarunabhave na bhavotsavah (13)
Oh most wise and intelligent among men! A piece of stone watered with nectar can never sprout into a sapling. Repeated pulling will not straighten a dog’s tail. Nor can one touch the moon, no matter how high he raise his hands. Aho! In the same way, though a sadhaka may perfect different spiritual disciplines, without the mercy of Sri Gauracandra he will not be able to participate in his festival of love.
avatirne gauracandre vistarne premasagare
ye na majjanti majjanti te mahanarthasagare (14)
The brilliant full moon, Sri Gauracandra has arisen out from the shoreless ocean of prema, revealing its reality. Yet those who miss the opportunity to bathe therein, only drown themselves in an ocean of meaningless absurdity.
svadam svadam madhurimabharam sviya namavalinam
madam madam kimapi vivasibhutavisrastagatrah
barambaram vrajapati gunan gaya-gayeti jalpan
gauro drstah sakrdapi na yairdughata tesu bhaktih (15)
Always absorbed in chanting and relishing his own holy names, Gaurasundar becomes intoxicated with ever-increasing passion. Sometimes he swoons, falling to the ground in a display of ineffable exultation. The Lord invites everyone, repeatedly encouraging them to sing the wonderful qualities of Sri Krishna, the prince of Vraja. But those who have never seen or perceived him in meditation, even only briefly, for them the attainment of prema bhakti is almost impossible.
aho vaikunthasthairapi ca bhagavatparsdavaraih
saromancam drsta yadanucara vakresvaramukhah
mahascarya premojjvalarasa sadavesa vivasi
krtangastam gauram kathamakrtapunyah pranayatu (16)
Aho! Highly elevated rasika devotees of Sri Gaurahari, like Vakresvar Pandit, enchanted by the mellows of prema, remain in a state of near paralysis, the intensity of their absorption is so overwhelming. Receiving the darshan of these rasika devotees, even the eternal associates of Lord Narayana in Vaikuntha are overwhelmed and their bodies thrill with rapture, their bodily hairs standing on end. How then can impious persons make Sri Gaurasundar, master of the rasika devotees, the singular object of their affection?
vancito’smi vancito’smi vancito’smi na samsayah
visvam gaurarase magnam sparso’pi mama nabhavat (17)
Alas! I am deprived, deprived, truely deprived! The entire universe has drown in the ocean of Sri Gaurasundara’s ambrosial love, but alas! Not a drop of it has touched me.
ha hanta cittabhuvi me paramosarayam
sadbhaktikalpalatikankurita katham syat
hrdyekameva paramasvasaniyamasti
caitanyanama kalayanna kadapi socyah (18)
Oh! Alas! How will it ever be possible for the creeper of true devotion to sprout and blossom in the barren field of my heart? The only solace and hope of my heart is that chanting Sri Caitanya’s holy name can never be subject to grief or regret.
samsara duhkhajaladhau patitasya kama-
krodhadi nakra-makaraih kavalikrtasya
durvvasana nigaditasya nirasrayasya
caitanyacandra mama dehi padavalambanam (19)
I have fallen into the ocean of misery, of repeated birth and death, where crocodiles and capricorns of anger, lust, greed, and the like, have come to devour me. My hands and feet are bound by the chains of wicked desires. O Sri Caitanyacandra, kindly offer this destitute person shelter at your lotus feet, the boat that can carry me to safety.
yattadvadantu sastrani yattad vyakhyantu tarkikah
jivanam mama caitanya-padambhojasudhaiva tu (20)
Let the scriptures reveal their wealth of wisdom, let the erudite scholars and empirical philosophers write their elaborate commentaries. My life and soul exist but in the sublime ambrosia of the dust pollen of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanyacandra.
patanti yadi siddhayah karatale svayam durlabhah
svayam ca yadi sevakibhavitumagatah syuh surah
kimanyadidameva va yadi caturbhujam syadvapus
tathapi mama no manak calati gauracandranmanah (21)
If all the mystic perfections like anima, laghima and so on, which are very difficult to obtain, were to come within my grasp, if all the demigods were to stand in attendance before me, ready for my call, indeed, even if my body was transformed into a four-handed form - still, my heart and mind would not move a bit from their total absorption in my Sri Caitanyacandra.
kada sauregaure vapusi parama premarasade
sadekaprane niskapatakrtabhavo’smi bhavita
kada va tasyalaukikasadanumanena mama hrdya-
kasmat sriradhapadanakhamani jyotirudagat (22)
When oh when will pure, undivided, sincere love for Sri Gaurakrishna spontaneously awaken in my heart? And when, as a result of this transcendental hope, will my heart suddenly be illuminated by the effulgence emanating from the gemlike toenails of the lotus feet of Sri Radhika.
uddamadamanakadamaganabhirama-
maramaramamaviramagrhitanama
karunya dhama kanakojjvala gauradhama
caitanyanama paramam kalayami dhama (23)
That self-willed, impetuous soul is decorated with a garland of fragrant damanaka blossoms. He is the source of bliss and causeless mercy for the common people. Incessantly chanting the holy names in a solitary garden, he is immersed in the happiness of the self. I meditate on the radiant, golden abode of Gaura, the treasure chest of compassion and the foremost shelter of all.
kalindatanayatate sphuradamandavrndavanam
vihaya lavanambudheh pulina puspa vatim gatah
dhrtarunapatah parihrtasupitavasa haris
tirohita nijacchabih prakatagaurima me gatih (24)
Sri Hari left the splendorous groves of Vrindavana, very beautifully situated on the banks of the Yamuna, to roam the lush flower-gardens on the shores of the salty ocean. His magnificent yellow dress is now without a master, since he has accepted flowing robes dyed the color of the rising sun. He has hidden his own dark complexion with the lustre of molten gold. He alone is my final destination.
jnanadivartmavirucim vrajanathabhakti
ritim na vedmi na ca sadguravo milanti
ha hanta hanta mama kah saranam vimudha
gauro haristava na karnapatham gato’sti (25)
’ I do not know the suprene science of devotional service to the Lord of Vraja, that knowledge which creates disinterest to knowledge of impersonal Brahman. I have also not yet associated with a self-realised guru. What option do I have? Who do I surrender to?’ Alas! What fool you are! You are not even capable of solving who to take shelter of? Have you never heard the name of Sri Gaurahari?
yatha yatha gaurapadaravinde vindeta bhaktim kritapunyarasih
tatha tathotsarpati hrdyakasmat radhapadambhoja sudhamburasih (26)
One who is extremely fortunate may get the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. By serving the lotus feet of Gauranga, one will taste the pure nectar of serving Radha’s lotus feet.
aparasya premojjvala-rasarahasyamrtanidher
nidhanam brahmesarccita iha hi caitanyacaranah
atastam dhyayantah pranayabharato yantu saranam
tameva pronmattastamiha kila gayantu krtinah (27)
Ohe sargrahi sudhijana! O most wise and intelligent seekers of the truth! Sri Caitanyas lotus feet are worshiped even by Siva and Lord Brahma, for his lotus feet are the source of a shoreless, mysterious ocean of nectarian mellows of conjugal love. Therefore, enraptured with divine love, meditate on those lotus feet and take shelter there. Maddened with prema, sing his glories!
yasyasa krsna caitanye nrpadvari kimarthinah
cintamanimayam prapya ko mudho rajatam vrajet (28)
For one who aspires for the priceless treasure of Sri Caitanya’s lotus feet, what need is there to go to the gates of a kings palace? After acquiring a touchstone, who is so foolish as to travel far and wide in search of silver?
citkarairdasdinmukham mukharayannattattahasacchata-
vicibhih sphutakundakairavagana prodbhasi kurvannabhah
sarvangam pavanoccalaccaladalaprayaprakampam dadhan
mattah premarasonmadaplutagatir gauro harih sobhate (29)
His loud shouts echo in all directions. Waves of resounding, lustrous laughter light up the sky like blooming kunda and lotus flowers. His body trembles like the leaves of a asvattha tree, blown by the wind. Driven to madness while bathing in the mellows of prema, there is nothing more attractive than the beauty of Gaurahari.
abhud gehe gehe tumulaharisankirtanaravo
vabhau dehe dehe vipulapulakasru-vyatikarah
api snehe snehe paramamadhurotkarsapadavi
daviyasyamnayadapi jagati gaure’vatarati (30)
With Sri Gaurasundara’s descent to this world, unprecedented miracles became common occurences - the tumultuous chanting of the holy names of Sri Hari reverberated from every home, rising in continuous waves, while ecstatic physical transformations like horripilation, tears, shivering and so on, adorned the bodies of the residents, nourishing their souls. Moreover, with the deepening and intensification of bhakti-rasa, the path to the exalted plane of the most attractive madhur-prema, far beyond the vedic literatur (amnaya), gradually came within everyone’s perview, expressed through tender, loving affection.
sarve sankaranaradadaya ihayatah svayam srirapi
prapta deva-halayudho’pi milito jatasca te vrsnayah
bhuyah kim vrajavasino’pi prakata gopala-gopyadayah
purne premarasesvare’vatarati srigauracandre bhuvi (31)
With the advent on this earth of Sri Gauracandra, the crest-jewel of all connoisseurs of the mellows of loving devotion (prema-rasa), Sri Sankar, Sri Narada and others also arrived. Sri Laksmidevi was present and Sri Baladeva, full with all potencies, appeared as Sri Nityananda Ray. The Vrishnis also advented. What more can I say? Indeed, Nanda Maharaj himself arrived, accompanied by other Vrajabasis - Subala and other friends, the gopis and Yogamaya Paurnamasidevi...all were present to participate in this most amazing Gauralila.
hasantyuccairuccairahaha kulavadhvo’pi parito
dravibhavam gacchantyapi kuvisayagravaghatitah
tiraskurvantyajna api sakala sastrajna samitim
ksitau sricaitanye’dbhuta mahimasare’vatarati (32)
Aho! Chaste ladies from aristocratic families are jubilant and laughing loudly, having abandoned their natural shyness. Those whose hearts are as hard as stones, due to excessive sense enjoyment and sinful activities, are melting all over the place. And illiterate persons previously without knowledge of the Absolute Truth now ridicule the educated society - all as a result of the most amazing and supremely glorious descent into this world by Sri Caitanyadeva.
kvacit krsnavesannatati bahubhangimabhinayan
kvacidradhavisto hari hari harityarttiruditah
kvacidringan balah kvacidapi ca gopalacarito
jagadgauro vismapayati bahugambhiramahima (33)
Sometimes Sri Gaurasundar becomes absorbed in the ecstasy of Sri Krishna and thus dances, expressing a variety of dramatic postures and gestures. Sometimes he crawls about on all fours, absorbed in his lila of Balgopal. On other accasions he exhibits the characteristics of a young cowherd boy. Sometimes he suddenly becomes overwhelmed by the emotions that Srimati Radhika feels, due to great pangs of separation from her beloved Sri Krishna. Crying out ’Hari! Hari!’ he sheds profuse tears, deeply afflicted by the anguish of viraha-prema, love in separation. Thus does Sri Gaurahari astonish the universe by his profound and unfathomable ecstasies.
prema namadbhutarthah sravanapathagatah kasya namnam mahimnah
ko vetta kasya vrndavanavipina-mahamadhurisu pravesah
ko va janati radham paramrasacamatkarmadhuryasimam
ekascaitanyacandrah paramkarunayah sarvvamaviscakara (34)
Had anyone ever heard of something known as prema, as the ultimate aim of mankind? Did anyone know of the divine power of the holy name? Had anyone entered the sweet, charming forest of Vrindavana? Did anyone know of Sri Radha as the embodiment of the highest transcendental ecstasy, worthy of loving adoration? Only due to the absolute compassion of Sri Caitanyacandra were these rarest gems discovered, found shimmering in the darkness of Kaliyuga, lit by the moonlight of his benevolence.
ko’yam pattadhativirajitakatidesah kare kankanam
haram vaksasi kundalam sravanayor vibhrat pade nupuram
urdhvikrtya nibaddhakuntalabharaprotphullamallisraga-
pidah kridati gauranagaravaro nrtyannijairnamabhih (35)
Who is this golden personality, adorned with a fine silk dhoti about his waist, bracelets encircling his wrists, a necklace resting on his chest, earrings dangling from his earlobes, ankle-bells jingling at his ankles, and his black, curly hair bound on top of his head with Mallika flower garlands? - The paramount gallant, Gauranagar, absorbed in his divine dalliance, dancing to the kirtan of his own holy names?
deva dundubhivadanam vidadhire gandharvvamukhya jaguh
siddhah santatapuspavrstibhirimam prthvim samacchadayan
divyastotrapara maharsinibahah prityopatasthurnija-
premonmadini tandavam racayati srigauracandre bhuvi (36)
Intoxicated by the madness of divine love, when Sri Gaurasundar begins his tandava dance on this earth planet, the demigods in heaven take up their dundubhi drums and other musical instruments, the Gandharvas begin sankirtan, the Siddhas shower flowers, covering the earth with a colourful tapestry, while great sages offer celestial hymns with loving affection.
ksanam hasati roditi ksanamatha ksanam murcchati
ksanam luthati dhavati ksanamatha ksanam nrtyati
ksanam svasiti muncati ksanamudara ha ha rutim
mahapranaya sidhuna viharatiha gauro harih (37)
Immersed in the intense ecstasy of mahabhava, Sri Gaurahari frolocs, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, sometimes swooning in a faint, sometimes rolling on the earth, sometimes dancing, sometimes he heaves a deep, long sigh, and loudly laments, ’Ha Krishna! Ha!’.
asrunam kimapi pravahanivahaih ksaunim purah pankilam
kurvan panitale nidhaya badaripandum kapolasthalim
ascaryam lavanodarodhasi vasan sonam dadhano’msukam
gauribhuya harih svayam vitanute radhapadabje ratim (38)
Sri Hari, having accepted the mood and complexion of Sri Radhika, now sits on the shore of the ocean as Sri Gauranga, dressed in saffron garments. Resting in the palm of his hand is his cheek, the hue of badari fruit, while incessant tears stream down to the ground making it muddy. In this way he bestows loving attachment to the lotus feet of Srimati Radhika.
saiveyam bhuvi dhanya gauda nagari velapi saivambudheh
so’yam sri purusottamo madhupatestanyeva namani tu
no kutrapi niriksyate hari hari premotsavastadrso
ha caitanya krpanidhana tava kim viksye punarvaibhavam (39)
In this world are still present the most glorious and fortunate township of Gauda, the shores along the ocean at Nilacala, the realm of Sri Purusottamksetra, Sri Jagannathdev, and the holy names of Sri Krishna. Hari! Hari! Alas! No where, however can be seen a festival of love like the one you held. O Caitanya! O reservour of grace! Will I ever again be able to witness your divine opulence?
drstam na sastram guravo na drsta
vivecitam napi budhaih subuddhya
yatha tatha jalpatu balabhavat-
tathaiva me gauraharih prasidati (40)
I have not scrutinizingly studied the scripteres, nor have I paid heed to the instructions of a spiritual preceptor. Neither have I engaged my intelligence in deliberation with the wise. Neverthless, I hope that Sri Gaurahari will somehow or other be pleased with my pratling, the simple expression of an innocent child.
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