Srila Rupa Goswami
and Gauridas Pandit:
Disappearance Day

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Speaking to devotees in London,
18 August 2013, part 1

Today is the disappearance of Srila Rupa Goswami and disappearance of Srila Gauridas Pandit Prabhu, and Wednesday is Baladev Purnima, the appearance day of Baladev, also a very nice day.

Today is also a good day—Srila Rupa Goswami's disappearance festival. Sriman Chaitanya Mahaprabhu transmitted His power to Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu actually did not say this about anybody except Srila Rupa Goswami, "Yes, I have given some mercy to him, but this is not sufficient. Everybody must give some mercy to him."

Today is also Gauridas Pandit's disappearance. He lived in Kalna, within Gaura Mandal, near Nabadwip. It is not so far from here. One day, Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu went to his house in a boat. When They were about to leave, Gauridas Pandit told them, "Prabhu, You have come to my house on Your own accord, but I do not allow You to leave this house. You cannot go, You must stay here." Mahaprabhu replied, "How is it possible? We go door to door preaching, how shall we stay permanently at your house?" Then, They told Gauridas Pandit to look behind—by the mercy of Nitai Gaura, Gauridas Pandit saw there were Gaura Nityananda's Deities inside his house. Gauridas Pandit was puzzled, "Whom shall I keep? Those who are outside or inside?" Mahaprabhu told him, "You can keep Those who are inside." From that day he started worshipping Gaura Nitai Deities.

Jahnava and Vasuddha were Nityananda Prabhu's sakti and their father's name is Suryadas Sarakhel, he was a brother of Gauridas Pandit.

Once, at Gaura Purnima time, Gauridas Pandit went for preaching before Gaura Purnima. One of his disciples named Chaitanyadas, was at the temple, waiting for his Guru to come back. There were only three days left in hand—the festival of Mahaprabhu's appearance was soon and no arrangement had been made yet so Chaitanyadas invited some local people for the festival. Suddenly, Gauridas came back. Chaitanyadas told him, "Prabhu, I have invited a lot of people for the festival." Hearing this, Gaurdas Pandit got a little angry, he said, "Who gave you permission to invite people? Get out. There will be no festival here." Chaitanyadas went to the bank of the Ganges...

On the day of Gaura Purnima, so many devotees started coming with the paraphernalia for the festival—rice, dal, vegetables, etc. Gauridas Pandit met them and said, "What have you come for? Who invited you? Why have you come here? Go to the one who has invited you. He is not here." So, everyone went to the bank of Ganges—so many came there by boat bringing so many things, there was also a big merchant who brought so many things. In the meantime, on the Gaura Purnima morning, Gauridas Pandit was alone. He went to open the Deities' room for the mangal arati. The room was locked from outside, but when he opened it, he saw there were no Deities there. Gauridas Pandit became a little bit upset, he thought, "Gaura Nitai are my wealth, my property! Where have They gone?!" Then he thought of Chaitanyadas and went to the bank of the Ganges. When he came close, he saw thousands and thousands of people dancing and chanting there, and even Gaura Nitai were dancing and chanting there. Then, he came there to take Gaura Nitai back ("Hey, come back to my house!"), but as soon as he came, he could no longer see Them—Gaura Nitai had actually entered the heart of Chaitanyadas. From that day, the name of Gauridas Pandit's disciple became Hriday Chaitanya ('hriday' mean heart).

So, it is a very rare person who can understand who the Deities will take service from whom...

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