Special Poetry: Sri Sri Gaurasundarer Avirbhav | Sri Gaudiya Gitanjali

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SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI : SPECIAL POETRY

Sri Sri Gaurasundarer Avirbhav (Holy Appearance of Sri Sri Gaurasundar)

(By Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj Goswami: Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita, 1.13.89–124)

chaudda-sata sata sake masa ye phalguna
paurnamasira sandhya-kale haile subha-ksana [89]

In the year 1407 of the Saka Era (A.D. 1486), in the month of Phalgun [March–April], on the evening of the full moon, the desired auspicious moment came.

simha-rasi, simha-lagna, uchcha graha-gana
sad-varga, asta-varga, sarva sulaksana [90]

According to the Vedic astronomy, when the figure of the lion appears both in the zodiac and as the time of birth, this indicates a very high conjunction of planets: an area under the influence of sad-varga and asta-varga are two all-auspicious moments.

a-kalanka gaurachandra dila darasana
sa-kalanka chandre ara kon prayojana [91]

When the spotless moon Chaitanya Mahaprabhu became visible, what is the need for a moon full of black marks on its body?

eta jani’ rahu chandre rahu karila grahana
‘krsna’ ‘krsna’ ‘hari’ name bhase tri-bhuvana [92]

Considering this, Rahu, the black planet, covered the full moon, and immediately the vibrations of ‘Krishna! Krishna! Hari!’ inundated the three worlds.

jaya jaya dhvani haila sakala bhuvana
chamatkara haiya loka bhave mane mana [93]

As the chants of ‘Jay! Jay!’ filled the whole world, everybody was astonished, wondering what was going on.

jagat bhariya loka bale—’hari’ ‘hari’
sei-ksane gaura-krsna bhume avatari [94]

When the whole world was chanting the Holy Name, Krishna made His advent on the earth in the form of Gaura-hari.

prasanna haila saba jagatera mana
‘hari’ bali’ hinduke hasya karaye yavana [95]

The whole world was pleased. Laughing at Hindus, even Muslims chanted Holy Names.

‘hari’ bali’ nari-gana dei hulahuli
svarge vadya-nrtya kare deva kutuhali [96]

All ladies chanted Holy Names, uttering auspicious cries. And in heaven, demigods played musical instruments and danced, curious to see what was to happen next.

prasanna haila dasa dik, prasanna nadi-jala
sthavara-jangama haila anande vihvala [97]

All ten directions became pleased, as did the waters of all rivers. All living beings, moving and non-moving, were overwhelmed with transcendental happiness.

nadiya-udaya-giri, purna-chandra gaura-hari,
krpa kari’ haila udaya
papa-tamo haila nasa, tri-jagatera ullasa,
jaga-bhari’ hari-dhvani haya [98]

By His causeless mercy, the full moon Gaura-hari arose in the district of Nadia, which is compared to Udayagiri Mount, where the sun first becomes visible – His rising in the sky destroyed the darkness of sins; all three worlds rejoiced and chanted Holy Names of the Lord.

sei-kale nijalaya, uthiya advaita raya,
nrtya kare anandita mane
haridase lana sange, hunkara-kirtana-range,
kene nache, keha nahi jane [99]

At that time, Sri Advaita Acharya Prabhu, who was in his house in Shantipur, was dancing for joy. Grabbing Haridas Thakur, he danced and rejoiced, loudly chanting Holy Names. Why were they dancing? No one knew.

dekhi’ uparaga hasi’, sighra ganga-ghate asi’,
anande karila ganga-snana
pana uparaga-chhale, apanara mano-bale,
brahmanere dila nana dana [100]

Seeing the lunar eclipse and laughing, Advaita Acharya and Haridas Thakur hurried to the bank of the Ganges and bathed happily. On pretext of observing the lunar eclipse, Advaita Acharya mentally distributed various types of charity to brahmans.

jagat ananda-maya, dekhi’ mane sa-vismaya,
thare-thore kahe haridasa
“tomara aichhana ranga, mora mana parasanna,
dekhi—kichhu karye achhe bhasa” [101]

When he saw that the whole world was jubilant, Haridas Thakur was astonished. He allusively suggested to Advaita Acharya, ‘I am very happy to see your joy. There must be some special reason for that.’

acharyaratna, srinivasa, haila mane sukhollasa,
yai’ snana kaila ganga-jale
anande vihvala mana, kare hari-sankirtana,
nana dana kaila mano-bale [102]

Rejoicing, Acharyaratna (Chandrasekhar) and Srinivas (Srivas Pandit) went to bath in the Ganges. Their minds full of happiness, they chanted Holy Names of the Lord and mentally distributed charity.

ei mata bhakta-yati, yanra yei dese sthiti,
tahan tahan pana mano-bale
nache, kare sankirtana, anande vihvala mana,
dana kare grahanera chhale [103]

In this way, renounced devotees in various corners of the world mentally received those gifts. Dancing, chanting Holy Names and rejoicing, they distributed gifts on pretext of observing the lunar eclipse.

brahmana-sajjana-nari, nana-dravye patra bhari’,
aila sabe yautuka laiya
yena kancha-sona-dyuti, dekhi’ balakera murti,
asirvada kare sukha pana [104]

Gathering various gifts, brahmans, gentlemen and ladies arrived with their presentations. Seeing the newborn boy, whose holy form resembled pure gold, they happily offered their blessings.

savitri, gauri, sarasvati, sachi, rambha, arundhati,
ara yata deva-nari-gana
nana-dravye patra bhari’, brahmanira vesa dhari’,
asi’ sabe karena darasana [105]

Gathering various gifts and dressing themselves as wives of brahmans, all the celestial ladies – Savitri (Brahma’s wife), Gauri (Lord Siva’s wife), Saraswati (Nrsimhadev’s wife), Sachi (Indradev’s wife), Rambha (a celestial dancer, the wife of Kuver’s son), Arundhati (Vasistha’s wife) and others – arrived to see the child.

antarikse deva-gana, siddha, gandharva, charana,
stuti-nrtya kare vadya-gita
nartaka, vadaka, bhata, navadvipe yara nata,
sabe asi’ nache pana prita [106]

In the sky, all demigods, including the inhabitants of Siddhaloka, Gandharvaloka and Charanaloka, offered prayers and danced to the accompaniment of music. In Nabadwip, all professional dancers, musicians and religious poets gathered, too, dancing in great jubilation.

keba ase keba yaya, keba nache keba gaya,
sambhalite nare kara bola
khandileka duhkha-soka, pramoda-purita loka,
misra haila anande vihvala [107]

Some came, some went; some danced, some sang. Coming from various backgrounds, nobody was able to understand what anyone was saying. All unhappiness and grief was shuttered and the world was purged of illusion. Jagannath Misra was overflowing with joy.

acharyaratna, srinivasa, jagannatha-misra-pasa,
asi’ tanre kare sabadhana
karaila jata-karma, ye achhila vidhi-dharma,
tabe misra kare nana dana [108]

Chandrasekhar Acharya and Srivas Pandit, who were Jagannath Misra’s neighbours, also came to alert him. They performed the ceremonies prescribed by religious regulations for when a child is born, and then Jagannath Misra distributed various charity.

yautuka paila yata, ghare va achhila kata,
saba dhana vipre dila dana
yata nartaka, gayana, bhata, akinchana jana,
dhana diya kaila sabara mana [109]

Whatever presentations Jagannath Misra received and whatever he had at home, he distributed everything among brahmans. He honoured all dancers, singers, religious poets and the poor by giving them various wealth.

srivasera brahmani, nama tanra ‘malini’,
acharyaratnera patni-sange
sindura, haridra, taila, khai, kala, nana phala,
diya puje nari-gana range [110]

The brahmani wife of Srivas Thakur, Malini, came together with Chandrasekhar’s wife. The ladies offered vermilion, turmeric, oil, puffed rice, bananas and various fruit, expressing their worship.

advaita-acharya-bharya, jagat-pujita arya,
nama tanra ‘sita thakurani’
acharyera ajna pana, gela upahara lana,
dekhite balaka-siromani [111]

Advaita Acharya’s pious spouse, Sri Sita Thakurani, who is worshippable in the whole world, came on the order of her husband to see the crest-jewel of a child, bringing along various gifts.

suvarnera kadi-bauli, rajata-mudra-pasuli,
suvarnera angada, kankana
du-bahute divya sankha, rajatera malabanka,
svarna-mudrara nana hara-gana [112]

She brought conch-shaped gold earrings, silver anklets with coin-like ornaments, gold bracelets, bangles as well as two exquisite conch bangles for both hands, curved silver foot-bracelets and various gold necklaces with coin-like ornaments.

vyaghra-nakha hema-jadi, kati-pattasutra-dori,
hasta-padera yata abharana
chitra-varna patta-sadi, buni photo pattapadi,
svarna-raupya-mudra bahu-dhana [113]

There were also tiger nails set in gold, coloured threads worn on the waist, various ornaments for hands and legs, fine silk saris as well as silk shirts for the baby. Many other riches, including gold and silver coins, were also presented to the boy.

durva, dhanya, gorochana, haridra, kunkuma, chandana,
mangala-dravya patra bhariya
vastra-gupta dola chadi’, sange lana dasi chedi,
vastralankara petari bhariya [114]

Bringing auspicious offerings, including fresh grass, paddy, gorochan, turmeric, kumkum and sandalwood, along with baskets full of clothes and ornaments, she came in a cloth-covered palanquin together with her maidservants.

bhaksya, bhojya, upahara, sange laila bahu bhara,
sachi-grhe haila upanita
dekhiya balaka-thama, saksat gokula-kana,
varna-matra dekhi viparita [115]

She arrived at Sachi Devi’s house with a great amount of various food preparations and gifts. When she saw the figure of the child, she thought that He looked just like Gokula-Kana (baby Krishna) Himself, only His bodily colour was different.

sarva anga—sunirmana, suvarna-pratima-bhana,
sarva anga—sulaksana-maya
balakera divya jyoti, dekhi’ paila bahu priti,
vatsalyete dravila hrdaya [116]

The limbs of His body were very beautifully built, making Him look like a golden doll. All His limbs were adorned with auspicious signs. Seeing the divine effulgence of the boy, Sita Thakurani’s heart melted with maternal affection.

durva, dhanya, dila sirse, kaila bahu asise,
chira-jivi hao dui bhai
dakini-sankhini haite, sanka upajila chite,
dare nama thuila ‘nimai’ [117]

Placing grass and paddy on His head, she abundantly blessed the baby boy, saying, ‘May You and Your brother live long lives.’ Suddenly, she felt some fear in her heart that the baby could be attacked by some ghost or witch, so, to protect the child, she named Him Nimai.

putramata-snana-dine, dila vastra vibhusane,
putra-saha misrere sammani’
sachi-misrera puja lana, manete harisa hana,
ghare aila sita thakurani [118]

When the mother and the son came out of the labour room after several days and bathed, Sita Thakurani honoured the child along with His father, Jagannath Misra, by giving them various clothes and ornaments. Then, after being honoured by Sachi Devi and Jagannath Misra, Sita Thakurani went back home, feeling pleased at heart.

aichhe sachi-jagannatha, putra pana laksminatha,
purna haila sakala vanchhita
dhana-dhanye bhare ghara, loka-manya-kalevara,
dine dine haya anandita [119]

In this way Mother Sachi and Jagannath Misra obtained the husband of the goddess of fortune as their son – all their desires were fulfilled. Their house was filled with riches and grains. Everybody was drawn to the graceful beauty and effulgence of the child, and Mother Sachi and Jagannath Misra felt more and more joyful day by day.

misra—vaisnava, santa, alampata, suddha, danta,
dhana-bhoge nahi abhimana
putrera prabhave yata, dhana asi’ mile tata,
visnu-prite dvije dena dana [120]

Jagannath Misra is an ideal Vaishnav. He was peaceful, restrained in sense gratification, pure and controlled. He was not proud of his wealth and opulence. He collected whatever riches came on the occasion of His son’s birth and distributed everything to brahmans out of love for Lord Vishnu.

lagna gani’ harsa-mati, nilambara chakravarti,
gupte kichhu kahila misrere
mahapurusera chihna, lagne ange bhinna bhinna,
dekhi,—ei taribe samsare [121]

After calculating Nimai’s birth time, Nilambar Chakravarti said to Jagannath Misra privately, ‘Considering all the different symptoms of a great personality in both the body and the birth time of this child, He will deliver the whole world.’

aichhe prabhu sachi-ghare, krpaya kaila avatare,
yei iha karaye sravana
gaura-prabhu dayamaya, tanre hayena sadaya,
sei paya tanhara charana [122]

Thus, the Lord mercifully appeared in Sachi Devi’s house. Lord Gaura is very merciful, so when anybody hears about His advent in this world, He becomes very compassionate to them and allows them to come to His holy feet.

paiya manusa-janma, ye na sune gaura-guna,
hena janma tara vyartha haila
paiya amrta-dhuni, piye visa-garta-pani,
janmiya se kene nahi maila [123]

If you get a human birth but do not hear about the glories of Gaura-hari, your birth is useless. You have a river of nectar but you drink from a well of poison – why did you not just die right after you were born then?

sri-chaitanya-nityananda, acharya advaita-chandra,
svarupa-rupa-raghunatha-dasa
inha-sabara sri-charana, sire vandi nija-dhana,
janma-lila gaila krsna-dasa [124]

The lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita-chandra Acharya, Sri Svarup Damodar, Sri Rupa Goswami and Sri Raghunath Das Goswami are my treasure – placing them on my head, I (Krishna Das) have thus described the appearance pastime of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

SRI GAUDIYA GITANJALI (English)
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