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Furthering our meditations on Lord Caitanya.
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj
Submitted by Manoj
Furthering our meditations on Lord Caitanya !
When Nimai was a child, He was very restless and stubborn. One time Sacimata said something to the Lord, Nimai would reply, "Mother, I can't hear your voice." Then out of eagerness, Sacimata spoke more loudly. But just to tease His mother, Gaura would repeat, "I can't hear you, mother." Nimai's antics completely enchanted Sacimata in parental love. Yet to enhance the Lord's pastimes, she chased Nimai with a stick. At the same time Sacimata shouted, "Why can't you hear my voice? You're speaking like a crazy person. I'm sure You won't take care for me in my old age."
One time after playing for sometime, He went home and took bath. His father reprimanded Him. Jagannath Misra said, "You've let Your studies go to the dogs like a low-class boy. Even though You are the son of a brahmana, You don't know how to properly behave. Now I'll teach You a lesson." Catching His hand, Jagannath threatened to beat Nimai with a stick.
Sachimata intervened. "Wait! Don't beat my son.He won't play any more, but He will sit with you and study the sastras."
Visvambara ran over to Sacimata and jumped in her lap. He said softly, "I won't play, I won't play."
Sachimata sternly said, "Prabhu, don't beat my son. He's dying of fear from you. Let Him give up His studies and become a fool. I just want Him to live a hundred years."
Getting angry, Jagannatha Misra replied, "If your son becomes illiterate how will He maintain Himself? Which brahmana will give his daughter in marriage?"
Visvambhara looked fearfully at His father. Jagannath Misra's heart was burning inside, but outwardly he kept a peaceful composure. As fatherly affection rose within his hear, tears moistened Jagannatha Misra's eyes. He threw away the stick. Taking Nimai and sitting Him on his lap, he said in a sweet voice, "Listen my son. If you study nicely, the people will praise you. And I will give you bananas."
from Sri Caitanya Mangala
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Here is a wonderful song by Vasudev Ghosa about Lord Caitanya as a child for our meditation.
Sacira Anginaya Naci
sacira anginaya nace visvambhara raya
hasi hasi phiri phiri mayere lukaya
bayane vasana diya bale lukainu
sace bale visvambara ami na dekhinu
mayera ancala dhari cancala carane
naciya naciya jaya khanjana-gamane
vasudeva ghosa kaya aparupa sobha
sisu-rupa dekhi haya jagamana lobha
Translation
Lord Visvambhara as a little child dances in the courtyard of Mother Saci, and He covers His face to hide from her.
Covering His face with the end of His cloth He says, "Mother I am hiding." Mother Saci says, "Visvambhara! I cannot see you."
Holding onto the end of His mother's sari He moves, dancing with His restless feet like a khanjana bird.
Vasudeva Ghosa declares, "I have never seen such a beautiful sight. Seeing the beauty of the child, the mind of the entire universe has become enchanted."
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Question: Is Mahaprabhu's mercy the highest mercy?
Answer from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
Submitted by Gopinath das
Of course, There is no one more merciful than Mahaprabhu and His devotees. The help or benefit which has come from them is the real help. Any other proposal of help is actually very deceiving, and great disservice. But the relief, the help which comes from Mahaprabhu and His devotees, is really the supreme and eternal help. This relief does not last only for a few days. It is not that kind of help which will soon create some bad side effect, some unfavorable reaction. It is not the kind of help that is favorable to some and unfavorable to others.
We can do something good for our country, but that might have a bad effect on another country. I might get some happiness at the expense of someone else's misery. Someone else may enjoy something which will create a lack in my life. I may benefit by riding in a horse-drawn coach, but this will definitely create discomfort for the horses.
Mahaprabhu and His devotees did not deceive mankind by proposing such means of relief. The relief which they have recommended, the gift which they have bestowed, will be supremely beneficial to all people at all times. This relief is for the whole universe.
Therefore it is not narrow-minded help. Mahaprabhu and His devotees were never interested in any kind of relief which was narrow-minded, sectarian and temporary. No bad reaction ever comes to anyone from Mahaprabhu's mercy. This is why we say Mahaprabhu is supremely magnanimous and His devotees are even more magnanimous.
This is not fiction, this is reality. Mahaprabhu's mercy is perfect and unlimited. Everyone else's mercy is limited and therefore deceiving. All other incarnations, such as Matsyadeva, Kurmadeva, Varahadeva, Ramacandra and even Lord Krishna Himself only bestowed their supreme mercy on the surrendered souls. But They all annihilated the opposing party. Only Mahaprabhu distributed his mercy even to the opposing party. He did not hesitate bestow his faultless mercy on the Kazi, the Buddhists, and others.
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