Separation from Mahaprabhu

Govinda Mahārāj: Prabhu, you want to [ask] one question?
Audience: Yes.
Govinda Mahārāj: Forgot?
Audience: I was wondering, Mahāprabhu in his early days he attracted so many devotees. Then he went to Jagannātha Purī for his last days [ and had] mostly closed doors Pastimes. How were they able to bear the separation, [the] devotees in Nabadwīp and so many places. And then He made closed door Pastimes, not for [the] general public, but so many people were so affectionate to him and then he went away. How could they bear this?

Govinda Mahārāj: It is true. And we also think it. And I asked Guru Mahārāj and Guru Mahārāj told it. That it is [the] Pastimes of Mahāprabhu as yuga-avatār. And also Kṛṣṇa himself appeared in the form of Mahāprabhu. Two kinds [of] work in one man. One form, two works is there. One yuga-avatār, he has some duty to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And for the preaching what [is] necessary is stated in Mahābhārata and other scriptures,

suvarṇa-varṇo hemāṅgo
varāṅgaś chandanāṅgadī
(Mahābhārata: Viṣṇu-sahasranāma, 95)
sannyāsa-kṛch chamaḥ śānto
niṣṭhā-śānti-parāyaṇaḥ
(Mahābhārata: Viṣṇu-sahasranāma, 75)

In future some yuga-avatār will come in Kalī-yuga, it is stated in Mahābhārata. His colour must be golden, "suvarṇa-varṇo hemāṅgo", [and a] very beautiful form; "Varāṅgaś chandanāṅgadī," and always with tilak, chandan, decorating his body; and sannyāsa-kṛch, he must take sannyās; and chamaḥ, he will be very peaceful [and] He will give peace to the mind of others; and śānto, his preaching is not violent, [but] gentle; and "niṣṭhā-śānti-parāyaṇaḥ," and practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his process is very firm, steady; and humility, tolerance and giving honor to others, like that. It is stated in Mahābhārata. Then yuga-avatār when will come, that time Advaita Āchārya Prabhu came. He worshiped the Śālagrām and [was] giving Tulasī every day and asking Kṛṣṇa, “Please, come now, [at] this time.” Then [the] yuga-avatār came. But with that yuga-avatār avatārī, Kṛṣṇa also came Himself. Original. Then two [came] within one man. The sannyās [Pastimes]—that is twelve years he preached and the other twelve years Kṛṣṇa himself tasted the mood of Rādhārāṇī. It is in Chaitanya-charitāmṛta. And devotees of Mahāprabhu after coming back, Mahāprabhu was bound with this rule. Then he took sannyās and he took the permission from the devotees also. That, “No other way, this is my work, what shall I do. You tolerate it.” But Śrīvās Paṇḍit and others cannot tolerate, then they left Nabadwīp. Many, who lived in the time of Mahāprabhu in Nabadwīp, many of them, who couldn’t tolerate the separation from Mahāprabhu, like Śrīvās Paṇḍit, he came back to [his home in] Kumarhatta afterwards. Everybody, massacre way, the devotees had gone. But they tried to come to Purī to see Mahāprabhu and stayed there maybe three or four months sometimes, there in Purī. But Mahāprabhu said lastly, “Every year is not necessary to come here.”

And this way they spent time. And they are hearing… and it was one meeting after taking sannyās in the house of Advaita Āchārya Prabhu. One meeting with Śachī Mātā and others. And Mahāprabhu very humbly told to Śachī Mātā, “Mother, I have done sannyās, what shall I do now? You advise me.” And she is a devoted lady, showing like that. Then she told, “When you took sannyās you cannot stay in the house.” Then Mahāprabhu asked, “Where shall I stay? You tell with the consultation of other devotees.” Then they settled that Jagannāth Purī is the best place. But it is actually wills of Mahāprabhu and his Pastimes [are] like this. But all the devotees told that, "We are always going to Jagannāth Purī, every year. We are not staying in Jagannāth Purī you can see." This way [the] arrangement [was] made.

But it is true, they cannot tolerate the separation from Mahāprabhu. And for that [reason] Mahāprabhu time to time coming and meeting them. But like [in a] dream. With Nityānanda Prabhu and in the house of Rāghav Paṇḍit and Śrīvās Paṇḍit and Śachī Mātā, five places always Mahāprabhu is present there. When they will think, Mahāprabhu will be present there.

And? Four. Nityānanda-nartane, when Nityānanda Prabhu will sing and dance, that time Mahāprabhu must come there. And sometimes devotees can see Mahāprabhu there present. Nityānanda-nartane, Rāghava-bhavane. Rāghav Paṇḍit when offering some bhoga—there Mahāprabhu must go and take it. And when Śachī Mātā she will think Mahāprabhu and Mahāprabhu must appear there. And take it. Only one thing is my question and I’m not telling to Guru Mahārāj and not telling to others and always it is in my mind, always it is. But that answer I know, that is always question and always answer. Every day I’m asking and every day I’m getting answer, like that. About Viṣṇupriyā Devī. She is getting much austerity outwardly. She is chanting, "Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare, Hare Rāmā Hare Rāmā Rāmā Rāmā Hare Hare," and one grain of rice keeping, then again. This is her saṅkhyā, counting beds, like that. Then rice coming in this way. And offering that rice to Mahāprabhu. And what is Mahāprabhu doing at that time? This is my question. Without prasadām Viṣṇupriyā Devī is not taking that, then Mahāprabhu must appear there. And Mahāprabhu is taking and remnants there keeping, some remnants, and Viṣṇupriyā Devī taking. This is question and answer always with me, but it is not written anywhere. It’s not written anywhere, that question and answer. But always question is coming. And cannot tolerate actually the pain of Viṣṇupriyā Devī. Nobody wrote her name in Chaitanya-charitāmṛta or anywhere after [the] sannyās of Mahāprabhu. The whole life Viṣṇupriyā Devī is suffering, whole life for Mahāprabhu.

But which kind of suffering that is a question. She is offering to Mahāprabhu. Not only that, lastly she has got the order from Mahāprabhu, “You install my Deity.” And after getting that order she installed it, the Deity of Mahāprabhu. And that Deity is still in Nabadwīp. Only one place we are going maybe sahajiyā [are there], maybe anything, but the Deity is Viṣṇupriyā Devī’s Deity. Then we are going to see that Deity.

jaya śachīnandana, jaya gaurahari
viṣṇupriyā prāna-nāth nadīyā bihārī

This mantra there on the wall, "Jaya Śachīnandana, jaya Gaurahari, Viṣṇupriyā prāna-nāth," it is Mahāprabhu’s gṛhastha-līlā. But after sannyās-līlā what happened—that is our question. Mahāprabhu going near, going there, going everywhere. But not stated in the scriptures Mahāprabhu is coming to Viṣṇupriyā Devī also, it is not stated anywhere. Whole life she is suffering for Mahāprabhu. Whole life. And suffering, too much suffering. When Mahāprabhu came out and Śachī Mātā Devī left her body then Viṣṇupriyā Devī closed her door, house door, main gate closed. And nobody entered there except Īśan. Īśan was the servant of Mahāprabhu and also Dāmodar. Later sometimes Jagadānanda and lastly Śrīnivās Āchārya, Jīva Goswāmī. When she heard it is Jīva Goswāmī, she opened. When heard it is Śrīnivās very young boy. And Mahāprabhu gave instruction, “Śrīnivās [is] coming, you give your affection to him.” This way some story. And when Śrīnivās Āchārya came, young boy, very young, but searching where is Mahāprabhu. Too much devoted to Mahāprabhu. And Viṣṇupriyā Devī giving much affection to Śrīnivās. Maybe twelve years old boy, like that.

Otherwise Viṣṇupriyā Devī not opening her door. And some rice or maybe something is necessary from outside—Īśan is giving over the wall. And Īśan is sleeping outside of the gate of Mahāprabhu. And giving pāhārā, guard at [the] house. And that is [the] Pastimes of Mahāprabhu.