Prema Dhama Stotram

The Sanskrit poetry of Shridhar Maharaja has often been overlooked, even forgotten. I include here the Prema Dhama Stotram, an amazing work of poetry that recapitulates the life and teachings of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in a happy and brilliant sanskrit style. 

Sri Sri Prema Dhama Deva Stotram

by Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara dev Goswami Maharaja

Verse 1
deva-siddha-mukta-yukta-bhakta-vrnda-vanditam
papa-tapa-dava-daha-dagdha-duhkha-khanditam
krsna-nama-sidhu-dhama-dhanya-dana-sagaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram

The gods, perfected beings, liberated sages, mystic yogis and the dedicated devotees constantly sing the glories of the holy name of Sri Krishna. Like a raincloud showering nectar, the mere shadow of the Lord's holy name extinguishes the blazing forest fire of tormentful cravings and insatiable desires that chain the living soul within the material world, a place where the soul again and again experiences the agonies of birth, death and rebirth. Sri Krishna Chaitanya is the personified form of that oceanic consciousness of the flavour of nectar which is found in the holy names. Taking the heart and halo of Srimate Radharani, Krishna has reappeared in this present age ( Kali yuga ) in the golden form of Sri Krishna Chaitanya.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.

Verse 2
svarna-koti- darpanabha-deha-varna-gauravam
padma-parijata-gandha-vanditanga-saurabham
koti-kama-murchitanghri-rupa rasa-rangaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram

The Lord's lustrous form surpasses the brilliance of a million mirrors of gold. The fragrance of heavenly and earthly lotus flowers is humbled by the subtle scent of nectar filling the air around Lord Sri Gaurasundara. Millions of cupids are stunned by his infinite beauty. Cupid's capacity to charm and create rapture is surpassed by the infinite attractiveness of the Lord. Sri Gaurasundara's dancing in various moods of rapture and love makes everyone seeing him swoon. Dancing in the deepest bliss of spiritual love, Sri Gaurasundara is the artful dancer Sri Krishna himself, come again to this Earth in a golden form.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 3
prema-nama-dana-janya-panca-tattvakatmakam
sanga-divya-parsadastra-vaibhavavatarakam
syama-gaura-nama-gana-nrtya-matta-nagaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram

The Lord revealed himself to the people of the world in a five-aspect form (panca-tattva) for the purpose of revealing the variegated beauties of his holy name, which is non-different from himself. Sri Krishna revealed himself in these five aspects: Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhar and Srivas Thakur.
Sri Krishna Chaitanya is Krishna himself, outwardly acting in the role of a devotee. Prabhu Nityananda is his other self and elder brother. Sri Advaita Acharya is the avatara who establishes the true religion for the age of Kali ( yuga dharma ). Gadadhar Pandit is the Lord's intimate associate accompanying Sri Gaurasundara as he enjoys contemplating the beauty of pure spiritual love. Srivas Pandit is foremost amongst the Lord's general associates who come with him whenever he appears.
In other ages when the Lord descends to Earth he comes with weapons such as the discus and mace which He uses to kill demons. But in this age of Kali ( kali-yuga ) when almost every person is possessed by the ghosts of lust, anger and violence, the Lord comes with the weapon of the holy name to destroy every kind of evil. Armed with the weapon of the holy name the Lord wandered through the streets and marketplaces of Nadia district, just like an ordinary resident of that place.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 4
santipurya- dhisa-kalya-dharma-duhka-dusaham
jiva-duhka-hana-bhakta-saukhya-dana-vigraham
kalya-ghaugha-nasa-krsna-nama-sidha-sancaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Advaita Acharya, the avatara of Maha-Vishnu, came into the world to establish the true religion for the age of Kali. Advaita Acharya lived at Shantipur in the Nadia district of West Bengal. Seeing the intense illusion and suffering of the living beings in this mortal world, he felt intense grief. Advaita Acharya worshipped Lord Vaikunthapati Vishnu. Sri Advaita called to Lord Vaikunthapati and asked him to appear on Earth and show kindness to worldly people by distributing Krishna consciousness. This Krishna consciousness dispels all misconception and awakens divine knowledge within the soul. This Krishna consciousness is the true remedy for all kinds of suffering.
Appearing in the world in his Deity form of Sri Gaurasundara, Krishna descended to Earth and took away the pains suffered by the living beings. He pacified the grief of Advaita Acharya by widely distributing the nectar of his holy names.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 5
dvipa-navya-ganga-banga-janma-karma-darsitam
srinivasa-vasa-dhanya-nama-rasa-harsitam
sri-haripriyesa-pujyadhi-saci-purandaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Gauranga appeared in the sacred place known as Sri Nabadwip Dham, the spiritual city of nine islands situated within the eternal stream of the Ganges river. Sri Nabadwip Dham is non-different from Svetadwipa, the blissful island of Sriman Narayana, the Lord and compassionate guardian of all beings.
In his golden manifestation of Sri Gauranga the Lord engaged in the play of congregational chanting of the names of Sri Krishna ( nama-sankirtan ). He filled the hearts of everyone with the bliss of the holy name. Bringing his eternal family to Earth with him (his mother and father, brother and others) the Lord blessed the home of Srivas Pandit with his divine presence. In the home of Srivas, Sri Gauranga showed many wonderful revelations to the devotees.
Sri Gaurasundara is the controlling life-force of his consorts Laksmipriya-devi and Visnupriya-devi and his mind was filled with deep affection for his mother and father, Sacidevi and Jagannatha Mishra.
Verse 6
sri sachi dulala balya bala sangha cancalam
akumara sarva shastra daksha tarka mangalam
chatra sangha ranga digjigishu darpa samharam
prema dhama devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
The young son of Sachidevi, Sri Gaurasundara, enjoyed mischief-making with other naughty boys, just as He had enjoyed making mischief in the previous age when he appearead as Krishna, the son of Yasoda. These childhood pastimes were enjoyable not only for the Lord and his young friends but also for the adults who were witnesses to his pranks and merry-making.
In his adolescence Sri Gaurasundara was recognised as a prodigy in matters of logic and debate. At that time he was known as Nimai Pandit, the son of Sachi and Jagannatha Mishra. Sri Gaurasundara used the skills of a logician to teach that the doctrine of pure devotion is the last word in philosophic thought.
On the banks of the Ganges at Sri Nabadwip Dham, Nimai Pandit met the most learned scholar of Sanskrit of all times, Digvijayi Pandit, and defeated the pandit in a debate. Digvijayi Pandit was amazed to find this boy Nimai Pandit could remember everything he had heard or read only once. The Digvijayi Pandit was lost for words to counter the logic and arguments of Sri Nimai Pandit. Students witnessing the debate began to laugh at Digvijayi Pandit, but gentle-hearted Nimai Pandit told the boys to be silent and not show disrespect. Then playful Nimai deconstructed his own arguments and stated that the arguments Digvijayi Pandit had put forward were correct. Digvijayi Pandit was utterly awestruck to see the depth of the boy's intelligence.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 7
varjya patra saramcya sarpa sangha khelanam
skandha bahi caura tirtha vipra citra lilanam
krishna nama matra balya kopa shanti saukaram
prema dhama devam eva naumi naumi gaura-sundaram
The Lord's childhood pastimes were most wonderful. As an infant, he was once found playing on top of a heap of disused cooking pots. When his mother told him to leave the unclean place the infant Nimai refused to do so. He presented his own clever reasoning and logic to assert his own wish to stay there and play. He played with unclean animals such as puppies and snakes. He once lay down on a cobra as if it were a bed.
One day two thieves kidnapped Nimai. One of the thieves lifted the child onto his shoulder and took him away with the intention of stealing his ornaments. But when the two thieves were running along a jungle path they found the path they were following had mysteriously brought them back to the child's home. The thieves left Nimai and fled in fear. Another day, a visiting brahmana cooked some food and offered it to the Deity of Krishna in the house of Sri Gaurasundara. The brahmana suddenly found the child Nimai was eating the offering. The brahmana was upset that his offering had been polluted. But then Sri Gaurasundara transformed revealed that he is Krishna, the very Deity the brahmana had been worshipping.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 8
snana-ganga-vari-bala-sanga-ranga-khelanam
balikadi-parihasya-bhangi-balya-lilanam
kuta-tarka-chatra-siksakadi-vada-tatparam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Playing and swimming in the waters of the Ganges with his friends, Sri Gaurasundara would sometimes tease young girls who came to the river to bathe and collect pots of water. This same young boy also put forward shrewd arguments to the Sanskrit teachers and logicians of the district.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 9
sri nimai-panditeti-nama-desa-vanditam
navya-tarka-daksa-laksa-dambhi-dambha-khanditam
sthapitarta-khanda-khanda-khanditartha-sambharam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
During the Lord's adolescent pastimes, Sri Gaurasundara was known throughout Nadia district as the brilliant sholar Nimai Pandit. With his ingenious arguments he could humble the proud logicians. Rendering the scholars speechless by canceling and reversing their logic and conclusions, the Lord would then refute his own opinions and re-justify his opponent's original statements.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 10 sloka-ganga-vandanartha-digigisu-bhasitam
Vyatyalankritadi-dosa-taritartha-dusitam
dhvasta-yukti-ruddha-buddhi-datta-dhimadadaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
The world-conquering scholar Keshava Kashmiri met the Lord on the bank of the Ganges. At the Lord's request, the pandit composed many wonderful prayers glorifying the sacred Ganges. Nimai Pandit amazed the scholar when He pointed out several rhetorical errors in his poetry. Keshava Kashmiri skillfully presented logical arguments in his own favour, but was ultimately defeated in the debate. When the imperfections in the poetry of the pandit were exposed and he could think of no further arguments in support of his own conclusions, he became perplexed. Boys witnessing the pandit's discomfort began to laugh but Sri Gaurasundara showed respect to the pandit by stopping the students from laughing.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 11
sutra-vritti-tippanistha-suksma-vacanadbhutam
dhatu-matra-krishna-sakti-sarva-visva-sambhritam
ruddha-buddhi-panditaugha-nanya-yukti-nirdharam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Elaborately explaining the sutras taught in Sanskrit grammar and the science of logic, Sri Gaurasundara explained to his students both the superficial and the deepest meanings of those sutras. The Lord's beautiful style of presentation of the inner significances of the sutras completely amazed all the learned sholars of Nadia. The Lord explained how all the seven thousand verbal root sounds contained in Sanskrit grammar find their fullest expression when they are understood to be vibrational energies emanating from the wondrous flute song of Sri Krishna. Scholars sat listening to him in amazement, their powerful intellects paralyzed by his intriguing presentation.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 12
krishna-dristi-pata-hetu-sabdakartha-yojanam
sphotavada-srinkhalaika-bhitti-krishna-biksanam
sthula-suksma-mula-laksya-krishna-saukhya-sambharam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Gaurasundara explained how the sounds of the verses in the literature of the Veda and the meaning of those verses are simultaneously, inconceivably, different from from each other and non-different (acintya-bhedabheda). Ultimately, the sanction given by God is the deciding factor that correlates a sound and its intrinsic meaning. It is not because of the dictates of men that a sound has its meaning. That is, the meaning of the words of the Veda have not been assigned to them by scholars of grammar such as Panini. The purpose of every thing in existence, including such things as sounds and words, is to serve and enhance the beauty of the pastimes of the Lord who creates, maintains and dissolves the universes.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 13
prema-ranga-patha-bhanga-chatra-kaku-kataram
chatra-sanga-hasta-tala-kirtanadya-sancaram
krishna-nama-sidhu-sindhu-magna dik-caracaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
After returning from Gaya where he took initiation from the devotee-ascetic Sri Ishwara Puri, the Lord was filled with ecstasy and bliss. In Nabadwip Dham the Lord met again with his students who wanted to continue hearing his amazing discourses about philosophy, Sanskrit and grammar. But spiritual sentiments overwhelming his heart carried Sri Gaurangasundar into states of rapture and joy. The Lord felt he was unable to continue as a teacher, and he resigned from that. Nimai's students, deprived to his association, were filled with lamentation. They considered themselves very unfortunate as they would no longer be able to meet with him each day at school. Seeing their grief, the Lord felt compassion for them. He told the boys to chant the Names of Hari and began singing "Hari haraye namah, Krishna ..." The boys sang along with him and accompanied the singing by clapping their hands. In the wake of this chanting the animate and inanimate living beings in all ten directions were touched by the holy vibration of the divine names and were penetrated by surging waves of the grand ocean of sweet devotional mellows.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 14
arya-dharma-pala-labdha-diksa-krishna-kirtanam
laksa-laksa-bhakta-gita-vadya-divya-nartanam
dharma-karma-nasa-dasyu-dusta-duskritoddharam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Gaurasundara showed honour for the religious traditions of the ancient Aryan civilization of India ( sanatana dharma ). In this world filled with the darkness of the iron age (kali-yuga), in the city of Nabadwip Dham the Lord began the festival of congregational chanting of the Lord's holy names (sankirtan-yajna) in accordance with the instruction of Sri Ishwara Puri, his Guru. The Lord would continually chant Krishna's names. He is ever absorbed in his ecstatic dance of divine love, accompanied the sweet singing of thousands of devotees and the music of the mrdanga and kartals. He is the saviour of sinful and evil minded demons who are responsible for the destruction of religious principles, piety and truthfulness.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 15
mleccha-raja-nama-vadha-bhakta-bhiti banjanam
laksa-laksa dipa-naisa-koti-kantha-kirtanam
sri mridanga-tala-vadya-nritya-kaji-nistaram
prema dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Chand Kazi, the Muslim governor of Nabadwip, banned the performance of congregational chanting of Krishna's holy names on the streets of the city. The Lord then led an evening chanting procession of hundreds of thousands of devotees carrying lanterns and torches. Millions of devotees joined the procession, their voices singing the holy names, while they danced to the rhythm of drums, cymbals and other instruments. The Lord brought this huge procession to the door of the governor who was hiding in his house in a fearful state of mind. Sri Gaurasundara asked Chand Kazi to come out and meet with him and when the Kazi emerged Sri Gaurasundara hugged him. Sri Gaurasundara told Chand Kazi that the congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna is not a politically inspired movement. It is a non-sectarian spiritual movement.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 16
laksa-locanasru-varsa-harsa-kesa-kartanam
koti-kantha-krishna-kirtanadhya-danda-dharanam
nyasi-vesa-sarvadesa-ha-hutasa-kataram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Gaurasundara departed from Nabadwip and went away to become a sannyasi (monk), leaving behind his family members and friends whose eyes were filled with tears. He accepted the staff and waterpot as his only possessions, the emblems of a renunciate. When his long hair was cut off and his head was shaved, thousands of voices sang the holy names. The devotee's eyes shed rivers of tears, since they knew he was going into the world and leaving them behind. From that time, whoever saw him in the red garments of a sannyasi cried out loud in grief.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 17
sri-yatisa-bhakta-vesa-radha-desa-caranam
krishna-chaitanyakhya-krishna-nama-jiva-taranam
bhava-vibhramatma-matra-dhavamana-bhudharam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Dressed in new clothes as a sannyasi, Sri Gaurasundara, the supreme controller of all renunciates, wandered through Bengal purifying the land with the touch of his feet. Known thereafter by his sannyasi name, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, the Lord rescued the living souls by giving them Krishna's holy names. Intoxicated with ecstatic emotions erupting from the deepest feelings of devotional love, he seemed like a golden volcano as he continuously trembled with joy whilst moving this way and that, running here and there in every direction. I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 18
sri-gadadharadi-nityananda-sanga-vardhanam
advayakhya-bhakta-mukhya-vanchitartha-sadhanam
ksetravasa-sabhilasa-matritosa-tatparam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Accompanied by Sri Gadadhar Pandit and Prabhu Nityananda, Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya bestows good fortune to everyone. When Sri Chaitanya descended to Earth as the Avatara for the age of Kali, He fulfilled the prayers of Sri Advaita Acharya. To please his mother, Sachi Devi, the Lord agreed to stay nearby at Jagannathat Puri. I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 19
nyasiraja-nila-gaila-vasa-sarvabhaumapam
daksinatya-tirtha-jata-bhakta-kalpa-padapam
rama-megha-raga-bhakti-vristi-sakti-sancaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Arriving in Puri, the city of Lord Jagannatha (Krishna), Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya met the famous pandit of Vedanta named Vasudeva Sarvabhauma, who he converted into a devotee. He then proceeded to South India where he encountered the followers of various philosophies. Like a tree that can produce any sweet fruit that anyone desires, the Lord fulfilled the heart's desires of all the devotees he visited in South India. He met with the great devotee Sri Ramananda Raya, who is like a deep raincloud full of the nectar of devotion, at a holy place on the bank of the Godavari River. Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya empowered Ramananda Raya to produce a shower of nectarean mellows of spontaneous loving service to Sri Krishna, as practiced by the most exalted devotees in the land of Vraja.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 20
dhvasta-sarvabhauma-vada-navya-tarka-sankaram
dhvasta-tadvivarta-vada-danaviya-damvaram
darsitartha-sarva-sastra-krishna-bhakti-mandiram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
The original and ever fresh, ever new philosophy presented by Sri Krishna Chaitanya devastated the philosophy of Vasudeva Sarvabhauma, who had tried to use crooked logic and perversion of the meaning of words to assert the impersonalist philosophy of Sankara (vivartavarda), which is opposed to the auspicious doctrine of loving devotion to Lord Sri Krishna (suddha-bhakti). Sankara taught that this world of variegated forms is an illusion and that the individual soul (atma) is one with God. Sankara summed up his entire philosphy in four words: brahma satya jagan mithya (spirit is true, the phenomenal world is non-existent). But Sri Chaitanya taught that the world is real and that the souls in the world are tiny servants of God. Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya explained to Vasudeva Sarvabhauma that the Vedic literature in its entirety should be viewed as a temple enshrining the philosophy of pure devotion (suddha-bhakti). I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 21
prema-dhama-divya-dirgha-deha-deva-nanditam
hema-kanja-punja-nindi-kanti-candra-vanditam
nama-gana-nritya-navya-divya-bhava-mandiram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
The tall, divine figure of Sri Gaurasundara, whose beautifully sharp features and well formed limbs seem wonderful to the devotees who adore him, is the perfect form of beauty and joy for the celestial gods who worship him. He is the complete embodiment of pure love. The radiant aura shining from his brilliant form makes the beauty of a million lotus flowers seem as nothing, whilst the moon's glow is soft and respectful in the light of Sri Gaurasundara. Sri Gaurasundara is the personification of the ever fresh moods of loving ecstasy that arise from dancing and singing the holy names of Krishna.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 22
krishna-krishna-krishna-krishna-krishna-nama-kirtanam
rama-rama-gana-ramya-divya chanda-nartanam
yata-tata-krishna-nama-dana-loka-nistaram
prema-dhama devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Chanting "Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna," and sometimes "Rama, Rama", infused with an inconceivable type of joy, the Lord danced and called out to Krishna, asking Krishna to reveal his presence. The footsteps of Sri Chaitanya were a joyful dance, and Sri Chaitanya's eyes and hands expressed wonderful gestures, full of meaning and deep significance. Sri Chaitanya called out to Krishna, asking Krishna to appear and fill up the void that is felt in Krishna's absence. When walking along roads and lonely pathways, or visiting temples or the homes of people he met during his tour of South India, Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya inspired everyone to become a devotee.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 23
godavarya-vasa-tira-ramananda-samvadam
jnana-karma-mukta-marma-raga-bhakti-sampadam
parakiya-kanta-krishna-bhava-sevanakaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
In Chaitanya Charitamrita, written by Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami in the sixteenth century, there is a record of the conversation between Sri Krishna Chaitanya and Ramananda Raya known as ramananda samvad. In that conversation the highest form of dedication to Sri Krishna is described as loving devotion in the mellow of parakiya-rasa. Purest love for Krishna is devotion free from any attraction for any thing other than Krishna. The desire to engage in dutiful religious practices in a mood of awe-filled adoration and the desire to worship God for personal gain are both lesser types of devotion. The highest type of devotion is the exclusive devotion of the Gopis in Vrindaban, the land of Sri Krishna.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 24
dasya-sakhya-vatsya-kanta-sevanottarottaram
srestha-parakiya-radhikanghri-bhakti-sundaram
srivraja-svasiddha-divya-kama-krishna-tatparam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Krishna Chaitanya explained that there are various relationships in connection with Krishna. Those relationships begin with servitude and progress to friendship and to parental love, ultimately extending to an amorous relationship. Within the category of amorous love, the most beautiful form of loving devotion is pure devotional service to the lotus feet of Srimate Radharani in the moods of parakiya love for Sri Nandanandana (Krishna). Divine and spontaneous loving desires, in their most pure and pristine form, can have their full meaning only in the pastimes of Sri Vrajendranandana, Sri Krishna in Vraja Dham. Such inspiration was given by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 25
santa-mukta-bhritya tripta-mitra-matta-darsitam
snigdha-mugdha-sista-mista-sustha-kuntha-harsitam
tantra-mukta-vamya-raga-sarva-sevanottaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Chaitanyadev explained that a devotee in a mood of passive adoration enjoys the happiness of being free from all miseries. A devotee feeling a sense of servitude relishes the pleasure of contentment. A devotee feeling friendship becomes overwhelmed with happiness arising from close affection. While a devotee with parental feelings for Krishna is free from any calculative mentality, experiencing deepened affection in ecstatic joy. Sri Gaurasundara further revealed that the devotee feeling amorous love for Krishna in the category of wedded love ( svakiya ) only partially relishes the sweetness of the mood of love, due to constraints of scriptural, religious and moral codes on the relationship. However, when feelings of the highest type of loving devotion beyond scriptural restrictions are expressed ( parakiya ), then the spontaneity and freedom in the divine relationships is unlimited. Added with the special mood of vamya, such service gives Krishna the greatest pleasure, providing full satisfaction for Sri Sri Radha-Govindasundar. The deep ocean of Srimati Radharani's love for Sri Krishna was explored by Sri Krishna Chaitanya, in the select company of his most confidential associates.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 26
atma-navya-tattva-divya-raya-bhagya-darsitam
syama-gopa-radhikapta-kokta-gupta-cestitam
murcchitaghri-ramaraya-bodhitatma-kinkaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Ramananda Raya was graced to receive a divine vision of Sri Gaurasundara. Ramanada saw that Sri Gaurasundara is Krishna himself. Sri Krishna, covered by the radiant glow of the halo of Sri Radha's love. Ramananda Raya saw the divine form of the Deity of his heart: Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Govindasunderjiu. Glimpsing this divine revelation for a brief moment, Ramananda Raya fainted and fell to the ground at the feet of the Lord. Sri Gaurasundara then restored Ramananda Raya to his waking consciousness. I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 27
ranganatha-bhatta bhakti-tusta-bhangi-bhasanam
laksmya-gamya-krishna-rasa-gopikaika-posanam
laksmya-bhista-krishna-sirsa-sadhya-sadhanakaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
At Kurmakshetra in South India, Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya embraced a devotee afflicted with leprosy, the saintly brahmana Vasudev. By the Lord's Grace, Vasudev's leprosy was cured and his body became beautiful. Later, Sri Gaurasundara liberated the brahmana named Ramadas who was under the misconception that his worshipable Goddess, Sita, the wife of Rama, was touched by a demon. The Lord cited the Kurma Purana to prove that the transcendental form of Sita is beyond all material contamination. He blessed Ramadas with pure devotion. Further along in his journey through South India, Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya saved his servant Kala-Krishnadas from the clutches of the infamous Bhattathari sect.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 28
ranganatha-bhatta bhakti-tusta-bhangi-bhasanam
laksmya-gamya-krishna-rasa-gopikaika-posanam
laksmya-bhista-krishna-sirsa-sadhya-sadhanakaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
The Lord visited Sri Ranga-kshetra in South India where the Vaishnavas are firmly devoted to the worship of Sri Lakshmi Narayan. In a playful mood, Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya had some discussions with the great devotee Sri Venkata Bhatta and instructed Venkata Bhatta that the rasa pastimes are unapproachable for Sri Laksmidevi, who could not enter the rasa lila pastimes even after prolonged penances. Even Laksmidevi is attracted by Krishna since Krishna is the ultimate source of all forms of loving devotion. Only the cowherd maidens of Vraja, headed by Srimati Radharani, can truly satisfy the Lord with their amorous devotion, while Laksmidevi always remains attached to the royal style of wedded devotion to Her Lord (svakiya).
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 29
brahma-samhitakhya-krishna-bhakti-sastra-dayakam
krishna-karna-sidhu-nama-krishna-kavya-gayakam
sri prataparudra-raja-sirsa-sevya-mandiram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
While in South India the Lord discovered the ancient literature Sri Brahma Samhita, containing the perfect conclusions of pure devotion ( suddha-bhakti ). Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya had a copy of this book made and took it to show to the devotees of Bengal. Sri Krishna Chaitanya would sing the verses of Sri Krishna Karnamritam in which the wonderful pastimes of Sri Krishna in Vraja are glorified by the poet Bilvmangal Thakur. The king of Orissa, Maharaj Prataparudra, worshipped the feet of Sri Krishna Chaitanya and placed the Lord's feet upon his head.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 30
sri rathagra-bhakta-gita-divya-narttanadbhutam
yatri-patra-mitra-rudraraja-hriccamatkritam
gundicagamadi-tattva-rupa-kavya-sancaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Surrounded by innumerable devotees singing the holy names, Lord Gaurasundara danced in astonishing ways in front of the ratha (chariot) of Lord Jagannatha. He appeared as the divine and wonderful Nataraja, the king of dancers, astounding the pilgrims and relatives of King Prataparudra, filling their hearts with wonder. By his potency, the natural meaning of the pastimes of Lord Jagannatha's chariot ride to Gundica was manifest in the poem by Srila Rupa Goswami.
All glories, all glories to my golden Lord Gaurasundara the beautiful, the divine abode of pure love.
Verse 31
prema-mugdha-rudra-sauryya-viryya-vikramam
prathitanghri-varjitanya-sarva-dharma-sangaman
lunthita-pratapa-sirsa-pada-dhuli-dhusaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
The king of Orissa, Maharaj Prataparudra of Utkala, was overwhelmed and wonderstruck when he witnessed the pastimes and effulgent beauty of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Maharaj Prataparudra discarded all his previous religious views. He gave up thinking of himself as a hero and a king, realizing his real identity as an eternal servitor of the Lord. With a single-minded desire to satisfy the Lord, Prataparudra Maharaj threw himself to the ground at the feet of Sri Chaitanya, hoping that his head might be anointed with the dust of the Lord's feet. I sing with joy the glories of Sri Chaitanyadev, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 32
daksinatya-suprasiddha-panditaugha-pujitam
srestha-raja-rajapata-sirsa-bhakti-bhusitam
desa-matri-sesa-darsanarthi-gauda-gocaram
prema-dhama devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
When Sri Krishna Chaitanya was in South India the famous religious scholars recognized him as the crown jewel of devotion. He is the wish-fulfilling jewel who gives his devotees a true vision of the supernatural reality of loving devotional feelings ( bhakti-rasa ). The princes and government officials of South Indian states honoured and revered him, their inner hearts awakened with devotion by seeing the Lord.
In accordance with the ancient traditions of sannyasa (asceticism), Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Bengal to visit the Ganges and his homeland. Returning to Bengal for the last time, he came again to visit his mother and friends.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanyadev, the divine abode of pure love.
Verse 33
gaura-garvi-sarva-gauda-gauravartha-sajjitam
sasta-sastra-daksa-dusta-nastikadi-lajjitam
muhyamana-matrikadi-deha-jiva-sancaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
The fame of Sri Chaitanyadev had spread far and wide. His name was known and revered throughout all of Bengal. He returned to Nabadwip Dham after an absence of five years and crowds of people came madly running along the roads and pathways hoping to catch a sight of him. Even the proud, atheistic logicians felt embarrassed, remembering the many troubles they had caused Sri Chaitanyadev when he first sent devotees out into the streets singing the holy name of the Lord. The scholarly atheists felt humbled when they saw how the ordinary folk in all walks of life had such resolute faith, such deep inner joy, and such strong feelings of affection for the Lord. Seeing the Lord again after long years of lonely separation, the Lord's mother Sachi Devi and other family members were overwhelmed with feelings of ecstasy. They felt they had gotten back their very life. I sing with joy the unending glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 34
nyasa-panca-varsa-purna-janma-bhumi-darsanam
koti-koti-loka-lubdha-mugdha-drsti-karsanam
koti-kantha-krsna-nama-ghosa-bheditamvaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Millions of people, young and old, came to see him. Deeply moved, their eyes and faces filled with eagerness, they beheld their Lord who attracts the hearts of everyone. As millions upon millions of voices repeatedly sang out "Hari" and "Krishna", the tumultuous chanting of the devotees of Sri Gaurahari shook the heavens. I sing with joy the unending glories of Lord Gaurasundara the Beautiful, the divine abode of pure love.
Verse 35
arta-bhakta-soka-santi-tapi-papi-pavanam
laksa-koti-loka-sanga-krsna-dhama-dhavanam
rama-keli-sagrajata-rupa-karsanadharam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
The Lord pacified his devotees who were feeling heartbroken since they had been unable to see the Lord of their life for such a long time. He forgave many malicious persons including Gopala Capala and others. Then he began to run towards Vrindaban, the land of Krishna, carrying thousands upon thousands of people in his wake. Rushing along the road in that way, Sri Chaitanya arrived at Ramkeli where he saw two brothers who appeared before him. The Lord was attracted to these two divine persons, his eternal associates Rupa and Sanatan, who at that time were ministers in the government of the king of Bengal.
I sing with joy the unending glories of Lord Gaurasundara the Beautiful, the divine abode of pure love.
Verse 36
vyaghra-varanaina-vanya-jantu-krsna-gayakam
prema-nrtya-bhava-matta-jhadakhanda-nayakam
durga-vanya-marga-bhatta-matra-santa-saukaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
As he went on, the Lord came to the Jhadadkanda jungle where the tigers, deer, elephants and other forest creatures were amazed at the sight of him. When the forest animals saw him dancing and singing the holy names in ecstasy, those animals also began to sing the names of Krishna in their own voices. The Lord was maddened by ecstasy. Dancing sweetly in the mood of divine love he easily proceeded through inaccessible forest paths with just a single devotee, Balabhadra Bhattacharya, for his companion.
I sing with joy the unending glories of Lord Gaurasundara the Beautiful, the divine abode of pure love.
Verse 37
ganga-yamunadi-vindhu-madhavadi-mananam
mathuratta-citta-yamunagra-bhaga-dhavanam
smarita-vrajati-tivra-vipralambha-kartaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
At Varanasi and Prayag on the banks of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, Sri Gaurasundara visited temples and beheld Deities such as Bindu-Madhava and others. Following the course of the Yamuna river, the Lord began to run along the riverbank, anxious to catch a sight of the sacred place of Mathura. As thoughts of the pastimes of Radha Govinda in Vrindaban arose in his mind, he became fully transported to the sacred abode of Vrindaban where he tasted the painfully sweet feelings of separation felt by Sri Radha.
I sing with joy the unending glories of Lord Gaurasundara the Beautiful, the divine abode of pure love.
Verse 38
madhavendra-vipralambha-mathuresta-mananam
prema-dhama-drstakama-purva-kunja-kananam
gokuladi-gostha-gopa-gopika-priyankaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu relished the mood of separation (vipralambha) tasted by the great saint Madhavendra Puri, as recorded in his poem describing Sri Radhika's divine mood of lament. Spoken in the mood of Sri Radha (mahabhava) the verse expresses her feelings when Sri Krishna left Vrindaban to go to the city of Mathura. Sri Radha said: "Oh Master of Mathura! When shall I see you again? Because of my not seeing you, my agitated heart has become unsteady. Oh most beloved sweetheart of my heart, what shall I do now?" With this meditation, Sri Chaitanya finally arrived in Vrindaban, the divine abode of love. He was absorbed to his heart's content in the sight of the beautiful flower gardens and forests of Vrindaban, which had been his playground in the previous age (dvapara-yuga) when he appeared there as the dark-skinned child Sri Krishna. Sri Chaitanya enjoyed affectionate dealings with the gopas and gopis in the twelve forests of Vrindabana.
I sing with joy the unending glories of the Sri Gaurasundara the beautiful, the one and only abode of pure love.
Verse 39
prema-gunjanali-punja-puspa-punja-ranjitam
gita-nrtya-daksa-paksi-vrksa-laksa-vanditam
go-vrsadi-nada-dipta-purva-moda-meduram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Walking through the groves of Vrindaban, the Lord was welcomed by swarms of humming bumblebees hovering over the blooming flowers of the forest, all busily discussing together the pure love of Radha and Govinda. Different kinds of birds sang and danced in sheer delight when the Lord came walking amongst the trees that were bowing down before him out of respect. In the forest of Vrindaban the memory was aroused in him of his pastimes there in the previous age. He remembered how the cows and calves would all lovingly call out to him, their Lord and protector, the keeper of cattle, Sri Govinda. In this way the Lord would relive his previous pastimes in ecstasy.
I sing with joy the unending glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the divine abode of pure Love.
Verse 40
prema-buddha-ruddha-buddhi-matta-nrtya-kirtanam
plavitasru-kancananga-vasa-caturanganam
krsna-krsna-rava-bhava-hasya-lasya-bhavaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Overwhelmed by the wave of love Lord Gaurasundara danced and chanted the holy names of Krishna. A stream of tears fell from his eyes, with teardrops falling onto his golden chest and his garments the colour of sunlight. The earth itself was drenched in his tears when he wandered here and there, deeply absorbed in remembrance of the divine love Sri Radha feels for Sri Krishna. In the mood of maha-bhava he would break out in loud laughter and cry out at the top of his voice, "Krishna, Krishna!" without restraint. In this way, by the many different aspects of his pastimes, the brilliance of his beauty and rapture was displayed to the highest degree for the fortunate devotees who were present there.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 41
prema-mugdha-nrtya-kirtanakularitantikam
snana-dhanya-vari-dhanya-bhumi-kunda-desakam
prema-kunda-radhikakhya-sastra-vadanandaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
The Lord was filled with feelings of bliss and love and he danced and sang the glories of Krishna. He came to the sacred pond Sri Radha Kunda. He blessed the water of the paddy fields at Radha Kunda by bathing in it, thereby revealing that holy site. Then he sang verses from the scriptures glorifying that pool of divine love, named after the Lord's consort Srimate Radharani.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 42
tintidi-talastha-yamunormi-bhavanaplutam
nirjanaika-radhikatma-gaura-tattva-vaibhavakam
syama-radhikapta-gaura-tattva-bhittikakaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
At the place known as Imilitala, on the bank of the Yamuna river, Sri Gaurasundara sat beneath the ancient tamarind tree growing there since the previous age. He sat beneath the tree's branches and, seeing the dancing waves of the river, the memory of jala-keli was aroused withing him. He became immersed in thoughts of those confidential sporting pastimes of Lord Krishna in the water with the Gopis. Undisturbed, in that secluded place, his whole being was pervaded with thoughts of Radhika, her beauty and her sweetness.
This place Imilitala is the place of origin of Gaura-tattva, for it was here that Syamasundar Krishna became totally radiant in the halo and the heartfelt mood of Sri Radha. Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanyadev eternally dwells in this place, his thoughts captured by the inconceivable sweetness of Sri Radha's feelings of devotion. I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 43
sarika-sukokti-kautukadhya-lasya-lapitam
radhika-vyatita-krsna-bhava-bhakta-kama-mohitam
prema-vasya-krsna-bhava-bhakta-hrccamatkaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Chaitanya spoke about a humorous talk between a parrot and his mate, in which Krishna the supreme cupid is described as bewildered, due to his feelings of separation from Sri Radhika. Hearing this story from the Lord, the devotee's hearts were filled with wonder, for the sweetness of Krishna's character is that he can be subdued by love. The female parrot said, "When Lord Krishna is with Radharani, he is the enchanter of cupid. When He is alone, he himself is enchanted by amorous feelings for Sri Radha, even though he enchants the whole universe." I sing with joy the unending glories of my sweet Lord, my golden Gaurasundara, the one and only divine abode of pure love.
Verse 44
sri-prayaga-dhama-rupa-raga-bhakti-sancaram
sri-sanatanadi-kasi-bhakti-siksanandaram
Vaisnavanurotha-bheda-nirvisisesa-panjaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
At Prayag-dham, Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu empowered Srila Rupa Goswami to understand and teach that the ultimate objective of one's devotional practices is to serve Sri Krishna within the group of the milkmaids of Vrindaban, for the Gopis are able to relish the sweet mellows of love found in Krishna's amourous pastimes. At Kasi, He affectionately taught Srila Sanatan Goswami and other devotees many topics of pure dedication, including knowledge of reality, the means of applying that knowledge, and the ultimate goal of devotional service, which is to obtain pure love of Sri Sri Radha Govinda. At Kasi, the Lord destroyed the stubborn pride of the Advaita-Vedantist impersonalist philosophers, whose philosophy promotes self-adoration and is ultimately based on deep seated enviousness and narrow mindedness. The Lord freed these philosophers from their illusion, giving them the opportunity to worship the Supreme Person.
I sing, I sing with joy, the unending glories of my Golden Lord Gaurasundara the Beautiful, the divine abode of pure Love.
Verse 45
nyasi-laksa-nayaka-prakasananda-tarakam
nyasi-rasi-kasi-vasi-krsna-nama-parakam
Vyasa-naradadi-datta-vedadhi-dhurandharam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Chaitanyadev rescued Prakasananda Saraswati, the leader of hundreds of thousands of Advaita-Vedanta sannyasis at Kasi, who had fallen into the empty hole of impersonalism, a black hole full of nothingness. The Lord delivered all the people of Kasi by giving them the immortal gift of the holy names of Krishna. The holy names alone give a soul real inner fulfillment and final liberation. Sri Chaitanyadev is the saviour who dispenses the eternal message of the scriptures of the Veda as handed down through the succession of spiritual teachers beginning with Narada and Vyasa.
I sing with joy the unending glories of Sri Chaitanyadev, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 46
brahma-sutra-bhasya-krsna-naradopadesakam
sloka-turyya-bhasananta-krsna-samprakasakam
sabda-vartananta-hetu-nama-jiva-nistaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
When Sri Chaitanyadev was in Kasi, he taught the assembled impersonalist renunciates that the ancient scripture Srimad Bhagavatam is the natural commentary on the Brahmasutra (the philosophy section of the Veda). The proper understanding of reality presented in the Srimad Bhagavatam has been passed down through a succession of spiritual teachers from Sri Krishna to Brahma, Narada, Vyasa and his disciples (guru-parampara). In Sri Chaitanya's explanation of the four root Verses of Bhagavatam (catuh-sloki), He brilliantly revealed the truth of Sri Krishna, who is the non-dual Supreme Absolute Truth, the self evident spiritual reality of immortal consciousness and bliss. He taught that the transcendental sound vibration of the holy names of God (sabda-brahma) alone awards the individual soul its highest attainment, which is to enter into the liberated, positive life of devotional service to Sri Krishna.
I sing with joy the unending glories of my Golden Lord, Sri Gaurasundara the Beautiful, the divine abode of Pure Love.
Verse 47
atmarama-vacanadi-nirvisesa-khandanam
srauta-vakya-sarthakaika-cidvilasa-mandanam
divya-krsna-vigrahadi-gauna-buddhi-dhikkaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Chaitanya explained sixty one different meanings of the famous atmarama verse of Srimad Bhagavatam, presenting explanations that cut to pieces the Advaita Vedanta doctrine of Sankaracharya. With the support of numerous references from the Vedic literature, he brought to light the charming, sweet nature of the Absolute Being. He revealed that sweet Absolute to be a divine person: Sri Krishna. Sri Chaitanya denounced the false notion of the Advaita Vedantists, who consider the worshipable Deity forms of Sri Krishna to be material bodies formed from matter.
I fall at the Feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 48
brahma-paramatmya-laksanadvayaika-vacanam
sri-vraja-svasiddha-nanda-lila-nanda-nandanam
sri rasa-svarupa-rasa-lila-gopa-sundaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumigaura-sundaram
Referring to the verse brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate in the Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Chaitanya harmoniously accommodated Brahman realization (brahma-nirvana, the conception of the nondifferentiated aspect of reality which is the ultimate goal of the impersonalists), with Paramatma realization, the goal of the mystic perfectionists. The Lord adjusted these two truths by showing that they are included within, and surpassed by, the ultimate conception of the nondualistic Absolute Truth Sri Krishna (bhagavan), who is the primeval principle of reality. Revealing this axiomatic truth and explaining the confidential nature of the Supreme Lord's spiritual pastimes, Lord Chaitanya pointed out the divine nature of Krishna's holy abode of Vrindaban, which is eternally existing above the Vaikuntha plane, the realm of Lord Narayana.
vaikunthaj janito vara madhu-puri tatrapi rasotsavad
vridaranyam udara-pani-ramanat tatrapi govardhanah
radha-kundam ihapi gokula-pateh premamritaplavanat
kuryad asya virajato giri-tate sevam viveh na kah
"Superior to the spiritual realm of Vaikuntha is Mathura, where Sri Krishna first appears. Superior to Mathura is the Vrindaban forest where Krishna enjoyed the rasa dance. Better still is Govardhana Hill, which was the site of even more confidential pastimes of love. But best of all is Radha kunda, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill, and holds the supreme position because it is overflooded with the nectar of the highest kind of divine love. Who, acquainted with the science of devotion, will not aspire for the divine service of Srimati Radharani at Radha kunda?"
Sri Chaitanya revealed the glories of the pure loving service rendered unto Krishna the son of Nanda Maharaja in the parental relationship (vatsalya rasa). Then, Lord Chaitanya described the ultimate aspect of the Supreme Lord's personality to be Sri Gopijanavallabha Krishna, the beloved of the milkmaids of Vrindaban, whose divine figure is the unlimited reservoir of all the primary and secondary mellows tasted by pure devotees. Sri Gauranga also explained that the joyful and charming rasa-lila pastimes are an all-conscious reality, none other than the personal potency of Srimati Radhika. Such transcendental pastimes are found within the superexcellent and inconceivable spiritual world and are the highest conception of spiritual existence, auspiciousness and beauty. Lord Chaitanya said this is the supreme achievable object of the living entities. I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 49
radhika-vinoda-matra-tattva-laksananvayam
sadhu-sanga-krishna-nama-sadhanaika-niscayam
prema-sevanaika-matra-sadhya-krishna-tatparam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Chaitanya discussed his joy-filled visions of Sri Krishna, reality the beautiful, in the company of devotees liberated from all worldly attachments. Lord Gauranga told his associates that all scriptural conclusions, as perfectly passed down from generation to generation by the exalted spiritual preceptors through the medium of sound, at last culminate in realization of Sri Radhavinode, the perfect embodiment of divine love. This realization of the Deity of divine love is the all-encompassing basis that provides a proper understanding of reality (sambandha-jnana). The means of attainment (abhidheya) by which someone may reach a proper understanding of the loving Lord Krishna is by chanting Krishna's holy names and discussing the qualities, pastimes and transcendental form of Sri Krishna in the association of pure devotees. The ultimate goal of the perfected devotees inspired by madhura-rasa in the mood of parakiya-bhava, is to render service to Sri Sri Radhavinode following the method practiced by the milkmaids of Vrindaban, the land of spiritual gemstones where every step is dancing and the sound of the flute is the constant companion. The song of Sri Krishna's flute awakens unrestrained feelings of pure love and surrender and the flute song calls the milkmaids to arise and perform service to Lord Krishna, who is so very dear to Sri Radha, the Queen of the cowherd maidens of Vrindaban (prayojana).
Again and again I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 50
atma-rama-vacanaika-sastikartha-darsitam
rudra-samkhya-sabda-jata-yadyadartha-sambhritam
sarva-sarva-yukta-tat tadartha-bhuridakaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumigaura-sundaram
Lord Chaitanya explained to Srila Sanatana Gosvami the famous atmarama Verse of Srimad Bhagavatam, giving sixty-one different meanings:
atmaramas ca munayo nirgrantha apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukim bhaktim ittham-bhuta guno harih
"Even liberated souls fully satisfied in the self are irresistibly attracted by the superexcellent qualities of Krishna and surrender to him with unalloyed devotion."
The Lord separately combined each of the eleven words in that verse and established that each word is a treasurehouse of unlimited wealth supporting the conclusion of pure devotion. I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 51
sri sanatananu-rupa-jiva-sampradayakam
lupta-tiitha-suddha-bhakti-sastra-supracarakam
nila-saila-natha-pitha-naija-karya-saukaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Lord Gaurasundara revealed his disciplic succession by inspiring Srila Sanatana Gosvami, his younger brother Srila Rupa Gosvami, and their nephew Srila Jiva Gosvami, to teach the conclusions of pure devotion (suddha-bhakti). The Lord told them to excavate the lost places of pilgrimage, to compose devotional literature explaining the proper methods of pure spiritual practice (sadhana-bhakti), and to teach about the path of spontaneous devotion (raga-marga). Lord Gauranga also carefully revealed his worshipable personality to the servitors of Sri Jagannatha Deva, the universal Lord of Purusottama Kshetra.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 52
tyaga-vahya-bhoga-buddhi-tivra-danda-nindanam
raya-suddha-krishna-kama-sevanabhi-nandanam
raya-raga-sevanokta-bhagya-koti-duskaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Lord Chaitanya strongly condemned those men who externally wear the dress of a renunciate but who secretly harbor lustful desires in their heart. When Sri Chaitanya was told that Ramananda Raya was teaching young girls a form of dance for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha, Sri Chaitanya praised Ramananda Raya's mood of pure devotional service. Considering Ramananda's service to be on the platform of spontaneous devotion (raga-marga), the Lord proclaimed that such a level of selfless service was a great fortune attainable only after millions of lifetimes of devotional service.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 53
sri-prayaga-bhatta-vallabhaika-nistha-sevanam
nila-saila-bhatta-datta-raga-marga-radhanam
sri gadadhararpitadhikara-mantra-madhuram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Vallabha Bhatta, the famous spiritual preceptor of the Vishnusvami disciplic succession once personally served Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with resolute devotion at his house in sacred Prayag. Later, at Jagannatha Puri, Sri Chaitanya allowed Vallabha Bhatta to enter into the mood of service for youthful Krishna (madhura rasa), arranging for Vallabha Bhatta to learn appropriate mantras under the guidance of Sri Gadadhara Pandit.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 54
sri-svanipa-raya-sanga-gambhirantya-lilanam
dvadasabda-bahni-garbha-vipralambha-silanam
radhikadhirudha-bhava-kanti-krishna-kunjaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Diving deep into the reality of his own beauty and sweetness, Lord Govinda stole the mood of Radharani and, garbing himself in Her brilliant luster, He appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. For the last twelve years of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's manifest pastimes He was deeply absorbed in union and separation. He shared his heart's innermost feelings with his most confidential devotees such as Swarup Damodar and Ramananda Raya:
bahire visajvala haya, antare anandamaya
"The wonderful characteristic of divine love of Krishna is that although externally it works like fiery lava, internally it is like sweet nectar filling the heart with the greatest joy."
Volcanic eruptions of ecstasy flowed from the heart of Sri Gauranga in the agony of Sri Radha's feelings of separation from Krishna. This golden Lord, who appeared like an intoxicated elephant, is none other than Lord Govinda.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 55
sri-svarupa-kantha-lagna-mathura-pralapakam
radhikanu-vedanarta-tivra-vipralambhakam
svapnavat-samadhi-drista-divya-varnanaturam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Clasping the neck of Sri Swarup Damodar, Sri Gauranga began to recite the sad prayers spoken by Srimati Radhika in the agony of separation after Lord Krishna left Vrindaban and went to the city of Mathura. Sri Gauranga continuously tasted the blazing mood of Srimati Radhika. He experienced untold agony in the burning fire of Her separation from Krishna. With a heavy heart, in a divine trance, the Lord spoke to Sri Swarup Damodar and other most intimate associates, speaking of Sri Radhika's feelings of separation (vipralambha-bhava). Those discussions of Sri Chaitanya and his dearmost devotees are just like dreams to outsiders. I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 56
sattvikadi-bhava-cihna-deha-divya-sausthavam
kurma-dharma-bhinna-sandhi-gata-puspa-pelavam
hrasva-dirgha-padma-gandha-rakta-pita-panduram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
The eightfold symptoms of pure devotion enhance the beauty of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's transcendental form. He would sometimes withdraw his limbs into his body like a tortoise. Sometimes his body appeared elongated with his joints becoming slackened and dislocated. Sometimes Lord Gaurasundaraa's figure was as soft and tender as a sweet scented lotus flower. At other times the Lord's body would appear red, yellow, or brilliant white like the mallika flower.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 57
tivra-vipralambha-mugdha-mandiragra-dhavitam
kurma-rupa-divya-gandha-lubdha-dhenu-vestitam
varnitali-kula-krishna-keli-saila-kandaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Grief-stricken and overwhelmed with the feelings of separation, in the dark of night Lord Chaitanya ran to the lion-gate at the entrance of Lord Jagannatha's temple. He fell to the ground and manifest the form of the tortoise incarnation Kurma. An extraordinarily sweet fragrance of nectar emanated from the Lord's unconscious figure, attracting the telangi cows who reside at Lord Jagannatha's temple. The cows surrounded the Lord and began licking his divine body.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 58
indu-sindhu-nritya-dipta-krishna-keli-mohitam
urmi-sirsa-supta-deha-vata-ranga-vahitam
yamunali-krishna-keli-magna-saukhya-sagaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
On one moonlit night, Lord Gaurangadeva was wandering along the ocean's shore with his associates. He was relishing sweet discussions about the mellows of Sri Krishna's pastimes. Suddenly, Sri Gauranga saw the reflection of the moon dancing upon the rolling waves and he became overwhelmed with memories of Sri Krishna's playful pastimes in the Yamuna river with the Gopis. Lord Gauranga fell unconscious on the sand. Then suddenly, unseen by the devotees, the Lord's form (which seemed to be sleeping) became as light as air and he was carried away by the wind. The Lord's golden form drifted upon the crests of the rolling waves on the sea. His body was floating on the waves and inwardly, in a divine trance, Sri Chaitanyadev was seeing Lord Krishna's water-sport pastimes in the Kalindi River with his dearmost cowherd maiden friends. Sri Chaitanya dove deep and swam in the ocean of remembrance of Lord Krishna's water-sport pastimes.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 59
rati-sesa-saumya-vesa-sayitardra-saikatam
bhinna-sandhi-dirgha-deha-pelavati-daivatam
sranta-bhakta-cakratirtha-hrista-dristi-gocaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
After searching for the Lord throughout the night, the exhausted devotees finally found him near Cakratirtha. The Lord's body was a figure of tranquility. his form was elongated, his limbs were stretched and slackened, as He lay relaxed and sleeping on the wet sands. The devotee's tear filled eyes were filled with joy as they gazed upon the delicate and serene figure of their Lord.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 60
arta-bhakta-kantha-krishna-nama-karna-hridgatam
lagna-sandhi-susthu-deha-sarva-purva-sammatam
ardha-vahya-bhava-krishna-keli-varnanaturam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
As the anxious devotees began to loudly chant the holy names of Krishna, the divine vibration of the kirtan entered the Lord's ears and touched the depths of his heart. The Lord's dislocated joints all came together and he displayed his previous beautiful figure of Sri Gauranga. In a semiconscious state, heavy-hearted in the mood of separation, the Lord began to describe what he had seen while absorbed in divine trance.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 61
yamunambu-krishna-radhikali-keli-mandalam
Vyakta-gupta-dripta-tripta-bhangi-madanakulam
gudha-divya-marma-moda-murcchana-camatkaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
In the sacred waters of the Yamuna at Vrindabana, Lord Krishna and Srimati Radhika, along with their dearmost cowherd maiden friends, enjoy beautiful and varied water-sport pastimes. These divine pastimes are sometimes revealed, sometimes hidden, sometimes brilliant, and sometimes harmonious. The pastimes of the Lord in different moods, with loving expressions of relationship, create different types of divine hankering for the devotees. The sweet song of this most confidential spiritual treasure that astounds the entire universe was distributed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 62
asya-gharsanadi-catakadri-sindhu-lilanam
bhakta-marma-bhedi-tivra-duhkha-saukya-khelanam
atyacintya-divya-vaibhavasritaika-sankaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Seeing the Cataka hill, the Lord remembered Govardhana hill. Intolerable feelings of separation overwhelmed him. The Lord would fall to the earth and begin to rub his beautiful face on the ground. When Sri Gauranga remembered the water-sport pastimes of Lord Krishna, he jumped into the ocean and exhibited the symptoms of someone intoxicated by love. By performing these pastimes the Lord astounded the devotees and inundated their hearts with waves from the grand ocean of love of Krishna. Those waves of desperate love were filled with both transcendental anxiety and joy. The waves of Sri Gauranga's feelings rose and fell upon the receptive shore of the devotee's hearts. Such inconceivable auspiciousness was bestowed only upon the Lord's most surrendered associates.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 63
srotra-netra-gatyatita-bodha-rodhitadbhutam
prema-labhya-bhava-siddha-cetana-camatkritam
brahma-sambhu-veda-tantra-mrigya-satya-sundaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the Divine Person, Purusottama. He is the Lord himself. He exists forever in his own spiritual domain eternally manifest in the dimension of spirit, far above the perception of people with worldly minds. The thoughts of people of the world are influenced by their experiences in the material world. Living beings develop different understandings about reality on the basis of knowledge they acquire through sense perceptions (experiences of the objective world realized through the organs of smell, taste, touch, sight, sound and thought). But Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is God and he cannot be known through empirical knowledge about the material world, since Sri Chaitanya is always existing beyond the material world, even when he is present in the world. Sri Chaitanya cannot be understood by someone who chooses to think of him as a mortal man. Mahaprabhu is more than a man. He arrests and halts all intellectual endeavors to know him by the processes of logic and reasoning. Being situated in his own spiritual realm, he remains a mystery even for the sages. Sages also are unable to fully understand him. Sri Chaitanya astonishes even the liberated mystics who are fixed in the path of divine realization. The revealed scriptures (veda) spoken by Lord Brahma and the literatures spoken Lord Shiva (tantra) are simply searching after Sri Gaurasundara (satyam shivam sundaram). Indeed Brahma and Shiva, in their incarnations as Haridas and Sri Advaita, also say they are astonished when they see the pastimes of Sri Chaitanya.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 64
vipra-sudra-vijna-murkha-yavanadi-namadam
bitta-vikramocca-nica-sajjanaika-sampadam
stri pumadi-nirvivada-sarvavadikoddharam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
By freely distributing the holy name of Krishna, Sri Gaurangadeva purified the scholarly priestly class, the merchants and laborers and even the cow killing yavanas and other non-Aryans. The Lord alone is the embodiment of the greatest wealth for the rogues and honest men, the rich and poor, the aristocratic and low-born. He is unanimously glorified by all who received his mercy, both male and female alike, as the saviour of all beings in the spiritual and material universes.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 65
sindhu-sunya-veda-candra-saka-kumbha-purnima
sandhya-candrakoparaga-jata-gaura-candrama
snana-dana-krishna-nama-sanga-tat-paratparam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
As the golden moon rises in the darkness, Sri Gauracandra appeared in the year 1407 sakabda (1486 AD), at the onset of a lunar eclipse on the full-moon evening in the month of March. When the Lord appeared on Earth as Sri Gauranga, revealing his eternal form in the beautiful home of mother Sachidevi, the residents of Mayapur were bathing in the sacred Ganges and singing the names of Hari together. The residents of Nabadwip were celebrating that auspicious moment, making offerings of different types of treasures to the Lord, and the sound of congregationally chanting the holy names of Hari filled the sky.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 66
atma-siddha-savalila-purna-saukhya-laksanam
svanubhava-matta-nritya-kirtanatma-vantanam
advayaika-laksya-purna-tattva-tat-paratparam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
This is the all conquering conclusion: the highest conception of the ultimate reality must also be the highest form of ecstasy (ananda). Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna, ecstasy himself, tasting his own sweetness and dancing in ecstatic joy.
He is the source of that self-evident perfect bliss which is full of natural loving pastimes. His dancing (nrtya) arises from the intoxication of overflowing spiritual bliss, and his chanting (kirtan) is the distribution of bliss to others. These two characteristics are the two natural symptoms of the Absolute: the Absolute exists by itself and for itself. By Itself means that the Absolute has no other cause beyond itself - the Absolute is self manifest. For Itself means that the Absolute has its own purpose to fulfil. The supreme reality is not subject to any influences or plans originating from some other cause. Sri Chaitanya is self-absorbed, and within himself he is feeling full satisfaction. So much so that he is dancing in ecstasy. His own holy name is the cause of his ecstasy, which he expresses through his chanting. This dynamo creates ecstatic energy which makes him dance and his chanting and dancing is distribution of that ecstasy to others. Thus, the cause is the effect.
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 67
sri-purisvaranukampi-labdha-diksa-daivatam
kesavakhya-bharati sakasa-kesa-raksitam
madhavanudhi-kisora-krishna-sevanadaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
Lord Gauranga accepted initiation from Sri Isvara Puri, bestowing great fortune upon him. Lord Gauranga accepted the garments of a renunciate (sannyasi) from Kesava Bharati and, on that day when Sri Gaurahari shaved his beautiful curly hair, the Loving Lord Sri Gauransundar ardently began his missionary work, journeying though the world searching for his lost servants. Lord Chaitanya adored pure loving service to Sri Krishna in the mood of amorous devotion (madhura rasa), as was shown by Sri Madhavendra Puri. He considered this mood of devotion to be the highest.
I sing with joy the unending glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 68
sindhu-vindu-veda-candra-saka-phalgunoditam
nyasa-soma-netra-veda-candra-saka-bodhitam
vana-vana-veda-candra-saka-locanantaram
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Gauranga, who rose like a golden moon in Sri Mayapura in 1407 sakabda (1486 AD), who revealed the pastime of accepting the renounced order in 1431 sakabda (1510 AD), in order to benedict the entire material universe, and who disappeared beyond the vision of ordinary people in 1455 sakabda (1534 AD).
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 69
sri-svarupa-raya-sanga-harsa-sesa-ghosanam
siksanastakakhya-krishna-kirtanaika-posanam
prema-nama-matra-visva-jivanaika-sambharam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumigaura-sundaram
With great joy Sri Gaurasundara told his dearmost associates Sri Swarup Damodar and Ramananda Raya that the process of congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna bestows the highest benediction upon the living entities in this age of Kali:
harse prabhu kahe suna svarupa ramaraya
nama samkirtana kalau parama upaya
In his famous composition Sri-Siksastakam also, Lord Gauranga has placed the chanting of Lord Krishna's names on the topmost level of importance. The Supreme Lord further taught that chanting Lord Krishna's names in pure love of Godhead perfectly nourishes and fully satisfies all the living entities in the universe. I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 70
prema hema-deva dehi-dasaresa manyatam
ksamyatam mahaparadha-rasiresa-ganyatam
rupa-kinkaresu ramananda dasa-sambharam
prema-dhama-devam eva naumi gaura-sundaram
O my golden Lord! O golden volcano of divine love! O ocean of unalloyed dedication! Kindly grant me your treasure of divine love! Please give some slight attention to this fallen soul and pardon his unlimited offenses. There are so many servants of Sri Rupa who are so dear to you. My only aspiration is that you count me as one of those servitors. O Gaurasundara, you are the sole protector and embodiment of good fortune for me, Ramananda dasa (Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaj).
I fall at the feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden volcano of divine love.
Verse 71
sasraddhah-sapta-dasakam-prema-dhameti-namakam
stavah ko'pi pathan gauram radhasyamamayam vrajet
He who studies, recites or sings with regard, faith and devotion these seventy verses by the name of Prema-dhama-deva-stotram will obtain the loving devotional service of Sri Gaurasundara, who is Syamasundara himself, resplendent in the mood and lustre of Srimati Radharani.
Verse 72 pancame sata gaurabde sri-siddhanta-sarasvati sridharah ko'pi tacchisyastridandi-nauti-sundaram
These prayers have been composed in the fifth century after the appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by a certain sannyasi disciple of Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Goswami named Sridhara.