Gadadhar panditere apnar krt / punthi parayan nam
krsna lilamrta [C.B.Adi 11.100] (Means?)
SRI GADADHARA
PANDITA GOSWAMI
Sri Gadadhar was the consant companion of
Mahaprabhu from the time of their childhood. His
father's name was Sri Madhva MiSri and his mother's
name Sri Ratnavati-devi. They lived very near the
house of Sri Jagannatha MiSri in Mayapura. Ratnavati-
devi thought of Saci-devi as her own sister, and always
used to visit her. During their childhood, Sri Gaura
Hari and Gadadhara would play together, sometimes at
Mahaprabhu's house and sometimes at Gadadhara's
house. They both studied together at the same school.
Gadadhara was a few years younger then Nimai. Nimai
couldn't remain without Gadadhara even for a
moment and Gadadhara likewise couldn't stand to
be separated from Nimai.
In the Gaur-ganoddesa-dipika, it is described that that
person who in Vraja was the daughter of Sri Vrsabhanu
Raja, namely Srimati Radharani, is now celebrated as
Sri Gadadhara Pandita. Svarupa Damodara has
written in his diary: avani sura bavah Sri Panditakhyo
jatindrah / sa khalo bhavati Radha Srila Gauravataro.
(Translation?) Sri Vasudeva Ghosa Thakura has written:
Agam agocar gora akhil brahma-par, veda upar, najane
pasandi mati bhora Nitya-nityananda Caitanya Govinda
Pandit Gadadhar Radhe Caitanya yugala-rupa kebol
raser kup avatar sadsiva sadhe Antare nave-ghana
bahire gaura tanu yugalrupa parkase Kahe Vasudeva
Ghose yugal bhajan base janame janame rahu asa "Lord
Gaurasundara, who is beyond the perview of the
scriptures, beyond the entire Brahman, and above
even the Vedas, can never be known by the atheists
whose intelligence is dull. Lord Nityananda is His
eternal self. Lord Caitanya is Lord Govinda Himself
and Pandita Gadadhara is none other than Sri Radha.
The divine couple, who are present in Sri Caitanya, are
a well of rasa. Advaita Acarya (Sadasiva) has prayed for
His descent. Within He is blackish but of a golden hue
without, the manifestation of the divine couple. Thus
Vasudeva Ghosa sings of the beauty of this divine
couple - Sri Gaura-Gadadhara - in whose worship he
has been completely subjugated. He prays that he will
desire to serve them birth after birth." In Sri Caitanya-
caritamrta we likewise find: (where?)
Panditer bhav mudre kahan na jay
gadadhar pran nath nam hoila jay
panditer krpa prasad lehan na jay
gadai gauranga kari sarvaloke gay
"The emotions and expressions of Pandita Gadadhara
are not possible to describe. Another name of Lord
Gauranga is the 'Lord of the life of Gadadhara.' Who
can understand what mercy has been bestowed upon
him? Their glories are sung by everyone as Gadai-
Gauranga."
During the time when Sri Isvara Puri was present for a
few months in Navadwipa at the house of Sri
Gopinath Acarya, he taught Gadadhara from the book
he had composed, Sri Krsna Lilamrta.
Gadadhara was from his very childhood very serene,
patient, calm, quiet, fond of solitude and very
renounced. Nimai Pandit during the time of His
precocious youth would ask his fellow students
meaningless, fallacious questions in logic. Gadadhara
however, was not especially fond of this pastime, and
therefore he sometimes used to remain at some
distance from Nimai. But Nimai wouldn't allow him to
get away. He would tell him - "Gadadhar! In a very
short time I'll become such a Vaisnava that Lord
Brahma and Lord Siva themselves will come to My
door."
Sri Gadadhara Pandita was very affectionate towards
Mukunda datta. Whenever any Vaisnava came to
Navadwipa, Mukunda would inform Gadadhara and
they would both go to have darsana. One time
Pundarika Vidyanidhi came from Cattagram to
Navadwipa and Mukunda invited Gadadhara to come
along and meet him. Gadadhara was very excited to
meet such a Vaisnava and thus the two of them
happily set out together to take advantage of sadhu-
sanga with the famous Pundarika Vidyanidhi.
However, when Gadadhara saw that Pundarika
Vidyanidhi dressed and acted like a wealthy materialist,
he lost whatever reverence he had previously felt even
before speaking with him. Gadahara thought to
himself, "How can a Vaisnava look and act as if he was
so addicted to sense enjoyment?"
However, Mukunda knew the real character of
Pundarika Vidyanidhi, and he could also sense the
doubts in the mind of Gadadhara Pandita. Thus he
recited some slokas from the Srimad Bhaga¬vatam in
a very sweet voice. When Pundarika Vidyanidhi heard
his beautiful recitation of these slokas, in a fit of
ecstasy he began to cry while calling, "Krsna, Krsna",
and finally fainted dead away on the floor. [C.B. Mad
7.78-79].
Gadadhara now felt very remorseful in his mind. He
thought to himself, "Because I have ignorantly
considered this highly advanced soul to be an ordinary
materialist, what an offense I have committed! In
order that I might be saved from the reaction of this
offense, I think the only solution is to accept initiation
from him."
Gadadhara Pandita submitted his proposal to Mukunda,
who presented it to Pundarika Vidyanidhi with a full
account of the pandita's high qualifications. "Hearing
this proposal, Pundarik became very happy.
'Providence has bestowed upon me a great jewel;
certainly I will accept him. You shouldn't have any
doubt about that. It is the result of many lifetimes of
good fortune that one gets a disciple like this.'" [C.B.
Madhya 7.117-118]. On an auspicious day, Sri
Gadadhara Pandita received the divine mantra from
Pundarika Vidyanidhi.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, upon going to Gaya
Dham, first began to manifest Krsna-prema. There he
enacted the pastime of accepting the shelter of Sri
Isvara Puri. After returning to His house He began to
exhibit a new life.
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Day and night He floated in the ocean of love of
Krsna. Gadadhara, upon seeing the Lord showering of
tears in love for Krsna, also began to cry in ecstatic
love. From this time, Gadadhara Pandita was always at
Mahaprabhu's side.
One day Sri Gadadhara brought some pan to Sri
Gauranga, Who, in an exuberance of emotion asked
him, "Gadadhara! Where is that beautiful blackish boy
Who is dressed in yellow garments?" After asking this,
He began to shed tears.
Gadadhara couldn't immediately think of what to
say. He finally respectfully suggested, "He is in your
heart." Hearing this, Mahaprabhu began to tear at his
chest with his nails, but Gadadhara puickly grabbed his
hands. Prabhu said to him, "Gadadhara! Let go of My
hands. I cannot remain a moment more not seeing
Krsna."
Gadadhara replied, "Just try to be a little patient and
calm Yourself. Krsna will come any minute now."
Hearing this, Mahaprabhu became somewhat composed.
Sacimata heard all this from a distance and then came
running there. Being very pleased with Gadadhara, she
declared, "Though He is just a boy, He is very
intelligent. I am frightened to go before my son when
He is in these moods. But Gadadhara has very cleverly
pacified him."
mui bhoye nahi painu sammukhe noite
sisu hoi kemon prabodhila bhalo mate. [C.B. Mad
2/210]
"Sacimata told Gadadhar, 'Gadadhara! You must please
remain with Nimai always. If you stay with Him then I
won't have to worry."
One day, Sri Gadadhara, having heard that Mahaprabhu
will speak Krsna-katha at Suklambara Brahmacari's
house, went there and sat down inside. Meanwhile,
Mahaprabhu arrived outside on the verandah and
began to speak about Krsna to an audience of devotees
there; Gadahara Prabhu listened from within the
house. Soon Mahaprabhu became totally absorbed in
the ecstacy of Krsna-prema, which quickly spread to
the assembly of devotees. For some time they
continued to taste the mellows of love of Krsna together
and then becalmed themselves.
Gadadhara, however, couldn't restrain his ecstacy. With
his head bowed down, he continued to cry very loudly.
Hearing his pitiful sobbing, Mahaprabhu inquired,
"Who is crying within the room?" Suklambara
Brahmacari replied, "Your Gadadhara."
Mahaprabhu exclaimed, "Gadadhara! You are so pious
and virtuous. Since your very childhood you were so
devoted to Krsna. My life has been wasted. Due to
my previous evil activities I cannot get the
association of the Lord of my life, Sri Krsna."
Saying this Prabhu embraced Gadadhara in great love.
When Mahaprabhu began His pastimes in Navadvipa,
Gadadhara was his chief companion. Radha Krsna of
Vraja are now sporting on the banks of the Ganga as
Gadai-Gauranga, and the cowherd boyfriends of Vraja
are assisting in His pastimes of kirtana.
One day after roaming throughout the town of
Navadwipa, Mahaprabhu came to a forest and seated
Himself there. Then He began to remember His
pastimes in Vraja. Mukunda began to sing the purva-
vag (courtship) songs in a very sweet voice while
Gadadhara collected some flowers from that forest and
after stringing a garland placed it on Prabhu's neck.
Previously, in the way that Sri Radha used to decorate
Sri Krsna, Gadadhara began to dress Prabhu in that
exact same manner. Some were singing beautiful songs,
while others began to dance in a very graceful style.
Then Sri Gaurasundara taking Gadadhara by His side
seated Himself on a dias at the base of one tree, while
Adwaita Acarya began to offer arati. Nityananda seated
Himself on Prabhu's right side and Srivasa Pandita
began to decorate everyone with flower garlands.
Narahari was fanning that Divine couple with a whisk
made from the tail hairs of forest cows. Suklambar
decorated them all with sandlewood paste while Murari
Gupta recited the premdhvani. Madhava, Vasudeva,
Purusottama, Vijaya, and Mukunda began to sing songs
in the various ragas.
Then Prabhu closed his pastimes in Nadiya and as
per his mother's request he took up his residence at
Nilacala. Gadadhara also went there to live at this
time. He engaged himself in the service of Sri Tota
Gopinatha. Mahaprabhu would very often visit His
dear friend Gadadhara and lose Himself in discussions
on the topics of Sri Krsna. The temple of Sri Tota
Gopinathji is located near the ocean at Yameshvar.
When Lord Caitanya traveled to Sri Vrindavana,
Gadadhara, not being able to bear separation from
Him, wanted to go also but Mahaprabhu remined him
of his vow of Ksetra-sannyasa (by which he was to
remain constantly in Sri Ksetra in the service of Sri
Gopinatha) and sent him back.
Sri Gadadhara Pandita would regularly recite Srimad
Bhagavatam. Sri Gaurasundara, along with His
associates, would listen.
gadadhar pandit prabhu age bosi
pare bhagavat - sudha dhale rasi rasi [B.R. 3/107]
After enacting His pastimes on this planet for forty-
eight years, Sri Gaurasundara merged into the body of
Sri Gopinathji, who was served by Sri Gadadhara
Pandita.
nyasi siromani cesta bujhe sadya kar?
akasmat prithini karila andhakar
pravesila ei gopinatha mandire
hoila adarsan, punah na aila bahire [B.R. 8.356-357]
In the diary of one Orissan devotee, Mahaprabhu is said
to have first went missing inside the Gundica Mandira.
Then the devotees began to comb the four directions
in search of their Beloved Lord. Finally, outside of Tota
Gopinatha Mandira, at Yameswar, the outer garment of
Mahaprabhu was found lying on the ground. A slight
crack which is still to be found near the right knee of
Sri Gopinathji is the spot where Mahaprabhu is said to
have entered the Deity.
His appearance is on the amavasya (new moon) of the
month of Vaisakha.
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smara gaura-gadadhara keli kalam
bhava gaura-gadadhara paksa caram
srnu gaura-gadadhara caru katham
bhaja godruma-kanon kunja-vidhum [Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura]
"Remember Gaura-Gadadhara during the time of Their
pastimes, Meditate on Gaur-Gadadhar, the Divine
couple, the par-excellence of beauty. Hear beautiful
discussions on the topics of Gaur-Gadadhar, and
worship them in the forest grove of Godruma, bathed in
the light of the moon."
Gadadhara Pandit
From the time that he was a boy, Gadadhara Pandita
was always in the association of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. Sri Gadadhara Pandita’s father’s name
was Sri Madhava Miara; his mother’s name was Sri
Ratnavata Deva . They lived close to the house of
Jagannatha Miara in Mayapura. Sri Ratnavata Devi
looked upon sacadeva as if sacadeva were her big sister.
The two of them were always spending time with each
other. At the of his childhood pastimes, Gaurahari used
to often play with Gadadhara Pandita. They both went
to the village school together to study. Gadadhara
Pandita was a year younger than Gaurahari. Gadadhara
had so much affection for Gaurahari that he could not
leave his company even for a moment.
In the Gaura-gaaodes-dapika it has been explained by
Kavi Karnapura that in Vraja-lila Sri Gadadhara
Pandita was the daughter of Vrsabhanu Srimati
Gadadhara. This is confirmed in the notebooks of
Svarapa Damodara as well as in the songs of Sri
Vasudeva Ghosa Thakura. According to Sri Caitanya
Caritamata: “No one can describe the characteristics
and ecstatic love of Gadadhara Pandita. Therefore
another name for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is
Gadadhara Praaanatha, “the life and soul of Gadadhara
Pandita.” No one can say how merciful the Lord is to
Gadadhara Pandita, but people know the Lord as
Gadaira Gaura, “the Lord Gauraaga of Gadadhara
Pandita.”
The Caitanya bhagavata records that when Iavara Puri
stayed in Nabadwapa Mayapura, he lived at the house of
Sri Gopanatha acarya for a few months. At that time,
^avara Puri was very affectionate towards Gadadhara
and tutured him from his book Krsna-lilamata. From his
early childhood, Gadadhara Pandita was very serious
and self-composed. He was peaceful, renounced, and
fond of solitude. On the other hand, in His childhood,
Gaurasundara appeared to be very fickle, unsteady, and
whimsical. When they were studying in school, he
would distrub Gadadhara with whimsical questions
whose sophistry was meant to baffle Gadadhara.
Gadadhara didn’t like this as it disturbed his mind and
his studies. As a result he was forced to keep Gaurahari
at a distance. But he couldn’t bear to keep aloof from
the Lord. This posed a great dilemma for Gadadhara
Pandita. The Lord said, “Gadadhara! Soon I shall
become such a great Vaiaaava that even Brahma and
siva will come to me and bow down.
Sri Gadadhara Pandita was especially affectionate
towards Mukunda Datta.
Whenever sadhus or sannyasas would come to
Nabadwapa from somewhere, Mukunda Datta would tell
Gadadhara and together they would go and visit that
holy man. One time, from Chattagrama, Pundarika
Vidyanidhi came to Nabadwapa. At that time, Mukunda
Datta intimated to Gadadhara that there was a Vaiaaava
worth seeing, and suggested they they go visit him. With
great jubilation at the prospect of seeing a Vaiaaava,
Gadadhara Pandita went to visit Pundarika Vidyanidhi
with Mukunda Datta. When Gadadhara Pandita came
before Pundarika, he saw that he appeared to be a great
materialist. His faith was somewhat damaged upon
seeing this. He said to himself, “If he is a Vaiaaava, why
does he appear to be such a materialist?”
Mukunda Datta, knowing the mind of Gadadhara,
sweetly sang a verse about Krsna-lila. Mukunda Datta
had known Pundarika Vidyanidhi, and by sweetly
chanting this verse he awakened his inner
consciousness. Hearing Mukunda Datta singing this
verse about Krsna-lila from Srimad-Bhagavatam he
began crying “Krsna! Krsna!” and weeping again and
again. The Caitanya-Bhagavata says that the flowing of
tears from his eyes was as if the Ganges had descended.
Finally he fell upon the ground, and after rolling back
and forth for some time lost consciousness.
Upon seeing this, Gadadhara Pandita felt great remorse
within his mind. He began to reconsider his attitude
toward Pundarika Vidyanidhi. He thought, “I thought
that this great devotee, this mahabhagavata, was an
ordinary sense enjoyer. I have committed a great
offense. If, however, I accept mantra initiation from him
I may become free from this offense. I see no other
way.” In this way, Sri Gadadhara Pandita made up his
mind to take initiation from Pundarika Vidyanidhi.
When Pundarika returned to his external consciousness,
Mukunda Datta introduced Gadadhara Pandita to him.
Hearing from Mukunda Datta about the character of
Gadadhara Pandita, Pundarika was delighted. When he
heard of Gadadhara’s desire to become his disciple he
was pleased. He smiled, saying, “I consider myself very
fortunate. Only after many many births does one get a
disciple like this.” Soon after this, one an auspicious
day, Sri Gadadhara Pandita accepted mantra initiation
from Pundarika Vidyanidhi.
After Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned from Gaya-
dhama, he began his manifestations of Krsna-prema. At
Gaya, he had performed his pastime of taking shelter of
^avara Pura. Once he returned home, he began a new
life. Day and night he would float in the ocean of
Krsna-prema. Seeing Mahaprabhu’s wonderful tears of
ecstasy in Krsna-prema, Gadadhara found himself also
overwhelmed with ecstasy. He too cried tears of joy in
divine love of Krsna. From then on Gadadhara Pandita
found it difficult to give up the Lord’s association even
for an hour. One day, Gadadhara brought Mahaprabhu
some tambula. When he arrived at the house of the
Lord, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was deeply absorbed in
a mood of separation from Krsna. Mahaprabhu said,
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“Gadadhara! Where is syamasundara? Where is that the Lord. Madhava, Vasudeva, Puraottama, Vijaya, and
Lord of Vrndavana who is dressed in yellow cloth?” Mukunda, as well as others sang different songs in
Saying this, the Lord began to weep. Gadadhara was various ragas.
stunned and could not understand what answer to give.
In this way, the Lord finished his Nadiya-lila; he
With great reverence, he humbly submitted, “Krsna is in
performed his sannyasa-lila and left his mother and his
your heart.”
country and went to live in Jagannatha Pura. At that
Upon hearing this Mahaprabhu began tearing at his time Gadadhara Pandita followed Him and also went to
chest, but Gadadhara quickly restrained His hands from Jagnnatha Pura, to live. There Gadadhara Pandita
doing any damage. The Lord said, “Gadadhara! Let go engaged himself in the service of the Sri Gopanatha
of my hands! If I cannot see Krsna I will not be able to deity. At that time the Lord would regularly go and visit
maintain my life.” Gadadhara said, “If you just remain his dear Gadadhara to float in the waves of rasa by
patient, Krsna will surely reveal Himself. He will surely discussing Krsna. When the Lord made his pilgrimage
come here before long.” With this Sri Caitanya to Vrndavana, he forbade Gadadhara Pandita to go with
Mahaprabhu was pacified. Seeing these pastimes of Him. At that time, his separation knew no bounds.
Gaura-Gadadhara from a little distance, sacimata
Gadadhara Pandita use to teach a Srimad-Bhagavatam
thought to herself with great satisfaction, “This boy
class. His eternal companion, Sri Gaurasundara used to
Gadadhara is very intelligent. I need not fear for
sit and hear from him. Sri Gadadhara Pandita’s
Gaurahari’s sake.” sacimata said, “Gadadhara! You
discussion of Srimad-Bhagavatam was like an ocean of
must always stay by the side of my son Gaurahari; in
nectar. After the forty-eight years of the Lord’s manifest
this way I shall not have to worry.
pastimes were over, He disappeared into the Gopanatha
One day in the house of suklambhara Brahmacari the deity of Gadadhara Pandita. This is recorded in Bhakti-
Lord was to speak something about Krsna. Hearing this, ratnakara.
Gadadhara went to the house of suklambhara
Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written:
Brahmacari and took his seat within the house. Outside
on the veranda the Lord began to speak. As the Lord Remember the wonderful pastimes of Gaura and
spoke he became overwhelmed with ecstasy and went Gadadhara. Become a servant of Gaura and Gadadhara.
into a rasik trance. All the devotees surrounding him Listen to the beautiful narrations concerning Gaura and
also began to swim in the waves of prema. In this way Gadadhara, and worship Lord Gaura, the beautiful
for some time everyone tasted prema-rasa. Gadadhara’s moon of the groves of Godrum.
prema could not have been more intense. Lowering his
head he began loudly weeping again and again with Sri Gadadhara Pandita Goswami’s appearance day is on
tears of ecstasy. Hearing Gadadhara’s pitiful tears, the dark moon day of the month of Vaisaka.
Mahaprabhu said, “Who is that within the house who is
weeping so intensely?” suklambhara Brahmacari said,
“It is your Gadadhara.” The Lord said, “Gadadhara! You
are most fortunate. From your early childhood you have
been a determined devotee of Krsna. My own birth was
useless. Because of all my sinful karma I could not
attain Krsna.” Saying this the Lord embraced
Gadadhara in great ecstatic love.
When the Lord was performing his Nabadwapa-lila his
chief assistant was Gadadhara. They who in Vaadavana
are Radha-Krsna take the form of Gaura-Gadadhara in
these pastimes in Nabadwapa on the banks of the
Ganges. And those who in Vaadavana are gopas and
gopas take part in the pastimes of the Lord in
Nabadwapa by performing kartana. One day the Lord
was wandering by the banks of the Ganges when he
came upon a small forest grove and sat down. Gradually
he became absorbed in remembering the Vrndavana
pastimes. Mukunda Datta began sweetly singing songs
in the purva-raga. Gadadhara, after gathering flowers in
the forest decorated the Lord’s neck with a garland. Just
as formerly in Vrndavana, Sri Radha used to decorate
Lord Krsna, inthe same way Gadadhara decorated the
holy form of Lord Gauraaga. Someone sang a sweet
song, someone performed a beautiful dance. At length
Gauraaga sat Gadadhara down on the root of a tree
which served as a raised platform. Sri Advaita acarya
performed the aroti to the two of them. Sri Nityananda
Prabhu was seated on the left of them. Srivasa Pandita
Prabhu was taking flowers and decorating them.
Narahari was waving the camara. suklambhara was
offering candana. MurariGupta was singing glories to