Pañcavaktra Śiva
After describing the glorious history of Rudradvīpa, Śrī Īsāna gladly advanced towards the Belapukura village, which had formerly been known as Bilva-pakṣa. Now, Īsāna began describing the history of this name: “A deity of Pañca-vaktra Śiva was once worshiped here. Pañca-vaktra Śiva would fulfill the desires of those who were genuine Kṛṣṇa devotees. Once, some ascetic brāhmaṇas began to worship Śiva for the fulfillment of their desires. They worshiped Śiva with bilva-patra leaves for fifteen days at a time, which pleased Śiva very much, and he offered them a benediction.
The brāhmaṇas said, ‘We want the ability to perform the greatest deeds.’
Śiva, being astonished, said to them, ‘What are you saying? I know that the act of worshiping Kṛṣṇa is the greatest of all deeds.’
The brāhmaṇas said, ‘We know that the act of serving Kṛṣṇa is the greatest of all deeds, but how will it be possible for us to obtain that? O my lord, kindly grant us that capacity.’
Pañca-vaktra told them, ‘Do not worry, you will get that capacity to serve Kṛṣṇa. Within a very few days, Kṛṣṇa will reveal Himself in a brāhmaṇa family in Nadia. You also will be born at that time. You all will give Him much pleasure by taking education from Him. You all will serve Him with His other devotees.’
On hearing Pañca-vaktra Mahādeva, they became very delighted and fell at the feet of Mahādeva. They took their leave and remained absorbed in the thought of the lotus-like feet of Kṛṣṇa. Due to the wish of Prabhu, Pañca-vaktra disappeared from this place. Because the brāhmaṇas worshiped Śiva with bilva-patra leaves for fifteen days, this place became famous by the name of Bilva-pakṣa. Here, Viśvambhara, with His followers, performed many pastimes.”
(Bhakti-ratnākara by Sri Narahari Cakravarti, Chapter 12, PAge 356-357)
All glories to Sri Gauracandra, the wanderer of Nadia’s groves! All glories to Sri Nityananda, the master of Ekacakra! All glories to Advaita Isvara, the master of Santipura! All glories to Gadadhara of Ramacandrapura! And all glories to Gaura-bhumi, the essence of cintamani, where Kṛṣṇa wandered in Kali-yuga.
The son of Padmavati, Śrī Nityananda Prabhu, after crossing the Ganges and going some distance, said to the devotees, “See this attractive place named Bilvapakṣa. Generally people call it Bela Pukhariya (or Belpukura). The place known in the scriptures as Bilvavana in Vraja is situated here in Navadvipa.
“One time some brahmana devotees of Siva worshiped him by offering the leaves of his favorite tree, the bilva, or bael, tree for a fortnight’s duration. Śiva was pleased with the brahmanas and gave them kṛṣṇa-bhakti. Amongst those worshipers was Nimbaditya, who had been very attentive in the worship. Śiva spoke to him, ‘At the edge of this village is a sacred bilva forest. Within that forest, the four Kumāras are sitting in meditation. By their mercy, you will receive transcendental knowledge. They are your gurus. By serving them, you will receive all that is of value.’ Saying this, Lord Siva disappeared.
“Nimbaditya searched and found that place. On an attractive platform in the forest near Śiva, he saw the four brothers—Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanat-kumāra-sitting unseen by others. They were young, naked, and noble in character. Nimbārka cried out in excitement, Hare Krsna! Hare Krsna!’
“On hearing the holy name, the Kumāras’ meditation broke. They opened their eyes and saw before them an ideal Vaisnava. Satisfied by this sight, one after another they embraced Nimbaditya. Who are you?’ they asked. ‘Why have you come here? We will certainly fulfill your prayers.’
“Nimbarka offered his obeisances and humbly introduced himself. Sanat-kumāra smiled and said, ‘Knowing that Kali-yuga would be very troublesome, the all-merciful Supreme Lord decided to propagate devotional service. He empowered four men with devotional service and sent them into the world to preach. Rāmānuja, Madhva, and Visnusvāmi are three of these men. You are the fourth of these great devotees. Śrī, Lakṣmi, accepted Rāmānuja, Brahma accepted Madhvācārya, Rudra accepted Visnusvāmi, and we, meeting you today, have the good fortune to teach you. This is our intention. Previously we were engaged in meditating on the Brahman, but by the Lord’s mercy that sinful act has gone away. Now that I know the sweet taste of pure devotional service, I have written one book named Sanat-kumāra Samhita. You should receive initiation into its teachings.’
“Seeing his guru’s mercy, the wise Nimbarka quickly took his bath in the Ganges and returned. He offered obeisances and humbly said, ‘O deliverer of the fallen, please deliver this low rascal.’
“The four brothers gave him the Radha-Kṛṣṇa mantra and instructed him how to worship Radha and Kṛṣṇa filled with sentiments of great love, called bhāva-marga. Having obtained that mantra, Nimbaditya resided at this sacred place and worshiped according to the injunctions of that samhita.
“Radha and Kṛṣṇa bestowed Their mercy by appearing before Nimbarka. Lighting up all directions and gently smiling, They said, ‘You are very fortunate. You have performed sadhana in Navadvipa, Our dear abode. Here We take on one form, as the son of Sacidevi.’
“While saying this, They combined in one form as Gauranga. Nimbārka was astounded on seeing that form and exclaimed, Never have I seen or heard of such a remarkable form anywhere!’
“Mahaprabhu said, ‘Please keep this form secret now. Just preach krsna-bhakti and the pastimes of Radha and Krsna, for I am very happy in those pastimes. When I appear as Gauranga, I will enjoy educational pastimes. At that time, you will take birth in Kashmir and tour India as a champion scholar out to defeat all opponents. Your name will be Kesava Kasmiri, and you will be celebrated everywhere for your great learning. While wandering on tour, you will come to Mayapur. The learned scholars of Navadvipa will flee when they hear your name, but I will be intoxicated with learning and take pleasure in defeating you. By the mercy of Sarasvati, you will realize My identity, give up your pride, and take shelter of Me. Then I will give you the gift of bhakti and send you out to preach devotional service again. So you can satisfy Me now by preaching the philosophy of dvaitādvaita (monism and dualism), keeping My identity secret.
“Later, when I begin the sankirtana movement, I Myself will preach the essence of the four Vaisnava philosophies. From Madhva I will receive two essential items: his complete defeat of the Mayavada philosophy, and his service to the Deity of Kṛṣṇa, accepting the Deity as an eternal spiritual being. From Rāmānuja I will accept two great teachings: the concept of bhakti unpolluted by karma and jñāna, and service to the devotees. From Viṣṇusvami’s teachings I will accept two main elements: the sentiment of exclusive dependence on Krsna, and the path of rāga-bhakti. And from you I will receive two excellent principles: the necessity of taking shelter of Radha, and the high esteem for the gopis’ love of Kṛṣṇa.”
“When Gauracandra disappeared, Nimbarka wept out of love. After worshiping the feet of his gurus, he left for preaching kṛṣṇa-bhakti.”
(Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Chapter 16)
So Māyāvādīs were there in Vārāṇasī, mostly. And Vaiṣṇavas also they have their place, especially in Navadvīpa, Vṛndāvana, like that. So one digvijaya-paṇḍita, Keśava Kāśmīrī, he also came to Navadvīpa. He got victory in all other cities, but when he came to Navadvīpa, he became defeated, because Caitanya Mahāprabhu was there.
At that time Caitanya Mahāprabhu was only sixteen years old. So the learned scholars there first of all decided that, “Let now Nimāi Paṇḍita . . .” Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s student life was known as Nimāi Paṇḍita. His mother gave a very beloved name, Nimāi, because He took His birth underneath a tree, nim tree. So His name was Nimāi Paṇḍita. As a student He was known as Nimāi Paṇḍita. So the scholars there first of all decided that, “Let this Keśava Kāśmīrī talk with Nimāi Paṇḍita. So if Nimāi Paṇḍita fails to conquer over him, then we should challenge that ‘He is a boy. Now let us come. You come to us.’ ” But even the boy, Nimāi Paṇḍita, He defeated that Keśava Kāśmīrī. That is mentioned in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, how He was digvijaya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This Keśava Kāśmīrī was a very learned scholar, and he was requested by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that “You are sitting on the bank of the Ganges. You can compose some prayers for the Mother Ganges.” So he was very learned scholar, immediately he composed one hundred ślokas. So out of that one hundred ślokas, He found some fault in the sixty-fourth verse. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that you was such a learned scholar but, “We are simply student, grammarian. We cannot understand your poetic and literary magnitude of knowledge. So will you kindly explain the sixty-fourth verse, which We cannot understand very nicely.”
So immediately he was astonished. He thought that, “I have composed these hundred ślokas like wind, immediately. And He catch up . . . He catches up, with sixty-four, one particular śloka. What kind of boy this is?” Then in that śloka, there were so many literary fault. Literary fault. Formerly, amongst the learned scholar, any nonsense you write will not be accepted as poetry. It must be according to the rules and regulation of literary perfection.
(740108 – Lecture SB 01.16.11 – Los Angeles)