Sri Sacidevi & Jagannatha Misra & Nimai
Information – Next to the Neem tree is a small hut which has the deities of Jagannatha Misra and Sachimata (Sri Chaitanya’s parents) holding young Nimai on her lap. This is the area where Sri Chaitanya had all of his childhood and boyhood pastimes until the time he took to the renounced order of life.
First Lord Kṛṣṇa made His parents and elders appear. Then Kṛṣṇa Himself, with the sentiments and complexion of Rādhikā, appeared in Navadvīpa, like the full moon, from the womb of mother Śacī, which is like an ocean of pure milk.
(CC Adi 4.271-272)
(5) From the Kṛṣṇa-yāmala-tantra: puṇya-kṣetre nava-dvīpe bhaviṣyāmi śacī-sutaḥ. “I shall appear in the holy land of Navadvīpa as the son of Śacī-devī.”
(6) From the Vāyu Purāṇa: kalau saṅkīrtanārambhe bhaviṣyāmi śacī-sutaḥ. “In the Age of Kali when the saṅkīrtana movement is inaugurated, I shall descend as the son of Śacī-devī.”
“Sometimes I personally appear on the surface of the world in the garb of a devotee. Specifically, I appear as the son of Śacī in Kali-yuga to start the saṅkīrtana movement.”
(CC Adi 2.22)
All the good qualities of Kaśyapa, Daśaratha, Vasudeva, and Nanda Mahārāja were found in the person of Jagannātha Miśra.
COMMENTARY
All personifications of pure goodness like Kaśyapa Muni, the father of Upendra; Daśaratha, the father of Rāmacandra; Vasudeva, the father of Vāsudeva; and Nanda Mahārāja, the father of Vrajendra-nandana, were all simultaneously manifested in the person of Jagannātha Miśra.
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 2.138)
Jagannātha Miśra was overwhelmed with ecstasy upon hearing the child’s glories, and he desired to give something in charity to the brāhmaṇa. But because Jagannātha Miśra was extremely poor, he simply took hold of the brāhmaṇa’s feet and cried. The brāhmaṇa then grabbed hold of Jagannātha Miśra’s feet and cried, while the people present there chanted, “Hari! Hari!” in ecstasy. Hearing the Lord’s extraordinary horoscope, the friends and relatives there happily chanted, “Jaya! Jaya!”
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 3.29 – 3.32)
Jagannātha Miśra was always enthusiastic in following his religious principles while residing in Navadvīpa. He was equal to Vasudeva, the father of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 1.93)
I offer my respectful obeisances at the feet of Jagannātha Miśra’s son, whose attractive form defeats the beauty of millions of moons.
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa 2.275)
In this way Śacī, the mother of the universe, constantly tolerated all of Gaurāṅga’s mischievous activities.
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa 8.162)
In Navadvīpa, everyone had forgotten where the birthplace of Mahāprabhu was located. Five hundred years ago, Navadvīpa was a very large area which used to comprise of nine islands. Thousands of brāhmaṇas and paṇḍitas used to reside there. This used be be the major center for studies and learning . . . Navadvīpa. Even now, there are big, big paṇḍitas in Navadvīpa. Navadvīpa is in West Bengal, and Vārāṇasī is in Uttar Pradesh. Then, Darbhaṅga. There were many places there, just as now there is Calcutta University etc, that in the earlier times were the places of education and learning. As all of you know, here in Navadvīpa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared. His father came from Sylhet where he used to reside on the banks of Gaṅgā. His wife was Śacī-devī, the daughter of Nilambar Cakravartī Ṭhākura. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was very keen to find the original birthplace of Mahāprabhu. People used to say that Mahāprabhu’s birthplace had disappeared, but he did not believe that.
There was a tulasi forest at Yoga-pīṭha in to Māyāpura where Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī would sing bhajana. He revealed to Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura that this was the place where Mahāprabhu appeared. “mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ”
Jagannātha dāsa Bābājī was very old. He would constantly chant Hari-nāma. He lived in Vṛndāvana, and later moved (to Māyāpura) and lived here. Based on his revelation, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura tried his utmost to develop the place to the best of his financial ability. He took charge of the place, and then he formed the ‘Dhāma Pracārinī Sabhā’ to invoke the interest of the people.
(740929 – Lecture Bengali – Mayapur)
Song ‘Sri Sri Sacisutastakam‘ by Sarvabhaum Bhattacharya
(1)
nava gaura-varam nava-pushpa-saram
nava-bhava-dharam nava-lasya-param
nava-hasya-karam nava-hema-varam
pranamami saci-suta-gaura-varam
(2)
nava-hema-yutam nava-nita-sucam
nava-vesa-kritam hari-nama-param
navadha vilasat subha-premamayam
pranamami saci-suta-gaura-varam
(3)
hari-bhakti-param hari-nama-dharam
kara-japa-karam hari-nama-param
nayane satatam pranayasru-dharam
pranamami saci-suta-gaura-varam
(4)
satatam janata-bhava-tapa-haram
paramartha-parayana-loka-gatim
nava-leha-karam jaga-tapa-haram
pranamami saci-suta-gaura-varam
(5)
nija-bhakti-karam priya-carutaram
nata-nartana-nagara-raja-kulam
kula-kamini-manasa-lasya-karam
pranamami saci-suta-gaura-varam
(6)
karatala-valam kala-kantha-varam
mridu-vadya-suvinakaya madhuram
nija-bhakti-gunavrita-natya-karam
pranamami saci-suta-gaura-varam
(7)
yuga-dharma-yutam punarnanda-sutam
dharani-sucitram bhava-bhavacitam
tanu-dhyana-cittam nija-vasa-yutam
pranamami saci-suta-gaura-varam
(8)
arunam nayanam caranam vasanam
vadane skhalitam svaka-nama-dharam
kurute surasam jagatah jivanam
pranamami saci-suta-gaura-varam
(1) His complexion is the hue of fresh cream tinged with kunkum. He is the ever-fresh Cupid who shoots arrows of newly blossoming flowers. He bears newer and newer moods of emotional ecstasies. He is fond of performing novel dances. He makes ever-new jokes that cause much laughter. His brilliant luster is like freshly cast gold. I bow down to Gaura, the beautiful son of Mother Saci.
(2) He is endowed with ever-fresh love of Godhead. His radiant luster is like the color of fresh butter. His fresh attire is arranged in evernew fashions. He relishes ever-new mellows of love for Krsna. He shines in nine-fold new ways while executing the nine-fold processes of devotion. He is permeated with a most auspicious loving nature. I bow down to Gaura, the beautiful son of Mother Saci.
(3) He is absorbed in devotion to Sri Hari. He maintains the chanting of the names of Hari. While chanting He counts the holy names on the fingers of His hands. He is addicted to the name of Hari. He always has tears of love welling in His eyes. I bow down to Gaura, the beautiful son of Mother Saci.
(4) He is always removing the suffering of material existence for mankind. He is the goal of life for persons who are dedicated to their supreme interest. He inspires men to become like honeybees (eager for the honey of Krsna-prema). He removes the burning fever of the material world. I bow down to Gaura, the beautiful son of Mother Saci.
(5) He who motivates pure devotion unto Himself, who is most attractive to His beloved servitors. By His dramatic dancing He exhibits the characteristics of the King of paramours. He causes the minds of beautiful young village women to dance. I bow down to Gaura, the beautiful son of Mother Saci.
(6) He plays karatals as His throat emits sweet melodious sounds and the vibrant notes of the vina are softly played. He thus inspires the devotees to perform dramatic dancing that is infused with aspects of His own devotional service. I bow down to Gaura, the beautiful son of Mother Saci.
(7) He is accompanied by the sankirtana movement, which is the religious practice for the age of Kali. He is the son of Nanda Maharaja come again. He is the extraordinarily brilliant ornament of the earth. His preaching mood is suitably adapted to the cycle of birth and death. His consciousness is fixed in meditation on His own form of Krsna. He is always accompanied by His transcendental abode. I bow to Gaura, the beautiful son of Mother Saci.
(8) His eyes, the soles of His feet, and His clothing are reddish like the color that heralds the rising sun. As He utters His own names, His voice falters. He awakens a sweet flavor to life throughout the universe. I bow down to Gaura, the beautiful son of Mother Saci.