Vakreśvara Paṇḍita

When Gauracandra was enacting His ecstatic pastimes as a householder, Devānanda Paṇḍita did not have faith in Him. He was therefore unable to understand the Lord. Although he had the qualification to see the Lord, only Kṛṣṇa knows why he was unable. When the Lord left home and took sannyāsa, Devānanda Paṇḍita had the good fortune of meeting Vakreśvara Paṇḍita. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita was a dear associate of Lord Caitanya. Simply by remembering him, the entire universe becomes sanctified. He was always overwhelmed with ecstatic feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa. Even the demigods and demons were amazed by his dancing. Whenever Vakreśvara Paṇḍita began to dance, by the mercy of Lord Caitanya, all the ecstatic transformations of love like tears, shivering, perspiration, laughing, hairs standing on end, roaring, and becoming pale appeared in his body. Who has the power to describe Vakreśvara Paṇḍita’s unlimited transformations of ecstatic love? By the arrangement of providence and being bound by Devānanda Paṇḍita’s affection, Vakreśvara Paṇḍita stayed for some time in Devānanda’s āśrama and enjoyed the mellows of ecstatic love.
Seeing Vakreśvara Paṇḍita’s effulgent body and his devotional service to Viṣṇu, which was incomparable within the three worlds, Devānanda Paṇḍita became greatly pleased and sincerely served him with affectionate love. As long as Vakreśvara Paṇḍita danced, Devānanda Paṇḍita would guard him with a stick in hand. He would personally keep people away from Vakreśvara, and when Vakreśvara was about to fall unconscious, Devānanda would catch him in his arms. He would affectionately clean the dust from Vakreśvara Paṇḍita’s body and smear that dust all over his own body. While Vakreśvara Paṇḍita stayed with Devānanda Paṇḍita, Devānanda observed his glories and thus developed faith in Lord Caitanya. The fruits of serving Vaiṣṇavas described in the Purāṇas were directly seen in this incident.
From his birth, he was religious-minded, detached, and learned. He did not teach any literature other than Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. He was peaceful, self-controlled, sense-controlled, free from greed, and endowed with many other good qualities. Yet he had no faith in Gauracandra. That sinful mentality was destroyed by the mercy of Vakreśvara Paṇḍita. The service of Vaiṣṇavas is superior to the service of Kṛṣṇa. All scriptures headed by the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam confirm this. “There may be a doubt whether the servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead will attain perfection, but there is absolutely no doubt that those who are attached to serving the Lord’s devotees will attain perfection.” Therefore, service to the Vaiṣṇavas is the best means of deliverance. Everyone can attain Kṛṣṇa by serving the devotees. By the influence of Vakreśvara Paṇḍita’s association, Devānanda developed an intense desire to see Gauracandra.
As Lord Gauracandra was sitting, Devānanda Paṇḍita came before the Lord. After offering his humble obeisances, Devānanda Paṇḍita stood hesitantly in the corner. The Lord, however, was pleased to see him and had him sit down next to Him. The Lord excused all of Devānanda’s previous offenses and bestowed His mercy on him. The Lord said, “You are able to see Me because you served Vakreśvara Paṇḍita. Vakreśvara Paṇḍita possesses the full potencies of the Supreme Lord. Anyone who serves him attains Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa personally resides in the heart of Vakreśvara Paṇḍita. When Vakreśvara dances, Kṛṣṇa dances. Any place that is associated with Vakreśvara Paṇḍita is equal to all the holy places and is as good as Vaikuṇṭha.”
When the brāhmaṇa Devānanda Paṇḍita heard the Lord’s words, he folded his hands and began to offer prayers. “You are most merciful. You have appeared in Navadvīpa to deliver the people of the entire universe. I could not recognize You because I am sinful and unfortunate. I was therefore deprived of the opportunity to relish transcendental happiness in Your association. You are by nature compassionate to all living entities. I beg that I may have attachment for You. O Lord, I have one request at Your lotus feet. Please instruct me. I am an ignorant person, yet I teach Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, which is a book meant for the most intelligent persons. How should I explain it, and what should I teach? O Lord, kindly instruct me.”
On hearing Devānanda’s words, Lord Gauracandra began to quote evidence from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. “Listen, O brāhmaṇa. While teaching Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, you should not explain anything other than devotional service. In the beginning, middle, and end of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, devotional service to Viṣṇu is described as eternally perfect, inexhaustible, and infallible. Devotional service to Viṣṇu is the only truth throughout the innumerable universes. It remains fully potent even during the universal devastation. Nārāyaṇa awards liberation but hides devotional service. One cannot attain devotional service without Kṛṣṇa’s mercy. Because Śrīmad Bhāgavatam glorifies devotional service, there is no literature equal to it. As the various incarnations of the Lord headed by Matsya and Kūrma appear and disappear, the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, which is not composed by man, appears and disappears by its own sweet will. Simply by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and the devotion of Vyāsadeva, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam manifested from the tongue of Vyāsa. The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is as incomprehensible as the science of the Supreme Lord. This is the statement of all scriptures. One who thinks, ‘I understand Śrīmad Bhāgavatam,’ does not know the glories of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. If a foolish person takes shelter of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the purport of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is revealed to him.
“The Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is filled with ecstatic love. It is the body of Lord Kṛṣṇa. All confidential pastimes of Kṛṣṇa are described in it. After compiling the Vedic literatures and the Purāṇas, Vedavyāsa did not feel satisfied. But as soon as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam manifested on his tongue, his heart was filled with joy. O brāhmaṇa, listen sincerely. I tell you that some people even become perplexed after reading such a literature. You should explain devotional service in the beginning, middle, and end of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Then you will no longer commit any offense, and you will immediately become joyful at heart. All the scriptures glorify devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is especially filled with the mellows of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Go and teach Śrīmad Bhāgavatam by explaining the nectarean devotional service of Kṛṣṇa.”
After hearing the Lord’s instructions, Devānanda Paṇḍita offered his full obeisances and considered himself fortunate. After offering the Lord repeated obeisances, he meditated on the lotus feet of the Lord with full concentration as he departed. In this way, Lord Gaurasundara revealed the glories of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam to everyone. Devotional service is the only topic described in the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Nothing else is explained in the beginning, middle, or end. One who teaches Śrīmad Bhāgavatam but does not explain devotional service speaks uselessly and commits offense. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is the direct form of the mellows of devotional service. One who understands this becomes dear to Kṛṣṇa. No inauspiciousness can enter a house wherein Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is kept. By worshiping Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Kṛṣṇa is worshiped. The reading and hearing of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam awards one devotional service.
There are two types of Bhāgavatas, namely the book Bhāgavata and the person who has attained the mercy of Kṛṣṇa. It is true that one who regularly worships, hears, reads, or sees Śrīmad Bhāgavatam will also become a Bhāgavata. Yet even after reading this Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, some sinful people blaspheme Nityānanda without knowing His glories. Lord Nityānanda is the personification of the devotional mellows of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. One who knows this becomes most fortunate. Nityānanda constantly sings the purport of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam with His thousand mouths. Although Nityānanda is Himself Ananta Śeṣa, He nevertheless could not yet fully describe the glories of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is so glorious that it is beyond the grasp of even Ananta. It describes the essence of all the mellows of devotional service. Through His instructions to Devānanda Paṇḍita, the Lord revealed the glories of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam to everyone.
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Antya-khaṇḍa 3.467 – 3.539)

Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, the fifth branch of the tree, was a very dear servant of Lord Caitanya’s. He could dance with constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours.
(CC Ādi 10.17)

Lord Aniruddha, the fourth member of the Catur-vyuha, appeared in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes as Vakresvara Pandita. Lord Krsna personally entered Vakresvara’s body and caused Him to dance in ecstasy. This ecstatic dancing of Vakresvara Pandita delightes Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
(Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā 71)

For further reading, please refer to:
Sri Caitanya Bhagavata Madhya Khanda : Chapter Twenty-one – The Lord’s Chastisement of Devānanda
Sri Caitanya Bhagavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.091 – 9.102