Sri Vrndavana- Mahimamrta (The Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrndavana)

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Sri Prabodhananda was living in the holy place of Sri Rangam as a resident sannyasa of the Sri Sampradaya. On account of his being highly learned, he was renowned as Saraswati. After receiving the mercy of Mahaprabhu at Sri Rangam, Prabodhananda become a worshiper of Radha Krsna. After some time he came to Nilacala and saw Mahaprabhu and his associates. It is found from the evidence of Sri Caitanya candramrta that after reaching Nilacala, Prabodhananda directly saw Mahaprabhu dancing with his associates headed by Vakresvara Pandita and Advaita acarya. After the disappearance of Mahaprabhu, Prabodhananda completed his book Caitanya candramrta. During the last stage pf his life, Prabodhananda resided in Vrndavana where he compiled Sri Vrndavana mahimamrta and Sri Radha rasa sudha nidhi. It is also heard that he used to perform his bhajana in Kamavana. He disappeared from this world in Vrndavana. His Samadhi is still present at Kaliya daha.

This book exclusively glorifies the abode of Vrndavana and its inhabitants. This Vrndavana mahimamrta consists of one hundred satakas of one hundred verses each, out of which only twenty two have been discovered. out of those twenty two satakas seventeen satakas have been printed. This present book Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati has revealed his intense desire for residing Vrndavana. We hope the readers will relish the glories of Vrndavana and make their lived successful.

May Sri Radha the queen of Vrndavana, mercifully glance upon me with her eyes filled with tears of love. May the creeper of her compassion bear fruit and allow me to live forever in her dear land Vrndavana.

This book exclusively glorifies the abode of Vrndavana and its inhabitants. This Vrndavana-Mahimamrta consists of one hundred satakas of one hundred verses each out of which twenty two satakas have been discovered and rest untraced. Of the twenty-two satakas, seventeen satakas have been printed

This present book includes all seventeen satakas. Translation of the first three satakas is based on the Bengali translation of Haridas Babaji. The fourth sataka is translated from the Bengali translation of Sri Bhakta Das. The remaining satakas were translated from the Hindi translation of Sri Shyam Lal of Harinam Press. The verse transliterations are based on the English translation by Kusakratha Prabhu. We have also consulted his edition in the course of translating and editing Krsna Candra Prabhu helped by proof reading the first few satakas.

In this book Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati has preached his intense desire for residing in Vrndavana. We hope the readers will relish the glories of Vrndavana as narrated in this book and make their lives successful.

In his second mangalacarana verse of Sri Hari Bhakti Vilasa, Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, who is one of the Six Gosvami associates of Sri Krsna Caitanyadeva, has mentioned the name of Srila Prabodhananda as very dear to Lord Caitanyadeva and has identified himself as his disciple. In his Dig-darsini commentary on that verse, Srila Sanatana Gosvami has also described Prabodhananda as the spiritual master of Gopala Bhatta.

Gopala Bhatta the disciple of Prabodhananda who is very dear to Sri Caitanyadeva is compilimg the book Sri Hari Bhakti vilasa for the pleasure of Rupa Sanatana and Raghunatha dasa.?

In the concluding verse of his Sukha bodhini commentary on Gopala tapani Upanisad Sri Jiva Gosvamipada has mentioned Srila Prabodhananda?s commentary on Gopala tapani Upanisad

I offer my respectful obeisances to Prabodhananda who carefully described the transcendental qualities of Mahaprabhu

in his book Sri Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika(163) Sri kavikarnapure Gosvami has stated as follows

Tungavidya who is one of eight principal gopis of Vraja and who is very expert in all the scriptures has now appeared as Prabodhananda in order to glorify Sri Gauranga

There is no mention of Prabodhananda Sarasvati?s name n either Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka and Sri Caitanya-carita Mahakavya of Kavi karnapura, in Sri Caitanya-bhagavata of vrndavana dasa Thakura or in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta of Krsnadasa Kaviaraja Gosvamipada. In Sri Krsna-caitanya-caritamrta, or the Kadaca of Murari Gupta there his no mention of Prabodhananda?s name or activities.

Sri Harirama Vyasa who was a companion of Hita hari vamsa described the qualities of Prabodhananda in his book called Vyasa Vani as follows : ?Prabodhananda is not an ordinary poet who described the transcendental pastimes of Radha Krsna . His described of the loving pastimes of the divine young couple are most wonderful. One?s bondage for material existence is certainly destroyed by hearing these pastimes.

It is found in this book Prema vilasa Nityananda dads that when Mahaprabhu resided at house of Trimalla bhatta. who was a Vaisnava from Sri sampradaya at Rangam during the four months of caturmasya the entire Bhatta family became devotees of Radha Krsna by the mercy of Mahaprabhu. It is also stated therein that Mahaprabhu. It is also stated therein that Mahaprabhu instructed Prabodhananda to send Gopala Bhatta Vrndavana after the death of his parents

Mahaprabhu looked at Prabodhananda and said to him with a smile, ?your disciple will be a profound scholar in all the scriptures send him to vrndavana once. ?This prabodhananda was as dear to the lord as his very life by bestowing mercy on him, the lord turned him into topmost devotee.

In due course of time Prabodhananda Sent Gopala Bhatta to Vrndavana with a letter for rupa and Sanatana . By the desire of Rupa and Sanatana, Gopla Bhatta compiled the book Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa in Vrndavana. in the mangalcarana of this book he mentioned the name of Prabodhananda as his spiritual master.

Radha Krsna Gosvami who was a disciple of Haridasa Pandita Gosvami described the name of Prabodhananda in his book Sadhana-dipika as follows.

I offer my respectful obeisances to Gopala Bhatta who resided at vraja and who was a nephew of Prabodhananda and a recipient of his mercy.

In his book Anuraga ?valli Manohara dasa has described Prabodhananda as the uncle of Gopala Bhatta in following words.

According to existing evidence it is established that Prabodhananda who was the brother of Venkata is the former instructor of Gopala Bhatta, Gopala Bhatta?s study of the Vedas, Brahmana thread ceremony and other auspicious activates were properly conducted by uncle Prabodhananda.

Sri Baladeva vidyabhusana who wrote the Govinda-bhasya commentary on the Vedanta-sutras has respectfully mentioned the name of Prabodhananda while commenting on the third verse of Sri Caitanyastaka recorded within the book Stava-mala of Sri Rupa Gosvami.

Narahari Cakravarti who was a granddisciple of Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti has described Prabodhananda as the uncle of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami in his book Bhakti ratnakara 1.81-83, 85 as follows

Let me briefly describe the Bhatta family Sri Gopala Bhatta was the son of Venkata Bhatta Sri Venkata lived in South India. He was a qualified Brahmana and a learned scholar in all scriptures. Sri Gauracandra was the life and wealth of the three brothers namely Trimalla, Venkata and Prabodhananda. While traveling to south India Sri Gauranga happily spent four months at the Bhatta?s house.

Prabodhananda Sarasvati has also been described as the instructing spiritual master of Gopala Bhatta in Bhakti ratnakara 1.148, 149 as follows.

There was no one as learned here as Gopala, for he become expert in all the scriptures by the mercy of his uncle prabodhananda. Some people say that Prabodhananda was highly qualified. That is why he become renowned everywhere as Sarasvati.

From this above-mentioned evidence it is understood that Prabodhananda Sarasvati was a dear associate of Sri Krsna Caitanyadeva, the instructing spiritual master of Gopala Bhatta, the commentator on Gopala-tapani Upanisad, the singer of Sriman Mahaprabhu?s transcendental glories the Tungavidya gopi of Vraja who is expert in all the scriptures and the uncle of gopala bhatta.

Great personalities like Sri Sanatana Gosvamipada, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, Devakinandana dasa, Kavikarnapura Gosvami, Baladeva Vidyabhusana and Narahari Cakravarti, have never described Prabodhananda as a resident of kasi.

It is sated in the Prayer to the Vaisnavas attributed to the name of Sri Jiva Goswamipada as follows:

I offer my respectful obeisances to prabodhananda Sarasvati who has composted the book Caitanya-candramrta and whose disciple is gopala bhatta

Although some authors such as Anandi who wrote a commentary on Caitanya candramrta and Laldasa who wrote Upasanacandramrta, have described Prabodhananda as the mayavadi sannayasi of Kasi ancient an authentic authors headed by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami have never mentioned anything about this topic. Kaviraja Gosvami did not hesitable to mention the topics of changing names of Dabira Khasa, Sakara Mallika and Vijuli khan in his book Sri Caitanya caritamrta. There is an elaborate description of the deliverance of Prakasananda in Caitanya caritamrta Adi-lila Chapter 7 and Madhya-lila chapter 17 and 25 but this principle topic is missing. This is a subject matter of consideration.

In the book Advaita prakasa, written by Isana nagara, chapter 17 states as follows:

The entire city of Kasi under Gauranga?s influence and as a result many people become devotes. One famous sannyasa named Prabodhananda Sarasvati resided there. He was as intelligent as Prabodhananda Sarasvati resided there. He was as intelligent a Brhaspati. Being an ocean of mercy, lord Caitanya bestowed his kindness on him. He invested him with spiritual potency and gave him pure devotional service. Prabodhananda compiled many verses and glorified Sri Gauranga.

From these statements however it is not understood that Prabodhananda was previously known as prakasananda, rather it is understood that he was known as prabodhananda even before receiving Mahaprabhu?s mercy.

From the description of Sri Caitanya caritamrta, Mahaprabhu traveled throughout south India for two years and returned to Nilacala in 1432 Saka. in 1437 he stoped at Kasi on the way to Vrndavana and in the same year while returning from Vrndavana He come to Kasi for a second time and resided there for two months. This is when he delivered prabodhananda and instructed Sanatana. Now the point of consideration is that how can the same person who was averse to Vaisnava religion, who is a resident of kasi and who was averse to Vaisnava religion, who is a resident of Kasi, and who is a Mayavadi sannyasa named Prakasananda during Mahaprabhu?s pastime as a householder which was approximately between 1425 to 1430 saka, become a senior Vaisnava of the Sri-sampradaya and a resident of Sri rangam during Sri Krsna Mahaprabhu?s travel to south India in 1432 and after becoming a worshiper of Radha krsna and a Vaisnava fully devoted to Gaura by the mercy of Mahaprabhu, how can he again become Prakasananda, a Mayavadi sannyasa, averse to Gaura a resident of kasi, and a renowed authority on the philosophy of Monism in 1437? If we are to accept that there were two prabodhananda (one being the Vaisnava Prabodhananda who was the instructing spiritual master of Gopala Bhatta, and the other being the Mayavadi Prakasananda, who was the resident of kasi and who later on by the mercy of Mahaprabhu become known as prabodhananda) then why two separate descriptions or references are not found in any authentic books such as Kavikarnapura?s Sri gaura-ganoddesa dipika?

Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami compiled Sri Caitanya-caritamrta by the special inspiration of the famous Haridasa Pandita Gosvami who was his contemporary. From the authentic book Sadhana-dipika written by Radha Krsna Gosvami who was a disciple of this Haridasa Pandita Gosvami it is clearly understood that Prabodhananda was the uncle and instructing spiritual master of Gopala Bhatta who was one of the six Gosvamis of vrndavana. This fact as already been confirmed above in the statement of Gopala Bhatta quoted from Hari-bhakti-vilasa, and Sanatana also confirmed this statement on his commentary.

Sri Prabodhananda was living in the holy place of Sri Rangam as resident sannayasi of the Sri Sampradaya. On account of his being highly learned he was renowned as Sarasvati. after receiving the mercy of Mahaprabhu at Sri rangam prabodhananda Nilacala and saw Mahaprabhu an his associates. It is found from the evidence of Sri Caitanya-candramrta that after reaching Nilacala prabodhananda directly saw Mahaprabhu dancing with His associated headed by Vakresvara Pandita and Advaita Acarya. pleted his book Caitanya-candramrta. During the last stage of his life, Prabodhananda resided in Vrndavana where he compiled Sri vrndavana mahimamrta and Sri Radha rasa sudha ?nidhi. It is also heard that he used to perform his bhajana in Kamavana. he disappeared from this world in Vrndavana. His Samadhi is still present at Kaliya-daha.

Since a long time it has been said that even after leaving the Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya, Hita hari vamsa, who was a disciple of Gopala Bhatta and a granddisciple of Prabodhananda, was provided shelter by prabodhananda Sarasvati. In prabodhananda?s Sri Caitanya candramrta (132) Mahaprabhu has been glorified as gaura nagarabara and Sri Sarasvatipada has preached the philosophy of svakiyavada in his book. For these reasons, none of the ancient Gaudiya Vaisnava Acaryas have quoted many evidences from his books nor written any commentary on his books.

It is stated in Caitanya Bhagavata (Adi 15.30) as follows:

Therefore the great personalities do not pray to lord Caitanya as Gauranga nagara or enjoyer of damsels.

In his prayer to the Vaisnavas Sri Devakinandana dasa, who was a contemporary of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has written as follows:

I offer my obeisances to Prabodhananda Sarasvati whose heart was pure who was highly learned in pure knowledge who had inflinching devotion at the feet of Mahaprabhu. and who described the transcendental qualities of Mahaprabhu. Without careful consideration some people say that Suddha Sarasvati and prabodhananda Sarasvati are two separate persons. But there was no one named Suddha Sarasvati among the associates of Gaura. Such a name is not found in ant authentic book. The word Suddha Sarasvati is an adjective for Prabodhananda Sarasvati.

In his Sri Vrndavana-mahimamrta (1.89) Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati has said as follows

From this verse it is clearly understood that Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati received maha-mantra directly from the mouth of Sri Caitanya and under His subordination only he performed bhajana in Vrndavana. Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati explicitly realized the mercy of Sri Caitanyadeva in his life.

The literatures written by Prabodhananda Sarasvati are as follows :< P> 1. Sri Caitanya candramrta-The unparalleled glories of Sri Krsna Caitanyadeva and unalloyed attachment for him are described in this book. There are two commentaries on this book. The special characteristic described in this book is that the more a fortunate person will develop devotion at the feet of Sri Caitanya the more his heart will be filled with the Nectarean flow of loving devotional service at the feet of Sri Radha. The effulgence from the jewel-like toenails of Sri Gauranga. If Sri Caitanya candra did not reveal the wonderful science of love of God then no one could ever know the glories of the lord?s holy name the sweetness of Vrndavana and the truth of Sri Radhika who is the limit of the supreme mellows of ecstatic love.

2. Sri Vrndavana mahimamrta-this book consist of one hundred satakas. The author has preached about attachment for residing in Vrndavana which is the glorious abode of Sri Radha Krsna?s pastimes

3. Sri Sangita Madhava giti kavya-This book consists of fifteen chapters and it is composed following in the footsteps of jayadeva Gosvami?s Gita-Govind. At the end of each stanza the phrase Sarasvati Gita, or the song by Sarasvati is found. In the conclusion of this book there are prayers to Sriman Mahaprabhu.

4. Sri Prabandha This book describes the confidential rasa lila pastimes of Sri Radha Krsna Although this book was composed in accordance with rasa lila pastimes described in Srimad Bhagavatam there are some special characteristics and the authors own realizations in it.

5. Sri Sruti vyakhya-This is a commentary on the eighty-seventh chapter of the Tenth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. The author has dividd the personifications of Sruti into two categories namely premarasamai Sruti and Suddha bhavamai gopi.

6. Gopala tapani Upanisad commentary ?There are two commentaries on Gopala tapani Upanisad one is by Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati and the other is by Sri Jiva Gosvami

7. Sri Radha-rasa sudha nidhi-in this book of prayers Sri Sarasvatipada has preached the supreme of worshiping the lotus feet of Sri Radha as he has in his order books like Sri Caitanya-candramrta and Sri Vrndavana mahimamrta. The prayers and the promise made by the author in Sri Caitanya-Candramrta have been fully perfected in Radha rasa sudha nidhi. The mood the language the ornamental language of Radha rasa sudha nidhi are similar to that of Caitanya candramrta vrndavana mahimamrta, and Sangita Madhava