Madhavendra Puri and Gopinatha Ji the Sweety Sweet Rice Thief

A rare photo of the Kshira-chora-gopinatha deities in Remuna, north of Puri. This is the Deity which hid/stolen a cup of sweet rice (Kshira) for Madhavendra Puri.

PURE SWEET NECTAR !!! MUST READ ! AAAHHHH!!

 

MADHAVENDRA PURI AND GOPINATHA JI THE SWEETY SWEET RICE (GOPINATHA-KSIRA ) THIEF !!

 

Madhavendra Puri had a dream:

“In his dream, Madhavendra Puri saw Gopala, who said, “My bodily temperature still has not decreased. Please bring sandalwood from the Malaya province and smear the pulp over My body to cool Me.”

PURPORT

The Deity of Gopala had been buried within the jungle for many years, and although He was installed and was offered thousands of pots of water, He still felt very hot. He therefore asked Madhavendra Puri to bring sandalwood from the Malaya province. Sandalwood produced in Malaya is very popular(…)

“Bring sandalwood pulp from Jagannatha Puri. Kindly go quickly. Since no one else can do it, you must.”

After having this dream, Madhavendra Puri Gosvami became very glad due to ecstasy of love of Godhead, and in order to execute the command of the Lord, he started east toward Bengal.

Before leaving, Madhavendra Puri made all arrangements for regular Deity worship, and he engaged different people in various duties. Then, taking up the order of Gopala, he started for Bengal.

When Madhavendra Puri arrived at the house of Advaita Acarya in Santipura, the Acarya became very pleased upon seeing the ecstatic love of Godhead manifest in Madhavendra Puri.

Advaita Acarya begged to be initiated by Madhavendra Puri. After initiating Him, Madhavendra Puri started for South India.

Going into South India, Sri Madhavendra Puri visited Remuna, where Gopinatha is situated. Upon seeing the beauty of the Deity, Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed.

In the corridor of the temple, from which people generally viewed the Deity, Madhavendra Puri chanted and danced. Then he sat down there and asked a brahmana what kinds of foods they offered to the Deity.

From the excellence of the arrangements, Madhavendra Puri understood by deduction that only the best food was offered.

Madhavendra Puri thought, “I shall inquire from the priest what foods are offered to Gopinatha so that by making arrangements in our kitchen, we can offer similar foods to Sri Gopala.”

When the brahmana priest was questioned about this matter, he explained in detail what kinds of food were offered to the Deity of Gopinatha.

The brahmana priest said, “In the evening the Deity is offered sweet rice in twelve earthen pots. Because the taste is as good as nectar [amrta], it is named amrta-keli.

“This sweet rice is celebrated throughout the world as gopinatha-ksira. It is not offered anywhere else in the world.”

While Madhavendra Puri was talking with the brahmana priest, the sweet rice was placed before the Deity as an offering. Hearing this, Madhavendra Puri thought as follows.

“If, without my asking, a little sweet rice is given to me, I can then taste it and make a similar preparation to offer my Lord Gopala.”

Madhavendra Puri became greatly ashamed when he desired to taste the sweet rice, and he immediately began to think of Lord Visnu. While he was thus thinking of Lord Visnu, the offering was completed, and the arati ceremony began.

After the arati was finished, Madhavendra Puri offered his obeisances to the Deity and then left the temple. He did not say anything more to anyone.

TRANSLATION

Madhavendra Puri avoided begging. He was completely unattached and indifferent to material things. If, without his begging, someone offered him some food, he would eat; otherwise he would fast.

PURPORT

This is the paramahamsa stage, the highest stage for a sannyasi. A sannyasi can beg from door to door just to collect food, but a paramahamsa who has taken ayacita-vrtti, or ajagara-vrtti, does not ask anyone for food. If someone offers him food voluntarily, he eats. Ayacita-vrtti means being accustomed to refrain from begging, and ajagara-vrtti indicates one who is compared to a python, the big snake that makes no effort to acquire food but rather allows food to come automatically within its mouth. In other words, a paramahamsa simply engages exclusively in the service of the Lord without caring even for eating or sleeping. It was stated about the six Gosvamis: nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau. In the paramahamsa stage one conquers the desire for sleep, food and sense gratification. One remains a humble, meek mendicant engaged in the service of the Lord day and night. Madhavendra Puri had attained this paramahamsa stage.

TRANSLATION

A paramahamsa like Madhavendra Puri is always satisfied in the loving service of the Lord. Material hunger and thirst cannot impede his activities. When he desired to taste a little sweet rice offered to the Deity, he considered that he had committed an offense by desiring to eat what was being offered to the Deity.

PURPORT

It is advisable that food being offered to the Deity be covered when taken from the kitchen to the Deity room. In that way, others may not see it. Those who are not accustomed to following the advanced regulative devotional principles may desire to eat the food, and that is an offense. Therefore no one should be given a chance to even see it. However, when it is brought before the Deity, it must be uncovered. Seeing the food uncovered before the Deity, Madhavendra Puri desired to taste a little of it so that he could prepare a similar sweet rice for his Gopala. Madhavendra Puri was so strict, however, that he considered this to be an offense. Consequently he left the temple without saying anything to anyone. The paramahamsa is therefore called vijita-sad-guna. He must conquer the six material qualities–kama, krodha, lobha, moha, matsarya and ksudha-trsna (lust, anger, greed, illusion, enviousness and hunger and thirst).

TRANSLATION

Madhavendra Puri left the temple and sat down in the village marketplace, which was vacant. Sitting there, he began to chant. In the meantime, the temple priest laid the Deity down to rest.

PURPORT

Although Madhavendra Puri was not interested in eating and sleeping, his interest in chanting the maha-mantra was as acute as if he were an aspiring transcendentalist rather than a paramahamsa. This means that even in the paramahamsa stage, one cannot give up chanting. Haridasa Thakura and the Gosvamis were all engaged in chanting a fixed number of rounds; therefore chanting on beads is very important for everyone, even though one may become a paramahamsa. This chanting can be executed anywhere, either inside or outside the temple. Madhavendra Puri even sat down in a vacant marketplace to perform his chanting. As stated by Srinivasa Acarya in his prayers to the Gosvamis: nama-gana-natibhih. A paramahamsa devotee is always engaged in chanting and rendering loving service to the Lord. Chanting the Lord’s holy names and engaging in His service are identical. As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.23), there are nine kinds of devotional service: hearing (sravanam), chanting (kirtanam), remembering (visnoh smaranam), serving (pada-sevanam), worship of the Deity (arcanam), praying (vandanam), carrying out orders (dasyam), serving Him as a friend (sakhyam) and sacrificing everything for the Lord (atma-nivedanam). Although each process appears distinct, when one is situated on the absolute platform he can see that they are identical. For instance, hearing is as good as chanting, and remembering is as good as chanting or hearing. Similarly, engaging in Deity worship is as good as chanting, hearing or remembering. The devotee is expected to accept all nine processes of devotional service, but even if only one process is properly executed, he can still attain the highest position (paramahamsa) and go back home, back to Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Finishing his daily duties, the priest went to take rest. In a dream he saw the Gopinatha Deity come to talk to him, and He spoke as follows.

“O priest, please get up and open the door of the temple. I have kept one pot of sweet rice for the sannyasi Madhavendra Puri.”

“This pot of sweet rice is just behind My cloth curtain. You did not see it because of My tricks.”

“A sannyasi named Madhavendra Puri is sitting in the vacant marketplace. Please take this pot of sweet rice from behind Me and deliver it to him.”

“Awaking from the dream, the priest immediately rose from bed and thought it wise to take a bath before entering the Deity’s room. He then opened the temple door.”

“According to the Deity’s directions, the priest found the pot of sweet rice behind the cloth curtain. He removed the pot and mopped up the place where it had been kept. He then went out of the temple.”

Closing the door of the temple, he went to the village with the pot of sweet rice. He called out in every stall in search of Madhavendra Puri.

TRANSLATION

Holding the pot of sweet rice, the priest called, “Will he whose name is Madhavendra Puri please come and take this pot! Gopinatha has stolen this pot of sweet rice for you!”

PURPORT

The difference between the Absolute Truth and relative truth is explained here. Lord Gopinatha has openly declared herein that He is a thief. He had stolen the pot of sweet rice, and this was not kept a secret because His act of stealing is a source of great transcendental bliss. In the material world, theft is criminal, but in the spiritual world the Lord’s stealing is a source of transcendental bliss. Mundane rascals, who cannot understand the absolute nature of the Personality of Godhead, sometimes call Lord Sri Krsna immoral, but they do not know that His seemingly immoral activities, which are not kept secret, afford pleasure to the devotees. Not understanding the transcendental behavior of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, these rascals slur His character and immediately fall into the category of miscreants (rascals, lowest among men, demons and those whose knowledge is taken away by the illusory energy). Krsna explains in the Bhagavad-gita (7.15):

“Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, who are lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons, do not surrender unto Me.” (Bg. 7.15)

Mundane rascals cannot understand that whatever Krsna does, being absolute in nature, is all good. This quality of the Lord is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.33.29). One may consider certain acts of a supremely powerful person to be immoral by mundane calculations, but this is not actually the case. For example, the sun absorbs water from the surface of the earth, but it does not absorb water only from the sea. It also absorbs water from filthy sewers and ditches containing urine and other impure substances. The sun is not polluted by absorbing such water. Rather, the sun makes the filthy place pure. If a devotee approaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead for an immoral or improper purpose, he nonetheless becomes purified; the Lord does not become infected. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.29.15) it is stated that if one approaches the Supreme Lord even out of lust, anger or fear (kamam krodham bhayam), he is purified. The gopis, being young girls, approached Krsna because He was a beautiful young boy. From the external point of view, they approached the Lord out of lust, and the Lord danced with them at midnight. From the mundane point of view, these activities may appear immoral because a married or unmarried young girl cannot leave home to mix with a young boy and dance with him. Although this is immoral from the mundane viewpoint, the activities of the gopis are accepted as the highest form of worship because it was Lord Krsna whom they approached with lusty desires in the dead of night.

But these things cannot be understood by nondevotees. One must understand Krsna in tattva (truth). One should use his common sense and consider that if simply by chanting Krsna’s holy name one is purified, how then can the person Krsna be immoral? Unfortunately, mundane fools are accepted as educational leaders and are offered exalted posts for teaching irreligious principles to the general populace. This is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.31): andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. Blind men are trying to lead other blind men. Due to the immature understanding of such rascals, common men should not discuss Krsna’s pastimes with the gopis. A nondevotee should not even discuss His stealing sweet rice for His devotees. It is warned that one should not even think about these things. Although Krsna is the purest of the pure, mundane people, thinking of Krsna’s pastimes that appear immoral, themselves become polluted. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore never publicly discussed Krsna’s dealings with the gopis. He used to discuss these dealings only with three confidential friends. He never discussed rasa-lila publicly, as the professional reciters do, although they do not understand Krsna or the nature of the audience. However, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu encouraged the public chanting of the holy name on a huge scale for as many hours as possible.

TRANSLATION

The priest continued, “Would the sannyasi whose name is Madhavendra Puri please come and take this pot of sweet rice and enjoy the prasada with great happiness! You are the most fortunate person within these three worlds!”

PURPORT

Here is an example of a personal benediction by Krsna’s immoral activity. By Gopinatha’s stealing for His devotee, the devotee becomes the most fortunate person within the three words. Thus even the Lord’s criminal activities make His devotee the most fortunate person. How can a mundane rascal understand the pastimes of Krsna and judge whether He is moral or immoral? Since Krsna is the Absolute Truth, there are no mundane distinctions such as moral and immoral. Whatever He does is good. This is the real meaning of “God is good.” He is good in all circumstances because He is transcendental, outside the jurisdiction of this material world. Therefore, Krsna can be understood only by those who are already living in the spiritual world. This is corroborated in the Bhagavad-gita (14.26):

“One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.”

One who is engaged in unalloyed devotional service to the Lord is already situated in the spiritual world (brahma-bhuyaya kalpate). In all circumstances, his activities and dealings with Krsna are transcendental and thus not understandable by mundane moralists. It is therefore better not to discuss such activities among mundane people. It is better to give them the Hare Krsna maha-mantra so that they will be gradually purified and then come to understand the transcendental activities of Krsna.

TRANSLATION

Hearing this invitation, Madhavendra Puri came out and identified himself. The priest then delivered the pot of sweet rice and offered his obeisances, falling flat before him.

PURPORT

A brahmana is not supposed to offer his obeisances by falling flat before anyone because a brahmana is considered to be in the highest caste. However, when a brahmana sees a devotee, he offers his dandavats. This brahmana priest did not ask Madhavendra Puri whether he was a brahmana, but when he saw that Madhavendra Puri was such a bona fide devotee that Krsna would even steal for him, he immediately understood the position of the saint. As stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya. yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‘guru’ haya. (Cc. Madhya 8.128) Had the brahmana priest been an ordinary brahmana, Gopinatha would not have talked with him in a dream. Since the Deity spoke to both Madhavendra Puri and the brahmana priest in dreams, practically speaking they were on the same platform. However, because Madhavendra Puri was a senior sannyasi Vaisnava, a paramahamsa, the priest immediately fell flat before him and offered obeisances.

When the story about the pot of sweet rice was explained to him in detail, Sri Madhavendra Puri at once became absorbed in ecstatic love of Krsna.

NOTE:
…but when he saw that Madhavendra Puri was such a bona fide devotee that Krsna would even steal for him, he immediately understood the position of the saint.

We must be always truthful , chanting our min. 16 rounds ( better more) , reading every day for hours Radha-Krishna/Chaitanya pasttimes and it is better when we preach this Krishna Katha to all fallen souls , friends, neighbors ect. ( via book distribution , nama hatta ect) and we MUST take shelter under the lotusfeet of an BONA FIDE spiritual master , the real current link , the REAL DIKSA GURU = SRILA PRABHUPADA !!!

Without to follow and to serve an real pure uttama-adikari vaisnava-acarya – diksa guru with special authorization from his diksa-guru ( not from GBC) and benediction to give us Krishna , an direct resident of Krishna-loka like Srila Prabhupada , no chance to come to such an high level of pure ecstatic love to Krishna!

Therefore along with the reading of Vedic literature (svadhyaya), one must engage in devotional worship of the Deity (arcana-vidhi) and Guru also.

Otherwise no chance to come to such an ecstatic platform of pure love for Krishna pure devotional service to Krishna. And maybe also not in this life.But i hope. Who do not want to come to such an platform that Krishna loves us so much like Madhavendra Puri Prabhu ji and reversed ? UNBELIEVABLE BUT TRUTH!

ALL GLORIES TO MADHAVENDRA PURI MAHARAJA THE PURE VAISNAVA !

TRANSLATION

Upon seeing the ecstatic loving symptoms manifest in Madhavendra Puri, the priest was struck with wonder. He could understand why Krsna had become so much obliged to him, and he saw that Krsna’s action was befitting.

PURPORT

A devotee can bring Krsna perfectly under his control. This is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.3): ajita jito ‘py asi tais tri-lokyam. Krsna is never conquered by anyone, but a devotee can conquer Him through devotional service. As stated in the Brahma-samhita (5.33): vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau. One cannot understand Krsna simply by reading Vedic literature. Although all Vedic literature is meant for understanding Krsna, one cannot understand Krsna without being a lover of Krsna. Therefore along with the reading of Vedic literature (svadhyaya), one must engage in devotional worship of the Deity (arcana-vidhi). Together these will enhance the devotee’s transcendental understanding of devotional service. Sravanadi suddha-citte karaye udaya (Cc. Madhya 22.107). Love of Godhead is dormant within everyone’s heart, and if one simply follows the standard process of devotional service, it is awakened. But foolish mundane people who simply read about Krsna mistakenly think that He is immoral or criminal.

NOTE:
( my add. A devotee can bring Krsna perfectly under his control. This is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.3):
Krsna is never conquered by anyone, but a devotee can conquer Him through devotional service.

SO SWEET RASA SO UNBELIEVABLE BUT ABSOLUTE TRUE SWEET EXCHANGE . This kind of informations are unique in the world and only to find in the “Vedas-Puranas-Bhagavad-Puranas”! )

“The priest offered his obeisances to Madhavendra Puri and returned to the temple. Then, in ecstasy, Madhavendra Puri ate the sweet rice offered to him by Krsna.”

After this, Madhavendra Puri washed the pot and broke it into pieces. He then bound all the pieces in his outer cloth and kept them nicely.

Each day, Madhavendra Puri would eat one piece of that earthen pot, and after eating it he would immediately be overwhelmed with ecstasy. These are wonderful stories.

“Having broken the pot and bound the pieces in his cloth, Madhavendra Puri began to think, “The Lord has given me a pot of sweet rice, and when the people hear of this tomorrow morning, there will be great crowds.”

Thinking this, Sri Madhavendra Puri offered his obeisances to Gopinatha on the spot and left Remuna before morning.

Walking and walking, Madhavendra Puri finally reached Jagannatha Puri, which is also known as Nilacala. There he saw Lord Jagannatha and was overwhelmed with loving ecstasy.

When Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed in the ecstasy of love of Godhead, he sometimes stood up and sometimes fell to the ground. Sometimes he laughed, danced and sang. In this way he enjoyed transcendental bliss by seeing the Jagannatha Deity.

When Madhavendra Puri came to Jagannatha Puri, people were aware of his transcendental reputation. Therefore crowds of people came and offered him all sorts of respect in devotion.

Even though one may not like it, reputation, as ordained by providence, comes to him. Indeed, one’s transcendental reputation is known throughout the entire world.

TRANSLATION

Being afraid of his reputation [pratistha], Madhavendra Puri fled from Remuna. But the reputation brought by love of Godhead is so sublime that it goes along with the devotee, as if following him.

PURPORT

Almost all the conditioned souls within the material world are envious. Jealous people generally turn against one who automatically attains some reputation. This is natural for jealous people. Consequently, when a devotee is fit to receive worldly reputation, he is envied by many people. This is quite natural. When a person, out of humility, does not desire fame, people generally think him quite humble and consequently give him all kinds of fame. Actually a Vaisnava does not hanker after fame or a great reputation. Madhavendra Puri, the king of Vaisnavas, bore his reputation, but he wanted to keep himself outside of the vision of the general populace. He wanted to cover his real identity as a great devotee of the Lord, but when people saw him overwhelmed in the ecstasy of love of Godhead, they naturally gave credit to him. Actually a first-class reputation is due Madhavendra Puri because he was a most confidential devotee of the Lord. Sometimes a sahajiya presents himself as being void of desires for reputation (pratistha) in order to become famous as a humble man. Such people cannot actually attain the platform of celebrated Vaisnavas.

Madhavendra Puri wanted to leave Jagannatha Puri because the people were honoring him as a great devotee; however, this threatened to hinder his collecting sandalwood for the Gopala Deity.

Sri Madhavendra Puri told all the servants of Lord Jagannatha and all the great devotees there the story of the appearance of Sri Gopala.

When all the devotees at Jagannatha Puri heard that the Gopala Deity wanted sandalwood, in great pleasure they all endeavored to collect it.

TRANSLATION

Those who were acquainted with government officers met with them and begged for camphor and sandalwood, which they collected.

PURPORT

It appears that malayaja-candana (sandalwood) and camphor were used for the Jagannatha Deity. The camphor was used in His aratrika, and the sandalwood was used to smear His body. Both these items were under government control; therefore the devotees had to meet with the government officials. Informing them of all the details, they attained permission to take the sandalwood and camphor outside Jagannatha Puri.

One brahmana and one servant were given to Madhavendra Puri just to carry the sandalwood. He was also given the necessary traveling expenses.

To get past the toll collectors along the way, Madhavendra Puri was supplied with the necessary release papers from government officers. The papers were placed in his hand.

In this way Madhavendra Puri started for Vrndavana with the burden of sandalwood, and after some days he again reached the village of Remuna and the Gopinatha temple there.

When Madhavendra Puri reached the temple of Gopinatha, he offered his respectful obeisances many times at the lotus feet of the Lord. In the ecstasy of love, he began to dance and sing without cessation.

When the priest of Gopinatha saw Madhavendra Puri again, he offered all respects to him and, giving him the sweet rice prasada, made him eat.

Madhavendra Puri took rest that night in the temple, but toward the end of the night he had another dream.

Madhavendra Puri dreamed that Gopala came before him and said, “O Madhavendra Puri, I have already received all the sandalwood and camphor.

“Now just grind all the sandalwood together with the camphor and then smear the pulp on the body of Gopinatha daily until it is finished.

TRANSLATION

“There is no difference between My body and Gopinatha’s body. They are one and the same. Therefore if you smear the sandalwood pulp on the body of Gopinatha, you will naturally also smear it on My body. Thus the temperature of My body will be reduced.

PURPORT

Gopala was situated in Vrndavana, which was far from Remuna. In those days, one had to pass through provinces governed by the Muslims, who sometimes hindered travelers. Considering the trouble of His devotee, Lord Gopala, the greatest well-wisher of His devotees, ordered Madhavendra Puri to smear the sandalwood pulp on the body of Gopinatha, which was nondifferent from the body of Gopala. In this way the Lord relieved Madhavendra Puri from trouble and inconvenience.

NOTE:
( my add. In this way the Lord relieved Madhavendra Puri from trouble and inconvenience!
What a sweet exchange of love between both ! )

“You should not hesitate to act according to My order. Believing in Me, just do what is needed.”

After giving these instructions, Gopala disappeared, and Madhavendra Puri awoke. He immediately called for all the servants of Gopinatha, and they came before him.

Madhavendra Puri said, “Smear the body of Gopinatha with this camphor and sandalwood I have brought for Gopala in Vrndavana. Do this regularly every day.

“If the sandalwood pulp is smeared over the body of Gopinatha, then Gopala will be cooled. After all, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is completely independent; His order is all-powerful.”

The servants of Gopinatha became very pleased to hear that in the summer all the sandalwood pulp would be used to anoint the body of Gopinatha.

Madhavendra Puri said, “These two assistants will regularly grind the sandalwood, and you should also get two other people to help. I shall pay their salary.”

In this way Gopinathaji was supplied ground sandalwood pulp daily. The servants of Gopinatha were very pleased with this.

In this way the sandalwood pulp was smeared over the body of Gopinatha until the whole stock was finished. Madhavendra Puri stayed there until that time.

Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally praised the nectarean characteristics of Madhavendra Puri, and while He related all this to the devotees, He personally relished it.

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Nityananda Prabhu to judge whether there was anyone within the world as fortunate as Madhavendra Puri.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “Madhavendra Puri was so fortunate that Krsna personally appeared before him on the plea of delivering milk. Three times the Lord gave orders to Madhavendra Puri in dreams.

“Being obliged because of the loving affairs of Madhavendra Puri, Lord Krsna Himself appeared as the Gopala Deity, and, accepting his service, He liberated the whole world.

“On account of Madhavendra Puri, Lord Gopinatha stole the pot of sweet rice. Thus He became famous as Ksira-cora [the thief who stole the sweet rice].
(Chaitanya Caritamrta madhya lila 4. 105- 74)

 

Your servant,
Mathias Sabji