Sri Caitanya-Candrodaya-Nataka: The Rising of the Moon of Sri Caitanya (Set of 2 Volumes)

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In the introduction to the play, King Prataparudra approaches the playwright, and after expressing his grief that Lord Caitanya has disappeared after concluding His transcendental pastimes at Jagannatha Puri, requests him to write a drama that is full of the nectar of the Lord’s characteristics. Thus, for the pleasure of the king, Sri Caitanya-candrodaya is being presented. After being questioned by his assistant, the playwright describes the advent of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Kali-yuga and His mission of propagating the chanting of the holy names of the Lord, which is the essence of devotional service. The introduction ends with the appearance of Kali and his associate, Irreligion. In the conversation that ensues, Kali expresses his inability to cause the degradation of the sincere devotees of the Lord, while Irreligion attempts to encourage him with various kinds of flattery. During the conversation, Kali repeatedly maintains that his power has been slashed to pieces by the son of Saci-devi.

The author of Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka Kavi-karnapura, was the third son of Srila Sivananda Sena, as was find in a purport of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta of Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, where Srila Prabhupada wrote: It is stated in the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (145) that the two famous parrots named Daksa and Vicaksana in krsna-lila became the elder brothers of Kavi-karnapura, namely Caitanya dasa and Ramadasa. Karnapura, the third son, who was also known as Paramananda dasa or Puri dasa, was initiated by Srinatha Pandita, who was a disciple of Sri Advaita Prabhu. Karnapura wrote many books that are important in Vaisnava literature, such as the Ananda-vrndavana-campu, Alankara- kaustubha, Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, and the great epic Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka. He was born in the year 1448 Sakabda (A.D/ 1526). He continually wrote books of ten years, from 1488 until 1498.

Elsewhere Srila Prabhupada wrote: Srila Sivananda Sena has been described by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja as follows: “Sivananda Sena was a resident of Kumarahatta, which is also known as Halisahara, and was a great devotee of the Lord. About one and a half miles from Kumarahatta is another village, known as Kancadapada, in which there are Gaura-Gopala Deities installed by Sivananda Sena, who also established a temple of Krsnaraya that is still existing.

Sivananda Sena was the father of Paramananda Sena, who was also known as Puri dasa or Kavi-karnapura. Paramananda Sena wrote in his Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (176) that two of the gopis of Vrndavana, whose former names were Vira and Duti, combined to become his father. Srila Sivananda Sena had three sons, named Caitanya dasa, Ramadasa, and Paramananda. As mentioned above, this last son later became Kavi-karnapura and wrote the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika.

In the twelfth chapter of the Antya-lila of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami describes Kavi-karnapura’s association with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhuasa child, when the Bengali devotees journeyed to Jagannatha Puri and he accompanied his father: “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu received them all, just as He had in previous years. The women, however, saw the Lord from a distance. The Lord again arranged for the residential quarters of all the devotees and thereafter called them to partake of the remnants of food offered to Lord Jagannatha.

“Sivananda Sena introduced his three sons to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because they were his sons, the Lord showed the boys great mercy. Lord Caitanya asked the youngest son’s name, and Sivananda Sena informed the Lord that his name was Paramananda dasa.

“Once before when Sivananda Sena had visited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at His residence, the Lord had told him, ‘When this son is born, given him the name Puri dasa.’ The son was in the womb of Sivananda’s wife, and when Sivananda returned home the son was born. The child was named Paramananda dasa in accordance with the Lord’s order, and the Lord jokingly called him Puri dasa.

“When Sivananda Sena introduced the child to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord put His toe in the child’s mouth. No one can cross over the ocean of Sivananda Sena’s good fortune, for the Lord considered Sivananda’s whole family His own. The Lord ate lunch in the company of all the devotees, and after washing His hands and mouth He gave an order to Govinda. ‘As long as Sivananda Sena’s wife and children stay in Jagannatha Puri,’ He said, ‘they must be given the remnants of My food.’

In the sixteenth chapter of the Antya-lila, there is a description of Kavi-karnapura’s association with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu another year later on: “ That year, Sivananda Sena brought with him his wife and youngest son, Puri dasa. Taking his son, Sivananda Sena went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at His residence. He made his son offer respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of the Lord.

“Again and again Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the boy to chant the name of Krsna, but the boy would not utter the holy name. Although Sivananda Sena tried with much endeavour to get his boy to speak Krsna’s holy name, the boy would not utter it.”

“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, ‘I have induced the whole world to take to the holy name of Krsna. I have induced even the trees and immovable plants to chant the holy name. But I could not induce this boy to chant the holy name of Krsna.’ Hearing this, Svarupa Damodara Gosvami began to speak. ‘My Lord,’ he said, ‘You have given him initiation into the name of Krsna, but after receiving the mantra he will not express it in front of everyone. This boy chants the mantra within his mind but does not say it aloud. That is his intention as far as I can guess.’

“Another day, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said to the boy, ‘Recite, My dear Puri dasa,’ the boy composed the following verse and expressed it before everyone. ‘Lord Sri Krsna is just like a bluish lotus flower for the ears; He is ointment for the eyes, a necklace of indranila gems for the chest, and universal ornaments for the gopi damsels of Vrndavana. Let that Lord Sri Hari, Krsna, be glorified.’ Although the boy was only seven years old and still had no education, he composed such a nice verse. Everyone was struck with wonder. This is the glory of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s causeless mercy, which even the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, cannot estimate.

This play portrays the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and particularly His acceptance of sannyasa and the events that transpired thereafter. Especially after the disappearance of the Lord, it was the practice to His dear associates to absorb their minds in remembrance of His pastimes as the only means of sustaining their lives in separation. What better way to remember Lord Caitanya’s pastimes than to compose a drama bringing to life His transcendental activities? In this first volume, comprising the first five to ten acts, we first see the personality of Kali lamenting the loss of his influence due to the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which inundated everyone with the ocean of the bliss of sankirtana. Next we see a drama performed by the Lord and His associates portraying the dana-keli pastimes of Lord Krsna. Thereafter, we see the Lord’s acceptance of sannyasa and Nityananda’s leading Him to the house of Advaita Acarya, where the Lord meets his mother, Saci. In this way, the fifth act and this first volume end.

Kusakratha Prabhu has provided another wonderful literature for the English speaking devotees throughout the world. Although these pastimes are described in the Sri Caitanya- caritamrta, we get many intimate glimpses from a personal associate of the Load. As expected, the translation is very precise, poetic, and filled with the mellows of love for the Lord, making it sheer joy to read.

In the introduction to the play, King Prataparudra approaches the playwright, and after expressing his grief that Lord Caitanya has disappeared after concluding His transcendental pastimes at Jagannatha Puri, requests him to write a drama that is full of the nectar of the Lord’s characteristics. Thus, for the pleasure of the king, this second volume of Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka by Kavi-karnapura primarily deals with the pastimes of Lord Caitanya at Jagannatha Puri, especially His participation in the Ratha-yatra of Lord Jagannatha, as well as the cleansing of the Gundica temple and the observance of the Hera-pancami festival of goddess Laksmi-devi. This is natural because Kavi-karnapura, who was the third son of Srila Sivananda Sena, and was also known as Paramananda and Puri dasa, because he personally witnessed these pastimes as a child.

This second volume of Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka by Kavi-karnapura primarily deals with the pastimes of Lord Caitanya at Jagannatha Puri, especially His participation in the Ratha-yatra of Lord Jagannatha, as well as the cleansing of the Gundica temple and the observance of the Hera-pancami festival of goddess Laksmi-devi. This is natural because Kavi-karnapura, who was the third son of Srila Sivananda Sena, and was also known as Paramananda and Puri dasa, because he personally witnessed these pastimes as a child.

This is described in the twelfth chapter of the Antya-lila of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta: “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu received them all, just as He had in previous years. The women, however, saw the Lord from a distance. The Lord again arranged for the residential quarters of all the devotees and thereafter called them to partake of the remnants of food offered to Lord Jagannatha.”

“Sivananda Sena introduced his three sons to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because they were his sons, the Lord showed the boys great mercy. Lord Caitanya asked the youngest son’s name, and Sivananda Sena informed the Lord that his name was Paramananda dasa.”

“Once before when Sivananda Sena and had visited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabut at His residence, the Lord had told him, ‘When this son is born, give him the name Puri dasa. The son was in the womb of Sivananda’s wife, and when Sivananda returned home the son was born. The child was named Paramananda dasa in accordance with the Lord’s order, and the Lord jokingly called him Puri dasa.”

“When Sivananda Sena introduced the child to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord put His toe in the child’s mouth. No one can cross over the ocean of Sivananda Sena’s good fortune, for the Lord considered Sivananda’s whole family His own. The Lord ate lunch in the company of all the devotees, and after washing His hands and mouth He gave an order to Govinda. ‘As long as Sivananda Sena’s wife and children stay in Jagannatha Puri,’ He said, ‘they must be given the remnants of My food.”

Then, in the sixteenth chapter of the Antya-lila, there is a description of Kavi-karnapura’s association with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu another year later on: “That year, Sivananda Sena brought with him his wife and youngest son, Puri dasa. Taking his son, Sivananda Sena went to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at His residence. He made his son offer respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of the Lord.

“Again and again Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the boy to chant the name of Krsna, but the boy would not utter the holy name. Although Sivananda Sena tried with much endeavour to get his boy to speak Krsna’s holy name, the boy would not utter it.”

“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, ‘I have induced the whole world to take to the holy name of Krsna. I have induced even the trees and immovable plants to chant the holy name. But I could not induce this boy to chant the holy name of Krsna.’ Hearing this, Svarupa Damodara Gosvami began to speak. ‘My Lord,’ he said, ‘You have given him initiation into the name of Krsna, but after receiving the mantra he will not express it in front of everyone. This boy chants the mantra within his mind but does not say it aloud. That is his intention as far as I can guess.’

“Another day, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said to the boy, ‘Recite, My dear Puri dasa,’ the boy composed the following verse and expressed it before everyone. ‘Lord Sri Krsna is just like a bluish lotus flower for the ears; He is ointment for the eyes, a necklace of indranila gems for the chest, and universal ornaments for the gopi damsels of Vrndavana. Let that Lord Sri Hari, Krsna, be glorified.’ Although the boy was only seven years old and still had no education, he composed such a nice verse. Everyone was struck with wonder. This is the glory of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s causeless mercy, which even the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, cannot estimate.

From reading this play it becomes very clear that all those who associated with Lord Caitanya could not tolerate even the thought of separation from Him. Who can imagine what such persons felt after the disappearance of the Lord? Certainly their only solace was in constantly thinking about His transcendental form, qualities, names, and pastimes. There is no doubt that the writing of this play was an exercise in finding some relief from the torment of separation from the Lord.

We are also being tormented by the pangs of material existence, due to being separated from the Lord, and it behooves us to absorb ourselves in such literature as this to get some relief. That is my personal experience. Although material life is hard struggle for existence where there is danger at every step, my careful reading of this wonderful manuscript prepared by Kusakratha Prabhu gave me tangible relief, thus strengthening my conviction that human life is meant for remaining absorbed in Krsna consciousness.