ISVARA PURI

Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has described in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta that
the first sprout of the desire tree of devotion was manifested in the person
of Sri Madhavendra Puri, and that that sprout developed into a sapling in the
person of Sri Isvara Puri. Then, in the person of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who
was also the gardener Himself, that sapling become the trunk of a enormous
tree, the desire tree of devotion. [C. C. Adi 9.10- 11]

Sri Isvara Puri appeared in this world on the full moon day of the month of
Jyestha. He served his guru, Sri Madhavendra Puri, very faithfully, especially
during the end of Sri Puri-pada's life. Isvara Puri gave the best service
among his disciples. Thus Madhavendra Puri, being very pleased with him,
blessed him, saying, 'My dear boy, I can only pray to Krsna that He will be
pleased with you.' [C.C. Antya 8.26-29]

Sri Isvara Puri, in his travels to various holy places, once came to Sridhama
Navadwipa, where he stayed in the house of Sri Gopinatha Acarya. At that time
Sri Nimai Pandita was absorbed in His pastimes of learning. Iswara Puri
entered Nadiya-nagara in disguise and thus no one could understand who he
really was.

"That noble minded gentleman, was always absorbed in the mellows of devotion
to Sri Krsna. He was thus extremely dear to Sri Krsna and he was an ocean of
mercy. No one, however, could recognize him by his dress. By the will of fate,
he came to Sri Advaita Acarya's house." [C. B. Adi 11]

He came to where Sri Advaita Acarya was engaged in worshipping Sri Krsna and
quietly sat down there. By his divine lustre one Vaisnava cannot remain hidden
from another. Advaita Acarya began to look in his direction again and again.
Finally he asked him: "Bap! Who are you? I have a feeling you are a Vaisnava
sannyasi."

Sri Isvara Puri very humbly replied: "I am a low class sudra, come to view
your lotus feet." Mukunda Datta, who was also present could also understand
that this is a Vaisnava sannyasi and thus he contrived to expose him. In his
sweet voice, he began a kirtana describing Sri Krsna's pastimes. When Sri
Isvara Puri heard that kirtan he at once fell to the ground, and the earth
beneath him became wet with his tears. The devotees present were dumbstruck.
"We haven't seen a Vaisnava like this before." Advaita Acarya very firmly
embraced him. Now everyone could understand that this is Madhavendra Puri's
dearmost disciple, Sri Isvara Puri. Loud shouts of "Hari! Hari!" rose up into
the air.

Sri Isvara Puri remained at Navadwipa for some days. One day when Nimai
Pandita was returning home from the school, he happened by chance to meet Sri
Isvara Puri on the way. Sri Isvara Puri was as though mesmerized while looking
at the son of Saci, and thought to himself, "He has all the indications of
being a divine personage, and appears very grave indeed." Srila Isvara Puri
inquired, "Oh Viprabor! May I know your name? Where do you live? What is that
manuscript in Your hand?" Mahaprabhu very humbly offered His namaskara. Some
of his disciples replied, "His name is Nimai Pandit." Exclaiming, "You are the
famous Nimai Pandita!" Isvara Puri felt very happy to meet Him. Mahaprabhu,
coming forward and bowing his head, humbly requested, "Sripada, please come
with Me to My house and be My guest for lunch."

Isvara Puri thought to himself, "What a pleasant demeanor He has!" As though
charmed by some mantra he quietly came along with the Pandit to His house.
Arriving there, Mahaprabhu personally washed his feet, while in the Deity
room, Saci Mata offered the various preparations that she had prepared to the
Lord. Then Mahaprabhu served that prasadam to Sri Isvara Puri and afterwards
accepted his remnants. Thereafter they sat in the temple (Visnu-grha) and
discussed Krsna-katha, by which they both became filled with ecstatic love.

Sri Iswara Puri thus remained at Navadwipa for a few months, staying at the
house of Sri Gopinatha Acarya. Everyday Mahaprabhu would come to have darsan
of his lotus feet and occasionally He would invite him for lunch. At that time
Srila Gadadhara Pandita was just a young boy and Isvara Puri was very
affectionate to him. He began to teach him from the book which he had
composed, "Sri Krsna Lilamrta".

One evening when Mahaprabhu had come to offer His obeisances to Isvara Puri,
Srila Puripada spoke to him, "You are a great pandita. I have composed a
manuscript about Sri Krsna's pastimes. If you would please hear it, then I can
recite it before You, and You can correct any mistakes that there might be. I
will be very pleased if You do this."

Mahaprabhu replied smilingly, "Whatever a devotee speaks is dictated by Sri
Krsna Himself. If anyone sees any fault in this then he is simply a sinful
wretch. Whatever poems he composes, certainly Krsna is very pleased by that.
Krsna accepts the mood in which things are offered as the most substantial
part of the offering." To Isvara Puri these words were like drops of nectar
and he could understand that Sri Nimai Pandita was an extraordinary person.
After passing some days in Nadia, Isvara Puri continued his tour of the holy
places.

Meanwhile Mahaprabhu was bringing His pastimes of learning to a close and now
desired to reveal His true Self and establish the religion of the age by
distributing love of Godhead through the chanting of His Holy Names. Thus He
came to Gaya, ostensibly to offer pinda for His departed father and
forefathers. Sri Isvara Puri was present at that time at Gaya. After having
offered pinda at the various holy shrines, he finally came to the place where
the lotus footprints of Sri Visnu are. While taking darsana and hearing of the
glories of the shrine Mahaprabhu fainted and fell to the ground. By the
arrangement of Providence, Sri Isvara Puri happened to come to that spot just
then and learned from Sri Candrashekar Acarya what had transpired. After a
short time Mahaprabhu regained His consciousness, and seeing Isvara Puri He
got up to offer His obeisances. Sri Isvara Puri embraced Him and the two of
them were drenched by each others tears of love.

Mahaprabhu addressed Isvara Puri, "My journey to Gaya is successful just by My
seeing your lotus feet. If one offers Pinda at this holy place, then his
forefathers become delivered. But simply by seeing you, tens of millions of
forefathers get liberation. Therefore your presence is even more auspicious
than that of this holy tirtha. All of the holy tirthas pray for the dust of
your lotus feet. Therefore, O Puripada, I am praying at your lotus feet to
ferry me across the ocean of material existence and to cause me to drink the
nectar from Krsna's lotus feet."

Srila Isvara Puri replied, "Please hear me Panditji, I have understood that
You are an incarnation of the Supreme Lord. This morning I saw a very
auspicious dream and now that has actually materialized. From the first day I
saw you at Navadwipa, I have always thought of You. I get such pleasure by
seeing You, as much pleasure as I get by seeing Krsna."

Hearing this, Mahaprabhu bowed his head and smilingly replied, "This is my
great fortune."

On another day Mahaprabhu approached Sri Isvara Puri and requested that he
initiate Him with the divine mantra. "My mind is becoming very restless in
anticipation of this initiation." Srila Puripada very blissfully replied,
"What to speak of mantras, I am prepared to offer You my very life." [C. B.
Adi 17.10]

Thereafter Srila Isvara Puri initiated Mahaprabhu with the divine mantra.

diksa-anantare haila, premera prakasa
dese agamana punah premera vilasa

"In Gaya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was initiated by Isvara Puri, and
immediately afterwards He exhibited signs of love of Godhead. He again
displayed such symptoms after returninghome." [C.C. Adi 17.9]

One morning Srila Isvara Puri came to where Mahaprabhu was staying. Mahaprabhu
was extremely pleased to see him and after offering His obeisances He invited
him to stay for lunch. Isvara Puri replied that, "Being able to accept
foodstuffs from Your hand is a matter of great fortune for me." Mahaprabhu
Himself cooked and then very carefully served His guru the prasadam.
Afterwards he smeared sandalwood paste on his body and put a garland of
flowers around his neck. Thus the Supreme Lord Himself taught how one should
serve his guru. Without serving the great devotees, it is not possible to
receive love of Godhead. Service to the guru is the door to devotion.

On his return from Gaya, Mahaprabhu came by way of Kumarhatta, the birthplace
of His guru, and began to roll on the ground in ecstasy there, as the ground
became wet with His tears. Finally He collected some dust from that holy place
and bound it in the corner of his upper garment, saying, "This dust is as dear
to me as My life." Then he set out for Nawadvipa.

The birthplace of Srila Isvara Puri is located within the present town of
Halyahor, which is near the Kanchra-para rail station, which is on the
Sealdah-Krsnanagar line. One should get down at Kanchra-para station and then
proceed by rickshaw to Caitanya Doha. Doha means pond, which is what was
created when many followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, following in His
footsteps, came here and collected earth from the birthplace of Srila Isvara
Puri.

Thereafter Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa and by the order of His mother came to
live at Jagannath Puri. By this time Isvara Puri had already left this world.
He sent two of his disciples, Sri Govinda and Kasisvara brahmacari, to serve
the Lord at Nilacala.

