SRIMATI JAHNAVA MATA

Sri Surjadas Sarekhela was a resident of Shaligram. He had five brothers -
Damodar, Jagannath, Gauri das, Krsna das and Nrsimha Caitanya. His father's
name was Sri Kamsari Misra. His mother's name, Sri Kamala devi. He received the
title "Sarakhela" as he used to keep the accounts for the king of Gaurdesh. His
two daughters were named Sri Vasudha and Sri Jahnava, who was the youngest.

In Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika it is stated that they are the expansions of Varuni
and Revati in Vrindavan and Surjadas Sarakhela, whose body effulgence is like
the sun, is an expansion of Kakudmir, the king of Raivat. The two Lords
Gauranga and Nityananda were very affectionate to him. Seeing that his two
daughters had reached the full bloom of their youth, he began to contemplate
their marriage. Thinking in this way, he fell asleep; and in his dream he saw
that in a very happy mood he was presenting his two daughters to Nityananda
Prabhu. Having seen such a wonderful dream, he began to float in an ocean of
bliss.

In the morning when he awoke, he told his dream to one brahmana friend of his,
"I saw in my dream that Nityananda Prabhu is none other than Baladeva. His
bodily effulgence was shining in all directions and his body was decorated with
various shining ornaments. On either side of him my two daughters appeared as
Varuni and Revati. Now if I cannot give my daughters in marriage to Nityananda
Prabhu then there will be no peace for me." Having confided in his friend in
this way, he sent him to the house of Srivas Pandit in Navadwip. That brahmana
came to Navadwip very quickly and found that Nityananda Prabhu was living at
Srivas Pandit's house. The brahmana explained everything in detail to Srivas
Pandit who later at the proper time divulged all of this news to Nityananda
Prabhu. Lord Nityananda having assured the brahmana that he would fulfill the
desire of Surja das, sent him back to Saligram. Advaita Acarya as well as
Srivas Pandit were very happy to have heard this news and urged that the
marriage take place as soon as possible. The brahmana, in the meantime having
returned to Saligram, delivered this auspicious news to Surja das who was
overjoyed that his dream would now come true.

In the village of Borgachi lived the son of Raja Hari Hora, Sri Krsna das, who
was a very dear devotee of Nityananda Prabhu. He offered to bear all of the
expenses for the wedding and to have it conducted at his house. With this in
mind he requested Nityananda Prabhu to kindly come to his house, and after
bringing him there he began to make the necessary arrangements for the wedding.
Srivas Pandit, Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Candrasekhar, Sri Murari Gupta and many
other devotees all arrived and began Harinam Sankirtan. Surja das Pandit's
brother, Sri Krsna das soon arrived at Bordachi and then Nityananda Prabhu and
the other devotees accompanied Him to Saligrama. When Surjadas saw that the
devotees along with Nityananda Prabhu had arrived, in great happiness he came
out to greet them and then ushered them into his house where he offered his
dandavats to Lord Nityananda. Surja das fell down at the lotus feet of Lord
Nityananda, his eyes brimming with tears of ecstatic love. He caught hold of
His two lotus feet and wanted to offer some prayers but he could not express
anything due to being overcome by ecstatic emotions. Lord Nityananda smiled
sweetly and embraced him in great love. Surjadas was always absorbed in intense
happiness. Who can understand his inner self?

Seeing these loving pastimes of his brother, Gauri das lost his patience and
felt great bliss within himself. Then, after worshipping the two lotus feet of
Lord Nityananda, he offered his two daughters in marriage to him.

Thus the marriage ceremony was very auspiciously performed and Nityananda
Prabhu remained at Saligram with his two newly wedded wives for a few days.
Thereafter he came to Sri Krsna das's house at Borgachi, where he remained for
a couple of days. Next He came to Navadwip. Along with his two wives He offered
His obeisances at the feet of Saci Mata. Saci Mata was extremely pleased to see
them and she showed a great deal of affection to the new brides. The other
Vaisnavas also began to show them great affection. Then taking leave of
Sacimata, Nityananda came to Advaita Acarya's house in Santipur. Sri Sita
Thakurani began to float in the ocean of bliss after seeing Vasudha and Jahnava
devi. Taking them in her lap she was very affectionate to the new brides. After
remaining there for a few days Nityananda Prabhu came to Uddharana Datta
Thakur's house at Saptagram at his insistent invitation. There they all engaged
in a festival of sankirtan for a few days after which Nityananda Prabhu came to
Khardaha. [Bhakti-Ratnakar 12th Taranga]

After the disappearance of Sri Advaita Acarya, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Srivas
Pandit and various other associates of Sri Gaurasundara, three especially
empowered manifestations of the compassion of the Lord, Mahaprabhu, namely
Srinivas Acarya, Narottama Thakur Mahasaya and Syamananda Prabhu continued to
flood the land with Hari Nam Sankirtan. Sri Nityananda Prabhu's sakti Sri
Jahnava Mata, was especially requested by these three Acaryas to be present at
the celebrated festival which was conducted by them at Kheturigram, under the
patronage of Narottama Thakur Mahasaya's cousin, Raja Santosh Datta. Present
with her were Sri Krsna das Misra (her uncle), Minaketana Ramadas, Murari
Caitanya, Jnana das, Sri Paramesvari das, Balarama das, Sri Vrindavan das
Thakur, and other dear devotees of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.

First she came to her uncle Gauri das Pandit's temple at Kalna where she was
nicely received by Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu. Here she cooked for the two Lords,
Nitai-Gauranga, and in the evening they had a festival of sankirtan. When she
came to Navadvip and realized that she wouldn't be able to see Sri Saci Mata
any more, she was very sad and cried. Then Sripati and Srinidhi came and took
her to their house. But again she was plunged into grief due to the pangs of
separation at not being able to see Srivas Pandit and Malini devi. At Santipur
Sri Acyutananda and Gopal tried to console her in the absence of Advaita Acarya
and Sita Thakurani. Then she came by way of Kantak Nagar to Teliya Bhudari gram
where Sri Govinda Kaviraj received her with all respect. The next day the party
set out for Kheturi. When they reached the banks of the Padma river they found
that Raja Santosh Datta had already made arrangements for crossing the river.
From the opposite bank palanquins were waiting to take them to Kheturi.

After presiding over the festival of Kheturi, Ma Jahnava decided to go to
Vrindavan. One day when she was bathing in the Jamuna, a small black hand
grabbed the end of her cloth as she was getting out of the water. When she
looked, however, there was no one there. Then Gopinath spoke to her, "I want to
come and stay with you. When you're taking bath in the Ganga one day I'll come
and join you."

After passing some days in great happiness in Sri Vrindavan Dham, Sri Jahnava
Mata set out on the path back to Gauradesh. First she came to Kheturi, and then
to Bhudari gram where she arranged the marriage of Bor Ganga das with Sri
Hemalata, the daughter of Sri Syamadas Cakravarti (brother of Vansi das). After
the marriage, Sri Isvari entrusted the worship of Syamsundarji to Borganga das.
Then she came to Ekacakra, the birthplace of her worshippable Lord. From there
she passed through Kantak Nagar, Jajigram, Navadwip, Ambika kalna, Saptagram,
before finally arriving back at Khardaha.

As she was bathing in the Ganges one day, something touched her body in the
water. Then she lifted that object out of the water and beheld the enchanting
form of Sri Gopinathji, while tears of love streamed from her eyes. This Deity
is at present being worshipped by the descendant of Ganga devi, the daughter of
Nityananda Prabhu, at Jirat, Hugli. There is a rail station at Jirat between
Bandel and Kalna station. From the Jirat station one should proceed by rickshaw
to "Gopinath Tala".

"Having fallen into the ocean of material existence I am completely distraught
and filled with anxiety. Floating in this ocean, without any refuge, I am
trying to find a shore; but without any success, I am losing all hope of ever
finding it. What activity will bring me there?; or what knowledge will bring me
there? Conducting some fruitive sacrifices, engaging in some mystic yoga
process or conducting austerities - none of these have any power or effect. I
am getting very weak and I cannot swim much longer. Now in this extremely
dangerous situation, will no one come to save me? Alas! To make matters worse,
having caught sight of the crocodile of wordly affairs, I am petrified with
fear and the current of lust is always churning the water. I can barely keep my
head above the water, the winds carrying the results of activities performed in
previous lives, is blowing and making the water so choppy. I am losing my mind
and now I am simply crying frantically. I can't see anyone who can get me out
of this ocean of woes. O my dear Sri Jahnava devi, please have compassion on
your servant and bless me with some of your divine qualities. Please extend me
the rope of your mercy and alleviate this intense pain that I am experiencing.
"I have taken shelter of the boat of your lotus feet and I have full faith that
you can carry me across this ocean. You are the divine energy of Lord
Nityananda and the bestower of Krsna bhakti. Please bless me at your feet,
which can bestow all one's desires. You have already delivered so many
despicable creatures, now today here is one more destitute and hateful wretch,
come to your lotus feet." [Kalyana Kalpataru]