SRI SIVANANDA SEN

Sri Sivananda Sen was a very intimate servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Just
before the rainy season (Caturmasya) he would lead the associates of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu from Bengal to Puri, where they would go each year, to see the Lord.
All of the expenses of this journey were born by him, Sen Sivananda. [C. C. Adi
10.54].

Wealth and opulences are properly engaged in the sevice of Sri Hari, the guru
and the Vaisnavas. Sivananda Sen used his property and possessions in this way,
in the service of Sri Gauranga and His devotees. His entire family, sons and
servants were all devotees of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

His three sons, Sri Caitanya Das, Sri Rama das and Sri Karnapur das, were
extremely devoted to Mahaprabhu. His two nephews, Sri Vallabha Sen and Sri
Kanta Sen were also great devotees.

Sen Sivananda used to reside at Kumar hatta, which is presently known as
Halisahir. The location of his worshipable Deities, Sri Sri Gour-gopal is
unknown at present. However, the Deities worshipped by Srinath Pandit, the guru
of Kavi Karnapur, are still residing at Kalyani. This is the temple of Kesto
Ray, and is located a few miles from Caitanya Doha.

In his Gaur-ganoddesa-dipika, the son of Sivananda, Sri Kavi Karnapur has
written that the gopi in Vrindavan by the name Bira, who was the messenger of
Srimati Radharani, is presently known as Sri Sivananda Sen.

The devotees would depart for Puri one month before the Ratha-yatra festival
and travelling by foot, they would arrive one month later.

One day, the devotees set out on their trip, as it was an auspicious day to
begin a journey. At first they came to Sri Advaita Acarya's house in Santipur.
After conducting a festival there for one day, Advaita prabhu, his wife and son
accompanied the party to Mayapur where they would have the darsan of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's mother, Saci mata. She was somehow or other passing her days in
great separation from her son.

The devotees all offered their obeisances to her and she in turn offered
obeisances to the feet of Advaita Acarya and his wife Sita Thakurani. Then,
while remembering her son, she began to cry. Advaita Acarya Prabhu and his wife
consoled Saci Mata as best as they could, and then, along with the other
devotees, they commenced their journey.

Though Lord Caitanya had ordered Nityananda Prabhu to preach in Bengal, he
would also accompany the devotees to see Mahaprabhu. Also present were Sri
Acaryaratna, Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Srivas Pandit, along with his brothers and
their wives, Vasudeva, Govinda, Madhava Ghosh, Murari Gupta Ohja, Sri Raghava
Pandit, Sri Khandavasi Narahari, Sri Gunaraja Khan, etc. Sen Sivananda would
bring his wife and their sons, and many of the other devotees as well would
bring their wives. The Thakuranis (ladies) would prepare foodstuffs, which were
the favourite preparations of Mahaprabhu. Sivananda would make the arrangements
for everyone's meal as well as the paying of the tolls at the ferry gates.
Wherever they would halt for the night, they would hold a festival of dancing
and chanting of the Holy names.

Sivananda Sen knew all the paths through Orissa. One day he remained behind at
the ghat to settle their account with the toll collector, while the rest of the
party went ahead. After walking some distance they sat down to rest underneath
a tree. Sivananda, however, was held up and not able to come right away and
thus there was no arrangements for their meals. Having walked quite some
distance that day, everyone was very hungry. Nityananda began to abuse his name
and was ready to curse him.

"Where is that Siva? Everyone is dying of hunger but still he hasn't come. No
one is arranging any prasadam. Let his son die as well!"

Just then Sivananda arrived. His wife went to him with tears in her eyes, "You
didn't manage any prasadam and now Gosai is very angry. He has cursed your sons
to die." Sivananda replied, "Now don't you become crazy. No need to cry
needlessly. Just try to get a hold of yourself."

Consoling his wife he came to where Nityananda Prabhu was and offered his
dandavats. Nityananda, still in angry mood, gave him a good kick. Sivananda
felt great pleasure to get this mercy from Sripad Nityananda and immediately
went to the house of one Gaudiya Vaisnava to arrange prasadam and a place to
stay for the devotees. Then he went to bring Nityananda Prabhu there.

Nityananda Prabhu accepted prasadam with the devotees after which Sivananda
came, and offering his obeisances at Nityananda Prabhu's lotus feet he prayed
to him; "Today in accepting me as your servant, you punished me fittingly,
according to my offense. But such is your tenderness that under the pretense of
punishment you actually awarded me such great mercy. Who within the three
worlds can understand your character? The dust of your lotus feet is very
difficult to obtain even for Lord Brahma, but even such a low, vile wretch as
me received the touch of these lotus feet on his body. Today my birth and the
heritage of my forefathers has become successful, and today I have received
devotion to Sri Krsna, as well as the ordinary objects of attainment for human
beings - religion, economic development and sense gratification."

Hearing these words of Sivananda, Nityananda Prabhu became very happy and he
rose up and very lovingly embraced him. [C.C.Ant. 12.31]

One year Sivananda came to Puri, bringing his son, Caitanya Das, with him. One
day Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked the child: "What is your name?" To this the child
replied, "Caitanya Das". Then Mahaprabhu asked Sivananda: "What kind of name is
this?" Sivananda: "As I received inspiration in my heart, so I have chosen this
name."

One day Sivananda suggested to his son that he invite Mahaprabhu for lunch.
When Caitanya das made this request Mahaprabhu accepted the affectionate
invitation offered by the boy. Thus Sivananda along with his wife prepared many
preparations of foodstuffs, feeling very happy in heart that Mahaprabhu would
be taking his lunch at their house that day. When Mahaprabhu arrived Sivananda
offered his obeisances, and after washing Mahaprabhu's feet he seated Him for
lunch. At this point Mahaprabhu told, that today's invitation has been extended
by Caitanya Das. Then Caitanya Das placed in front of Mahaprabhu yogurt, limes,
ginger, flower pakoras and other salty preparations, arranged very nicely.
Seeing this arrangement Mahaprabhu said: "This boy understands My mind.
Therefore today I am very pleased to accept his invitation. [C. C. Ant.
20.180]

Thus Mahaprabhu very happily accepted the prasadam and after finishing, He
called Caitanya das and gave him His remnants.

