CHAPTER 4
Sri Madhavendra Puri’s Devotional Service
In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives the following sum-
mary of the Fourth Chapter. Passing along the path of Chatrabhoga and coming to
Vrddhamantresvara, Sri Caitanya Mahadprabhu reached the border of Orissa. On
His way He enjoyed transcendental bliss by chanting and begging alms in dif-
ferent villages. In this way He reached the celebrated village of Remuna, where
there is a Deity of Gopinatha. There He narrated the story of Madhavendra Puri, as
He had heard it from His spiritual master, Isvara Puri. The narration is as follows.

One night while in Govardhana, Madhavendra Puri dreamed that the Gopala
Deity was within the forest. The next morning he invited his neighborhood friends
to accompany him to excavate the Deity from the jungle. He then established the
Deity of Sri Gopalaji on top of Govardhana Hill with great pomp. Gopala was
worshiped, and the Annaktta festival was observed. This festival was known
everywhere, and many people from the neighboring villages came to join. One
night the Gopala Deity again appeared to Madhavendra Puri in a dream and asked
him to go to Jagannatha Puri to collect some sandalwood pulp and smear it on the
body of the Deity. Having received this order, Madhavendra Puri immediately
started for Orissa. Traveling through Bengal, he reached Remuna village and there
received a pot of condensed milk (ksira) offered to the Deity of Gopinathaji. This
pot of condensed milk was stolen by Gopinatha and delivered to Madhavendra
Puri. Since then, the Gopinatha Deity has been known as Ksira-cora-gopinatha,
the Deity who stole the pot of condensed milk. After reaching Jagannatha Puri,
Madhavendra Puri received permission from the King to take out one mana of
sandalwood and eight ounces of camphor. Aided by two men, he brought these
things to Remuna. Again He saw in a dream that Gopala at Govardhana Hill
desired that very sandalwood to be turned into pulp mixed with camphor and
smeared over the body of Gopinathaji. Understanding that that would satisfy the
Gopala Deity at Govardhana, Madhavendra Puri executed the order and returned
to Jagannatha Puri.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu narrated this story for Lord Nityananda Prabhu and
other devotees and praised the pure devotional service of Madhavendra Puri.
When He recited some verses composed by Madhavendra Puri, He went into an
ecstatic mood. But when He saw that many people were assembled, He checked
Himself and ate some sweet rice prasdada. Thus He passed that night, and the next
morning He again started for Jagannatha Puri.

1
