56 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya-lila, Ch. 7
SYNONYMS

ei-mata—in this way; ydite ydite—while passing; gela—He went; ktrma-
sthane —to the place of pilgrimage known as Kdrma-ksetra; ktirma dekhi’—seeing
Lord Karma; kaila—offered; tahre—unto Him; stavana—prayers; praname—and
obeisances.

TRANSLATION

When Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to the holy place known as Kar-

ma-ksetra, He saw the Deity and offered prayers and obeisances.
PURPORT

This KGrma-sthana is a well-known place of pilgrimage. There is a temple there
of Karmadeva. In the Prapannamrta it is said that Lord Jagannatha took Sn
RamAanujacarya from Jagannatha Puri and one night threw him to KGrma-ksetra.
This KGrma-ksetra is situated on the line of the southern railway in India. One has
to go to the railway station known as Cika Kola Road. From this station one goes
eight miles to the east to reach the holy place known as Kdrmacala. Those who
speak the Telugu language consider this holy place very important. This statement
is reported in the government gazette known as Gafijama Manual. There is the
Deity of Karma there, and Srila Ramanujdcdrya was thrown from Jagannatha Puri
to this place. At that time he thought that the Deity of Karma was Lord Siva’s
deity; therefore he was fasting there. Later, when he understood that the kdrma-
marti was another form of Lord Visnu, he instituted very gorgeous worship of Lord
Karma. This statement is found in the Prapannamrta (Chapter Thirty-six). This holy
place of KGrma-ksetra, or KGrma-sthdna, was actually reestablished by Sripada
Ramanujacarya under the influence of Lord Jagannatha-deva at Jagannatha Puri.
Later the temple came under the jurisdiction of the king of Vijaya-nagara. The
Deity was worshiped by the Vaisnavas of the Madhvacarya-sampradaya. In the
temple there are some inscriptions said to be written by Sri Narahari Tirtha, who
was in the disciplic succession of MadhvacArya. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura explains those inscriptions as follows: (1) Sri Purusottama Yati appeared
as the instructor of many learned men. He was a very favorite devotee of Lord
Visnu. (2) His preaching was accepted throughout the world with great respect,
and by his power he would liberate many nondevotees with strong reason and
logic. (3) He initiated Ananda Tirtha and converted many foolish men to accept
sannyasa and punished them with his rod. (4) All his writings and words are very
potent. He gave people devotional service to Lord Visnu, and liberation for eleva-
tion to the spiritual world. (5) His instructions in devotional service were able to
elevate any man to the lotus feet of the Lord. (6) Narahari Tirtha was also initiated
by him, and he became the ruler of the Kalifga Province. (7) Narahari Tirtha
fought with the Savaras, who were candalas, or hunters, and thus saved the
temple of Karma. (8) Narahari Tirtha was a very religious and powerful king. (9) He
