CHAPTER 12
The Cleansing of the Gundica Temple

In his Amrta-pravaha-bhasya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura summarizes this chapter
as follows. The King of Orissa, Maharaja Prataparudra, tried his best to see Lord
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Nityananda Prabhu and the other devotees informed
the Lord about the King’s desire, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would not agree to
see him. At that time Sri Nityananda Prabhu devised a plan, and He sent a piece of
the Lord's outward garment to the King. The next day, when Ramananda Raya
again entreated Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to see the King, the Lord, denying the
request, asked Ramananda Raya to bring the King’s son before Him. The prince
visited the Lord dressed like a Vaisnava, and this awakened remembrance of
Krsna. Thus Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered the son of Maharaja Prataparudra.

After this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu washed the Gundica house before the
Ratha-yatra took place. He then took His bath at Indradyumna and partook of
prasada in the garden nearby. While Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu washed the temple
of Gundica, some Gaudiya Vaisnava washed the lotus feet of the Lord and drank
the water. This incident is very significant, for it awoke within the devotee
ecstatic love. Then again, the son of Advaita Prabhu named Gopala fainted during
kirtana, and when he did not come to his senses, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
favored him by awakening him. There was also some humorous talk between
Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu during prasdda. Advaita Prabhu said that
Nityananda Prabhu was unknown to anyone and that it was not the duty of a
householder brahmana to accept dinner with a person unknown in society. In
answer to this humorous statement, Sri Nitydnanda Prabhu replied that Advaita
Acarya was a monist and that one could not know how his mind could be turned
by eating with such an impersonal monist. The conversation of these two
prabhus—Nityananda Prabhu and Advaita Prabhu—carried a deep meaning that
only an intelligent man can understand. After all the Vaisnavas finished their
luncheon, Svaripa Damodara and others took their praséda within the room. Sti
Caitanya Mahaprabhu took great pleasure when He saw the Jagannatha Deity
after the Deity’s retirement. At that time He was accompanied by all the devo-
tees, and all of them were very pleased.

TEXT 1
Siefesi-afteanagen:
AMSA HAASE CAA |
1
