Re: Lord Vitthala is Worshiped with the Name of Gauranga

Dear Vaishnavas,

         Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna!

         The very fact that Lord Chaitanya initiated Tukaram is seen by the fact that the deity of Vitthala is worshipped by the four syllable Gaura Gopala Mantra - Gauranga and also the various names addressing Lord Krishna with names associating him with Radharani. As a matter of fact the deity of Vitthala is Dwaraka Krishna and it was in Dwaraka that Lord Krishna first revealed the form of Gauranga to Narada Muni.

         Here are some more interesting facts :

Glories of Pandharpur

(Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 9.282)

From there Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to Pāṇḍarapura, where He happily saw the temple of Viṭhṭhala Ṭhākura.

PURPORT

The city of Pāṇḍarapura is situated on the river Bhīmā. It is said that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu initiated Tukārāma when He visited Pāṇḍarapura, and thus Tukārāma became His disciple. Tukārāma Ācārya became very famous in the Maharashtra province, and he spread the sańkīrtana movement all over the province. The sańkīrtana party belonging to Tukārāma is still very popular in Bombay and throughout the province of Maharashtra. Tukārāma's book is known as Abhańga. His sańkīrtana party exactly resembles the Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇava sańkīrtana parties, for they chant the holy name of the Lord with mṛdańga and karatālas.

Madhya 9.300

Śrī Rańga Purī informed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that the sannyāsī named Śańkarāraṇya had attained perfection in that holy place, Pāṇḍarapura.

PURPORT

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's elder brother was named Viśvarūpa. He left home before Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and accepted the sannyāsa order under the name of Śańkarāraṇya Svāmī. He traveled all over the country and finally went to Pāṇḍarapura, where he passed away after attaining perfection. In other words, he entered the spiritual world after giving up his mortal body at Pāṇḍarapura. Śrī Rańga Purī, a disciple of Śrī Mādhavendra Purī and Godbrother of Īśvara Purī, disclosed this important news to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

       
Lord Chaitanya visited numerous places in South India as far as Cape Comorin, and returned to Puri in two years by Panderpur on the Bhima. In this latter place He spiritualized Tukaram, who from that time became a religious preacher himself (This fact has been admitted in the abhangas of Tukaram which have been collected in a volume by Mr. Satyendra Nath Tagore of the Bombay Civil Service). (Bhaktivinode Thakura)


The Lord extensively traveled all over the southern part of India. The great saint of Mahārāṣṭra known as Saint Tukārāma was also initiated by the Lord. Saint Tukārāma, after initiation by the Lord, overflooded the whole of the Mahārāṣṭra Province with the sańkīrtana movement, and the transcendental flow is still rolling on in the southwestern part of the great Indian peninsula.  (SB Introduction)


Lord Nityananda in Pandharpur

Travelling south, he went to Pandharpur. There, Lord Nityananda saw the deity of Lord Vitthalanath. In that town lived a gentle brahmin who was a godbrother of Madhavendra Puri. Inviting the Lord to his home, the brahmin respectfully offered fruits, roots, milk, and other foods for him to eat. Gazing at Nityananda Rama, the fortunate people of Pandharpur felt their life�s breath filled with cooling bliss. Who can understand the desires in Nityananda Prabhu�s heart? After seeing Lord Vitthalanath, Nityananda stayed in a secluded place. Coming from afar, that brahmin�s spiritual master, Sri Lakshmipati, suddenly came to that village. Seeing him, the brahmin was very excited. Lakshmipati was very old. His glorious activities were beyond description. His fame extended everywhere. He was a great saint, surrounded by followers, learned in all scriptures, who walked on the path of pure devotional service. Who can describe the fatherly love that Lakshmipati felt for his disciples? ke kahite pare lakmīpatira mahimā? yā�ra śiya mādhavendra pure � ei sīmā Who has the power to describe Lakshmipati�s glories? His disciple was Madhavendra Puri, whose glories were the greatest. (Text 2271) mādhavendra pure prema-bhakti-rasa-maya yāra nāma-smarae sakala siddhi haya Madhavendra Puri was the abode of the mellow of pure love of godhead. The remembrance of his name grants all perfection. (Text 2272) Madhavendra Puri�s disciples, headed by Sri Isvara Puri and Sri Ranga Puri, were all intoxicated with the nectar of ecstatic love. Sripad Madhavendra had many disciples in Bengal, Orissa, and other places. They were all devoted to Krishna and were absorbed in ecstatic love. Madhavendra Puri was famous in the Madhva sampradāya. He was an ocean of good qualities and very dear to his spiritual master. Lakshmipati took his meal at that brahmin disciple�s house. Eagerly he spoke of Lord Krishna. Again and again Lakshmipati said, �I see great auspiciousness has come to your house. I have come to your home many times, but never has such bliss taken birth in my heart! I think a great devotee must be staying here.� To this, the brahmin replied. �Your mercy is very powerful.�

By Lord Nityananda�s wish, the brahmin did not reveal Nitai�s presence in the house. The day was passed in speaking topics of Sri Krishna. That night, while sitting in his room, the glorious sannyāsī Lakshmipati sang songs glorifying Lord Balaram�s pastimes, pastimes that enchant the heart. Absorbed in ananya-bhakti, unflinching love for Balaram, Lakshmipati wept. He prayed:ohe baladeva, mu adhama durācāre kara anugrahana � yaśa ghuuka sasāre �O Lord Balaram, I am very fallen and ill-behaved! Please be merciful to me. I will sing your glories all over the world.� (Text 2283) Speaking these words, Lakshmipati could not remain peaceful. He rolled on the ground and tears streamed from his eyes. He lamented bitterly. Overcome with powerful emotions, he was speechless and agitated. Suddenly, by Lord Nityananda�s will, he was drawn into sleep. Then, on the pretext of a dream, Nityananda Svarup happily revealed Lord Balaram�s form to Lakshmipati. How glorious was Lord Balaram! Cupid�s pride was crushed. Lord Balaram�s beautiful form rebuked a glistening silver mountain. His arms reached his knees. His chest was broad. Reaching almost to his ears, his large graceful eyes charmed the heart. A single earring on his ear charmed the hearts of the whole world. A delightful bugle-horn was tucked into the left side of the sash at his waist. His body was decorated with many ornaments. No metaphor or simile of this world could describe him. His face conquered the radiance of the full moon. On the pretext of speaking words, he created a flood of nectar. Gently, gently, he said to his dear devotee Lakshmipati, �When I heard your lament, my heart broke. Krishna is the master of my life. Birth after birth you are his servant.� Grasping Lord Balaram�s feet, Lakshmipati said, �I pray that in my heart I will never think you are different from Krishna.� Hearing Lakshmipati�s words, Lord Balaram smiled and said, �Wearing the dress of an avadhūta, a brahmin�s son has come to this village. He will become your disciple. With this mantra, make him your disciple.� After speaking these words, Lord Balaram spoke a mantra into Lakshmipati�s ear. Receiving the mantra, Lakshmipati became joyful. After giving his mercy in this way, Lord Balaram disappeared.

Upon rising the following morning, Lakshmipati contemplated the wonderful dream. At that moment, Lord Nityananda Rama arrived. Seeing Nitai�s effulgence, the sannyāsī Lakshmipati thought, �How wonderful is his effulgence! He is no mere human being.� Thinking in this way, with unblinking eyes the wise sannyāsī gazed at Lord Nityananda�s handsome face. Falling to the ground, Nityananda Prabhu offered respects at the feet of the holy man. Lakshmipati hurriedly picked him up and embraced him. Again and again, Nityananda Ray begged, �Please give me mantra-dīkā and deliver me.� Hearing Nitai�s sweet words, Lakshmipati floated in the tears from his eyes and could not remain peaceful. Unable to jump over Lord Balaram�s command, that same day he gave mantra-dīkā to Nityananda. After giving him initiation, he embraced Nityananda Prabhu. His heart overflowed with bliss. Merciful Lord Nityananda was very dear to Lakshmipati. Nityananda Svarup had the power to do whatever he wished. What did he not have the power to do? In this way, Sri Nityananda Rama, who loves the devotees and who is the root of divine ecstasy, bestowed bliss on the Madhva-sampradāya. An ancient verse describes: nityānanda prabhu vande śrīmal lakmīpati priyam śrī mādhva sampradānanda vardhana bhakta-vatsalam I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Nityananda, who loves the devotees, who is dear to Sri Lakshmipati, and who increases the bliss of the Madhva-sampradāya. (Text 2310) Thus becoming Lakshmipati�s disciple, Lord Nityananda was overwhelmed with astonishing happiness. Lord Nityananda departed at once. No one has the power to understand his wonderful pastimes! In Nitai�s absence, Lakshmipati became filled with sorrow. He did not speak a word to anyone. In his heart he lamented. As night was ending he was drawn into sleep. On the pretext of a dream, Nityananda Chandra appeared before him. Seeing Nityananda Prabhu, saintly Lakshmipati could not stop the tears flowing from his eyes. Suddenly Nityananda manifested the form of Lord Balaram. Seeing this, Lakshmipati immediately fell before the Lord�s glorious feet. He washed the Lord�s feet with the tears from his eyes. Again and again he said, �Only to trick me have you descended to this world. No one has the power to know you. Even Brahma and all the devas don�t understand you. Only if you reveal yourself can someone know you. Why do you trick a fool like me, a fool worthless like a pile of ashes? O Lord, please be merciful to me. I take shelter of you.� Hearing Lakshmipati�s words, the Lord at once manifested his form of Sri Nityananda. Gazing at the sweet glory of Lord Nityananda�s form, a wonder that eclipsed a host of glistening lighting flashes, Lakshmipati became wild with ecstasy. Then Lord Nityananda Rama gave his mercy to him. Lakshmipati�s desires were now fulfilled. Forbidding him to tell any one of what had happened, and comforting him again and again, Lord Nityananda Prabhu disappeared. When the Lord was no more visible, Lakshmipati became filled with sorrow. His sleep fled far away and he saw that the night had ended. To whom could he tell anything of this? He could not be peaceful.

From that day his life was filled with wonders. Seeing his condition, his disciples became worried. Leaving the world behind, Lakshmipati suddenly left the field of their vision. Who knows how to describe Lakshmipati�s glorious character and activities? In the world he is famous as a devotee especially dear to Nityananda Prabhu. No one can describe the great devotion of the people in Pandharpur. By Lord Nityananda�s mercy, even today the inhabitants of that village feel very strong devotion to the Lord.

From a lecture by Lokanatha Swami : ...the so-called followers of Sant Tukaram, are claiming that Tukaram was initiated by the impersonalists. Maharaj wants to rectify their mistakes by revealing how Tukaram Maharaj has personally described how Caitanya Baba (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu) initiated him in a dream. In his songs Tukaram claims that Panduranga is his guru; so how is it to be understood that Lord Caitanya initiated? These two statements are reconciled when we understand that Lord Caitanya is Panduranga Himself.

Daaso'smi,
Srinath

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