Imlitalas

Srinivas Acharya

The following is an excerpt from a lecture-series on "Sri Bhakti Ratnakara" and "Sri Narottam vilas", by Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur, given by Srila Guru Maharaja, Sri Srimad Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti in Sri Vrindavan Dham.

Srinivas Acharya is a Parsada. He is an eternal associate of the lila of Lord Chaitanya, even though he personally did not meet Lord Chaitanya. He was invited to come in this world personally by Lord Chaitanya.

Actually there are two types of specially empowered expansions of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: The first expansion are the six Goswamis, who He entrusted to discover Vrindavan, to establish the holy worship of the Lord's deity and to give the bhakti-grantha, the Holy scriptures to protect the bhakti path.

Then another, a secondary expansion of His mission came through Srinivas Acharya, Narottam das Thakur and Syamananda Prabhu, who were particularly responsible for preaching the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu throughout India. They formed that great spiritual sankirtan party we have so often heard about.

The story of the appearance of Srinivas Acharya is extremely beautiful.

His father was called Chaitanya das. Actually previously he had another name. But when he went to Katwa, it just so happened, that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was at the verge of taking Sannyasa. As he came there the barber was just applying his razor to cut the hair of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. That sight was so unbearable for him, that finally when he heard the sannyasa name that was given to Mahaprabhu, he could only utter: "Chaitanya, Chaitanya, Chaitanya". Seeing this the people reasoned: "Let's call him Chaitanya das, as the only things he says, is 'Chaitanya, Chaitanya'. That will be an appropriate name for him." In this way he received his new name.

Chaitanya das was married and on one occasion it happened that his wife addressed him: "My dear husband, I had a dream; Lord Chaitanya appeared to me, ordering us to have a child." And Chaitanya das said: "What? You are even using Lord Chaitanya for having a child? That is not proper." "No", she said: "I promise you, I am not speaking any lie. Mahaprabhu came to me in a dream and he told me that he wanted us to have a child. Chaitanya das replied: "That is not enough for me. We have to go to Puri and confirm that order, since Mahaprabhu is there. And if He wants us to do this special service there is also a good opportunity He will grant us His darshan." As we all know, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu after taking Sannyasa went to Puri.

They decided to go and as they were living in the Nabadvipa area, Chaitanya das and his wife started on their pilgrimage to Puri. When they reached Puri, it so happened that Mahaprabhu was coming down the main road in front of the Jagannatha mandir with his sankirtana party. He was surrounded by many sannyasis and followers. A soon as Mahaprabhu noticed them approaching, He made the crowd open up, welcomed them and invited them to come and see Him later. All the sannyasis were surprised: "Who is this grhasta? Mahaprabhu is giving special attention to him. How is that possible?" They were all curious.

This story is described in Bhakti Ratnakara, by Narahari Cakravarti Thakur. Chaitanya das and his wife went to the Gambhira and there they met Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They spoke for a while with Him and finally Mahaprabhu told them: "Chaitanya das, your wife is right. I want you to have a child and I want you to call that child Srinivas."

It was an actual announcement by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu inviting a dear devotee of His into a very special family of His personal associates. And practically unheard of in the history of transcendence, a child is announced directly by the Supreme personality of Godhead.

Of course they were very happy hearing this service which Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally gave to them. It was absolutely unique. They remained for a few days in Jagannatha Puri, joining the kirtan of Mahaprabhu and filling their hearts with joy. Then they went back to Navadvipa. Shortly thereafter they had this wonderful child - very auspiciously manifested, as you can imagine. What could be more auspicious than his appearance heralded by the Lord Himself?

Srinivas Acharya was born and description is given of the family life of Chaitanya das. It is said, when Srinivas was only four years old, once he went into the temple-room of their house and he saw his father weeping there. The little boy asked: "Father, why are you crying?" Caitanya das replied: "Oh, because I have no love for Radha and Krsna, and no love for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. I am in such a fallen condition." When the little boy saw his father crying and heard his explanations, he also started crying, grabbing the feet of his father he said: "What can I say? I also have nothing of that what you are talking about."

Finally both of them were sitting in the temple room crying. Hearing that sound, the mother came, wanting to see, what was happening in the temple room. Seeing husband and child sobbing in dispair, she inquired for the reason. Chaitanya das said: "We have no love for Krsna, we have no love for Radharani." So immediately she also fell on the ground and started crying too. There they were on the floor of the temple - crying in wretchedness.

Srila Narahari Cakravarti comments to this incident, "This is the perfect Krsna conscious family life".

From this we can understand, how families actually approach Krsna consciousness. It was a very special family, because also the daughter of Srinivas Acharya, Hemalati Thakurani, became a Vaisnava acharya.

They were so happy with their son as you can imagine, or perhaps we can not imagine. After all, what if Mahaprabhu personally entrusts you a child under your care?

Everything was so wonderful. Yet it so happened that when Srinivas was about eight or ten years old, one sannyasi visited.

As it is a custom when a sannyasi comes to a home, he will be very happily received and treated with all honors. The sannyasi delivered krsna katha and everybody was delighted. Then Chaitanya das told to him: " My dear Sannyasi, you are a great preacher. Can I do you any favor? Is there anything you need?" The sannyasi said: "No, my dear Chaitanya das, what I want, I will not tell you." Chaitanya das said: "What you mean, you will not tell me? You can not say this! I am a grhasta and I have my vows and I will treat the sannyasis properly. Please do not hesitate, if you need something special, tell me!" "No!", said the sannyasi: "I will not tell you. I can not tell you. You will not like that." Hearing this Caitanya das became even more eager to serve the sannyasi, insisting: "You must tell me. I will not let you leave here. Anything that you ask, I will give to you." Finally the sannyasi revealed his mind: "All right, yes, I want to take your son, Srinivas with me."

Chaitanya das immediately fell over and lost consciousness. This is because he knew, after all this introduction, he could not withdraw his promise. It was too much. The gift was given and now it was taken back. In this way, Srinivas Acharya was taken away by this Sannyasi and then his transcendental career started. We have heard so much about it. He came to Vrindavan and he became a disciple of Gopal Bhatta Goswami. Gopal Bhatta Goswami became his diksha guru. This was all arranged by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally and then even though he became initiated by Gopal Bhatta Goswami, he was sent for spiritual studies to Radha Damodar mandir, to Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhupada so he could learn the Vaisnava philosophy there.

There he met his beloved friends, Syamananda Prabhu and Narottama das Thakur. There are so many other stories we can hear. He was also present at the installation of the deities in Kethurigram, the Radha Vraja Mohan deities, which are not far from here, installed by Srinivas Acharya, Narottama das Thakura and Jahnava devi, who were present at that installation.

That is the story and his daughter later became acharya of his mission and that is also very amazing and very encouraging. Srinivas Acharya was married and as a married man he was a great acharya. He was an outstanding acharya in the vaisnava siddhanta. It is also very encouraging you see, that ladies in our sampradaya have become so outstanding contributors to the welfare of all vaisnavas and the increasing of spiritual sentiments that they have been honored in such a wonderful way as to be in the same samadhi. Yes, her samadhi is also there. They are very intimate associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Srinivas Acharya ki jay.