Gaura Purnima
(The auspicious advent of Sri Chaitanya Chandra)
The appearance day:
rāhu graste jara sasadhare phalgune purnimayam
gaude sāke manusata mite sapta varsādhike yah
māyāpuryam samajani saci-garbha sindhau pradose
tvam cit sakti prakatita tanum misra sunum smarami
The goddess of spring (vasanta Lakshmi) accompanied by her friend Paurnamasi (full moon day) has stirred up the entire world to accumulate the paraphernalia for the worship of Lord Visvambhara, the beloved husband of Lakshmi. The sound of the cuckoo, the beauty of freshly bloomed flowers filled with nectar, the humming bees, the scented breeze, the dancing waves of overjoyed Ganga, the smiling faces of the white dressed goddesses of the directions (dig-vadhu), the inner happiness of all human beings- all the beautiful and topmost objects in the world now desire to dedicate themselves as the offerings to the lotus feet of Visvambhara. That is why Kaviraja Goswami said in Chaitanya Charitamrita:
“prasanna haila daśa dik, prasanna nadījala
sthāvara-jaṅgama haila ānande vihvala”
Translation: In this atmosphere, all the ten directions became jubilant, as did the waves of the rivers. Moreover, all beings, moving and nonmoving, were overwhelmed with transcendental bliss.
Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura has described this very tithi (lunar day) in Chaitanya Bhagavata in this way:
caitanyera janma-yātrā—phālgunī pūrṇimā brahmā-ādi e tithira kare ārādhanā
Translation: Lord Caitanya appeared on the full moon night of the month of Phālguna, a day thus worshipped by Brahmā and others.
parama-pavitra tithi bhakti-svarūpiṇī yaṅhi avatīrṇa hailena dvija-maṇi
Translation: This day is the reservoir of devotional service and therefore most sanctified, because the Supreme Lord, the best of the brāhmaṇas, appeared on that day.
nityānanda-janma māghī śuklā trayodaśī gauracandra-prakāśa phālgunī paurṇamāsī
Lord Nityānanda appeared on the thirteenth day of the waxing moon in the month of Magha, and Gauracandra appeared on the full moon evening in Phālguna.
sarva-yātrā maṅgala e dui puṇya-tithi sarva-śubha-lagna adhiṣṭhāna haya ithi
Translation: These two days are most auspicious because all favorable planetary conjunctions are present on these days.
eteke e dui tithi karile sevana kṛṣṇa-bhakti haya, khaṇḍe avidyā-bandhana
Translation: Therefore whoever observes these two days attains devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa and freedom from the bondage of ignorance.
This tithi is praised by Lord Siva, Suka, Brahma & Nārada.
“nadīyā-udayagiri, pūrṇacandra gaurahari,
kṛpā kari’ ha-ila udaya
pāpa-tamaḥ haila nāśa, tri-jagatera ullāsa,
jagabhari’ hari-dhvani haya”
Translation: Thus by His causeless mercy the full moon, Gaurahari, rose in the district of Nadia, which is compared to Udayagiri, where the sun first becomes visible. His rising in the sky dissipated the darkness of sinful life, and thus the three worlds became joyful and chanted the holy name of the Lord. On that day when the 18th day of February month in 1486 AD was responded to by the twenty-third day of Phalguna month in 1407 Śaka era, the goddess of twilight wore the full moon on her forehead and appeared in the sight of everyone. But the beautiful moon felt ashamed.
a-kalaṅka gauracandra dilā daraśana
sa-kalaṅka candre āra kon prayojana
Translation: When the spotless moon of Caitanya Mahāprabhu became visible, what would be the need for a moon full of black marks on its body? Therefore, the material moon showed itself pale and devoured by Rāhu because he wanted to preach his mundane nature and pettiness as well as the transcendence and unequal superiority of the moon of Gokula. As soon as the moon of Gaura arose in Nadia which is compared to Udaya-giri where the sun first becomes visible, all the celestial bodies (grahas) appeared in a favorable position i.e. tuñga, inside the main triangle and being glanced by their perfect companions. The Purva-phalguni star and Lio appeared.
siṁha-rāśi, siṁha-lagna, ucca graha-gaṇa
ṣaḍ-varga, aṣṭa-varga, sarva sulakṣaṇa
Translation: According to the Jyotir-veda, or Vedic astrology, the auspicious birth moment is described as follows: The moon was in Leo [the figure of the lion in the zodiac], Leo was the ascendant, several planets were strongly positioned, and the ṣaḍ-varga and aṣṭa-varga showed all-auspicious influences.
When the ordinary materialistic people noticed the lunar eclipse, they started shouting the names of Krishna.
jagat bhariyā loka bale — ‘hari’ ‘hari’
sei-kṣaṇe gaurakṛṣṇa bhūme avatari
Translation: When the whole world was thus chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa in the form of Gaurahari appeared on the earth.
prasanna ha-ila saba jagatera mana
‘hari’ bali’ hinduke hāsya karaye yavana
The whole world was pleased. While the Hindus chanted the holy name of the Lord, the non-Hindus, especially the Muslims, jokingly imitated the words.
hari’ bali’ nārīgaṇa dei hulāhuli
svarge vādya-nṛtya kare deva kutūhalī
Translation: While all the ladies vibrated the holy name of Hari on earth, in the heavenly planets dancing and music were going on, for the demigods were very curious.
(Chaitanya Charitamrita, ādi 13.93-95)
hena-mate prabhura haila avatāra , āge hari-saṅkīrtana kariyā pracāra
catur-dike dhāya loka grahaṇa dekhiyā gaṅgā-snāne ‘hari’ bali’ yāyena dhāiyā
yāra mukha janmeha nā bale hari-nāma , seha ‘hari’ bali’ dhāya, kari’ gaṅgā-snāna
daśa-dik pūrṇa haila, uṭhe hari-dhvani, avatīrṇa haiyā hāsena dvija-maṇi
Translation: In this way, Lord Gaurāṅga appeared by first inaugurating the saṅkīrtana movement. From all directions, people went to the Ganges for a bath while chanting the name of Hari. Even persons who never chanted the name of Hari in their lives also chanted the name of Hari as they ran to the Ganges for the bath. The sound vibration of Hari’s name filled the ten directions. The Lord, who is the best of the brāhmaṇas, appeared with a smile on His face.
The identity of Gaura-Chandra who appeared on Phalguna Purnima:
Now a question may arise: who is this transcendental moon? Whose advent made the Phalguni Purnima tithi worshippable to Devas, humans, and all living beings? Who is this “dvija-raja” (the king of the Brahmanas) actually? The moon whose unprecedented rise dispels the darkness of sins, makes the three worlds jubilant and a great flood of Prema (divine love) has appeared in the world, what is His identity?
In general, it is seen that the identity of the son comes from that of his parents. A descendant is usually linked to the ancestors. But He who is the origin of all, the cause of all causes, the primordial father, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original Narayana, can not be identified ordinarily. He is self-manifested. When He descends out of His mercy and manifests Himself to the fortunate living being, only then the ordinary living being gets His original identity and becomes blessed and gratified. The recognition of this tattva bestows self-realization upon living beings. It is said that a Vedic Brahmin and exalted vaishnava named Madhukara Misra came to Srihatta from western India for some reason and settled there. Madhukara Misra’s middle son was Upendra Misra, a learned Vaishnava, wealthy and virtuous. He had seven sons: Kañsāri, Paramananda, Jagannatha, Sarvesvara, Padmanabha, Janardana and Trilokanatha. Sri Jagannath, one of the seven sons of Upendra Misra, migrated from Srihatta to Sri Navadvipa for his studies. Because Navadvipa was the place of all kinds of studies. Sri Jagannath Misra was bestowed the title “Purandara” for his scholarship. In Navadvipa he married Sri Sachi Devi, the eldest daughter of Sri Nilambar Chakraborty. As stated in Gaura-Ganoddesa Dipika, the gopa named Parjanya who was Krishna’s grandfather, descended as Upendra Misra at Srihatta. And the respected gopi named “Bariyasi” who was Sri Krishna’s grandmother, descended from Upendra Misra’s wife “Kalavati”. Earlier in Vrindavan, Yashoda and Nanda Maharaj who was the embodiment of divine love, later came as Sachi and Purandara Misra respectively. Aditi and Kashyapa, Kaushalya and Dasharatha, Prishni and Sutapa also entered Sachi and Jagannatha Purandara. Some say that Devaki and Vasudeva who were the parents of (Bala-)Rama & Krishna also entered Sachi and Jagannath. Because, in their hearts, Visvarupa, an expansion of Sankarshana appeared. Purandar Misra who is always situated in the state of visuddha-sattva settled at antar-dvipa Sri Mayapur in Navadvipa along with Sachi Devi who is the embodiment of Vishnu bhakti and a spiritually exalted lady. Navadvipa is the crest jewel of all sacred places. The nine islands represent nine-limbed bhakti. All holy lands have assembled here. Antar-dvipa i.e. Sri Mayapur is situated at the center and considered the seed bed (karnikara) of the petalled lotus of Navadvipa Dhama. Sachi & Jagannath were aware of the significance of this place. They started living at Mayapur, the land of generosity to guide the pure devotees as their guru and set an example for them. They conveyed the teaching that those who have submitted themselves to Navadvipa Dhama can attain Vrindavan Dhama very easily; but for others, it is next to impossible just like a mirage.
navadvipe vased yastu kare tasya vraja sthitih
maricika vad anyatra dure vrindavanam dhruvam
Translation: One who lives in Navadvipa holds Vraja in his hand. In any other place Vrndavana is like a far-away mirage.
(Navadvipa satakam, verse: 81)
The eight daughters of mother Sachi died shortly after they were born. Purandara Mishra became very worried because they had no child. He started worshipping Lord Vishnu as a son. At that time Sri Vishwarupa was born as their ninth child. According to the previous narrative, one who became Yashoda, Devaki, Aditi & Kaushalya, incarnated as Sachi Devi later. How is it possible for her to give birth to eight mortal daughters just like an ordinary human being? People who are not inclined to God and therefore are deprived of the true knowledge of God, are unable to solve such questions. Often they equate God with ordinary living beings. In this way, they commit great offense to Vishnu and Vaishnava. As a result of this, they are taken away a million yojanas apart from the grace of the Lord. The pastimes of Bhagavān are not the object of material reasoning. Devotees who are inclined to do seva, can realize the true significance of the pastimes and explain it to the rest of the world for the welfare of living beings. Abandoning their footsteps, some people speculate imaginary and mundane ideas to understand transcendental matters. They depend on their senses to perceive such an object which is beyond it. This leads them towards self-deprivation ultimately.
The significance of the death of eight daughters, the appearance of Visvarupa followed by Gourachandra :
Devotees explain the significance of the death of Sachimata’s eight daughters followed by the appearance of Vishvarupa and Sri Gaurachandra in the following way. As long as the asmitā (ego) is bound to the eight coverings of aparā prakriti, the original suddha-sattva svarupa of a living being does not manifest. When the eight prakrti are dissolved to their causes i.e. the mistake of self-identification with the gross and subtle body is removed, the original suddha-sattva form of the soul arises. At that time its companion Paramatma also manifests.
vijñānātmani saṁyojya kṣetrajñe pravilāpya tam
brahmaṇy ātmānam ādhāre ghaṭāmbaram ivāmbare
dhvasta-māyā-guṇodarko niruddha-karaṇāśayaḥ
nivartitākhilāhāra āste sthāṇur ivādhuna
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.55-56)
The gross elements gradually enter into the subtle elements as the latter is the cause of the former. Then the ahankara and other subtle elements are dissolved and diluted in vijnana or mahat tattva. The mahat tattva disappears in the kshetrajna jiva. Finally, when the Kshetrajna enters into the Paramatma, Sankarshana who is the imminent immanent indweller of living entities, appears in the heart.
As soon as Visvarupa who is the presiding deity of devotional service (sevā) and non-different from Saṅkarṣaṇa appears, svayam bhagavān Sri Gaurachandra who is the absolute sevya, manifests Himself in the mode of suddha-sattva. After the dissolution of eight-fold aparā Prakriti, the mode of suddha-sattva appears in the heart of the living being. At that time the soul possesses only the ‘sevonmukhini asmitā’ i.e. the identity of being sevaka. Then Saṅkarṣaṇa, the guru and the embodiment of sevā, bestows Gaurasundar to him. This is the mystery behind the death of eight daughters of Purandara Misra, the appearance of Sankarsana Visvarupa as a result of his Vishnu worship, and then the appearance of svayam bhagavān Sri Gaurasundar.
Jagannath Misra & Jagan-Mmata Sri Sachi Devi are the eternal associates of the Lord. Their hearts and bodies are situated in the stage of transcendence. They are not like ordinary living beings. The name of stage of buddha-sattva is called “Vasudeva”; Therefore Lord Vāsudeva manifests in Vasudeva. Mother Sachi Devi did not become pregnant like other ordinary women i.e. as a result of a sense of enjoyment and physical mating between two bodies made of blood and flesh. So even thinking of it about her like this is a great offense. The mystery of Sachi Devi’s pregnancy can be understood when the mind turns towards Bhagavān and His service. Because Sachi Devi is the embodiment of suddha-sattva. In this regard, the statements of Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura who is said to be the Vyasa of Chaitanya lilā and Srila Kaviraj Goswami Pprabhu are given below:
“tabe mahaprabhu Gaurachandra bhagavān, sachi jagannatha dehe haila adhisthan”
Translation: Then Mahaprabhu Gaurachandra appeared inside the bodies of Sachi and Jagannatha.
Like this every year Gaudiya Vaishnavas celebrate the appearance of Caitanya Mahaprabhu on the purnima (full moon day) in the month of Phalguna, usually falling in March or April.
