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Ramadasa Vipra

Ramadasa Vipra


When Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He went to West Mathura (Madura) from Kamakosthi.  At that time, this brahmana Devotee, Ramadasa, invited the Lord to his home. Though when the Lord came, Ramadasa was so absorbed in chanting the name of Rama that he totally forgot to cook for Mahaprabhu.  

 

   Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu finished His noon duties and upon finding that nothing had been cooked, inquired from the brahmana.  In an ecstatic mood Ramadasa replied, "My Prabhu is living in the forest, where will He get items for cooking?  If Lakshmana brings fruits and vegetables collected from the forest, then Sita can cook something for Prabhu (CC. 2.9.183-196)."  Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was very happy to observe the ecstacy of the brahmana, but when Ramadasa regained his external senses, he was very ashamed that he had not cooked for the Lord.  He hastily prepared some food and fed the Lord, but he himself took nothing.  When Mahaprabhu told him to eat something, the brahmana replied, "There is no reason for me to maintain my life.  I shall give up my life by entering into fire.  Sita is Mahalakshmi and the mother of the universe, yet the demons touched her and I cannot bear to hear this."  Understanding the brahmana's sorrow Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu explained, "Do not think like this, you are supposed to be a learned man.  Don't you know that Sita is the eternal consort of the Supreme Lord Shri Ramachandra?  There is no power in this world which is able to touch her.  It was only the maya (false) feature of Sita which the demons touched."  Ramadasa was greatly relieved to hear this and at last took his meal.

 

   CC Madhya 9.178: When Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at southern Mathura from Kamakosthi, He met a brahmana.

 

   CC Madhya 9.179: The brahmana who met Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu invited the Lord to his home. This brahmana was a great Devotee and an authority on Lord Shri Ramachandra. He was always detached from material activities.

 

   CC Madhya 9.180: After bathing in the river Krtamala, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to the brahmana’s house to take lunch, but He saw that the food was unprepared because the brahmana had not cooked it.

 

   CC Madhya 9.181: Seeing this, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “My dear sir, please tell Me why you have not cooked. It is already noon.”

 

   CC Madhya 9.182: The brāhmaṇa replied, “My dear Lord, we are living in the forest. For the time being we cannot get all the ingredients for cooking.

 

   CC Madhya 9.183: “When Lakshmana brings all the vegetables, fruits and roots from the forest, Sita will do the necessary cooking.”

 

   CC Madhya 9.184: Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was very satisfied to hear about the brahmana’s method of worship. Finally the brahmana hastily made arrangements for cooking. 


 CC Madhya 9.185: Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took His lunch at about three o’clock, but the brahmana, being very sorrowful, fasted.

 

   CC Madhya 9.186: While the brahmana was fasting, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked him, “Why are you fasting? Why are you so unhappy? Why are you so worried?”

 

   CC Madhya 9.187: The brahmana replied, “I have no reason to live. I shall give up my life by entering either fire or water.

 

   CC Madhya 9.188: “My dear Sir, mother Sita is the mother of the universe and the Supreme Goddess of fortune. She has been touched by the demon Ravana, and I am troubled upon hearing this news.

 

   CC Madhya 9.189: “Sir, due to my unhappiness I cannot continue living. Although my body is burning, my life is not leaving.”

 

   CC Madhya 9.190: Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu replied, “Please do not think this way any longer. You are a learned pandita. Why don’t you consider the case?”

 

   CC Madhya 9.191: Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu continued, “Sita Devi, the dearmost wife of the Supreme Lord Ramachandra, certainly has a spiritual form full of bliss. No one can see her with material eyes, for no materialist has such power.

 

   CC Madhya 9.192: “To say nothing of touching mother Sita, a person with material senses cannot even see her. When Ravana kidnapped her, he kidnapped only her material, illusory form.

 

   CC Madhya 9.193: “As soon as Ravana arrived before Sita, she disappeared. Then just to cheat Ravana she sent an illusory, material form.

 

   CC Madhya 9.194: “Spiritual substance is never within the jurisdiction of the material conception. This is always the verdict of the Vedas and Puranas.”

 

   CC Madhya 9.195: Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then assured the brahmana, “Have faith in My words and do not burden your mind any longer with this misconception.”

 

   CC Madhya 9.196: Although the brahmana was fasting, he had faith in the words of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and accepted food. In this way his life was saved.

 

   CC Madhya 9.197: After thus assuring the brahmana, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu proceeded further into southern India and finally arrived at Durvasana, where He bathed in the river Krtamala. 


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