Chapter Summary - Chaitanya-bhagavata - Madhya-khanda Ch. 3
Back to Chaitanya-bhagavata  · Table of Contents

Brief Summary: 

The devotees, engaged in devotional service, experienced love of God in association with Lord Chaitanya. Even stone-like hearts melted at the sight of the Lord's ecstatic manifestations. The devotees found no more interest in wealth, family, children, etc. Day and night they remained by the side of the Lord, chanting Krishna's name. Lord Gaurachandra became totally absorbed in love of Krishna. He exhibited different devotional moods, finding inspiration from the topics the devotees discussed; ...In this way, Lord Chaitanya exhibited so many ecstatic moods. This gave unlimited joy to all of the devotees present there; ...When Lord Gaurachandra arrived at Murari Gupta's house, Murari Gupta received the Lord with great respect, offering obeisances to the Lord's lotus feet. The Lord hurried past him shouting, "Boar, boar." Murari Gupta was left dumb founded, looking all around him. The Lord entered the temple room of Lord Visnu and saw a beautiful water pot standing in the corner. Just at that moment the Lord took the form of Lord Varaha. Absorbed in this mood, He lifted the water pot with His tusks, and roaring loudly like a boar He stood there with His four hoofs;  ...The Vedas have the audacity to say that I have no hands, no legs, no mouth, and no eyes! There is a mischievous sannyasi living in Kasi who teaches his students. That rascal tries to mutilate My transcendental form. He studies the Vedas and teaches others, but he does not accept My transcendental form. As a result of such blasphemy he was attacked by the dreaded disease leprosy, but he could not understand the import of it; ...In this way Lord Chaitanya went to the homes of all His devotees, and by His causeless mercy revealed His real supreme identity to them. The devotees and servants recognized their Supreme Lord and their hearts were filled with ecstatic bliss; ...They now became fearless; ...Lord Visvambhara was constantly thinking about Lord Nityananda. His separation became unbearable to the Lord. Lord Visvambhara knew Lord Nityananda to be the Supreme Lord, Ananta Vasudeva. I [the author] shall take this time to describe some transcendental facts about Lord Nityananda's birth, activities and so on; ...Lord Nityananda spent some years performing His childhood pastimes in the house of Hrdaya Pandita.
The Lord decided to leave home but He could not sever the bonds of affection of His mother and did
not want to see her suffer; ...The sannyasi said, "I am on a pilgrimage tour, but I do not have a good brahmana as a companion. Give me your eldest son for a few days to be my companion. I will protect and look after him wih my life, and your son will also be able to learn about the many places of pilgrimage we visit." The sannyasi's words greatly perturbed Hrdaya Pandita, who was a pure and pious brahmana. Fraught with worries, he became weak and thought ...The sannyasi has begged for my very life, and I feel that if I refuse then I will be ruined. Great personalities previously have offered even their lives to fulfill the desire of a sage or a renunciate. In the Puranas we read that Lord Ramachandra was more dear to His father, Dasaratha, than his own self. Once the sage Visvamitra begged Dasaratha to allow his son to come with him. It was very painful for Dasaratha to depart from his son, Lord Ramachandra, yet he did not refuse. I feel myself to be in the same predicament; ...While Lord Nityananda was living in this manner in Vrndavana, Lord Gaurachandra manifested Himself in Nabadwip. Lord Chaitanya was constantly engaged in the congregational chanting of the Holy Name in great ecstasy, but He felt sad because of Lord Nityananda Prabhu's absence; ....

 
Most Memorable: 

I cannot tolerate My devotees being threatened and tortured. I will even kill My own son to protect My beloved devotees. This is not a lie Murari! "Listen attentively. In My boar incarnation, when I lifted the earth, Mother Earth became impregnated by My touch. She gave birth to My son, named Naraka, who was very strong and
powerful. I gave My son all religious instructions. He became a very powerful king and dutifully protected the demigods, brahmanas, spiritual master and the devotees. However, the hand of destiny changed everything. Due to the influence and bad association of King Venu, he became a criminal and was cruel to the devotees. Any aggression or violence towards My devotees is totally intolerable to Me, so I killed My son to protect My devotees. I am revealing all these confidential matters to you because you have been serving Me for many births; ...Lord Nityananda, who is Lord Haladhara, Balarama, worshiped Lord Maudesvara, Lord Siva, in the form of His linga; ...Lord Visnu and His devotees, the Vaishnavas, possess unlimited potencies, hence their activities are inconceivable. In Vrndavana He felt like a young boy, playing with the sand of Vrndavana and rolling on the ground. This feeling was constantly with Him. He did not even feel like eating, he just wanted to roll and play in the dust of Vrndavana; ...Lord Gaurachandra worshiped Lord Visnu in His temple, and then quickly went to meet all thedevotees. He told them, "Last night I had a wonderful dream: A chariot came and stood in front of my
door. The chariot's flag had a palm leaf drawn on it. This chariot was meant to carry one from this temporary material existence to absolute reality. The passenger of that chariot was a colossal figure, He carried a plough on His large shoulders, He was moving about as if He were restless. In His left hand He carried a renunciate's water pot which was wrapped over by cane reeds. On top He wore a blue cloth, and His lower dress was also blue. A beautiful earring pierced His left ear lobe. His whole appearance and demeanor gave me the impression that He was Lord Balarama. Upon speaking, He repeated a question at least ten or twenty times saying, 'Does this house not belong to Nimai Pandita?'  "Never before had I seen such a formidable looking mendicant. I felt great respect for this person and I asked, 'I see that You are a great personality. Who are You?' Smiling, He replied, 'I am Your brother. Tomorrow we shall get to know each other.' His words increased My delight and I began to feel that He and I were the same person.";...

Quiz: (see answers below)

1.   The Lord would manifest different devotional moods, inspired by what?

A.  Lord Vishvambhara would have many dreams and these dreams would inspire His mood for the entire day.
B.  Often Lord Vishvambhara would go unconscious.  It was when he emerged from these states of unconsciousness that he exhibited deep devotional moods
C.  Nimai would often take long walks by Himself along the banks of the Mother Ganga.  Returning, the Lord's moods would be set in stone for the entire day to com.
D.  From the topics the devotees discussed.  

2.  In the devotional mellow of servitude, He would cry for hours as if Mother Ganga had
descended through His eyes. Then, in a jolly mood, He laughed for hours; and when He fell
unconscious, He remained without breathing for how long?

A.  sometimes for an entire two days
B.  several hours
C.  ten minutes
D.   thirty minutes

3.   One day the Lord heard the pastimes of Krishna in His incarnation as _______  Roaring He
rushed to Murari Gupta's house.

A.  Lord Ramachandra
B.  Lord Buddha
C.  A boar, Lord Varaha
D.   A fish

4.  After Murari Gupta finished speaking, the Lord expressed great anger at a sannyasi living in Kasi.  Why was Vishvambhara mad at this individual, even to the point where this sannyasi became inflicted with leprosy?

A.  He was furious with him because he taught his students that the Lord has no form.
B.  Because He would not offer obeisances to the Lord, even after Ishvari Puri told the sannyasi about Vishvambhara's supreme divinity.
C.  Because this sannyasi refused to chant Hare Krishna, the Lord was mad at him. 
D.  Lord Vishvambhara was mad at the sannyasi for disrespecting Lord Nityananda.

5.   The Lord told Murari Gupta that He cannot tolerate His devotees being threatened and tortured, and that He will even kill His own son to protect His beloved devotees.   The Lord said, "This is not a lie Murari. Listen attentively. In My boar incarnation, when I lifted the earth, Mother Earth became impregnated by My touch. She gave birth to My son, named Naraka, who was very strong and powerful. I gave My son all religious instructions. He became a very powerful king and dutifully protected the demigods, brahmanas, spiritual master and the devotees. However, the hand of destiny changed everything. Due to the influence and bad association of [a certain] King, he became a criminal and was cruel to the devotees. Any aggression or violence towards My devotees is totally intolerable to Me, so I killed My son to protect My devotees. I am revealing all these confidential matters to you because you have been serving Me for many births."  What was the Kings name that degraded the Lord's son, Naraka?

A.  King Bimbisara
B.  King Ajatsatru
C.  King Kakavarna
D.  King Bana

6.  After the Lord bestowing His mercy on Murari Gupta, what did the Lord do?

A.  He went to visit His mother.
B.  Lord Chaitanya went to the homes of all His devotees, and by His causeless
mercy revealed His real supreme identity to each of them.
C.  The Lord went into a trance after telling Murari Gupta about killing His son, Naraka, and did not regain consciousness for three days.  
D.  Lord Vishvambhara gathered around all His students on the banks of the Ganges and revealed to them His Universal Form.

7.  What was the important consequence of the Lord visiting all His devotees and revealing His real identity to them? 

A.  They went everywhere, in all public places, and chanted Krishna's name loudly.
B.  His devotees all said that the Lord had to keep His identity a secret.
C.  They now became fearless.  
D.  The Muslim government became terrified of Him.

8.  Who did Lord Nityananda worship while living in Ekacakra with His parents?

A.  A Diety of Lord Krishna
B.  Hanuman
C.  Beautiful Sita Rama Dieties
D.  Lord Shiva in the form of His linga

9.  For how long did Lord Nityananda's father, Hrdaya Pandita, stop eating and what happened to him?    

A.  For an entire year and he became like a skeleton.
B.  For two weeks Hrdaya Pandita stopped eating and during this time was mostly unconscious due to unbearable separation.
C.  For 3 months he did not eat, but did not become emaciated or die. 
D.  Actually he did not fast at all, but rather enjoyed a great feast prepared to Lord Shiva, requesting his son's safe journey.

10.  What character in history did Hrdaya Pandita most identify with when contemplating the request of the sanyassi to take his son with him on pilgrimage?

A.   Dasaratha, the father of Lord Ramachandra
B.   Lord Kapila
C.   Srila Sukadeva Gosvami
D.   Radharani

11.   When Lord Nityanada finally reached Vrndavana, what did He desire to do?  

A.  The Lord's immediate concern was to find something to eat after His arduous journey to reach Vrndavana.
B.  He at once set out to visit and meet the various priests in charge of each of the major temples.
C.  He spent all of His time floating like Ananta Sesa in the different sacred bodies of water found in Vrndavana and Mathura.
D.  In Vrndavana He felt like a young boy, playing with the sand of Vrndavana and rolling on the ground. This feeling was constantly with Him. He did not even feel like eating, he just wanted to roll and play in the dust of Vrndavana.

12. Why did Lord Nityananda finally leave Vrndavana, the place He loved so much? 

A.   Because he had not finished his pilgrimage of all the holy places and many cities were still on His list to visit.
B.   Because he heard that Lord Chaitanya had begun His sankirtana movement.
C.   Because the Sannyassi who he was traveling with told Nityananda that it was time to leave.
D.   Because he had a dream and in that dream Lord Shiva told him to at once go to Gaya.

13.  What did Lord Nityananda do when He reached Nabadwip?

A.  Immediately Lord Nitaynanda sought out the whereabouts of Lord Gauranga.
B.  He went to Sri Nandanacarya home and stayed there.
C.  He stayed in a cave with Haridas Thakura.
D.  He arrived at the house of Sri Advaita Acharya and stayed there for 4 months.

14.  Lord Chaitanya had a dream that a chariot had appeared at His front door.  What was drawn on the chariot's flag? 

A.   Hanuman
B.   Ananta Sesa
C.   A dove
D.   A palm leaf

15.  What was the question that Lord Chaitanya repeatedly asked, 10-20 times, when telling the devotees of His dream? 

A.   Who painted the flag
B.   Does this house not belong to Nimai Pandita? 
C.   Where is Nitai? 
D.   Where has he gone?

16.   When the Lord asked the figure on the chariot, "I see that You are a great personality, who are You?" What did the stranger say to the Lord?

A.  I am also He
B.  Bala Bala 
C.  I am your brother.  
D.  Lakshmana

17.  What did the Lord then begin demanding from His devotees?   

A.  Wine to drink
B.   For them to go find Nityananda
C.   He told them to read the story of Balaram killing the ass demon Dhenuka from the Srimad Bhagavatam.
D.   He told everyone to chant Nitai, Nitai, Nitai for three hours.

18.  What does the author of Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat warn the reader about?   

A.  To imitate Lord Nityananda by drinking wine. 
B.  To worship Lord Chaitanya but ignore Lord Nityananda.
C.  To think they can see Lord Nityananda independ of Lord Chaitanya's mercy.

19. What did Lord Nityananda see when he saw Lord Chaitanya?  

A.  A celestial figure holding a green palm leaf.
B.  Nimai standing in front of a great chariot
C.  A cowherd boy
D.  The beloved Lord of His heart.

Scriptures Quoted:

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.39 [Then He repeated the sloka from the Srimad Bhagavatm where Akrura came to take away Krishna and Balarama to Mathura.  My Note: not sure which sloka was quoted, but this is the section that tells of this event.]

Facts:

...all the pure devotees of the Lord who have captured Him [Lord Chaitanya] by their unalloyed devotion!; ...Lord Chaitanya's devotees were as dear to Him as His very life; ...Lord Chaitanya had a special love for Murari Gupta, just like Lord Ramachandra had a special love for Hanuman; ...

Miracles:

Flowery Language:  

The Lord [Nityananda] had a large body and was dressed in the clothes of a traveling renunciate. He was always grave and equipoised. Day and night He chanted Lord Krishna's holy name. He is the Supreme Unequaled Personality, non-different from Lord Chaitanya. Absorbed within Himself, He often roared loudly like a lion, for He is the direct manifestation of Lord Balarama. His beautiful, glowing face could have easily defeated a thousand shining full moons. His captivating smile played sweetly on His exquisite lips. So white and radiant
were His teeth that if a pearl were held next to them the pearl would look like a faded and discarded
piece of glass. His long, languid eyes stole the pinkish tinge of the early rising sun. His arms were long
and reached down to His knees, and He possessed a robust chest and broad shoulders. His lotus feet
were soft, and His gait was graceful. He spoke to everyone with kind words which severed the
bonds of material attachment within everyone's heart.:...What is glittering gold next to the Lord's aura? The full moon has lost interest in her own beauty and she yearns to see the glowing face of the Lord. How enchanting they look, Nityananda and Lord Gauranga, as they roam about Nabadwip with the devotees, chanting the holy name of God! What is the luster and value of pearls next to the Lord's teeth? One is sure to lose his mind at the sight of the Lord's beautiful cascading black hair. All other lotuses look faded and artificial next to the pinkish, graceful lotus eyes of the Lord. His long hands extend down to His knees, and the thin line of His brahmana
thread hangs loosely across His broad and expansive chest. A thin and perfect tilaka decorates His
broad forehead. Without any jewelry or ornaments, every limb of His beautiful body looks exquisite
and captivating. Whence goes the brilliance of millions of precious gems compared to His dazzling
nails? What use do I have for ambrosia when I see the sweet smile playing on my Lord's lips? 

Physical Descriptions:

re: Lord Nityananda - He is the Supreme Unequaled Personality, non-different from Lord Chaitanya. Absorbed within Himself, He often roared loudly like a lion, for He is the direct manifestation of Lord Balarama. His beautiful, glowing face could have easily defeated a thousand shining full moons. His captivating smile played sweetly on His exquisite lips. So white and radiant were His teeth that if a pearl were held next to them the pearl would look like a faded and discarded piece of glass. His long, languid eyes stole the pinkish tinge of the early rising sun. His arms were long and reached down to His knees, and He possessed a robust chest and broad shoulders. His lotus feet were soft, and His gait was graceful. He spoke to everyone with kind words which severed the bonds of material attachment within everyone's heart.

Devotee Mentioned:    

Blessings:

Lord Nityananda is so merciful that anyone who chants His name becomes purified. Even a gross materialist, or an ignorant or fallen person can cross over this ocean of material nescience if he simply chants Lord Nityananda's name; ...Whoever hears Lord Nityananda's pastimes of coming to Nabadwip will be blessed with love of God; ...Lord Nityananda is so merciful that anyone who chants His name becomes purified.

Words:

tresses:   long locks or curls of hair

  Answers: 

1-D;  2-B;  3-C;  4-A;  5-D;  6-B; 7-A&C;  8-D;  9-C;  10-A; 

11-D; 12-B; 13-B;  14-D; 15-B; 16-C;  17-A;  18-B&C;  19-D