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Jagadisha Pandit

Jagadish Pandit

The wives of the sacrificing Brahmins in Vraja took birth as Jagadisha and Hiranya. The Lord (Mahaprabhu) asked for and ate their Prasad on the Ekadashi day. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 192) (In the image: Wives of Brahmins are giving food to Krishna and His Friends).).

   apare yajna-patnyau shri-jagadisha-hiranyakau
ekadashyaà yayor annaà prarthayitva’ghasat prabhuh
 
   The wives of the sacrificing Brahmins in Vraja took birth as Jagadisha and Hiranya. The Lord (Mahaprabhu) asked for and ate their Prasad on the Ekadashi day.
   (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 192)
 
asid vraje chandrahaso nartako rasa-kovidah
so’yaà nritya-vinodi shri-jagadishakhyah panditah
 
   In Vraja there was a dancer named Chandrahasa who was very expert in the tasting of rasa. In Chaitanya-lila, he became Jagadisha Pandit who also took great pleasure in dancing for the Lord.
   (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 143)
 
   Jagadisha Pandit is considered to be simultaneously both Nityananda-shakha and Chaitanya-shakha, a branch both of Chaitanya as well as Nityananda in the desire tree of devotion. He was born in the town of Gauhati (Pragjyotishpur) in modern Assam. His father’s name was Kamalaksha Bhatta. Both of his parents were Devotees of Vishnu. When they died, he came with his wife Duhkhini and his brother Hiranya to Mayapur on the shores of the Ganga where they built a home near that of Jagannath Mishra. Jagadisha Pandit became Jagannath Mishra’s very close friend.
 
   Jagadisha and his wife Duhkhini had the same kind of parental affection for the little Nimai as Jagannath and Sachi themselves. Duhkhini was like a mother to Nimai and even sometimes acted as his wet-nurse. Nimai, the son of Sachi, is none other than the son of Yashoda, the Supreme Lord Krishna incarnate. It is not possible for anyone but an eternal associate of the Lord to have the good fortune to treat Him like a son in this way.
 
Nimai begs for Jagadisha’s offering
 
   Mahaprabhu showed through His pastimes just how dear He considered Jagadisha Pandit to be. Shriman Mahaprabhu is the father of sankirtan and even as a child He tricked everyone into chanting the Holy Names. Sachi and all the other neighbors would clap their hands and sing the names of the Lord in order to make Him stop crying. One Ekadashi day, however, Nimai kept on crying despite Sachi Mata and Jagannath Mishra’s chanting the Names in the usual way. His parents became confused and anxious, and in desperation asked Him, “What do You want, child? What must we give You to make You to stop crying?” Nimai answered, “Today, they have made a rice offering to Vishnu at Jagadisa’s house. I want to eat some of that Prasad. Give Me some of that Prasad and I will stop crying.” 
Jagadish Pandit

The Lord grabs the things of the Devotee even if he doesn’t offer them, but he shows no interest whatsoever in the gifts of the non-devotee. (In the image: Lord Chaitanya asking for chipped rice from Raghunnatha Das Goswami).

 
   Jagannath Mishra was amazed to hear Nimai say such things. How could he know that Jagadisha Pandit made a rice offering on Ekadashi? Jagannath Mishra immediately went to his neighbor’s house and was surprised to see that a large offering had indeed been made to their Vishnu Deity. Jagannath told Jagadisha of Nimai’s request, adding that he was worried that it would not be correct for Him to eat rice on Ekadashi day. But Gauranga’s eternal associate Jagadisha Pandit knew that it was little Gopal in the form of Nimai who was hungry. Without any hesitation, he gave the entire offering to Jagannath Mishra. As soon as Nimai received the plate, He immediately stopped crying and joyfully started to eat.
 
   Jagadisha Pandit and Hiranya [are Chaitanya’s branches of the desire tree of devotion]. The merciful Lord gave them His grace when He was a little boy. He ate the offerings to Vishnu at their house on the Ekadashi day
   (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.10.70-71)
 
   Jagadisha Pandit purifies the entire universe because the nectar of love for Krishna pours from him like torrents of rain.
   (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.11.30)
 
   The above mentioned pastime is described in the Chaitanya Bhagavat, Adi-khanda, chapter 4:
 
   The Lord grabs the things of the Devotee even if he doesn’t offer them, but he shows no interest whatsoever in the gifts of the non-devotee.
 
   Just as Mahaprabhu was conquered by the devotion of Jagadisha Pandit, so too was His dearest companion Nityananda Prabhu who considered him to be one of his own intimate associates. Nityananda Prabhu was Jagadisha’s life and soul. Jagadisha was present in Panihati for the Chira-dadhi Mahotsava.
 
Jagadisha and Jagannath
 
   Before taking sannyas, Mahaprabhu ordered Jagadisha to go to Nilachala to preach Krishna-bhakti and the religious practice of the age, Harinama-sankirtan. The son of Nanda, Shri Krishna and the son of Jagannath Mishra, Shri Gaurasundara, are the same truth as Jagannath Himself. When He arrived in Puri, Jagadisha went for Jagannath’s darshan and melted with love when he saw Him. When on his way back to Bengal, however, he felt extreme separation from Jagannath. Thousands and thousands of people go on pilgrimage to Puri every single day. All of them take darshan of Jagannath, but how many of them are overcome by feelings of separation when returning home? Perhaps once in a while some fortunate individual is able to feel such emotions. If one truly feels such pangs of separation, then this is a sign of Jagannath’s mercy; if not, then one has not truly received the grace of the Lord.
 
   Jagannath Deva saw Jagadisha crying and so mercifully appeared to him in a dream and told him to take His vigraha and serve it. Simultaneously, He appeared to the king of Orissa and ordered him that at the time of the nava-kalevara, when the wooden Deity of Jagannath is changed, the outgoing form should be given to Jagadisha Pandit. Thus, when He met Jagadisha, the Maharaj considered it to be a great honor to give him Jagannath’s outgoing form, which is known as the samadhi-stha-vigraha.
 
Jagadish Pandit

The son of Nanda, Shri Krishna and the son of Jagannath Mishra, Shri Gaurasundara, are the same truth as Jagannath Himself. When He arrived in Puri, Jagadisha went for Jagannath’s darshan and melted with love when he saw Him. When on his way back to Bengal, however, he felt extreme separation from Jagannath. Thousands and thousands of people go on pilgrimage to Puri every single day. All of them take darshan of Jagannath, but how many of them are overcome by feelings of separation when returning home? Perhaps once in a while some fortunate individual is able to feel such emotions. If one truly feels such pangs of separation, then this is a sign of Jagannath’s mercy; if not, then one has not truly received the grace of the Lord. (In the image: Lord Jagannath, Deity of Jagadish Pandit).

   Jagadisha prayed to Jagannath, asking Him just how he could possibly carry the heavy figure of the Deity all the way back to Bengal. Jagannath answered him that He would become as light as a cork; Jagadisha should simple cover him with a new cloth and then carry him with the help of a staff. Jagadisha would have to make permanent arrangements to stay wherever Jagannath was set down on the ground. Jagadisha enlisted the aid of two Brahmins, and they took turns carrying Jagannath as far as the village of Jashora on the banks of the Ganges, near the town of Chakdaha. Jagadisha left Jagannath with one of the Brahmins and went to take his bath in the Ganges. Suddenly, the Brahmin found that Jagannath was becoming very heavy and that He was no longer able to hold Him up. Thus when Jagadisha came back from his bath, he saw Jagannath sitting on the ground and realized that the Lord wanted to stay in that very spot.
 
   Chakdaha is a historical site and ancient holy place. During the Puranic age, it was known as Rathavarma. Pradyumna killed the demon Sambara there during Krishna’s incarnation at the end of the Dvapara age and thus it was known as Pradyumna-nagara. Prior to that, when Bhagiratha was bringing down the Ganga in order to save the Sagara dynasty, he buried the wheel of his chariot here. Thus the town was also given the name Chakradaha, which in time has been transformed into Chakdaha. When the local people heard that the Jagannath Deity from Puri had come to stay in Jashora, they flocked there in their thousands to seek His darshan. This is how Jagadisha decided to remain in Jashora rather than return to to his home in Mayapur.
 
   Both Nityananda Prabhu and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited the Jagannath Temple in Jashora on two occasions, being attracted by Jagadisha Pandit and his wife’s parental devotion. They held sankirtan and a feast both times. As the Lord was about to leave Jashora to go to Puri, Duhkhini began to cry from the imminent separation so intensely that the Lord agreed to remain behind in the form of the Gaura-Gopal Deity. In the course of the couple’s householder life, they had a son named Ramabhadra Goswami.
 
The Jashora Temple after Jagadisha Pandit
 
   At first, the Deity was kept under a bata tree near the Ganges, and later the king of Krishnanagara, Krishnachandra, had a Temple built there for Him. Jagadisha Pandit’s Temple is currently being managed by the Shri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math.
 
   “The very same Jagannath Deity and Gaura Gopal who were worshiped by Nityananda Prabhu’s dear associate, Jagadisha Pandit, have displayed the wonderful pastime of voluntarily offering themselves to the great Devotee, Tridandi Swami Shrimad Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaj, in order to accept his service.”
 
   In the first year after taking over Jagannath’s service, my Guru Maharaj came to the annual festival and personally sat several thousand men and women in the neighboring field and fed them with maha prasad. I still feel goose bumps when I remember the ecstasy that flooded over Jashora on that day.
 
[Excerpted from Shri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates] 
Jagadish Pandit

At first, the Deity was kept under a bata tree near the Ganges, and later the king of Krishnanagara, Krishnachandra, had a Temple built there for Him. Jagadisha Pandit’s Temple is currently being managed by the Shri Chaitanya Gaudiya Math. (In the image: Jashora Temple, Mayapur).

Jagadish Pandit – Biography

   "Shri Jagadisha Pandita is the saviour of the world. He distributes the nectar of love of Krishna just like a dense mass of dark clouds in the sky distributes rainfall." [C.C. Adi 11.30]

   Shri Jagadisha Bhatta took his birth in the region of Gaihati. His father's name was Shri Kamalaksha Bhatta, who was the son of Bhatta Narayana, who hailed from Goyghar Bandyaghata. Both the mother and father of Jagadisha were very devoted Vishnu-bhaktas. After his parents passed away he came with his wife to live on the banks of the Ganges. His wife's name was Dukhini devi. (His younger brother Mahesha also came with him to reside on the banks of the Ganga.)They built their house near the home of Jagannatha Mishra.

   Shri Gaurasundara instructed Jagadisha to preach Hari Naam at Nilachala. Thus he took shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Jagannatha. At that time he prayed at the feet of Lord Jagannatha and was rewarded by obtaining a Deity of the lotus-eyed Lord. This he brought to Yasora, on the banks of the Ganga near Chakdaha. This Deity was brought suspended from a staff which is still being worshiped in the Temple of Lord Jagannatha at Jasora. This Temple is presently under the charge of Shri Gaudiya Math, and is a rickshaw ride away from Chakdaha railway station, on the Sealdah-Krishnanagar line.

Jagadish Pandit

Thus he took shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Jagannatha. At that time he prayed at the feet of Lord Jagannatha and was rewarded by obtaining a Deity of the lotus-eyed Lord. This he brought to Yasora, on the banks of the Ganga near Chakdaha. (In the image: Lord Jagannath - the Deity of Jagadish Pandit).

   Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda sometimes used to go to Jasora to have festivals of sankirtana. Jagadisha Pandita's son was Shri Rambhadra Goswami. In the Temple are Deities of Shri Jagannatha Deva, Shri Radha-Vallabhaji and Shri Goura-Gopala. It is said that the Goura Gopala Deity was established by Shri Duhkhini Devi. The Deity is a golden color.

   After Lord Chaitanya conducted a sankirtan festival at the home of Jagadisha Pandita, He planned to go to Nilachala. Duhkhini, however, knowing the Lord's mind, was very distressed by feelings of impending separation. At that time Mahaprabhu gave her this Deity and said, "I will eternally remain in your house in the form of this Deity." From that day this Deity of Gaura-Gopala is being worshiped there. In Gaur-ganoddesa-dipika it is revealed that Jagadisha and Hiranya were wives of the Vedic brahmanas in Krishna lila. According to another opinion, "He who was previously known as Chandrahasa, a famous dancer in Krishna-lila, is now famous as Jagadisha Pandita, who also takes great pleasure in ecstatic dancing."

   On one Ekadashi day, the young Shri Gaura Hari wanted to eat rice from the house of Jagadisha and Hiranya. The Lord said to His parents, "If you don't want Me to die, then immediately go to the house of two brahmanas by the names of Jagadisha and Hiranya, with whom I am very pleased. They are both fasting for Ekadashi, but they have prepared some offerings for Lord Vishnu. If you can obtain some of that Vishnu-Prasada then I'll recover My health and be able to move about." [C.B. Adi 6.20-23] One day, child Gaura Hari was crying incessantly. His parents told Him, "First tell us what You want. We'll bring it, but please don't cry."

   He replied, "On this Ekadashi day in Jagadisha and Hiranya's house are many preparations of Vishnu-Prasada. If I can eat that then I'll be alright."

   Hearing this impossible request of Her son, Sachi Mata put her hand on her head and began to lament. Upon hearing the words of the child, the neighbours laughed in amazement. "How is it that such a young child as this is aware that today is Ekadashi?"

   Then the ladies told Him, "Bap Nimai, don't cry anymore, we'll bring what You have requested." When the two brahmanas heard of the child's request they were very pleased. Both of them were very intimate friends of Jagannath Mishra and they were well aware that the Supreme Personality of Godhead Shri Hari had appeared in his house. Therefore, whatever they had prepared for Lord Hari they brought before Shri Gaura Hari and told Him, "Bap, Vishvambhara! We have brought everything which You requested. Now please eat it in great happiness and don't cry anymore." 

Jagadish Pandit

"If you don't want Me to die, then immediately go to the house of two brahmanas by the names of Jagadisha and Hiranya, with whom I am very pleased. They are both fasting for Ekadashi, but they have prepared some offerings for Lord Vishnu. If you can obtain some of that Vishnu-Prasada then I'll recover My health and be able to move about." (In the wallpaper: Lord Shri Vishnu).

Jagadish Pandit – Biography

   "Jagadish Pandit was the savior of the world. He was a monsoon cloud of Krishna prema, pouring showers of mercy upon everyone." (Chaitanya-charitamrta)
 
   Jagadish Pandit and his brother, Mahesh, lived near Jagannatha Mishra in Shridhama Mayapur. One Ekadashi day baby Nimai was crying constantly. He stopped after taking Maha-prasadam rice in Jagadish Pandit's home. Then Nimai performed a miracle. Jagadish Pandit swooned in ecstasy upon seeing baby Gauranga manifest a beautiful form with a monsoon cloud blue complexion, shining like lightning, and adorned with a shimmering peacock feather.
 
   After moving to Shri Kshetra Dhama (Jagannatha Puri) , Lord Gaurachandra asked Jagadish to come help spread the Hari Nama sankirtana movement. Taking Lord Jagannatha's permission, Jagadish Pandit took a Deity of Jagannatha back to Nadia to worship in his village of Yashora.
 
   In Krishna's nitya-lila Jagadish Pandit serves as the dancer Chandrahasa, or a naga-patni (wife of Kaliya). 
Jagadish Pandit

In Krishna's nitya-lila Jagadish Pandit serves as the dancer Chandrahasa, or a naga-patni (wife of Kaliya). (In the image: Krishna is punishing the snake Kaliya and his wives are begging for His mercy upon their husband).