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Vakresvara Pandit – Video

Once in the house of Srivasa Thakura Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sang while Vakresvara Pandit danced in, constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. At that time Lord Caitanya said, “Vakresvara, I have only one wing like you, but if I had another certainly I could fly in the sky”. Expert at singing and dancing, Vakresvara Pandit always pleased Lord Caitanya with his service in the Navadvipa sankirtana parties (which he joined from the beginning), the dramas at Srivas Angam, and the yearly Ratha-yatra at Jagannatha Puri.

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Vakresvara Pandit – Biography

Sri Vakreshwar Pandit was present with Sriman Mahaprabhu during His pastimes in Navadwipa and after his acceptance of Sannyasa heal so accompanied Him to Jagannath Puri. During the time of theLord's residence in Puri he continued to live with Him there as well. Sri Vakreshwar Pandit took birth in the villageof Guptipara near Triveni. He was an especially proficient dancer and kirtaniyaand could dance continuously for 72 hours.

When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began His pastimes of congregational chanting of the Holy Name of Sri Hari in Navadwip,Sri Vakreshwar Pandit was an important singer and dancer in that assembly. It was by His mercy that Devananda Pandit was delivered from the wrath of Mahaprabhu. He was also present during the Lord's journey to Ramakeli. Devananda Pandit was, at one time, known as the foremost lecturer on the Bhagavat. One day Srivas Pandit went to hear his discourse, and being moved in ecstatic love by hearing the Bhagavatam, he began to cry. A few of the ignorant students of Devananda Pandit, thinking that this was creating adisturbance, removed Srivas Pandit from the assembly and left him outside.Though this was done in front of Devananda he didn't restrain his students from this act of disregard to the devotee -Bhagavat.

There are two types of Bhagavat – the book bhagavat and the devotee bhagavat. For this reason,Devananda Pandit became implicated in anoffense to a great devotee (maha-bhagavat). When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to hear how his dear devotee, Srivas Pandit, had been disrespected, he gave many instructions concerning the Bhagavat. He told that those who read the book Bhagavat but don't offer respects to the devotee-Bhagavat,are simply offenders, though they may read the Bhagavat for eons,still they will never attain love of Godhead. The devotee bhagavata and the book bhagavata are non-different. In order to understand the book bhagavat one must first sincerely serve the devotee-bhagavata. Therefore Mahaprabhu neglected Devananda and didn't bestow His mercy on him. One evening Vakreshwar Pandit came to perform dancing and chanting of the Holy Name at the house ofone devotee from Kulia, across the bank of the Ganga from Nadia.Receiving this auspicious news Devananda proceeded there, and upon seeing the appearance of the symptoms of divine lovein the person of Sri Vakreshwar Pandit he became charmed. Graduallya great crowd gathered at that place, and Devananda Pandit, taking acane in his hand, kept the crowd in order so as not to obstruct the ecstatic dancing of Sri Vakreshwar Pandit.

In this way, Vakreshwar Pandit performed chanting, and dancing for two praharas (six hours), on into the night. When he finished dancing and sat down, Devananda came and offered dandavatsat the lotus feet of Sri Vakreshwar Pandit, who became pleased with this service and blessed Devananda with the words "Krishna-bhaktihauk" "May you attain devotion to Sri Lord Krishna." From that day devotion was awakened in the heart of Devananda by the mercy of Vakreshwar Pandit. There after when Mahaprabhu came to Nadia to have darshan of his mother and mother Ganges, he best owed His mercy on Devananda at Kulia. "Because you have served Vakreshwar I have noticed you.Vakreshwar is fully imbued with the Lord's transcendental energy,and whoever becomes devoted to him, attains to the lotus feet of Sri Krishna. His heart is the personal abode of Sri Krishna and as Sri Krishna dances, so Vakreshwar also dances.Wherever one can get the association of Vakreshwar, that place is the sum total of all Holy places and is as good as Sri Vaikuntha."

Sri Vakreshwar Pandit's disciple was Gopal Guru Goswami and Gopal Guru Goswami's disciple was Sri Dhyanchananda Goswami. In his DhyanChandra Paddhati – Dhyan Chandra Goswami has written – "that person who was previously very expert in the arts of singing and dancing, the gopi, Tungavidya, is presently renowned in the world as Vakreshwar Pandit. He has appeared on the fifth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asar (Ashadha -June-July – Vaman mase) and he closed his pastimes in this world onthe sixth day of thebright fortnight of the month Asar. WhileVakreshwar danced,Mahaprabhu Himself would sing and Vakreshwarwould catch hold of Hislotus feet, saying; "O moon faced one, give me 10,000 gandharvas,and let them sing while I dance. Then I will be happy." Mahaprabhu answered, "You are one of my wings. If I had another (like you) I could fly in the sky."

[C. C. Adi 10.17]. Vakreshwar Pandit's worshippable deity is Sri Sri Radha-kanta, whom he worshipped in Kasi Misra's house, which was also the residence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (Gambhira).These Deities are still being worshipped there to this day.

Vakresvara Pandit – Biography

vyuhas turyo'niruddho yah sa vakresvara-paditah 
kadavesaja-natyena prabhoh sukham ajijanat 
sahasra-gayakan mahyam dehi tvam karuda-maya 
iti caitanya-pade sa uvaca madhuram vacah 
sva-prakasa-vibhedena sasirekha tam avisat 
 
Vakresvara Pandit is the fourth member of the catur-vyuha, Aniruddha.He brought happiness to the lord by dancing in the mood of Krishna. He would sweetly say to Mahaprabhu, "O merciful lord! Give me a thousand singers so that I can dance." Radha's dear sakhi Sasirekha also entered into him. (Gaura-gadoddesa-dipika 71)
 
Sri Vakresvara Pandit revealed such great potency that he danced non-stop for three days. Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami wrote the following about Vakresvara Pandit:
 
Vakresvara Pandit is the Lord's dear servant, who danced without rest for seventy-two hours. Mahaprabhu himself sang as he danced when Vakresvara fell down at his feet and said, "O moon-faced lord! Give me ten thousand Gandharvas. I will be happy if I can dance while they sing. The Lord answered, "You are like a wing. If I had another like you, I would be able to fly in the sky!" (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.10.17-20)
 
Vakresvara and Devananda Pandit
 
He was also present at the houses of Srivasa and Chandrasekhara, where he would also dance during kirtan. Vakresvara was so dear to Mahaprabhu that when Devananda Pandit was able to receive Mahaprabhu's mercy by serving him. In this way he was able to become free of the offenses he had made to Srivasa Pandit. Mahaprabhu explained how to atone for offenses to the Vaishnavas in answer to a Brahmin's question.
 
Listen, Brahmin, if someone eats poison then he must take ambrosia through the very same mouth. Then the poison will be digested and the body will become immortal by the power of the divine ambrosia. Now let me answer your question. Whatever blasphemies you have unknowingly made are exactly like poison which you have eaten. Now you must use the same mouth to constantly glorify Krishna's name and qualities, which are like ambrosia. You have used this mouth to insult the devotees, now use it to glorify them. Glorify the devotees as the best of humanity, glorify them in songs and poetry. I will destroy all the poison of blasphemy through the ambrosia of the ecstasies of Krishna's glories. You have all unknowingly committed offenses; this is the truth. If you should stop all kinds of offensive activity and simply engage in praising Krishna and his devotees, then you will be free from all the sins you have committed, however numerous they may be. You will not be able to achieve the same results by millions of atonements. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.3.449-458)
 
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur comments: "An offensive person will only attain auspiciousness if he uses the mouth through which he made his blasphemous comments to acknowledge his offense and then to glorify Krishna and his devotees. If you take poison it will disrupt the body's functioning, but you can remedy the situation by taking a medicine that destroys its effects. Similarly, the way to become free from the poisonous effects of Vaishnava-ninda is to first of all stop; then, rather than performing thousands of other ineffective atonement rituals, one should glorify the Vaishnava.
 
"Through serving the devotee, Kuliya's Devananda Pandit became a believer in Mahaprabhu's lotus feet. This good fortune visited him when Vakresvara came to stay in his house. Devananda was a follower of the smarta path, but was nevertheless a great scholar and very renounced. He read no scripture other than the Bhagavatam. He was devoted to the Supreme Lord and was free from the domination of his senses. Nevertheless, he was not a believer in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. By Vakresvara's mercy, this foolish misunderstanding was dispelled and he developed faith in the lord."(Gauiya-bhaya to Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.3.453, 481)
 
Vakresvara Pandit was very dear to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Anyone who remembers him will purify the entire creation. He is the embodiment of Krishna prema and the gods and the demons would all become enchanted by his dancing. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.3.469-70)
 
Mahaprabhu himself described Vakresvara's glories to Devananda Pandit:
 
The Lord said, "You have served Vakresvara, therefore I have come to know you. Vakresvara Pandit is the Lord's complete energy and whoever pays homage to him attains Krishna. Krishna has made his home in Vakresvara's heart. Krishna dances in order to make Vakresvara dance. If any place becomes associated with Vakresvara, it immediately becomes the equivalent of Vaikuntha and equal to all the holy places. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.3.493-6)
 
When Mahaprabhu had absolved Devananda of his offenses, then he instructed him with great affection. Those vain egoists who are proud of their scholarship cannot understand the meaning of the Bhagavatam; that is the prerogative of those who are surrendered, the saradagata. The only object of the Bhagavatam is to elucidate pure devotion; it is not different from the pure devotee. One is the book Bhagavatam, the other is the person Bhagavatam. One who speaks from the Bhagavatam with this knowledge will attain the supreme auspiciousness.
 
One who thinks, "I understand the Bhagavatam" does not really know the Bhagavatam's central meaning. On the other hand, an ignorant person who takes shelter of the Bhagavatam will directly perceive its meaning. The Bhagavatam is pure love, it is the incarnation of Krishna himself. It recounts Krishna's most intimate activities. After recounting the Vedas and the Puranas, Vedavyasa felt unsatisfied, but as soon as the Bhagavatam manifested on his tongue, his mind was immediately satisfied. (Chaitanya Bhagavat 3.3.514-8)
 
Gopal Guru Goswami When Vakresvara came to live at Puri, he would accompany Mahaprabhu, Advaita Acharya and other devotees to Tota Gopinath to hear Gadadhara Pandit give discourses on the Bhagavatam. One should hear the book Bhagavatam from the devotee Bhagavatam.
 
Gopal Guru Goswami was Vakresvara Pandit's disciple. Gopal Guru's previous name was Makaradhvaja Pandit; his father's name was Murari Pandit. It is said that Gopal Guru also displayed extraordinary powers. In his childhood, Gopal Guru personally served Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. When Abhirama Thakur came to pay him obeisances, Mahaprabhu took him on his lap to protect him. Mahaprabhu gave Gopal the name Guru because he instructed people to chant Krishna's names in all circumstances, whether pure or impure.
 
Before leaving his body, Gopal Guru turned over the service of his Krishnakanta deity to his disciple, Dhyanachandra Goswami. After his death, when Gopal Guru's body was taken to the Svarga-dvara to be cremated, some representatives of the king came and closed the Radhakanta Math. Dhyanachandra was so distressed that he began to cry aloud. Gopal Guru arose from the funeral pyre, returned to Radhakanta's temple and resolved the problem before going back to the crematorium. Even after that, however, Gopal Guru appeared in Vrindavan, where devotees were amazed to witness him engaged in his devotions. A murti of Gopal Guru is still worshiped at Radhakanta Math. Most of Vakresvara Pandit's disciples' descendants in Orissa consider themselves to be Gaudiya Vaishnavas.
 
During Rathayatra at Puri, Vakresvara was the chief dancer in the fourth kirtan sampradaya whose lead singer was Govinda Ghosh. He is sometimes described as a branch of Chaitanya, or as a branch of Gadadhara Pandit.
 
Vakresvara's disappearance day is the sixth day of the waxing moon in the month of Asharh.
 
 
[Excerpted from "Sri Chaitanya: His Life & Associates" by Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj]

Vakresvara Pandit

Once in the house of Srivasa Thakura Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sang while Vakresvara Pandit danced in, constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. At that time Lord Caitanya said, "Vakresvara, I have only one wing like you, but if I had another certainly I could fly in the sky".

Expert at singing and dancing, Vakresvara Pandit always pleased Lord Caitanya with his service in the Navadvipa sankirtana parties (which he joined from the beginning), the dramas at Srivas Angam, and the yearly Ratha-yatra at Jagannatha Puri.
 
Vrindavana Dasa Thakura said, 'To awaken the sleeping souls in the age of Kali Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to distribute the nectar of the holy name of Krishna. When He came the khol (mrdanga) and karatals sounded like thundering clouds. Absorbed in moods of ecstatic love and shouting "Hari bol Hari bol," Sri Gauranga told everyone to chant the holy name of Krishna. Raising His golden arms to the sky, Lord Gaura Hari would dance in ecstasy. At that time, Vakresvara Pandit and others would dance with the Lord."(Caitanya Bhagavata)
 
By Vakresvara's blessings Devananda Pandit was freed from the Vaisnava aparadha he committed against Srivasa Pandit. Then Sri Caitanya accepted Devananda Pandit as one of His "own devotees." Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu commented on this incident, "Krishna has made His home in the heart of Vakresvara Pandit. As Krishna dances in his heart, so Vakresvara Pandit himself dances. Whatever place Vakresvara Pandit blesses with his association becomes a holy place of pilgrimage more sacred than all the holy places."
 
Certain great devotees such as Vakresvara Pandit, Paramananda Puri, Svarupa Damodara, Gadadhara, Jagadananda Pandit, Sankara, Raghunatha Vaidya, and Raghunatha Dasa were associating with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu from the beginning of His pastimes in Navadvipa.They also faithfully served the Lord when He moved to Nilacala Dhama (Jagannatha Puri).

Vakresvara Pandit established Deities of Sri-Sri Radha-Kantha in Kashi Mishra's house next to the Gambhira in Jagannatha Puri. Kavi Karnapura says Vakresvara Pandit is an incarnation of Aniruddha of catur-vyuha. Vakresvara Pandit initiated Gopala Guru Goswami and many others in Orissa. Dhyan Candra, a disciple of Gopala Guru Goswami, says in his books that Vakresvara Pandit is an incarnation of Tungavidya-sakhi, an expert singer and dancer serving as one of Srimati Radharani's asta-sakhis . His samadhi is in the 64 Samadhis Area.