Returning to HQ
[Madhya 10]
Last updated
[Madhya 10]
Last updated
Note: The beginning sections of Chapters 10-14 narrate the story of King Prataparudra. This entire episode will be discussed later in this chapter.
Having extensively toured South India, Shri Chaitanya now focused His energies on cementing the sankirtan movement in Jagannatha Puri. Maharaja Prataparudra, the King of Orissa, had arranged residence for Shri Chaitanya at Kasi Mishra’s home, where the community of devotees all came to meet Him. After that happy meeting, Shri Chaitanya ordered the errant Kala Krishnadasa, His personal servant who had been allured by tribal women, to discontinue his service. Feeling compassion for Krishnadasa, the devotees proposed he travel to Navadvip and inform the community that Shri Chaitanya had arrived in Puri. In this way, Krishnadasa would remain in the association of devotees.
Arriving in Navadvip, Kala Krishnadasa excitedly informed everyone of Shri Chaitanya’s return to Jagannatha Puri. They immediately made preparations to visit. Two special personalities travelled with them:
• Svarupa Damodara – formerly known as Purushottama Acharya, he possessed a profound understanding of Krishna’s qualities, activities and relationships. Being expert in the nuances of transcendental mellow, Svarupa eventually became the personal secretary of Shri Chaitanya, assisting the Lord in times of devotional ecstasy.
• Govinda das – was a humble disciple of Ishvara Puri, who was instructed to become Shri Chaitanya’s personal servant. Shri Chaitanya reluctantly accepted this service from His godbrother, and Govinda became a shining emblem of selflessness and unwavering dedication.