An Eternal Associate of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
Śrī Jagadīśa Paṇḍita is one of the most exalted associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is glorified in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta as a great preacher and as a powerful distributor of kṛṣṇa-prema, which flowed from him like torrents of rain.
“Jagadīśa Paṇḍita was the savior of the entire universe, for love of Kṛṣṇa flowed from him like torrents of rain.”
(Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi 11.30)
His Identity in Kṛṣṇa-līlā
According to Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, Śrī Jagadīśa Paṇḍita is identified in two ways. Some authorities state that he was one of the wives of the sacrificial brāhmaṇas in Vraja who fed Lord Kṛṣṇa, while others explain that he was previously the dancer Candrahāsa, who was expert in relishing transcendental rasa.
“The wives of the sacrificial brāhmaṇas appeared as Jagadīśa and Hiraṇya. On Ekādaśī the Lord begged food from them and ate it.”
(Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā 192)
“Previously, in Vraja, he was the dancer Candrahāsa, expert in rasa. In Gaura-līlā he became Jagadīśa Paṇḍita, who delighted in dancing for the Lord.”
(Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā 143)
Thus Jagadīśa Paṇḍita is accepted as both a branch of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and a branch of Lord Nityānanda Prabhu in the desire tree of devotional service.
Appearance and Early Life
Śrī Jagadīśa Paṇḍita appeared in Gauhati (ancient Pragjyotiṣapura) in present-day Assam. His father was Śrī Kamalākṣa Bhaṭṭa, a pure Vaiṣṇava, and both of his parents were devoted to Lord Viṣṇu. After their disappearance, Jagadīśa Paṇḍita came with his wife, Śrīmatī Duhkhinī Devī, and his brother Hiraṇya to reside in Māyāpura on the banks of the Ganges, near the home of Jagannātha Miśra, the father of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Jagadīśa Paṇḍita became a very intimate friend of Jagannātha Miśra. Both he and his wife possessed deep vātsalya-bhāva toward the child Nimāi. Duhkhinī Devī sometimes even acted as His wet nurse. Such intimacy with the Supreme Lord is possible only for an eternal associate.
The Ekādaśī Pastime
Once, on an Ekādaśī day, the child Nimāi cried incessantly. When His parents asked what He wanted, He replied that He desired the rice offering made to Lord Viṣṇu at the house of Jagadīśa Paṇḍita. Although Jagannātha Miśra hesitated, knowing that grains are not normally taken on Ekādaśī, Jagadīśa Paṇḍita immediately understood that the Supreme Lord Himself was hungry. Without hesitation, he gave the entire offering.
As soon as Nimāi received that prasāda, He stopped crying and ate joyfully. By this pastime, the Lord demonstrated that He accepts devotion, not dry ritual.
“The Lord may take away the possessions of His devotee even without being offered, but He has no interest in anything offered by a nondevotee.”
Preaching and Service to Lord Jagannātha
Before accepting sannyāsa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Jagadīśa Paṇḍita to preach Kṛṣṇa-bhakti and saṅkīrtana. Following the Lord’s order, Jagadīśa Paṇḍita went to Nīlācala and took shelter of Lord Jagannātha. By the Lord’s mercy, he received a Deity of Jagannātha, which he carried from Purī toward Bengal.
By divine arrangement, the Deity became unbearably heavy at Jāśorā (near Cakdaha), indicating the Lord’s desire to remain there. Jagadīśa Paṇḍita established the worship of Lord Jagannātha at that place, where the Deity is still worshiped today.
Both Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Nityānanda Prabhu personally visited Jāśorā and performed saṅkīrtana there. Due to the intense separation felt by Duhkhinī Devī, Mahāprabhu manifested the Gaura-Gopāla Deity and promised to remain eternally in their home.
Character and Glories
Jagadīśa Paṇḍita was especially dear to Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, who considered him one of His most intimate associates. Jagadīśa Paṇḍita also participated in the celebrated Chīṛā-dadhi Mahotsava at Pānihāṭi.
His entire life was dedicated to chanting the holy name, serving Vaiṣṇavas, and distributing love of Godhead. He neither sought prestige nor comfort; his only wealth was service to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Disappearance
The disappearance day of Śrī Jagadīśa Paṇḍita is observed by devotees as a sacred occasion for remembering his spotless devotion and praying for his mercy. His life teaches that pure love for Kṛṣṇa transcends all material considerations and that the Supreme Lord is conquered only by devotion.
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