PARAMANANDA SENA / KAVI KARNAPURA

 

Sivananda Sen  had three  sons: Sri  Caitanya dasa,  Sri Rama dasa and Paramananda. The guru of Paramananda was Sri Natha Pandita who was the disciple of Advaita Acarya. In the beginning of Sri Ananda  Vrindavana Campu, Kavi  Karnapura has  offered prayers  to his  Sri Gurudeva, who resided at  Kanca Para,  one and  a half  miles from  Kumar Hatta. His Deity  of  Sri  Krsna  Raya  is  still residing there. The 'Kesto Ray' temple can be reached by ricksaw from either Kanca Para railstarion or from Halisahar.

In  his  Gaur-ganoddesa-dipika,  Kavi  Karnapura  states,  "He who was previously known as the gopi Bira and who was the messenger (duti)  of Radharani, has now  become my father,  Sivananda Sen." After  spending the four months of the rainy season (Caturmasya) with Mahaprabhu,  the devotees were preparing to return to Bengal. At that time,  Mahaprabhu called Sivananda  and told  him, "You  should name  your next son Puri das."

Having received that benediction, Sivananda very joyfully proceeded on the way back to his home. A few months later a son was born to him and after consulting with an astrologer the boy was named Paramananda dasa.  (What happened to Puri dasa?)

The following year  Sivananda again brought  the devotees, along  with his  wife  and  new  born  son,  to Puri, to see Mahaprabhu. Sivananda induced his son to offer his dandavats at the lotus feet of Prabhu and thus placed him at His lotus feet. The boy  was simply looking at  the lotus feet of  Mahaprabhu, who laughed  gently and placed  His foot in front of the  baby. Then the  child in great  ecstasy, caught hold  of Prabhus foot with both hands, and began to suck on His toe, while  the devotees resounded in joy, "Hari!  Hari!" This boy later became  known as Sri Kavi Karnapura Gosvami.

One day Sivananda brought his son Puri das with him to see Mahaprabhu.  The boy offered his  obeisances at the lotus  feet of Prabhu at  which Prabhu addressed him,  "Puri das! Let  me hear you  recite something." The boy replied, "Svavasoh kuvaloy maksemaranja namuraso mahendra mani dam vrindavan ramaninam mandanama khilam harir jayati." (Which means?)

Everyone was astonished that a  seven year old boy, with  no education could recite sanskrit verses. All the devotees remarked that surely he has received  the Lord's  mercy. Mahaprabhu  was moved  to ecstasy  by hearing this verse and embraced  the boy in great love,  showering His blessings upon  him, "May  you always  be enlivened  in the ecstasy of Krsna's pastimes."

Svarupa Damodara remarked "This verse that he has recited is the prime object of satisfation for the  ears of the devotees. Therefore  one of his names  will be  Karnapura." (But  why?) Thus  the son of Sivananda later became famous as Kavi Karnapur.

He compiled following literatures: Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka, Ananda- vrindavana-campu,  Caitanyamrta   Mahakavya,   Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, Radha-Krsna-ganoddesa-dipika,   Sri   Krsna-chika-kaumadi,   Alankara-kaustubha, Arya-sataka.