“An expert physician by the name Murari Gupta could cure people oftheir disease of material existence. Along with so many otherVaisnavas, Advaita Acarya, Sen Sivananda, Jagannath Misra, NilambarCakravarti, he also appeared in Sylhet. [C. B. Adi 2.35] Srivas Pandit, Candrasekhara Acarya and Sri Murari Gupta Thakur were all from Srihatta. Murari Gupta came from there to live in Navadwip, near the home of Jagannath Misra. He was a few years older than Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Murari Gupta, Kamalakanta, Sri Krsnananda, etc. all used to study together with Nimai Pandit. Nimai used to like a debate in disputations on logical fallacy but no one could defeat him; rather he could defeat all of them put together. Finally being exasperated by his uncanny sharpness of intelligence, Murari Gupta would resort to slinging mood, until finally they were all pushing one another back and forth as they came to the Ganges to take their bath.
There arose such a hue and cry at the ghat that the ladies couldn’tfill their water pots, the water having become so muddy. Neither thebrahmanas could properly take their bath. In this way Sri Gaursundorwould play with his friends on the banks of the Ganges. [C. B. Adi 8]
When they entered the school of Ganga Das Pandit, Nimai immediately became first in the class, having attained the highest marks. Then all of the other students were forced to accept defeat. Murari Gupta however would neither accept defeat, nor would he engage in local debate. Therefore Nimai became angry and told him; “You are a doctor; what is the use of you studying these subjects? Your business is to collect leaves & creepers to heal the sick. Grammatical science is very abstruse, you won’t find anything in it to help you in dealing with mucus, bila and dyspepsia.”
Hearing this challenge, Murari was pricked, and became angry within, but he didn’t exhibit his anger. He simply gazed peacefully at Nimai.
Nimai’s divine form was so enchanting and the touch of his lotus softhands so pacifying that no one became agitated by his dealings. Atthat time, Nimai had just began his studies in grammar. ThereforeMurari began to discuss rhetoric with Him but still he could notdefeat him. Completely astonished, he thought to himself, “Is itpossible that such scholarship is found in ordinary mortals. He mustbe some kind of divine personage. Not one student in Navadwip hasbeen able to defeat him in argument.” In this way they used tosometimes argue together but they would go together in a friendlymood to take bath in mother Ganges.
When Mahaprabhu returned from Gaya and began to manifest symptoms of ecstatic love, Murari Gupta became intensely devoted to Him. When he saw Mahaprabhu crying in ecstatic love at the house of Suklambar Pandit he became struck with wonder.
Sri Murari Gupta used to worship Sri Sri Sita Ram. One day, Mahaprabhu suddenly arrived st Murari Gupta’s house. Roaring in the mood of Varaha deva he picked up a water pot in His teeth, while Murari Gupta fell down on the floor to offer his dandavats, being dumbstruck with wonder at having seen this divine form. Then Mahaprabhu said; “Murari! Just sing some hymns in my praise.” Then Murari recited some slokas at which Mahaprabhu became very happy and thus addressed him, “Murari! I am just speaking this truth to you. I am the essence of all scriptures. I have come to engage in Harinam sankirtan Myself, as well as to induce others also to chant My Holy Names. I cannot tolerate malice towards my devotee. If someone tries to harm my devotee, even if he is my son I will tear off his head. The proof of this is Narakasur.” After telling Murari so many secret things about Himself, Mahaprabhu returned home.
During the time when Mahaprabhu exhibited for 21 hours His transcendental existence as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He was calling His various devotees and bestowing various blessings to them.
He next called Murari: “Murari! For so many days you couldn’t recognize who I am? Just see My divine form.” Then Murari saw Mahaprabhu was His most worshipable Deity, Lord Raghunatha, His body the colour of green grass. Sitting in the Birasana, hi beneath His body, and holding a great bow in His hand, Lakshman and Janaki were seated on each side of Him. In all directions the chiefs of the monkeys were reciting prayers and hymns. Then when he saw himself amongst those monkeys in his original form, he fainted straight away. Mahaprabhu called him: “Murari! Get up! Just see My divine form. Have you forgotten who set Ravana’s Lanka on fire? It was you, Hanuman! Get up and gaze on the form of Laksmana, who is the very embodiment of your life. Offer your obeisances to that one for whose sadness you cried so much (Sita devi).”
Hearing Mahaprabhu’s voice Murari regained his consciousness and seeing that form again he offered his dandavats again while crying in ecstatic love. Seeing this divine display of the Lord’s infinite mercy towards Murari, the devotees filled the sky with the sounds of “Hari! Hari!”
One evening, Mahaprabhu & Nityananda Prabhu were sitting in the courtyard of Srivas Pandit when Murari Gupta arrived there. First he offered his obeisances to Mahaprabhu and then to Nityananda Prabhu. Mahaprabhu told him; “Murari! You have made a mistake. You offered your obeisances in the opposite order.” Murari; “Prabhu! As you have inspired me, so I have done.” Mahaprabhu; “Allright. Go home now and later you will be able to understand everything.”
Murari Gupta went to his house and after having his meal, lay down to take rest. That night he saw a dream. In his dream he saw the chief of the Maha-bhagavat; Lord Nityananda, his cloth tied up behind in the fashion of a wrestler, proceeding in front. Above his head was a great, manyheaded serpent. In his hands were a plow and club.
Nityananda Prabhu appeared just as Balaram. Following behind, with apeacock feather on his head, was Sri Bishwambar. [C. B. Mad. 20.14] Lord Nityananda is no one other than Haladhar, the manifestation of Anantadeva, and the greatest devotee. Now Murari could understand who is greater. Mahaprabhu, smiling sweetly called him; “Murari! Now have you understood? If you breach proper conduct then how will it look.” Murari Gupta, in the depth of his dream began to call out “Nityananda!
Nityananda!” with tears in his eyes. His wife then called out “Krsna! Krsna!” and woke him up. Murari Gupta could understand the greatness of Nityananda Prabhu’s position now. It is he who reveals Lord Gauranga. Without his mercy one cannot get the mercy of Lord Caitanya.
On another day, Murari Gupta came to Srivas’s courtyard and saw Mahaprabhu seated very regally on a decorated sitting place, being served by his various devotees. Gadadhar was offering pan and betel nuts which Mahaprabhu was chewing very happily, while Narahari was fanning Him with a camara. Murari Gupta offered his obeisances and Prabhu offered him some of the remnants of the chewed betel. Murari placed the betel in his mouth and then wiped his hand on his head. Mahaprabhu told him: “Murari! My offal has touched your body!” Murari replied; “Today my entire body has become purified.” The prasadam of the Lord is completely non-material. His self, His name, His prasadam, all are not different. If anyone thinks that His prasadam has become offal, by being in contact with His mouth then this is a great aparadh. The mouths of ordinary human beings are considered unclean but this doesn’t apply to the supremely pure Personality of Godhead.
Having received the tambula (pan and betel) prasadam of Mahaprabhu, Murari became intoxicated with love of Godhead and arrived at his house in this condition. His devoted wife, seeing that her husband had returned home, spread an asana and having seated him, she brought a plate of prasadam and placed it before him. Murari, who was still in an ecstatic mood, was forming the rice in his hand into balls and saying “Eat! Eat!” He was then placing it on the ground. His wife could understand what was going on and thus she requested her husband, “Swamin! That is enough, don’t give (Him) anymore, now you eat something.” Thereafter Murari, still under the influence of ecstatic love, ate a little and then lay down to take rest. In the morning Mahaprabhu came to Murari’s house and began to call him. Murari called out, “Krsna! Krsna!” and quickly got up from bed. Coming to the door he sawCaitanya Mahaprabhu and thus offered his obeisances and inquired whathad brought the Lord to his house so early in the morning. Mahaprabhu replied; “Murari! You forgot already? Last night, all the while saying “Eat! Eat!” you fed Me so much rice with ghee. If you offer me, thenhow can I refuse? But eating rice with so much ghee I have gottenindigestion. Now give me some medicine.” Hearing this, Murari feltvery sorry, but Mahaprabhu immediately told him, “Murari! By eating your nice rice I got indigestion, the medicine for that is your water.” [C. B. Mad. 20.69]
Then seeing a lota of water which was sitting there, Mahaprabhu began to drink it up. Seeing this Murari exclaimed, “Prabhu! I am a fallen, low class person. The water in my house is not fit for You.” (Generally at that time brahmanas would not accept water or foodstuffs from the houses of non-brah¬manas). The Lord is known as bhakta-vatsala, who is very affectionate to His devotees. He accepts foodstuffs in the house of His devotee, and submissive to their love for Him, He is happy to remain in whatever condition they keep Him. Whatever they feed Him, He accepts very happily. Whatever they like, He likes. In this way the Lord enacted so many pastimes with His dear devotee, Hanuman (or Garuda, according to others’ opinion).
One day Murari Gupta began to reflect, “If I can leave my body in the Lord’s presence then that will be very good.” For this purpose he fashioned a large dagger and hid it in his house. But the supreme Lord Sri Caitanya, who is totally omniscient immediately came to his house and called, “Murari!, I have so many pastimes to complete in your company. If you go away then how will I go on? I know everything.”
Murari caught hold of the Lord’s feet and began to cry. Thereafter Mahaprabhu consoled him and after explaining to him many things He returned to His own house. Murari Gupta was present with the Lord during all of his pastimes in Nadiya Nagar. Every year when the devotees would go to Puri, Murari Gupta would go along with his wife and they would take many preparations of foodstuffs to offer to the Lord.
“This was brought by Vasudeva Datta and this by Murari Gupta! This was brought by Buddhimanta Khan. Just see all these various preparations!” [C. C. Antya lila].
There has been a temple constructed by Gaudiya Math, in memory of Murari Gupta Thakur, near Ballal dighi in Sridham Mayapur.
Story
-Murari Gupta
Actually ... are not eligable to accept these remnants (bhoga prasad). Just try to understand which of these conclusions ids correct, by consulting the ... Another devoteee climed in, I don't want any remnats, I just want the banana leaf," which remark brought the respons, "I'm the one who always throwsthe banana leaves away, you all are simply trying to 'lord it over' hence, without considering you respective positions. I Because I have already eaten from ... and because I am a sudra, ... become the remnants ..sudra, which everyone le.. ar not fir for brahmanas to accept. So please don't harass me any further to give you any of this.
In this way the devotees .. about, enjoying ecstatic excitement while trying to taste the nectar of the Supreme Lord's lotus lips. Who could not but become greedy to obtain some of Sacimata's cooking, especially after it had been tasted by Sri Gaurasundor. After the devotees had enjoyed themselves to be fullet by accepting their meals, they went before the Lord. Seing Him seated very gracefully, His devoted followers sat down all around Him. When the Lord saw Murari Gupta seated before Him, He smiled slightly and addressed him, "My dear Gupta, please recite before us the verses which you have composed. describing the Personality of Godhead, Sri Raghavendra." Murari was very pleased to receive this order from the Master of all the universes and thus he began to recite those slokas, gradually becoming totaly immersed in ecstatic love for his most worshipped deity.
"I eternally worship the lotusfeet of Sri Ramacandra, in front of whom is situated the best of the wielders of the bow, Whose bodily complexion is like molten gold, Who is continually absorbed in the service of His older brother, the very form of Sri Ananta Sesa, beautifully decorated with the finest ornaments, Sri Laxman."
"I eternally worship the lotusfeet of the Supreme Spiritual Perceptor of all the three worlds, Sri Ramacandra, Who very mercifully rid the Dandak forest of those polluted and lll raksasas, Khar, ... and Kabndha, along with their family, and who then after assassinating Bali, formed ... ... and those comradeships with Sugriva.
In this way, Murari recited those eight verses, and then in accordance with the Lords order, began to explain them the Supreme Spiritual Preceptor. "Birth after birth I worship the lotusfeet of Sri Raghunandan, whose bodily complexion is the color of blades of ... He is the Supreme Master of the Military sciences based on Archery, the all yielding desire tree who fullfills the desires of the devotees beyond their utmost expectations, smilingly seated on his left is the Divine Mother Sri ...devi Standing before Him is His younger brother, the great wielder of the bow, Sri Laxmana, whose bodily effulgence is like ... of molten gold and who is beautifully decorated with golden ornaments. Sri Ananta Himself has appeared as the younger brother of Ram, namely Sri Laxman in order to render confidential service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Raghunandana. On His two sides, Bharat and Satrughna, are fanning him with camaras, while the monkey chiefs assembled in the ...,sing the glories of His piety and heroic deeds. May I ever be absorbed ...chanting of the glorious character of He who bestowed His friendship even on the... ... Taking the order of the guru (father) on His ..., He renounced His opulent kingdom, to take to life in the forest, where He engaged Himself in activities for the benefit of the pious and saintly persons. After having firstly removed Bali, Sri Ramacandra bestowed the kingdom of ... on Sugriva, whose very intimate friend He remained out of His unlimited mercy. To the lotusfeet of that most mercyful Lord, the prceptor of all the three worlds, who is the deliverer of ... I offer my adoration.
==* NOTE: ... was the first created woman... ... ...bestowed upon Gautama by Lord Brahma. She was cursed by her husband to turn into stone after seduction by Indra who had become ... with her beauty. When Gautama was somewhat pacified by learning that she was ... by Indras trick ... ..., he (Gautam) modified the curse by stating that when that stonewould be ... by the lotus feet of Lord Rama...she would be delivered from the stone. At thi time he also cursed Indras body to become covered with a thousand vaginas. This curse also became modified by changing those vaginas into eyes.//
With Laxman as His companion, He crossed the ... ocean, filled with threatening ... and fierce aquatics, by engaging the monkey warriors in building a bridge across it. I worship the lotusfeet of He, who exterminated Ravana along with his sinful... those who where inconquerable even by Lord Indra. By Sri Ramacandras mercy, the ... Vibhisana became the king of Lanka, even though he was not inclined to accept this position. Even the ... listen with ...faith and respect to the narrations of the activities of Sri ....whose lotusfeet I continually adore. He was always vigilant with His bow in hand, to ...down all sorts of vicious ..., yet He remained always diligent to protect and maintain the citizens as though they were His own children. By His mercy , all of the residents of Ayodhya became the residents of Vaikuntha, even in their selfsame bodies. The naked ascetic Maheswara remains continually absorbed in the nectarean mellows of His Holy Name. The Goddess of fortune Rama devi serves His lotusfeet constantly, He whose glories are sung in the vedas ... Param Brahma ... ,I adore the lotusfeet of the Master of all masters, Sri Raghavendra (Swami). In this way,...recited these eight slokas...his own composition, ...nectarean narrations of the glories of his worshipable deity, Sri Ramacandra.
Sri Gaursundar became so pleased by hearing these verses that He placed His lotusfeet on the head of Murari Gupta."Hear Me o Gupta, by My mercy you may receive the benediction of being the servant of Lord Rama, birth after birth without any opposition whatsoever. Whoever takes shelter of you for even a moment, will certainly attain shelter at the lotusfeet of Sri Rama.
Hearing this benediction of Lord Caitanya upon Murari Gupta, the devotees began to roar in ecstatic love, causing the heavens to tremble.. Thus Sri Gaursundar enjoys joyful pastimes in the company of his devotees, who ... about the nectar of His lotusfeet, like so many intoxicated bumblebees. Just at this time one leper entered and came before Prabhu while offering his prostrated obeisances he began to cry piteously. Raising up his two arms with ... ... ... he continued his heart... cry, sunk in the depths of despair and grief, he adressed Prabhu,"You are the incarnation of compassion, come to deliver this world, Your appearance here is like the rising sun. It is Your nature to feel distress upon seeing the suffering of others and therefore I have come before You. Iam being tortured by leprosy ..................slow death. Please tell me how I can be delivered from this affliction. After quietly allowing the leper to finish his... Mahaprabhu exploded in rage and storm of anger. "Get rid of this sinful wretch, get him out of my sight, simply by seeing you, others become infected by sinful reaction. Even a very pious, religious gentleman by seeing your face will indoubtedly have to suffer some sorrow on that very day itself. You are the blasphemer of ..., a depraved and sinful wretch, and this is the root cause of all your sufferings. But don't think this is the end of it. There is much more in store for you, you evil wretch, if you can't even tolerate this, then how will you ...in Kumbhipaka (one of the divisions of hell). The world becomes purified when the name of a vaisnava is uttered; Lord Brahma and the other demigods sing the praises of the glorious character of the vaisnavas; by worshipping a vaisnava one can attain the unattainable, inconceivable Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna himself; in fact there is no worship higher than the worship of vaisnavas; they are produced directly from the bodies of Ananta Sesa, Laxmi devi (Rama), Lord Siva and Lord Brahma; and as stated in the Bhagavatam ther is no one more dear to Krsna than the vaisnavas 11.14.15
O My Dear Uddhava, even my son Brahma, my selfsame form Lord Siva, my brother Sankarsana and even my wife Laxmidevi are not as dear to Me as you (My devotee) are. In fact My own body is not as dear to Me as you are. Whoever ... a Vaisnava must certainly suffer in birth, death and throughout his life. Though such a person may even be endowed with the opulences of learning, birth in an aristocratic family, religious penance, they will all be rendered futile by his ... and ... habitof speaking ill of a vaisnava. Even if he offers worship to the Supreme Lord, Krsna never accepts the offerings of such a ... and wicked wretch. The earth becomes honored when the vaisnavas dance upon its surface and by raising their arms while dancing, even inauspiciousness in the heavenly planets is dispelled. Simply by the sight of a vaisnava, sins are destroyed in all the ten directions. The character of such a saintly devotee as Srivas Pandit, was ... by such a sinful wretch, namely you. This slight incovenience you are experiencing (leprosy) is nothing. Your real punishment awaits you in the court of Yamaraja. Your face is not fit to be seen by me. Now go from here if I can do anything to ... your suffering. You fully deserve every bit of this. Upon hearing this reply from Mahaprabhu, the leper was extremely distressed. Taking a straw in his teeth he very reluctantly submitted his case once again. " Because I am a fool and don't know anything I have rushed in a place where angels dare to ... and now my future is very dark due to my ... foolishness I committed the offence of blaspheming a Vaisnava and now I have rightly received the proper punishment. You are the Supreme Controller. It is the nature of saintly persons that they always desire that the distressed might be delivered. Therefore who is more qualified than Yourself to at least consider what possible path might benefit me at least to some extent. Saintly persons show their mercy even to `the sinful criminals as myself. I have taken shelter of You. If You neglect me than who will help me? No one! You are in knowledge of a whatever possible process of atonement there might be. Please tell me how I might atone for my offence, OH You who are the father of everyone I have been fittingly punished for my mistake. Prabhu replied,"Oh is that so? Where is it written that if one commits vaisnava aparadha he becomes stricken with leprosy? For the time being you are just getting a taste, your real torture will begin in the hands of the servants of Yamaraja. Ther are ... thousand different grades of tortures which the inhabitants of the hellish region are waiting to inflict upon the blasphemer of vaisnavas. Again and again you will be able to relish ... suffering. Listen leper, go to Srivas Pandits house and immediately fall down at his feet. The offence which you have committed was directed against him, only by his mercy can you be ..., whereever the thorn enters, ther eit remains. If a thorn goes in your foot does it come out your shoulder?
*NOTE: As... a thorn is used to remove another thorn from ones foot so similarly only an act of submission to the one that has been offended can remove the offence committed against him./
So now I have told you the... for your deliverance. If Srivas forgives you then your distres will be... His intellct is highly purified so if you go t ohim he wil surely forgive everything you have done. (... ... ... as the plow follows the oxen to which it is ...)." When the devotees heard these words of eternal truth from Prabhu, they began to roar in ecstasy.
The leper offered his prostated obeisances, upon hearing these words from `Mahaprabhu and then immediately went to Srivas Pandits house. There the mercy of Srivas Thakur was bestowed upon him and he became free from his offences. Thus the ... resulting from Vaisnava aparadha was fully described by the Lord of Vaikuntha himself (Sri Vaikuntha Raj). Therefore whoever commits blasphemy at the feet of a Vaisnava will most definitely be punished by Sri Caitanya Narayana Himself. Whoever upon seeing some Vaisnavas mutually ... one another thinks that it is some ordinary argument, doesn't understand the real nature of their ..., which is that it is produced from the desire to satisfy Sri Krsna and therefore even Krsna becomes curious and is attracted by their dispute. Just as in the case with Satyabhama and Rukmini. Whenever they would ... ... words there would ... ...
the highest interest, complete harmony, because their ultimate aim was one, namely to please Krsna. Only externally there appears to be some difference. Similarly, if two Vaisnavas may only appear to be having some difference of opinion but this difference is actually generated by Caitanya Gosai Himself. Now if anyone takes the side of one, and criticize the others ... one simply causes his own ... (end).If one serves the Lord with one hand and gives Him grief with the other then will this bring happiness to him? The devotees are the bodily limbs of the Lord but only those who are endowed with great forbearance and wisdom can understand this, worship Krsna and the vaisnavas alike, wihout seeing any difference between them! Whoever worships the lotusfeet of Krsna becomes delivered from the ocean of material existence. Whoever sings the gories of Krsna and His devotees, whoever listens to these virtuous narrations, both of them remain completely free from the tendency to commit vaisnava aparadha. While in ... Sri Gaursundar thus continued to enjoy ecstatic mellows in the company of his associates in the temple of Sri Advaita Acarya.