Sri Murari Gupta
çré-muräri gupta çäkhä——premera bhäëòära
prabhura hådaya drave çuni’ dainya yäìra
TRANSLATION
Muräri
Gupta, the twenty-first branch of the tree of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu,
was a storehouse of love of Godhead. His great humility and meekness
melted the heart of Lord Caitanya.
PURPORT
Çré Muräri Gupta wrote
a book called Çré Caitanya-carita. He belonged to a vaidya physician
family of Çréhaööa, the paternal home of Lord Caitanya, and later
became a resident of Navadvépa. He was among the elders of Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu. Lord Caitanya exhibited His Varäha form in the house of
Muräri Gupta, as described in the Caitanya-bhägavata, Madhya-lélä,
Third Chapter. When Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu exhibited His mahä-prakäça
form, He appeared before Muräri Gupta as Lord Rämacandra. When Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Nityänanda Prabhu were sitting together in the
house of Çréväsa Öhäkura, Muräri Gupta first offered his respects to
Lord Caitanya and then to Çré Nityänanda Prabhu. Nityänanda Prabhu,
however, was older than Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and therefore Lord
Caitanya remarked that Muräri Gupta had violated social etiquette, for
he should have first shown respect to Nityänanda Prabhu and then to
Him. In this way, by the grace of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, Muräri Gupta
was informed about the position of Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, and the next
day he offered obeisances first to Lord Nityänanda and then to Lord
Caitanya. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu gave chewed pan, or betel nut, to
Muräri Gupta. Once Çivänanda Sena offered food to Lord Caitanya that
had been cooked with excessive ghee, and the next day the Lord became
sick and went to Muräri Gupta for treatment. Lord Caitanya accepted
some water from the waterpot of Muräri Gupta, and thus He was cured.
The natural remedy for indigestion is to drink a little water, and
since Muräri Gupta was a physician, he gave the Lord some drinking
water and cured Him.
When Caitanya Mahäprabhu appeared in the house
of Çréväsa Öhäkura in His Caturbhuja mürti, Muräri Gupta became His
carrier in the form of Garuòa, and in these pastimes of ecstasy the
Lord then got up on his back. It was the desire of Muräri Gupta to
leave his body before the disappearance of Caitanya Mahäprabhu, but the
Lord forbade him to do so. This is described in Caitanya-bhagävata,
Madhya-lélä, Chapter Twenty. When Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu one day
appeared in ecstasy as the Varäha mürti, Muräri Gupta offered Him
prayers. He was a great devotee of Lord Rämacandra, and his staunch
devotion is vividly described in the Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya-lélä,
Fifteenth Chapter, verses 137 through 157. (A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. Ädi-lila 10.49. purport.)
Adi 10:50
pratigraha nähi kare, nä laya kära dhana
ätma-våtti kari’ kare kuöumba bharaëa
TRANSLATION
Çréla
Muräri Gupta never accepted charity from friends, nor did he accept
money from anyone. He practiced as a physician and maintained his
family with his earnings.
PURPORT
It should be noted that a
gåhastha (householder) must not make his livelihood by begging from
anyone. Every householder of the higher castes should engage himself in
his own occupational duty as a brähmaëa, kñatriya or vaiçya, but he
should not engage in the service of others, for this is the duty of a
çüdra. One should simply accept whatever he earns by his own
profession. The engagements of a brähmaëa are yajana, yäjana, paöhana,
päöhana, däna and pratigraha. A brähmaëa should be a worshiper of
Viñëu, and he should also instruct others how to worship Him. A
kñatriya can become a landholder and earn his livelihood by levying
taxes or collecting rent from tenants. A vaiçya can accept agriculture
or general trade as an occupational duty. Since Muräri Gupta was born
in a physician’s family (vaidya-vaàça), he practiced as a physician,
and with whatever income he earned he maintained his family. As stated
in Çrémad-Bhägavatam, everyone should try to satisfy the Supreme
Personality of Godhead through the execution of his occupational duty.
That is the perfection of life. This system is called daivé-varëäçrama.
Muräri Gupta was an ideal gåhastha, for he was a great devotee of Lord
Rämacandra and Caitanya Mahäprabhu. By practicing as a physician he
maintained his family and at the same time satisfied Lord Caitanya to
the best of his ability. This is the ideal of householder life.
(A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita.
Ädi-lila 10.50. purport.)
Ädi 10.51
cikitsä karena yäre ha-iyä sadaya
deha-roga bhäva-roga,——dui tära kñaya
TRANSLATION
As Muräri Gupta treated his patients, by his mercy both their bodily and spiritual diseases subsided.
PURPORT
Muräri
Gupta could treat both bodily and spiritual disease because he was a
physician by profession and a great devotee of the Lord in terms of
spiritual advancement. This is an example of service to humanity.
Everyone should know that there are two kinds of diseases in human
society. One disease, which is called adhyätmika, or material disease,
pertains to the body, but the main disease is spiritual. The living
entity is eternal, but somehow or other, when in contact with the
material energy, he is subjected to the repetition of birth, death, old
age and disease. The physicians of the modern day should learn from
Muräri Gupta. Although modern philanthropic physicians open gigantic
hospitals, there are no hospitals to cure the material disease of the
spirit soul. The Kåñëa consciousness movement has taken up the mission
of curing this disease, but people are not very appreciative because
they do not know what this disease is. A diseased person needs both
proper medicine and a proper diet, and therefore the Kåñëa
consciousness movement supplies materially stricken people with the
medicine of the chanting of the holy name, or the Hare Kåñëa
mahä-mantra, and the diet of prasäda. There are many hospitals and
medical clinics to cure bodily diseases, but there are no such
hospitals to cure the material disease of the spirit soul. The centers
of the Kåñëa consciousness movement are the only established hospitals
that can cure man of birth, death, old age and disease.
(A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita.
Ädi-lila 10.51. purport.)
"All the devotees worshiped Lord
Caitanya Mahäprabhu in this way, and the Lord remained in ecstasy for
seven praharas, or twenty-one hours. He took this opportunity to show
the devotees that He is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Kåñëa, who is the source of all other incarnations, as confirmed in the
Bhagavad-gétä (10.8): ahaà sarvasya prabhavo mattaù sarvaà pravartate.
All the different forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or
viñëu-tattva, emanate from the body of Lord Kåñëa. Lord Caitanya
Mahäprabhu exposed all the private desires of the devotees, and thus
all of them became fully confident that Lord Caitanya is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
"Some devotees call this exhibition of
ecstasy by the Lord säta-prahariyä bhäva, or “the ecstasy of twenty-one
hours,” and others call it mahäbhäva-prakäça or mahä-prakäça. There are
other descriptions of this säta-prahariyä bhäva in the
Caitanya-bhävagata, Chapter Nine, which mentions that Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu blessed a maidservant named Duùkhé with the name Sukhé. He
called for Kholävecä Çrédhara, and showed him His mahä-prakäça. Then He
called for Muräri Gupta and showed him His feature as Lord Rämacandra.
He offered His blessings to Haridäsa Öhäkura, and at this time He also
asked Advaita Prabhu to explain the Bhagavad-gétä as it is (gétära
satya-päöha) and showed special favor to Mukunda. (A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. Ädi-lila 17.18. purport.)
varäha-äveça hailä muräri-bhavane
täìra skandhe caòi’ prabhu näcilä aìgane
TRANSLATION
One
day Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu felt the ecstasy of the boar incarnation
and got up on the shoulders of Muräri Gupta. Thus they both danced in
Muräri Gupta’s courtyard.
PURPORT
One day Caitanya Mahäprabhu
began to cry out, “Çükara! Çükara!” Thus crying out for the boar
incarnation of the Lord, He assumed His form as the boar incarnation
and got up on the shoulders of Muräri Gupta. He carried a small gäòu, a
small waterpot with a nozzle, and thus He symbolically picked up the
earth from the depths of the ocean, for this is the pastime of Lord
Varäha. (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Sri Chaitanya
Charitamrita. Ädi-lila 17.20. purport.)
Sri Murari Gupta in all
humility in his Chaitanya Mangala presentation of Lord Chaitanya's
pastimes first begs for the blessings of all 'mahabhagavatas'. "Then I
can properly sing the glories of the Lord. I am the lowest of the low,
so how can I explain the greatness of Sri Caitanya's transcendental
character? Since I don't know anything, what's the use of my incoherent
words? If, without knowing the highest truths about Lord Caitanya, I
try to say something, I will suffer embarrassment before the great
souls.
Although I am not qualified and full of faults, I cherish an
intense desire to sing about the sweet qualities of Sri Gauranga
Mahaprabhu."
"While living in Navadwip, Sri Murari Gupta had the
opportunity to remian always in the company of Gaurachandra. Who can
describe his greatness? He is known throughout the world as Hanuman.
After crossing the ocean to Lanka, Hanuman burned Ravan's palace to the
ground. Then Hanuman brought Rama the good news about His beloved Sita.
He revived Laksmana by bringing 'visalya-karani' (a medical herb). That
same Hanuman now resides in Nadia as Murari Gupta.
Being highly
realised, Murari Gupta knows all truths. As an eternal associate of the
Lord, he is fixed at the lotus feet of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. He
expertly told all of Lord Caitanya's childhood and boyhood pastimes in
his great Sanskrit epic, 'Sri-Krishna-Caitanya-carita-mahakavya',(also
called 'Karcha', dairy.).(Caitanya Mangala. 1994. Mahanidhi Swami, page
4.)
Murari Gupta begged Lord Caitanya (Gauranga) to "please be merciful, please give me ecstatic love of God!"
"Lord
Gauranga said, 'Listen Murari, You have love for Me. So just serve the
'Parabraman' appearing in the human form, having the colour of an
'indranila' gem(blue sapphire). He stands most attractively in His
three-fold bening form, carrying a flute in His hand. Worship Srimati
Radharani, the golden comlexioned daughter of King Vrshabhanu. She is
the original energy of the Lord, and Her effulgence defeats the colour
of 'gorachana' (bright yellow).
"Engage yourself in the service of
the 'gopis', and you'll attain the son of Nanda. In 'cintamani-bhumi',
Vrindavana-dham, He sits on a jewelled throne resting upon a
gem-studded platform surrounded by 'kalpa-vrksha' trees. By His
inconceivible potency, 'Kama-dhenu' (surabhi-cows) wander everywhere
fulfilling all desires. His glittering bodily effulgence is known as
the formless 'Brahman'. You should know that this is the sweet truth
about Krishna."
'The devotees felt transcendental joy to hear these
talk from Lord Gauranga. I a mood of submission, Murari Gupta
requested, "My lord, I want to see the Lord's form as Raghunatha (Lord
Rama)."
Within a second, Murari saw Lord Ramachandra in His
beautiful body the colour of fresh green grass. Sitadevi, Laksmana,
bharata and Satrughna stood around the Lord. Murari rolled on the
ground in astonishment. Gaurasundara pacified him with the touch of His
lotus hand while blessing him. "May you become saturated in love of
God. Actually Murari, you are no one other than Hanuman, and I am the
same Lord Rama." After saying this, the Lord entered the
temple."(Caitanya Mangala. Locan dasa Thakura.; Mahanidhi Swami. 1994.
page 134.)
Once Lord Caitanya asked Murari Gupta to recite some
verses he had composed, "For My pleasure, please recite that verse you
composed."
'Murari Gupta cited his book Sri Krishna Caitanya-carita:
"I worship the blessed Lord and master of the three worlds, Sri
Ramachandra. He wears a brilliant crown covered with a strand of jewels
whose shining lights up all directions. His dazzling earings defeat the
brilliance of Sukra and Brhaspati. his beautiful face looks like a pure
spotless moon.
"I worship the lotus feet of the master of the three
worlds, Sri Ramachandra, whose charming eyes appear like blossoming
lotus flowers. his red lips look like 'bimba' fruits, and His
well-shaped nose attracts eveyone. His wonderfull smile embarrasses the
moonlight."
After hearing these verses, Gaura put His feet on
Murari's head. Then He wrote the name "Ramadasa" on his forehead.
Prabhu said, "Murari, from today on, by My mercy, you'll be known as
Ramadasa. Without Raghunatha, you can't live a moment. Know for certain
that I am that same Lord Raghunath (Rama)."
To the surprise of
everyone present, Lord Gauranga showed His transcendental form as Lord
Ramachandra, long with Janaki (Sita), Laksmana, Hanuman, and other
associates. Instantly, Murari fell at the Lord's feet and praised
Gauranga. "All glories to Raghavira. He's the same as the darling of
Sacimata." Then Murari rolled in the dust. Crying in happiness, he
offered more prayers.
Showing mery, Mahaprabhu said, "Murari, you
should worship Me, and forget anything other than 'bhakti'. Although I
am your worshippable Lord Raghunatha, still you should worship the lord
of Radha. Perform 'sankirtan', attentively hear the glories of Radha
and Krishna, and be devoted to Me."(Caitanya Mangala. Locana dasa
Thakura.; Mahanidhi Swami, page 153-154.)
Madhya 11.152
prathame muräri-gupta prabhure nä miliyä
bähirete paòi’ äche daëòavat haïä
meeting; bähirete—outside; paòi’—falling down; äche—was there; daëòavat—falling flat like a stick; haïä—becoming so.
TRANSLATION
Muräri Gupta at first did not meet the Lord but rather remained outside the door, falling down like a stick to offer obeisances.
Madhya 11.153
muräri nä dekhiyä prabhu kare anveñaëa
muräri la-ite dhäïä äilä bahu-jana
TRANSLATION
When
Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu could not see Muräri amongst the devotees,
He inquired about him. Thereupon many people immediately went to
Muräri, running to take him to the Lord.
Madhya 11.154
tåëa dui-guccha muräri daçane dhariyä
mahäprabhu äge gelä dainyädhéna haïä
TRANSLATION
Thus Muräri Gupta, catching two bunches of straw in his teeth, went before Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu with humility and meekness.
Madhya 11.155
muräri dekhiyä prabhu äilä milite
päche bhäge muräri, lägilä kahite
TRANSLATION
Upon
seeing Muräri come to meet Him, Lord Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu went up to
him, but Muräri began to run away and speak as follows.
Madhya 11.156
more nä chuìiha, prabhu, muïi ta’ pämara
tomära sparça-yogya nahe päpa kalevara
TRANSLATION
“My Lord, please do not touch me. I am most abominable and am not fit for You to touch because my body is sinful.”
Madhya 11.157
prabhu kahe,—muräri, kara dainya saàvaraëa
tomära dainya dekhi’ mora vidérëa haya mana
TRANSLATION
The Lord said, “My dear Muräri, please restrain your unnecessary humility. My mind is disturbed to see your meekness.”
Madhya 11.158
eta bali’ prabhu täìre kaila äliìgana
nikaöe vasäïä kare aìga sammärjana
TRANSLATION
Saying
this, the Lord embraced Muräri and had him sit down by His side. The
Lord then began to cleanse his body with His own hands.
Madhya 11.159-160
äcäryaratna, vidyänidhi, paëòita gadädhara
gaìgädäsa, hari-bhaööa, äcärya purandara
pratyeke sabära prabhu kari’ guëa gäna
punaù punaù äliìgiyä karila sammäna
TRANSLATION
Lord
Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu then again and again embraced all the devotees,
including Äcäryaratna, Vidyänidhi, Paëòita Gadädhara, Gaìgädäsa, Hari
Bhaööa and Äcärya Purandara. The Lord described their good qualities
and glorified them again and again.
Madhya 15.137
muräri-guptere prabhu kari’ äliìgana
täìra bhakti-niñöhä kahena, çune bhakta-gaëa
TRANSLATION
Çré
Caitanya Mahäprabhu then embraced Muräri Gupta and began to speak about
his firm faith in devotional service. This was heard by all the
devotees.
"There was a devotee of Caitanya Mahäprabhu. His name
was Muräri Gupta. He was physician to the then Nawab, Muslim Nawab.
Now, they were sitting. The Nawab was going some hunting excursion or
something like that, but he was Nawab’s physician. He was to accompany
him. So they were sitting on the back of the elephant. In the meantime
that Muräri Gupta saw one peacock, and as soon as he saw the peacock,
the feather, he at once remembered Kåñëa and at once fainted and fall
down. This is called älambana. This is called älambana. Älambana means
anything to the context, immediately he remembers his Lord and becomes
ecstatic. This is the first-class stage of Kåñëa consciousness." (A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 17th March 1967. Srimad Bhagavatam
lecture 7:7:32-35. San Francisco.)