Sri Virabhadra Prabhu
Sri
Viracandra or Virabhadra Prabhu appeared on the ninth day of the dark
fortnight of the month of Kartik. Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami has given
this description of Him in the C.c. Adi 11.8-12:
"After
Nityananda Prabhu, the greatest branch is Virabhadra Gosani, who also
has innumerable branches and sub-branches. It is not possible to
describe them all. Although Virabhadra Gosani was the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, He presented Himself as a great devotee. And
although the Supreme Godhead is transcendental to all Vedic
injunctions, He strictly followed the Vedic rituals. He is the main
pillar in the hall of devotional service erected by Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. He knew within himself that He acted as the Supreme Lord
Visnu, but externally He was prideless. It is by the mercy of Sri
Virabhadra Gosani that people all over the world now have the chance to
chant the names of Caitanya and Nityananda. I there take shelter of the
lotus feet of Virabhadra Gosani so that by His mercy my great desire to
write Sri Caitanya-Charitamrta will be properly guided."
Sri
Birbhadra Gosvami is the son of Sri Nityananda Prabhu and the disciple
of Sri Jahnava Mata. His mother is Srimati Vasudha Devi. In the
Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika it is described that Sri Viracandra Prabhu is an
incarnation of Ksirodakasayi Visnu – one of the expansions of Sri
Sankarsana. He is thus not different from Lord Caitanya Himself.
Once
upon a time, Isvari (Sri Jahnava Mata) went to the house of one
Jadunandana Acarya of Jhamatpur near Rajbol Hat(ta?)œ and by her mercy
he became a devotee. Jadunanda's wife was extremely devoted to her
husband and his two daughters, Srimati and Narayani, possessed bodily
forms which excelled the limits of mortal beauty. By the desire of
Isvari that very perfect brahmana gave these two daughters in marriage
to Prabhu Viracandra. [B.R.13]
Sri Yadunandana Acarya became the
disciple of Vircandra Prabhu and Srimati and Sri Narayani were given
initiation in mantra by Sri Jahnava Mata. Viracandra prabhu had a
sister, Srimati Gangadevi, who was none other than Mother Ganga
herself. Her husband Madhavacarya was an incarnation of Raja Santanu.
Taking
permission from his mother, Viracandra Prabhu set out on a pilgrimage
to Vrindavana. First he came to Saptagram and proceeded to the house of
Sri Uddharana Datta Thakura where He was met by Uddharana Datta's son,
Srinivasa Datta. Srinivasa greeted Him with respect and showed Him all
hospitality for the two days that he stayed there. From there He went
to Santipur where He was led to Advaita Bhavan in a kirtan procession
by Advaita Acarya's son, Sri Krsna Misra. Next he crossed the Ganges
River and came to Gauri dasa Pandita's house in Ambika Kalna. Sri
Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu respectfully greeted Him and honored Him as His
guest. From here He came to Navadvipa, to the house of Jagannath Misra.
When the family members and associates of Mahaprabhu learned that He
was the son of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, they were highly pleased and
showed Him all courtesies.
After spending two days there He came
to Sri Khanda where He was greeted very respectfully and affectionately
by Sri Raghunandana and to Sri Kanai Thakura. He spent a few days
there, and then went to Srinivasa Acarya Prabhu's house in Jajigram,
where Acarya Prabhu received his exalted guest by offering Him the
appropriate worship. A few days passed In the ecstasy of sankirtan and
then Viracandra Prabhu came to Kantak Nagan (Katwa). He remained there
for one day and then proceeded to Bhudarigram. There He was received by
Sri Govinda Kaviraj who worshipped His lotus feet and offered Him all
hospitality. Sri Viracandra Prabhu was very pleased at his devotion and
remained there for a couple of days. Thereafter He made His auspicious
arrival in Kheturi.
As soon as he received news of His arrival,
Sri Narottama Thakura came out in great ecstasy to meet Sri Viracandra
Prabhu. He led Him into the courtyard of the temple of Sri Gauranga
where sankirtan accompanied with ecstatic dancing commenced. A steady
crowd of people thronged to get a glimpse of Prabhu Vircandra.
[B.R. 13]
After
spending a few days in Kheturi in ecstatic sankirtana, Viracandra
Prabhu set off for Sri Vrindavana Dhama. Along the way many sinful and
atheistic people were delivered by His influence. As news of His
arrival reached Vrindavana, the Gosvamis, namely Srila Jiva Goswami,
Srila Krsna dasa Kaviraj Gosvami, Sri Ananta Acarya, Sri Hari dasa
Pandita, Sri Krsna dasa Brahmacari (Sri Madhu Gopala's pujari, a
disciple of Sri Gadadhara Pandita), Sri Madhu Pandita (pujari of Sri
Gopinatha), Sri Bhavananda, Sri Kasisvara, as well as his disciple Sri
Govinda Gosvami and Sri Yadavacarya were all informed.
The
Gosvamis, accompanied by many residents of Sri Vrindavana Dhama, all
came out to meet Prabhu Viracandra. Everyone was overwhelmed by His
appearance in ecstatic love, and they all were humming like bumble bees
in discussing His good qualities. Prabhu Viracandra, in the company of
these exalted souls, took darshana of Sri Madana Mohana, Sri Govindaji,
Sri Gopinatha, the principal Deities in Vrindavana.
[B.R. 13]
After
receiving the consent of Sri Jiva Gosvami and Sri Bhugarbha Gosvami,
Prabhu Viracandra set out to wander in the twelve forests of
Vrajamandala, becoming completely overwhelmed by seeing the various
places of Krsna's pastimes, like Sri Radha Kunda, Sri Shyama Kunda and
Giri Govardhana. His display of ecstatic symptoms captivated the
Brijbasis. After seeing the sights of Sri Vrajadhama, Bircandra Prabhu
returned to Gaudadesa.
All of the divine qualities of His
father, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, were fully present in Him. Those who
were fortunate enough to witness His ecstatic love praised His glories
far and wide.
Gopijana Vallabha, Rama Krsna and Ramacandra, who
are thought by some to be the sons of Virabhadra Gosai, were actually
His disciples. The youngest, Rama Krsna, who resided at Khardaha,
belonged to the Sandilya Gotra and was a member of the Batabyal
brahmana community, known for their great accomplishment in studying
the Vedas. The oldest, Gopijana Vallabha, lived at Latagram near
Manakar, in the district of Barddhaman. The middle one, Rama candra,
lived at Ganeshpur near Maldah. Because their gotras and surnames
(titles) were different, and because they lived at different places, it
is concluded they were not actually Vira candra Prabhu's sons.
His
birthplace is at Khardaha, which now is a rail station on the
Sealdah-Krsnanagar line. The village where Nityananda Prabhu made His
advent in this world - Ekacakra - is also named Viracandra pur. Here
the Deity of Sri Bankim Raya was worshipped by Vira candra
Prabhu.