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SRI SRI VASUDEVA & MUKUNDA DATTA THAKUR CARITA

Kavi Karnapur has written in his book, 'Gaura - Ganoddesa - Dipika' - Braje sthitau gayakau tau madhu - kantha - madhu - vratau Mukunda vasudevau tau dattau gauranga - gayakau 'The two singers, who were previously known as Madhu - kantha and Madhu - Vasudeva, the celebrated singers of Sri Gauranga.' In the kirtan of Sri Vasudeva Datta Thakur and Sri Mukunda Datta Thakur, Sr Sri Gaura Nityananda used to personally dance.Sri Mukunda and Vasudeva Datta were born at Cattagram in the village of Chanhara, Patiya Thana. Sri Vasudeva was the elder of the two brothers. Vasudeva datta prabhur bhrtya mahasoy sahasra mukhe yar gun kahile na hoy 'Vasudeva datta, the nineteenth brach of the Sri Caitanya tree, was a great personalityand a most confidential devotee of the Lord. One could not describe his qualities even with thousands of mouths.'During the Lord Mahaprabhu's return from Ram keli, at the time of His attempt to go to Vrndavan, He met Srivas Thakur, Sri Vasudeva Datta and Sri Sivananda Sen at Kumar hatta. Receiving the news that Mahaprabhu had come to there to meet him.Vasudeva Datta is especially dear to the Lord and by His mercy he is acquainted with all of the truths regarding the supreme science of devotion. He is the well - wisher of the entire universe and is extremely compassionate towards all the living entities. He appreciates the good qualities and virtues of others, never seeing their faults. His dealings with the Supreme Lord and the Lord's devotees are exactly befitting his relationships with Them. He is ntoxicated with the mellow of devotional service to Sri Krsna Caitanya.Seeing Vasudeva Datta, Sri Gaurasundor took him in His lap and shed tears for a long time. Vasudeva Datta caught hold of the Lord's lotus feet and cried very loudly. To hear te weeping of Vasudeva Datta, no one, not even dry wood or stone, can restrain his tears. No one can be found to compare with Vasudeva Datta in the estimation of his wonderful qualities.He is sodear to the Lord that the Lord Himself stated, "I belong only to Vasudeva." Again and again, Sri Gaurasundor said, "This body belongs to Vasudeva Datta. Wherever Datta likes to sell me, in that place I am sold. There is no exception to this; it is the simple truth. Whoever receives even a faint touchof his favour, becomes the object of Krsna's special attention and kindness. I am simply speaking the truth. Hear Me, Oh devotees. This body belongs only to Vasudeva Datta.". Hearing of the Lord's special mercy on Vasudeva, the assembled Vaisnavas began to cheer: "Hari! Hari!"Every year the devotees from Bengal used to come and see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Puri during the time of the Ratha - yatra festival. One year, just after their arrival, the Lord met them and arranged fortheir acomodation. As soon as He saw Vasudeva Datta, the older brother of Mukunda Datta, He immediately became very happy, and placing His hand on his body, He began to speak, "Although Mukunda is My friend from childhood, I nonetheless take greater pleasure in seeing you then in seeing him.". Vasudeva replied: "Mukunda got Your lotus feet. That is his transcendental rebirth. Although Mukunda is my junior, he first received Your favor. Consequently he hs become trascendentally senior to me. Besides that, You very much favored Mukunda. Thus he is superior in all good qualities." The Lord said, "For your sake only, I have brought two books from South India. The books are kept with Swarup Damodar, and you can get them copied." Hearing this, Vasudeva became very glad.During the period when Lord Jaganath resides at the Gundica Mandir, the Lord went there and entered into the garden. Vasudeva sang a different song under each and every tree, while Mahaprabhu danced in great ecstasy.When the devotees were preparing to return to Bengal after having spent the four months of the rainy season with Mahaprabhu, He again began to praise His devotees as He bid them farewell. The Lord respectfully told Sivananda Sen, "Take care of Vasudeva Datta very nicely. Vasudeva Datta is very liberal. Everyday, whatever income he receives he spends. He does not keep any balance. Being a householder, he needsto save some money. Because he is not doing so, it is very difficult for him to maintain his family. Please take care of Vasudeva's family affairs. Become his manager and make the proper arrangements."Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then embraced Vasudeva Datta and began to speak of his glories as if He had a thousand mouths. When Mahaprabhu glorified him, Vasudeva immediately became embarrassed and shy. He then submitted

himself, touching the Lord's lotus feet, "My dear Lord, You incarnate just to deliver all conditioned souls. I have now one petition, which I wish You would accept. My Lord, You are certainly capable of doing whatever you like, and You are indeed merciful. If You so desire You can very easily do whatever You want. My Lor, my heart breaks to see the sufferings of all conditioned souls; there fore I request You to transfer the karma of their sinful lives uponmy head. Let me suffer perpetually in a hellish condition, accepting all the sinful reactions of all living beings. Please finish their diseased material life." When Sri Caitanya Mahapraby heard Vasudeva Datta's statement, His heart became very soft. Tears flowed from His eyes, and He began to tremble. In a faltering voice He began to speak as follows, "Such astatement is not at all astonishing because you are the incarnation of Prahlad Maharaja. It appears that Lord Krsna has bestowed complete mercy upon you. There is no doubt about it. Whatever a pure devotee wants from his master, Lord Krsna doubtlessly grants because He has no duty other thanto fulfill the desires of His devotees. If you desire the deliverance of all living entities within the universe, then all of them can be delivered without your undergoing the tribulation of their sinful reactions. Krsna is not incapable, for He has all potencies. Why should He induce you to suffer the sinful reactions of other living entities? Who's ever welfare you desire immediately becomes a Vaisnava, and Krsna delivers all Vaisnavas from the reactions of their past sinful activities. "I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, Who burns up to their roots all fruitive activities of those whoare imbued with devotion."(Brahma - Samhita) Because of your honest desire, all living entities within the universe will be delivered, for Krsna does not have to do anything to deliver all the living entities." In this way, Sri Caitany Mahaprabhu described the good qualities of His devotees one after the other. He then embraced them and bade them farewell. Sri Mukunda Datta sakha prabhur samadhyayi Jahar kirttane nace caitanya - nitai(page 4) is missing now.,to discuss rhetoric with You." Nimai retorted, "Allright. Ask Me any questions you please." Mukunda then began to ask Him the most difficult questions in rhetoric but the jall - powerful Nimai gave the correct answer evrytime. After refuting one argument, He would again establish the very same point. Then Nimai told Mukunda torefute His arguments and establish his own conclusions, but Mukunda was unable to do so. Mukunda then began to think how to get free from this embarrassing situation. He didn't have to think long however, because this Nimai Pandit, Who also resides within the hearts of all living beings, could understand his mind and told him, "Allright Mukunda, you can go home for today. Tomorrow we'll again deliberate on these points." Mukunda, who was simply glad to geyt his release, replied, "Very well. Tomorrow we'll meet again." Saying this he took the dust from Nimai's and began to reflect, manusyer emata panditya ache kotha heno sastra nahik abyas nahi yatha eimota subuddhi krsna bhakta hoy yabe tileko ihan sanga chariya tobe"Is it possible for an ordinary human being to be so vastly aaccomplished in learning; even insubjects which he hasn't studied? If such a noble and wise person as this were to become a devotee of Krsna then I would not leave his company for the space of even half a moment."Sri Adwaita Acarrya, Srivas Pandit, as well as varous other Vaisnavas, all loved very much to hear Mukunda's kirtan. He used to go every day to the meeting of Vaisnavas at Adwaita Acarya's house, to sing. The devotees used to roll on the ground in the ecstasy of love, to hear his kirtan, which was overflowing with the mellows of devotion. Sri Adwaita Acarya used to take him on his lap and bathe him with his tears. When Sri Iswar Puri came to Navadwipe one time, he also became thoroughly overwhelmed with loving sentiments to hear Mukunda's kirtan, and thus everyone could understand him to be the disciplen of Sri Madhavendra Puri. Mahaprabu first revealed His divine rapture at Gaya Dham.

Returning to His home, He was a completely changed person, continuouly absorbed in ecstatic love for Krsna. Whereas previously He used to spend His time wranling over fine points in grammar and logic, now in even the rules of grammar and verbal roots He saw only the name of Krsna. Receiving this news the Vaisnavas came to see Him. All the while crying, "Krsna! Krsna!" He wept as He hugged their necks. Everyone was stunned in amzement and simply stood speechless, but seeing the flood of tears from Lord's eyes and hearing His plaintivecry, they also began to roll on the ground, saying, "Krsna!, Krsna!" In the evenings, congregational chanting of the Holy name of Krsna was held at the house of Srivas Thakur, and this was attended by all of the devotee. Mukunda was the first to sing, at which Sri Gaurasundor fainted and fell to the ground in a swoon of love of Krsna. All of the devotees became absorbed in ecstatic love and so they spent their time, on into the night. Thereafter, the Lord caught hold of Mukunda and began to say, "Mukunda you are fortunate. I spent so much of my time in false pursuit of knowledge. But not achieving the grace of Krsna, my life has been wasted."One day, in the courtyard of Srivas Thakur's house, where Sri Gaurasundor held his nocturnal school of kirtan, the Lord revealed Himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead to His devotees. For a period of twenty - one hours, He exhibited His opulences, calling all His devotees to come to Him so that Hemight bless them with the fulfillment of their most cherished desire. After having called allmost all of His devotees, it was seen that Mukunda was still waiting outside. At that time, Srivas Thakur, feeling compassion for Mukunda, approached Mahaprabhu and asked Him, "You are showeiring Your mercy today on even the most falen. Why haven't You called Mukunda? Will You not bless him as You have blessed us?" Mahaprabhu replied, "That small fry. He doesn't like to talk to Me anyway." Srivas "What offense has he committed? Sri Gaurasundor - " Mukunda is a hypocrite. He'll never get my mercy. Sometimes he takes a straw in his teeth to show his humility and sometimes he comes with a stich to beat those who are inferior to himself."Srivas - "I can'tunderstand what offense has he committed?"Sri Gaurasundor - "When he meets with the impersonalists he agrees with their nonsense philosophy. Then again when he meets the devotees he makes a show of devotion, crying and rolling on the ground. Those who disrespect My form are as though beating me with sticks. Whereas those wh worship My form make Me supremely happy. In any case, those who, taking a straw in their teeth, sometimes come to praise but then again sometimes also come to criticize, they will never get My mercy."Mukunda,upon hearing this, was heart - broken and said, " I'll not maintain this body any longer. What is the use of maintaining this body, which is full of offenses." Again Srivas petitioned the Lord on behalf of Mukunda but the Lord remained adamant. Mukunda pleaded with Srivas Thakur, "Panditji, will He never again show me His mercy?" This time when Srivas spoke to the Lord He replied, "If he is still in a position to receive My mercy after ten million lifetimes then I will call him." Hearing this Mukunda began to dance in ecstasy, singing, "Ten million lifetimes, only ten million lifetimes, and I'll again see the Lord of my life." Dancing and dancing he began to roll on the ground in the court - yard. Bhakta Vatsal, Sri Gaurahari, couldn't maintain His facade of false anger any longer, and His heartn began to melt, seeing the love of His devotee for Himself. He told Srivas, "Bring Mukunda to Me quickly, his ten million lifetimes have passed. He can see Me now." Srivas told Mukunda, "Mukunda, calm yourself, the Lord is calling you." But Mukunda had lost himself in ecstasy and was simply saying over and over, "I will see Him again, after ten million births, I will see Him again." His chest had become soaked with the tears falling from his eyes. Srivas saw that Mukunda was not externally aware of anything, having lost himself in the happiness of his heart. This time Srivs caught hold of him and called out, "Mukunda! Mukunda! Calm down. The Lord is calling you." By the touch of Srivas's hand, this time Mukunda heard him. "Panditji, what are you saying?" Srivas - "Prabhu is calling you."Mukunda "With this sinful body how can I go to see the Lord? I have ten million lifetimes of weeping to do before I can see Him again." The Lord Who resides in everyone's heart could understand everything and thus came Himself to call Mukunda, "Mukunda! Come here. Just see My trancendental form!" Srivas caught hold of Mukunda forcibly brought him to the Lord's lotus feet. Mukunda, who was floating in an ocean of tears, simply said, "My Lord. I am a great sinner," and then fell unconscious at the Lord's lotus feet. Regaining consciousness after a short while he began to roll on the ground saying, -

bhakti na manilu mui er char mukh dekhilei bhakti - sunya ki paibo sukh bhishwarup tomar dekhilo Duryodhan yaha dekhibare bede kore anvesan dekhiyao sabanse marilo duryodhan na pailo sukh bhakti sunyer karon (C.B.)"Because my faith in devotional service is weak, I am simply fit for the rubbish pile. Without devotion what happiness can i ever hope to achieve? Duryodhana was able to see Your universal form, that form which i searched out through all the Vedas. Nevertheless his fate was simply to be annihilated with the rest of his family. Thus without deovtion, there is no possiblity of attaining real happiness."Saying thusly, Mukunda began to weep loudly, then Mahaprabhu lifted him up from the ground and embracing him said, "I told that you would only be able to see Me again after ten million lifetimes, but due to your sincere and firm faith, that time has passed in the space of half a moment. You are the eternal object of My affection. There is no offense on your part. I only behaved with you like this to educate the people in general. Actually, you are fully embued with devotion. You are My eternal servant, and I eternally dance on your tongue. amar yemon tumi ballabha ekanta ei moto hau tore sokal mahanton jekhane jekhane hoy mor avatar tathay gayen tumi hoibe amar"As you are My pet favorite, may you become so to all of the great souls. Whenever and wherever I incarnate Myself, there you will be present to sing My glories." Hearing this benediction all the assembled devotees called out in ecstasy, "Hari! Hari!"At the time of acceptance of sannyasa by Mahaprabhu, Mukunda was present and sang on this occasion. Korilen matro prabhu sannyas grahon Mukundere agga hoilo korite kirttan Bol bol boli prabhu arambhilo nrtya caturdike gaite lagila sab bhrtya (C.B.)"Just after accepting the order of sannyasa, Mahaprabhu instructed Mukunda to sing, saying, "Chant! Chant!" as He began to dance. In all directions the devotees responded such that the heavens resounded with the holy names."During the time that the Lord lived at Jagannath Puri (Nilacala), Mukunda was also present with Him, and continued to sing to Him. At the time of Ratha - yatra, Sri Vasudeva Datta, Sri Gopinath and Sri Murari formed one kirtan group which was headed by Sri Mukunda. Along with Sri Kasiswara Pandit, Mukunda's body was very strong and so he used to hlp

Kasiswar clear a path during ratha yatra, so that Mahaprobhu could have darsan of Lord Jagannath. Sri Mukunda Datta Tahkur's disappearane is on the full moon day of the month of Jyoisthi (May - June).