Research on Sri Chaitanya Mangala and Lochana das Thakur by Arjuna

das.ACBSP 2.4.24
Today I am going to share nectar like you have never heard before! In
honour of our beloved Kali-yuga-pavana-avatara Sri Krishna Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu’s transcendental appearance day which was on last
Monday the 25th, we will read some real nectar katha from the famous
(but little known in the western world) Sri Chaitanya Mangala by
Lochana das Thakur.
Locana Dasa Thakur was born in 1520 A.D. in Gauramandala, West
Bengal. Lord Chaitanya was 24 years old then. He was a disciple of Sri
Narahari Sarakara Thakura, an intimate eternal associate of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. One day in 1537, when Locana was only 17 years old,
following his guru's order, Locana Dasa sat on a stone slab under a
badari tree (Ziziphus mauritiana - what we call fruit Masson & in
English Jujube) and started writing the Caitanya Mangala on a piece of
bark. This was 3 years after Lord Chaitanya’s departure from this
earthly realm in 1534, so actually Sri Caitanya-Mangala is the 1st
biography of the Lord. Cc was completed in 1615, 78 years later, and
CB in 1648, after 111 years.
Every sandhya Gaura aratika we sing “narahari-ädi kori' cämara
dhuläya, saïjaya-mukunda-bäsu-ghoñ-ädi gäya”
Narahari Sarakara - adi kori, first amongst the associates of Lord
Caitanya fan Him with camaras and devotees led by Sanjaya Pandita,
Mukunda Datta, and Vasu Ghosa sing sweet kirtana. Narahari Sarakara
Thakura was a great musician and Acharya in the art of singing and
playing ragas so his disciple Locana not only wrote profound spiritually
potent poetic songs of Lord Caitanya’s divine pastimes giving little
known amazing details but he also composed wonderful music and
ragas for each of his songs. Caitanya mangala is written in a simple,
beautiful language as a vast Bengali opera, especially written so that
even illiterate Bengalis could learn the songs by heart and often sing
them and at the same time imbibe Lord Caitanya’s important teachings.
Thus each chapter and song is sung in a different particularly beautiful
räga, and are headed with the rägas name, like Song 1 Paöha-maïjari
räga; Song 2 Kodära räga; Song 3 Varäòi räga - Diça etc, and the songs
have refrains like, “Dear friends, again and again I beg you. O great
souls, I beg for your blessings, so I may be able to sing Lord Gaura's
glories.”
In the Çré Gärga Sämhita Canto 5 chapter Twenty-one, Texts 47-49,
describes how Goddess Sarasvaté, dearest beloved of the Lord of
Vaikuëöha, taught Närada the different rägas and rägiëés, and, tat-
putraiù, with their children, deça-kälädi-bhedais with the distinctions of
the proper different deça (amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa, yare
dekha tare kaha krsna upadesa.) or styles of country or places, (like
Narottamas Manohara style of kirtan), the different times and divisions
of the days moods, täla-mäna-svaraiù, for the different kinds of beats,
musical tempos, rhythms, as well as the pauses or silent tempo to let
you dwell a moment on the bhäva, and svaraiù like ucchaih svaraiù,
loud choruses, which is what makes sankirtan so purifying. Then there
are the many different melodies and the five-hundred-and-sixty-million
divisions and numberless sub-divisions of musical scales, their various
accompanying dances, mastery of the different kinds of musical
instruments used, and the different kinds of modulation or changing
from one key to another. Such intricate compositions that make
classical orchestra music seem elementary and childish. That’s because
on a higher level a particular räga can cause immediate climate change
or a dimensional transition - je-dina gåhe, bhajana dekhi, gåhete goloka
bhäya. Such music is magic and such songs are enchantments- notice
the word chant in enchantments - so one becomes enchanted or finds
it enchanting, bewitching, heart-mesmerizing. Krishna is the grand
master of such transformative magic when He blows upon His bamboo
flute! In this way we can understand that Lord Caitanya’s associates like
Sri Narahari Sarakara Thakura and Locana Dasa Thakur are Gopis and
manjaris, grand masters of the 64 divine arts. Caitanya-Mangala is thus
transcendental divine sound vibrations directly descending from Goloka
Vrindavana in the spiritual world through the pure devotion of Locana
Dasa Thakur Mahäçaya! If one is lucky enough just to be able to read or
hear it one becomes fully purified and eligible to eventually go back
home back to Godhead. Sri Caitanya-Mangala ki jay!
Locana Dasa based his Caitanya-Mangala on Murari Gupta's authorized
Sanskrit biography of Lord Caitanya entitled Sri-Krishna-Caitanya-carita,
and he quotes from many little known authorized Shastras which relate
and predict Gauranga's glories. Thus Caitanya-Mangala is a rasatmaka-
sastra - a book full of rasa - and a true work of incredible genius.
Locana Dasa's poetry often surpasses that of Vrndavana Dasa Thakura
- and Srila Prabhupada especially loved to often sing songs from
Caitanya-Mangala, like parama koruëa, pahü dui jana, nitäi
gauracandra, saba avatära-sära çiromaëi, kevala änanda-kanda, Nitai
Guna Mani Amar and Akrodha paramananda nityānanda rāy. So now
let us dive deep into the nectarean ocean of Sri Caitanya-Mangala:
Listen to his opening stanzas:
Sutra-khanda – the khanda that quotes different shastras proving the
Lord Chaitanya is the parama-avatära of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead!
Chapter 1 Prayers of Invocation
All glories to Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the crest-jewel of all
sannyasis. In Kali-yuga, He appears in His paripürëa puruñottama, totally
complete and original form to give the priceless jewel of love of
Godhead to the surrendered souls. The Lord delivers the devotees and
satisfies them with this rare gift of prema bhakti, pure love of God. But,
roaring like a thunderbolt, He crushes the atheists of the world to dust.
I pray to Sri Vighnanasana, Lord Ganesa, who has the body of a huge
elephant with one tusk. He brings success in all endeavours. All glories
to Lord Ganesa, the son of Parvati Devi.
With folded hands, I pray to Lord Siva and Parvati. Let us all fall at their
feet, offering our respects. Lord Vishnu is the only master of the three
worlds. Lord Siva and Parvati can award anyone the boon of Vishnu-
bhakti.
I pray that Goddess Sarasvati will play on my lips so that they will
glorify Gaurahari, who is as yet unknown in the three worlds. May the
wonderful topics of the golden-hued Lord of Sarasvati flow from my
mouth.
I humbly beg the demigods and all my superiors that nothing will
obstruct my attempt to glorify Lord Gaurahari. Let me not ask for the
boon of wealth; for I am fallen and sinful. But please allow me to
complete this book without any difficulty.
Let me glorify the pure devotees of Lord Vishnu, and the most
fortunate maha-bhagavatas. These exalted devotees purify the world
with their divine qualities. They are merciful to all and everyone loves
them. Such devotees are the most auspicious personalities in the world.
I am a totally unqualified person, incapable of telling right from left. Yet
I'm trying to catch the sky with my hands, like a blind man trying to see
a cintämaëi gem on a nearby mountain. I don't know what the result
will be.
I have but one hope -- that Lord Gauranga will be merciful, because He
doesn't consider whether one is good or bad. Overlooking
disqualifications, the Lord freely gives everyone the shelter of His lotus
feet.
Please listen to the description of the behaviour of a pure devotee.
Dedicating his life for others, he gives his causeless mercy to all living
entities. He becomes happy by making others happy. This Locana Dasa
has only one hope. I want to attain the lotus feet of Narahari Sarakara
Thakura, my spiritual master, who is my lord and the owner of my life.
Although most fallen, I desire to glorify the indescribable qualities of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. To achieve this perfection, I hold the lotus feet
of Narahari Thakura within my heart eternally.

Just by reading his invocation prayers we can understand just how

exalted a Maha-bhagavata pure devotee Srila Locana das Thakur is. He
has genuine humility, he’s not a fanatic neophyte who sees Krsna only
in the Deity of the temple and does not see the Lord in the hearts of
each and every living being, therefore he intelligently prays to Krsna’s
principle manifestations like Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati to
empower him in his devotional service and prays to Sri Vighnanasana,
Lord Ganesa, to remove all obstacles in his service of executing the
order of his guru maharaja to successfully be able to write Sri Caitanya-
Mangala. Let us read on as he offers heartfelt Prayers to Lord Gauranga
and His Associates:
All glories to Sri Krishna Caitanya, Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Advaita
Candra, and all the Gaura-bhaktas.
All glories to Narahari and Gadadhara Pandita, the lords of my heart.
Please cast your most merciful and auspicious glance upon me.
Gauranga's golden transcendental form embodies all compassion. With
many select prayers, I will glorify His soothing, reddish lotus feet. Let
the devotees sit together and be blessed by the nectar touch of
Gauranga's lotus feet which they can feel through their ears by hearing
of Their divine glories. O Lord, darling of Sacimata, let us offer our
respectful obeisances to You. Please look favourably upon us and
bestow a drop of Your mercy.
And he goes on and on glorifying each and every one of Lord
Caitanya’s associates, which unfortunately for us we don’t have time
for now.
First, he prays, let me beg the blessings of all the mahabhagavatas....
While living in Navadvipa, Sri Murari Gupta had the opportunity to
remain always in the company of Gauracandra. Who can describe his
greatness? He is known throughout the word as Hanuman. Then he
describes this foremost servitor of Ramachandra, saying, “That same
Hanuman now resides in Nadia as Murari Gupta.
Being highly realized, 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.
At the request of Sri Damodara Pandita, Murari Gupta explained
Gauranga's transcendental pastimes from beginning to end, and how
the Lord mercifully distributed love of Godhead. Damodara Pandita
recorded these as slokas in his Karcha [diary].
Reading this book inspired me to write this biography of Lord
Gauranga, using a form of Bengali verse called Panchali, so that even
simple women and children can relish Lord Caitanya's unparalleled
mercy.
Then he gives a brief outline of subjects in Caitanya Mangala, and
summarizes all the events from the Lord’s life, which later he describes
giving amazing nectarean details of His childhood pastimes, of His
becoming a famous teacher when still young, His marriage and finally
His sannyasa pastimes, all of which are not recorded in the CB & Cc.
Then in chapter 2 he reveals how Krishna decides to descend as a
devotee: Damodara Pandita asked Murari Gupta, "Please explain why
Lord Gauranga appeared. I will become blissful by hearing these topics
from you. Why did the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna,
leave his çyämä-varna [dark cloud-blue colour] and assume a golden
form? Why did He remove His dress as a gallant lover/actior/dancer to
adopt the simple dress of a sannyasi? Why did He travel so widely to
preach? Why did He cry when chanting "Radha-Govinda!" Why did He
distribute prema-bhakti in each and every home?
I, Locana Dasa, will tell you all these most confidential topics. By
hearing them, the ignorant people of the world will get salvation.
After hearing these questions, Murari Gupta replied, "In Kali-yuga,
irreligiosity replaces religion. People reject the rules of Varnasrama-
dharma. Under the dense darkness of Kali, everyone becomes sinful
and addicted to irreligious acts.
"Narada Muni, the greatest among the sages, became greatly distressed
by seeing the sufferings of others. He always eagerly travels throughout
the universe giving out the holy names of Krishna. But unfortunately,
being too attached to material existence, the people of Kali-yuga
refused to accept the holy name. Amazed, he felt sorry for their fallen
condition, and he thought of how to deliver them. The venomous
snake Kali had bitten everyone, infecting them with the poison of
mäyä. Totally forgetting Krishna, people were madly pursuing sense
enjoyment. They wasted the valuable human form of life without ever
inquiring about their real friend, the Supreme Lord."
Feeling compassion for humanity, he decided to make Kali, the
personification of sin, retreat from the earth. Seeing that the snake-like
Kali had swallowed everyone in sin, Narada Muni thought to himself,
'Somehow or other, I must immediately bring the Supreme Lord
Krishna to the earth. Only He can re-establish religion in this sinful age
of Kali. And if Lord Krsna Himself descends then all His eternal
associates will descend with Him.“ He immediately went to Dwarka in
the spiritual world.
At that time, Lord Dvärakädéça went to visit the palace of Queen
Rukmini. As soon as Rukmini heard that Krishna was coming to see her,
she became filled with ecstasy. Musicians filled the air with sweet
vibrations to greet the Lord. Placing pots full of water near the door,
she lit ghee lamps and fragrant incense to provide an auspicious
welcome for her Lord.
"The good-natured, topmost Queen Rukmini joyfully received Lord
Krishna and washed His lotus feet with scented water and offered arati.
Taking Krishna's feet as her only property, Rukmini held them to her
breasts. While looking lovingly at the Lord, Rukmini started sobbing and
cried uncontrollably.
"Krishna, becoming astonished, asked Rukmini, 'O Devi, I can't
understand why you are weeping so. Please tell me why you are crying
so profusely. The whole world knows that you are My favourite. Who
is more dear to Me than you?'
"Rukmini said, 'My Lord, Your lotus feet are more dear to me than
even You Yourself. Prabhu, You know everything there is to know, but
how is it that You don't understand the heart of one who loves Your
lotus feet? You will understand the intensity of the love I feel if you
cultivate Rädhä-bhäva, the mood of Srimati Radharani's selfless love,
within Your heart.'
Becoming astonished by hearing these words of His dearmost Queen
Rukmini, Lord Krishna said, 'O Devi, I didn't understand exactly what
you just said. What is it that remains unknown to Me? Your words have
captivated My heart. I have never heard before that there was
something which I did not understand. What is that rare substance
which is most valuable in the three words? Though I cannot perceive
the meaning of Your words, My mind has become blissful just by
hearing them. O Devi, I beg You, please tell Me." '
Rukmini Devi replied, 'My dear Lord, You are the crest-jewel of all
transcendental qualities. Within Your heart You can't know why I'm
crying, even though everything else is known to You. You don't know
the power of Your lotus feet. My heart weeps due to feeling separation
for when You'll leave my palace and go away.'
'The fragrance of Your lotus feet spreads in all directions. Simply
smelling that fragrance frees anyone from old age and death. One who
drinks the nectar of Your lotus feet becomes transcendental to day,
night and the passing seasons. The pure devotees who lovingly clasp
Your reddish lotus feet are worshiped by the whole world. And the
world becomes auspicious by worshiping the feet of such pure
devotees. You control everyone in the three worlds. No one can
control You. Now please listen. I'm going to tell You a secret from the
bottom of my heart. Whoever has intense attachment to serving Your
lotus feet will definitely taste transcendental ecstasy. Because I am
completely devoted and surrendered to You, I can experience the
ecstasy of worshiping Your lotus feet.
'You, however, are the Supreme Lord, so how can you understand this
ecstasy? Besides me, only Srimati Radharani knows how to relish the
mellows of love and taste the highest transcendental pleasure. Although
devotees discuss these topics throughout the day and night, they are
always amazed by the unique quality of Radharani's pure love for You.
'Laksmi Devi, the goddess of fortune; Lord Brahma, all the demigods,
and the demigoddesses are very eager to serve Your lotus feet. By
receiving the nectar of Your feet, they all attain spontaneous devotional
service. Kamala, the goddess of fortune, who always lies on your bed
enjoying Your kisses and loving embraces, always desires to attain Your
lotus feet. Who can estimate the unlimited glories of Your lotus feet?
'Even after enjoying so much happiness, the goddess of fortune longs
for the mercy achieved by serving Your lotus feet. Only Radharani who
enjoyed with You in Vrindavana, can understand this completely. No
one can compare with Radharani.
It mystifies me how Radharani binds You so completely with Her
transcendental qualities. Even today, Your heart pines for Her, and
tears pour from Your eyes whenever You chant the name of Radha.
Just see the power of Radha's pure love. Now I'm ecstatic to have
Your lotus feet in my home. Fearing our inevitable separation, I can't
help but cry. The taste of serving Your lotus feet overpowers my
attraction to You. In transcendental love, Your devotees always hanker
for Your lotus feet, meditate upon You, and absorb themselves in Your
pastimes. You are the only shelter of the pure devotees. Laksmi Devi
always serves Your lotus feet with a desire to love You. Whoever
wants to taste an unlimited supply of nectar will find it by serving Your
lotus feet. Whoever tastes the ecstasy of Your love considers the four
kinds of liberation, and even residence on Vaikuntha, to be most
insignificant. It is a quality of Your lotus feet that they manifest pure
ecstatic love of God in those who serve them. With folded hands, I
pray to You, my dear Lord. Your feet are sweeter than then a lotus’s
nectar. Please give me this benediction. May I become a honeybee
forever attached to Your lotus feet. Fearing separation from You, my
heart trembles in lamentation.” This was not a prayer of Rukmini Devi,
but rather an outburst of love, gushing from Her heart of pure
devotion.
After hearing Rukmini Devi's wonderful words, Krishna's heart danced
in ecstasy. His lotus eyes, reddish like the rising sun, filled with tears of
compassion. Sitting on His throne, Lord Krishna gently pulled Rukmini
onto His lap and lovingly embraced her. He held Rukmini's chin with
His right hand and lovingly looked at her. Waves of nectar overflowed
from the ocean of prema within their hearts.
"Lord Krishna said to Rukmini, 'O My beloved, I've never heard such an
amazing and wonderful description. Until today, no one has ever
suggested to Me that I should personally taste the love that My pure
devotees have for Me.'
Suddenly, just at that moment, the great sage Narada Muni arrived in
Dvaraka. His heart was full of anxiety and he appeared disturbed.
Rukmini Devi stood up respectfully, and welcomed the sage with sweet
words. Krishna offered an asana to Narada, bathed his feet, and then
affectionately embraced him. Happy to see Narada, the Lord inquired
about his well-being.
Seeing him looking very sad, Krsna said, “Please tell us clearly why you
are so unhappy and disturbed. You are dearer to Me than My own life.
I know also that I am your very life and soul. It devastates Me to see
you in such a condition.'
"Narada Muni replied, 'My dear Lord, what shall I say? You are the lord
of everything that exists. You are the Supersoul in all living entities.
Singing Your holy names and qualities is my nectarean foodstuff,
tändera pada-reëu mora païca-gräs. Enchanted by Your transcendental
qualities, I travel around the unlimited universes, preaching Your glories.
'However, when I can't hear Your names being chanted, and when I
see the conditioned souls intoxicated by pride, absorbed in materialistic
activities, and devoid of Krishna consciousness, it gives me great pain. I
don't see any means of deliverance for these people. Therefore, my
mind is always disturbed thinking about this. I have now revealed to
You the sorrows I have in my mind and heart. In Your presence, by the
mercy of Your lotus feet, I feel greatly relieved.' Hearing the words of
Narada, Lord Krishna smiled compassionately and said, 'Listen, great
sage, somehow you have forgotten about a previous event. Narada,
don't you remember the time you gave My rnaha-prasada remnants to
Lord Siva. After Parvati Devi ate some, she promised to distribute My
rnaha-prasada to all living entities.'
"Lord Krishna continued, 'Listen Narada, I just heard a wonderful
description from Rukmini. As a result of that, I want to promise you
that in the age of Kali, I will manifest a form filled with humility.
I shall become a devotee of Myself in order to taste the happiness
relished by My pure devotees. Not only will I experience the bliss of
prema-bhakti, but I will give it out to everyone in the world. In the
association of other devotees, I will freely distribute My love by
performing Hari-nama sankirtana, congregational chanting of My holy
names. I will appear in the transcendental abode of Navadvipa in
Sridhama Mayapur, within the home of Saci-mata.'
Thus great demigods like Brahma, great sages like Narada Muni, and
even Katyayani Devi took birth on earth when the Lord descended as
Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. From Dvaraka, members of the Yadu
family expanded themselves to also appear on earth.
Then Krishna explained the qualities of His incarnation in Kaliyuga by
which He would attract the conditioned souls, saying, “My
transcendental body will be tall, molten gold in color, and My arms will
be long and beautiful. The incomparable beauty of My golden form will
defeat the beauty of Mt. Sumeru.”
While absorbed in this ecstasy, Lord Krishna suddenly manifested His
beautiful form as Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu! Narada Muni fainted in
divine ecstasy upon seeing this most beautiful form of Lord Krishna,
saturated with pure love of God. Narada Muni's heart burst with love
and tears rushed from his eyes in a thousand streams. Gauranga's
brilliant golden complexion was more effulgent than millions of suns.
The shining beauty of millions of moons and millions of Cupids would
have been put to shame by His inconceivably beautiful face. Blinded by
Gauranga's dazzling effulgence, the sage closed his eyes and trembled
in ecstasy.
Seeing Narada's stunned condition, Lord Krishna withdrew His glowing
effulgence. Returning to external consciousness, Narada saw Lord
Krishna before him, but he was very eager to see the Lord's beautiful
form as Gauranga once again.
"Lord Krishna said, '0 Narada, most fortunate sage, you will be loved
wherever you go. Please go throughout the universe and tell the
residents of Brahmaloka and Sivaloka that I will soon incarnate in
Kaliyuga as Lord Gauranga. In this form of personified mercy, I will
establish the yuga-dharma of sankirtana-yajna. Revealing the glories of
Krishna's holy names, I Will personally preach the glories of devotional
service and give the bliss of Krishna-prema freely to all. Although over
the ages, many branches of religion have appeared in the world, I will
preach pure love of God to unite all people. I will appear on earth,
along with all My intimate friends and followers. With them I will satisfy
My cherished desire to relish the pure love that My devotees’ taste by
serving My lotus feet.'
"Narada's miseries and anxieties disappeared on hearing these divine
words from the beautiful mouth of Krishna. Having his heart's desire
fulfilled by the Lord, Narada, playing his vina and singing Krishna's
names, then visits Uddhava in Naimisaranya.

"While traveling through the airways, Narada thought, 'Oh, what

unparalleled beauty have I just seen in the golden form of Lord
Gauranga, whose compassionate eyes appear reddish like the rising
sun. Oh, what a abundant expression of nectar I have seen. I saw the
sweetest smile on Gaura's beautiful lotus face. He is superior to all the
Lord's previous incarnations. Before today, I have never seen such a
reservoir of love. My eyes and my life have attained perfection simply
by seeing such an embodiment of the ocean of mercy. My heart can
never forget Him. My eyes long to see Him again and again.'
When arriving in Naimisaranya he appeared before the great
devotee Uddhava. Seeing Narada Muni, Uddhava immediately stood
up, offered dandavats to the great sage, and.
Then Uddhava said to Narada, 'This day is most auspicious. I
consider myself fortunate, because at an auspicious moment you have
come to Naimisaranya.' Narada gave Uddhava a deep embrace, kissed
his forehead, and smelled his head. After offering an asana then bathing
his lotus feet, Uddhava revealed his mind to Narada. 'Today is very
special, for I have now attained perfection. There is something that has
pained me for a long time, which I must tell you. Previously, Vyasadeva
lived here in Naimisaranya compiling the Vedas, but he wasn't satisfied.
Then by your confidential instructions Vyasadeva wrote the Srimad-
Bhagavatam in order to deliver the people in general. O Narada, you
know the absolute truth and the science of Krishna consciousness.
Since you can understand the mind of Lord Krishna, please tell me
about the future. The people of Kali-yuga are blinded by total
absorption in sinful activities. In the previous ages of Satya, Treta, and
Dvapara, people were religious. In Kali-yuga, the darkest of ages, ,
people know nothing but impiety. Please dispel my doubt, for no one
surpasses your kindness. Can you tell me how people in the age of Kali
will be delivered? '
"Narada Muni smiled compassionately, and with a delighted heart
said to Uddhava, 'O Uddhava, you are a pure devotee of Lord Krishna,
and your question fills me with joy. Now I will reveal a most
confidential subject to you. Just recently, I felt the same anxiety that
you do. By the mercy of Lord Krishna, I now understand the unique
position of Kali-yuga. Actually, people in this age are the most
fortunate. In previous ages it was always very difficult to follow the
particular yuga-dharma – the religious practices for perfection. But in
Kali-yuga, the process of self-realization is easy - simply to chant Lord
Krishna's holy names. In the age of Kali, people can attain freedom
from the cycle of birth and death by dancing joyfully while happily
singing the Lord's names and qualities.
Narada then tells Uddhava of having just met Lord Krishna and
Queen Rukmini in the spiritual world in Dwarka and how the Lord had
suddenly manifested the golden form of Lord Gauranga, promising to
freely distribute His love to all. Now, he said, I'll travel throughout the
world to broadcast this wonderful news of Gauranga's appearance.
Eager to taste the prema-bhakti of His beloved, the Supreme Lord, in a
transcendental form of unlimited mercy and beauty, will descend on
earth in Kali-yuga.'
"Listening to Narada's description, Uddhava became stunned with
happiness, started crying, and fell down at Narada's feet. Uddhava said,
'Narada, I feel completely rejuvenated by your exciting news.'
This conversation of Narada Muni and Uddhava is taken from the
thirty-second chapter in the Asvamedha Parva of the Jaiminiya Bharata.
Murari Gupta continued his narration to Damodara Pandita. "While
playing his vina and continually singing the glories of Gauranga; Narada
Muni travelled around the world informing all the demigods about Lord
Caitanya's appearance. Overwhelmed with spiritual rapture, Narada
would fall down on the ground again and again. One moment he would
cry; the next moment he would laugh loudly. His whole body would
tremble, and he would speak in a faltering voice. Hiking up his dhoti,
Narada would sometimes jump around excitedly, loudly roaring,
"Gaura! Gaura! Gaura!" It was impossible for Narada to forget the
nectarean love of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, and the beautiful
effulgent transcendental body that he had just seen.
"Narada's heart was so full of ecstatic love that sometimes he
couldn't move. Nevertheless, within the twinkling of an eye, Narada
Muni came to Lord Siva's abode on Mt. Kailasa. He was eager to tell
his big brother Lord Siva all about his recent experiences with Lord
Krishna. Narada was thinking to himself, 'Krishna-bhakti is the most
nectarean subject in the three worlds. In Kali-yuga, the Lord will reveal
the treasure of Sri Vrndavana-dharna. Ananta, Siva, and Brahma are
always desiring such pure love that the Lord would now freely
distribute to the fallen unbelievers of Kali-yuga. Mahesa will feel great
happiness when he hears the good news. By the mercy of Goddess
Katyayani, I will take the dust of Lord Siva's feet. By his grace I'll get
strength to chant the holy name. Narada Muni approached the
entrance of Lord Siva's Dham where Nandi, Lord Siva's bull, was
guarding the door way. After offering respects to the great sage, Nandi
informed Siva and Parvati about Narada's arrival.
"In a happy mood, Siva and Parvati came out to greet the sage.
Narada Muni, that most intelligent devotee, fell down at the feet of
Lord Siva and Parvati. Feeling ecstatic in the presence of such a
Vaisnava, Lord Siva immediately lifted Narada up and embraced him.
"In the mood of a loving mother, Katyayani said to Narada, 'O great
sage, please tell me. Is everything all right with you? All the truths in the
fourteen worlds are known to you. On this most auspicious day, where
have you come from?'
"Narada Muni said, 'Goddess Katyayani and Mahesa, please listen to
my wonderful story. You are like the mother and father of this
universe. You always desire the deliverance of the fallen souls. Now,
touching your feet, I will remind you of a confidential subject.
 'Once upon a time, Uddhava inquired of Lord Krishna, "My Lord,
what will happen to the earth after Your disappearance? Will any
devotees remain here? How will the conditioned souls in the age of Kali
attain liberation?"
'Replying to Uddhava's question, Lord Krishna taught the science of
self-realization. He taught him the Uddhava-gita by which a person can
attain liberation by seeing the Supreme Lord everywhere and in
everything.'
'Lord Krishna said, "Uddhava, always remember that I am the water,
the land, the earth, and the tree. I am the demigods, the Gandharvas,
and the Yakshasas. I am the creator and I am the annihilator. I am the
life of all living beings. I am within everything, and at the same time, I
am outside of everything."
Uddhava, replied, O Krishna, I know that You are all pervading. Your
lotus feet are more dear to me than You Yourself. I can't find the
proper words to glorify the devotees who take shelter of the moonlike
nails of Your lotus feet."
'At that time, Uddhava quoted this verse from the
SrimadBhagavatam ( 11.6.46): "Simply by decorating ourselves with the
garlands, fragrant oils, clothes and ornaments that You have already
enjoyed, and by eating the remnants of Your meals, we, Your servants,
will indeed conquer Your illusory energy."
'Uddhava continued, "Krishna, thus my ability to conquer Maya
comes from eating Your maha-prasada remnants. Therefore, I always
desire to honour maha-prasadam."
Hearing of this, Narada said, “I realized that although I have been
engaging in devotional service for a long time, and have been
constantly chanting the holy name of the Lord, still I had not fully
realized the potency of Lord Krishna's maha-prasada. Within my heart,
however, I felt deprived because I had never tasted the Lord's maha-
prasada. Then I thought of how to please the Lord with my actions, so
that He would give me a taste of His maha-prasada. With this idea, I
visited Vaikuntha and rendered various services to Laksmi Devi. Being
satisifed with me, Laksmi Devi affectionately said, "Tell Me, Narada,
what do you want? I will give you a boon."
'After hearing Her offer, I decided to reveal my heart 's desire. With
folded hands, I told Laksmi Devi. "For a long time, I have been feeling
pain within my heart. Everyone knows that I am your servant. But
somehow, I never got the chance to taste the Lord's maha-prasada.
Please glance favourably upon me and give me the boon of receiving a
handful of Lord Narayana's maha-prasada. This is my only desire.
'Laksmi Devi became astonished to hear my request. Then she
submissively said, "Narada, Lord Narayana ordered Me not to distribute
His maha-prasada remnants to anyone. How can I break the order of
the Lord, my dear Narada? But listen, I will try and disobey His order
and give you some. Considering my predicament, however, you must
wait for some time.”
Sometime later, the Lord joyfully took Laksmi Devi by the hand and sat
her down beside Himself. At that time, in a very submissive voice,
Laksmi Devi said, "My Lord, I have something to ask You, but I am
afraid to speak. I have a problem and I need your help. My Lord, please
save Your maidservant."
'Then Laksmi Devi said, "Narada Muni has made a request that has
put me in anxiety. Although nobody knows it, Narada has served me
for twelve years. Being pleased, I offered him a boon. Narada wants
nothing other than a small portion of Your maha-prasada remnants.
Although I have no power to disobey your order, I carelessly gave this
promise to Narada Muni. O, my Lord, please save me."
'Understanding her dilemma, Lord Narayana said, "Listen, My dear
Laksmi, You should you can secretly give My remnants to Narada
without My knowledge but you’ll see, it will have grave consequences."
'After some days, Jagan-mata Laksmi-devi, gave me some of Lord
Narayana's maha-prasada remnants. I honoured the maha-prasada to
my full satisfaction. By the touch of the Lord 's maha-prasada, my own
effulgence and spiritual potency has increased one hundred times.
Feeling intense spiritual ecstasy, I chanted Hare Krishna and played my
vina as I travelled to Kailasa to see you.'
"After hearing Narada describe his experiences, Lord Siva scolded
him, 'Narada, after getting the Lord's maha-prasada, which is very
rarely attained, you ate it all yourself, without keeping some for me.
Out of affection, you have come to see me, but why didn't you bring
any of this rare treasure?'
"Hearing Siva's statements of dissatisfaction, Narada remembered
that he still had a morsel of maha-prasada that he had saved. With
great delight, he quickly gave it to Mahesa. Immediately, Lord Siva
honoured the maha-prasada. To everyone's surprise, Mahadeva began
dancing uncontrollably in the joyous ecstasy of love of God. The earth
trembled under the pounding of his feet. Everyone became afraid,
seeing Mt. Sumeru rocking back and forth in ecstasy, due to Siva's
powerful dance. Mother Earth Bhumi Devi was also rocking
dangerously. Overcome by the bliss of pure love of Krishna, Lord Siva
totally forgot himself. His devastating dance threatened to drive the
earth planet down to Rasatala, the bottom of the universe. The hood of
Ananta Deva was stretching back to the point of touching the back of
Kurma. Startled by this strange tickling sensation, Kurma poked His
head out of his shell and glared at Ananta. Lord Siva's loud and
euphoric roaring of the Lord's holy names bounced off the dome-like
covering of the universe, reverberating throughout the ten directions.
Seeing the whole universe shaking in ecstasy, and unable to tolerate the
weight of Siva's dancing, Mother Bhumi ran to Mt. Kailasa and begged
Goddess Katyayani, 'O Parvati Devi, please, I will die if your husband
keeps on dancing. I see that the whole material word is also in great
danger. Please do something if you want to save the creation from
destruction. Parvati rushed to where Siva was dancing exuberantly.
With folded hands, Parvati Devi loudly shouted to break Lord Siva's
absorption. His ecstasy broken by Parvati's shouting, Lord Siva regained
external consciousness. Feeling sad, he said, 'Devi, what you just did is
not proper. Why did you interrupt my ecstasy? By doing so, you have
practically killed me. I've never tasted so much bliss before in my whole
life. Why did you stop it?'
Feeling great distress, Parvati Devi humbly said,'My Lord, just see the
Bhumi Devi before you. The weight of your dancing has pushed her
down to the bottom of the universe. Because you're threatening to
destroy the universe, I spoke so strongly to you. Please forgive me for
my offense.'
"With a smile of satisfaction, Lord Siva pardoned his wife. Seeing her
husband in a relaxed mood, Parvati humbly asked him a question,
'Prabhu, everyday you dance in the ecstasy of pure Krishna
consciousness. Why is it that today your dancing has pushed the earth
down to Rasatala? Your spiritual effulgence has become as brilliant as
ten million suns. I've never seen you exhibit such a magnificent form.
Please tell me, why is it that today you displayed such unlimited rapture
in Krishna-prema?'
"Lord Siva replied, 'Devi, listen to the joyful news of my good
fortune. Today, the great sage, Narada, gave me some of Lord
Narayana's maha-prasada remnants. Although glorified in the Vedas,
Vishnu's maha-prasada is inconceivably rare. In all three worlds, it is
very difficult to get the Lord's remnants, which are mixed with the
nectar of Krishna's lips. Today, my life is a success. By the mercy of
Narada Muni, I received Lord Narayana's maha-prasada. This is my real
wealth and the source of my ecstasy.'
"Noticeably disturbed by her husband's statement, Mahamaya Devi
said, 'For all this time, I thought that you were always kind and merciful
to me. As husband and wife we are one, for you have accepted me as
half of your body. But today, your false love is revealed. It's all just
pretension. You cheated me! After getting that rarely attainable maha-
prasada, you ate it all by yourself. You didn't even give me a small
piece of it for me.'
Feeling slightly guilty, Lord Shiva said, 'O Bhavani, you cannot to
receive this transcendental wealth. Look what it did to me! As the
personification of mother nature, imagine what will happen to the
Lord’s creation!'
"These words inflamed Parvati with furious anger. She declared,
'One of my names is Vaisnavi; and I also have devotion for Lord
Vishnu. Now before this assembly, I make a solemn vow. If Lord
Narayana bestows His compassionate mercy upon me, I will make sure
that the Lord's maha-prasada is distributed to everyone throughout the
universe, even to the dogs and jackals.'
"At that moment, the Lord of Vaikuntha, Vishnu Himself, arrived in
Kailasa to uphold Parvati's promise. Respectfully, Parvati stood up and
offered obeisances to the Lord. With tears in her eyes, she sighed and
explained her distress to the Lord."
"Then Lord Vishnu spoke in a sweet voice, 'Katyayani, don't be sad.
You are My adya-sakti, and through you I manifest the entire material
creation. I know that you have devotion for Me. You are My prakrti
svarupini [the form of Vishnu's energy]. You always engage in My
devotional service. Without you, the material creation can't exist. The
whole creation worships you and your husband, Lord Siva, as Hara and
Gauri knowing that you both are My very self. Pleasing you removes
the misconception that you and Lord Siva are different from Me. Please
be assured I will keep your promise. I will personally distribute My
maha-prasada to everyone in the universe. Now I'll tell you a secret
about an ancient episode which will diminish the miseries of the
material world. No one knows the inner meaning of the story
concerning the demigods' churning of the ocean of nectar. They used
Mandara mountain as the churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of the
snakes, as the rope. The first object they produced from churning was
a kalpa-taru, a tree which gives unlimited wealth and fulfills all a person
desires. Within that special tree there was a transcendental effulgence
emanating from My beautiful form as Lord Caitanya, the supreme
embodiment of pure mercy. There has never been a form or
incarnation equal to the form of Sri Krishna Caitanya. He is the
fountainhead of all incarnations. He will soon appear in the world,
displaying His transcendental pastimes. By preaching Krishna
consciousness, I will thus distribute My mercy to all the people in
general.
'In the age of Kali, I will propagate the sankirtana-yajna,
congregational chanting of My holy names in My golden form of Sri
Gauranga Mahaprabhu. Thus as this golden avatara of Mine, I will fulfill
your vow, O Parvati, and freely give love of Krishna to everyone. In the
form of Lord Gauranga, the essence of all incarnations and full of all
transcendental qualities, I will deliver all people in Kali-yuga.'
'This conversation between Lord Vishnu and Parvati Devi, which is
called the Vishnu-Katyayani Samvada, has been taken from the Padma
Purana. King Prataparudra, who was an ocean of transcendental
qualities, distributed this shastrsa containing these teachings throughout
his empire.
 "Narada Muni then told Lord Siva, ' O Mahesa, the Lord has thus
ordered me to announce His upcoming appearance in Kali-yuga. At
that time, the Lord and His eternal associates will descend to earth to
remove all calamities. The Supreme Lord in the form of Lord Gauranga
will appear in a brahmana family.'
"Lord Siva and Parvati Devi became happy after hearing this good
news from Narada. Bliss filled the home of Lord Siva as everyone loudly
chanted the holy names of the Lord. Sounds of "Hari! Hari!" vibrated
everywhere.
As he then travelled on to Brahma-loka, playing a stream of
nectarean melodies on his vina and loudly chanting Gaura! Gaura!
Gaura! - thus enchanting the ears of the three worlds, Narada lost all
external consciousness and couldn’t even walk properly. His face
turned bright red due to his great love. Although unaware of his fatigue
from his madly ecstatic dance along the way, he arrived in Brahmaloka
covered in perspiration. Seeing his son in this condition, Lord Brahma
felt mixed feelings of concern and happiness as he welcomed the great
sage. Narada offered his humble obeisances to his father and spiritual
master Lord Brahma, who lifted him up, embraced him, and asked
about his well-being.
"Lord Brahma said, 'Narada, I feel immensely satisfied to see your
beautiful face. Please fill my ears with the nectar of your KC words.
Hearing you will soothe my heart. Where have you been? Whom have
you met, and what have you been doing?'
"At first Narada was unable to answer, as his body was
uncontrollably trembling in transcendental ecstasy. Tears flooded from
his eyes, and his face reddened with feelings of joy. Then Narada said,
'Dear Lord Brahma, listen to a wonderful story. You are the creator of
everything, and the name brahmananda or brahman-nanda comes from
your name. According to the characteristics of each age, the people
follow a particular type of dharma. In Kali-yuga, people are extremely
sinful. At the end of Dvapara-yuga, people were full of sadness, anxiety
and lamentation. They were so afraid of the upcoming age of Kali.
'This situation pained me so much that I went straight to the Lord. I
boldly asked Him about the deliverance of the people in Kali-yuga. I
told Him I was worried because the brahmanas are no longer following
the Vedas. As a result, the people have very little inclination for
religious practices. On hearing my words of distress, Lord Krishna, who
is full of all transcendental qualities, said, "Narada, to deliver the people
in the age of Kali, I will personally descend and preach the science of
devotional service. The benefits one derives from charity, sacrifice,
austerity, and religious activities will automatically come simply by
doing Hari-nama sankirtana. O Narada, although the age of Kali is full
of faults, just by chanting My holy names one will obtain freedom from
material existence. Now please go to the abodes of Brahma, Siva,and
the others. Tell them to take birth on earth in Kali-yuga, and in the form
of Lord Gauranga, the embodiment of compassion, I will also descend."
"On heating Narada's description, a seed of sweet love sprouted
within the heart of Lord Brahma. He became overwhelmed with love of
God; tears streamed down his cheeks. Brahma picked up Narada and
placed him on his lap. He said, 'O my dear son, your mercy fills my
heart with pleasure. People are blinded by sense gratification and
ignorance of the truth. By your mercy they will become free from
Maya's clutches. Delivering fallen people is your only activity. Please
listen attentively. I want to tell you about a recent experience. Some
time ago, my sons like Sanaka and other sages came here to reveal
their minds. They said, "Lord Brahma, you are the dear son of the Lord.
Please give some brief answers to our questions." Then those sages
glorified the qualities of Lord Vishnu. They said, "The Lord is
inconceivable, inexhaustible, and eternally blissful. He is full of spiritual
energy, very subtle, and the controller of all controllers. He is all-
pervading and the personification of religion. The Lord is unlimited and
devoid of any material qualities. He is free from all contamination, and
has no material form. He has no beginning, middle or end. This can be
realized only by pure consciousness. Although unborn, the Lord seems
to take birth in the material nature. Lord Sri Krishna relished
transcendental rasa with the gopis in Vmdavana. He acted just like an
ordinary lusty man, enjoying conjugal affairs, though everyone knows
that the Lord is the true atma of all living entities, whether man or
woman. So we want to know why the Lord disturbs our minds by
performing such unusual pleasure pastimes? O Brahma, please dispel
our doubts by telling us the truth." O Narada, hearing the-doubts of the
sages filled my heart with anxiety. I became sad, because I also could
not fathom the mystery of the Lord's transcendental sports. Literally
there are hundreds of Brahmas like me who don't understand this
subject. These truths lie far beyond the knowledge of Vedanta.
'While I was expressing my heart like this, the Lord manifested a
wonderful form before me, appearing as Hamsa avatara. Lord Hamsa
said, "Lord Brahma, the solution to the sages' question appears in the
catuh-shloki, the four seed verses of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. I will now
reveal this to you."
"Lord Brahma continued, 'Narada, I must tell you that the catuhsloki
are the very source of all my bliss. No one in the universe knows the
truth about this. For many days, Srila Vyasadeva stayed in
Naimisharanya describing the Mahabharata and the Puranas. After
explaining these subjects, Vyasadeva still felt sad and unfulfilled.
Overcome by bewilderment, he didn't know what to do.
Understanding his difficulty, the Lord became compassionate.
Summoning me, the Lord explained the secret nectar of the catuh-sloki
to me, and then ordered me to give this transcendental treasure to
Vyasa. He said, "My dear son Brahma, Vyasadeva doesn't know the
inner meaning of My pastimes. Give him these four verses and let him
write the Srirnad-Bhagavatarn based on these slokas. Then speak the
Bhagavata to Narada Muni, on whose tongue the Goddess Sarasvati
always resides. Tell Narada that in every yuga he is the most merciful to
the living entities."
"Lord Brahma continued, 'Narada, no other scripture compares with
the Srimad-Bhagavatam which is completely transcendental. Narada,
you should teach the Bhagavata, in order to deliver all living entities.
There is no other subject in the Bhagavata, except the glorification of
the absolutly independent Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri
Krishna. Anyone who misunderstands this point is a fool.
'Narada, now I remember some Bhagavata verses spoken by
Gargamuni at the time of Lord Krishna's name-giving ceremony on
earth. Gargamuni described that in different yugas, or ages, the Lord
appears on the earth in various incarnations. Gargamuni said in the
Srimad Bhagavatarn ( 10.8.13): "Your son Krishna appears as an
incarnation in every millennium. In the past, He assumed three different
colors---white, red, and yellow--and now He has appeared in a blackish
color. All such incarnations have now assembled in Krishna. Some
people question the break in the usual sequence of the four yugas.
They think that the Lord appeared in the four yugas in only three
colours. In reality, there are four colours, white, red, yellow and black--
-and four yugas--- Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. Please consider
which age Lord Gauranga belongs to. For the benefit of ignorant
people, I will now explain this by quoting a verse from Srimad-
Bhagavatam on what the sage Karabhajana says about the incarnation
in Kali-yuga.11.5.19-32:
krishna~varnam tvisa-krishnam / sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair / yajanti hi su-medhasah
 "In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational
chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings
the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is
Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants,
weapons, and confidential companions." Thus the Bhagavatam predicts
Lord Gauranga's Advent. O Narada, listen carefully to my explanation.
Whenever the Srimad-Bhagavatam mentions the two syllables krs and
na--it refers to Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The word akrishna means He was not black in complexion but golden.
Therefore we sing "Gaura!" "Gaura!" The Lord incarnated with His
eternal associates, His followers and His weapons which took the form
of devotees. I say the word anga means Balarama, which I call sanga,
sa-anga. The word upanga refers to all of His ornaments. His sudarsana
disc and other weapons appeared as His associates, along with you, O
Narada, and Prahlada. Sri Krishna's eternal associates who had served
Him in His previous incarnations, appeared now as Sri Krishna
Caitanya's companions and associates. At the time of Lord Caitanya,
someone will identify His associates and give their previous names in
Krishna's pastimes. The common people will have difficulty
understanding this, what to speak of the low-minded. For this reason,
the sage Karabhajana said su-medhasah--only very intelligent people will
be able understand. In the age of Kali, religion will manifest in the form
of sankirtana-yajna. Intelligent people will taste ecstasy by chanting the
Lord's holy names.
'In every yuga, the Supreme Lord comes to earth to deliver the
saints, destroy atheism, and reestablish religious principles. In Kaliyuga,
Krishna comes as the beautiful golden-avatara, Gauranga, to propagate
the chanting of the holy names as the universal yuga-dharma.
Glorification of God's holy names is the only religion for the age of Kali.
Other than the Supreme Lord Himself, who else could have established
the yuga-dharrna of Hari-nama sankirtana, which quickly and
effectively removes the sins of the age of Kali. Charity, sacrifice,
austerity, yajna, self-control, studying the scriptures, renouncing
material desires, and other religious principles are automatically attained
by sincerely chanting Hare Krishna. The unlimited glories and qualities
of Krishna's holy names destroy ignorance and frees one from the
horrible cycle of birth and death. Not knowing this essential quality of
the age of Kali, people think that this is just a dark age full of sins.
Actually, Kali-yuga is the most wonderful age because of this one
quality. From any position, sinful living entities can attain salvation
simply by performing Hari-nama sankirtana. '
"After saying this, Lord Brahma, overwhelmed with ecstasy, warmly
embraced Narada Muni. Then Brahma stood up suddenly and
proclaimed, 'One will attain unlimited sense pleasure and satisfy all his
desires simply by once seeing the radiantly beautiful form of Lord
Gauranga. O Narada, listen to some more wonderful topics. The age of
Kali is full of darkness, impiety, and sinful acts. The few pious activities
that remain are diminishing day by day. The essence of all religions is
contained in Hari-nama sankirtana. The chanting of the holy names will
spread all over the world. If a materialist chants the name of Hari, the
Lord will give him sense gratification. One who chants with faith,
however, will give up all sense enjoyment, and conquer the Lord by his
pure love. In Kali-yuga, chanting the Lord's names and qualities is the
supreme religion. Hari-nama sankirtana is like a big ax to cut the hard
knot of sinful activities. The age of Kali is so special that people from
previous yugas want to take birth in this age. Why? They want the
opportunity to chant Hare Krishna and preach the holy names.
Lord Brahma continued his discussion by quoting more sastric verses
but we won’t have time to read them now.
Then Narada, as per the Lord' s request, asked Lord Brahma to tell
everyone in Brahmaloka to expand themselves and take birth on earth
in Kali-yuga in order to assist Lord Caitanya's pastimes. After saying
this, Narada, feeling ecstatic, left Brahma's abode. Narada continued
visiting the demigods. Absorbed in ecstasy, Narada chanted 'Hari bol!
Hari bol!' as he informed the three worlds of the upcoming appearance
of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, the avatara for the age of Kali.
Locana Dasa says Lord Gauranga's mercy will flood the world with
nectar. All glories, all glories to the Lord of the universe, Vishvambhara
Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu!
"When Narada returned to the earth planet, he noticed a further
decline in the religious practices of the people. They had given up the
practices of charity, penances and austerities. Neglecting all pious
activities, men were using their bodies, minds, and words only to glorify
their wives. Men were totally infatuated with women and sense
enjoyment. Nobody cared a fig for yoga or self-realization. Observing
these symptoms, Narada became convinced that during his visit to
Brahmaloka, the age of Kali had arrived on earth. Feeling disturbed,
Narada sat down to meditate.
"Suddenly, he heard a divine voice in the sky: 'I am Lord Jagannatha,
the Lord of the universe, and I have appeared as daru brahma. I am
residing in Nilacala beside the sea for the deliverance of all fallen souls.
Have you forgotten? In order to fulfill the promise of Katyayani Devi, I
have descended to distribute my maha-prasada to everyone. Now, 0
best of the sages, come to Nilacala [Jagannatha Puri] and obey My
order.'
"Overwhelmed with love, Narada cried out, 'O Jagannatha'. Playing
his world-enchanting vina he hastened to Nilacala. Entering the grand
temple, he saw the large, round lotus face of Lord Jagannatha. His face
was more cooling, brilliant and beautiful than a million moons.
 "Narada saw Lord Jagannatha as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead Sri Krishna, the fountainhead of all incarnations. The Lord was
full of ecstasy and had an effulgent smile. Now He had appeared in a
most merciful form as a worshipable Deity.
"Falling at Lord Jagannatha's feet, Narada said, 'Please Lord
Jagannatha, the age of Kali has come. Please bestow Your mercy.
People are bewildered, extremely degraded, and full of lamentation.
Controlled by their senses, they're engaged in the most gross sinful
activities.'
"Lord Jagannatha smiled, touched Narada's hand and said
confidentially, 'Narada, now you should go to Goloka, the topmost
spiritual planet. Lord Gaurasundara is residing there. Laksmi and many
other ladies lovingly serve Lord Hari who is the only enjoyer. The
residents are happy there. Radha and Rukmini are the principal queens.
Along with their many expansions, they serve the Lord as His consorts.
Following in their footsteps, hundreds and thousands of devotees also
serve the Lord.
'Satyabhama serves the Lord with her incomparable beauty and
matchless qualifies. Indeed, she is the most beautiful woman in the
three worlds. She is the connoisseur of cleverness and knows the limits
of rasa. Satyabhama enjoys charming pastimes encompassing the
various rasa-laden arts.
'After worshiping Srimati Radharani, the Lord expanded Himself into
many forms to enjoy the rasa dance in Vrndavana with hundreds of
loving gopis. With one mouth, how is it possible to describe the limitless
glories of this sweet pastime?
'In Dvaraka, all the ladies obey Rukmini Devi. Their minds are full of
devotion and they always sing the Lord's glories. Even when they're all
together with Krishna, they experience individual flavours of rasa.
 'The four types of salvation are given by the Lord of Vaikuntha.
Even fallen people in the material word may attain liberation by
rendering devotional service. Only pure bhakti, however, can control
the Supreme Lord. Being surrounded by Laksmi Devi, the Lord is always
rich; but He is always in want of the taste of pure love.
'Just as sugar can't taste its own sweetness, but helps others to
taste and enjoy it; similarly, with the help of bhakti, salvation is
automatically attained. Liberation impedes the natural flow of pure
devotional service. You should know that prema-bhakti-yoga far
surpasses the four types of liberation.
'The Supreme Lord of Goloka will come to Puri as Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu to distribute His mercy. As the Lord of all lords, He will
have a tall golden form. By freely giving His mercy He will mitigate
everyone's suffering. He will preach, chant, and glorify the holy names.
He will distribute the bliss of pure Krishna-prema to deliver all people in
Kali-yuga. Now go see Him and you will get relief from all your
miseries.'
"After hearing from Lord Jagannatha, Narada Muni left Puri and
travelled to Vaikuntha. While moving, Narada was thinking, 'I have
heard many confidential talks in the Srimad-Bhagavatam about mukti
and bhakti. I have also heard about that place which is unknown,
unmanifest in this world and beyond the knowledge of the Vedas.
Today I will see that place manifest before my eyes.'

Lord Brahma explains the 4 yuga avataras SB 11.5.19-31:

 "King Nimi inquired from Karabhajana Muni: In what colours and
forms does the Supreme Personality of Godhead appear in each of the
different ages, and with what names and by what types of regulative
principles is the Lord worshiped in society?
"Sri Karabhajana Muni replied: In each of the four yugas, or ages~ -
Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali - Lord Krsna appears with various
complexions, names, and forms and is thus worshiped by various
processes. In Satya-yuga the Lord is white and four-armed, has matted
locks and wears a garment of tree bark. He carries a black deerskin, a
sacred thread, prayer beads, and the rod and waterpot of a
brahmacari. People in Satya-yuga are peaceful, non-envious, friendly to
every creature, and steady in all situations. They worship the Supreme
Personality by austere meditation and by internal and external sense
control.
"In Satya-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Hamsa, Suparna,
Vaikuntha, Dharma, Yogesvara, Amala, Isvara, Purusa, Avyakta and
Paramatama.
"In Treta-yuga the Lord appears with a red complexion. He has four
arms, golden hair, and wears a triple belt representing initiation into
each of the three Vedas. He embodies the knowledge of worship by
sacrificial performance, which is contained in the Rg, Sama and Yajur
Vedas. His symbols are the ladle, spoon, and other implements of
sacrifice.
"In Treta-yuga, those members of human society who are fixed in
religiosity and are sincerely interested in achieving the Absolute Truth,
worship Lord Hari who contains within Himself all the demigods. The
Lord is worshiped by the rituals of sacrifice taught in the three Vedas.
"In Treta-yuga the Lord is glorified by the names Vishnu, Yajna,
Prsnigarbha, Sarvadeva, Urukrama, Vrsakapi, Jayanta and Urugaya.
 "In Dvapara-yuga the Suprema Personality of Godhead appears with
a dark blue complexion, wearing yellow garments. The Lord's
transcendental body is marked in this incarnation with Srivatsa and
other distinctive ornaments, and He manifests His personal weapons.
"My dear King, in Dvapara-yuga men who desire to know the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme enjoyer, worship
Him in the mood of honoring a great king, following the prescriptions
of both the Vedas and tantras.
"Obeisances to You, O Supreme Lord Vasudeva, and to Your forms
of Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. O Supreme Personality of
Godhead, all obeisances unto You. O Lord Narayana Rsi, O creator of
the universe, best of all personalities, master of this cosmos and original
form of the universe, O Supersoul of all created entities, all homage
unto You.
"O King, in this way people in Dvapara-yuga glorified the Lord of the
universe. In Kali-yuga also, people worship the Supreme Personality of
Godhead by following various regulations of the revealed scriptures.
Now kindly hear this from me." [end of Srimad-Bhagavatarn quote]'
"Lord Brahma continued speaking to Narada Muni. 'Listen Narada, the
three yugas-~Satya, Dvapara and Treta-- have already passed, and the
white, red, and black color avataras have appeared respectively. The
great sage Karabhaj ana has explained this. Now hear what the sage
says about the incarnation in Kali-yuga. Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32):

Sri Krishna: Three Colors, Four Yugas

'Now I will explain again how Lord Krishna came in three different
colors in the four yugas. In Satya and Treta-yugas the Lord appeared in
two colors- white and red. But in Kali and Dvapara-yugas the Lord
came in one color--black. However, there is actually no break in the
sequence of colors mentioned by Gargamuni in the Srimad-Bhagavatam
10.8.13. There he said the Lord appeared in white, red and yellow
colors in the three previous ages.
'Narada, now listen to a blissful elaboration on the Sanskrit words
used by Gargamuni. In Srimad-Bhagavatam verse 10.8.13, Gargamuni
said that the four yugas appear within the three phases of time---past,
present and future. After passing Satya and Treta yugas, Krishna comes
Himself in Dvapara. Then in Kali-yuga, Krishna Himself incarnates as His
holy names. Gargamuni has used the word idanim, which means
recently. But this pastime will happen in the future. The word bhavisya
means future. A scholar can prove the meaning of the future by
knowing the past.
'This is sufficiently indicated by the word tatha [in that place] which
refers to the Lord's red and white incarnations that have already been
seen. The yellow color will be seen in Kali-yuga when Lord Had appears
in a yellow color as Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu. If someone doesn't
accept my explanation, then he must explain why Gargamuni used the
word tatha in the verse.'
"Lord Brahma continued speaking to Narada, 'This explanation is the
supreme proof which shows why Krishna is the avatara for Kaliyuga:
Although there is a debate about Krishna's appearance as an avatara
outside of the normal time, if you hear carefully, you will understand
the truth. The other yuga avataras are either parts or expansions of the
parts of Lord Sri Krishna. Krishna Himself is the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. He is not an avatara or incarnation, as proven in the Srimad-
Bhagavatam (1.3.28):
ete camsa-kala pumsah / krishnas tu bhagavan svayam
indrari-vyakulam lokam / mrdayanti yuge yuge

"All the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or

portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Sri Krishna is the
original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets
whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord
incarnates to protect the theists."
'Using the authority of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, I will explain why
Krishna is called a yuga avatara. Gargamuni's realizations are difficult to
understand for ignorant people like us. Only an intelligent devotee can
understand.
'Gargamuni said that in the four yugas, the Lord appeared in four
colors in three different times--past, present, and future. In Satya,
Treta, Dvapara and Kali-yugas the Lord appears in white, red, yellow
and black colors respectively.
'Who is the fountainhead of all incarnations? Sri Krishna, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared in the Yadu dynasty,
is the source, and all others are His expansions. The Lord comes to
establish religion and destroy the atheists. In Dvapara-yuga, the
Supreme Lord Krishna Himself appeared on earth, and in Kali-yuga,
Krishna came as Lord Gauracandra. They are the same and they are
also different. According to Vyasadeva in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, in
two yugas, Dvapara and Kali, the two incarnations of the Lord had the
same color, Krishna-- blackish.
'Narada, it's explained in the Brhat Sahasra-Nama-stotra that Lord Siva
appears in the beginning of Kali-yuga. He takes the form of
Sankaracarya and promotes atheism by preaching impersonal
philosophy. In the Bhagavad-gita (4.8,9), Krishna promises that
whenever and wherever religion is reduced, He comes to earth to
remove atheism and reestablish religion. Due to ignorance people in
Kali-yuga become absorbed in sinful activities and sense gratification.
Thus, they remain bound in the miserable material existence.

Gauranga, Kali-Yuga, and Sankirtana

"Lord Brahma continued his discussion by quoting some sastric
verses to verify Lord Krishna's appearance as Sri Gauranga
Mahaprabhu, and to glorify Kali-yuga and the process of Hari-nama
sankirtana. He cited the Mahabharata (Vishnu-sahasra-nama stotra):

suvarna-varna hemango /varangas candanangadi

sannyasakrc camah santo / nistha santi parayanah

"When Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears as Sri

Gauranga, His complexion is gold [suvarna] in His early pastimes. His
limbs are the color of molten white gold [hemanga]. His body is
extremely beautiful [varangas], and He is decorated with sandalwood
pulp [candanangadi]. These four are the symptoms of the Lord's
grhastha-lila.
"The Lord will take sannyasa [sannyasikrc] and show equanimity
[sama] in different ways by describing the mysteries of devotion to Sri
Krishna, and by satisfying everyone with knowledge and attachment to
Krishna. The Lord is peaceful [santa] because He renounces all topics
not related to the service of Krishna. His mind is always fixed [nistha] in
performing Hari-nama sankirtana. He silences those opposed to.the
Lord's service by teaching pure devotional service. He is the abode of
the highest spiritual peace and devotion [parayanah] ."
 "Lord Brahma quoted another verse to show that Lord Caitanya's
appearance was also predicted in the (Bhavisya Purana):

ajayadhvamaja yadhvam na sansayah kalau sankirtana rambhe

bh.avisyami saci sutah

"The Supreme Lord said, 'In Kali-yuga, I will appear as the son of
Saci, and inaugurate the sankirtana movement. There is no doubt about
it.
This fact is confirmed in the Srimad- Bhagavatam (11.5.38) 'The
inhabitants of Satya-yuga and other ages eagerly desire to take birth in
the age of Kali, since in this age there will be many devotees of the
Supreme Lord."
'When the all-powerful Supreme Lord Krishna came, why didn't He
give prema-bhakti to the sinful? What other avatara would give prema,
even to the undeserving and unsurrendered? That type of compassion
was unseen in any other yuga. That supremely merciful form of the
Supreme Lord is none other than Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu.
'A religious man accumulates great benefits and destroys his impious
acts by doing pious works, going on pilgrimages, and by following
religious rituals; but none of these compares with chanting Hare
Krishna. In summary, it is quite clear that Kali-yuga is the best of all
ages. There is absolutely no other dharma [religious practice] save and
except the congregational chanting of Lord Krishna's holy names.'
"After full deliberation, Lord Brahma came to this conclusion. Narada
was extremely delighted to hear these things from Lord Brahma. In
appreciation, the sage showered forth sweet music from his vina.
 "Then Narada said, 'Brahma, what more shall I say? You have
already said whatever I have kept in my heart and soul. Some people
pass many kalpas entangled in fruitive activities. Suddenly, by the grace
of the Lord they get to render a little service to a Vaisnava. Hearing the
divine topics of Krishna from such a Vaisnava, they attain freedom from
material bondage. Then they become so devoted to serving Krishna
that they don't care a fig for the five kinds of mukti [liberation].
'Brahma, I want to say something about prema-bhakti and who is
eligible to receive gopi-bhava [the love of the gopis]. The pure love of
the gopis conquers the Lord of the three worlds in the same way that a
paramour conquers her lover by her spontaneous love. Who can
explain that premarbhakti of the gopis? Uddhava, the great devotee of
the Lord, was ready to take birth as a creeper in Vrndavana, in order to
get the dust from the feet of the gopis. Uddhava himself describes this
in the Srimad-Bhagavatarn ( 10.47.61 ):
"The gopis of Vrndavana have given up the association of their
husbands, sons, and other family members, who are very difficult to
give up, and they have forsaken the path of chastity to take shelter of
the lotus feet of Mukunda, Krishna, which one should search for by
Vedic knowledge. Oh, let me be fortunate enough to be one of the
bushes, creepers, or herbs in Vrndavana, because the gopis trample
them and bless them with the dust of their feet."
'The lotus feet of the Lord which are meditated upon by Lord
Brahma, Siva, the munis, and the greatest yogis are rarely attained by
them. Laksmi Devi massages those feet which have an indescribably
sweet effulgence. Although the four Vedas are constantly reciting the
glories of the Lord' s lotus feet, they have hardly reached the shore of
the ocean where He rests upon the bed of Ananta Sesa.
'Being controlled by their pure spontaneous love, that very same Lord
Himself worshiped the feet of the gopis. There are also hundreds of
devotees who have brought the Lord under control by following in the
footsteps of the gopis. There is no comparison to the confidential pure
love shared between the Vraja gopis and Krishna, the Supersoul of all
living entities. Their love is matchless and supreme.
'Although it sometimes resembles the lusty dealings between
mundane paramours, that love is totally pure and transcendental. That
quality of pure bhakti, which Ananta and Laksmi have never even heard
of, Lord Gauranga will preach in the age of Kal^i.'
Locana Dasa says please accept these statements as correct and
don't ignore them.

In Srila Krishna das Kaviraja’s Chaitanya-charitamrita he often writes

how he does not want to repeat what Vrindavana das Thakur has
already described in his Sri Chaitanya Bhagavata, who likewise says the
same of Locana das Thakur’s Caitanya Mangala.
In 1537, Locana das Thakur was only 17 years old when his guru
Narahari Sarakara Thakura ordered him to write the Caitanya Mangala.
This was 3 years after Lord Chaitanya’s departure from this earthly
realm in 1534, so actually Sri Caitanya-Mangala is the closest biography
to the life-time of the Lord. Srila Krishna das Kaviraja’s Chaitanya-
charitamrita was completed in 1615, 78 years later, and Vrindavana das
Thakur’s Chaitanya Bhagavata in 1648, 111 years later. Locana Dasa
based his Caitanya-Mangala, the 2nd biography of Lord Chaitanya, on
Murari Gupta's authorized Sanskrit biography of Lord Caitanya entitled
Sri-Krishna-Caitanya-carita, which was the first.
Every sandhya Gaura aratika we sing “narahari-ädi kori' cämara
dhuläya,” Narahari Sarakara, (adi kori), was the first amongst the
associates of Lord Caitanya to fan Him with camaras.
Narahari Sarakara Thakura was a great Acharya and musician in the art
of singing and playing ragas so his disciple Locana not only wrote
profound spiritually potent poetic songs of Lord Caitanya’s divine
pastimes giving little known amazing details but he also composed
wonderful music and ragas for each of his songs. Caitanya mangala is
written in a simple, beautiful language as a vast Bengali opera,
especially written so that even illiterate Bengalis could learn the songs
by heart and often sing them and at the same time imbibe Lord
Caitanya’s important teachings. Thus each chapter and song is sung in a
different particularly beautiful räga, and are headed with the rägas
name, like Song 1 Paöha-maïjari räga; Song 2 Kodära räga; Song 3
Varäòi räga - Diça etc, and the songs have refrains like, “Dear friends,
again and again I beg you. O great souls, I beg for your blessings, so I
may be able to sing Lord Gaura's glories.”
In this way we can understand that Lord Caitanya’s associates like Sri
Narahari Sarakara Thakura and Locana Dasa Thakur are Gopis and
manjaris, grand masters of the 64 divine arts. Caitanya-Mangala is thus
transcendental divine sound vibrations directly descending from Goloka
Vrindavana in the spiritual world through the pure devotion of Locana
Dasa Thakur Mahäçaya! If one is lucky enough just to be able to read
or hear it one becomes fully purified and eligible to eventually go back
home back to Godhead.
Caitanya-Mangala is a rasatmaka-sastra - a book full of rasa - and a true
work of incredible genius coming straight from Goloka. Locana Dasa's
poetry often surpasses that of Vrndavana Dasa Thakura - and Srila
Prabhupada especially loved to often sing songs from Caitanya-
Mangala, like parama koruëa, pahü dui jana, nitäi gauracandra, saba
avatära-sära çiromaëi, kevala änanda-kanda, Nitai Guna Mani Amar and
Akrodha paramananda nityānanda rāy. Sri Caitanya-Mangala ki jay!