Srivasa Pandita

Srivasa Pandita, fifth member of the Panca tattva, Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasadi, Gaura Bhakta Vrnda lived in Navadvipa before the advent of Lord Caitanya. Srivasa lead his brothers Sri Rama, Sri Nidhi, and Sripati in their devotional lives of singing Krsna’s names, worshiping the Lord, and bathing thrice daily in the Ganges.

Meeting with Sri Advaita Acarya Prabhu, they studied Bhagavatam and prayed for an incarnation of the Supreme Lord. Why did they pray? Because only an avatara of Krsna could reestablish Vaisnavism among the staunch atheists, logicians, and proud Panditas harassing Nadia at that time.

Malini, wife of Srivasa, was a constant friend of Saci Devi. She served Nimai as a nurse. When Lord Visvambhara appeared, the hearts of all the devotees were filled with parental affection (vatsalya bhava). Gauracandra loved Malini and Srivasa as a second mother and father.

Srivasa Angam was located two hundred yards north of Nimai’s bari (house). Srivasa Pandita’s palatial home had large comfortable rooms, a high protective boundary wall, and lush densely foliated gardens and groves. Everynight Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and His dearest friends would enjoy ecstatic kirtanas here and taste the mellows of Vrndavana.

Here, the raging Muslim Kazi broke the sacred mrdanga in his foolish attempt to stop Sri Krsna’s Sankirtana Movement. Henceforward, Srivasa Angam was known as Khol Banga Danga (place where the mrdanga was broken).

The Kazi passed an ordinance prohibiting sankirtana. Violators would be converted to the Muslim faith and lose their property. Although most Nadia vasis (residents of Navadvipa) panicked over this, Srivasa Pandita laughed at the fanatical law.

Within Srivasa Angam Lord Gauranga sundara showed His divine form to all His eternal associates. The house of Srivasa Pandita served as the headquarters of Gauranga’s Sankirtana Movement. The daily Bhagavatam classes, nightly kirtanas, and many confidential Vraja pastimes of Lord Gaura Raya occured here.

Srivasa Pandita and Sri Advaita Acarya, the learned chiefs of the brahmana community, dedicated all their energy to the Lord’s Hari Nama Sankirtana Movement. They surrendered their bodies, minds, homes, friends, family, and all possessions to Lord Gaura’s service. They knew no other gods or goddesses. Srivasa Pandita maintained his family, not because they were his relatives, but because they were Sri Caitanya’s loving servants.

Srivasa Pandita represents the marginal living entity (tatastha jiva). The devotees headed by Srivasa are described as Lord Caitanya’s smaller limbs (His face, eyes, hands, disc, other weapons.) They all took part in Sri Gaurasundara’s pastimes. With them Lord Gauranga spread the sankirtana movement. Srivasa Pandita is Narada Muni, an inter galactic preacher and constant associate of the Lord. His samadhi is in the 64 Samadhis Area.

An excerpt from Gaudiya Vaisnavas Biographies and Samadhis in Vrndavana.