Sri Sri Nitai-Chaitanyadev

How Sri Sri Nitai-Chaitanyadev came by Their own wish to Sri Puri Dham.

By Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj

Today is a very auspicious and happy day for us. Nityananda Prabhu and Mahaprabhu will both manifest Themselves today in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math here. They were staying hidden in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Nabadwip, but They had Their own desire, and I think that to fulfil that desire They have come to Puri Dham. This Math happened in the time of Srila Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, but I was afraid to install Deities. When you install Deities, you must maintain worship generation after generation, and it is very serious if you cannot. It is within the archan-marg, and the archan-marg is very difficult for the fallen souls to follow. Therefore, I am always hesitating to do this. But if the Deity comes gradually by His own wish, then what I can say and what can I do? I think it is the wish of the Deity.

When I was in Kolkata, I planned to go to Puri and see the building works. Then everybody wanted to come to Puri. I thought, “I am going to Puri, and everybody wants to go to Puri. It will be possible to do more work there.” And what is that? It immediately came in my mind that these Deities are waiting in Nabadwip, and maybe They want installation now.

The Deities were staying hidden in the Temple, taking incense and waiting for service. I felt very bad sometimes because I could not manifest Them in the time of Guru Maharaj. These Deities are Guru Maharaj’s Deities. Guru Maharaj looked at Them and did pranam, so They already fully manifested, but I was not happy because I was not able to give Them proper food and proper worship. I was also sometimes thinking that Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu want to play in Govinda Kunda. I have both money and men, but I could not manage it. One boat was necessary, so I sent Purnananda Prabhu and Hari Charan Prabhu with five thousand rupees to bring a boat, but they could not buy one. I was considering what the meaning was behind all these things. I also forgot the weight of the Deities.

After that, when many devotees told me they wanted to go to Puri, I thought, if they are going, then now is a suitable time to take Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu there. When They manifest Themselves in a Deity room, They will get nice food and proper worship every day. So I thought, this is a suitable time, but what shall I do? I was thinking about this for three days, but I did not tell anybody. I needed inspiration from Guru Maharaj, instruction from Guru Maharaj, feeling from Guru Maharaj. I was waiting in this way, and then on the third night I settled that I shall go and do abhisek of the Deities there.

Then early in the morning, Prapanna Krishna Prabhu came to me and he proposed that: “Maharaj, we are all going, and at this time there are two Deities in our Math. I think it will be very nice if you take these Deities to Puri Dham.” After hearing that, I was stunned with surprise. I considered this the direct order of Guru Maharaj. I was thinking, if anyone comes to me with this idea, then I will consider it is fully satisfying to Guru Maharaj. Then Mahananda Prabhu, who is not involved with these affairs, suddenly told me, “Maharaj, it is possible to do this.” Then I was fully satisfied within my mind, and I thought, no doubt, if three heads are in one place, then that is enough. One, two, three, and start! I am one, he is two, and when Mahananda Prabhu gave the last firing, I had no doubt it must happen.