![\"srivas\"](\"https:\/\/vaishnava-news-network.org\/vaisnava-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/srivas.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cThere is no difference between the energy and the energetic in regard to the Lord\u2019s appearance as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His four associates \u2014 Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadadhara, and Srivasa. Amongst these five diverse manifestations of the Supreme Lord (as the Lord Himself and His incarnation, expansion and energies) there is no spiritual difference. They are five in one Absolute Truth. For the sake of relishing transcendental flavors in the Absolute Truth, there are five diverse manifestations. These are called the form of a devotee, the identity of a devotee, the incarnation of a devotee, the pure devotee and devotional energy.<\/p>\nOut of the five diversities in the Absolute Truth, the form of Lord Caitanya is that of the original Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Lord Nityananda is the manifestation of the first expansion of the Supreme Lord. Similarly, Advaita Prabhu is an incarnation of the Supreme Lord. These three\u2013Caitanya, Nityananda and Advaita\u2013belong to the category of Visnu-tattva, or the Supreme Absolute Truth. Srivasa represents the pure devotee, and Gadadhara represents the internal energy of the Lord for the advancement of pure devotion. Therefore Gadadhara and Srivasa, although included in Visnu-tattva, are dependent, diverse energies of the Supreme Lord. In other words, they are not different from the energetic, but they are manifest diversely for the sake of relishing transcendental relationships. The whole process of devotional service involves a transcendental reciprocation in the relationship between the worshiper and the worshiped. Without such a diverse exchange of transcendental flavors, devotional service has no meaning.\u201d [Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 17 by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada]<\/p>\n
Srivas Pandit\u2019s Origins<\/h3>\nsrivasa-pandita dhiman yah pura narado munih
\nparvatakhyo muni-varo ya asin narada-priyah
\nsri-rama-panditah sriman tat-kanistha-sahodarah
\nnamnambika vraje dhatri stanya-datri sthita pura
\nsaiveyam Malini namni srivassa-grhini mata<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nSrivas is Narada, who plays such an important part in Krishna\u2019s lila. Narada Muni\u2019s friend Parvata Muni appeared as Srivas\u2019 younger brother Ramai. Srivas\u2019 wife Malini Devi was Krishna\u2019s wet nurse in Vraja, Ambika. (Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika 90)<\/p>\n
Srivas Pandit hailed from Sylhet. He later came to live in Nabadwip where he made an immense contribution to Gauranga lila. From the Chaitanya Bhagavata and Chaitanya Charitamrita we learn that Srivas had three brothers living with him in Navadvipa: Srirama Pandit, Sripati Pandit and Srikanta or Srinidhi Pandit. All four were participants in Mahaprabhu\u2019s lila.<\/p>\n
Gaudiya Vaisnava Abhidhana cites Prema-vilasa in saying that Srivas\u2019 father was a Vedic Brahmin of the name Sri Jaladhar Pandit. Srivas Pandit was the second of five sons. The eldest son, Sri Nalina Pandit, had a daughter named Narayani, the mother of the author of the Chaitanya Bhagavata, Vrindavan Das. Narayani\u2019s husband Vaikuntha Das Vipra died while she was pregnant with Vrindavan Das, so she left her husband\u2019s house in Kumarahatta (Halisahar) and came to live with Srivas in Nabadwip.<\/p>\n
Kirtan Pastimes at Srivas Angan<\/h3>\n
After a night of kirtan at Srivas\u2019 house, when Mahaprabhu returned to external awareness, He would go with all the devotees to bathe in the Ganges. Sometimes the devotees would ceremonially bathe the Lord at Srivas Angan. One of Srivas\u2019 servant girls named Dukhi would watch Mahaprabhu\u2019s ecstatic dancing with tears in her eyes. She also performed the service of filling jugs of water from the Ganges for Mahaprabhu\u2019s morning bath. One day, Mahaprabhu observed her devotion and was pleased; He changed her name from\u00a0Dukhi<\/em>\u00a0(\u201cunhappy\u201d) to\u00a0Sukhi<\/em>\u00a0(\u201chappy\u201d).<\/p>\nAnother day, Srivas\u2019 only son died while sankirtana was being performed in his house. Srivas was afraid that the sounds of mourning from the women\u2019s quarters would disturb Mahaprabhu while He was engaged in singing the Holy Names. So he went directly into the house and tried to quiet the women by explaining spiritual truths to them. When they still didn\u2019t stop their loud lamentations, Srivas threatened to throw himself into the river and drown if they did not stop making noise. This had the desired result.<\/p>\n
Later on that night, however, the kirtan came to a stop and Mahaprabhu said, \u201cSomething doesn\u2019t seem right. Has some tragedy taken place in the pandit\u2019s house?\u201d Srivas answered, \u201cHow can anything be wrong, when I have Your smiling face in my home?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, some of the other devotees said, \u201cPrabhu, Srivas\u2019 only son died in the evening about an hour after sunset.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahaprabhu asked, \u201cWhy did no one say anything before now?\u201d<\/p>\n
The devotees answered, \u201cLord, Srivas told us not to, because he was afraid that it would interfere with Your pleasure in kirtana.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahaprabhu said, \u201cHow could I ever abandon devotees who love Me to this extent!\u201d and started to cry. After this, He went inside and sat down beside the child\u2019s dead body and brought him back to consciousness. He asked, \u201cChild! Why do you want to leave the house of such a great devotee as Srivas?\u201d<\/p>\n
The dead child answered, \u201cThe few days that I was to spend in Srivas\u2019 house are over, and now I am following Your wishes in going elsewhere. I am a living being without any independence; I cannot go against Your wishes. Please be merciful to me that I never forget Your lotus feet, wherever I go.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Srivas\u2019 family members heard the child speak such wisdom, they immediately forgot their distress and stopped mourning. Mahaprabhu said to Srivas, \u201cFrom this day on, Nityananda and I will be your sons. We will never leave you.\u201d<\/p>\n
srivasa-pandita dhiman yah pura narado munih Srivas is Narada, who plays such an important part in Krishna\u2019s lila. Narada Muni\u2019s friend Parvata Muni appeared as Srivas\u2019 younger brother Ramai. Srivas\u2019 wife Malini Devi was Krishna\u2019s wet nurse in Vraja, Ambika. (Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika 90)<\/p>\n Srivas Pandit hailed from Sylhet. He later came to live in Nabadwip where he made an immense contribution to Gauranga lila. From the Chaitanya Bhagavata and Chaitanya Charitamrita we learn that Srivas had three brothers living with him in Navadvipa: Srirama Pandit, Sripati Pandit and Srikanta or Srinidhi Pandit. All four were participants in Mahaprabhu\u2019s lila.<\/p>\n Gaudiya Vaisnava Abhidhana cites Prema-vilasa in saying that Srivas\u2019 father was a Vedic Brahmin of the name Sri Jaladhar Pandit. Srivas Pandit was the second of five sons. The eldest son, Sri Nalina Pandit, had a daughter named Narayani, the mother of the author of the Chaitanya Bhagavata, Vrindavan Das. Narayani\u2019s husband Vaikuntha Das Vipra died while she was pregnant with Vrindavan Das, so she left her husband\u2019s house in Kumarahatta (Halisahar) and came to live with Srivas in Nabadwip.<\/p>\n After a night of kirtan at Srivas\u2019 house, when Mahaprabhu returned to external awareness, He would go with all the devotees to bathe in the Ganges. Sometimes the devotees would ceremonially bathe the Lord at Srivas Angan. One of Srivas\u2019 servant girls named Dukhi would watch Mahaprabhu\u2019s ecstatic dancing with tears in her eyes. She also performed the service of filling jugs of water from the Ganges for Mahaprabhu\u2019s morning bath. One day, Mahaprabhu observed her devotion and was pleased; He changed her name from\u00a0Dukhi<\/em>\u00a0(\u201cunhappy\u201d) to\u00a0Sukhi<\/em>\u00a0(\u201chappy\u201d).<\/p>\n Another day, Srivas\u2019 only son died while sankirtana was being performed in his house. Srivas was afraid that the sounds of mourning from the women\u2019s quarters would disturb Mahaprabhu while He was engaged in singing the Holy Names. So he went directly into the house and tried to quiet the women by explaining spiritual truths to them. When they still didn\u2019t stop their loud lamentations, Srivas threatened to throw himself into the river and drown if they did not stop making noise. This had the desired result.<\/p>\n Later on that night, however, the kirtan came to a stop and Mahaprabhu said, \u201cSomething doesn\u2019t seem right. Has some tragedy taken place in the pandit\u2019s house?\u201d Srivas answered, \u201cHow can anything be wrong, when I have Your smiling face in my home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, some of the other devotees said, \u201cPrabhu, Srivas\u2019 only son died in the evening about an hour after sunset.\u201d<\/p>\n Mahaprabhu asked, \u201cWhy did no one say anything before now?\u201d<\/p>\n The devotees answered, \u201cLord, Srivas told us not to, because he was afraid that it would interfere with Your pleasure in kirtana.\u201d<\/p>\n Mahaprabhu said, \u201cHow could I ever abandon devotees who love Me to this extent!\u201d and started to cry. After this, He went inside and sat down beside the child\u2019s dead body and brought him back to consciousness. He asked, \u201cChild! Why do you want to leave the house of such a great devotee as Srivas?\u201d<\/p>\n The dead child answered, \u201cThe few days that I was to spend in Srivas\u2019 house are over, and now I am following Your wishes in going elsewhere. I am a living being without any independence; I cannot go against Your wishes. Please be merciful to me that I never forget Your lotus feet, wherever I go.\u201d<\/p>\n When Srivas\u2019 family members heard the child speak such wisdom, they immediately forgot their distress and stopped mourning. Mahaprabhu said to Srivas, \u201cFrom this day on, Nityananda and I will be your sons. We will never leave you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nparvatakhyo muni-varo ya asin narada-priyah
\nsri-rama-panditah sriman tat-kanistha-sahodarah
\nnamnambika vraje dhatri stanya-datri sthita pura
\nsaiveyam Malini namni srivassa-grhini mata<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nKirtan Pastimes at Srivas Angan<\/h3>\n