SRI MUKUNDA DATTA KI JAYA

Mukunda Datta – Biography

   Shri Mukunda Datta was born in the Chattagrama district, in the village of Chanhara, which is under the jurisdiction of the police station named Patiya. This village is situated ten krosas, or about twenty miles, from the home of Pundarika Vidyanidhi. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (140) it is said:

vraje sthitau gayakau yau
madhukantha-madhuvratau
mukunda-vasudevau tau
dattau gauranga-gayakau

When Mukunda Datta sang in the courtyard of Shrivasa Prabhu, Mahaprabhu danced with His singing, and when Lord Chaitanya for twenty-one hours exhibited an ecstatic manifestation known as sata-prahariya, Mukunda Datta inaugurated the function by singing. (In the image: Lord Shri Chaitanya and Shri Krishna).

   “In Vraja there were two very nice singers named Madhukantha and Madhuvrata. They appeared in Chaitanya-lila as Mukunda and Vasudeva Datta, who were singers in the society of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.” When Lord Chaitanya was a student, Mukunda Datta was His class friend, and they frequently engaged in logical arguments. Sometimes Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would fight with Mukunda Datta, using tricks of logic. This is described in the Chaitanya-bhagavata, Adi-lila, Chapters Eleven and Twelve. When Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu returned from Gaya, Mukunda Datta gave Him pleasure by reciting verses from Shrimad-Bhagavatam about Krishna-lila. It was by his endeavor that Gadadhara Pandita Goswami became a disciple of Pundarika Vidyanidhi, as stated in Shri Chaitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-lila, Chapter Seven. When Mukunda Datta sang in the courtyard of Shrivasa Prabhu, Mahaprabhu danced with His singing, and when Lord Chaitanya for twenty-one hours exhibited an ecstatic manifestation known as sata-prahariya, Mukunda Datta inaugurated the function by singing.
   Sometimes Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu chastised Mukunda Datta by calling him khadajathiya beta because he attended many functions held by different classes of nondevotees. This is stated in the Chaitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-lila, Chapter Ten. When Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu dressed Himself as the goddess of fortune to dance in the house of Chandrashekhara, Mukunda Datta began the first song.
   Before disclosing His desire to take the renounced order of life, Lord Chaitanya first went to the house of Mukunda Datta, but at that time Mukunda Datta requested Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to continue His sankirtana movement for a few days more before taking sannyasa. This is stated in Chaitanya-bhagavata, Madhya-lila Chapter Twenty-six. The information of Lord Chaitanya’s accepting the renounced order was made known to Gadadhara Pandita, Chandrashekhara Acharya and Mukunda Datta by Nityananda Prabhu, and therefore all of them went to Katwa and arranged for kirtana and all the paraphernalia for Lord Chaitanya’s acceptance of sannyasa. After the Lord took sannyasa, they all followed Him, especially Shri Nityananda Prabhu, Gadadhara Prabhu and Govinda, who followed Him all the way to Purushottama-kshetra. In this connection one may refer to Shri Chaitanya-bhagavata, Antya-lila, Chapter Two. In the place known as Jaleshvara, Nityananda Prabhu broke the sannyasa rod of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Mukunda Datta was also present at that time. He went every year from Bengal to see Lord Chaitanya at Jagannatha Puri. (CC Adi lila 10:41. purport.) "Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu blessed Mukunda Datta with punishment and in that way vanquished all his mental depression."

PURPORT

   Mukunda Datta was once forbidden to enter the association of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu because of his mixing with the Mayavadi impersonalists. When Lord Chaitanya manifested His maha-prakasa, He called all the Devotees one after another and blessed them, while Mukunda Datta stood outside the door. The Devotees informed the Lord that Mukunda Datta was waiting outside, but the Lord replied, “I shall not soon be pleased with Mukunda Datta, for he explains devotional service among Devotees, but then he goes to Mayavadis to hear from them the Yoga-vasishtha-ramayana, which is full of Mayavada philosophy. For this I am greatly displeased with him.” Hearing the Lord speak in that way, Mukunda Datta, standing outside, was exceedingly glad that the Lord would at some time be pleased with him, although He was not pleased at that moment. But when the Lord understood that Mukunda Datta was going to give up the association of the Mayavadis for good, He was pleased, and He at once called to see Mukunda. Thus He delivered him from the association of the Mayavadis and gave him the association of pure Devotees. (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. CC Adi lila 17:65 purport.)
   Vasudeva Datta, the brother of Mukunda Datta (in some places he is known as the father of Mukunda Datta), was also a resident of Chattagrama. In the Chaitanya-bhagavata it is said, yanra sthane krishna haya apane vikraya: Vasudeva Datta was such a powerful Devotee that Krishna was purchased by him. Vasudeva Datta stayed at Shrivasa Pandita’s house, and in the Chaitanya-bhagavata it is described that Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was so pleased with Vasudeva Datta and so affectionate toward him that He used to say, “I am only Vasudeva Datta’s man. My body is only meant to please Vasudeva Datta, and he can sell Me anywhere.” Thrice He vowed that this was a fact and that no one should disbelieve these statements. “All My dear Devotees,” He said, “I tell you the truth. My body is especially meant for Vasudeva Datta.” Vasudeva Datta initiated Shri Yadunandana Acharya, the spiritual master of Raghunatha dasa, who later became Raghunatha dasa Goswami. This will be found in the Chaitanya-charitamrita, Antya-lila, Sixth Chapter, verse 161. Vasudeva Datta spent money very liberally; therefore Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Shivananda Sena to become his sarakhela, or secretary, in order to control his extravagant expenses. Vasudeva Datta was so kind to the living entities that he wanted to take all their sinful reactions so that they might be delivered by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. CC Adi 10:41-42 purports). 
   This is described in the Fifteenth Chapter of the Chaitanya-charitamrita’s Madhya-lila, verses 159 through 180.

   There is a railway station named Purvasthali near the Navadwipa railway station, and about one mile away, in a village known as Mamagachi, which is the birthplace of Vrindavana dasa Thakura, there is presently a Temple of Madana-gopala that was established by Vasudeva Datta. The Gaudiya Matha Devotees have now taken charge of this Temple, and the seva-puja is going on very nicely. Every year all the pilgrims on the Navadwipa-parikrama visit Mamagachi. Since Shri Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura inaugurated the Navadwipa-parikrama function, the Temple has been very well managed. 

...it is described that Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was so pleased with Vasudeva Datta and so affectionate toward him that He used to say, “I am only Vasudeva Datta’s man. My body is only meant to please Vasudeva Datta, and he can sell Me anywhere.” Thrice He vowed that this was a fact and that no one should disbelieve these statements. “All My dear Devotees,” He said, “I tell you the truth. My body is especially meant for Vasudeva Datta.” (In the image: Lord Shri Chaitanya).

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