Shy ā m ā nanda Pandit By: Priyā Dāsi

Om ajňāna timirāndhasya jňānāňjana śalākayā Cakṣur unmīlitam yena tasmai śrī gurave namah Nama Om Viṣṇu-pādāya Rādhikayāh priyātmane Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa iti nāmine

Birth of Shyāmānanda Shyāmānanda Pandit was an Ācārya who made a difference in the Gaudiya Sampradāya. His mother was Sri Durika Dasi and his father was Sri Krishna Mandal. He was born approximately one year after Caitanya MahāPrabhu left this world at Dandeshwar Dhama in Orissa. His parents were from ‘Sadgopa’ background. When Shyāmānanda Pandit was born, they named him “ Dukhi ” ( The sorrowful ).

Early life His parents inspired him with the glory of Shri Caitanya. He was gifted with marvelous memory and studied Sanskrit grammar. He was calm, sober was not interested in sports (a good sign of real devotee!). He was pious and exulted in the name of Shri Caitanya.

Spiritual Initiation His parents saw his zeal towards religion and philosophy. Although a teenager, Dukhi had already decided to accept Hridoy Caitanya as his Guru. He travelled for several days to reach Ambika Kalna in Bengal, to meet Hridoy Caitanya. Dukhi engaged in the service of Gaura Nitāi at the temple and developed deep affection for his Guru. Hridoy Caitanya initiated Dukhi and gave him the name ‘Krishna Dāsa’

Life in Vrindāvana His Guru instructed Krishnadāsa to go to Vrindāvan and study tattva under Jīva Goswāmi. At Rādhā Kunda, he met Srila Krishna Dāsa Kavirāj Goswāmi and Raghunāth Dāsa Goswāmi. Under the guidance of Jīva Goswāmi, he studied grammar, poetry, logic and aesthetics. He became proficient in all of the Goswāmis’ literatures. Here, he met Shrinivas Ācārya and Narottama Dāsa and they became inseparable friends

Devotional practices By the mercy of Jīva Goswami, he worshipped Rādhā and Krishna and became absorbed in devotional service. Externally he performed his sadhana (daily services) which included sweeping the area of kalpa kunja kutir. Internally he meditated on Shri Rādhā and Krishna and served the Lordships under the guidance of Rupa Manjari.

Rādhikā’s anklet Inside the Kalpa kunja kutira, Shri Shri Rādhā Krishna eternally perform the rasa lila dance. Once, Rādhā Rāni lost her nupura (anklet) in the kutir. Krishna Dāsa found the nupura while cleaning the kunja. The whole kunja was glowing from the light emitted from the nupura. When he touched the nupura to his head, he exhibited esctatic symptoms (horripilation, sweating, crying)

Rādhikā’s anklet He did not want the anklet to go in wrong hands, so he buried it. Rādha Rāni noticed her missing anklet. Lalitā Sundari, disguised as an elderly woman, came to search. Krishna Dāsa asked her identification. Krishna Dāsa requested her to show her spiritual form.

Lalitā gives blessing He returned the anklet and he expressed desire to serve Shri Rādhā Krishna yugala. Lalitā became happy and she touched his head with the anklet. Suddenly a tilak appeared on his forehead. Lalitā gave him the name Shyāmānanda since he gave ānanda ( bliss ) to Shyāmā (Rādhā Rāni).

Hridoya Caitanya’s challenge Jīva Goswami was pleased when he heard about this incident Hridoya Caitanya came to know and he was furious since he thought that Jīva is taking his disciple Hridoya Caitanya was in Sākhya bhāva and he was upset that his disciple was having Mādhurya bhāva. He challenged Shyāmānanda to prove that his name and tilak were genuine. In the assembly, Shyāmānanda went in deep meditation and entered Shrimati Rādhā Rāni’s room as Kanaka Manjari

Meeting Rādhā Rāni Rādhā Rāni saw Kanaka Manjari weeping and called Subala Sakhā to help her. Subala Sakhā told Shyāmānanda to remember him in the assembly. Shyāmānanda came out of his trance and saw that Hridoy Caitanya was trying to erase his tilak and name. He remembered Subala Sakhā and miraculously the tilak reappeared Hridoy Caitanya became frustrated and started beating Shyāmānanda

Hridoy Caitanya’s Dream Shyāmānanda was feeling separation from his Guru and still he wanted to serve him. Caitanya MahāPrabhu appeared in Hridoy Caitanya’s dream. He was severely wounded. Mahāprabhu had taken all the beatings from Shyāmānanda since he was so dear to Him. Hearing this, Hridoy Caitanya fell on MahāPrabhu’s feet.

‘Guru Niṣţhā’ He went to Shyāmānanda and begged for forgiveness. Shyāmānanda fell on his Guru’s feet and declared “I am eternally your servant and nothing can change”. This is ‘Guru Niṣţhā ’ Vānchā Kalpa Taru…

By his Guru’s mercy, Shyāmānanda continued learning under the guidance of Jīva Goswāmi. In ‘Rasik Mangal’ it has been mentioned that he married three times. Jīva Goswāmi sent all important Vaishnava scriptures with Shyāmānanda, Srinivāsa and Narottama Dāsa from Vrindāvana to Bengal. Shyāmānanda Prabhu initiated Rasika Murāri and Dāmodara and they preached in Orissā and put an end to animal sacrifices.

Later Life Vrindāvana Parikrama, Upāsana Sāra Sangraha, Aprakāshita pada ratnāvali were written by Shyāmānanda. When his Gurudeva left this world, Shyāmānanda could not tolerate the sad news. Soon after, when he heard that his favorite disciple Dāmodara left this world, he became severely ill. Until his last breath, he vigorously preached the teachings of Vaishnava philosophy Even today, people follow Shyāmānanda’s disciplic succession in Vridanvana and wear the Shyāmānandi tilak also called Kripābindu.

Yugala Kishora Arati mangala aroti yugala kiśora jaya jaya koratahi sakhī-gaṇa bhora ratana pradīpa koru ṭalamala tora nirakhata mukha vidhu śyāma sugaura lalitā viśākhā sakhī preme agora koroto niramanchan doñhe duhuń bhora śrī vṛndāvana kuñja bhuvana ujora mūrati manohara yugala kiśora gāoete śuka pika nācata mor cāńda upekhi mukha nirakhe cakora bajata vividha yantra ghana ghora śyāmānanda ānanda bajaya jaya tora

References Vaishnava saints ( Gokul Bhajan Library! ) Hare Krishna !