Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Goswami.

It is seen in Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, where Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur, the crest jewel among Vaisnavas, has mentioned that the Dandabhanga pastime had taken place on the bank of river Suvarna Rekha near Khira Chor Gopinath, Northern Orissa. Where as in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta compiled by the other crest jewel among Vaisnavas, Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Gosvami, it is clearly mentioned that the Dandabhanga pastime of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had taken place at Kamalapur, in between the sacred rivers Bhargavi and Dandabhanga, close to Sri Jagannath Puri. Now it is obvious that the Vaisnavas and the devotees in general are likely to be confused.

 

But in actuality there is no such confusion. If we take a closer look, it has already been well established, that the great Dandabhanga pastime had taken place at Kamalapur and not on the bank of the river Suvarna Rekha (Northern Orissa) as it did according to Sri Caitanya-bhagavata. By the application of our common sense and wisdom, we can also see that the authenticity of this land as the sacred eternal pastime site of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has been well established.

 

How is that?

 

Let us refer to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Here the compiler, Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Gosvami, in his introduction to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, has mentioned that he does not want to repeat the part of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that has already been well narrated by the crest jewel among Vaisnavas, Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur in his Sri Caitanya-bhagavata. He also mentioned that wherever it would be felt as extremely essential, only in that event would he beg permission to narrate in relatively greater detail.

 

purve kahilu adi-lilara sutra-gana
yaha vistariyachena dasa-vrundavana
ataeva tara ami sutra-matra kailu
ye kichu visesa, sutra-madhyei kahilu
ebe kahi sesa-lilara mukhya sutra-gana
prabhura asesa leela na yaya varnëna
tara madhye yei bhaga dasa-vrundavana

caitanya-mangale’ vistari’ karila varnana
sei bhagera iha sutra-matra likhiba
tanha ye viseña kichu, ihai vistariba
caitanya-lilara vyasa-dasa vrundavana
tanra ajnaya karoi taira ucchista charvana
bhakti kari’ sire dhari tanhara charana
sesa-lilara sutra-gaia kariye varnana

(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya Lila, CH-1, verses 8 to 14)

 

Lord Nityananda Raya breaks the danda.

Translation: I have previously described in synopsis the Adi-lila (initial pastimes), which have already been fully described by Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakur. Therefore, I have given only a synopsis of those incidents and whatever specifics that were to be related have already been given in it. To describe the unlimited pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not possible, but I now wish to relate the chief incidents and give a synopsis of those pastimes occurring at the end.

 

I shall describe only in synopsis that portion which Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura has described very elaborately in his book Sri Caitanya Mangala (Caitanya-bhagavata). Whatever incidents are outstanding, however, I shall later elaborate. Actually, the authorized compiler of the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura, the incarnation of Vyasadeva. Only upon his orders, I am trying to chew the remnants of food that he has left. Placing His Lotus Feet upon my head, in great devotion, I shall now describe in summary the Lords final pastimes.

 

As we all have seen here in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Gosvami has not touched almost any of the narrations made by Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur in his Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, excluding that of the Dandabhanga pastime. Only here, he has made an exception and gave a systematic record of the different places visited by Mahaprabhu on His way in between Yajapur and Sri Jagannath Puri. He explains how Sriman Mahaprabhu along with His associates finally arrived by foot at the place called Yajapur, on the bank of river Vaitarani, where Mahaprabhu saw the temple of Varahadev and offered His obeisances unto Him. Then he explains how Sriman Mahaprabhu went to the town of Kataka (Cuttack) and had the wonderful darsana of Lord Sakshi Gopal.

 

calite calite aila yajapura-grama
varaha-thakura dekhi karila pranama (verse-3)
nrtya-gita kaila preme bahuta stavana
yajapure se ratri karila yapana (verse-4)
katake aila saksi-gopala dekhite
gopala-saundarya dekhi haila anandite (verse-5)

(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya Lila, CH-5, verses 3 to 5)

 

Translation: Walking and walking, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and his party finally arrived at Yajapur, on the river Vaitarani. There he saw the temple of Lord Varahadeva and offered his obeisances unto him. In the temple of Varahadeva, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu engaged in chanting and dancing and offered prayers. He passed that night in the temple. Afterwards, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the town of Kataka (Cuttack) to see the temple of Sakshi Gopala. When he saw the Deity of Gopala and was very much pleased by his beauty.

 

[Note: The Sakshi Gopal temple is situated near the Bhubanesvara-Khurda Road junction railway station and the Jagannath Puri station. The Deity is not presently situated in Kataka, but when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu traveled there, the Deity was present. Kataka is a town in Orissa situated on the Mahanadi river. When Sakshi Gopal was brought from Vidyanagar in southern India, He stayed for some time at Kataka. Thereafter, He was situated for sometime in the Jagannath temple. It seems that in the temple of Lord Jagannath there was some disagreement between Jagannath and Sakshi-Gopala, a disagreement called prema-kalaha, a quarrel of love. In order to settle this love quarrel, the King of Orissa constructed a village about eleven miles from Jagannath Puri. The village was called Satyavaadi, and Gopala was stationed there. Thereafter, a new temple was constructed. Now there is a Sakshi-Gopala station, and people go to Satyavaadi to see the witness Gopala.]

 

Later he refers to Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur, stating how in his Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, he had very vividly described the places visited by Mahaprabhu on His way to Bhubanesvara. At last, he mentions how Sriman Mahaprabhu, while proceeding from Bhubanesvar to Sri Jagannath Puri, reached a place known as Kamalapura where He had His bath in the river Bhargavi and left His staff in the hands of Lord Nityananda. Here, at dawn, Sriman Mahaprabhu went alone and visited the temple of Lord Sivaji known as Kapatesvara. Lord Nityananda Prabhu, taking advantage of the absence of Mahaprabhu, broke His danda (staff) into three pieces and threw it into the sacred waters of river Kancha (the tributary of river Bhargavi).

 

Lord Nityananda Prabhu, taking advantage of the absence of Mahaprabhu, broke His danda.

After the occurrence of this wonderful pastime, the river subsequently came to be known as river Dandabhanga (“Dandabhanga” meaning breaking of the staff). Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Gosvami explains this as follows:

 

bhuvanesvara-pathe yaiche kaila darsanaa
vistari varniyachena dasa vrndavana (verse-140)
kamalapure asi bharginadi-snana kaila
nityananda-hate prabhu danda dharila (verse-141)
kapotesvara dekhite gela bhakta-gana sange
etha nityananda-prabhu kaila danda-bhange (verse-142)
tina khanda kari’ danda dila bhasana
bhakta sange aila prabhu mahesa dekhina (verse-143)

(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya Lila, CH-5, verses 140 to 143)

 

Translation: In his book Caitanya-bhagavata Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakura has very vividly described the places visited by the Lord on the way to Bhubanesvara. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at Kamalapura, he took his bath in the river Bhargavi and left his sannyasa staff in the hands of Lord Nityananda. When Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the temple of Lord Siva known as Kapatesvara, Nityananda Prabhu, who was keeping his sannyasa staff in custody, broke the staff in three parts and threw it into the river Bhargavi. Later this river became known as river Dandabhanga.

 

He also explains how Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, near Attharanala (at the outskirts of Puri), asked Nityananda Prabhu along with all His associates namely Svarupa Damodara Swami, Jagadananda Pandit and Mukunda Datta to return his danda (staff). At that time, Lord Nityananda Prabhu replied by saying that the danda could not withstand the weight of both His Lordship and His own self (Lord Nityananda Prabhu). As a result of which it was broken and just got washed away in the river.

 

jagannathera deula dekhi’ avista haila
dandavat kari preme nacite lagila (verse-144)
bhakta-gana avista hana, sabe nace gaya
premavese prabhu-sange raja-marge yaya (verse-145)
hase, kande, nace prabhu hunkara garjana
tina-krosa patha haila – sahasra yojana (verse-146)
calite calite prabhu aila ‘atharanala’
tahan asi prabhu kichu bahya prakasila (verse-147)
nityanande kahe prabhu, — deha mora danda
nityananda bale, — danda haila tina khanda (verse-148)

(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya Lila, CH-5, verses 144 to 148)

 

The ancient bridge of "Attharanala", which consists of 18 arches. This bridge is even now found at the entrance of Puri just 2 miles away from Sri Jagannath Mandir.

Translation: After seeing the temple of Jagannath from a distant place, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately became ecstatic. After offering obeisances to the temple, he began to dance in the ecstasy of Love of God. All the devotees became ecstatic in the association of Lord Caitanya, and thus absorbed in love of God, they were dancing and singing while going along the main road. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu laughed, cried, danced and made many ecstatic vibrations and sounds. Although the temple was only six miles away, to him the distance seemed thousands of miles.

 

Thus walking and walking, the Lord eventually arrived at the place known as Attharanala. Arriving there, he expressed his external consciousness, speaking to Sri Nityananda Prabhu. When Lord Caitanya had thus regained external consciousness, he asked Lord Nityananda Prabhu, “please return my staff.” Nityananda Prabhu then replied, “It has been broken into three parts.”

 

premavese padila tumi, tomare dharinu
toma-saha sei danda-upare padinu (verse-149)
dui-janara bhare danda khanda khanda haila
sei khanda kanha padila, kichu na janila (verse-150)
mora aparadhe tomara danda ha-ila khanda
ye ucita haya, mora kara tara danda (verse-151)

(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya Lila, Ch-5, verses 149 to 151)

 

Translation: Nityananda Prabhu said, “When you fell down in ecstasy, I caught you, but both of us together fell upon the staff. Thus the staff broke under our weight. Where the pieces have gone I cannot say. It is certainly because of my offense that your staff was broken. Now you can punish me on this account as you think proper.”

 

suni’ kichu mahaprabhu duhkha prakasila
isat krodha kari’ kichu kahite lagila (verse-152)
nilacale ani mora sabe hita kaila
sabe danda-dhana chila, taha na rakhila (verse-153)
tumi-saba age yaha isvara dekhite
kiba ami age yai , na yaba sahite (verse-154)

(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya Lila, CH-5, verses 152 to 154)

 

Translation: After hearing the story about how his staff had been broken, the Lord expressed a little sadness and, displaying a bit of anger, began to speak as follows. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “You have all benefited me by bringing me to Neelachala. However, my only possession was that one staff, and you have not kept it. So all of you should go before or behind me to see Lord Jagannath. I shall not go with you.”

 

After reaching the place named Attharnala, the Lord regained His external conciousness and asked Nityananda prabhu to return His Danda (staff). But Lord Nityananda Prabhu replied that it "was broken into three parts.”

mukunda data kahe, — prabhu, tumi yaha age
ami-saba pache yaba, na yaba tomara sange

(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya Lila, CH-5, verse-155)

 

Translation: Mukunda Datta told Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, “My Lord, you should go ahead and allow all the others to follow. We shall not go with you.”

 

eta suni’ prabhu age calila sighra-gati
bujhite na pare keha dui prabhura mati (verse-156)
inho kene danda bhange, tenho kene bhangaya
bhangana krodhe tenho inhake dosaya (verse-157)

(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya Lila, CH-5, verses 156 to 157)

 

Srila Kavi Karnapura.

Translation: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then began to walk very swiftly before all the other devotees. No one could understand the real purpose of the two Lords, Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. The devotees could not understand why Nityananda Prabhu broke the staff, why Caitanya Mahaprabhu permitted him to do so, or why, after permitting him, Caitanya Mahaprabhu became angry. In scriptures, if something is stated about a particular subject matter afterwards and if that subject matter differs from what is stated earlier then, according to Nyaya Sastra Vichar (conclusion of Nyaya sastra i.e. the revealed scriptures on justice), the latter opinion is accepted as truth. purbat parabidhi balaban (the latter conclusion is stronger than the former).

 

Not only can this example be seen in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, but it also can be seen in Sri Caitanya Chandrodaya Natak, compiled by the great Puri Das. Srila Puri Das was the middle son of Srila Sivananda Sen (the eternal associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu). He is also otherwise known as Kavi Karnapura. Srila Puri Das had earlier mentioned in his first edition of Sri Caitanya Chandrodhaya Natak, that the place where the Dandabhanga pastime had occurred was somewhere in between Yajapur and Cuttack.

 

However, subsequently after he realized this mistake, he immediately compiled another second edition of Sri Caitanya Chandrodaya Natak, and there he specifically mentioned that the Dandabhanga pastime had taken place nowhere other than in Kamalapura.

 

ratnakarah tatastatah
ganga tado tam dinam tatthujjeba
thaun abaras sim dine siri pundaria-naano
datthabbotti guruie utkanthae
jonanta-hiatta bia turiam pathido
tado kamalapuraname gaamam
labhia kia-nai sinane bhaabado
debaulampekkhidum aggado gachhantasmi
debe nia-karat thiam debas sa dandam
nichananda detrana kim edena aandooba
plabakhandena dandenatti bhanjia
nai-majsmi nikkhitto

(2nd edition of Sri Caitanya Chandrodaya Act no. 6, Verse-25)

 

Translation: Ganga: As He traveled to see Lord Jagannath, Lord Caitanya stopped at a village named Kamalapura and bathed in the nearby river. Nityanandadeva then took the danda that had rested in Lord Caitanya’s own hand. Thinking, “Why does He need this?” He suddenly broke the danda and threw it into the middle of the river.

 

All of us have also heard of the names of the other two great Oriyan Vaisnava poets namely Srila Kanhai Khuntia and Srila Govinda Das. They had compiled two most popular books on Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu namely Mahabhava Prakash and Sri Caitanya Chakada respectively. The Mahabhava Prakash, has very clearly mentioned the exact time when the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates reached this site. Furthermore, in Sri Caitanya Chakada it has been mentioned how the danda was broken into 3 pieces by Lord Nityananda Prabhu and thrown into the sacred river where the apparently broken danda finally stopped and got submerged close to the asrama of Bhrgu Muni. In this way, we can also come to know that the great Bhrgu Muni had his asrama here since long ago. In the Mahabhava Prakash, Srila Kanhai Khuntia very eloquently gives glorifications of the arrival of the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Sri Ksetra. He also specifies the exact time at which the Supreme Lord had entered the premises of Sri Jagannath Mandir.

 

na-asa athara sala prabesa hoila
emante bhagya khetrare jahun prabesil
chaitra madhu masa sara benta yatra bele
kisora vayasa yati prabesile kale
sangare achhanti thoke vaisnava mandali
kisora vadanu yoti paduachhi gali
ananda vadane harinama mukhe rati
prabesile khetra madhye saci candra seti
purnacandra rupa yara akapata bhava
danda kamandalu sobha atai svabhaba
kisora samana madhu hasa chahatai
radha radha nama rati sumadhure gai
asile nadia sasi dvadasi tithire
sehudina grurubara ataiti sara

sakale gamile nava yuva darasane
darsane purai prana nayane va mane
dhali dhali srimandire prabesa hoile
haribola sabadare brahmanda kampile
sehi ye gauranga prabhu darasana hela
ye labhiya janamaku sukruta bhajila
aprakata lila mana mukhare vakhani
galeja gauracandra namavali suni

(Mahabhava Prakasa, third vrunta)

 

Translation: An incredible great fortune started arising as the year 918 sal (1511 A.D) approached. A young sannyasi, being escorted by a group of Vaisnavas, had just made his appearance to Sri Ksetra that too on the occasion of the most famous Benta Yatra (Festival) of Lord Jagannath during the month of Chaitra Madhu. It appeared like as if very bright effulgence was rolling down from His shining youthful face. Thus, while blissfully reciting the Holy Name of Lord Hari, the moon of Saci entered into the Ksetra; His form appeared just like full moon and his mood was absolutely without duplicity. The revelation of His sober nature appeared in conformity with the beauty of the danda (staff) and kamandalu (water pot). Like an innocent child a sweet smile emanated from His face, as he kept engaging melodiously in singing the name of “Radha Radha”.

 

The moon of Nadia thus appeared on the dvadasi tithi, which happened to be the thursday. The life, vision and mind of all the citizens were completely filled up in ecstasy after taking the darsana of this wonderful new youth. Then in a tilted way of walking, the young sannyasi entered into the Sri Mandir while the entire universe was being resounded with the holy Haribol. In that way who ever had the fortune to take the darsana of that Lord attained the supreme success of his birth. And as a consequence had gone back Home back to Godhead upon hearing the unmanifested pastime and the Holy Name that emanated from the sacred mouth of Lord Gauracandra.

 

In Sri Caitanya Chakada, by Srila Govinda Das, it has been stated as follows:

 

kapatesvara darsana karila sekale
bhavavese gauracandra dekhi bhavabhole

jagannatha krsnacandra aprakruta rupa
smarana karina prabhu arambhila stotra

mahabhava dekhi nityananda prabhu danda nei
tinigada kari bhangi deleka bhasai

ahamkara soham bhava bhargave srotare
bhasia calila danda taranga vidhire

dandabhanga nadi nama vaishnabe chintile
bhrgura asrama tate se danda lagile

budhalinga pattanare nama sankirtana
anandare nishi puhaila mahajana

pratah kale bhargavire karina snahana
ksetra pathe chale prabhu pramudita mana

Sri Caitanya Chakada

 

Translation: The Supreme Lord along with his associates blissfully spent the whole night at Budha Linga Pattana in performing ecstatic harinama sankirtana. Then during the morning time, after bathing in the river Bhargavi the Lord went to take the darsana of Lord Kapatesvara Mahadev. While getting the darsana of Kapatesvaraji, he reached a height of great ecstatic emotion and subsequently could also, from a distance, see the great eternal transcendental forms of the Supreme Lord Sri Jagannath—Krsnacandra. With intense remembrance of those two great Transcendental Forms, Lord Gauracandra started to recite many wonderful stotras in an extemporal manner (verses based upon the prayer offered to the Supreme Lord). After that, he blissfully began to proceed towards Sri Jagannath Puri.

 

At that time, while seeing this great ecstatic state of Lord Mahaprabhu, Lord Nityananda Prabhu who was holding His danda broke it into three pieces and threw it into the river Bhargavi. The mood of “I “ness” and “I am one with the omnipresent “The”, along with the danda floated away in the streams of river. In this way, the danda continued to float and finally reached at the bank of the river Bhargavi located near the asrama of Bhrgu Muni. From then all the Vaisnavas at large named the river as Dandabhanga.

 

Many other things like this have also been mentioned. From all these explanations, we can conclude that the Lord and His associates had been at a very sacred place near the river Bhargavi and spent Their whole day and night of the sacred Ekadasi in performing Haribasara (fasting the whole day without water and performing ecstatic harinama sankirtana). Then during the next morning of Dvadasi, immediately after the Lord took the darsana of Kapatesvara Mahadev, He saw the magnificent temple of Lord Jagannath from a distance (i.e. 6 miles away). Henceforth, after seeing this temple, in great ecstasy He began to proceed further.

 

Apart from all these Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupadji Maharaja had published a book known as Gaura Krishno Doya. This book was earlier received by His Divine Grace in the form of a palm leaf manuscript presented by a person named Mr. Mohanty who was by then the Administrator of Sri Jagannath temple at Puri. The language of this book named Gaura Krishno Doya was extremely scholarly and its expression revealed the greatest unparalleled wisdom concerning the glories of Lord Caitanya.

 

lingam drustai kamravanastham bhuvanesam
bhargavyantargupta kapatesvara desam
gatva dandam bhratari datva prabhuragat
prasada syaloka namatrat dhuriragat
bhankta dandam tairatha bhakteira vadhutah
paschatdhavan tatparicarya pariputah

(Sri Gaura Krishnodoya, 8th sarga, text-2 & 3)

 

His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada.

This above-mentioned verse was published by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, in his book named Gaura Krishno Doya. The verse clearly mentions that the Dandabhanga pastime had taken place on the bank of the river Bhargavi, located in the state of Kapatesvara. Also, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupadji Maharaja, in his Gaudiya Bhasya (Bengali commentary on Sri Caitanya-bhagavatam), has given a purport over the 237th verse of the Antya Khanda, 2nd Chapter. There he states and expresses his suspicion over the matter where it mentions that the Dandabhanga Pastime had taken place on the bank of river Suvarna Rekha.

 

There is also another very old palm leaf manuscript, named as Nitai Koruna Kollilini Teeka (commentary on Nitai Koruna Kollolini) whose author is unknown. In this literature, it clearly mentions the narration of Sri Caitanya-bhagavata (regarding the great Dandabhanga pastime), as being simply based upon a legend and hearsay (rumor).

 

Srila Svarupa Damodar Goswami.

Then we come to the great Svarupa Damodara Gosvami who was present with Mahaprabhu in almost all his pastimes and was also the personal witness to the Lord’s most supremely hidden Dandabhanga pastime. It was he who had conveyed all these pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to his disciple Srila Raghunath Das Gosvami.

 

Then, Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Gosvami, who had compiled Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, as per the prompting of his most worshippable Lord Sri Madana Mohana, had received the rare privilege to hear about all these pastimes from the divine lotus lips of Srila Raghunath Das Gosvami. In this way, we can conclude that besides the internal prompting of Lord Sri Madan Mohana, Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Gosvami had also heard the pastime of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu externally from the direct channel. (i.e. Svarupa Damodara Gosvami to Raghunath Das Gosvami and from him to Srila Krishna Das Kaviraja Gosvami).

 

Srila Raghunath Das Goswami.

But, the great Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur had no such privilege to hear about many pastimes, including that of the great Dandabhanga pastime, from such a direct channel. Instead, he heard it from indirect sources from where such kinds of mistakes were likely to happen.

 

Now let us all make a note of the following few points:

 

1. The river, which was 500 years earlier known as river Kancha, got its new name as river Dandabhanga only after the Dandabhanga pastime took place.

 

2. Upon hearing about the great pastime of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu from the lenkas (the messengers), the devotee king Maharaja Prathap Rudra Dev along with his Queen Janakadei visited this site and established the temple of His Supreme Lordship Sri Dandabhanga Gopinath in order to commemorate this wonderful pastime. The temple of Lord Dandabhanga Gopinath is still present there.

 

3. The temple of Lord Kapatesvara Mahadev (Sivaji), which Sriman Mahaprabhu had visited 500 years ago, is present just next to this great pastime site. Where as on the bank of river Suvarna Rekha there is no such temple of Lord Sivaji where Mahaprabhu had visited on His onward journey to Sri Jagannath Puri.

 

4. The famous Attaranala (the bridge with eighteen pillars), where Mahaprabhu had asked His associates to give back his staff, is located just 3 miles away from this great pastime site. However, there is no such Attaranala even 100 miles away from the bank of river Suvarna Rekha where the pastime was so said to have happened in accordance with Sri Caitanya-bhagavatam (Compiled by Srila Vrindavan Das Thakur).

 

5. Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the unlimited Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Himself, but still, since he was manifesting his pastime as a human being (Nara Lila), it was not humanly possible for any person to run a distance of 250 Km, right from the bank of river Suvarna Rekha to Shri Jagannath Puri Mandir, within an hour or so. However, on the other hand, it is rightly stated that the Jagannath Puri temple is hardly 4 km away from Attaranala. That is how by not getting His staff back, out of sulky feelings, Mahaprabhu rushed to the temple of Lord Jagannath all alone, within an hour or so, and after reaching there He fell down out of ecstasy in front of Their Supreme Lordships Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subadhra Maa.

 

Here at Attharnala Mahaprabhu saw the flag or emblem of Lord Jagannath from a distance. Humanly it is not possible to see the emblem of the Jagannath temple from river Suvarna Rekha, which is about 280 kms away from Sri Jagannath Puri. Actually, the Lord can see everything but humanly it is not possible, because Mahaprabhu was manifesting His human pastimes. However, in both places it is mentioned that out of ecstatic emotions, Mahaprabhu ran to the temple of Lord Jagannath. Therefore He could see the emblem of the temple since He was hardly 3 or 4 kms away.

 

All of these above-mentioned facts are simply few among many such other facts, which help to establish the truth that the Dandabhanga pastime had undoubtedly taken place at Kamalapur and not on the bank of river Suvarna Rekha in Northern Orissa.