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Srila Murari Gupta

During one heated argument they began pushing each other. The scuffle continued into the Ganges. They stirred up so much mud that ladies couldn’t fill their pots and brahmanas couldn’t bathe properly.

 

At the nightly kirtans in Srivasa Angam, Murari Gupta pleased Gaurahari with melodious chanting of the Bhagavata. He would also sing and dance expertly. Murari Gupta served Sri Gauranga in all His Nadia lilas. Lord Gauranga once tested Murari Gupta’s attachment to his worshippable Lord Ramacandra. Lord Gaurasundara preached to Murari about the supreme sweetness and position of Vrajendra-kumara (Krishna): “Murari, just worship Krishna and take shelter of Him. Nothing but His service can satisfy the mind.”

 

Although Murari Gupta became somewhat inclined toward Sri Krishna, the thought of losing Lord Ramacandra’s association devastated him. That night he prayed to Lord Rama to take his life. He asked for this because he couldn’t stop serving Rama, nor could he defy Sri Gauranga’s request.

 

After crying all night Murari approached Lord Gauranga and said, “What should I do? I’ve sold my head to the Lotus Feet of Lord Ramacandra. But if I break Your order to worship Lord Sri Krishna, then what can I do?”

 

Smiling, Sri Gaura Raya replied, “All glories to Murari Gupta! You’re so fixed in your worship that even My request couldn’t turn your mind. This is exactly the type of love and affection the servitor must have for the Lotus Feet of the Lord. Even if the Lord wants separation, a devotee cannot abandon the shelter of His Lotus Feet. Just to test your firm faith in your Lord, I repeatedly asked you to change your worship from Lord Rama to Lord Krishna.”

 

Congratulating Murari Gupta, the Lord continued, “You are the incarnation of Hanuman, the eternal servant of Lord Rama. Therefore, why should you give up your worship of Lord Rama?” At another time, Lord Gauranga showed His form as Lord Ramacandra with Janaki, Laksmana, and a host of monkeys reciting hymns and prayers. Seeing himself amongst those monkeys in his original form as Hanuman, Murari Gupta fainted.

 

In Katva, when Lord Gauranga took sannyasa, Murari stood by weeping like a child. And when Sriman Mahaprabhu moved to Jagannath Puri, Murari and his wife would come every year to relish the Lord’s company. Since he was born in a dynasty of ayurvedic doctors, Murari Gupta practiced medicine. But his practice was unique in that he cured his patient’s physical ailments and also freed them from the disease of material existence. He wrote the first biography of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, an important sanskrit work entitled Sri Krishna Caitanya Carita Mahakavya.