Vakresvara Pandit

Vakresvara Pandit

Once in the house of Srivasa Thakura Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sang while Vakresvara Pandit danced in, constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. At that time Lord Caitanya said, "Vakresvara, I have only one wing like you, but if I had another certainly I could fly in the sky".

Expert at singing and dancing, Vakresvara Pandit always pleased Lord Caitanya with his service in the Navadvipa sankirtana parties (which he joined from the beginning), the dramas at Srivas Angam, and the yearly Ratha-yatra at Jagannatha Puri. Vrindavana Dasa Thakura said, 'To awaken the sleeping souls in the age of Kali Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to distribute the nectar of the holy name of Krishna. When He came the khol (mrdanga) and karatals sounded like thundering clouds. Absorbed in moods of ecstatic love and shouting "Hari bol Hari bol," Sri Gauranga told everyone to chant the holy name of Krishna. Raising His golden arms to the sky, Lord Gaura Hari would dance in ecstasy. At that time, Vakresvara Pandit and others would dance with the Lord."(Caitanya Bhagavata) By Vakresvara's blessings Devananda Pandit was freed from the Vaisnava aparadha he committed against Srivasa Pandit. Then Sri Caitanya accepted Devananda Pandit as one of His "own devotees." Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu commented on this incident, "Krishna has made His home in the heart of Vakresvara Pandit. As Krishna dances in his heart, so Vakresvara Pandit himself dances. Whatever place Vakresvara Pandit blesses with his association becomes a holy place of pilgrimage more sacred than all the holy places." Certain great devotees such as Vakresvara Pandit, Paramananda Puri, Svarupa Damodara, Gadadhara, Jagadananda Pandit, Sankara, Raghunatha Vaidya, and Raghunatha Dasa were associating with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu from the beginning of His pastimes in Navadvipa.They also faithfully served the Lord when He moved to Nilacala Dhama (Jagannatha Puri).

Vakresvara Pandit established Deities of Sri-Sri Radha-Kantha in Kashi Mishra's house next to the Gambhira in Jagannatha Puri. Kavi Karnapura says Vakresvara Pandit is an incarnation of Aniruddha of catur-vyuha. Vakresvara Pandit initiated Gopala Guru Goswami and many others in Orissa. Dhyan Candra, a disciple of Gopala Guru Goswami, says in his books that Vakresvara Pandit is an incarnation of Tungavidya-sakhi, an expert singer and dancer serving as one of Srimati Radharani's asta-sakhis . His samadhi is in the 64 Samadhis Area.