Shankara Pandita

Shankara Pandita

   He belonged to the eleventh branch of Lord Chaitanya. He was a brother of Damodara Pandita.

   In his past incarnation he was Bhadra. (GGD. 157, CC. 1.10.33).

   He became famous amongst the Vaishnava community as Lord Chaitanya's footrest or as His shoes.

   At Puri, Lord's  ectasies were so great that all the Devotees feared that the Lord would very soon pass away. The condition was so serious that at night He would bruise and bloody His face by rubbing it against the wall. To stop this, Svarup Damodar asked Shankara Pandita to stay at night in the same room as the Lord. (CC Antya 19 Summary)

   After consulting with one another, they entreated Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to allow Shankara Pandita to lie down in the same room with Him. (CC Antya 19.67)

   Thus Shankara Pandita lay at the feet of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and the Lord placed His legs upon Shankara's body. (CC Antya 19.68)

   Shankara Pandita would always fall asleep, but he would quickly awaken, sit up and again begin massaging the legs of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In this way he would stay awake the entire night. (CC Antya 19.73)