During Mahaprakash lila, it looked as if Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is angry with Mukunda Dutta. But was the Lord really angry with Mukunda Dutta? Or was he trying to show something else to the world?
Let us try to find out.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Mahaprakash lila went on for 21 hours – whole day and night. And during the course of time, Lord Chaitanya called all devotees and explained to them about the association he had with them in previous life and also in this life.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu does not invite Mukunda Dutta
During Mahaprakash Lila, Lord Chaitanya had called everyone, but he had not call one devotee. Srivasa Thakura approaches Lord Chaitanya and says that you have forgotten one person, Mukunda Dutta. So, could you please call Mukunda?
But Lord Chaitanya said, “I am not going to call Mukunda. In fact, I never want to see Mukunda ever.” Srivasa was shocked because Mukunda was well known among the devotees, he was very popular.
So, he asks Lord Chaitanya what is the problem? And Lord Chaitanya says, “He is a hypocrite. He seems like being a nice devotee. He is very friendly with all the devotees and is a nice kirtan singer. But he is still a hypocrite. Whoever he associates with, he agrees with them. He associates Mayavadis and when Mayavadis say everything is one, he agrees with them and says, “Yes, everything is one.” And he then associates with Shaivites and when Shaivites say, “Shiva tu bhagavan swayam,” Mukunda says, “Yes, Har Har Mahadev.” And he then associates with worshipper of Durga Devi and when they say, “Durga tu bhagavan swayam,” Mukunda says, “Jai Jai mataji.” So, he is a hypocrite. He is not fixed in consciousness. So, I do not want to see him ever.”
Lord Chaitanya further says Mukunda is like a person who approaches you with a nice flower and says take it and in other hand he has a club which he keeps behind. You take the flower from him and think it’s nice but suddenly he takes out the club and hits your hand. So, I do not want to see him.
Mukunda Dutta explains why he behaves in this way
Srivasa Thakura went outside and told everything to Mukunda what Lord Chaitanya had said.
Lord Chaitanya was inside the house and Mukunda was in courtyard. When Mukunda Dutta heard, he was broken hearted. He said to Srivasa Thakura about his situation.
I live in extended family, there are all types of people in my family – Durga worshippers, Shiva worshippers, Murugan worshippers and so on. I will end up non-stop fighting with them if I argue. So, when someone says everyone is one, I say, “yes”, and then I say Lord Chaitanya is also God. What to do? If I do not do this then it’s impossible to live with these people. Please explain this to Lord.
Srivasa went in and he told Lord Chaitanya that Mukunda has said few things, so he wants to share those points. The Lord said if you mention his name, you will not see me again. It looked as if Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was angry with Mukunda Dutta. But Srivasa Thakura said, “Please hear at least once.”
Mukunda can see Lord after one million lifetimes
So, he explained what Mukunda said to Lord Chaitanya. Mahaprabhu said, “Alright. You can go and tell Mukunda that he can see me after one million lifetimes.”
Srivasa Thakura went and told this to Mukunda. And when Mukunda Dutta heard that he can see Lord Chaitanya after one million lifetimes, he became ecstatic saying, “I will see him.”
He began singing and dancing and rolling on ground in joy. Lord Chaitanya who was sitting inside the house heard all the commotion. He asked Srivasa what is going on? Srivasa Thakura said, “Its Mukunda. He is extremely happy knowing that he can see you after one million lifetimes. He has gone wild in ecstasy.”
Lord Chaitanya then said bring him now. So, Srivasa Thakura brought Mukunda in. And Lord Chaitanya spoke to him nicely like father speaking to son. Mukunda offered prayers to Lord Chaitanya.
Blessings one gets by hearing Mukunda’s prayer
There are two blessings one gets by hearing the prayer offered by Mukunda Dutta to Lord Chaitanya.
1. Anyone who hears prayer of Mukunda will sing with him.
2. Anyone who feels happiness hearing this narration will certainly meet Lord Chaitanya face to face.
Lord Chaitanya said that actually I was playing little game with you. I did not really mean what I said. So, he then told Mukunda wherever I will appear you will appear with me. And you will sing for me wherever I am.
So, the first blessing that “anyone hears Mukunda’s prayer will sing with Mukunda” means he will sing with Lord Chaitanya.
Important lesson for us
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was not angry with Mukunda Dutta. Through this pastime Lord wanted to teach us few lessons.
- Do not become a Shaivite. Just stay vaisnvav because although Shiva is nice, but he is not Krishna.
- Practice devotion to Krishna with determination but also have patience like Mukunda Dutta.
