At first I pay my innumerable prostrated obeisances to the lotus feet of my most merciful and worshipable Divine master, who is the redeemer of the fallen souls, the bestower of knowledge on the Absolute, the non-different manifestation of the Supreme Lord and the bestower of service of the Supreme Lord. I pray for his causeless mercy. I pay my prostrated obeisances to the lotus feet of the worshipable Vaishnavas and pray for their causeless mercy. I pay my due respects to all the devotees inclined to hear discourses on the Supreme Lord and observing Damodar-vrata. May they all become satisfied.

Today is the Tithi on which Sriman Gauranga Mahaprabhu set His footprints at Panihati. Panihati is situated in West Bengal near Sodepur Station. I got opportunity to go there many a times with Guruji. It is the place of Raghava Pandit. Raghava Pandit and his sister Damayanti are personal associates of the Lord in Krishna Lila. Dhanishtha and Gunamala in Krishna Lila who prepare various sorts of things for Krishna have appeared as Raghava Pandit and Damayanti, respectively. Mahaprabhu’s Lila has connection with Krishna Lila.

Attracted by pure love, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu resides in four places eternally—in the house of Sachi Devi, in Nityananda Prabhu’s dance, in the Bhajan-Kutir of Srivas Pandit and in the house of Raghava Pandit. Raghava Pandit used to make many sorts of offerings for Mahaprabhu. It was called ‘Raghava-jhali’ (wicker-basket). He used to prepare many of such offerings that could be served even after six months or after one year. He used to send his wicker-basket containing various sorts of eatables for the Lord from his house to Purushottam Dham for the service of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In Krishna Lila the Lord used to accept the eatables made by Dhanistha with intense love. Similarly in Chaitanya Lila, Mahaprabhu used to accept Raghava Pandit’s offerings with the same mood.

When the Lord took Sanyas and went to Purushottam Dham, Srivas Pandit could not bear separation from Him. All the places of Navadwip reminded him of Mahaprabhu. He continuously wept in separation from the Lord. Unable to stay in Navadwip he came to Kumarhatta and started staying there. One can reach Kumarhatta from a station called ‘Halisahar’. Mahaprabhu first came to Kumarhatta and after giving service opportunity to Srivas Pandit, He came to Raghava Pandit’s house.

During the ‘Panihati Dadhi Chidha Mahotsava’ also, by the desire of Nityananda Prabhu, Mahaprabhu Himself manifested there in that festival. Nityananda Prabhu is actually ‘Dauji’ or ‘Balaram’ and He first offered ‘Dadhi Chidha’ to Mahaprabhu and after that distributed it to all. Though externally Mahaprabhu used to reside in Puri Dham those days but being subdued by the devotion He manifested there.

He also used to come to accept the offering of Mother Sachi. Mother Sachi used to prepare offerings thinking about her son and weep, “Oh my son Gaura Gopala is not here”. Hearing her cries Mahaprabhu used to go to her and accept the offerings. Mother Sachi used to think that someone else ate her preparations. Devotion is very powerful. The Supreme Lord is attracted by pure devotion.

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ
(Srimad Bhagavat Gita 9.26)

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.”

If one cooks with love and devotion for the Lord He will come there attracted by the love. Srimati Radharani is always engaged in cooking for Krishna. One must have intense love and affection for the Lord. If someone does Lord’s service as a duty or with some other motive then Lord will not come. One should serve with love and affection.

Mahaprabhu used to get attracted by the Love of Sridhar. Sridhar, the personal associate of Mahaprabhu, played the pastimes of being a very poor person. Though his poverty was only apparent. He used to sell vegetables like Thora, Mocha, Lauki etc. and with the money he would get he used to perform ‘Ganga Puja’ and maintain himself. Mahaprabhu used to go to his shop every day. There were so many other shops but Mahaprabhu used to go particularly to his shop only. Sridhar would quote the right price for each item. He used to say, “I am not lying. Whatever is the correct price I am asking You for that only.” Though he used to quote the correct price for every item but Mahaprabhu would only pay half the price he would have asked for. There used to be sweet quarrel between them. Sridhar later would say to Him, “You are a Brahmin and I do not want to quarrel with a Brahmin. You can take all the things You want for free.”

After Mahaprabhu accepted Sanyas Sridhar went to Puri Dham with ‘Lauki’ and Mahaprabhu accepted it. Such is the power of devotion. So externally it is seen that Raghava Pandit used to cook but his activity of cooking has got devotion in it which attracted the Lord to Him.