Śrīvāsa is one of the four principal companions of Mahāprabhu included in the Pañca-tattva. According to Prema-vilāsa, he was the son of the Vedic brāhmaṇa Jaladhara Paṇḍita of Śrīhaṭṭa, who later settled with his wife in Navadvīpa. He had four brothers—Nālinī, Śrīrāma, Śrīpati, and Śrīnidhi (also called Śrīkānta). They were all great devotees and close members of Advaita Ācārya’s dharma-sabhā. They were intimate friends of Jagannātha Miśra, the father of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Like Advaita Ācārya, Śrīvāsa was deeply disturbed by the irreligion, immorality, and unrighteousness prevailing in Bengal. Day and night he prayed to the Lord to descend and restore dharma. Through the power of his devotion, he understood that the Lord had heard his prayer and would soon appear in the house of Jagannātha Miśra.
Jagannātha and Śrīvāsa’s Concern about Nimai
Ever since the birth of Nimai (as Mahāprabhu was called in childhood), Śrīvāsa was convinced of His divinity. His wife Mālinī cared for Śacī-devī and assisted her in raising the child. Jagannātha Miśra, however, was sometimes anxious—first about Nimai’s mischievous behavior, later about His intense love for learning. He feared that, like his elder son Viśvarūpa, Nimai might renounce the world and become a sannyāsī. Śrīvāsa consoled him and said that the Lord’s plans are always auspicious.
Nimai Turns Vaiṣṇava
When Nimai returned from Gayā after performing his father’s śrāddha, he was transformed. His restlessness was gone. He had become humility itself and could think or speak of nothing but Kṛṣṇa. At home He would burst into tears crying, “Ha Kṛṣṇa! Ha Kṛṣṇa!” Śacī-devī, seeing His condition, became alarmed and sent for Śrīvāsa.
When Śrīvāsa arrived, Nimai paid him deep respects, but merely seeing him evoked such ecstatic emotion that Nimai fell unconscious. Reviving, He wept again and said, “Paṇḍita, tell me what has happened to me. People say I have gone mad. Is it true?” Śrīvāsa smiled and said, “Nimai, you are indeed mad—but with divine madness! This is the madness that even Brahmā desires. May I also become infected by it!”
Nimai joyfully embraced him. Śrīvāsa said, “From tomorrow come to my house. We shall chant and dance together in your divine madness.” Nimai agreed.
Saṅkīrtana at the House of Śrīvāsa
At that time, the city of Navadvīpa was dominated by logicians and ritualists; true devotees were few. Those few gathered at the house of Śrīvāsa for kathā and kīrtana. When Nimai joined them, the Vaiṣṇavas were filled with new enthusiasm, and the current of bhakti began to flow powerfully through Navadvīpa.
Fear of Persecution by Muslim Rulers
As the saṅkīrtana spread, some envious people complained to the local Kazi, who banned public chanting and punished devotees. But Mahāprabhu confronted the Kazi with a great nāma-saṅkīrtana procession, forcing him to revoke the order and promise that he and his descendants would never again hinder devotional singing.
Later rumors spread that the Nawab Husain Shah was sending soldiers to arrest Mahāprabhu and His followers. Hearing this, Śrīvāsa and others became frightened, but Nimai only smiled.
Mahāprabhu Appears as Nṛsiṁhadeva
One day, Śrīvāsa was meditating on his household deity, Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, when someone knocked at his temple door. “Who is there?” he asked.
“The same One upon whom you are meditating,” came the reply.
Opening the door, Śrīvāsa beheld Mahāprabhu manifest in a four-armed Nṛsiṁha form—His eyes blazing, His body golden, His voice thundering. The Lord said, “Śrīvāsa! Why do you fear the Muslim ruler? I dwell in everyone’s heart, even his. Without My prompting, he cannot act. If he comes, I will make him and his soldiers dance in love of God.”
As proof of His words, Mahāprabhu called Śrīvāsa’s little niece Narāyaṇī, only four years old, and said, “Receive My blessing of Kṛṣṇa-prema.” At once, Narāyaṇī became mad with divine love, rolling on the ground crying, “Ha Kṛṣṇa! Ha Kṛṣṇa!”
Then Mahāprabhu said, “Now I depart, but I will come again.” His divine form vanished, and He fell unconscious. When He awoke as Nimai, He said innocently, “Śrīvāsa, I had a dream. I hope I didn’t behave improperly.” From that time, people began calling Him Gaurāṅga Mahāprabhu.
Śrīvāsa and Nityānanda
When Nityānanda Prabhu joined Mahāprabhu in Navadvīpa, the flow of divine love became like the confluence of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā. Since both were constantly intoxicated with prema, Mahāprabhu entrusted the care of the avadhūta Nityānanda to Śrīvāsa and his wife Mālinī. Nityānanda affectionately called them “Father” and “Mother,” sometimes weeping, sometimes laughing, like an innocent child. They loved him dearly and tolerated all his divine eccentricities.
Mahāprabhu’s Mercy on Dukhi
Śrīvāsa had a maidservant named Dukhi. Mahāprabhu, seeing her humble service, blessed her saying, “From now on, you will be called Sukhī,” meaning “one who is joyful.” Instantly, she attained ecstatic love of God and danced with tears in her eyes. Such was Mahāprabhu’s grace upon those who served His devotees.
The Death of Śrīvāsa’s Son
Once, during a night of saṅkīrtana at Śrīvāsa’s house, his only son passed away inside. Fearing to disturb the Lord’s ecstasy, Śrīvāsa instructed the women of the house, “Do not weep. If any of you create disturbance, I will drown myself in the Gaṅgā. This is not a moment for mourning but rejoicing—for anyone who dies hearing the Lord’s name attains Vaikuṇṭha!”
He then joined the kīrtana as though nothing had happened. When Mahāprabhu finally sensed something amiss and asked, Śrīvāsa replied, “Prabhu, how can anything inauspicious occur where You are present?” Another devotee whispered the truth. The Lord cried, “Govinda! Govinda! What love these devotees have! Even the death of a son cannot shake their devotion.”
Mahāprabhu then went inside, touched the boy’s body, and called softly, “Child, why have you left us?” Miraculously, the boy spoke: “Prabhu, whatever You ordain is my destiny. No one dies or lives without Your will.” All present were filled with wonder and reverence. Śrīvāsa and his family received Mahāprabhu’s blessings, and their grief turned into bliss.
Reflection: Lessons from the Life of Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita
- Faith that Defies Fear: Śrīvāsa’s calm faith before worldly threats—whether from rulers or death itself—teaches that real security lies only in divine shelter.
- The Sanctity of Devotee Association: His home became the birthplace of saṅkīrtana. Where devotees gather to glorify the Lord, that place becomes Vaikuṇṭha.
- Service Beyond Sorrow: Even when his son died, Śrīvāsa continued his service. His example teaches that love of God transcends the dualities of joy and grief.
- Humility and Steadfastness: Though he was a learned brāhmaṇa, Śrīvāsa’s greatness came from his humility and constancy in service to Mahāprabhu.
- Devotion as the True Wealth: Śrīvāsa’s entire life shows that devotion—not possessions, not family, not social prestige—is the only treasure that endures.
