SriPada Madhavendra Puri Goswami appeared in a small village called Purnipat situated in Srihatta district of East Bengal in early 15th century , in a Brahmin (Barendra) family . His family came from a place called Karaja in North Bengal .(Ref : Dr. Hrishikesh Vedanta Shastri --Himadri 32nd Phalgun 1365 Bangabda)
Madhavendra Puri excelled in all branches of knowledge in a very short period of time by dint of his extra ordinary merit , which surprised his teachers . Simultaneously he exhibited zeal for spiritual knowledge which went on increasing as he stepped into youth from boyhood .By starting his own school he began teaching, while carrying on study of Vedic literatures and practicing devotional service to The Lord . He was very popular as a teacher and was earning enough to lead a comfortable life . At this time he married and entered house holder’s life . Soon thereafter a son was born but his wife died during child birth . This caused Madhavendra to be disinterested in family life .
He then left home along with his young son and decided to stay by the side of the Ganges . By building a small house in a village called Vishnugram in West Bengal ( in between Kulia and Kumarhatta) he started his new school and continued his teaching profession As he was very well known as an expert teacher many talented boys came to join his school to be his students . His fame as a good teacher spread as far as Kulingram , Santipur and Nabadwip .Among his students of this time were Kamalaksha (who was later known as Advaita Acarya , and a close associate of Lord Caitanya), Ishwar Puri, who later became the initiating guru of Lord Caitanya .
Madhavendra Puri , however, was not satisfied with his teaching profession alone . His longing for loving devotion to The Lord was increasing day by day . In north India at that time Ramananda and Kabir were spreading the message of ecstatic Love to The Lord , while in south India Tamil Alwars were reaching the pinnacle of devotional service and creating a new history by their dedication and sincerity in the service of The Lord . Madhavendra decided to go to South India to join this movement . After keeping his son Vishnudas, under the protection of his ex- student Kamalaksha he started for South India . He took Sannyas inititation from a guru of Puri Sampradaya . Madhavendra Puri all along held dear to his heart the commentary of Sri Dhar Swami which was full of descriptions of nectar of pure Love to God ,as described in Srimad Bhagavatam and was thus immersed in the mellow of devotional love . He therefore found it difficult to observe the dry ritualistic functions of a Sannyasi which consisted of study and logical deductions of Vedic scriptures according to path of knowledge as distinct from Bhakti (loving devotional service ) , which Madhavendra Puri was totally immersed in .
Udipi Math of South India which was created by Madhvacarya was then considered to be the top most place of Vaisnavism in india . Madhvacarya propagated the theory of dualism which means Jiva ( the living entity) although a part and parcel of The Lord can never become equal to the Lord . Even in salvation (Mukti) there is no merging of the individual soul to the Supreme Soul in as much as individual soul keeps it individual identity even after salvation . What happens in salvation , the individual soul and Super Soul have the same interests because individual soul has no agenda of its own and serving the Lord becomes its only business, so in that respect they become one . Separate identity of individual soul is maintained ,because tasting of the mellow of devotional love is not possible if individual soul merges with The Super Soul .
Acarya Laxmipati was the head of Udipi Math at that time .Madhavendra decided to accept him as his Shiksha guru . For some time Madhavendra stayed in Udipi Math and following instructions of Acarya Laxmipati studied very intimate principles of devotional service with sincere dedication .
After a period, Madhavendra preferred to practice and taste the pure mellow of devotional service instead of studying it theoretically .At this period Gita Govinda by Joya Deva and KrsnaKarnamrta by Bilvamangal Thakur became his main attractions .Also he was very much influenced by the intimate principles of Loving devotional service as practiced by Tamil Alwars .He thus reached a stage of Raganuga Bhakti (Devotional ecstasy) where he always felt the reciprocation with his Lord--Young Playful Flute –player son of Nanda Mahraja of Gokula ---and His pastime in association or separation with His eternal consort Radharani, in his heart .It was therefore not possible to stay in Udipi Math any more where service to The Lord was done in ritualistic mode (Vaidhi Bhakti ) but not in the mode of ecstasy (Raganuga Bhakti ) .
After living Udipi Math, Madhavendra Puri started his life as an Acarya and began preaching his new way of worship in the line of ecstatic love to The Lord .This was quite similar to the path of Tamil Alwars .This was the beginning of a new line which was complemented and enamored by Lord Caitanya along with His associates at a later time . Sannyasi ,house holders and practically everybody started accepting this philosophy and began practicing it .
Among the prominent disciples of Madhavendra Puri were Paramananda Puri of South India , Sri Ranga Puri of West India , and Advaita Acarya and Pundarik Vidya Nidhi of East India .Another prominent disciple of his was Sribas Pandit of Bengal under whose guidance a small but sincere devotee circle was generated in Nabadwip in pre Caitanya era .Pundarik Vidyanidhi was considered representative of Madhavendra Puri in East Bengal and Pundarik’s disciple Gadadhar gave initiation to Vallabhacarya who later established the sect of Pusti Margis in West India . Although Madhavendra Puri departed just after advent of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu but most of his disciples viz. Advaita Acarya , Pundarik VidyaNidhi ,Sribas Pandit , Paramananda Puri , Gadadhar Pandit, Ratnagarbha Acarya , Shukalmbar Brahmacari, Gangadas Pandit , Hiranya Pandit ,Sadshib, Jagadish were associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His pastimes in Nabdwip and Puri .Advaita Acarya , Sribas Pandit , Gadadahr Pandit,were among the closest associates of Maha Prabhu .Nityananda Prabhu who was considered the second body of Maha Prabhu received initiation from SankarshanPuri who in turn was a disciple of Madhavendra Puri .Mahaprabhu’s another associate through whom He established Sadhya –Sadhan tatva (The principle of determining the ultimate goal , and the path to achieve it ) was Ray Ramananda and he was a grand disciple of Madhavendra Puri .
Madhavendra Puri took the vow that he would never beg or want food from anybody ; if it comes to him without asking he would take it , otherwise he would fast .Once he was resting at a place near Govardhan mountain in Vrindavan and was without food for the whole day as no one offered him anything .He was in trance of ecstatic love of God and did not know whether it was day or night . He circum ambulated the Govardhana hill and then took bath in Govinda Kunda before resting under a tree. At that time a cowherd boy came with an earthen pot of milk and keeping it before him asked him smiling : “Puri, you take this milk . Why do you not ask for something when you are hungry ?What do you meditate upon all the time ?” Madhavendra was pleased at the beautiful features of the boy and asked “ Who are you ? Where do you stay / How do you know I am hungry? “ The boy said “I stay in this village and whoever goes hungry here I supply him with food . The women of the village who came here to collect water informed me about you and they have sent this milk for you thru me . I have to go now to milk my cow and then I will come back to take back the empty pot .” Madhavendra then drank that milk and washed the pot and kept on waiting for the boy to return .Madhavendra could not sleep all night and only at the end of night he had a trance when he saw that the same boy came to hold his hand and take him to a bower . The boy said I stay in this bower and so in winter , rain , storm or heat I have to suffer much . You call the people of the near-by village and with their help take me away from this place and install me atop the mountain in a nice way . Then establish a temple here and wash my body with large quantity of cold water to make me feel comfortable. I was waiting for you for a long time and thinking when Madhavendra will come and do service to me .Because of your un alloyed devotion I accept your service . I will appear before the world in this form and will give mercy to fallen people
My name is Sri Gopal , I am the holder of Govardhan mountain . My grandson Vajra has established this deity of mine , and I am the owner of this place . Due to persecution by Muslims, my servants kept me hidden in this bower and they themselves fled for safety . So do what I said , it is very good you have come here at this time . “ So saying the boy disappeared After awakening Madhavendra cried for some time and lamented that even after seeing the beloved face to face I could not recognize Him . However , on being a bit normalized he steadied himself and went to the village and told this story in their assembly . The villagers agreed to help him to find out the deity and came forward with shovels , pick-axe and spades . The bower was very dense but villagers cut the shrubs and dig the earth to find out the deity under layers of earth . After finding out the deity when the villagers tried to move the deity, it was found to be very heavy . Then musclemen were called , and several of them lifted the deity together and took it atop the Govardhan mountain . The deity was situated on a big piece of stone and another piece of stone was placed as back support. All the Brahmins of the village came with new earthen pots filled with holy water from Govinda Kunda and deity was bathed amidst tumultuous sounding of drums,flutes, bands and other types of instruments while ladies started singing songs in praise of Lord Gopala. Every body brought milk , yogurt, clarified butter as much as they could and there was a great festival in honour of Sri Gopala . With Tulasi leaves and water Madhavendra Puri himself did the bathing of the deity after the body of the deity was made shinning by massaging of oil .Bathing was done with Panca-Govya and Pancamrita. Then again the body was made glittering with oil and smeared with perfume .New clothes were wrapped around the deity and offered Bhoga along with incense , lamp and all sorts of nice eatable things . After that betel leaf was offered to please The Lord . Then came all the materials for cooking: large amount of rice ,wheat, pulse and milk products . When cooked properly by expert Brahmins the entire staff was offered to The Lord by Madhavendra Puri. Holy scented drinking water was offered in earthen pots and Lord accepted everything as He was unfed for a long time .Although He ate everything yet due to His mercy everything again came back as His remnants .These remnants were distributed among the assembled devotees. Only Madhavendra Puri could understand the trick done by Gopal .Then Gopal was offered comfortable bed to rest upon , and all assembled people thus witnessed a great feastival and became devotee of lord Gopala Dev . This deity is still being worshipped in Nathdwara as Sri Nath ji .
Then Madhavendra Puri brought two very good Brahmins from Bengal who would serve the Lord always .After installation of the deity of Gopala Dev, everyday people used to come with very opulent offerings and Gopala used to be worshipped in a very gorgeous manner .Madhavendra Puri did not have to worry about materials for worship , everything came automatically .
After two years Madhavendra Puri again got instructions from Gopala in a dream . Lord said, “ I am feeling very hot and will feel comfortable only with Malay Sandal-wood paste smeared on my body .You go yourself to Puri to bring this sandalwood , as no other person is suitable for the job . Madhavendra was immediately immersed in ecstatic love and started for Puri after deputing different services of the Lord to different persons .On his way he rested at the house of Advaita Acarya in Nabadwip and gave him initiation .He then travelled southwards and came to Remuna in Orissa –Bengal border. He then visited the temple of Lord Gopinath there . As Bengalees and Oriyas are expert in making very tasty foods and sweetmeats , Madhavendra Puri wanted to know what are the articles offered to lord Gopinath there, so that he can offer similar articles to Lord Gopala .. The servant of The Lord said among all the articles offered to The Lord Amrita-Keli was the best item .This is actually a particular form of dense milk (Kshir). When this was offered to The Lord , Madhavendra Puri thought in his mind, if I can taste this Kshir without asking then I can arrange to offer similar thing to Lord Gopala . Then at once Madhavendra felt ashamed for having thought of tasting articles offered to Lord Gopinath and left the temple to spend the night in a deserted market place some distance away . After offering Arati to Lord Gopinath , Lord’s servant gave rest to The Lord and went to sleep . At mid night in dream, the servant heard the voice of Lord Gopinath asking him to get up immediately and search for one pot of Kshir kept hidden under the dress of The Lord . The Lord said , “ My pure devotee Madhvendra Puri wanted to taste a pot of Kshir, and so I have kept one pot hidden under my dress out of ten pots offered to me . When other pots were removed the servants did not see the this pot . You take this pot immediately to the market place where Madhavendra is resting and give it to him , and this is my order . “ The servant immediately came and found out the pot hidden under the dress of The Lord and took it to the market place and started shouting ,” Who is Madhavendra here , for whom Lord Gopinath stealthily kept one pot of Kshir which I have brought to deliver as per Lord’s order .?” Madhavendra was astonished to see Lord’s mercy to him and could not utter a word but started crying out of pure love . The servant of Lord Gopinath was also amazed to see expression of pure love in Madhavendra Puri . Madhavendra then ate the Kshir and tied the clay pot with his clothes and left immediately for Puri even though it was still dark. He knew that villagers will come to know of this episode and come rushing to see him at the day break . To avoid this unwanted publicity Madhavendra wasted no time and started on his mission even before sun rise . He used to eat part of the clay pot he tied with his clothes everyday and would remember extra-ordinary mercy shown by Lord Gopinath to him .
On reaching Puri he visited temple of Lord Jagannath and told the servants of Jagannath about Gopal’s asking for Malay Sandalwood to be brought from Puri .Servants of Lord Jagannath were very pleased to hear this episode and tried to procure Sandalwood and camphor which are to be put in paste form over The Lord’s body . As Sandalwood was a restricted item it was procured in the name of persons who had access to the king’s court .To carry this heavy load, a person was provided and some money was also given to him to meet his en route expenses. He was also given king’s order for free passage in check posts as sandalwood was a taxable item and there were many check posts on the way . It was , however , doubtful how far this order will be honoured as there were many kingdoms which were inimical to the king of Puri on the way .
After procuring Sandalwood and camphor, Madhavendra Puri started for Vrindavan and reached Remuna after some days . He kept the load of sandalwood and camphor at the temple . He was received very honourably at the temple of Lord Gopinath and was given Kshir as prasad of Lord Gopinath . At night when he was sleeping in the temple compound he heard Lord’s Gopala’s voice in his dream . Lord told him ,” Gopinath’s body is same as mine , so you need not bring the whole load upto Vrindavan. You smear Gopinath’s body with camphor and sandalwood paste and I will thus be satisfied . Do not have any doubt about it “ Next morning Madhavendra Puri told the servant’s of Gopinath about his dream . Gopinath’s servants were very pleased with this proposal . Madhavendra had two persons with him who would make the paste out of sandal wood and he hired two more persons for the job . These four persons would make sandalwood paste everyday and mix it with camphor and the smear it on the body of Lord Gopinath . Madhavendra stayed there till the sandal wood was finished . Thereafter he went to Puri and stayed there for four months of the rainy season .
Madhavendra Puri could foresee that The Lord was about to appear in this world and he said to his disciples, you will be able to see the pastimes of The Supreme Lord who is soon to take birth in this world , but I will not be able to see that . Under his instruction Advaita Acarya used to pray and cry for arrival of The Lord soon in this world .Vaisnava poets narrate that Madhavendra came and saw young Nimai when he was just born .
In his last days Madhavendra was totally immersed in the mellow of ecstatic love to The Lord and used to chant the following verse
Ayi dina dayadra natha he
Mathura natha kadavalokyase
Hrdayam tvad aloka kataram
Dayita bhramyati kim karoty aham
"0 compassionate Lord of the poor and humble! 0 Lord of Mathura! When shall I see You again? Without seeing You, My heart has become very much afflicted. Oh My beloved, I am overwhelmed. What shall I do now?" (Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 4.197)
Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja says that as the diamond kaustubha jewel is the most precious amongst all rare valuable jewels, this sloka is the rasa kavya (the best verse in the entire treasury of rasa poetry). Actually, this verse was spoken by Srimati Radharani Herself. It was Radha's pathetic cry to Syamasundara, who had gone to Mathura leaving Her alone, desperate in Vrndavana. Radharani's mercy caused this same verse to be uttered from the mouth of Madhavendra Puri.
Reciting even a few words of this sloka [verse] would tear open the door of Mahaprabhu's ecstatic love, making Him swoon in ecstasy falling unconscious. Feeling intense separation from Krishna, Madhavendra Puri constantly chanted this verse when departing this world.
Krishna Dasa Kaviraja says that with this verse Madhavendra Puri teaches devotees how to achieve Krishna prema by cultivating intense feelings of separation from Sri Krishna. Gaudiya Vaisnavas accept that this verse expresses the essence of the mood of separation.
Madhavendra Puri introduced the conception of madhurya bhava (conjugal love) in the Madhvacarya sampradaya. Madhavendra Puri sowed the seed of prema bhakti. And Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became the towering tree dropping honey sweet fruits of prema upon everyone. He also revealed viraha bhava, the mood of love relished in separation from God. His branch of the Madhva sect distinguished itself by this ecstatic love of God. It is known as the Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya which was further enriched by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu with His Acintya Bhedaved Tattva .
One of the disciples of Madhavendra Puri , viz. Rama chandra Puri could not understand the mood of his guru and critisised him saying why are you feeling so restless in mind at this last stage thinking about Gopi Bhava ? You are a so learned person , fix your mind on Brahman and make yourself steady .Otherwise your health will deteriorate further .
Madhavendra Puri was very upset by these words of Ramchandra Puri and immediately asked him to leave the place and rebuked him saying that you are un authorised to understand this mood of Gopi Bhava and so I do not want to see your face any more .
On the other hand , Madhavendra's other disciple Ishwar Puri served his guru faithfully till the end and assisted him to feel the ecstasy of Radharani's love to Krsna in separartion .
As a result Ishwar Puri was blessed with sublime ocean of divine love which he carried in his heart , which empowered him to become guru of Lord caitanya Mahaprabhu
Side by side Ramchandra Puri ever remained a follower in the path of knowledge and was debarred from entering the realm of Bhakti or devotional service for the curse of his guru .Dryness of his heart was manifested by his nature of finding fault with others which he did even with Sri Caitanya Maha Prabhu .
Madhavendra Puri's samadhi is in Remuna, Orissa just a walk down the road from the temple of Ksira-cora Gopinatha
