11. Lord Gauranga's Eight Prayers at Ratha Yatra

11. Lord Gauranga's Eight Prayers at Ratha Yatra:

Throughout the chariot procession, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spoke different words, phrases and slokas to convey His deep moods of love. The prayers numbered below are given in the order that Mahaprabhu uttered them as Lord Jagannatha proceeded on His chariot towards Gundica Mandira.

1. Manima! Manima!

While Lord Jagannatha moved from the temple to His chariot, Mahaprabhu loudly proclaimed "manima, manima," an Oriyan word used to address a respectable person. It basically means, "O my Lord, I offer You all My honor and respect." (Сс. 2.13.14)

2. Hari! Hari! Jaya Jagannatha! 

During the parade, Gauranga wandered through all 7 sankirtana parties dancing madly. In euphoria, the golden Lord sometimes beheld His beloved Jagannatha, lifted His beautiful arms above His head and roared "Hari! Hari! Jaya Jagannatha! All glories to Lord Jagannatha!" (Cc. 2.13.51) 

Mahaprabhu's movements during Ratha-yatra were totally unpredictable. Sometimes Lord Gauranga jumped high in the air while dancing. Sometimes the devotees ran alongside Mahaprabhu singing with the Lord. At other times, Gaurahari just collapsed on the ground offering dandavats before Lord Jagannatha. Then lifiting His tear soaked lotus face towards Jagannatha Swami, Mahaprabhu folded His hands and offered the following 4 prayers: (Cc. 2.13.76-81)

3. namo brahmanya-devāya, go-brahmana-hitāya ca

jagad-dhitāya krşņāya, 

govindaya namo namah 

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Krsna, who is the worshipable deity for all brahminical men, who is the well-wisher of cows and brahmanas, and who is always benefiting the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Krsna and Govinda. (Vişnu Purana 1.19.65)

4. jayati jayati devo devaki-nandano 

'sau 

jayati jayati krsno vrsni-vamsa-pradipah

jayati jayati megha-syāmalah komalango 

jayati jayati prthvi-bhara-naso mukundah 

All glories unto Devakinandana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead! All glories to the light of the Vrsni dynasty! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose bodily luster is dark blue like a rain cloud, and whose body is as soft as a lotus flower! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared on this planet to deliver the world from the burden of demons. All glories to Mukunda, who can offer liberation to everyone! (Mukunda-malā 3)

5. jayati jana-nivāso devaki-janma-vado yadu-vara-parişat svair dorbhir asyann adharmam sthira-cara-vrjina-ghnah susmita-śrī-mukhena vraja-pura-vanitānām 

vardhayan kama-devam 

Sri Krsna eternally lives gloriously among the Yadu dynasty, and He is the ultimate resort of all living entities. Sri Krsna is known as the son of Devaki and the son of mother Yasoda (whose second name is Devaki). Sri Krsna is eternally served by the members of the Yadu dynasty or the cowherd men of Vrndāvana. With His mighty arms, or by His devotees like Arjuna who are just like His own arms, Sri Krsna kills the demons and destroys the misfortune of all living entities, moving and inert. With His blissful smile and beautiful face, Govinda always increases the lusty desires of the damsels of Vrndāvana. May Sri Krsna be all-glorious and happy! (SB 10.90.48)

6. nāham vipro na ca nara-patir, näpi vaišyo na šūdro 

naham varni na ca grha-patir, no vanastho yatir và 

kintu prodyan-nikhila-paramananda-

pürnāmṛtābdher 

gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor, dasa-dāsānudāsah

I do not belong to any caste; I am not a brāhmana, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a súdra. Nor am I a brahmacari, a householder, a vănaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis, who is an eternally effulgent, complete ocean of nectar and the very cause of universal transcendental bliss." (Padyavali 74)

7. seita parana-natha painu

yaha lagi madana-dahane jhuri genu

I have gotten that Lord of My life, for whom I was burning in the fire of lusty desires. (Cc. 2.1.55) While dancing before Jagannatha's cart, especially during the late afternoon, Mahaprabhu immersed in His own internal ecstasy (antara-bhava) and often sang the two lines above while thinking. ''Let Me take Krsna back to Vraja''.

Being always absorbed in Radhika's mahabhava, Mahaprabhu felt the same separation from Sri Krsna that Radhikā felt when Syama left Vrndávana and went to Mathura. When the Vraja-gopis met Sri Krsna at Kuruksetra during the solar eclipse, they wanted to take Krsna back to Vrndávana. Gauranga Mahaprabhu felt the same ecstasy upon viewing Jagannatha Swami on His chariot. Completely engrossed in radha-bhāva, Mahaprabhu also recited the following verse which hardly anyone understood:

8. yah kaumara-harah sa eva hi varas ta eva caitra-ksapās 

te conmilita-malati-surabhayah praudhah kadambanilah 

sā caivāsmi tathāpi tatra surata-vyäpära-lila-vidhau revă-rodhasi vetasi-taru-tale 

cetah samutkanthate 

That very personality who stole away my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are the same moonlit nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of malati flowers is there, and the same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Revå under the Vetasi tree. That is my desire. (Cc. 2.1.58)

After hearing Mahaprabhu recite this verse during Ratha-yatra, Srila Rupa Gosvami composed the sloka below which exactly depicts the emotional heart of Sri Caitanyadeva. Noticing this verse at a later time, Gauranga was astonished that anyone understood His ecstasies. Mahaprabhu then showered His full blessings and empowerment upon Srila Rupa Gosvami to preach the confidential mellows (gūdha rasa) of Krsna consciousness.

priyah so 'yam krsnah saha-cari kuru-ksetra-militas

tathāham sa rādhā tad idam ubhayoh sangama-sukham 

tathāpy antah-khelan-madhura-murali-

pañcama-juse 

mano me kalindi-pulina-vipināya sprhayati 

Srimati Rādhikā said, "O sakhi! Now I have met My very old and dear friend Krsna on this field of Kuruksetra. I am the same Rädhäräni, and now We are meeting together. It is very pleasant, but still I would like to go to the bank of the Kalindi beneath the desire trees of the forest there. My mind wishes to delight in hearing Syama's sweet flute (madhura murali) vibrating the 5th note within that forest of Vrndavana." (Cc. 2.1.76)