Varanasi - Benares (CC Antya-lila)

Expressions researched:
"Benares" |"Kasi" |"Varanasi"

CC Antya-lila

CC Antya 2.89, Translation and Purport:

Bhagavān Ācārya's brother, whose name was Gopāla Bhaṭṭācārya, had studied Vedānta philosophy at Benares and had then returned to Bhagavān Ācārya's home.

During those days and also at the present, Vedānta philosophy is understood through the commentary of Śaṅkarācārya, which is known as the Śārīraka-bhāṣya. Thus it appears that Gopāla Bhaṭṭācārya, the younger brother of Bhagavān Ācārya, had studied Vedānta according to the way of the Śārīraka-bhāṣya, which expounds the Māyāvāda philosophy of the impersonalists.

CC Antya 13 Summary:

Once, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became ecstatic upon hearing the songs of a deva-dāsī. Unaware of who was singing, He ran toward her through thorny bushes, but when Govinda informed the Lord that it was a woman singing, He immediately stopped. By this incident, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu instructed everyone that sannyāsīs and Vaiṣṇavas should not hear women singing.

When Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī left Vārāṇasī on his way to Jagannātha Purī after completing his education, he met Rāmadāsa Viśvāsa Paṇḍita. Viśvāsa Paṇḍita was very proud of his education, and being an impersonalist, he was not well received by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. A summary of the life of Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī ends this chapter.

CC Antya 13.34, Translation and Purport:

“You may go as far as Vārāṇasī without encountering disturbances, but beyond Vārāṇasī you should be very careful to travel on the path in the company of the kṣatriyas.

In those days the path from Vārāṇasī to Vṛndāvana was infested with robbers, and therefore there were kṣatriyas to protect travelers.

CC Antya 13.42, Translation:

He took permission from all the devotees and then departed. Traveling on the forest path, he soon reached Vārāṇasī.

CC Antya 13.43, Translation:

When he met Tapana Miśra and Candraśekhara in Vārāṇasī, they heard from him about topics concerning Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Antya 13.90, Translation:

Accompanied by a servant carrying his baggage, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa started from Vārāṇasī and traveled along the path leading through Bengal.

CC Antya 13.116, Translation:

After taking permission from Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and all the devotees, headed by Svarūpa Dāmodara, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa returned to Vārāṇasī.

CC Antya 13.118, Translation:

Then his parents died at Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), and he became detached. He therefore returned to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, giving up all relationships with his home.