Sad-Bhuja Murti
Sri Rama, Sri Krsna e Sri Caitanya
Murari's Exclusive Devotion to Rama
Mahaprabhu taught the principle of devotion to one's worshipable deity through Murari Gupta. One cannot advance in devotional service without a particular devotion to a worshipable deity, or ishta-devata. Murari was an incarnation of Hanuman, and he saw Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as Ramachandra.
On one occasion, Mahaprabhu desired to test his loyalty to his worshipable deity Rama by telling him to worship Krishna. He explained to Murari that Krishna was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the fountainhead of all the other incarnations.
Because he was the ocean of all the devotional flavors, the joy to be had in worshiping Krishna could not be had in the service of any other form of the Lord. Murari promised Mahaprabhu that he would do as he advised and worship Krishna, but when he returned to his home, he could not give up the lotus feet of Ramachandra. Just the thought of it made him upset and he stayed awake the entire night. In the morning, he went to Mahaprabhu and fell at his feet with tears in his eyes.
He humbly submitted to the Lord: I have sold my head to Ramachandra. I cannot remove it from his feet, for as soon as I try, it causes me great pain. I cannot give up the lotus feet of Raghunatha, even though this means disobeying you. What can I do? O merciful one, please allow my to give up my life here before you rather than suffer this fate. (Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.15.149-151)
shrinathe janaki-nathe
cabhede paramatmani
tathapi mama sarvasvo
ramah kamala-locanah
Both Narayan, the husband of Lakshmi, and Ramachandra, the husband of Sita are equally the supreme personality of Godhead. Even so, the lotus-eyed Rama alone is everything to me.
Mahaprabhu was greatly satisfied to hear this exclusive devotional attitude to the worshipable deity. He said, "You are Hanuman himself, the eternal servant of Ramachandra. Indeed, why should you give up worshiping his feet?" Sri Jiva Goswami's father Anupama was similarly devoted to Rama. Mahaprabhu compared him to Murari when Sanatan told him that Anupama was not able to give up worshiping Rama despite his brothers' exhortations.
Mahaprabhu said, "Previously, I tested Murari Gupta and found him also to be devoted to Rama in the same way. That devotee who does not abandon his worshipable deity's lotus feet is truly glorious. Glorious too is that Lord who does not abandon his devotee." (Chaitanya Charitamrita 3.4.45-46)
Vosso servo
Prahladesh Dasa
