Srimati Visnupriya-devi

Srimati Visnupriya-deviThe pastimes of Visnpriya devi from a mundane point of view may seem like a sad story. Married for only a short amount of time and having her husband, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (Nimai pandit) take sannyasa (a spiritual vow of renunciation from wife and family). In separation from Him she absorbs herself in harinama rasa (devotional chanting of the Hare Krsna Mahamantra) and constant remembrance of Him. In every moment of her life, Sri Visnupriya Devi

The pastimes of Visnpriya devi from a mundane point of view may seem like a sad story. Married for only a short amount of time and having her husband, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (Nimai pandit) take sannyasa (a spiritual vow of renunciation from wife and family). In separation from Him she absorbs herself in harinama-rasa (devotional chanting of the Hare Krsna Mahamantra) and constant remembrance of Him. In every moment of her life, Sri Visnupriya Devi served and pleased Mahaprabhu through her absorption in this harinama-rasa. Through the power of her sadhana, she nourished the bhakti of the devotees. Bhu-sakti personified, Sri Visnupriya Devi, always resided in Navadvipa-dhama. Internally Mahaprabhu always engaged and instructed her to help the conditioned souls. Visnupriya Devi taught all the devotees to properly honor and worship Mahaprabhu in the Deity form. Mahaprabhu would not tell anyone directly, "Serve Me," but Sri Visnupriya taught this by herself daily worshiping Mahaprabhu's Sri Vigraha. Krsna said in the Bhagavad-gita and other places: "Serve Me, become one-pointed to Me, worship My Deity." But Mahaprabhu did not speak like this, being in the role of the devotee. However, for the benefit of the jivas, Visnupriya Devi established Mahaprabhu's vigraha-seva and the process of worshiping Mahaprabhu, and she taught this to everyone. In this way, she gave everyone the eligibility to enter the eternal dhama. Visnupriya Devi always worshiped Mahaprabhu in the Deity form, and in the form of the selfsame Holy Names, She thus showed how nama-seva and vigraha-seva are connected. A touching read of loving sacrifice and divine devotion, recommended for all followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Gaudiya Vaisnava traditions.