The Story of Ramadasa Vipra

When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at southern Mathura (Madhurai), He met a brahmana. The brahmana who met Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu invited the Lord to his home. This brahmana was a great devotee and an authority on Lord Sri Ramachandra. He was always detached from material activities. After bathing in the river Kritamala, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to the brahmana’s house to take lunch, but He saw that the food was unprepared

Seeing this, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “My dear sir, please tell Me why you have not cooked. It is already noon.” The brahmana replied, “My dear Lord, we are living in the forest. For the time being we cannot get all the ingredients for cooking. When Laksmana brings all the vegetables, fruits and roots from the forest, Sita will do the necessary cooking.” Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was very much satisfied to hear about the brahmana’s method of worship. Finally the brahmana hastily made arrangements for cooking. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took His lunch at about three o’clock, but the brahmana, being very sorrowful, fasted.

While the brahmana was fasting, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked him, “Why are you fasting? Why are you so unhappy? Why are you so worried?” The brahmana replied, “I have no reason to live. I shall give up my life by entering either fire or water. My dear Sir, mother Sita is the mother of the universe and the supreme goddess of fortune. She has been touched by the demon Ravana, and I am troubled upon hearing this news. Sir, due to my unhappiness I cannot continue living. Although my body is burning, my life is not leaving.” Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu replied, “Please do not think this way any longer. You are a learned pandita. Why don’t you consider the case?”

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu continued, “Sitadevi, the dearmost wife of the Supreme Lord Ramachandra, certainly has a spiritual form full of bliss. No one can see her with material eyes, for no materialist has such power. To say nothing of touching mother Sita, a person with material senses cannot even see her. When Ravana kidnapped her, he kidnapped only her material, illusory form. “As soon as Ravana arrived before Sita, she disappeared. Then just to cheat Ravana she sent an illusory, material form. Spiritual substance is never within the jurisdiction of the material conception. This is always the verdict of the Vedas and Puranas.”

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then assured the brahmana, “Have faith in My words and do not burden your mind any longer with this misconception.” Although the brahmana was fasting, he had faith in the words of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and accepted food. In this way his life was saved.

After thus assuring the brahmana, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu proceeded further into southern India and finally arrived at Durvasana, where He bathed in the river Kriamala. At Durvasana Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited the temple of Lord Ramachandra, and on the hill known as Mahendra-shaila He saw Lord Parasurama. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then went to Setubandha [Rameshwara], where He took His bath at the place called Dhanushtirtha. From there He visited the Rameshwara temple and then took rest.

There, among the brahmanas, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu listened to the Kurma Purana, wherein was mentioned the chaste woman’s narration. Srimati Sitadevi is the mother of the three worlds and the wife of Lord Ramachandra. Among chaste women she is supreme, and she is the daughter of King Janaka. When Ravana came to kidnap mother Sita and she saw him, she took shelter of the fire-god, Agni. The fire-god covered the body of mother Sita, and in this way she was protected from the hands of Ravana.

Upon hearing from the Kurma Purana how Ravana had kidnapped a false form of mother Sita, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu became very much satisfied. The fire-god, Agni, took away the real Sita and brought her to the place of Parvati, goddess Durga. An illusory form of mother Sita was then delivered to Ravana, and in this way Ravana was cheated. After Ravana was killed by Lord Ramachandra, Sitadevi was brought before the fire and tested. When the illusory Sita was brought before the fire by Lord Ramachandra, the fire-god made the illusory form disappear and delivered the real Sita to Lord Ramachandra.

When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu heard this story, He was very much pleased, and He remembered the words of Ramadasa Vipra. Indeed, when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu heard these conclusive statements from the Kurma Purana, He felt great happiness. After asking the brahmanas’ permission, He took possession of those manuscript leaves. Since the Kurma Purana was very old, the manuscript was also very old. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took possession of the original leaves in order to have direct evidence. The text was copied onto new leaves in order that the Purana be replaced.