Mahaprabhu & Ganges
At noon, after their studies, the Lord and His friends joyfully went to bathe in the Ganges. Viśvambhara and His friends eagerly entered the Ganges, wherein they enjoyed splashing water on each other. Who can describe the opulence of Navadvīpa? Innumerable people took bath at one of the bathing ghāṭas. I am unable to say how many saints, ascetics, householders, sannyāsīs, and children came there to take bath. As the Lord swam in the Ganges with His associates, sometimes He would dive below the surface and sometimes He would float. In this way He enjoyed various water sports. While engaged in water sports, Lord Gaurasundara would splash water with His feet on those nearby. People forbade Him from doing this, but the Lord ignored them and they were unable to catch Him. The Lord compelled everyone to bathe again and again by touching them or spitting on them.
Being unable to restrain Him, the brāhmaṇas approached His father to complain about Him. The brāhmaṇas said, “Dear friend, Jagannātha Miśra. Please hear about your son’s misdeeds. “Due to His misdeeds we are unable to bathe properly.” Someone said, “He splashes water on me and disturbs my meditation.” Another complained, “Your son asked me, ‘Who are you meditating on? In Kali-yuga I am directly Lord Nārāyaṇa.’ Someone said, “He stole my Śiva-liṅga,” and someone else said, “He ran away with my cādara.” Someone said, “I kept the ingredients for worshiping Viṣṇu—flowers, dūrvā grass, bhoga, sandalwood pulp, and the Lord’s āsana—on the bank of the Ganges. When I went to take bath your son sat on the Lord’s āsana, ate the bhoga, smeared Himself with the sandalwood pulp, decorated Himself with the flowers, and ran off. “Then He said, ‘Why are you unhappy? He for whom you arranged those ingredients has Himself enjoyed them.’” Someone said, “I was standing in the water chanting my Gāyatrī, and He grabbed my feet and pulled me down.” Another said, “He always takes my flower basket and fresh cloth.” Someone else said, “He steals my Bhagavad-gītā.” Then someone complained, “My son is very young, and your son makes him cry by putting water in his ears.” Another person said, “He comes behind me, climbs on my shoulders, and then jumps in the water, exclaiming, ‘I am Lord Maheśa!’ xSomeone said, “Your son sits on my āsana and eats the offerings I have prepared for Lord Viṣṇu. Then He worships Lord Viṣṇu. When I come out from my bath, He throws sand on me. He is surrounded by all the other mischievous boys. He exchanges the men’s cloth with the women’s, and then everyone is embarrassed when they go to dress. O Jagannātha Miśra, you are our dear friend, therefore we are informing you that your son does such things every day. “He remains in the water for up to six hours, so how will His body remain fit?”
At the same time all the neighborhood girls approached mother Śacī in an angry mood. They all complained to Śacī, “O Ṭhākurāṇī, listen to what your son has done! “He steals our clothes and speaks very badly. If we protest, He throws water on us and starts a quarrel. “By force, He scatters whatever fruits and flowers we bring for pūjā. When we come out from our bath, He throws sand on us. He is surrounded by all sorts of mischievous boys. “He sneaks up behind us and shouts in our ears.” One of the girls said, “He spit water in my face. “And then he threw okaḍa seeds [which induce itching] in my hair.” Someone else said, “He said He wants to marry me. “Everyday He behaves with us like this. Does your Nimāi think He is the son of a king? “The activities of your son, Nimāi, exactly resemble what we have heard about the activities of the son of Nanda. “When we tell our parents about your son’s mischief, they will surely quarrel with you. “Therefore please control your son immediately, for such activities are not proper in Nadia.” On hearing these complaints, the Lord’s mother smiled, embraced the girls, and sweetly spoke to them. “When Nimāi returns today, I will tie Him up and beat Him with a stick so that He won’t disturb you again.”
(Sri Caitanya Bhagavata Ādi-khaṇḍa 6.47 – 6.84)
Meanwhile, Lord Viśvambhara returned home by another path. He resembled the bright moon as He carried attractive books in His hand. Drops of ink beautified the Lord’s golden limbs and resembled bumble bees surrounding a campaka flower. The Lord called out, “Mother! Give Me some oil. Let Me go take bath.” Hearing her son’s request, mother Śacī became joyful. She could not see any sign that He had taken bath. After giving Him the oil, Śacīdevī thought, “What did those girls and brāhmaṇas complain about? “He has drops of ink on His body, and He is wearing the same clothes and carrying the same books.”
Soon after, Jagannātha Miśra arrived there and Viśvambhara climbed on his lap. Śrī Miśra was filled with ecstasy on seeing his son, and he lost external consciousness by His embrace. Śrī Miśra was astonished to see that Nimāi was covered with dust and devoid of any sign that He had taken bath. He said, “Viśvambhara, what kind of mentality do You have? Why don’t You let people take bath? “Why do You steal the ingredients meant for worshiping Lord Viṣṇu? Don’t You have any reverence for Lord Viṣṇu?”
The Lord replied, “Today I have not yet gone for bath. My friends have gone ahead of Me. “They have misbehaved with those brāhmaṇas and girls, who are blaming Me even though I wasn’t there. “Since they blame Me when I wasn’t even there, now I will actually do some mischief to them.” Saying this, the Lord smiled as He left to take bath in the Ganges, where He met again with His friends. When Viśvambhara arrived there, the boys embraced Him and laughed after hearing what happened. They all praised Him, saying, “Nimāi, You are very clever. You have escaped a good beating today.” As the Lord engaged in water sports with the boys, at home Jagannātha Miśra and Śacī were contemplating.
(Sri Caitanya Bhagavata Ādi-khaṇḍa 6.112 – 6.129)
While sporting in the Ganges, the Lord and His friends would sometimes swim to the other side. Seeing the good fortune of the Yamunā in obtaining the association of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Ganges had cherished the desire for the same opportunity. The Ganges constantly prayed, “When will I be fortunate like the Yamunā?” Although the Ganges is worshiped by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, she nevertheless still desires the good fortune of the Yamunā. Lord Gaurasundara is like a wish-fulfilling tree that constantly satisfied the desires of the Ganges. After enjoying various pastimes in the waters of the Ganges, Śrī Gauracandra joyfully returned home. The Lord then worshiped Viṣṇu according to regulation, and after watering tulasī, He took His meal.
(Sri Caitanya Bhagavata Ādi-khaṇḍa 8.67 – 8.73)
In the dead of that night, Nityānanda suddenly roared loudly and broke His daṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu. Who can understand the unlimited characteristics of the Supreme Lord? Why did He break His daṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu? When Rāmāi Paṇḍita rose early the next morning, he was astonished on seeing the broken daṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu. He immediately informed Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita, who told him, “Go and inform the Lord.” Being informed by Rāmāi, the Lord came there and found Nityānanda profusely laughing. The Lord picked up the broken daṇḍa with His own hands and went with Nityānanda to take bath in the Ganges. Accompanied by Śrīvāsa and other devotees, the Lord went to the Ganges and put the broken daṇḍa in the water. The restless Nityānanda did not listen to anyone. That is why the Lord sometimes admonished Him. When Nityānanda saw a crocodile, He attempted to catch it. Gadādhara and Śrīnivāsa exclaimed, “Alas, alas!” He fearlessly swam through the waters of the Ganges, but He was somewhat pacified by Caitanya’s words. Viśvambhara called to Nityānanda, “Come quickly and celebrate Vyāsa-pūjā.” Hearing the Lord’s words, Nityānanda completed His bath and returned to Śrīvāsa’s house with the Lord.
(Sri Caitanya Bhagavata Madhya-khaṇḍa 5.067 – 5.078)
The Lord asked, “How far is the Ganges from here?” and the children replied, “It is about three hours from here.” The Lord said, “This is the glory of the Ganges. By her influence one hears the holy names chanted here. “Breezes coming from the Ganges blow here. Therefore I heard glorification of Hari’s transcendental qualities.” As the Lord glorified the Ganges, His attachment increased multifold. The Lord said, “Today I will certainly bathe in the Ganges.” Saying this, He started off.
(Sri Caitanya Bhagavata Antya-khaṇḍa 1.105 – 1.109)