I just completed reading the following passage from Ananta Das Pandit's commentary on Stavavali:
"In the pre-Caitanya era there was a cult of sakhi-bhava (love for Krishna as a participating amorous consort) preached by great devotees like the poet Jayadeva, Candidasa, Vidyapati, Bilvamangala and others, but the manjari-bhava sadhana, the personal and exclusive service of Sri Radha, was a new gift, introduced by Sri Gaurasundara and the acaryas who took shelter of His lotus feet. The seed of this vine of devotion is given by a Gaudiya Vaishnava saint or guru and it is sprinkled by the water of hearing, chanting and remembering, so that the vine will ultimately bear the ripened, delicious fruit of radha dasya bhava."
I began to reflect on the concept of purva-acaryas and para-acaryas (PBC 16) in regards to Sri Madhavendra Puri. In the Caitanya Caritamrta, it is related:
jaya zrI mAdhavapurI kRSNa-prema-pUra
bhakti-kalpatarura teGho prathama aGkura
"Glory to Madhavendra Puri, an ocean of Krishna-prema! In him, the desire tree of bhakti had its first sprout."
Given the fact that there were plenty of devotees prior to Madhavendra Puri, such as the acaryas in sakhi-bhava listed above, the verse at hand leads me to conclude that in Madhavendra Puri, something special sprouted, since generic prema-bhakti, and even sakhi-bhava, existed prior to him.
Gaura Ganoddesa Dipika (22) states something to the extent of his having been a desire tree of bhakti, but I am uncertain whether this is a poetic expression of his magnificence or an actual description of his identity. The
ayi dina-dayAdra nAtha he! verse certainly indicates madhurya-rasa, but whether it is sambhogecchatmika or tat-tad-bhavecchatmika is unknown to me.
Interestingly, GGD says nothing on the identity of Isvara Puri.
Does anyone have more information at hand in regards to the inner identities of these two extraordinary personalities?
It may be tad-tad-bhavecchatmika ,a desire to realise particular bhava of particular gopi ,especially the "erotic feelings" (bhava-madhurya-kamita).
Madhavendra Puri called Krsna "Mathuranatha" or "Lord of Mathura".This name revealed how his heart was being torn apart by the method of separation.
jiva
Here is the famous verse spoken by Madhavendra Puri:
ayi dIna-dayArdra nAtha he
mathurA-nAtha kadAvalokyase
hRdayaM tvad-aloka-kAtaraM
dayita bhrAmyati kiM karomy aham
“O, my beloved Lord, the friend of the afflicted! He Mathura-natha, when, when shall I see you? Without seeing you, my heart is perplexed, my beloved, and I am very restless! What am I to do?”
In Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 4.187-203, Caitanya Mahaprabhu remembers the pastimes of Madhavendra Puri and relishes the
ayi dIna dayAdra-verse.
“Sri Gopala wanted to show how intensely Madhavendra Puri loved Krsna; therefore He asked him to go to Nilacala to fetch sandalwood and camphor.
“With great trouble and after much labor, Madhavendra Puri brought the load of sandalwood to Remuna. However, he was still very pleased; he discounted all the difficulties.
“Such behavior exhibited in loving service between the devotee and the devotee’s lovable object, Sri Krsna, is transcendental. It is not possible for a common man to understand. Common men do not even have the capacity.”
“With great trouble and after much labor, Madhavendra Puri brought the load of sandalwood to Remuna. However, he was still very pleased; he discounted all the difficulties.
“To test the intense love of Madhavendra Puri, Gopala, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, ordered him to bring sandalwood from Nilacala, and when Madhavendra Puri passed this examination, the Lord became very merciful to him.
“Such behavior exhibited in loving service between the devotee and the devotee’s lovable object, Sri Krsna, is transcendental. It is not possible for a common man to understand. Common men do not even have the capacity.”
After saying this, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu read the famous verse of Madhavendra Puri. That verse is just like the moon. It has spread illumination all over the world.
Continuous rubbing increases the aroma of Malaya sandalwood. Similarly, consideration of this verse increases one’s understanding of its importance.
As the Kaustubha-mani is considered the most precious of valuable stones, this verse is similarly considered the best of poems dealing with the mellows of devotional service.
Actually this verse was spoken by Srimati Radharani Herself, and by Her mercy only was it manifest in the words of Madhavendra Puri.
Only Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has tasted the poetry of this verse. No fourth man is capable of understanding it.
Madhavendra Puri recited this verse again and again at the end of his material existence. Thus uttering this verse, he attained the ultimate goal of life.ayi dIna-dayArdra nAtha he
mathurA-nAtha kadAvalokyase
hRdayaM tvad-aloka-kAtaraM
dayita bhrAmyati kiM karomy aham
“O, my beloved Lord, the friend of the afflicted! He Mathura-natha, when, when shall I see you? Without seeing you, my heart is perplexed, my beloved, and I am very restless! What am I to do?”
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recited this verse, He immediately fell to the ground unconscious. He was overwhelmed and had no control over Himself.
When Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fell to the ground in ecstatic love, Lord Nityananda quickly took Him on His lap. Crying, Caitanya Mahaprabhu then got up again.
Exhibiting ecstatic emotions, the Lord began to run here and there, making resounding noises. Sometimes He laughed, and sometimes He cried, and sometimes He danced and sang.
‘ayi dIna, ‘ayi dIna’ bale bAra-bAra
kaNThe nA niHsare vANI, netre azru-dhAra
Caitanya Mahaprabhu could not recite the whole verse. He simply said, “Ayi dina! Ayi dina!” repeatedly. Thus He could not speak, and profuse tears were in His eyes.
Trembling, perspiration, jubilant tears, shock, fading of the bodily luster, disappointment, moroseness, loss of memory, pride, joy and humility were all visible in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s body.
This verse uncovered the door of ecstatic love, and when it was exhibited, all the servants of Gopinatha saw Caitanya Mahaprabhu dance in ecstasy.