SRI PURI DHAM MAHATMYA-MUKTA-MALA

(12) About Kashi Misra

Who was Kashi Misra in Dvapar-yuga? A lame, dark-skinned, hunch-backed lady called Kubja. She lived in Vrindvan, and she had one perverse desire – she thought, ‘Krishna goes everywhere and stays with the gopis. I wish He could come to me, too, and spend a night with me. It would be so nice.’ What happened then? When she told her desire to Krishna, Krishna told her, ‘Your desire will be fulfilled, but not now – wait for Kali-yuga.’

Then, in Kali-yuga, she was born as Kashi Misra, and Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Lord Krishna Himself) stayed at his house during eighteen years. Not just one night – He spent there eighteen years.

After rescuing Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, Mahaprabhu went to travel around South India. Before His left, Kashi Misra told Him, ‘When You finish Your travels, please stay in Puri. I will prepare a place for you.’ Mahaprabhu promised him that when He returned He would stay at his house. The name of His room at Kashi Misra’s house is Gambhira, ‘a room within a room’. This is where Mahaprabhu stayed.

Mahaprabhu's room inside Kashi Misra's house.

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