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Advaitãchãrya was older than Mahaprabhu's father in age. He was unparalleled in knowledge. Sri Iswarapuri, who gave Deeksha to Sri Mahaprabhu, had studied along with Advaitãchãrya. Mahaprabhu honored and respected Advaitachãrya as his own Guru, who was thus very great in all respects in terms of age, education and caste, and even saluted him. Advaitãchãrya did not at all approve of this. Whenever Prabhu bowed before him, he felt very shy and he even cursed himself. He was devoted to Mahaprabhu in the attitude of a 'Dãsa' (servant). But, agonized to see Prabhu exhibiting 'GuruBhãva' (preceptor) towards him, he went along with Haridãs to Shanthipur and began teaching philosophy to his students there and practised philosophical discussions always.

Prabhu understood his mental state. One day he said to Nityãnanda - "Sripad! ãcharya has not come here for a long time. Let us go ourselves to Shantipur to have his 'Darshan'". Deciding thus, they both started towards Shantipur. Both of them were persons who were always in an ecstatic state of love. They knew not the world well! They missed their way and reached a different town called Lalitpur on the banks of the Ganges. Seeing a house there, they enquired whose house that was.

The people there replied that it was the house of a 'Grahastha-Sanyãsin' ('house-holder-ascetic'). Prabhu laughed loudly on hearing that. He said in surprised to Nityãnanda - "Sripad! This is the house of a 'Grahasta-Sanyasin' - it seems! Isn't this a surprising thing! How can a person be a Sanyãsin and a grahastha at the same time? I have neither heard nor seen such a thing! Come! Let's go in and see how the Sanyãsi-Grahasta is!" Saying thus, both of them entered. As soon as they entered, Nityãnanda saw a person wearing a Kãshaya vastra(saffron robe) and he prostrated him. Prabhu too thought that he was a Sanyãsi and saluted him. Seeing a sanyãsi enter with a handsome and respectable Brahmin around thirty five years of age, the Sanyãsi of that house welcomed both and offered them seats. All the three then engaged in conversation.

Prabhu was love personified. He looked around and said - "Sãnyasi Maharãj! Give us something to drink please!" There were two ladies in that house. That house-holder ascetic looked inside and ordered them to bring something for their guests. Meanwhile Prabhu and Nityãnanda went in a hurry to the Ganges to have a bath. The ladies of that house had, by then, brought a plate full of cut fruits, and two cups of milk. Prabhu and Nitayãnanda began to eat that.

The sanyãsi of that house belonged to 'Vãma Mãrga'. Practice of this path was very popular in Bengal during that time. The lady there asked - "Shall I bring some 'ãnanda' (meaning 'joy') too?". Immediately the sanyasi signalled to her asking not to bring it. Prabhu, who was eating mangoes asked Nityãnanda - "Sripad! What item is 'ãnanda'? Will a sanyãsi's language too be different? You are not a grihasta-sanyãsi! How will you too understand this language?.

Hearing this, Nityãnanda laughed aloud. Prabhu asked him - "Sripad! Why are you laughing? What is 'ãnanda'. Is it a sweet item? If so, make them bring it. It will be nice to eat sweets after drinking milk"

To be continued...

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