Varieties of festive music played and Mahaprabhu enjoyed the festival with great pleasure until late in the evening. He then returned to His residence along with His devotees. On the way home the two friends, Svarupa Damodara and Sri Vidyanidhi, raised a discussion regarding the Lord’s starched clothes.

Vidyanidhi said, “In this part of the country there is considerable discussion regarding Sruti and Smrti, yet how is it that the Lord is dressed in un-holy starched clothing?

Svarupa Damodara replied, “Perhaps it is the custom of this place.

If it is the custom, then where is the fault? Had it not been the wish of the Lord, the King would have forbidden it.”

Vidyanidhi replied, “God can do whatever He likes, but why should His priest attendants put starched clothes on Him.? Starched cloth is so un-holy that the hand which has touched it has to be washed. These things are not decided by the estate officers. I see that the King also wore starched cloth on his head today.”

Svarupa Damodara said, “Brother, perhaps there is nothing wrong in using this cloth on the day of Odana Sasthi. Because the Lord Himself has appeared on this earth in the form of Jagannatha Deva, rules and regulations are not applicable to Him.”

Vidyanidhi protested, “Jagannatha Deva is the Lord, He is omniscient. But can these people be like Him? Are they beyond all rules and regulations?” In this way the two friends discussed in a jovial mood until reaching their residence, then took rest.

That night Vidyanidhi dreamed that Jagannatha and Balarama were very annoyed with him. They slapped Vidyanidhi on his two cheeks and said, “I have no caste, and neither do my attendants. It is I who have made the rules which you think there is deviation from.” Weeping, Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi put his head on the feet of Jagannatha and said, “Oh Lord, I have been rightly served according to my offence. Today is very auspicious for me, Your good hand has touched my forehead. I do not now what good deed I performed in my previous birth to have such a benediction.”

The Lord then disappeared. When Vidyanidhi awoke in the morning, he found that his two cheeks were swollen as a result of the slapping by Sri Jagannatha and Balarama. Every morning Svarupa Damodara came to Vidyanidhi’s place and they went to the Jagannatha Mandira for darsana together. That morning Svarupa Damodara arrived as usual, but found Vidyanidhi still lying in bed. When he inquired as to why he was still in bed, Vidyanidhi called him to his side and explained his extraordinary dream.

Hearing this and seeing Vidyanidhi’s swollen cheeks, Svarupa Damodara was overwhelmed with joy. He said, “I don’t know of any other such instance where the Lord has punished a man in his dream, but today I have seen this with my own eyes. Is there any man so fortunate as you in the three worlds?” Svarupa Damodara joyfully praised Sri Vidyanidhi. As a friend feels delighted at the well-being of his frien d, so Svarupa Damodara thought himself extremely lucky because of Pundarika Vidyanidhi’s fortune.

Sri Vrndavana dasa wrote: “He who hears about the character of Pundarika Vidyanidhi is certain to attain devotion to Krsna. (CBh. Antya)

Sri Caitanya Caritamrta – Madhya 16.78
gadadhara-pandite tenho punah mantra dila
odana-shashthira dine yatra ye dekhila

TRANSLATION
Pundarika Vidyanidhi initiated Gadadhara Pandita for the second time, and on the day of Odana-shashthi he saw the festival.

PURPORT
At the beginning of winter, there is a ceremony known as the Odana-shashthi. This ceremony indicates that from that day forward, a winter covering should be given to Lord Jagannatha. That covering is directly purchased from a weaver. According to the arcana-marga, a cloth should first be washed to remove all the starch, and then it can be used to cover the Lord. Pundarika Vidyanidhi saw that the priest neglected to wash the cloth before covering Lord Jagannatha. Since he wanted to find some fault in the devotees, he became indignant.

Srila Prabhupada briefly described the ritual of Odana Sasthi in his purport to Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya lila 16-78:

Srila Prabhupada explains, “At the beginning of winter, there is a ceremony
known as the Odana-sasthi. This ceremony indicates that from that day
forward, a winter covering should be given to Lord Jagannatha. That covering
is directly purchased from a weaver. According to the arcana-marga, a cloth
should first be washed to remove all the starch, and then it can be used to
cover the Lord. Pundarika Vidyanidhi saw that the priest neglected to wash
the cloth before covering Lord Jagannatha. Since he wanted to find some
fault in the devotees, he became indignant.” (Cc Madhya 16.78 purport)

And Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 16.78-81) describes the event.
“Pundarika Vidyanidhi initiated Gadadhara Pandita for the second time, and
on the day of Odana-sasthi Pundarika Vidyanidhi saw the festival. (78) When
Pundarika Vidyanidhi saw that Lord Jagannatha was given a starched garment,
he became a little hateful. In this way his mind was polluted. (79) That
night the brothers Lord Jagannatha and Balarama came to Pundarika Vidyanidhi
and, smiling, began to slap him. (80) Although his cheeks were swollen from
the slapping, Pundarika Vidyanidhi was very happy within. This incident has
been elaborately described by Thakura Vrndavana dasa. (81)”

From this incident we can lean that the Lord does not tolerate offenses
against His servants, even from an advanced devotee, and He chastises a
devotee who commits such an offense even within the mind. We can also learn
that a pure devotee accepts such chastisement from the Lord with great
happiness, as a manifestation of the Lord’s mercy, of His love and care for
His devotees–both for those who may commit such an offense and for those
who may be objects of such an offense. He thanks the Lord for rectifying him
and preventing him from committing further offenses, and he feel great
jubilation within his heart.

Hare Krishna…………….