Family Background and Birthplace

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya that descriptions of Jagadisha Pandita are available from the Chaitanya-bhagavata, Adi-khanda, Chapter Six, and the Chaitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila, Chapter Fourteen. He belonged to the village of Yashada-grama, in the district of Nadia near the Chakadaha railway station. His father, the son of Bhatta Narayana, was named Kamalaksha. Both his father and mother were great devotees of Lord Vishnu.

Relocation to Sri Mayapur

After their death, Jagadisha, with his wife Duhkhini and brother Mahesa, left his birthplace and came to Sri Mayapur to live in the company of Jagannatha Mishra and other Vaishnavas.

Association with Lord Chaitanya

The Ekadashi Prasadam Incident

The Chaitanya-bhagavata, Adi-khanda, Chapter Six, fully describes the Lord’s accepting Vishnu-prasadam on the Ekadashi day at the house of Jagadisha and Hiranya. Regular prasadam is offered to Lord Vishnu on Ekadashi because although fasting is recommended for devotees on Ekadashi, it is not recommended for Lord Vishnu.

Once on Ekadashi in the house of Jagadisha and Hiranya Pandita there were arrangements for preparing special prasadam for Lord Vishnu, and Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked His father to go there to ask for the Vishnu-prasadam because He was feeling sick. The house of Jagadisha and Hiranya Pandita was situated about two miles from the house of Jagannatha Mishra. Therefore when Jagannatha Mishra, on the request of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, came to ask Jagadisha and Hiranya for the prasadam, they were a little astonished. How could the boy understand that special prasadam was being prepared for Lord Vishnu? They immediately concluded that Nimai must have supernatural mystic power. Otherwise how could He understand that they were preparing special prasadam? Therefore they immediately sent the food to Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu through His father, Jagannatha Mishra. Nimai was feeling sick, but immediately after eating the Vishnu-prasadam He was cured, and He also distributed the prasadam among His playmates.

Mission to Jagannatha Puri

Lord Chaitanya asked Jagadisha to go to Jagannatha Puri to preach the hari-nama-sankirtana movement.

Establishment of the Jagannatha Deity

After returning from Jagannatha Puri, on the order of Lord Jagannatha he established Deities of Jagannatha in the village of Yashada-grama. It is said that when Jagadisha Pandita brought the Deity of Jagannatha to Yashada-grama, he tied the heavy Deity to a stick and thus brought Him to the village. The priests of the temple still show the stick used by Jagadisha Pandita to carry the Jagannatha Deity.

Spiritual Identity

Jagadisha Pandita was formerly a great dancer in Krishna-lila and was known as Chandrahasa.