Appearance Day of Srimati Visnupriya Devi

What is the Appearance Day of Srimati Visnupriya Devi?

Srimati Visnupriya Devi, the eternal consort of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was the daughter of Pandita Sanatana Misra. Her Appearance Day falls on Thursday, 11 February 2027, which is also Vasanta Pancami. The same day marks the appearances of Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Raghunandana Thakura and Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, and the disappearance of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.

Significance

Gaudiya tradition counts Visnupriya as the earth potency of the Lord (bhu-shakti) in His Gaura-Narayana form. After Mahaprabhu took sannyasa, she lived in seclusion beside Sachi Mata and chanted all day. For each round of the holy name she chanted, she set aside one grain of rice. She then cooked that rice, offered it to the Lord and ate only the remnants. Guided by a dream, she carved a Deity of Mahaprabhu from the margosa tree, and so she became the first to worship Him in the Deity form.

A Gaudiya biography records what Mahaprabhu once said to her:

Your name is Vishnupriya, she who is dear to Lord Vishnu. Please make your name true to yourself.

Mahaprabhu to Vishnupriya Devi, Vishnupriya Devi Biography, Gaudiya History

How to observe it

Hear the story of the last night before Mahaprabhu left home. That night He told her that Lord Krishna is the supreme Husband of all, and He asked her to give her mind and body to the service of Sri Hari. Then follow her quiet example by fixing the number of your japa rounds and finishing them with attention.