Pastimes of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu are beyond the comprehension of senses, mind and intelligence! Let us begin with the pastime of receiving Sri Shyamsundarji deity. Once, deeply immersed in Raasalila, Srimati Radharaniji lost the anklet or noopur of left foot. Sri Dukhi Krishnadas (as Sri Shyamananda Prabhu was then known) found this anklet.  After a sweet and loving conversation, the anklet was returned. Later, under instructions of Srimati Radharaniji, Sri Dukhi Krishnadas chanted the Radha Mantra -which incorporates six opulence and was given to him by Sri Lalita Sakhi - took a dip in Radhakund and attained his spiritual body. In a ceremony conducted by Sri Roopa Manjari, Sri Lalita Sakhi gave him the name of Shyamananda and Vishakha Sakhi revealed his spiritual identity as Kanaka Manjari. Sri Lalita Sakhi and Srimati Radharaniji gave him the divine Tilak named "Shyam Mohan (Shyamanandi)" and then asked him to return to material world. Sri Dukhi Krishnadas was broken hearted with the very thought of separation and to mitigate his feelings, Srimati Radharaniji manifested a deity of Lord Sri Krishna from her lotus heart and gave it to him.

Hearing this pastime, a usually sober Srila Jiva Goswamipada started dancing like a mischievous child. He counseled to call the deity Sri Shyamsundarji -as named by Srimati Radharaniji and to change Sri Dukhi Krishnadas's name to Sri Shyamananda as given by Sri Lalita Sakhi. Little later, a deity of Srimati Radharaniji was self manifested in the treasury of the King of Bharatpur in the state of Rajasthan and was united with Sri Shyamsundarji as per the divine order.

Sri Dukhi Krishnadas could not inform this pastime to his spiritual master because he was forbidden to reveal it to anybody other than Srila Jiva Goswamipada by Sri Lalita Sakhi. However, these changes bewildered Srila Hridaya Chaitanya Adhikari Thakura, spiritual master of Sri Dukhi Krishnadas -who could not fathom the reason for change of initiated name of his disciple to Shyamananda along with adoption of Shyam Mohan tilak without his consent. As per Vaishnava etiquette, these were grave offences by his disciple. He rushed to and organized an open meeting of exalted Vaishnava at Vrindavan to decide future course of action. In that meeting, an apparently defenseless Sri Dukhi Krishnadas took a timeout, sought a personal audience with Srimati Radharaniji in her spiritual abode for guidance by invoking Radha Mantra- specially given to him by Sri Lalita Sakhi for such contingency. Eventually, the meeting accepted the changes as appropriate.

There is no equal to these incredible pastimes in the annals of Vaishnava theology.  How one mortal of the material world (Sri Dukhi Krishnadas) gets spiritual body (Kanak Manjari), participates in activities of spiritual world and eventually returns to material world in the original (material) body along with a deity. Later, in an emergency, the mortal again goes back to spiritual world by invoking an appropriate mantra and returns to material world after receiving proper instructions.

Observing so many incredible and super natural incidents in the life of Sri Dukhi Krishnadas, Srila Jiva Goswamipada, on the special recommendation and advice of all the Vaishnava scholars (Vaishnavacharyas) of Vrindavan, gave him the title "Prabhu".

Aware of the amazing background of Sri Radha Shyamsundarji, contemporary Acharyas of all the sampradayas, like Srila Jiva Goswamipada, Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswamipada, Srila Loknath Goswamipada and Srila Bhugarbh Goswamipada, would come for their regular Darshan. So were Srila Raghunath Das Goswamipada and Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswamipada. Despite old age and fragile health, they would travel to Sri Radha Shyamsundar temple all the way from Sri Radhkund.

Sri Shyamananda Prabhu was completely engrossed in loving services of Sri Radha Shyamsundarji at Vrindavan. However, Lord Sri Krishna personally inspired him thrice to go to Utkal (Orissa) to spread Pure Devotional Services. Down at Utkal, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu converted a celebrated and diehard Yogi Sri Damodar Mishra to an equally celebrated devotee! A ruthless Landlord (Jamindar) Uddanda Bhuniya, who exhibited 718 sleeping bags (Gudardi)-each Gudardi as souvenir for killing one pilgrim- also became a Param Vaishnava by the mercy of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu.

A Vaishnava is compassionate not only to humans but to other species as well. Sri Shyamananda Prabhu preached pure devotional service not only to moving species like birds and animals but also to non-moving ones like Trees! There are numerous instances when Sri Shyamananda Prabhu initiated animals (like crocodile in the river Suvarnarekha at Rajghat, Two Tigers on way back to Vrindavan from Orissa and many other animals in Jharikhand forest). He tamed ferocious Tigers like the one at Bhatbhoomi too!

That was an era when Muslims were exhibiting extreme hatred and ferocity towards Hindus and were destroying countless temples and deities. Impressed by his divine personality and amazed by his supernatural pastimes, many Muslims surrendered to and received priceless love of Sri Krishna from Sri Shyamananda Prabhu. While returning to Gaurdamandal from Vrindavan, one Muslim Police chief in Agra imprisoned Sri Shyamananda Prabhu along with his associates. Lord Sri Narasingha Dev threatened the Police chief in dream. Finally, the Police chief surrendered to Sri Shyamananda Prabhu. On another occasion at Dharenda, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu blew fire from his mouth to chastise the Mogul Ruler Sher Khan and his associates. Eventually, they all surrendered to him.

Animal as well as human sacrifice pleases numerous demigods and demigoddesses. Occasionally, their worshippers, who obviously are in mode of extreme ignorance, do become good Vaishnava, if they receive causeless mercy of a pure devotee. However, conversion of these demigods/demigoddesses themselves-who are worshiped in deity form by countless ardent followers-can only be termed as rarest of the rare incident. Sri Shyamananda Prabhu did it thrice- Mundulia Rankini Devi of Chakulia (The deity was later shifted to a temple near Sripat Gopiballavpur. She even used to sponsor leaf cups and leaf plates, for functions at Sripat Gopiballavpur for almost two hundred years), Vashuli Devi of Bhograi and Devi Sarva Mangala of Kesiyardi. Eventually, they all became Parama Vaishnavas.

On way to Puri, visiting Sri Khirachora Gopinath at Remuna, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu was shocked to see the deity missing. He located the deity, which was covered by sindur and worshipped as Chandi Mata. Later, with every body's consent and help, he installed the deity back to the original place and the earlier bona fide worship was restored.

Thereafter he, along with his party, rushed to participate in Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri. Unfortunately, he was a short distance away when the Rath Procession commenced. However, at that year's procession, Sri Jagannathji did not let his chariot move. Finally, the King got the realisation that the chariot will not move without the participation of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu and his associates. He personally rushed to bring Sri Shyamananda Prabhu and his party to the Rath Yatra site. Eventually, Sri Jagannathji moved but only after the arrival of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu.

The book, Prem Vilas, describes Sri Shyamananda Prabhu as an expansion of Glories, Valor & Emotions of Srila Advait Acharya. Another book, Sri Rasikmangal, refers Sri Shyamananda Prabhu as an eternal beloved of Lord Sri Krishna on two different occasions. First time in the context of Sri Rasikananda Prabhu's quest to seek spiritual master and second time in the context of Yogi Damodar's pastimes. The book Sri Shyamananda Prakash quotes Sri Jagannathji describing Sri Shyamananda Prabhu's body as non-different from his own and Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu calling Sri Shyamananda Prabhu as his soul.

Apart from these spiritual identities, in his earthly pastime, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu was a melodious singer, flute player, master musician and famous poet. Among kirtan, he had created some extremely melodious meters (so-called sur) like Ranihaati or raineti sur. In Orissa and Bengal, numerous songs are composed in that sur even to this day. He is their original creator. He had composed many poems in Bengali and Odiya which were later published as an independent book.

Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana Prabhupada, the compiler of Govinda Bhashya- the Gaudia commentary on Vedantsutra- and the Crest jewel of Sri Shyamanandi Vaishnavas, appeared in village Athantar near Remuna of Baleshvar district of Orissa on the invocation of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu.

In human pastime, Sri Shyamananda Prabhu was a supreme Vaishnava and a great religious preacher. The Lord had personally, as well as through Srila Jiva Goswamipada, repeatedly instructed him to preach in Orissa. He tirelessly moved to every nook and corner of Orissa and to inundate Sri Krishna's name, pastimes and love. Sri Shyamananda Prabhu along with his dear disciple Sri Rasikananda Prabhu- the Incarnation of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu- established about Three Thousand and Five Hundred Temples all over India.

Sri Shyamananda Prabhu had preached and gave initiation to countless people. Thirteen of his disciples are prominent. That includes Srimati Shyamdasiji, wife of Sri Rasikananda Prabhu. In lieu of twelve main male disciples, twelve branches of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu's linage is referred in contemporary literature like "Shyamananda Rasarnava."

The Vaishnava congregation had identified Fifty-two prominent religious places (peethas) as Doors (Dwara) for expeditious entrances to the Kingdom of God. These are called Dwarapeetha.  Aware of the great and pioneering contribution of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu, his primary spiritual abode-Sri Radha Shyamsundar Temple- situated at Sevakunj, Vrindavan dham-was bestowed with the honor to be one of these  Dwarapeethas.

It was an uphill task for a worthless person like me- an ignorant, proud, devotion less and profusely infected by all the shortcomings of Kali- to describe the divine pastimes of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu-considered an eternal beloved of Lord Sri Krishna by some and second expansion of Sri Advaitacharya & Sri Mahavishnu by others. I still undertook this auspicious task by fully surrendering to the lotus feet of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu and by seeking mercy of everybody surrendered to Lord Sri Krishna. If the kindhearted Vaishnavas could perceive even a glimpse of limitless glories of Sri Shyamananda Prabhu, this unworthy author will consider his efforts successful and himself very fortunate.

Various contemporary books describe these pastimes with some differences in details. I have put every endeavour to reconcile these apparent differences and to present the pastimes as they really took place.