Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj recounts how Śrī Śrī Nitāi-Chaitanyadev came by Their own wish to Śrī Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh Śrī Purī Dhām.
Today is a very auspicious and happy day for us. Nityānanda Prabhu and Mahāprabhu will both manifest Themselves today in Śrī Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh here. They were staying hidden in Śrī Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh Nabadwīp, but They had Their own desire, and I think that to fulfil that desire They have come to Purī Dhām. This Maṭh happened in the time of Śrīla Guru Mahārāj, Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj, but I was afraid to install Deities. When you install Deities, you must maintain worship generation after generation, and it is very serious if you cannot. It is within the archan-mārg, and the archan-mārg is very difficult for the fallen souls to follow. Therefore, I am always hesitating to do this. But if the Deity comes gradually by His own wish, then what I can say and what can I do? I think it is the wish of the Deity.
When I was in Kolkata, I planned to go to Purī and see the building works. Then everybody wanted to come to Purī. I thought, “I am going to Purī, and everybody wants to go to Purī. It will be possible to do more work there.” And what is that? It immediately came in my mind that these Deities are waiting in Nabadwīp, and maybe They want installation now.
The Deities were staying hidden in the Temple, taking incense and waiting for service. I felt very bad sometimes because I could not manifest Them in the time of Guru Mahārāj. These Deities are Guru Mahārāj’s Deities. Guru Mahārāj looked at Them and did praṇām, so They already fully manifested, but I was not happy because I was not able to give Them proper food and proper worship. I was also sometimes thinking that Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu want to play in Govinda Kuṇḍa. I have both money and men, but I could not manage it. One boat was necessary, so I sent Pūrṇānanda Prabhu and Hari Charaṇ Prabhu with five thousand rupees to bring a boat, but they could not buy one. I was considering what the meaning was behind all these things. I also forgot the weight of the Deities.
After that, when many devotees told me they wanted to go to Purī, I thought, if they are going, then now is a suitable time to take Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu there. When They manifest Themselves in a Deity room, They will get nice food and proper worship every day. So I thought, this is a suitable time, but what shall I do? I was thinking about this for three days, but I did not tell anybody. I needed inspiration from Guru Mahārāj, instruction from Guru Mahārāj, feeling from Guru Mahārāj. I was waiting in this way, and then on the third night I settled that I shall go and do abhiṣek of the Deities there.
Then early in the morning, Prapanna Kṛṣṇa Prabhu came to me and he proposed that: “Mahārāj, we are all going, and at this time there are two Deities in our Maṭh. I think it will be very nice if you take these Deities to Purī Dhām.” After hearing that, I was stunned with surprise. I considered this the direct order of Guru Mahārāj. I was thinking, if anyone comes to me with this idea, then I will consider it is fully satisfying to Guru Mahārāj. Then Mahānanda Prabhu, who is not involved with these affairs, suddenly told me, “Mahārāj, it is possible to do this.” Then I was fully satisfied within my mind, and I thought, no doubt, if three heads are in one place, then that is enough. One, two, three, and start! I am one, he is two, and when Mahānanda Prabhu gave the last firing, I had no doubt it must happen.