Tota Gopinatha is the Deity manifested by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and given to Sri Gadadhara Pandita to worship. He is the Deity in whom Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered at the time of His disappearance from this world. Outside and to the left of the temple as one approaches it, is the enchanting garden ( In the oriyan language,Tota means Garden ) where Mahaprabhu heard Srimad Bhagavatam from Gadadhara Pandita.Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came here ( a remote area on the Cataka-Parvata sand dunes near the beach in puri) to hear Rasa Katha, and when He heard it He fainted is ecstacy . Both He and Gadadhara Pandita fainted. Gadadhara Pandita knew that by hearing from him, Mahaprabhu would be more enthusiastic to play 'Her ( Radha's )' part. Srimati Radhika is the Professor in the Universcity of Srimad-Bhagavatam, in the course of Rasa Tattva ( tasting its meanings).
There were three-and-a-half confidential associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when visiting the Gambhira. Why was Sri Gadadhara Pandita not one of them after all he is superior to these others ?
This is a hidden secret and here is the answer.
If Sri Gadadhara Pandita was there, Mahaprabhu's mood of separation would not have manifested. In the association of Srimati Radhika (Gadadhara Pandit ) He would have thought Himself to be Krsna. Union not seepration would of been present.
One day, after hearing Srimad Bhagavatam, Mahaprabhu was siting on the sand at Cataka Parvata, which He considered to be Govardhana. He told Gadadhara Pandita, "Gadadhara, I want to give you My most valuable property. Will you accept it?" When Gadadhara Pandita agreed, Mahaprabhu said, "This is the property of My heart." He began removing the sand and said, "My prana-dhana (life and soul) is here.
In the mood of Srimati Radhika. He exposed Tota-Gopinatha's head and crown, and others then began to help reveal His form. Mahaprabhu then requested Sri Gadadhara Pandita, "You should take Him and serve Him throughout your life.
Mahaprabhu would daily go to the Tota Gardens to hear Srimad Bhagavatam and upon seeing the exquisite beauty of the Yameshwar Tota Garden , Lord Gauranga would immediately remember the divine Nikunjas around Radha-kund & Shyama-kunda in Vrindavava.
At the time of His disappearance Mahaprabhu entered the Tota-Gopinatha Deity. Mahaprabhu left the world at the age of 48 , when Sri Gadadhara Pandita was 47. Out of great separation, Gadhadara Pandita quickly became like an old man, lean and weak. In the mood of separation from Mahaprabhu, Sri Gadadhara Pandita soon after left this world.
