VILVAMANGALA (BILVAMANGALA)

He belonged to a brahmana-caste family residing on the western bank of the river Krsnavenva in South India. Due to past sinful acts he became deeply attached to the company of a prostitute named Cintamani who resided on the eastern bank of the said river. This attachment was so intense that one monsoon night even ignoring the observance of his father's funeral rites, Vilvamangala went through extreme difficulty to reach the place of Cintamani. He had to cross the turbulent river by holding on to a corpse and later finding the doors of her house closed, he climbed the wall holding on to a snake. Once entering the premises he lost consciousness.

Cintamani nursed him back to his senses and then spoke with detachment as follows: Listen to me, o son of a brahmana. If you had directed the passion you felt for me to attaining the Supreme Lord, you would have certainly obtained the divine grace of the Supreme Lord."

Vilvamangala spent the night there and the following morning went to the asrama of a guru residing in nearby Somagiri. Serving his guru with unfaltering devotion, Vilvamangala at last went to Vrndavana. On the way he chanted spontaneously some slokas as prompted by Lord Krsna. These slokas were compiled by his companions and presented in the book titled Sri Krsnakarnamrta. The name Lilasuka was given to Vilvamangala by his guru.

During the Gambhira-lila Lord Caitanya enjoyed listening to this book day and night. (CC. 2.9.307-308)