Tag: Chaitanya Charitamrita

Few qualities of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

(Chaitanya Charitamrita Class by HH Bhakti Vighna Vinasa Narasimha Swami Maharaja)

On 15^th March 2025, a day after Gaura Purnima festival, HH Bhakti Vighna Vinasak Narasimha Swami Maharaj discussed few of the qualities of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Maharaj gave Chaitanya Charitamrita Class in the morning and spoke about the wonderful qualities of Mahaprabhu which attracts the heart of everyone.  He spoke on the verse Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.3.49.

suvarṇa-varṇo hemāṅgo
varāṅgaś candanāṅgadī
sannyāsa-kṛc chamaḥ śānto
niṣṭhā–śānti-parāyaṇaḥ

“In His early pastimes He appears as a householder with a golden complexion. His limbs are beautiful, and His body, smeared with the pulp of sandalwood, seems like molten gold. In His later pastimes He accepts the sannyāsa order, and He is equipoised and peaceful. He is the highest abode of peace and devotion, for He silences the impersonalist nondevotees.”

Below is what Maharaj said in his lecture

Today is Jagannath Misra festival. Just like Vasudeva wanted to give charity when Krishna was born, similarly Jagannath Misra gave charity. Although in prison, Vasudev gave 10,000 cows in charity mentally. Similarly, Saci Mata has delivered another son. So, they invited brahmanas, gave charity and had a feast.

This verse (CC 1.3.49) appears 3 times in Chaitanya Charitamrita.

Who can be God?

When we establish a person as an incarnation, we do not do it just by vote. One can canvas to become God but that is not the way to establish incarnation of God.

We need references from scriptures to explain their activities. Like there are references to Lord Buddha, Lord Kalki in the scriptures.  

Similarly, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was predicted in the scriptures. There is a very important verse from Mahabharat from Visnu sahastra nama describing activities of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Another verse is in 11^th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam which establishes Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as the Supreme Lord.

Mahaprabhu’s colour & exquisite beauty

This verse (CC 1.3.49) talks about his (Supreme Lord) colour which is Suvarna which means gold.

There was a king who was attached to gold, His name was Suvarna Sena, but Narada Muni preached to him, and he became a devotee. He later became Buddhimanta Khan and he paid for the marriage for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (with Vishnupriya).

Also Radharani has golden colour – tapta kanchana gaurangi radhe vrindavaneshvari vrishabhanu sute devi pranamamai hari priye.

vara–aṅgaḥ means, he is having the most beautiful body. Lord Rama came with bow and arrow; Krishna’s weapon was Sudarshan cakra and sometimes club. But Lord Chaitanya’s weapon was his beauty. His attractive feature captured people’s mind. Everyone who saw him asked who is this personality who is so wonderful! Lord Chaitanya’s exquisite beauty is the weapon to defeat the minds of the materialistic people. In Kali yuga he does not kill demons but changes their heart.

candana–aṅgadī: Lord Chaitanya’s body was smeared with sandalwood. This is the nature of Supreme Lord. Even Srila Prabhupada liked candan and wanted it even in cold weather.

We may say Lord Chaitanya’s beauty is relative. He may be attractive to someone and not to others. But he is the Supreme Lord, he is attractive to everyone. There is no question of people not liking him.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s taking sannyasa is interesting

In his first part of life, he appears as householder.

He was in this world for 48 years. For 24 years he was with family – mother, father and wife.

But he does not remain in household life forever.  Vedic culture is like that. If you live 100 years, then half of life means 50 years, and the scriptures say from the age of 50 you should go to the forest, retire from family life. Today we cannot retire to forest, but we can go to the temple.

There are many people in middle east who earn enough and retire and get engaged in full time temple service. In this way they are preparing for next life. Vedic culture is like that. You may be a householder, but you should move on and prepare for next life. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu showed this by his own example. At the age of 24 years, he left home and never came back.

His initiation is interesting. He went to Keshav Bharti because he understood that although in line of Shankaracharya, he was a Vaishnava. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Keshav Bharti for initiation but before Keshav Bharti initiates Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Lord first initiates him. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Supreme Personality of Godhead; he does not need initiation. But for social etiquette he took sannyasa initiation.  Chaitanya Mahaprabhu first said the mantra to Keshav Bharti and Keshav Bharti repeats the same mantra to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for sannyasa.

Lord Chaitanya accepts sannyasa order. But sometimes people taking sannyasa becomes agitated because after taking sannyasa one has to give up many things.

Srila Prabhupada said sannyasa means walking dead man. There is no more material responsibility, its pain taking experience.

Srila Prabhupada after taking sannyasa faced so many difficulties but remained steady.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is equipoised and peaceful. In the renounced order of life, you want to be equipoised and peaceful. You do not want to feel that I have given up sense gratification, sometimes people regret after taking sannyasa.

If you do not have right mood, then sannyasa danda becomes danda for beating.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the highest abode of peace and devotion. Srila Prabhupada writes here that nista means rigidly chanting the holy names of Krishna.

Nista comes after anartha nivritii. It’s quite an advanced stage to be at nista. Nista means to be fixed in chanting the names of Krishna and talking only about Krishna.

Mahaprabhu in Benares

In Benares Chaitanya Mahaprabhu met Prakashnanda Saraswati who was in the line of Shankara. Benares is not a good place for Vaishnavas yet.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had gone there because there was Tapan Misra & Chandrashekhar.

Tapan Misra had asked from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu how to attain goal of life and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had asked him to go to Benares.

In Benares Chaitanya Mahaprabhu did not associate with any mayavadi sanyasis. He would go and do sankirtan daily, all alone.

Mahaprabhu loves sankirtan

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would attract others by beautifully singing the names of Krishna like in Jharikhanda forest he was chanting – Krishna, Krishna, Krishna. All the wild animals became gentle by hearing Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Even ferocious animal like tiger became gentle.

Two lines are favourite of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the hari haraye namah krishna yadavaya namah song.  In fact, the first two lines are from Mahaprabhu. Later Narottama Das Thakura added more to this song.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would sing many other songs in the association of Swarup Damodar.

When Maharaj Prataprudra sang gopi geet –  tava kathāmṛtaḿ tapta-jīvanaḿ kavibhir īḍitaḿ kalmaṣāpaham śravaṇa-mańgalaḿ śrīmad ātataḿ. – Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was in ecstasy.

When he came to Govardhan, he sang song sung by gopis..

In temple in Simhachalam, there is deity of Lord Narasimhadev. This deity is covered by sandalwood throughout the year except on the day of Akshay Tritiya when they remove sandalwood. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went there and sang – Ugram Viram Maha Vishnum.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu likes to do sankirtan, chant holy names.

Nilambhara Chakravarti came and saw the child and said that there are 32 auspicious characters on different parts of the body like on palm, sole of feet, some are broad, some are long, some are short. So, we can understand clearly who is the Lord – by his characteristic and also there was markings on the lotus feet of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Also, at the time of his birth, there were no dosas.

What Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Ray?

He silences the non-devotees. When he met Ramananda Ray, he asks for verses in scriptures about perfection of life.

Ramananda Ray first talks about Varnashrama but Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said that is external. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is preaching pure devotion. Performing duties of particular ashram like brahmachari, grihastha, vanaprastha, sannyasi is fine. Also, it’s not a dress which makes one a sannyasi, so many other duties are required. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said go on.

And Ramananda Ray said offering foods to the Lord. There is a verse in Bhagavad Gita 9.27 – yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi/ yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat. But Mahaprabhu said not exactly because to whom we are offering to Shiva, Ganesh etc? It’s very open whom to offer.

And then Ramananda Ray quotes Bhagavad Gita 18.66. But Lord Chaitanya said keep going because for surrender people have different reasons, there intention may not be good.

Like one man in Hong Kong said I want sannyasa because he said he is facing difficulties in family life. He had a wife and 4 children. But Srila Prabhupada did not agree.

Ramananda Raya quoted jnana misra bhakti – Lord Chaitanya was not satisfied.

Ramananda Ray then quoted from Srimad Bhagavatam the verse spoken by Lord Brahma – jnāne prayāsam – then Mahaprabhu said this is devotion because Lord Chaitanya wants to preach pure devotion.  Rupa Goswami also describes devotion as anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ.

“One should hear about Krishna from Krishna’s pure devotees in whatever position u r in.”

As we cannot know Krishna completely, similarly, we cannot completely understand Srimad Bhagavatam. Lord Chaitanya told this to Devananda Pandit.

Why Mahaprabhu associated with Gadadhara Pandit?

Mahaprabhu associated with Gadhadhara Pandit and used to hear from him because he was Radharani.  And Mahaprabhu wanted to develop mood of love of separation from Gadhadhara Pandit.

Pure devotional service means hearing about Krishna from pure devotees of Krishna in the association of devotees.

Conclusion

Class helped us go deep into the pastimes of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and understand his divine qualities which many times are difficult to apprehend. One point was clear that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to this world from the spiritual world to teach us how to practice pure devotion sincerely so that we can go back to the spiritual world in this lifetime only.  Maharaj later always invited questions from the audience and cleared doubts of the devotees.    

Why Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī was requested to write Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta?

Within Gaudiya Sampradaya, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta is considered post graduate study of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the essence of all Vedic literatures. It is the commentary on Vedanta sutra by Vedavyāsa.

Srimad Bhagavatam speaks highest truth               

In the beginning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Vedavyāsa rejects all religious rituals which is for material gain, and he directly propagates pure devotion for the Supreme Lord.

“Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhāgavata Purāṇa propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhāgavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyāsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhāgavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.2

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta begins where Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam ends. In Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, we get to know how to consistently perform pure devotion to Krishna.

Devotees’ eagerness to know the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya after he took sannyas

500 years back devotees in Vrindavan requested Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī to write Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta. They wanted him to describe the life of Lord Chaitanya, his teachings, philosophy, activities and pastimes elaborately.  When this was requested from Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, he was very old.

Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakur had already written Chaitanya Bhagavata, a biography of Lord Chaitanya.

Chaitanya Bhagavata was originally known as Chaitanya Mangala but later the book was renamed as Chaitanya Bhagavata by Srila Vrindavana Dasa Thakur.

Srila Prabhupada explained the reason behind this, “Śrī Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura’s Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata was originally entitled Śrī Caitanya-maṅgala, but when Śrīla Locana dāsa Ṭhākura later wrote another book named Śrī Caitanya-maṅgala, Śrīla Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura changed the name of his own book, which is now therefore known as Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 8.33 Purport

Chaitanya Bhagavata was highly revered. But fearing that the book will become voluminous, Srila Vrindavana Das Thakur did not describe much the latter life of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu especially his life after he took sannyas. In Chaitanya Bhagavata, the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya in Jagannath Puri, his Vrindavan and South India Yatra was just summarised.

So, the request was made to Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī to write a book which describes the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya which was not in detail in Chaitanya Bhagavata.

At that time Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī was living in Vrindavan Dham. Out of humility, he considered himself unqualified to describe the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya.

What Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī says about describing the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya?

Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī had never met Lord Chaitanya or Lord Nityananda. His only connection with Lord Nityananda was that Lord Nityananda appeared in his dream and blessed him to go to Vrindavan.

Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī mentions about this in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

“O my dear Kṛṣṇadāsa, do not be afraid. Go to Vṛndāvana, for there you will attain all things. After saying this, He directed me toward Vṛndāvana by waving His hand. Then He disappeared with His associates.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 5.195 – 196

Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī was full of humility and had completely surrendered to the Lord.

He was a disciple of Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami. In Vrindavan, he would daily hear from his guru about the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya for hours.

Raghunath Dasa goswami was with Lord Chaitanya in Jagannath Puri. He was serving under Svarupa Damodara. Raghunath Dasa goswami was so humble that he hardly spoke to Lord Chaitanya directly because he thought himself to be unqualified.

He was in Jagannath Puri when Lord Chaitanya departed from this world. Soon after the departure of Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda and Swarup Damodar left the world.  

After their departure Raghunath Dasa goswami came to Vrindavan.  In Vrindavan, he would narrate the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya for the pleasure of all the devotees.

Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī says that Lord Ananta, with his unlimited mouths cannot describe the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya which he performed in one day. And even Ganesha would not be able to write the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya in millions of years.

What is inconceivable to Krishna?

In this material world, everything is bound by the limitation of time and space but not in the spiritual world. In the spiritual world everything is inconceivable. Although Krishna is cause of all causes, everything comes from him but still love of Radha for him is inconceivable.

So, Krishna comes to this world to experience what is inconceivable to him i.e. to experience the love of Radha which she has for him. So, he comes in the mood of Radharani and as a devotee of Krishna.

Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī gets the permission of Madana-Mohan to write the book

Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī was asked to write philosophical truth about Lord Chaitanya’s life. Since it was the desire of the devotees so Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī thought let me try my best. In spiritual life success is proportional to how much we are dependent on Krishna and the mercy of the devotees.

So, before beginning the service of writing this book, he was going to every devotee to seek their blessings. He went to seek blessings of Gopala Bhatta Goswami. Gopala Bhatta Goswami said that I will give you my blessings but do not put my name in the book.

Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī went to Madana-Mohan temple to seek the blessing of the Supreme Lord. As he was praying to the Lord the garland of Madana-Mohan fell. All the prominent Vaisnavas were present in the temple at that time and when they saw garland falling, they loudly chanted “Haribol!.”

The pujari of the temple, Gosani dasa, immediately took the garland and put it around the neck of Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī. All the Vaisnavas said that Madana-Mohan has given the permission to write the book.

Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī mentions about this in his book, “When I visited the temple of Madana-mohana, the priest Gosāñi dāsa was serving the feet of the Lord, and I also prayed at the Lord’s lotus feet. When I prayed to the Lord for permission, a garland from His neck immediately slipped down. As soon as this happened, the Vaiṣṇavas standing there all loudly chanted, “Haribol!” and the priest, Gosāñi dāsa, brought me the garland and put it around my neck. I was greatly pleased to have the garland signifying the order of the Lord, and then and there I commenced to write this book.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā, 8.74 – 77

What documents were used to write Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta?

While writing Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, used the notes of Svarupa Damodar and the pastimes which he heard from Raghunath Das Goswami. Svarupa Damodar a personal associate of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had recorded the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya.  Raghunath Dasa Goswami had memorized those notes of Svarupa Damodar.

“I have heard from the mouth of Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī all that Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī recorded in his notes about the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I have briefly described those pastimes. Whatever I have written is by the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, since I am an insignificant living being.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 3.269 – 270

The prolific writer completes the book but does not take the credit

Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī,a prlific writer, is an epitome of humility. He wrote such a great literature, but he does not take any credit for it. He thanks Madana – Mohana, Lord Chaitanya, Lord Nityananda, all the associates of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda and all the Vaisnvas for their mercy in writing Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Not just that he even worships the readers who will be reading his books.

“I now worship the lotus feet of all my readers, for by the mercy of their lotus feet there is all good fortune. If one hears the pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as described in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, I wash his lotus feet and drink the water. I decorate my head with the dust of the lotus feet of my audience. Now you have all drunk this nectar, and therefore my labor is successful. Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps.” Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā, 20.150 – 153

What is the best way to overcome maya?

We the living entities always have two options. One option is to take shelter of Krishna. And the other option is to take shelter of Krishna’s illusory energy i.e. maya. If we are not with Krishna, then by default we are with maya.

And when our master is maya then we are in a dangerous situation because maya constantly subject us to many kinds of sufferings.

Maya is extremely powerful. It consists of three modes of material nature. With these three modes, maya shackles the living entities and imprisons them in this world. 

The miserable condition of all the living entities is best explained by Lord Chaitanya, “In the material condition, the living entity is sometimes raised to higher planetary systems and material prosperity and sometimes drowned in a hellish situation. His state is exactly like that of a criminal whom a king punishes by submerging him in water and then raising him again from the water.” Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya 20.118

Along with it maya also steals the intelligence of all her prisoners who start living in the illusion that he/she is enjoying here. For example, a hog eats stool and thinks he is happy. Bereft of intelligence we, the conditioned souls, begin to believe that suffering is part and parcel of our life. We start living with it. We all know we are going to die. But still we live as if we are never going to die.

We become so ignorant that we don’t even question as why we are suffering in this world and why we are dying.

But Krishna is extremely merciful. He incarnates in this world to give us a chance to free ourselves from these never-ending suffering.

If we choose Krishna we choose an eternal blissful life.

But if we choose not to choose Krishna, we choose a life of suffering.

Because on our own we cannot free ourselves from the clutches of maya. Krishna says in BG 7.14, “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” 

So, if we want freedom from pain and suffering then we need to choose Krishna.

The best way to take shelter of Krishna is to chant the holy names of Krishna like the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.  Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi, 7.76 says, “For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord.”

When we chant we awaken our dormant love for Krishna. We start getting closer and closer to Krishna. Just as sun appears darkness disappears.  Similarly, as soon as we invite Krishna to reside in our heart by chanting his beautiful names all the sufferings begin disappearing from our heart.

Krishna frees us from the clutches of maya. We no longer suffer from the vicious cycle of birth and death. We start leading a blissful life.

Krishna is the best master. He is our best well-wisher. He can help us to easily overcome maya.

Why relationship between Radha and Krishna is supremely pure

Just like the sun and the sunshine are non-different from each other similarly Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani are inseparable from each other. Just as sun is the source of the sunshine similarly Lord Krishna, the Supreme Lord, is the source of everything in the entire creation.

He is even the source of Radharani. Krishna is complete in himself and when he wants to enjoy loving exchanges then he expands himself as Srimati Radharani. So Srimati Radharani is the internal potency of Krishna.

Krishna is supremely energetic and Radharani is the supreme energy of Krishna. Krishna is the masculine aspect of absolute truth and Srimati Radharani is the feminine aspect of the absolute truth.

Srimati Radharani and Lord Krishna are one and the same but they have eternally separated themselves to enjoy transcendental loving exchanges with each other. “Her mind, senses and body are steeped in love for Kṛṣṇa. She is Kṛṣṇa’s own energy, and She helps Him in His pastimes.”  Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi lila 4.71. Just like sun without sunshine is incomplete similarly Lord Sri Krishna without Srimati Radharani is incomplete.

Srimati Radharani to give maximum pleasure to Krishna and to make the lilas (pastimes) more colorful expands herself as different consorts of Krishna. Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi lila 4.80 explains, “Without many consorts, there is not such exultation in rasa. Therefore there are many manifestations of Srimati Radharani to assist in the Lord’s pastimes.”

The millions of goddess of fortune in the Vaikuntha planets, the queens of Dwarka and the gopis who are eternally serving Krishna in Vrindavan are all expansions of Srimati Radharani.  “The beloved consorts of Lord Kṛṣṇa are of three kinds: the goddesses of fortune, the queens, and the milkmaids of Vraja, who are the foremost of all. These consorts all proceed from Radhika.” CC Adi 4.74-75.

So when Krishna is relishing loving exchanges with the gopis then he is actually enjoying with his own internal potency.

Krishna having different pastimes with the gopis is like a child playing with his own shadow. 

Most of us misunderstand the relationship between Krishna and Radharani because we consider them as ordinary boy and girl. But if we delve deep into the scriptures and try to understand the teachings of great realized souls then we would start understanding the transcendental relationship between Radha and Krishna which is completely pure.

“The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”  Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi 4.83