kali-yuge yuga-dharma — nāmera pracāra
tathi lāgi' pīta-varṇa caitanyāvatāra
The religious practice for the age of Kali is to broadcast the glories of the holy name. Only for this purpose has the Lord, in a yellow color, descended as Lord Chaitanya.
Mission of Lord Chaitanya
The purpose of Lord Chaitanya's appearance was to give the people of Kali-yuga the yuga dharma – the religion suitable for this age.
External Reasons for Appearance:
1. To set an example
To show by His own example the process of surrender to Krishna. Previously Krishna taught Arjuna, but only theoretically. He came as a devotee to teach others how to acquire love for God.
2. To bestow mercy
He came to bestow the greatest mercy upon the people of the age of Kali – Krishna prema. He broke open the storehouse and distributed pure love of God freely to everyone. The only condition is faith.
3. To satisfy a devotee
Advaita Acharya, seeing the miserable situation of the age of Kali, called upon the Lord to come Himself and rectify the situation.
Internal Reasons for Appearance:
1. To understand Radharani's love
He wanted to understand the depth of love (praṇaya mahimā) and the emotions Srimati Radharani feels for Him.
2. To experience His own beauty
Krishna wanted to know how wonderfully sweet (adbhuta madhurima) His beauty is, which Srimati Radharani so admires. He wanted to see Himself from the outside.
3. To experience the happiness of love
He wanted to understand the happiness (saukhyam) Srimati Radharani feels in experiencing the sweetness of His love.
Teachings of Lord Chaitanya
Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura summarized the teachings of Lord Chaitanya in this verse:
ārādhyo Bhagavān vrajeśa-tanayas tad-dhāma vṛndāvanaṁ
ramyā kācid upāsanā vraja-vadhū-vargeṇa vā kalpitā
śrīmad bhāgavataṁ pramāṇam amalaṁ premā pum-artho mahān
śrī-caitanya mahāprabhor matam idaṁ tatrādarāḥ na paraḥ
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the son of Nanda Maharaja, is to be worshiped along with His transcendental abode, Vrindavana. The most pleasing form of worship for the Lord is that which was performed by the gopis of Vrindavana. Srimad Bhagavatam is the spotless authority on everything, and pure love of God is the ultimate goal of life for all men.
Dasha mula tattva – 10 fundamental truths:
Vedic literature is the only source of knowledge about the Absolute Truth.
Hari (Krishna) is the Almighty Supreme Lord.
Krishna is always full of His limitless potencies.
Krishna is an ocean of rasa.
Souls are separated parts of Krishna.
Certain souls are engrossed in Krishna's illusory energy.
Certain souls are liberated from Krishna's illusory energy.
All spiritual and material manifestation is simultaneously one with and different from Krishna.
Pure devotional service is the only means to attain the ultimate goal of life.
Pure love of God is the ultimate goal of life.
Lord Chaitanya Mahāprabhu did not write any books. Only one work is attributed to His hand, the "Sri Siksastaka", in which Śri Chaitanya very concisely summarizes in eight verses the path from harinama sankirtana – the chanting of holy names – to pure devotional service full of the highest relationship with God – madhurya rasa.
Vedanta Darshana
The teachings of Lord Chaitanya are classified under Vedanta darshana – the Vedanta philosophical school. All Vedanta schools differ from each other in their different interpretations of the relationship between God, the world, and living entities.
Shankara's Monism (advaita): Asserts that there is no difference between God and living entities, there is only God, and the individual existence of different entities is explained as a manifestation of illusion.
Madhva's Dualism (dvaita): Asserts that God and living entities are eternally distinct and related to each other only as creator and created.
Between these extremes, the schools of Ramanuja, Nimbarka, and Vishnuswami are like attempts to reconcile the two opposing poles of Shankara's and Madhva's teachings.
Bhagavan Sri Chaitanya Mahāprabhu proclaimed to the world His teaching, which resolves the contradictions of all philosophical schools, because He stated how it really is. Lord Chaitanya preached a doctrine called achintya bheda abheda tattva – the doctrine of simultaneous inconceivable oneness and difference. It integrates all statements of the Vedanta philosophical schools which, in Chaitanya Mahāprabhu's view, were true and important.
Jiva Goswami quotes Sri Chaitanya's words:
"From Madhva I will take two essential teachings: his complete refutation of the Mayavada philosophy and his service to the Deity of Krishna, whom he accepts as an eternal spiritual personality. From Ramanuja I will take two teachings: the concept of devotional service uncontaminated by jnana and karma, and service to the devotees. From Vishnuswami's teachings I will take two elements: the sentiment of exclusive dependence on Krishna, and the path of raga marga or spontaneous devotion. From Nimbarka I will take two very important principles: the necessity of taking shelter of Srimati Radharani and the high estimation of the gopis' love for Krishna."
Biography of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu
(dates taken from Vaishnava Digdarshani)
February 18, 1486
Phalguni purnima – The appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. He was carried in Sachi Mata's womb for 14 months. At the time of His birth, the moon had just risen and a lunar eclipse was taking place, so all people, as is customary, were chanting the name of Hari. All the constellations were favorably positioned, and strange figures appeared in Mother Sachi's courtyard, waving chamaras, playing flutes, or simply lying on the ground offering their respects.
August 1486
Anna prashana ceremony. Nimai is fed grains for the first time and allowed to choose between money or Srimad Bhagavatam. He chose the Bhagavatam.
Winter 1491
Nimai's brother Vishvarupa, together with his cousin Lokanatha, secretly left home and accepted sannyasa. His name became Sankaranya Puri.
1493
In the village of Pandapura, Vishvarupa left his body in a very strange way.
1494
Nimai's Upanayana – sacred thread ceremony. People saw the form of Hari manifest in Nimai's body, so they named him Gaurahari. He begins studying at the school of Ganga Dasa Pandita.
1496
Nimai becomes a pandita. Vishnupriya – the daughter of Sanatana Mishra – is born. Mahāprabhu's father Jagannatha Mishra left the world.
1500
Nimai completes his Nyaya studies. He marries Lakshmipriya, who was Rukmini devi in Krishna lila.
1501
Nimai met his spiritual master Ishvara Puri for the first time. He visited Navadvipa asking for alms at Nimai's house.
1502
- Nimai opens his own school where he teaches Sanskrit grammar.
- Accompanied by several students, Nimai went to visit East Bengal. There he met Tapana Mishra.
- While he was in East Bengal, Lakshmipriya died from a snake bite. Mahāprabhu immediately returned home.
1504
Nimai defeated the world-renowned scholar Keshava Kashmiri in a debate. At night, the goddess Sarasvati revealed to him who Nimai really was, and the next day Keshava Kashmiri surrendered to Nimai's lotus feet.
1505
- Nimai was married to Vishnupriya devi. His students and friends covered the wedding expenses.
- Nimai visited Gaya to perform the shraddha ceremony for his father. In Gaya he met Ishvara Puri, and his heart suddenly changed. He felt an outburst of Krishna prema. After giving diksha initiation to Nimai, Ishvara Puri left for Vrindavana.
1506
Nimai returned from Gaya to Navadvipa. People around immediately noticed Nimai's changed emotional state. He could not even teach classes in his school.
Once, when Shrivasa was worshiping Nrisimhadeva, Nimai came and shouted, "I have come". Then he sat on the Vishnukhatta (Vishnu throne) and pushing the Shalagrama Shila aside ordered it to be worshiped. Then he revealed to the devotees his true form, shining brighter than the sun.
Nimai revealed the form of Shyamasundara to Advaita Acharya and his wife. In the month of Ashadha, the Mahaprakasha (a revelation lasting more than 24 hours) took place in Shrivasa's house. Nimai delivered the two brothers Jagai and Madhai.
1509
- Story of Chand Kazi: By the order of the Kazi, Muslims stopped the harinama. At Nimai's invitation, hundreds of people gathered for a protest. The crowd surrounded the Kazi's palace. Mahāprabhu spoke with the Kazi and, touching his body, delivered him from all sins.
- The Lord showed Advaita Acharya his Vishvarupa form, which Krishna had revealed to Arjuna.
February 1510 (Sannyasa)
Nimai accepted sannyasa. Some evil people were plotting against him. Upon learning this, the Lord decided to accept sannyasa. After acquainting Sachi and Vishnupriya with his plan, he plunged into grief.
The next morning he secretly crossed the Ganges river and went to Katwa, falling at the feet of Keshava Bharati. The devotees caught him in Katwa with a shaved head. After initiation, the Lord left for Advaita Acharya.
Upon arriving in Nilachala, the Lord rushed into the Jagannatha temple and fainted. There he met Vasudeva Sarvabhauma and after a long discussion bestowed his mercy upon him, revealing to him the six-armed form.
1510-1512
Pilgrimage through South India. While traveling he met Ramananda Raya.
Upon arriving at Rangakshetra, the Lord stayed at the house of Venkata Bhatta. Here he saw the 8-year-old Gopala Bhatta and told him to go to Vrindavana later.
In 1512 the Lord returned to Nilachala. In the same year Ramananda Raya came to him. The Lord sent Nityananda to Gauda to spread Krishna prema.
1513
The Lord, traveling to Vrindavana, stopped in Gauda (Ramakeli village). Here he met Rupa and Sanatana.
1516
The Lord again leaves for Vrindavana. Here he gave instructions to Rupa Goswami. In Kashi, the Lord delivered Prakashananda Sarasvati.
1516-1533
Chaitanya Mahāprabhu organized a great preaching work, himself living in Puri (Nilachala).
1533
Mahāprabhu left the world. For the last 18 years he lived in the Gambhira temple, enjoying the nectar of Krishna prema with Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda Raya. When he left the world while entering the Tota Gopinatha temple, Svarupa Damodara fell unconscious and never woke up again.
Self-Check Questions
- Tell about some pastimes of Lord Chaitanya illustrating His mission.
- Briefly explain the internal and external reasons for Lord Chaitanya's appearance.
- What is the religion of the Kali-yuga age and how is Chaitanya Mahāprabhu related to it?
- Explain the main statements of Lord Chaitanya's teaching.
- List the main events in the life of Chaitanya Mahāprabhu.