Chapter 11-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-the Lord as a devotee
Lord Caitanya appeared in Mayapur, West Bengal, more
than 500 years ago. He is an incarnation of Krishna who
descended to this material world for two purposes; to
spread the chanting of the holy names of God to deliver
all the people from their material bondage, and to
simultaneously taste the nectar of the pure love of God,
Krishna, as it was tasted by His topmost devotee,
Srimati Radharani, who is the internal energy of
Krishna.
In His early life, Lord Caitanya played the part of an
ordinary scholar with enormous knowledge and talent,
while hiding the truth of His incarnation. Most people
knew him as Nimai Pandit. However, when the time was
right, He manifested Himself as the Supreme Personality
of Godhead to His devotees and began spreading the
congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord.
After His 24th year, He accepted the renounced order of
life, sannyasa, and left His home in Mayapur to travel
throughout India to convert all the people to lovers of
God. He would transform anyone, be he an atheist,
rascal, or worse, as well as the pious and good, to the
platform of love of Godhead. Lord Caitanya did not
consider whether the recipients of the love of God were
worthy or not, He indiscriminately bestowed what no other incarnation of God ever gave before; pure love of
the Lord.
After travelling and preaching for six years, He settled in Jagannatha Puri for twelve years and intensely tasted
the love that His pure devotees have for Him. Although He is Krishna Himself, He accepted the mood and
colour of Srimati Radharani, His spiritual counterpart, and thought of Himself as His own devotee. Thus,
although He is God Himself, He always was absorbed in the mood of His topmost devotees and thus He
relished the highest love of Krishna together with His confidential associates.
Lord Caitanya started the sankirtan movement which continues to this day. He established the congregational
chanting of the holy names of Krishna, with the Maha-Mantra:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama,Hare Hare.
Sri-Siksastakam- Verses written by Lord Caitanya.
One who is interested in understanding more about Lord Caitanya and His associates and expansions should
read Srila Prabhupada's Teachings of Lord Caitanya or The Caitanya-Caritamrta.