Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s travelling preaching
After taking sannyasa Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited many places. (full South India – uptill Dwarka)
Some people became influenced by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s beauty. Some surrendered because they were defeated in arguments by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited many pilgrimage places, temples of Vishnu, Krishna, Shiva, Durga, Karttikeya(Murugan – popular in South India)
Wherever He went He attracted people to Krishna’s lotus feet
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then decided to go to Vrindavan from Jagannath Puri.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Ramakeli
Rupa and Sanatana
Dabir khas and Sakar Malik were residing there. Both brothers were very intelligent. King(Muslim) invited them for service.
King Hussain Shah was very cruel. He built a very big victory tower in his capital. When he was inspecting that tower, he found some fault in it; he became so angry that he threw the architect from the top of the tower.
So, both brothers accepted the service of King. They were rejected by brahmana community.
That time hindu society was very rigid and tyrannical. So, many converted into Muslim.
Husshain Shah was under Subuddhi Roy. Subuddhi Roy punished Husshain Shah for not doing the service of digging well properly. The marks of whips were always there on Hussain Shah. Then Hussain Shah became king. The queen of Hussain shah saw those signs of whips and became angry. She told that he should kill Subuddhi Roy. Hussain shah never thought to take revenge but the queen insisted. Hussain shah made arrangement to make Suddhi Roy forcibly drink the contaminated water which will make Subuddhi roy out of caste.
There were many funny ways of conversion those days. One king told brahmana to come to his house. As they thought smelling is as good as half eating, and brahmana smelled the cooking of meat in king’s house, he lost his caste!
Brahmanas gave solution to Subuddhi Roy to drink molten lead. Another said to donate the cow made of gold. But when Subuddhi Roy approached Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said him to just chant Hare Krishna and go to Vrindavan.
Spiritual life is very simple. It’s not at all difficult. Srila Prabhupada said that is it difficult for a son to approach father? Rather father approaches the son himself. Krishna is our father. So it’s very simple to approach Him.
Krishna says just surrender to Him. You don’t have to leave home; don’t have to do anything else. Just surrender to Krishna and He will take care of everything.
Many Bengalis used to go to Vrindavan but at that time Vrindavan was just a forest. They don’t get rice there. Subuddhi Roy used to go to forest, cut the wood and sell that wood in Mathura. That’s how he used to maintain himself. Half of the money he used to save. When Bengali vaishnavas use to come then Subuddhi Roy used to purchase rice and feed them.
Rupa and Sanatana wrote to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They asked Chaitanya Mahaprabhu what to do. Then because of Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Ramakeli.
Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami made their ownVrindavan in Ramakeli. They made Radha Kunda, Shyam Kunda, govardhan.
King got the news that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Ramakeli. Lakhs of Lakhs of people were following Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. King asked the police(who was hindu) about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Policeman answered, out of fear that king may disturb Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He told to king that not many people are following Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. But the king knew that many many people were following Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Policeman told king that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the one who even made you the king!
Rupa, Sanantana and little Jiva came to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in disguise form. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu put his lotus feet on Jiva Goswami. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu indicated that he will become the future acharya.
Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Kanai Nata Shala. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu decided that he will not go to Vrindavan with so many people. He returned back to Puri. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu thought that with so many people He will not be able to appreciate Vrindavan.
Pure chanting touches the innocent:
Then again Chaitanya Mahaprabhu decided to go to Vrindavan from Puri only with one associate Balabhadra Bhattacharya. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took another course to Vrindavan, which went through the forest of Jharikhanda. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Madhya Pradesh also. Till now Madhya Pradesh has lot of forest.
Sometimes Chaitanya Mahaprabhu use to encounter the wild animals. One day Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was ecstatic. He was not walking, but singing and dancing. Balabhadra Bhattacharya saw that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stepped on the tiger. Tiger just woke up and went away. Another day all wild animals also joined Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in chanting
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Monkeys, tigers stood on two legs, elephants, snakes, beers, etc. all started to dance. This is the power of the holy name. This is strange but not impossible.
Pure chanting touches the soul. Specially the innocent souls. Animals are innocent. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s chanting penetrated the gross and subtle coverings and touched the soul. Therefore loud chanting of the holy name is very important. Animals, trees, palnts, etc, everybody gets benefitted.
Therefore it is recommended in this age to loudly chant the holy name of the world, as it gives spiritual benefit to the all species of life.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was taking the benefit the holy places. Not only Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was taking the benefit, but sanctifying the holy places.
bhavad-vidhä bhägavatäs
tértha-bhütäù svayaà vibho
térthé-kurvanti térthäni
sväntaù-sthena gadäbhåtä
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Varanasi
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Varanasi, Kashi. As there are many worshippers of Shiva, there were many impersonalists, the followers of Shankaracharya. Their leader was Prakashananda Saraswati. He was upset with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Devotees were not happy about the mayavadis.
Lord fulfills the desire of His devotees.
A brahmana came and invited Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to come to the assembly of mayavadis.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to the house of the brahmana where all the mayavadi sannyasis were present. They were sitting on the big elevated seats. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went and sat at the place where guests’ feet get washed, next to the door. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu displayed His spiritual effulgence. Prakashannada Saraswati came and asked Chaitanya Mahaprabhu why He was sitting there. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu answered that He was not qualified to sit with them. Prakashananda Saraswati became very affected by it and took Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to the proper seat.
Prakashananda Saraswati asked Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that why He was just chanting and dancing although being a sannyasi. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu answered that His guru told Him that you are a big fool. He didn’t have right to study Vedanta, but just chant Hare Krishna. (harer nama harer name.... annyatha).
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said that by chanting this mantra made Him mad. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then asked to Ishwara Puri that just by chanting this mantra He was becoming mad. IP said that this mantra gives Krishna Prema. That gives ecstacy. Your chanting has become perfect.
Since then I am just chanting and dancing
Prakashananda Saraswati became converted by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s instructions. He also started to chant the holy name.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Then Prakashananda Saraswati with 60,000 sannyasis went with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on sankirtan at ganga!
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya
Another very nice incidence with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was with Ramananda Raya
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to kapur, sitting on the bank of the river. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu saw a noble person came with royal entourage. He came to take bath on palanquin. Thus person then saw Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Then they both embraced each other. All were astonished that why this sannyasi and governor are embracing. It was an unusual site. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu recognized Ramananda Raya
Next day he met Ramananda Raya. Sarvabhauma Bhattachrya told lot about Ramananda Raya to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Raya that what is the ultimate goal of the life.
Here Supreme Personality of Godhead is asking questions. Generally Supreme Personality of Godhead speaks, gives advice, sri bhagavan uvaca.
But here Supreme Personality of Godhead is asking Ramananda Raya.
Ramananda Raya : following varnashrama is the way to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is ultimate goal of life.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: that it is external. It deals with modes of material nature
Ramananda Raya : Karma yoga is the ultimate goal of life.
yat karoñi yad açnäsi
yaj juhoñi dadäsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruñva mad-arpaëam
TRANSLATION
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that, O son of Kunté, as an offering to Me.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu : That is external. Tell me what is beyond that
Ramananda Raya : Karma tyaga.
sarva-dharmän parityajya
mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja
ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo
mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu :That is also external. Tell me what is beyond that
Ramananda Raya :Gyana Yoga.
brahma-bhütaù prasannätmä
na çocati na käìkñati
samaù sarveñu bhüteñu
mad-bhaktià labhate paräm
TRANSLATION
One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: This is also external. Tell me what is beyond that
Ramananda Raya : Pure devotional service. Annyabhilashita sunyam
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: That’s right but what is beyond that.
Then RAMANANDA RAYA told bhakti in 5 mellows – shanta, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, madhurya
Madhurya bhakti in braja is the highest.
Krishna dances with many gopis. In center there was one gopi dancing with Krishna. So, this gopi must be very special.
When once his gopi left rasa dance and left, Krishna left all other gopis and went to Her. So, this gopi must be very special.
Ana radhika nunam...
Like this he pointed out that how Radha and Krishna going to become one. Then Chaitanya Mahaprabhu covered the mouth of the RAMANANDA RAYA, as now Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s identity was going to be revealed.
Through this conversation, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu revealed His teachings.
This is elaborated in Brihad Bhagavatamrita.
This is the gift we are receiving from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Krishna came to give us Krishna prema, braja prema.
First day I pointed out that, purpose Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s coming is to give braja prema. This is how He gave us.
Just chant the holy name. there is nothing else to do. But avoid offences to the holy name.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is giving holy name, Krishna prema to everyone. But if we are not receiving it means we are commiting some offence.
Q. Ramananda Raya is incarnation of Arjuna and Vishakha devi. So, what is his rasa?
Ans. All associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are in dasya rasa. In Vrindavan everyone is situated in their repective rasas.
Q. How we have to approach Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?
In serviotship. We simply have to serve him. We simply have to engage in sankirtan. We simply have to engage others in sankirtan. Whether in sadhaka stage or in siddha stage.
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