[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Vaishnava spiritual movement was initiated in Bengal by none other than Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Whenever an incarnation comes in this world to save the society we get an indication and signs. Sri Chaitanya raised a movement that changed the perspective of then society but had been opposed as well on his thoughts. His parents Jagannath Mishra and Sachi Devi got some divine experience before his birth. His grandfather Pandit Nilambar Chakravarti, a renowned astrologer, predicted and told that the Child -would be a great personality of him and named him Visvambhar.
Navadwip was a small town in Nadia district of Bengal which was the epicenter of Hindu learning in the 15th century. Sanskrit was studied here and there were learned pandit who excelled in knowledge of Hindu scriptures. Ona lunar eclipse day in 1485 AD a son was born to Jagannath Mishra and Sachi devi in a Brahmin family. He was beautiful and fair and hence was called Gaur or Gauranga, his other name was Nimai. The advent of the Lord was there and showed his devotion (bhakti) from childhood. He was to show the path of Bhakti to mankind.
Vishwanbhar excelled in scholastic ability in Sanskrit and his intellect has been superior in all aspects compared to other pandits of that time, such was his knowledge in grammar and logic. He married Lakshmipriya of Vallabha Acharya at an early age. When returning from a scholastic tour from East Bengal his wife died of snake bite. He later married Vishnu Priya. While traveling to Gaya he met Ishwar Puri who was a monk of Vaishnava cult. He was a disciple of Mádhavendra Puri. He developed deep ecstasy in bhakti marga and merged himself in ‘Krishna prem’ love for the God. His intimacy increased with scholar Adwaita Acharya and Nitayananda. It is believed that Sri Chaitanya was an incarnation of Lord Krishna and Nitayananda was an incarnation of Balaram (elder brother of Lord Krishna). He was deeply engraved in bhakti marga and the nam-kirtan, chanting the name of God increased. He took Sanyas at the age of 24 in 1509 in the name of Krishna-Chaitanya in short Chaitanya. For next 6 years he traveled across Orissa and southern India, Vrindaban and preached Bhakti. Then he settled in Puri. His affection with Lord Jagannath continued till his end of life at Puri at 48 years. Sri Chaitanya preached bhakti and love for Lord Krishna through sankirtan.
Now lets dive into the puranas where Lord Krishna is the son of Vraja – His love for Radha Rani is a significant mark of spiritualism in the Vaishnava tradition. Mahaprabhu encapsulated the practice of eternal love for the Lord showing us the way of how we should think of God. The world of Bhakti saw a new way of how Mahaprabhu used to dance and chant the name of God. He was merged with God itself, showing us the path of destiny. Śrī Chaitanya’s predecessors, Śrī Chaitanya himself, and then by his followers specifically uttered the Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare), a specific chant that is by far the most important and popular of the many sacred incantations used by Gaudīya devotees worldwide.
Krishnadāsa Kavirāja in his famous writings in Caitanyacaritāmta expressed beautifully how Gaur Hari spent his childhood with his auspicious presence and chanting the name of God and glorified the past times. Śrī Chaitanya began the Sankīrtana movement which has been a part of the Vaishnavas and he initiated the Holy name chanting and his love with God to merge the soul with Him. Mahaprabhu transformed many people like “Jagai & Madhai” to pardon their sins and utter the holy name of God in the Sankirtana movement. Mahabrabhu’s doctrine of love turned miracle with his interaction with Chand Kazi. With his meeting he drew reference of Vedic scriptures and Koran which mesmerized Chand Kazi and even he was a part of the sankirtan as well.
In 1510 when Mahaprabhu visited Puri he immediately fainted when he saw Lord Jagannath because Lord Jagannath was Krishna himself. He met Sārvabhauma Bhattāchārya, a great philosopher of that time and he was living under the patronage of King Prataprudra. Seeing Mahaprabhu he had a feeling which he had never before and he brought Mahabrabhu in his home. He was astonished with the knowledge that Mahabraphu had about the Vedic scriptures. He became a follower of Mahaprabhu to spread the Sankirtana movement. When Mahaprabhu travelled south he met Ramananda Raya near the banks of Godavari who is an incarnation of one of the Gopis of Lord Krishna ‘Vishaka’. This is a historic meeting. Mahabrabhu was engaged in conversation with the Gaudiya Vaishnava thoughts. His intimate followers like Svarūpa Dāmodara Goswāmī, Rāmānanda Rāya enhanced the spiritual movement. Last 12 years Mahaprabhu was in a state called where he used to cry, faint, and chant name in the Love of Krishna. He departed in the year 1533. The mission that Mahaprabhu has started is now one of the largest spiritual movements world wide to seek peace, spread love and love God to be with him is the ultimate goal of mankind.
“Hare Krishna”
Reference :
- CHAITANYA’S LIFE AND TEACHINGS : From his contemporary Bengali biography the Chaitanya-charit-amrita: Translated into English BY JADUNATH SARKAR, M.A., I.E.S.
- Sri Chaitanya Life and Teaching The Golden Avatara of Divine Love by Steven J. Rosen
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