Vivekananda on the Vedas (part 145)

[Guest guest]

Parts 1 to 144 were posted earlier. This is part 145. Your comments are welcome... Vivekananda Centre London

Earlier postings can be seen at http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk/veda.htm

 

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ON THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS

By Sister Gayatriprana

part 145

2. The Mighty Spiritual Genius Chaitanya and His Teaching of Worship through the Senses

Wherever the Hindi language is spoken, even the lowest classes have more knowledge of the Vedantic religion than many of the highest in Lower Bengal.

And why so?

Transported from the soil of Mithila to Navadwip and developed by the fostering genius of Shiromani, Gadadhara, Jagadisha and a host of other great names, an analysis of the laws of reasoning, in some points superior to every other system in the whole world, expressed in wonderful and precise mosaic of language, stands the Nyaya of Bengal, respected and studied throughout the length and breadth of Hindusthan. But, alas, Vedic study was sadly neglected; and until within the last few years, scarcely anyone could be found in Bengal to teach the Mahabhashya of Patanjali. Once only a mighty genius rose above the never-ending avachchinnas and avachchedakas [determined and determining attribute] - Bhagavan Sri Krishna Chaitanya. For once the religious lethargy of Bengal was shaken, and for a time it entered into communion with the religious life of other parts of India….

The commentary which Sri Chaitanya wrote on the Vyasa-Sutras has either been lost or not found yet. His disciples joined themselves to the Madhvas of the South, and gradually the mantles of such giants as Rupa and Sanatana and Jiva Goswami fell on the shoulders of the Babajis, and the great movement of Sri Chaitanya was decaying fast, till of late years there is a sign of revival. I hope that it will regain its lost splendor.

The influence of Sri Chaitanya is all over India. Wherever the bhakti-marga [path of devotion] is known, there he is appreciated, studied, and worshipped. I have every reason to believe that the whole of the Vallabhacharya recension is only a branch founded by Sri Chaitanya. But most of his so-called disciples have become gadians (heads of monasteries) while he preached barefooted from door to door in India, begging achandalas (all down to the lowest) to love God. (14)

Vaishnavism (the religion of Chaitanya) says, "It is all right, this tremendous love for father, for mother, for brother, husband or child. It is all right, if only you think that Krishna is the child; and when you give him or her food, that you are feeding Krishna" This was the cry of Chaitanya: "Worship God through the senses" - as against the Vedantic cry, "Control the senses! Suppress the senses!"(15)