Defending Sri Caitanya

[anadi]

Originally Posted by anadi:

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu attacked or denounced too the Maya-vada philosophy

Reply by Kalkin714,

And he was wrong.

Dear Kalkin714,

The Supreme Lord can never be wrong.

Some persons still think that Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu never said He is the same Krishna, the Supreme Lord.

 

In “Sri Caitanya Bhagavata” , Srila VRndAvana dAsa ThAkura relates the lila of how Advaita Acarya wanted to be treated by Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu as one of His Servants not as a superior personality and decided to teach the glories of jJAna-yoga.

When Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu inquired from Advaita Prabhu, “Between bhakti and jJAna, which is superior?” Advaita Prabhu replied that jJAna was superior. On hearing this Sri Caitanya repeatedly struck Advaita’s back with His fist, and after it started to reveal that He descended just because Advaita’s prayers.

 

An excerpt from Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya, Chapter 19.140-152.

 

The Lord said:

 

 

<ST1:P“I was sleeping in the Ocean </ST1:Pof <ST1:PMilk</ST1:P, when You, nADA (sada-shiva), woke Me to fulfil Your mission. (Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu called Advaita acarya sometimes nADA.)

You brought Me to reveal bhakti, but now You are covering bhakti with Your explanation on jJAna.

If Your intention was to cover bhakti, then why did You have Me to descend (into this world).

I never frustrate Your resolve, but You always deceive Me.

After releasing Advaita, the Lord sat down at the doorway and began to loudly reveal His own glories.

O nADA it was I (Sri kRSNa) who killed kaMsa. You know everything, don’t You?

BrahmA, ziva, zeSa and laxmi, all engage in My service. The cunning impostor vAsudeva was killed by My (Sri kRSNa’s) chakra.

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.audarya-fellowship.com/forums/ /><st1:place w:st=Krishna</st1:place>, the Supreme Lord.

In “Sri Caitanya Bhagavata” , Srila VRndAvana dAsa ThAkura relates the lila of how Advaita Acarya wanted to be treated by Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu as one of His Servants not as a superior personality and decided to teach the glories of jJAna-yoga.

When Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu inquired from Advaita Prabhu, “Between bhakti and jJAna, which is superior?” Advaita Prabhu replied that jJAna was superior. On hearing this Sri Caitanya repeatedly struck Advaita’s back with His fist, and after it started to reveal that He descended just because Advaita’s prayers.

An excerpt from Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya, Chapter 19.140-152.

The Lord said:

“I was sleeping in the <st1:place w:st=" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">vArANasI</st1:place></st1:City> was completely burned by My chakra, and the mighty rAvaNa was killed by My arrow.

My cakra cut off the arms of bANAsura, and My cakra destroyed narakAsura.

It was I (Sri kRSNa) who held up Govardana Hill with My left hand, and it was I who brought the pArijAta flower from heaven.

I deceived <st1:place w:st="on">Bali</st1:place> and then bestowed mercy on him. It was I who killed HiraNyakazipu to save PrahlAda.

In this way the Lord revealed His opulences, and Advaita floated in an ocean of ecstatic love while listening.

Advaita was filled with ecstasy after receiving His punishment. He clapped His hands and danced in humility.”

 

[Kalkin714]

 

Originally Posted by anadi:

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu attacked or denounced too the Maya-vada philosophy

Reply by Kalkin714,

And he was wrong.

Dear Kalkin714,

The Supreme Lord can never be wrong.

Some persons still think that Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu never said He is the same Krishna, the Supreme Lord.

 

I could realy care less who he said he was. I wholely and thoroughly reject him as my Lord Govinda.

In “Sri Caitanya Bhagavata” , Srila VRndAvana dAsa ThAkura relates the lila of how Advaita Acarya wanted to be treated by Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu as one of His Servants not as a superior personality and decided to teach the glories of jJAna-yoga.

When Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu inquired from Advaita Prabhu, “Between bhakti and jJAna, which is superior?” Advaita Prabhu replied that jJAna was superior. On hearing this Sri Caitanya repeatedly struck Advaita’s back with His fist, and after it started to reveal that He descended just because Advaita’s prayers.

Nice god you've got there! Commin' down to beat on monks, great!

An excerpt from Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya, Chapter 19.140-152.

The Lord said:

<ST1:P“I was sleeping in the Ocean </ST1:Pof <ST1:PMilk</ST1:P, when You, nADA (sada-shiva), woke Me to fulfil Your mission. (Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu called Advaita acarya sometimes nADA.)

You brought Me to reveal bhakti, but now You are covering bhakti with Your explanation on jJAna.

If Your intention was to cover bhakti, then why did You have Me to descend (into this world).

I never frustrate Your resolve, but You always deceive Me.

After releasing Advaita, the Lord sat down at the doorway and began to loudly reveal His own glories.

O nADA it was I (Sri kRSNa) who killed kaMsa. You know everything, don’t You?

BrahmA, ziva, zeSa and laxmi, all engage in My service. The cunning impostor vAsudeva was killed by My (Sri kRSNa’s) chakra.

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://www.audarya-fellowship.com/forums/ /><st1:place w:st=Krishna</st1:place>, the Supreme Lord.

*

In “Sri Caitanya Bhagavata” , Srila VRndAvana dAsa ThAkura relates the lila of how Advaita Acarya wanted to be treated by Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu as one of His Servants not as a superior personality and decided to teach the glories of jJAna-yoga.

When Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu inquired from Advaita Prabhu, “Between bhakti and jJAna, which is superior?” Advaita Prabhu replied that jJAna was superior. On hearing this Sri Caitanya repeatedly struck Advaita’s back with His fist, and after it started to reveal that He descended just because Advaita’s prayers.

*

An excerpt from Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, Madhya, Chapter 19.140-152.

*

The Lord said:

“I was sleeping in the <st1:place w:st=" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">vArANasI</st1:place></st1:City> was completely burned by My chakra, and the mighty rAvaNa was killed by My arrow.

My cakra cut off the arms of bANAsura, and My cakra destroyed narakAsura.

It was I (Sri kRSNa) who held up Govardana Hill with My left hand, and it was I who brought the pArijAta flower from heaven.

I deceived <st1:place w:st="on">Bali</st1:place> and then bestowed mercy on him. It was I who killed HiraNyakazipu to save PrahlAda.

In this way the Lord revealed His opulences, and Advaita floated in an ocean of ecstatic love while listening.

Advaita was filled with ecstasy after receiving His punishment. He clapped His hands and danced in humility.”

Well you realy proved alot by quoting a scripture that I don't regaurd as the least bit authoratative. (Or any other Hindu sect besides Guadiyas). Just anti-advaitic propaganda.

[Ash]

Please read the following several (long) posts which are from the vedic scriptures and are thorough and exhaustive:

 

GAURANGA IN THE VEDAS

 

 

 

atharva-vede (Third Kanda, Brahma-vibhaga)

 

ito 'ham krita-sannyaso 'vatarishyami sa-guno nirvedo nishkamo bhu-girbanas tira-stho 'lakanandayah kalau catuh-sahasrabdhopari panca-sahasrabhyantare gaura-varno dirghangah sarva-lakshana-yukta isvara-prarthito nija-rasasvado bhakta-rupo misrakhyo vidita-yogah syam.

 

In the Atharva Veda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself says:

 

"Towards the end of the period between four-thousand to five-thousand years in Kali-yuga, I will descend on the earth as Gauranga, a golden-complexioned saintly brahmana in a place by the Ganges' shore and later become the crest-jewel of all sannyasis, exhibiting all My transcendental qualities including supreme renunciation and complete detachment from material desires. In the form of Lord Gauranga, I will display all the thirty-two bodily symptoms of a great personality with my arms extending to my knees. I will become my own devotee, very advanced in bhakti-yoga and teach the worship of Lord Krishna (Myself) by the chanting of My own holy names and relishing the mellows of My own devotional service. At that time only My most confidential devotees will be able to understand Me."

 

narada-pancaratre

 

bhakti-priyo bhakti-data, damodara ibhas-patih;

indra-darpa-haro 'nanto, nityananda-cid-atmakah.

 

In the Narada-pancaratra, Bala-Krishna-sahasra-nama-stotra, it is said:

 

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known by the names Nityananda, Bhakti-priya, Bhakti-data, Damodara, Ibhas-pati, Indra-darpa-hara, Ananta, Cid-atmaka,. ."

 

nrisimha-purane

 

satye daitya-kuladhi-nasa-samaye simhordhva-martyakritis

tretayam dasa-kandharam paribhavan rameti namakritih

gopalan paripalayan vraja-pure bharam haran dvapare

gaurangah priya-kirtanah kali-yuge caitanya-nama prabhuh

 

In the Nrisimha Purana it is said:

 

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared in Satya-yuga as Lord Nrisimhadeva in the form of half-man and half-lion to destroy Hiranyakasipu, the king of the demons, and who appeared in Treta-yuga as Lord Ramacandra to kill the great ten-headed demon Ravana, and who appeared in the Dvapara-yuga for protecting and maintaining the cowherd men and women of Vrindavana and removing the burden of the earth, will appear again in the Kali-yuga in a golden form. He will fully relish the chanting of His own holy names and His name will be Lord Gauranga."

 

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango 'ham mahi-tale;

bhagirathi-tate ramye, bhavishyami saci-sutah.

 

In the Padma Purana, the Supreme Lord affirms:

 

"In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, I will appear as Gauranga on the earth in a beautiful place by the shore of the Ganges. I will become the son of Sacidevi and My complexion will be golden."

 

agni-purane

 

prasantatma lamba-kanthas, gaurangas ca suravritah

 

In the Agni Purana it is said:

 

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga will appear in a golden form with a graceful long neck and a peaceful heart, surrounded by His saintly devotees."

 

markandeya-purane

 

golokam ca parityajya, lokanam trana-karanat;

kalau gauranga-rupena, lila-lavanya-vigrahah.

 

In the Markandeya Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

"In the Kali-yuga I will give up My own eternal abode Goloka Vrindavana, and I will assume the form of the most handsome and playful Lord Gauranga to rescue all the living entities in the universe."

 

Krishna Yamala

 

gaurango nada-gambhirah, sva-namamrita-lalasah;

dayaluh kirtana-grahi, bhavishyati saci-sutah.

 

"His limbs will be golden and His voice deep. He will increasingly hanker to taste the nectar of His own holy names and will be completely enchanted by it . He will be the most merciful son of Srimati Sacidevi and His Name will be Gauranga."

 

Brahma Yamala

 

gaurangam gaura-diptangam, pathet stotram kritanjalih;

nanda-gopa-sutam caiva, namasyami gadagrajam.

 

In the Brahma-yamala it is also said:

 

"With great devotion and folded hands, one should recite the following prayer before Lord Gauranga, whose limbs are as effulgent as molten gold: 'I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Gauranga-Krishna, the the son of the Nanda Maharaja and the elder brother of Gada.'"

 

brahma-purane

 

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango 'ham mahi-tale;

bhagirathi-tate bhumni, bhavishyami sanatanah.

 

In the Brahma Purana, the Supreme Lord Himself dnlares:

 

"In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, I will appear as Gauranga on the earth in a beautiful place by the shore of the Ganges (*Navadvipa). I will descend in My original eternal form and My complexion will be golden."

 

yoga-vasishthe

 

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango 'sau mahi-tale;

bhagirathi-tate ramye, bhavishyati sanatanah.

 

In the Yoga-vasishtha it is said:

 

"In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Gauranga will appear on this earth on the beautiful banks of the Ganges (Navadvipa), in His eternal golden form."

 

In the Irdhvamnaya-tantra, Lord Siva declares to Parvati:

 

navadvipa-samam sthanam, sri-gauranga-samah prabhuh;

krishna-prema-sama praptir, nasti durge kadacana.

 

"O Durga, no place in the creation is equal to Navadvipa, no master is as merciful as Lord Sri Gauranga, and no attainment in the whole world is equal to pure love for Krishna."

 

In Sri Ananta-samhita, Part Two, Chapter Two entitled Sri Caitanya-janma-khanda, Lord Siva describes to Parvati:

 

sri-mahadeva uvaca

 

gaurangam sac-cid-anandam, sarva-karana-karanam;

vaca gadgadayanantam, tushtava dharani-dharah

 

"Lord Anantadeva, the upholder of the whole universe then which a chocked voice full of ecstasy tried to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Cause of all Causes who possesses a transcendental eternal form of truth, knowldge and bliss."

 

krishnas caitanya-gaurango, gauracandrah saci-sutah;

prabhur gauro gaura-harir, namani bhakti-dani me.

 

The Lord said:"When I will appear in Kali Yuga, My transcendental names will be: Gauranga, Krishna Chaitanya, Gaurachandra, Shachisuta, Mahaprabhu, Gaura, Gaurahari. etc. Chanting These supreme Names will bring devotion to Me."

 

vrindavane navadvipe, bheda-buddhis ca yo narah;

tam eva radhika-krishne, sri-gaurange paratmani.

 

mac-chala-pata-nirbhinna-dehah so 'pi naradhamah;

pacyate narake ghore, yavad ahuta-samplavam.

 

Lord Shiva said: "With my trident I will cut into pieces anyone who thinks that Vrindavana and Navadvipa are different, or that Radha-Krsna and Gauranga are different, or that Lord Gauranga is not the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a person is most degraded among human beings. He or she will burn in a terrible hell until the time when the universe is flooded with water."

 

ya eva bhagavan krishno, radhika-prana-vallabhah;

srishtyadau sa jagannatho, gaura asin mahesvari.

 

"O Maheshwari Parvati, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna who is most dear to His Supreme consort Shrimati Radharani and who is known as Lord Jagannatha from the beginning of creation has Himself fully and personally advented in this Kali Yuga as Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu."

 

vistaran me nigaditah, sruto yah krishna isvarah;

visvadau gaura-kantitvat, gaurangam vaishnavah viduh.

 

"Please hear attentively, I will describe in detail this most confidential secret. The Supreme Ishvara or Controller Lord Krishna who is the origin of everything is known and worshiped by the learned Vaishnava devotees as Lord Gauranga, when He accepts the golden complexion of Shrimati Radhika."

 

paratmane namas tasmai, sarva-karana-hetave;

adi-devaya gauraya, sac-cid-ananda-rupine.

 

"I offer my prostrated obeisances to Adideva, the Supreme Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu who is the ultimate and original cause of all causes, the Paratma or Supersoul of all living entities and who possesses a transcendental eternal form of truth, knowldge and bliss."

 

koti-kalpar jitaih punyair, vaishnavah syan maha-mate;

tatah syad radhika-krishna-lilasu rucir uttama.

 

"Those Vaishnava devotees who are Mahamati or very very advanced and who have accumulated spiritual piety for a minimum of 10 millions kalpas (1 kalpa = 8,640,000,000 years) will develop a superior taste for the transcendental pastimes of Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha Krishna."

 

syad yasya radhika-krishna-lilayam parama matih;

jivan-muktah sa vijneyah, pujyah syad daivatair api.

 

"In this way those exalted devotees who have developed unflinching attachment (parama matih) for the transcendental pastimes of Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha Krishna are worshipable even by the greatest demigods and are known as jivanamukta or fully liberated souls."

 

vina sri-gopika-sangam, kalpa-koti-satam param;

sravanat kirtanad vishnor, na radha-krishnam apnuyat.

 

Now the method to achieve Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha Krishna is described by Lord Shiva, "If someone does not serve and associate with the Gopies of Vrindavana, they will not achieve Radha-Krishna even if simply hear and chant about Lord Vishnu for a minimum of 1 billion kalpas (1 kalpa = 8,640,000,000 years)."

 

gopi-sangam na capnoti, sri-gaura-caranad rite;

tasmat tvam sarva-bhavena, sri-gauram bhaja sarvada.

 

"And to achieve the service and association of the Gopies of Vrindavana the only way is to worship the lotus of Lord Gauranga and chant His Name. Therefore Parvati, you should worship Lord Gauranga and chant His Name constantly and with sarva-bhava means by full surrender and giving everything to Him."

 

gauranga-caranambhoja-makaranda-madhuvratah;

sadhanena vina radham, krishnam prapsyanti niscitam.

 

"The person who is like a transcendental honeybee relishing the supreme ambrosial nectar (makaranda) emanating from the divine lotus feet of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu will most certainly without a doubt attain Their Lordships Shri Shri Radha Krishna even without performing any sadhana-bhakti practice of bhakti-yoga.

 

radhika-vallabhah krishno, bhaktanam priya-kamyaya;

srimad-gauranga-rupena, navadvipe virajate.

 

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna who is most dear to His Supreme consort Shrimati Radharani is situated in Navadvipa in His transcendental combined form of Shrimad Gauranga to fulfil the innermost desires of His most intimate devotees."

[Ash]

Lord Nityananda's

Holy Name in the Vedas :D

 

 

The glories of Lord Nityananda as the incarnation of Lord Balarama, the origin of both the spiritual and material world, are given in the revealed Vedic scriptures as follows:

 

Vayu Purana

 

(1) balaramo mamaivamsah, so 'pi mat-prstham esyati;

nityananda iti khyato nyasi-cudamanih ksitau

 

In the Vayu Purana, the Lord tells Brahma: "Lord Balarama, who is My first expansion and non-different from Me will also appear by My side as Lord Sri Nityananda. He will become the crest jewel of all renunciants on the earth."

 

(2) krtvavadhuta-vesam sa, dharman bhagavatan bahun;

grahayitva janan ittham grhinam asramam tatah.

 

"Assuming the dress of an avadhuta, He will freely distribute bhagavata dharma i.e. love of God. He will distribute this pure love through various means and deliver all the living entities. He will do so first as a brahmacari and later as a householder."

 

(3) jahnavy-adibhir atmanam, darsayisyati manavan.

 

"Accompanied by His eternal consort Shrimati Jahnavi-devi and many other intimate associates, He (Nityananda) will reveal His transcendental pastimes to the people."

 

Ananta-Samhita of Atharva Veda

 

nityanando maha-kayo, bhutva mat-kirtane ratah;

vimudhan bhakti-rahitan, mama bhaktan karisyasi.

 

In the Ananta-Samhita, the Lord states to Anantadeva: "When I appear in Navadvipa in Kali-yuga, You will become Nityananda. You will have a very tall, beautiful and large body, and You will be constantly absorbed in chanting My name and glories. In this way, by Your causeless mercy You will convert many bewildered fools who are devoid of devotion into My pure unalloyed devotees."

 

Shri Chaitanya-Charitamrita, Adi 1.7-11

 

sankarshanah karana-toya-sayi

garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi

seshas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya-

nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu

 

May Sri Nityananda Prabhu be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarshana, Mahavishnu, Garbhodakshayi Vishnu, and Kshirodakshayi Vishnu, as well as Sesha are His expansions and the expansions of His expansions. That same Nityananda Prabhu, is none other than Balarama. (Cc. Adi 1.7)

 

mayatite vyapi-vaikuntha-loke

purnaisvarye sri-catur-vyuha-madhye

rupam yasyodbhati sankarshanakhyam

tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

 

I surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, who is known as Saokarshana in the midst of the catur-vyuha. He has full opulences and resides in Vaikunthaloka far beyond the material creation. (Cc. Adi 1.8)

 

maya-bhartajanda-sanghasrayangah

sete sakshat karanambhodhi-madhye

yasyaikamsah sri-puman adi-devas

tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

 

I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose partial representation called Karanodakasayi Vishnu, lying on the Karana ocean, is the original Purusha, the master of the illusory energy and the shelter of all the universes. (Cc. Adi 1.9)

 

yasyamsamsah srila-garbhoda-sayi

yan-nabhy-abjam loka-sanghata-nalam

loka-srashtuh sutika-dhama dhatus

tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

 

I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, a partial part of whom is Garbhodakshayi Vishnu. From the navel of Garbhodakshayi Vishnu sprouts the lotus stem that is the birthplace of Brahma, the engineer of the Universe. The stem of that lotus is the resting place of the multitude of planets. (Cc. Adi 1.10)

 

yasyamsamsamsah paratmakhilanam

poshta vishnur bhati dugdhabdhi-sayi

kshauni-bharta yat-kala so 'py anantas

tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

 

I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose secondary part is the Vishnu lying in the ocean of milk. That Kshirodakashayi Vishnu is the Supersoul of all living entities and the maintainer of all the universe. Sesha Naga is His further sub-part. (Cc. Adi 1.11)

 

Lord Nityananda Baladeva is the Original Sankarshana

 

5.7

sri-balarama gosani mula-sankarshana

panca-rupa dhari' karena krishnera sevana

apane karena krishna-lilara sahaya

srishti-lila-karya kare dhari' cari kaya

 

Lord Balarama is the original Sankarshana. He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He helps in the pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in four other forms. (Cc. Adi 5.8,9)

 

Balarama and Nityananda are non Different

 

5.8

prema-pracarana ara pashanda-dalana

dui-karye avadhuta karena bhramana

 

For two purposes to spread the cult of bhakti and to defeat and subdue the atheists Lord Nityananda, the most dedicated devotee of the Lord, moved throughout the country. (Cc. Antya 3.149)

 

The Glories of Nityananda Prabhu

 

5.9

jagat mataya nitai premera malasate

palaya durdanta kali padiya vibhrate

ki sukhe bhasila jiva gauracandera nate

dekhiya suniya pashandira buk phate

 

[All glories to Nityananda Prabhu!] Maddened by ecstatic love of Godhead, he overwhelmed the universe with ecstasy. He slapped his hands together like a warrior who is about to attack, and upon seeing this, the wicked Kali fled in terror, fearing for his life. All souls were drowned in happiness because of the dancing of Sri Gauranga [and Nityananda]. Seeing such dancing, or even hearing of it, melts the hearts even of great atheists. (Gitavali, Nagara-kirtana, 8)

 

5.10

jaya jaya nityananda, nityananda-rama

yaohara kripate painu vrindavana-dhama

jaya jaya nityananda, jaya kripa-maya

yaoha haite painu rupa-sanatanasraya

yaoha haite painu raghunatha-mahasaya

yaoha haite painu sri-svarupa-asraya

sanatana-kripaya painu bhaktira siddhanta

sri-rupa-kripaya painu bhakti-rasa-pranta

jaya jaya nityananda-caranaravinda

yaoha haite painu sri-radha-govinda

 

All glory, all glory to Lord Nityananda Balarama, by whose mercy I have attained shelter in the transcendental abode of Vrindavana. All glory, all glory to the merciful Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained shelter of Sri Rupa and Sanatana. By His mercy, I have attained the shelter of the great Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, and by His mercy I have found the refuge of Sri Svarupa Damodara. By the mercy of Sanatana Gosvami I have learned the final conclusions of devotional service, and by the grace of Sri Rupa Gosvami I have tasted the highest nectar of devotional service. All glory, all glory to the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, by whose mercy I have attained Sri Radha-Govinda. (Cc. Adi. 5.200-204)

 

Nityananda is the Savior of the Most Fallen

 

5.11

jagai madhai haite muni se papishtha

purishera kita haite muni se laghishtha

mora nama sune yei tara punya kshaya

mora nama laya yei tara papa haya

emana nirghrina more keba kripa kare

eka nityananda vinu jagat bhitare

preme matta nityananda kripa-avatara

uttama, adhama, kichu na kare vicara

ye age padaye, tare karaye nistara

ataeva nistarila mo-hena duracara

 

I am more sinful than Jagai and Madhai and even lower than the worms in stool. Anyone who hears my name loses the results of his pious activities. Whoever utters my name becomes sinful. Who in this world but Nityananda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me? Because He is intoxicated by ecstatic love and is an incarnation of mercy, He does not distinguish between the good and the bad. He delivers all those who fall down before Him. Therefore He has delivered such a sinful and fallen person as me. (Cc. Adi 5.205-209)

 

Freedom from Anarthas and the Desire for Bhakti

is Strengthened by the Mercy of Nitai

 

5.12

samsarera para hai' bhaktira sagare

ye dubibe se bhajuk nitai-candere

 

One who would cross over the ocean of material existence and swim in the bhakti ocean should worship the lotus feet of Nityananda. (Cb. Adi 1.77)

 

Nityananda is the Foremost Preacher

 

5.13

caitanyera adi-bhakta nityananda-raya

caitanyera yaso vaise yanhara jihvaya

aharnisa caitanyera katha prabhu kaya

tan're bhajile se caitanye bhakti haya

 

Lord Caitanya's first and foremost devotee is Nityananda Raya. The glories of Lord Caitanya are always on his tongue. Day and night Lord Nityananda speaks only of Lord Caitanya. Whoever worships Him is a real devotee of Sri Caitanya. (Cb. Adi 9.217-218)

 

Nityananda mad About Serving Sri Caitanya

 

5.14

nityananda avadhuta sabate agala

caitanyera dasya-preme ha-ila pagala

 

Nityananda, the wandering mendicant, is the foremost of all the servants of Lord Caitanya. He is like the gateway through which all service to Lord Caitanya must pass. He became mad in the ecstasy of service to Lord Caitanya. (Cc. Adi 6.48)

 

Those who Have no Faith that Gaura and Nitai

are Inseparable are Offenders and Atheists

 

5.15

dui bhai eka-tanu samana-prakasa

nityananda na mana, tomara habe sarva-nasa

ekete visvasa, anye na kara sammana

"ardha-kukkuti-nyaya" tomara pramana

 

These two brothers (Gaura and Nitai) are like one body; they are identical manifestations. If you do not believe in Lord Nityananda, you will fall down. If you have faith in one, but disrespect the other, your logic is like the logic of accepting half a hen. (Cc. Adi 5.175,176)

 

Faith in Gaura Without Nitai, or Nitai Without Gaura,

is Flickering Faith and in Opposition to Pure Devotional Service

 

5.16

kimva, dooha na manina hao ta' pashanda

eke mani' are na mani, ei-mata bhanda

 

It would be better to be an atheist by slighting both brothers than a hypocrite by believing in one and slighting the other. (Cc. Adi 5.177)

 

Thus ends the Fifth Jewel of Gaudiya Kanthahara, entitled Nityananda-tattva compiled by Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.

[Ash]

Srutis (Vedas and Upanishads) about

the Supreme Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu :D:D

 

[1] atharva-vede (Third Kanda, Brahma-vibhaga)

 

(i) ito ’ham krita-sannyaso ’vatarishyami sa-guno nirvedo nishkamo bhu-girbanas tira-stho ’lakanandayah kalau catuh-sahasrabdhopari panca-sahasrabhyantare gaura-varno dirghangah sarva-lakshana-yukta isvara-prarthito nija-rasasvado bhakta-rupo misrakhyo vidita-yogah syam.

 

In the Atharva Veda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself says:

 

“Towards the end of the period between four-thousand to five-thousand years in Kali-yuga, I will descend on the earth as a golden-complexioned saintly brahmana in a place by the Ganges’ shore and later become the crest-jewel of all sannyasis, exhibiting all My transcendental qualities including supreme renunciation and complete detachment from material desires. I will display all the thirty-two bodily symptoms of a great personality with my arms extending to my knees. I will become my own devotee, very advanced in bhakti-yoga and teach the worship of Lord Krishna (Myself) by the chanting of My own holy names and relishing the mellows of My own devotional service. At that time only My most confidential devotees will be able to understand Me.”

 

atharva-vede (second khanda, third prapathaka, fourth anuvak, fifth mantra)

 

(ii) “visvambhara visvena ma bharasa pahi svaha.”

 

“O Lord Visvambhara, the upholder of the universe, please preserve me by sustaining the universe.”

 

[2] atharva-veda-purusha-bodiny-upanishadi (6th Prapathaka)

 

saptame gaura-varna-vishnor ity anena sva-saktya caikyam etya prante pratar avatirya saha dvaih svam anusikshayati.

 

In the Purusha-bodini Upanisad- Atharva-veda it is said:

 

“In the seventh manvantara (Vaivasvata Manu), the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Gaura-Vishnu will accept a golden complexion due to attaining oneness with His pleasure potency Srimati Radhika and descend on this earth with all His multifarious potencies in the beginning of the Kali-yuga of the twenty-eighth catur-yuga, accompanied by His own eternal associates to teach the chanting of His own holy names in the form of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.”

 

[3] gopala-tapany-upanishadi (Uttara-vibhaga 63)

 

hiranmayam saumya-tanum sva bhaktayabhaya-pradam

dhyayen manasi mam nityam venu-sringa dharam tu va

 

In the Gopala-tapani Upanishad it is said:

 

“Let my mind constantly meditate on the most gentle, grave and pure Supreme Personality of Godhead who has a complexion of molten gold, who carries a bamboo rod (sannyasa rod) and who bestows fearlessness upon His devotees.”

 

[4] krishnopanishadi

 

sa eva bhagavan yuge turiye ’pi brahma-kule jayamanah sarva upanishadah uddidirshuh sarvani dharma-sastrani vistarayishnuh sarvan api janan santarayishnuh sarvan api vaishnavan dharman vijrimbhayan sarvan api pashandan nicakhana.

 

In the Krishna Upanishad it is said:

 

“In Kali-yuga (the fourth yuga), the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna Himself will appear in a brahmana family with the purpose of teaching the message of all the 108 Upanishads and expanding the conclusions of all the dharma-sastras. He will deliver all the living entities in the universe from the cycle of birth and death by manifesting the pure principles of Vaishnava dharma and He will simultaneously subdue all the atheists and offenders.”

 

[5] mundakopanishadi

 

(i) yada pasyah pasyate rukma-varnam

kartaram isam purusham brahma-yonim

tada vidvan punya-pape vidhuya

niranjanah paramam samyam upaiti

In the Mundaka Upanishad (3.1.3) it is said:

 

“One who is fortunate enough to see that actual object of our vision, the golden-colored Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Lord Gaura who is the ultimate doer, controller and enjoyer of everything and the source of the brahmajyoti (or one who has descended in a brahmana family), immediately becomes the most learned person, free from all material peity, sin, contamination and designations and effortlessly attains the supreme liberation of entering the abode of the Lord.”

 

(ii) hiranmaye pare kose

virajam brahma nishkalam

tac chubhram jyotisham jyotis

tad yad atma-vido viduh

 

They who actually know the self, know that the supremely effulgent Personality of Godhead, the source of all other splendors, resides in a pure, splendid and transcendental realm which appears golden due to being illuminated by His own golden bodily complexion.

 

(iii) sa evaitat paramam brahma-dhama

yatra visvam nihitam bhati subhram

upasate purusham ye hy akamas

te sukram etad ativartanti dhirah

 

The sober persons who becoming free for all material desires, worship that golden Supreme Personality of Godhead (Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu), who resides in His topmost effulgent spiritual abode, easily cross over this material world of repeated birth and death.

 

[6] sama-vede

 

tathaham kata-sannyaso bhu-girbano ’vatarirye tire ’lakanandayah punah punar isvara-prarthitah sa-parivaro niralambo nirdhuteh kali-kalmasa-kavalita-janavalambanaya.

 

In the Sama Veda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself says:

 

“To rescue the helpless people who are being devoured by the sins of Kali-yuga, I will descend to the earth in a saintly brahmana family residing on the shores of the Ganges accompanied by My eternal associates. I will then become an avadhuta-sannyasi and I will teach everyone the process of worshipping Me by the incessant chanting of My own holy names.”

 

[7] svetasvataropanishadi (3.12)

 

mahan prabhur vai purushah sattvasyaisha pravartakah

su-nirmalam imam praptim isano jyotir avyayah

 

In the Svetasvatara Upanishad it is said:

 

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead who is supreme enjoyer is indeed Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who promulgates the transcendental platform of pure goodness through the process of hari-nama-sankirtana. This Supreme Lord is the source of all spiritual purity. Just to be in touch with Him is to be in contact with the indestructible brahmajyoti.”

 

[8] chandogyopanishadi (Eighth Chapter)

 

harih om. atha yad idam asmin brahmapure daharam pundarikam vesma daharo ’sminn antarakasas tasmin yad-antas tad anveshtavyam tad vava vijijnasitavyam iti.

 

In the Chandogya Upanishad 8.1.1, Navadvipa (the abode of Lord Caitanya) is hinted as the city of Brahmapura:

 

Hari. Om. In the very heart of this spiritual city (brahmapura) is a lotus abode (vesma). The internal part of that abode should be sought. This is the part one should desire to understand.

 

[Comment: The verse is furthur explained by Thakura Bhaktivinoda as follows:

 

atra brahma-puram nama pundarikam yad ucyate

tad evashta-dalam padma-sannibham puram adbhutam

 

In the Chandogya Upanishad, that place is a transcendental spiritual city (brahmapura) which is surrounded by a wonderful eight-petal lotus flower where each petal represents an island.”

 

tan-madhye daharam sakshat mayapuram itiryate

tatra vesma bhagavatas caitanyasya paratmanah

tasmin yas tv antarakaso hy antar-dvipah sa ucyate

 

In the center of that eight-petalled lotus-city is the ninth island (whorl of the lotus) called Antardvipa, and in the heart of Antardvipa is Sridhama Mayapur (Yogapitha), which is directly the abode of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.]

 

[9] atharva-veda- sri-caitanyopanishadi

 

The most important Sri Caitanya Upanishad-Atharva Veda comprises of the following 19 verses:

 

SRI CAITANYA UPANIShAD

 

(i) atha pippaladah samit-panir bhagavantam brahmanam upasanno. bhagavan me subham kim atra cakshasveti.

 

Carrying firewood in his hands, Pippalada humbly approached his supremely powerful father, Lord Brahma, and asked: “O my Lord, please instruct me on how I may attain an auspicious life.”

 

(ii) sa hovaca.

bhuya eva tapasa brahmacaryena sasvad ramasva mano vaseti.

 

Lord Brahma replied: “Be satisfied by always remaining celibate and performing austerities and very carefully control the activities of the mind.”

 

(iii) sa tatha bhutva bhuya enam upasadyaha.

bhagavan kalau papac channah prajah katham mucyerann iti.

 

Pippalada followed these instructions, and after having become pure in his own heart and mind, he again approached his father and asked: “O my Lord, please tell me how the living entities in Kali-yuga, who are completely covered by sin, may be delivered.”

 

(iv) ko va devata ko va mantro bruhiti.

 

“Which form of the Lord should be the object of their worship, and what mantra should they chant in order to become delivered? Kindly inform me.”

 

(v) sa hovaca rahasyam te vadishyami.

jahnavi-tire navadvipe golokakhye dhamni govindo dvi-bhujo gaurah sarvatma maha-purusho mahatma maha-yogi tri-gunatitah sattva-rupo bhaktim loke kasyatiti. tad ete sloka bhavanti.

 

Lord Brahma replied: “Listen carefully, for I shall give you a very confidential description of what will happen in the Kali-yuga. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda who is the all-pervading Supersoul residing in the hearts of all living entities, who is the Supreme Absolute Truth, the master of all mystics and the supreme enjoyer, who is beyond the touch of the three modes of material nature and whose form is transcendental, will appear again in the Kali age. Appearing as His own greatest devotee, the Lord will assume a two-armed form with a golden complexion in His abode of Goloka Vrindavana manifested on the bank of the Ganges at Navadvipa, West Bengal. He will disseminate pure devotional service in the whole world. I will now describe this incarnation of the Lord in the following verses.”

 

(vi) eko devah sarva-rupi mahatma

gauro rakta-syamalah-sveta-rupah

caitanyatma sa vai caitanya-saktir

bhaktakaro bhakti-do bhakti-vedyah

 

“The one Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in innumerable transcendental forms, is the master of all transcendental potencies. That same Lord who previously appeared with white, red, and black complexions, will appear as Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Kali-yuga in a golden form. He will assume the role of a perfect devotee and He will freely distribute pure devotional service to the conditioned souls. But He will be known only by those who are surrendered to Him.”

 

(vii) namo vedanta-vedyaya, krishnaya paramatmane;

sarva-caitanya-rupaya, caitanyaya namo namah.

 

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Sri Krishna, the all-pervading Supersoul residing in the hearts of all living entities, who is understood by the study of Vedanta philosophy. He appears as Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the supremely conscious person.”

 

(viii) vedanta-vedyam purusham puranam

caitanyatmanam visva-yonim mahantam

tam eva viditvati-mrityum eti

nanyah pantha vidyate ’yanaya

 

“One who understands that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known by the study of Vedanta philosophy, who is the original cause of unlimited universes, and who is the oldest, the original person, crosses beyond this world of birth and death. This is the proper understanding about Lord Caitanya, and aside from this there is no other way for one to achieve liberation.”

 

(ix) sva-nama-mula-mantrena, sarvam hladayati vibhuh.

 

“Appearing in this golden form, the unlimited and all-powerful Supreme Lord will fill the entire universe with transcendental bliss by the congregational chanting of the maha-mantra which consists of His own holy names.”

 

(x) dve sakti parame tasya, hladini samvid eva ca iti.

 

“In this way the Supreme Lord will manifest two of His transcendental potencies-His hladini-sakti (the potency of transcendental bliss) and samvit-sakti (the potency of transcendental knowledge).”

 

(xi) sa eva mula-mantram japati, harir iti krishna iti rama iti.

 

“The Supreme Lord will chant a mantra consisting of His own names Hari, Krishna, and Rama (the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare).

 

(xii) harati hridaya-granthim vasana-rupam iti harih.

krishih smarane tac ca nas tad-ubhaya-melanam iti krishnah.

ramayati sarvam iti rama ananda-rupah. atra sloko bhavati.

 

“These three seed names of the maha-mantra of the Supreme Lord (Hari, Krishna, and Rama) may be explained in the following way: {1} ‘Hari’ means He who removes (harati) the knot of material desire in the hearts of the living entities; {2} ‘Krishna’ is composed of the two syllables ‘krish’ and ‘na’. ‘Krish’ means He who attracts the minds of all living entities, and ‘na’ means the supreme transcendental pleasure; and {3} ‘Rama’ means He who is the personification of all transcendental bliss.

 

(xiii) mantro guhyah paramo bhakti-vedyah.

 

“The maha-mantra is the topmost and most confidential of all mantras. It can only be understood when one engages in the pure devotional service of the Supreme Lord.”

 

(xiv) namany ashtav-ashta ca sobhanani, tani nityam ye japanti dhiras. te vai mayam atitaranti, nanyah paramam-mantram parama-rahasyam nityam avartayati.

 

“Those who seriously desire to make progress in spiritual life should continually chant these sixteen beautiful names (maha-mantra) of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in this way they will cross beyond the bondage of the illusory enery in this material world. There is no other mantra which is as powerful as this supremely great and most confidential of all mantras, which has directly descended from the spiritual world.”

 

(xv) caitanya eva sankarshano vasudevah, parameshthi rudrah sarko brihaspatih sarve devah sarvani bhutani, sthavarani carani ca, yat kincit sad-asat-karanam sarvam. tad atra slokah.

 

“Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead who appears as Lord Sankarshana and Lord Vasudeva. He is the original father of Lord Brahma, Siva, Indra, Brihaspati, all the demigods, and all moving and non-moving living entities. He is the original cause of all that is temporary and all that is eternal. Nothing exists separately from Him, and therefore He is everything. He is furthur described in the following verses.”

 

(xvi) yat kincid asad bhunkte, ksharam tat karyam ucyate.

 

“The material world (kshara) which the living entities (souls) try to enjoy, is the illusory and temporary manifested effect.”

 

(xvii) sat karanam param jivas, tad aksharam itiritam.

 

“The living entities (akshara) are eternal infinitesimal parts of the Lord and thus transcendental to this material world.”

 

(xviii) ksharaksharabhyam paramah, sa eva purushottamah;

caitanyakhyam param tattvam, sarva-karana-karanam.

 

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, however, is superior to both the temporary material energy (effect) and the eternal living entities (cause). He is the Supreme Person, the Absolute Truth and the original cause of all causes. He is thus the cause of both the living entities and the material world.”

 

(xix) ya enam rasayati bhajati dhyayati, sa papmanam tarati, sa puto bhavati, sa tattvam janati, sa tarati sokam, gatis tasyaste nanyasyeti.

“One who cultivates a relationship with the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and in this way always worships and remembers Him with devotion becomes free from all sins and completely pure. Easily understanding the truth about the Lord and becoming free from all material lamentation, such a devotee attains the supreme goal of life, which is unattainable by those averse to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”

[Ash]

Smritis (Puranas, Samhitas, Itihasas, Tantras etc.)

about the Supreme Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu

 

narada-pancaratre

 

(1) bhakti-priyo bhakti-data, damodara ibhas-patih;

indra-darpa-haro 'nanto, nityananda-cid-atmakah.

 

In the Narada-pancaratra, Bala-Krishna-sahasra-nama-stotra, it is said:

 

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known by the names Bhakti-priya, Bhakti-data, Damodara, Ibhas-pati, Indra-darpa-hara, Ananta, Nityananda, Cid-atmaka,. . .”

 

(2) caitanya-rupas caitanyas, cetana-guna-varjitah;

advaitacara-nipuno, ’dvaitah parama-nayakah.

 

“ . . . Caitanya-rupa, Caitanya, Cetana, Guna-varjita, Advaitacara-nipuna, Advaita, Parama-nayaka, . . .”

 

(3) nilah svetah sitah krishno, gaurah pitambara-cchadah

saci-suta-jaya-pradah

 

“ . . . Nila, Sveta, Sita, Krishna, Gaura, Pitambara-cchada, Saci-suta, and Jaya-prada.”

(4) krishna-prema prema-bhakta, hari-bhakti-pradayini;

caitanya-rupa caitanya-priya caitanya-rupini.

 

In the Narada-pancaratra, Radha-sahasra-nama-stotra (140), it is said:

 

“Srimati Radharani possesses pure love for Lord Krishna and thus She is the giver of pure devotion to Lord Krishna. She combines with Lord Krishna in the form of Lord Caitanya.”

 

(5)caitanya bhuto jivanam, yata caitanya varjitah

jadi bhuta bhavantiha, caitanyastu that smritah.

 

“The Lord is also known as Sri Caitanya because He is present as the Supersoul (supreme consciousness) in the hearts of all living entities. In His absence, everything is simply dull matter.”

 

srimad-bhagavata-mahapurane

 

(1) krishna-varnam tvishakrishnam, sangopangastra-parshadam;

yajnaih sankirtana-prayair, yajanti hi su-medhasah.

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32) Karabhajana Muni speaks to Videharaja Nimi:

 

“In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead (Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu), who constantly sings the name of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish (but is like molten gold), He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons, and confidential companions.”

 

(2) dhyeyam sada paribhava-ghnam abhishta-doham

tirthaspadam siva-virinci-nutam saranyam

bhrityarti-ham pranata-pala-bhavabdhi-potam

vande maha-purusha te caranaravindam

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.33) it is said:

 

“We offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Him, the Lord, upon whom one should always meditate. He destroys insults to His devotees. He removes the distresses of His devotees and satisfies their desires. He, the abode of all holy places and the shelter of all sages, is worshipable by Lord Siva and Lord Brahma. He is the boat of the demigods for crossing the ocean of birth and death.”*

 

(4)tyaktva sudustyaja-surepsita-rajya-lakshmim

dharmishtha arya-vacasa yad agad aranyam

maya-mrigam dayitayepsitam anvadhavad

vande maha-purusha te caranaravindam

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.34) it is said:

 

“We offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of the Lord, upon whom one should always meditate. He left His householder life (apparently due to the curse of a brahmana), leaving aside His eternal consort (Srimati Vishnupriya Devi), whom even the denizens of heaven adore. He went into the forest to deliver the fallen souls, who are put into illusion by material energy.”*

 

(5) ittham nri-tiryag-rishi-deva jhashavatarair

lokan vibhavayasi hamsi jagat-pratipan

dharmam maha-purusha pasi yuganuvrittam

channah kalau yad abhavas tri-yugo ’tha sa tvam

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.38) Sri Prahlada Maharaja states:

 

“My Lord, You kill all the enemies of the world in Your multifarious incarnations in the families of men, animals, demigods, rishis, aquatics and so on. Thus You illuminate the worlds with transcendental knowledge. In the Age of Kali, O Mahapurusha, You sometimes appear in a covered incarnation. Therefore You are known as Tri-yuga [one who appears in only three yugas].”*

 

(6) daksha uvaca

suddham sva-dhamny uparatakhila-buddhy-avastham

cin-matram ekam abhayam pratishidhya mayam

tishthams tayaiva purushatvam upetya tasyam

aste bhavan aparisuddha ivatma-tantrah

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (4.7.26) Daksha prays to the Lord as follows:

 

“O supremely independent Lord! You manifest your pure, transcendental and fearless form in Your own abode known as Sri Mayapura.”

 

(7) asan varnas trayo hy asya, grihnato ’nuyugam tanuh;

suklo raktas tatha pita, idanim krishnatam gatah.

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.8.13) Sri Gargamuni tells Nanada Maharaja:

 

“Your son Krishna appears as an incarnation in every millennium. In the past, He assumed three different colors-white, red and yellow-and now He has appeared in a blackish color.”*

 

adi-purane narada-purane ca

 

aham eva dvija-sreshtho, nityam pracchanna-vigrahah;

bhagavad-bhakta-rupena, lokam rakshami sarvada.

 

In the Adi Purana and the Narada Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“Concealing My true identity during My pastimes, I will assume the form of the topmost brahmana devotee of the Lord. In this form I will always protect all the living entities in this world.”

 

brihan-naradiya purane (5.35)

 

(1) aham eva kalau vipra, nityam pracchanna-vigrahah;

bhagavad-bhakta-rupena, lokan rakshami sarvada.

 

In the Brihan-naradiya Purana, the Supreme Lord says:

 

“In Kali-yuga, concealing My true identity during My pastimes, I will assume the form of the topmost brahmana devotee of the Lord. In this form I will always protect all the living entities in this world.”

 

(2) divija bhuvi jayadhvam, jayadhvam bhakta-rupinah;

kalau sankirtanarambhe, bhavishyami saci-sutah.

 

“Therefore my dear demigods, please take birth as devotees on the earth in Kali-yuga. I will then appear as the son of Saci in Kali-yuga and taking all of you along with Me I will inaugurate the hari-nama-sankirtana movement.”

 

kurma-purane

 

kalina dahyamananam, uddharaya tanu-bhritam;

janma prathama-sandhyayam, bhavishyati dvijalaye.

 

In the Kurma Purana it is said:

 

“For the ultimate deliverance of the conditioned souls burning in the sinful atmosphere of Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will take birth in a brahmana's home in the first sandhya (few thousand years in the beginning) of that age.”

 

garuda-purane

 

(1) kalina dahyamananam, paritranaya tanu-bhritam;

janma prathama-sandhyayam, karishyami dvijatishu.

 

In the Garuda Purana, the Supreme Lord Himself declares:

 

“For the upliftment of the conditioned souls burning in the sinful atmosphere of Kali-yuga, I will take birth among the brahmanas in the first sandhya of that age.”

 

(2) aham purno bhavishyami, yuga-sandhau viseshatah;

mayapure navadvipe, bhavishyami saci-sutah.

 

“In My original spiritual form which is the source of all the incarnations, I will descend as the transcendental son of Srimati Sacidevi in Navadvipa-Mayapura at the beginning of Kali-yuga.”

 

(3) kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, lakshmi-kanto bhavishyati;

daru-brahma-samipa-sthah, sannyasi gaura-vigrahah.

 

“In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will descend first as the husband of the goddess of fortune, Srimati Lakshmidevi, and then He will reside near Lord Jagannatha at Purushottama-kshetra (Nilacala) Puri, in the form of a golden sannyasi.”

 

(4) yad gopi-kuca-kumbha-sambhrama-bhararambhena samvardhitah

yad va gopa-kumara-sara-kalaya range subhandi-kritam

yad vrindavana-kanane pravilasac chridama-damadibhis

tat prema-prakatam cakara bhagavan caitanya-rupah prabhuh

 

In the Garuda Purana it is said:

 

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krshna, whose eyes glanced at the gopis with increasing agitation due to pure love, who enjoyed most auspicious and glorious playful pastimes with Sridama, Dama and His other cowherd boyfriends in the divine Vrindavana forest, will appear again to this world to reveal and freely distribute that same pure spiritual love. At that time His name will be Sri Caitanya.”

 

(5) yo reme saha-ballavi ramayate vrindavane 'har-nisam

yah kamsam nijaghana kaurava-rane yah pandavanam sakha

so 'yam vainava-danda-mandita-bhujah sannyasa-veshah svayam

nihsandeham upagatah kshiti-tale caitanya-rupah prabhuh

 

“There is absolutely no doubt that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who enjoyed transcendental pastimes with the gopis, who filled the residents of Vrindavana with divine happiness day and night, who killed Kamsa, the enemy of His devotees and who in the war between the Kauravas and Pandavas, made friendship with His devotees, the Pandavas, will come again to this earth. He will assume the form of a paramhamsa sannyasi with His arm decorated with a bamboo danda and His name will be Sri Caitanya.”

 

(6) sadhavah kali-kale tu, tyaktvanya-tirtha-sevanam;

vrindaranye 'thava kshetre, nava-khande vasanti va.

 

“In the age of Kali the devotees will abandon the service of other holy places and live in either Navadvipa or Vrindavana.”

 

devi-purane

 

nama-siddhanta-sampatti-prakasana-parayanah;

kvacit sri-krishna-caitanya-nama loke bhavishyati.

 

In the Devi Purana it is said:

 

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna Caitanya will again appear in this world in the future. He will greatly devoted to His mission of manifesting the great treasurehouse of the conclusions of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.”

 

nrisimha-purane

 

satye daitya-kuladhi-nasa-samaye simhordhva-martyakritis

tretayam dasa-kandharam paribhavan rameti namakritih

gopalan paripalayan vraja-pure bharam haran dvapare

gaurangah priya-kirtanah kali-yuge caitanya-nama prabhuh

 

In the Nrisimha Purana it is said:

 

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared in Satya-yuga as Lord Nrisimhadeva in the form of half-man and half-lion to destroy Hiranyakasipu, the king of the demons, and who appeared in Treta-yuga as Lord Ramacandra to kill the great ten-headed demon Ravana, and who appeared in the Dvapara-yuga for protecting and maintaining the cowherd men and women of Vrindavana and removing the burden of the earth, will appear again in the Kali-yuga in a golden form. He will fully relish the chanting of His own holy names and His name will be Lord Caitanya.”

 

padma-purane

 

(1) yatra yogesvarah sakshad, yogi-cintyo janardanah;

caitanya-vapur aste vai, sandranandatmakah prabhuh.

 

In the Padma Purana it is said:

 

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is master of all mystic power, who is the object of the yogis’ meditation, who vanquishes the distress of His devotees, will appear in His transcendental form with the name Sri Caitanya, and in this form He will always remain absorbed in intense spiritual bliss.”

 

(2) kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango 'ham mahi-tale;

bhagirathi-tate ramye, bhavishyami saci-sutah.

 

In the Padma Purana, the Supreme Lord affirms:

 

“In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, I will appear as Gauranga on the earth in a beautiful place by the shore of the Ganges. I will become the son of Sacidevi and My complexion will be golden.”

 

brahma-purane

 

(1) kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango 'ham mahi-tale;

bhagirathi-tate bhumni, bhavishyami sanatanah.

 

In the Brahma Purana, the Supreme Lord Himself declares:

 

“In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, I will appear as Gauranga on the earth in a beautiful place by the shore of the Ganges. I will descend in My original eternal form and My complexion will be golden.”

 

brahma-purane-utkala-khande

 

(2) This is a conversation between Lord Vishnu and Goddess Katyayani in the Brahma Purana, Utkala-khanda.

 

“Hearing Lord Narayana's words, Goddess Katyayani said: ‘If in Your heart You are indeed merciful to me, then You must give me Your maha-prasadam remnants. Then every living entity in the world will eat that maha-prasadam. Everyone in the three worlds will easily attain that prasadam.’ Decorated with the jewels of all virtues, Lord Narayana said, ‘I will keep My vow. I will tell you an ancient secret, a secret that will destroy all fears of the flames of repeated birth and death. No one knows this secret. When, using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the serpent Ananta as the rope, the demigods churned the milk ocean, the kalpa-vriksha tree was born from the friction of the churning. The kalpa-vriksha grants every desire anyone may ask, every desire in the heart. Whatever opulence a person requests, it grants. It does not turn its face from any request. The kalpa-vriksha tree, which is the glorious, effulgent, and beautiful king of trees, comes from the form of Lord Sri Caitanya. It is My own form. It is the king of mercy. It has no equal. I will descend to the earth as Sri Caitanya. I will become a sannyasi. I will enjoy many pastimes. I, the master of the three worlds, will stay on the earth and mercifully preach the truth. Manifesting a humanlike form, I will preach the sankirtana movement in Kali-yuga. My form will be splendid like gold. I will keep My vow. I will preach the highest spiritual love. Now I have revealed My heart to you. Please keep that secret hidden in your heart also. In Kali-yuga I will come as Lord Gaura, the best of incarnations, and with My own glories I will deliver the world.’”

 

bhavishya-purane

 

(1) anandasru-kala-roma-harsha-purnam tapo-dhana

sarve mam eva drakshyanti kalau sannyasa-rupinam

 

In the Bhavishya Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“O sage, in Kali-yuga everyone will be very fortunate to see Me in My form as a sannyasi, with tears of bliss constantly flowing from My eyes and My bodily hairs standing erect in ecstasy. I will also exhibit the great wealth of austerity.”

 

(2) ajayadhvam ajayadhvam, ajayadhvam na samsayah;

kalau sankirtanarambhe, bhavishyami saci-sutah.

 

In the Bhavishya Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“I shall appear. I shall appear. I shall appear in Kali-yuga. Of this there is no doubt. In the age of Kali, I shall descend as the son of Sacidevi to inaugurate the sankirtana movement for the deliverance of all living entities.”

 

(3) In the Pratisarga part of the Bhavishya Purana, Chapter 20, verses 71-73:

 

“Lord Jagannatha, the Supreme Lord Hari Himself, spoke these attractive words for the welfare of all: ‘Both the mlecchas who are born from mixed countries ruled by descendants of Kasyapa (demons) and the sudras, will become brahmanas by initiation. They will wear sikha (tuft of hair on the back side of the head) and brahmana threads and will become well-versed in the uncontaminated fruit of the Vedas (Srimad-Bhagavatam). They will worship Me by the sankirtana-yajna prescribed by the Lord of Lords, the protector of Sacidevi (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu).’’’

 

agni-purane

 

prasantatma lamba-kanthas, gaurangas ca suravritah

 

In the Agni Purana it is said:

 

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Gauranga will appear in a golden form with a graceful long neck and a peaceful heart, surrounded by His saintly devotees.”

 

saura-purane

 

su-pujitah sada gaurah, krishno va veda-vid dvijah.

 

In the Saura Purana it is said:

 

“One should always devotedly worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His two eternal forms. He is either the dark Lord Krisna or the fair Lord Gaura, a brahmana who knows the meaning of all the Vedas.”

matsya-purane

 

mundo gaurah su-dirghangas, tri-srotas-tira-sambhavah;

dayaluh kirtana-grahi, bhavishyami kalau yuge.

 

In the Matsya Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“In the Kali-yuga I will appear in a place (Navadvipa) where the three rivers meet (Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati). I will be fair with a shaven head and will have five large bodily parts (nose, arms, chin, eyes and knees). I will be very merciful and enchanted by the chanting of My own holy names.”

 

vayu-purane*

 

(1) paurnamasyam phalgunasya, phalguni-riksha-yogatah;

bhavishye gaura-rupena, saci-garbhe purandarat.

 

In the Vayu Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“On the most auspicious evening on the day of Purnima (full moon) in the month of Phalguna (February 18, 1486 A.D.), I will appear in a golden form begotten by Sri Jagannatha Misra in Sacidevi's womb.”

 

(2) suddho gaurah su-dirghango, ganga-tira-samudbhavah;

dayaluh kirtana-grahi, bhavishyami kalau yuge.

 

“In the Kali-yuga I will appear in a place (Navadvipa) on the shores of the Ganges. I will be pure and fair and will have five large bodily parts (nose, arms, chin, eyes and knees). I will be very merciful and enchanted by the chanting of My own holy names.”

 

*Full passage from Vayu Purana will follow later.

 

markandeya-purane

 

golokam ca parityajya, lokanam trana-karanat;

kalau gauranga-rupena, lila-lavanya-vigrahah.

 

In the Markandeya Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“In the Kali-yuga I will give up My own eternal abode Goloka Vrindavana, and I will assume the form of the most handsome and playful Lord Gauranga to rescue all the living entities in the universe.”

 

varaha-purane

 

aham eva dvija-sreshtho, lila-pracurya-vigrahah;

bhagavad-bhakta-rupena, lokan rakshami sarvada.

 

In the Varaha Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“I will appear in the form of a topmost brahmana and a great devotee of Lord Krishna. At that time I will be the embodiment of unlimited transcendental pastimes, which will be manifested for the protection of all living entities.”

 

vamana-purane

 

kali-ghora-tamas-channat, sarvan acara-varjitan;

saci-garbhe ca sambhuya, tarayishyami narada.

 

In the Vamana Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“O Narada, in the dense darkness of Kali-yuga arising due to ignorance and indulgence in prohibited activities, I will take birth in Srimati Sacidevi’s (mother of the universe) womb and deliver the most sinful people from their miserable situation.”

upa-purane

 

aham eva kvacid brahman, sannyasasritam asritah;

hari-bhaktim grahayami, kalau papa-hatan naran.

 

In the Upapuranas, the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna speaks to Vyasadeva:

 

“O learned brahmana, sometimes I accept the renounced order of life to induce the fallen people of the age of Kali to accept devotional service to the Lord.”*

 

vishnu-purane

 

nihsvadhyaya-vashat-karo, svadha-svaha-vivarjite;

tatah pravir asau viprah, kvacil loke bhavishyati.

 

In the Vishnu Purana it is said:

“When there will be no study of Vedic literatures and no sacrifices with the chanting of vashat-kara, svadha, and svaha in Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear in form of a brahmana.”

 

narayana-samhitayam

 

dvapariyair janair vishnuh, pancaratrais tu kevalaih;

kalau tu nama-matrena, pujyate bhagavan harih.

 

In the Narayana-samhita it is said:

 

“In the Dvapara-yuga, people should worship Lord Vishnu only by the regulative principles of the Narada-pancaratra and other such authorized books. In the Age of Kali, however, people should simply chant the holy names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (who will personally appear to teach this yuga-dharma).”*

 

tantre

 

evam anga vidhim kritva, mantri dhyayed yathacyutam;

kalaya-kusuma-syamam, druta-hema-nibham tu va.

 

In the Tantras it is said:

 

O dear one, a person following the rules & regulations of the scriptures should meditate by the chanting of mantras on that infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in two forms: one dark like a kalaya flower (Krishna), and the other fair like molten gold (Gaura).”

 

urdhvamnaya-tantre

 

(1) sandhau krishno vibhuh pascad, devakyam vasudevatah;

kalau purandarat sacyam, gaura-rupo vibhuh smritah.

In the Irdhvamnaya-tantra, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“In the sandhya at the end of Dvapara-yuga, I appeared as the dark all-powerful Lord Krisna, the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. In Kali-yuga, however, I will appear as the golden all-powerful Lord Gaura, the transcendental son of Jagannatha Misra and.”

 

(2) avataram imam kritva, jiva-nistara-hetuna;

kalau mayapurim gatva, bhavishyami saci-sutah.

 

“For the deliverance of the conditioned souls in Kali-yuga, I will incarnate in Sridhama Mayapura as the son of Srimati Sacidevi.”

 

(3) kalau purandarat sacyah, gaura rupo vibhuh smritah;

mahaprabhur iti khyatah, sarva lokaika pavanah.

 

“In Kali-yuga, the Supreme Lord will descend as the all-powerful Lord Gaura (golden form) as the son of Jagannatha Misra and Sacidevi. He will be known as Mahaprabhu and will purify the whole universe.”

 

(4) vaivasvatantare brahman, ganga-tire su-punya-de;

hari-nama tada dattva, candalan haddikams tatha.

 

“O brahmana, I will descend on the sacred banks of the Ganges during the Vaivasvata-manvantara and I will even deliver the candalas (dog-eaters) and outcastes by awarding them My holy names.”

 

(5) brahmanan kshatriyan vaishyan, sataso ’tha sahasrasah;

uddharishyamy aham tatra, tapta-svarna-kalevarah.

sannyasam ca karishyami, kancana-gramam asritah.

 

“At that time, I will also deliver hundreds and thousands of brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaisyas.

My form will as splendid as molten gold and I will go to Kancana-grama (Katwa) and accept the renounced order (sannyasa).

 

GAURA-GAYATRI MANTRA IS MENTIONED IN IRDHVAMNAYA-TANTRA

 

(vi) ‘klim gauraya namah’ iti, sarva lokeshu pujitah;

maya-ramananga-bijaih, vag-bijena ca pujitah

 

shadaksharah kitito ’yam, mantra-rajah sura-drumah

 

In the Irdhvamnaya-tantra, Srila Vyasadeva describes the six-syllable gaura-mantra to Srila Narada:

 

“This gaura-mantra (gauraya namah) is worshipped by all the people in the world by using the bija-mantras of Maya, Rama, Ananga and Sarasvati. I have chanted to you this the six-syllable gaura-mantra (klim gauraya namah), which is like a desire tree because it fulfills all our desires and grants us pure love for Krishna.”

 

kapila-tantre (Ninth Patala)

 

(1) kvacit sapi krishnam aha, srinu mad-vacanam priya;

bhavata ca sahaikatmyam, icchami bhavitum prabho.

 

In the Kapila Tantra it is said:

 

“Then Srimati Radharani said to Lord Krisna: ‘O my beloved Lord, please hear My words. I intensely desire to become one with You.’

 

(2) mama bhavanvitam rupam, hridayahlada-karanam; parasparanga-madhya-stham, krida-kautuka-mangalam.

 

‘Please show Me a form which is the personification of My love for You, which is greatly delightful to My heart, which is manifested by the transcendental union and Our two bodies and which is filled with auspicious and blissful pastimes.’

 

(3) paraspara-svabhavadhyam rupam ekam pradarsaya

srutva tu preyasi-vakyam parama-priti-sucakam

 

‘Please show Me that form which is enriched by Our two natures.’ In this way Lord Krisna heard these words which were spoken by His beloved with intense love.

 

(4) svecchayasid yatha purvam, utsahena jagad-guruh;

premalingana-yogena, hy acintya-sakti-yogatah.

 

Hearing this, the master of the universe Lord Krisna enthusiastically embraced Her. Then, by the arrangement of His inconceivable potency, . . .

 

(5) radha-bhava-kanti-yuktam, murtim ekam prakasayan;

svapne tu darsayam asa, radhikayai svayam prabhuh.

 

. . . Their two divine forms merged into one single splendid golden form of Krisna (Gauranga) endowed with the sentiment, love and golden complexion of His greatest devotee Srimati Radharani. This form was shown by Lord Krishna to Srimati Radhika in a dreamlike trance.”

 

(6) jambudvipe kalau ghore, mayapure dvijalaye;

janitva parshadaih sardham, kirtanam prakatishyati.

 

In the Kapila Tantra, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“In the horrible Kali-yuga, I will descend in a brahmana’s home in Mayapura, in Jambudvipa. Assisted by My eternal associates, I will manifest the hari-nama-sankirtana movement.”

 

krishna-yamale

 

(1) aham purno bhavishyami, yuga-sandhau viseshatah;

mayapure navadvipe, varam ekam saci-sutah.

 

In the Krisna-yamala, the Supreme Lord confirms:

 

“During the first sandhya of Kali-yuga I will descend in My most complete and original form , in Mayapura in heart of Navadvipa as the divine son of Sacidevi.”

 

(2) iti matva kripa-sindhur, amsena kripaya harih;

prasanno bhakta-rupena, kalav avatarishyati.

 

In the Krishna-yamala it is said:

 

“Thinking in this way, Lord Krishna, who is an ocean of mercy, mercifully decided to appear in Kali-yuga, in the form of His own blissful devotee along with all His parts or amsas (associates).”

 

(3) gaurango nada-gambhirah, sva-namamrita-lalasah;

dayaluh kirtana-grahi, bhavishyati saci-sutah.

 

“His limbs will be golden and His voice deep. He will increasingly hanker to taste the nectar of His own holy names and will be completely enchanted by it . He will be the most merciful son of Srimati Sacidevi.

 

(4) matva tan-mayam atmanam, pathan dvy-aksharam uccakaih;

gata-trapo madonmatta-gajavad viharishyati.

 

“Fully absorbed within Himself and loudly chanting the two syllables of His own holy name (‘krish’ and ‘na’ or ‘ha’ and ‘ri’), the Lord will enjoy pastimes like a maddened elephant, becoming indifferent to public opinion.”

 

(6) bhuvam prapte tu govinde, caitanyakhya bhavishyati;

amsena tatra yasyanti, tatra tat-purva-parshadah.

prithak prithan namadheyah, prayah purusha-murtayah.

 

“In this way Lord Govinda will descend as Lord Caitanya on this earth. His expansions and eternal associates will also descend with Him to this world and all of them will mostly assume male forms having many variegated names.”

 

(7) punya-kshetre navadvipe, bhavishyati saci-sutah.

 

“In the most sacred of all holy places, Sri Navadvipa, the Supreme Lord will appear as the son of Sacidevi.”

 

brahma-yamale

 

(1) athavaham dharadhame, bhutva mad-bhakta-rupa-dhrik;

mayayam ca bhavishyami, kalau sankirtanagame.

 

In the Brahma-yamala, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“Sometimes I personally appear on the surface of the earth in the garb of My own devotee. In this form, I appear in Sri Mayapura in Kali-yuga to inaugurate the hari-nama-sankirtana movement.”

 

(2) gaurangam gaura-diptangam, pathet stotram kritanjalih;

nanda-gopa-sutam caiva, namasyami gadagrajam.

In the Brahma-yamala it is also said:

 

“With great devotion and folded hands, one should recite the following prayer before Lord Gauranga, whose limbs are as effulgent as molten gold: ‘I offer my respectful obeisances to Lord Krishna, the the son of the Nanda Maharaja and the elder brother of Gada.’”

 

(3) kalau prathama-sandhyayam, hari-nama-pradayakah;

bhavishyati navadvipe, saci-garbhe janardanah.

 

“In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, Lord Hari, who vanquishes the distress of His devotees, will appear in Sacidevi's womb in Navadvipa to freely distribute the nectar of His own holy names.”

 

(4) jiva-nistaranarthaya, nama-vistaranaya ca;

yo hi krshnah sa caitanyo, manasa bhati sarvada.

 

“Let that form of Lord Caitanya, who is non-different from Lord Krishna, and who descends for delivering the conditioned souls and spreading the glories of His own holy names, always splendidly manifest in my mind.”

 

(5) bhavishyami ca caitanyah, kalau sankirtanagame;

hari-nama-pradanena, lokan nistarayamy aham.

 

In Kali-yuga, I will appear as Sri Caitanya to inaugurate the hari-nama-sankirtana movement.

By awarding the highest treasure of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra to the people, I will deliver all of them.”

 

visvasara-tantre

 

(1) gangayah dakshine bhage, navadvipe manorame;

kali-papa-vinasaya, saci-garbhe sanatani.

 

In the Visvasara Tantra, Lord Siva said to Candi:

 

“O eternal goddess, in order to destroy the sins of Kali-yuga, I will appear in the womb of Sacidevi, in the most beautiful Navadvipa, which is on the southern shore of the Ganges.”

 

(2) janishyati priye misra-purandara-grihe svayam;

phalgune paurnamasyam ca, nisayam gaura-vigrahah.

 

“O beloved, on the most auspicious evening on the day of Purnima (full moon) in the month of Phalguna (February 18, 1486 A.D.), I will appear in a golden form in the home of Sri Jagannatha Misra.”

 

kularnava-tantre

 

tatah kale ca samprapte, kalau ko ’pi maha-nidhih;

hari-nama-prakasaya, ganga-tire janishyati.

 

In the Kularnava Tantra, Lord Siva said to Parvati:

 

“At the beginning of Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is a great treasure house of transcendental qualities, will take birth by the Ganges’ shore in order manifest the chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.”

 

jaimini-bharate-asvamedha-parve (Chapter 32)

 

(1) bhakti-yoga-prakasaya, lokasyanugrahaya ca;

sannyasasramam asritya, krisna-caitanya-rupa-dhrik.

In the Jaimini-bharata, Asvamedha Parva, Chapter 32, Narada Muni tells Uddhava:

 

“To show mercy to the people by manifesting the science of His own devotional service, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will descend to the earth. He will accept the sannyasa-asrama and His name will be Sri Krishna Caitanya.”

 

(2) In the Jaimini-bharata, Asvamedha Parva, Chapter 32, Lord Krishna tells Narada:

 

“Happily smiling, Lord Krishna told Narada: ‘Rukmini just told Me about the glories of ecstatic love for My feet. Hearing her words I, even though I am the Supreme Lord Himself, have become ovewhelmed by the greatness of that love which My devotees possess for Me. I will thus personally taste the bliss of that ecstatic love and I will make the whole world taste it also. Assuming a humble nature by becoming My own devotee, I will manifest in the Kali-yuga. The Kali-yuga is horrible. It is filled with sins. Religion is not present in it. Therefore, becoming humble, I will teach the world. Speaking in this way, Lord Krishna manifested a most beautiful fair form splendid like gold, a form filled with ecstatic spiritual love, a form with a broad chest and two arms that touched His knees. Then He vowed: “In this form, I will widely distribute ecstatic spiritual love for Me.’”

 

(iii) anyavatara bahavah, sarve sadharana matah;

kalau krishnavataras tu, gudhah sannyasa-vesha-dhrik.

 

“Lord Krishna descends to the world in many different incarnations which only partially exhibit His potencies. However, in Kali-yuga, He directly appears Himself with His complete potencies in a hidden incarnation disguised as a sannyasi.”

 

vishnu-yamale

 

krishna-caitanya-namna ye, kirtayanti sakrin narah;

nanaparadha-muktas te, punanti sakalam jagat.

 

In theVishnu-yamala it is said:

 

“Those who chant the name Krishna Caitanya even once, become free from all offenses and purify all the worlds.”

 

brahma-rahasye

 

krishna-caitanyeti nama, mukhyan mukhyatamam prabhoh;

helaya sakrid uccarya, sarva-nama-phalam labhet.

 

In the Brahma-rahasya it is said:

 

“The holy name Krishna Caitanya is the topmost even among all the important primary holy names of the Lord. By chanting this name just once, a person attains the results of chanting all the other holy names of the Lord.”

 

yoga-vasishthe

 

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango ’sau mahi-tale;

bhagirathi-tate ramye, bhavishyati sanatanah.

 

In the Yoga-vasishtha it is said:

 

“In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Gauranga will appear on this earth on the beautiful banks of the Ganges, in His eternal golden form.”

 

vishnu-sahasra-nama-stotre (Mahabharata, Dana-dharma)

 

suvarna-varno hemango, varangas candanangadi;

sannyasa-kric chamah santo, nishtha-santi-parayanah.

 

In the Vishnu-sahasra-nama-stotra it is said:

 

“In His early pastimes He appears as a householder with a golden complexion. His limbs are beautiful, and His body, smeared with the pulp of sandalwood, seems like molten gold. In His later pastimes He accepts the sannyasa order, and He is equipoised and peaceful. He is the highest abode of peace and devotion, for He silences the impersonalist nondevotees.”

 

skanda-purane

 

antah krishno bahir gaurah, sangopangastra-parshadah;

saci-garbhe samapnuyam, maya-manusha-karma-krit.

 

In the Skanda Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“Outwardly of a fair complexion, but inwardly Krishna, I will take birth in Sacidevi's womb, accompanied by My associates, servants, weapons, and confidential companions. Due to influence of My illusory energy, atheistic people will consider Me an ordinary human being.”

 

sri ananta-samhitayam

 

svarnadi-tiram asritya, navadvipe dvijalaye;

sampradatum bhakti-yogam, lokasyanugrahaya ca.

 

ananta-samhitayam - in the Ananta-samhita; svarnadi-tiram - on theshore of the Ganges; asritya - taking shelter; navadvipe - in Navadvipa; dvijalaye - in a brahmana's home; sampradatum - to give; bhakti-yogam - devotional service; lokasyanugrahaya - to give mercy to the people; ca - and.

 

In the Ananta-samhita

 

“To show mercy to the people and give them devotional service, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear in a brahmana's home in Navadvipa by the Ganges' shore.

 

Text 51

 

sa eva bhagavan krishno, radhika-prana-vallabhah

srishty-adau sa jagannatho, gaura asin mahesvari

 

sa - He; eva - indeed; bhagavan - th4e Supreme Personality of Godhead; Krsnah - Lord Krsna; radhika-prana-vallabhah - more dear than life to Sri Radha; sarty-adau - in the beginning of creation; sa - He; jagannathah - the Lord of the universes; gaura - Gaura; asin - became; mahesvari - O Mahesvari.

 

“The Supreme Person, Sri Krsna Himself, who is the life of Sri Radharani, and is the Lord of the universe in creation, maintenance, and annihilation, appears as Gaura, O Mahesvari.”*

 

Text 52

 

avatirno bhavishyami, kalau nija-ganaih saha;

saci-garbhe navadvipe, svardhuni-parivarite.

 

avatirnah - descended; bhaviryami - I will become; kalau - in Kali-yuga; nija-ganaih - My associates; saha - with; saci-garbhe - in Saci's womb; navadvipe - in Navadvipa; svardhuni-parivarite - surrounded by the Ganges. Š

 

“In Kali-yuga I will descend to the earth with My associates. In Navadvipa, which is surrounded by the Ganges, I will take birth in Saci-devi's womb.

 

Texts 53 and 54

 

aprakasyam idam guhyam, na prakasyam bahir mukhe;

bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam, bhaktam bhakti-pradam svayam

 

man-maya-mohitah kecin, na jnasyanti bahir-mukhah;

jnasyanti mad-bhakti-yuktah, sadhavo nyasino ’malah.

 

aprakasyam - not to be revealed; idam - this; guhyam - secret; na - not; prakasyam - to be revealed; bahir-mukhe - external; bhaktavataram - the incarnation of a devotee; bhaktakhyam - known as a devotee; bhaktam - a devotee; bhakti-pradam - giving devotional service; svayam - personally; man-maya-mohitah - bewildered by My illusory pitency; kecin - some; na - not; jnasyanti - will understand; bahir-mukhah - external; jnasyanti - will understand; mad-bhakti-yuktah - engaged in My devotional service; sadhavah - saintly; nyasinah - renounced; amalah - pure.

 

“They who are bewildered by My illusory potency will not understand the great secret of the appearance in this world of Me in My personal form, in My form as the incarnation of a devotee, in My form bearing the name of a devotee, in My form as a devotee, and in My form as the giver of devotional service. This secret is not to be revealed to them. Only the saintly, pure, renounced devotees, diligently engaged in My devotional service, will be able to understand Me in these five forms.

 

Note: This verse, reminiscent of Caitanya-caritamata Adi 1.14, describes the panca-tattva.

 

Text 55

 

krishnavatara-kale yah, striyo ye purushah priyah;

kalau te ’vatarishyanti, sridama-subaladayah.

 

Krsnavatara-kale - at the time of Lord Krsna's incarnation; yah - who; striyah - women; ye - who; pururah - men; priyah - dear; kalau - in Kali-yuga; te - they; avatariryanti - will descend; sridama-subaladayah - headed by Sridama and Subala.

 

“My dear male and female associates, headed by Sridama and Subala, who came to this world at the time of My advent as Lord Krsna, will come again during the Kali-yuga.

Š

Text 56

 

catuh-shashti-mahantas te, gopa dvadasa balakah;

dharma-samsthapanarthaya, viharishyami tair aham.

 

catuh-rarti-mahantah - 64 mahantas; te - they; gopa - gopas; dvadasa - 12; balakah - boys; dharma-samsthapanarthaya - to establish the4 truth of religion; vihariryami - I will enjoy pastimes; taih - with them; aham - I.

 

“The gopas will become the sixty-four mahantas and the twelve gopalas. To establish the truth of religion, I will enjoy many pastimes with them.

 

Text 57

 

kale nashtam bhakti-patham, sthapayishyamy aham punah;

gacchantu bhuvi te putrah, jayantam bhakta-rupinah;

dharma-samsthapanam kale, kurvantu te mamajnaya.

 

kale - in time; nartam - destroyed; bhakti-patham - the poath of devotional service; sthapayiryami - will establish; aham - I; punah - again; gacchantu - should go; bhuvi - to the earth; te - they; putrah - sons; jayantam - should take birth; bhakta-rupinah - in the forms of devotees; dharma-samsthapanam - the establishment of religion; kale - at the time; kurvantu - should do; te - they; mama - My; ajnaya - by the order.

 

In this way I will again reveal the path of devotional service, which had been destroyed in the course of time. My sons should also descend to the earth, assume the forms of devotees, and, by My order, also work to re-establish the principles of true religion.

 

Text 58

 

krishnas caitanya-gaurango, gauracandrah saci-sutah;

prabhur gauro gaura-harir, namani bhakti-dani me.

 

Krsnah - Krsna; caitanya - Caitanya; gaurangah - Gauranga; gauracandrah - Gauracandra; saci-sutah - Sacisuta; prabhuh - Mahaprabhu; gaurah - Gaura; gaura-harih - Gaurahari; namani - names; bhakti-dani - giving devotional service; me - of Me.

 

At this time My names will be: Krsna Caitanya, Gauranga, Gauracandra, Sacisuta, Mahaprabhu, Gaura, and Gaurahari. Chanting these names will bring devotion to Me.”

ananta-samhitayam 79

 

gauri sri-radhika devi, harih krishnah prakirtitah;

ekatvac ca tayoh sakshad, iti gaura-harim viduh.

 

ananta-samhitayam - in the Ananta-samhita; gauri - fair; sri-radhika - Sri Radha; devi - Goddess; harih - Lord Hari; Krsnah - dark; prakirtitah - glorified; ekatvac - because of oneness; ca - and; tayoh - of Them both; sakrat - directly; iti - thus; gaura-harim - Gaurahari; viduh - is known.

 

In the Ananta-samhita it is said:

 

Fair Goddess Radha is known by the name Gauri and dark Lord Krsna is known by the name Hari. Aware that They both have combined in the form of Sri Caitanya, the the wise call Him Gaurahari.”

 

Text 80

 

navadvipe ca sa krishna, adaya hridaye svayam;

gajendra-gamanam radham, sada ramayate muda.

 

ananta-samhitayam - in the Ananta-samhita; navadvipe - in navadvipa; ca - and; sa - He; Krsna - Lord Krsna; adaya - taking; hadaye - in the heart; svayam - pwersonally; gajendra-gamanam - who is graceful like an elephant; radham - Sri Radha; sada - always; ramayate - delights; muda - happily.

 

In the Ananta-samhita it is also said:

 

Lord Krsna will appear in Navadvipa. Taking Her into His heart, Lord Krsna will again and again please Sri Radha, who is graceful like the best of elephants. Š

 

Text 81

 

navadvipe tu tah sakhyo, bhakta-rupa-dharah priye;

ekangam sri-gaura-harim, sevante satatam muda.

 

navadvipe - in Navadvipa; tu - indeed; tah - them; sakhyah - the gopis; bhakta-rupa-dharah - in the forms of devotees; priye - O beloved; eka - one; angam - body; sri-gaura-harim - Sri Gaurahari; sevante - serve; satatam - always; muda - happily.

 

O beloved, assuming the forms of devotees, the gopis will also take birth in Navadvipa. With great happiness they will again and again serve Lord Gaurahari, who is Radha and Krsna combined in a single form.

 

Text 82

 

ya eva radhika-krishnah, sa eva gaura-vigrahah;

yac ca vrindavanam devi, navadvipam ca tat subham.

 

yah - who; eva - indeed; radhika-Krsnah - Radha and Krsna; sa - He; eva - indeed; gaura-vigrahah - a golden form; yat - which; ca - and; vandavanam - Vrndavana; devi - O goddess; navadvipam - navadvipa; ca - and; tat - that; subham - beauty.

 

O goddess, Radha and Krsna will combine to become a single golden form, and Vandavana will become beautiful Navadvipa.

 

Texts 83 and 84

 

vrindavane navadvipe, bheda-buddhis ca yo narah;

tam eva radhika-krishne, sri-gaurange paratmani.

 

mac-chala-pata-nirbhinna-dehah so ’pi naradhamah;

pacyate narake ghore, yavad ahuta-samplavam.

 

vandavane - in Vrndavana; navadvipe - in Navadvipa; bheda-buddhih - the idea of difference; ca - and; yah - who; narah - person; tam - that; eva - indeed; radhika-karne - in Radha and Krsna; sri-gaurange - in Lord Caitanya; paratmani - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mat - my; sula - trident; pata - falling; nirbhinna - broken apart; dehah - body; so 'pi - he; naradhamah - the lowest of persons; pacyate - is cooked; narake - in hell; ghore - terrible; yavat - as long as; ahuta-samplavam - the flooding of water.

 

With my trident I will cut into pieces anyone who thinks that Vandavana and Navadvipa are different, or that Radha-Krsna and Lord Gauranga are different, or that Lord Gauranga is not the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a person is most degraded. He will burn in a terrible hell until the time when the universe is flooded with water.

 

sri-mahadevá uvaca

 

In Sri Ananta-samhita, Part Two, Chapter Two entitled Sri Caitanya-janma-khanda, Lord Siva describes to Parvati:

 

Text 4

 

sri-mahadevá uvaca

 

aho ’ti-bhagyam tava saila-putri

radha-samam tvam hi jagada visnuh

sri-krishna-caitanya-kathasu kante

yogyasi krishnarpita-deha-buddhih

 

Text 5

 

yasyasti bhaktir vraja-raja-putre

sri-radhikayam ca hareh samayam

tasyasti caitanya-kathadhikaro

harer abhaktasya na vai kadacit

 

Text 6

 

ya adi-devo ’khila-loka-natho

yasmad idam sarvam abhut paratma

layam punar yasyati yatra cante

tam krishna-caitanyam avehi kante

 

Text 7

.fn 2

 

brahmeti yam veda-vido vadanti

vidvamsam adyam khalu kecid ahuh

isam tathanye jagad-eka-natham

pasyanti kecid purushottamam ca

 

Text 8

.fn 2

 

kecit karma-phalam prahuh, kecit ahuh pitamaham;

kecia yajnesvaram prahuh, sarvajnam apare jaguh.

 

Text 9

 

ya eva bhagavan krishno, radhika-prana-vallabhah;

srishtyadau sa jagannatho, gaura asin mahesvari.

 

Text 10

 

kevalam suddha-caitanyam, tad evasid varanane;

tasmat tam krishna-caitanyam, pravadanti manishinah.

 

Text 11

.fn 2

 

adharasya krishih sabdo, nas ca visvasya vacakah;

visvadharam tõ yaa brahma, tad vai krishnam vidur budhah.

 

Text 12

.fn 2

 

vistaran me nigaditah, sruto yah krishna isvarah;

visvadau gaura-kantitvat, gaurangam vaishnavah viduh.

 

Text 13

.fn 2

 

na tada prakritir devi, rajah-sattva-tamo-mayi;

yaya visrijyate visvam, uta kim mahad-adayah.

 

Text 14

.fn 2

 

paratmane namas tasmai, sarva-karana-hetave;

adi-devaya gauraya, sac-cid-ananda-rupine.

 

Text 36

.fn 2

 

koti-kalpar jitaih punyair, vaishnavah syan maha-mate;

tatah syad radhika-krishna-lilasu rucir uttama.

 

Text 37

.fn 2

 

syad yasya radhika-krishna-lilayam parama matih;

jivan-muktah sa vijneyah, pujyah syad daivatair api.

 

Text 38

.fn 2

 

vina sri-gopika-sangam, kalpa-koti-satam param;

sravanat kirtanad vishnor, na radha-krishnam apnuyat.

 

Text 39

.fn 2

 

gopi-sangam na capnoti, sri-gaura-caranad rite;

tasmat tvam sarva-bhavena, sri-gauram bhaja sarvada.

 

Text 40

.fn 2

 

gauranga-caranambhoja-makaranda-madhuvratah;

sadhanena vina radham, krishnam prapsyanti niscitam.

 

Text 42

.fn 2

 

radhika-vallabhah krishno, bhaktanam priya-kamyaya;

srimad-gauranga-rupena, navadvipe virajate.

 

.fn 1

Text 43

.fn 2

 

gopi-bhava-pradanartham, bhagavan nanda-nandanah;

bhakta-vesa-dharah santo, dvi-bhujo gaura-vigrahah.

 

Text 44

.fn 2

 

ajanu-lambita-bhujas, caru-drik rucirananah;

krishneti mangalam nama, gayan uccair nijasya ca.

 

Text 45

.fn 2

 

gopi gopiti gopiti, japann eva kvacit kvacit;

kvacit sannyasa-krid devo, bibrad dandam kamandalum;

jivanam jnanadah kvapi, maha-bhavanvitah kvacit.

 

.fn 1

Text 46

.fn 2

 

evam virajamanam tam, sri-gaurangam dayacalam;

prapsyasy aradhya bhaktya tvam, radha-krishnau maha-vane.

 

gaurangam sac-cid-anandam, sarva-karana-karanam;

vaca gadgadayanantam, tushtava dharani-dharah pg 55

 

 

 

 

 

sammohana-tantre

 

(1) gaura-tejo vina yas tu, syama-tejah samarcayet;

japed vadhyayate vapi, sa bhavet pataki sive.

 

In the Sammohana Tantra, Sri Gopala-sahasra-nama-stotra (17), it is said:

 

“O auspicious one, a person who worships, glorifies, or studies the dark splendor that is Lord Krishna, without first worshiping the fair splendor that is Sri Gauranga, glides down to hell.”

 

(2) mayapurim samasritya, kalau ye mam upasate

sarva-papa-vinirmuktas te yanti paramam gatim

 

“Those who worship Me (in form of Lord Caitanya) in Kali-yuga, taking shelter of Sri Mayapura-dhama, very quickly become free from all sins and attain My supreme abode at the end of their lives.”

 

(3) yat tirtham vartate sriman, navadvipe vibhagasah;

tat-tirtha-mahima tatra, sata-koti-gunam kalau.

 

“In the age of Kali, the glories of all the great holy places in the universe are present hundreds and millions of times over in Sri Navadvipa (because the Lord incarnated there).”

 

(4) yatha cintamaneh sangat, dhatu-mulyam pravardhate;

gaura-sangat tatha tirtha-mahatmyam parivardhate.

 

“As a metal’s value increases (it turns into gold) due to the touch of a cintamani jewel, so the glory of any holy place increases manifold with Lord Gaura’s touch.”

 

brihad-brahma-yamalakhye

tantre tat kathitam pura

 

kalau purnanandas tri-bhuvana-jayi gaura-sutanur

navadvipe jatah suradhuni-samipe naraharih

dadat papibhyah samstutam api harer nama sukritam

taritva papabdhim bhuvi vijayate sri-gauracandrabhidhah

 

In ancient times in the Brihad-brahma-yamala Tantra it was said:

 

“All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Gauracandra, who appears in Kali-yuga as the personification of complete bliss. His beautiful form with the golden complexion is glorified throughout the three worlds. He appeared in Sri Navadvipa which is on the banks of the Ganges. He delivered the most fallen people of the world from the ocean of sins by freely distributing to them the treasure of the most sacred and glorious names of Lord Hari.”

 

vande gauravataram kali-mala-mathanam sri-navadvipa-vasam

kanthe malam dadhanam sruti-yuga-vilasat-svarna-samsakta-gandam

keyurangada-divya-ratna-ghatitam bahu-dvaye bibhratam

bhaktebhyo dadatam malapaharanam-namapi sarvam hareh

 

I offer my repeated obeisances to the Gaura-avatara, who destroys the unlimited impurities of Kali-yuga, who resides in Sri Navadvipa, who wears an exquisite garland around His neck, whose cheeks are beautified by glistening golden earrings, who arms are adorned with spl endid jeweled keyura and angada armlets, and who awards His devotees the holy names of Lord Hari, which destroy all the impurities in their hearts.

 

brahma-vaivarta purane

 

(1) sri bhagavan uvaca

kaleh panca sahasrani, varshani tishtha bhutale;

papani papino yanti, tubhyam dasyanti snanatah.

 

In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead said:

 

“On the earth 5,000 years of Kali will be very sinful and siners will come and deposit their sins in you (Ganges) by bathing.”

 

(2) man-mantropasaka sparsad, bhasmi bhutani tat kshanat;

bhavishyanti darsanac ca, snana deva hi jahnavi.

 

“Thereafter simply by the sight or touch of One who will worship Me by My mantra*, all those sins will be burnt at once.”

 

(* Here Lord Krishna is indicating His own concealed incarnation in the form of Lord Caitanya in Kali-yuga, when He will appear as His own upasaka for the purpose of teaching devotional service to everyone by the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.)

 

sri garga-samhitayam

 

sri-baladeva uvaca

 

srimad-bhagavatam divyam, puranam vacanam tada;

gauranvayasya sampraptir, bhavishyati na samsayah.

 

In the Sri Garga-samhita, it is said: (to be translated)

 

A Passage From the Vayu Purana

 

(1)sri-satananda uvaca

 

bruhi tata kripa-sindho, bhaktanugraha-katara;

paritranaya lokanam, hetum kalmasha-cetasam.

 

Sri Satananda said: “O father, O ocean of mercy, you are always eager to bestow your compassion on the devotees and protect the common people. Please tell me the reason why the hearts of the people are contaminated in Kali-yuga.

 

(2) na tapas ca na cejya ca, na dhyanam jnanam avyayam;

na danam sattva-samyuktam, kalau na dirgha-jivanam.

 

“In Kali-yuga there is no austerity, worship, meditation, eternal knowledge, charity, truth, or long life.

 

(3) kenopayena nistaro, bhavishyati kalau yuge.

 

“By what means will the people be delivered in Kali-yuga?”

(4) sri-gautama uvaca

 

sadhu prishtam tvaya putra, guhyad guhyatamam mama;

samahita-mana bhutva, srinu tat paramadbhutam.

 

Sri Gautama Muni said: “My son, your question is very auspicious. Please hear very attentively a wonderful answer, an answer that is the most secret of all secrets.

 

(5) etad guhyatamam vakyam, brahma loka-pitamahah;

vaikuntham nagaram gatva, sendrair deva-ganaih saha;

vakta sri-loka-natham vai, karunamaya-vigraham.

 

“Accompanied by Indra and the demigods, Lord Brahma, the grandfather of all living entities, went to the city of Vaikuntha in this universe and spoke these confidential words to Lord Narayana, who has the most merciful form and is the master of the worlds.”

 

(6) sri-satananda uvaca

 

katham vai brahmana tata, prishtah sri-purushottamah;

karanam tatra va kim vai, kathyatam muni-pungava.

 

Sri Satananda said: “What did Lord Brahma inquire from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Purushottama? O best of sages, please also tell me the reason for this inquiry.”

 

(7) sri-gautama uvaca

 

srinu putra prayatnena, kalau kalmasha-samjnake;

sarve papa-rata lokas, canda mithya-vivadinah.

 

Sri Gautama Muni said: “O son, please listen with great attention. In the greatly contaminated Kali-yuga, everyone is engaged in sinful activities. Everyone is passionate, hot-tempered, and a liar.

 

(8) svadhyayadina rahita, devata-tithi-vancakah;

parasva-lolupah kecit, para-darabhigaminah.

 

“The people do not worship the demigods, observe the holy days, or study the Vedas. Some are greedy for other’s weath and some are interested in other’s wives.

 

(9) iti vikshya samudvigna, dharani bhara-sankula;

dhenu-rupa-dhara dina, kripana malinanana.

 

“Seeing this, the earth-goddess became greatly disturbed with the sinful burden she bore. In this helpless and powerless condition, she assumed the form of a cow with a sorrowful face .

 

(10) gatva vai brahma-sadanam, rodamana punah punah;

sa-gadgada-vaco bhutva, stutva brahmanam isvaram.

 

“Then she went to the abode of Lord Brahma. Weeping again and again, with words choked with grief she prayed to him as follows.

 

(11) sarve kali-mala-grastah, papishtha lobha-tat-parah;

maha-pataka-samyukta, deva-dvija-vinindakah.

 

“‘Everyone is in the grip of Kali’s contaminating influence. The world is full of sinners, greedy materialists, most abominable class of people and the blasphemers of demigods and brahmanas.

 

(12) tesham pada-praharena, kampate mamaki tanuh;

tasmat loka-paritranam, prithivyam kena jayate.

 

“‘When these sinful people walk, my body trembles being hit by their feet. Therefore please tell me the means of deliverance of these people on the earth?

 

(13) tad eva kuru devesa, yena santir bhaven mama;

ity uktvadho-mukhi-bhuya, sthita bhur asurakula.

 

“‘O master of the demigods, please do something to relieve me of my distress so that I can recover my peace of mind.’ After speaking in this way, the earth goddess, troubled by the presence of so many demons, lowered her face.

 

(14) tatah sancintya devesam, brahma loka-pitamahah;

vaikuntha-nagaram gatva, stutva tam purushottamam.

 

“After thinking for some time, Lord Brahma, the controller of the demigods and the grandfather of the worlds, went to the city of Vaikuntha and offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Purushottama as follows.

 

(15) sri-brahmovaca

 

jaya krishna jagannatha, jaya vaikuntha-nayaka;

jaya deva kripa-sindho, jaya lakshmyah pate prabho.

 

“Sri Brahma said: ‘All glories to Lord Krishna, the master of Vaikuntha and the material world! O ocean of mercy, glory to You! All glories to the husband of Srimati Lakshmidevi!

 

(16) jaya nilambuja-syama, nila-jimuta-saubhaga,

kandarpa-koti-saundarya, jaya srivatsa-lanchana.

“‘O Lord dark like a blue lotus, O Lord dark like a monsoon cloud, glory to You! O Lord more handsome than millions of Kamadevas, O Lord marked with Srivatsa, glory to You!

 

(17) jaya pitambara-dhara, jaya kaustubha-bhushana;

jaya padma-palasaksha, jaya padmanana prabho.

 

“‘All glories to the Lord who is dressed in yellow garments, decorated with the Kaustubha jewel, whose eyes are like lotus petals and whose face is just like a lotus flower!

 

(18) jaya padma-pada-dvandva, tila-pushpa-su-nasika;

jaya natha jagad-bandho, vinatasuta-vahana.

 

“‘All glories to the Lord who possesses lotus like feet, whose graceful nose is like a sesame flower, who is the real friend of the worlds and who is carried by Garuda!

 

(19) jaya cakra-gada-padma-sankha-hasta catur-bhuja;

jaya padma-dharitribhyam, nishevita-padambuja.

 

“‘All glories to the Lord who holds a disc, club, lotus, and conchshell in His four hands! O Lord whose lotus feet are constantly served by the goddesses Padma and Dharitri, glory to You!’”

 

(20) sri-gautama uvaca

 

iti samstuyamano ’pi, sri-krshnah karuna-nidhih;

brahmanam deva-deveso, jagada kripayanvitah.

 

Sri Gautama Muni said: “After hearing these prayers, Lord Sri Krisna, who is an ocean of mercy mercifully spoke to Brahma, the master of the demigods as follows:

 

(21) kim vrittam jagati-natha, bruhi kim karavami te;

ity uktva padma-yonis ca, provaca sri-gadagrajam.

 

“‘O master of the universe, how are things with You? Please tell me if I can help you in some way.’ Hearing these words, Brahma spoke to Lord Krishna:

 

(22) sri-brahmovaca

 

kalau papa-rata lokah, svadhyaya-vidhi-varjitah;

sudra-vritti-dvijah sudra, brahmana-dvesha-karinah.

 

“‘Sri Brahma said: ‘In Kali-yuga the people are continuously engaged in sinful activities . They neither study the Vedas nor do they care to follow the Vedic rules and regulations. The brahmanas act like sudras, and sudras hate the brahmanas.

 

(23) dvijanam gunato nicah, sudra mantra-pradayinah;

sishnodara-para vipra, vipratve sutra-dharinah.

 

“‘The brahmanas are degraded in character and so the sudras become gurus and give mantras to others. The brahmanas are addicted to pleasing their bellies and genitals and the brahminical status is determined only by wearing a thread.

 

(24) mahaharah kharva-kaya, alasa manda-buddhayah;

janas tvad-vimukhah sarve, para-dravyabhilashinah.

 

“‘The people are gluttonous, short in stature, lazy, dull-minded, foolish, greedy after others’ property, and averse to You.

 

(25) asat-patha-ratah sarve, agamyagaminas tatha;

tyakta-sva-dharma-karmano, deva-dvija-vinindakah.

 

“‘Everyone follows the path of illusion. They abandon their prescribed occupational duties, commit adultery, and blaspheme the demigods and brahmanas.

 

(26) iti tad-bhara-magna sa, dharani rudati punah;

tasmal loka-paritranam, prithivyam kena jayate;

tat kurushva jagannatha, dina-durgati-nasana.

 

“‘Greatly troubled by carrying the burden of these sins, the earth-goddess weeps again and again. How will the fallen people of the earth be delivered? O master of the worlds, You are the destroyer of all miserliness and inauspiciousness. Please do something to deliver them.’”

 

(27) sri-gautama uvaca

 

iti samjnapito devo, brahmana prabhur acyutah

sa devan aha tad vishnur, guhyad guhyatamam vacah

 

Sri Gautama Muni said: “After Brahma had communicated to the Lord about the problem, Lord Vishnu, the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead, spoke to the demigods in reply words that revealed the most secret of all secrets.

 

(28) ditija bhuvi jayadhvam, jayadhvam bhakta-rupinah;

kalau sankirtanarambhe, bhavishyami saci-sutah.

 

“He said: ‘O demigods, please go and take birth as devotees on the earth. I will take birth as Sacidevi’s son and I will inaugurate the harinama-sankirtana movement.

 

(29) krite japair mama pritis, tretayam homa-karmabhih;

dvapare paricaryabhih, kalau sankirtanair api.

 

“‘In Satya-yuga I am pleased by japa (meditation), in Treta-yuga by performance of sacrifices and fruitive activities, in Dvapara-yuga by My Deity worship, and in Kali-yuga I am pleased solely by the chanting of My holy names.’

 

(30) brahmovaca

 

bruhi me karuna-sindho, kirtanam kim svarupakam;

katham vatra bhagavatah, para pritir bhavishyati.

 

“The demigod Brahma said: ‘O ocean of mercy, please describe to us the nature of this process of loud chanting of Your holy names. How should it be performed so that Your Lordship will be most pleased?’

 

(31) sri-bhagavan uvaca

 

srinu brahman pravakshyami, sankirtanam atah param;

samahita-mana bhutva, sarat sarataram hi yat.

 

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: ‘O Brahma, please listen very carefully and I will describe to you the most exalted process of sankirtana, which is the essence of all the essential things.

 

(32) mridangaih karatalais ca, svara-bhava-samanvitaih;

raga-raganvitam ganam, yatah syat tulya-kirtanam.

 

“‘Sankirtana is the sweet singing of My holy names with great devotion and attachment, in various musical notes, melodies & modes, accompanied by the music of mridangas, karatalas, and other musical instruments.

 

(33) te sabdenocyate radha, na sabdenocyate janah;

teneti sruti-matrena, yathaivardrantarobhavam.

 

“‘When in sankirtana there is the word ‘tena’, the syllable ‘te’ means ‘Radha’, and the syllable ‘na’ means ‘person’. In this way the word ‘tena’ refers to Me, whose heart has been softened due to love for Radha!

 

(34) tatha catra bhavishyami, bhaktyanugraha-kamyaya;

sahasraso ’vatara me, gita brahman yuge yuge.

 

“‘O Brahma, as I have described Myself in the Gita, I appear millenium after millenium in My thousands of incarnations, with the sole desire to show favour to My devotees.

 

(35) bana-margair veda-margai, ripunam tatra sankshayam;

bhaktanam taranam kritva, khyapitam sva-yasah kshitau.

 

“‘Walking either on the path of arrows or the path of the Vedas, I deliver the devotees by destroying their enemies, and establish My glories on the earth by performing exquisite pastimes.

 

(36) kalau nashta-drisam esha, mat-padyarka udeshyati.

 

“‘For they who have become blinded by the influence of Kali-yuga, a verse with My holy names will rise like a glorious sun. This verse is:

 

(37) hare krishna, hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;

hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

 

“‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare;

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

 

(38) sakrid dvis trir yatha-sakti, yavaj jivam athapi va;

vyaharan svapaco ’pi syan, mama bhakto na samsayah.

 

“‘Everyone should chant this maha-mantra again and again, either once, twice, thrice or as many times as possible during the day & night, for as long as one lives. By chanting this mantra even the most sinful person who was a dogeater will immediately become My devotee. Of this there is no doubt.

 

(39) sarva-veda-vido viprah, puranagama-paragah;

na cen mad-bhakta-bhaktas te, dure tishthanti varjitah.

 

“‘Even if they are learned in all the Vedas and even if they have traveled to the farther shore of the Agamas and Puranas, they who are not devotees of My devotees cannot approach Me. They must stay far away from Me and are eternally deprived of My association.

 

(40) api cet su-duracarah, pukkasah svapaco ’thava;

mad-bhakta-bhakti-krit sa syan, mama kaustubha-sannibhah.

 

“‘Even a barbarian, a dogeater, or a person who has performed most abominable sinful actions will reside near My heart, almost touching My Kaustubha jewel, if he has devotedly served My devotee.

 

(41) bhakta-rupam aham dhritva, bhaktajna-paripalakah;

mat-paran uddharishyami, ghora-samsara-sagarat.

 

“‘To fulfill & maintain My devotees’ (Advaita Acarya’s) request, I will accept the form of a devotee in Kali-yuga and I will deliver My surrendered devotees from the terrible ocean of repeated birth and death.

(42) tilakancita-bhalah sri-tulasi-kanthikasritah;

sankha-cakra-lasad-bahu-mulah kaupinah vasasah.

 

“‘In that form of a devotee, My forehead will be decorated with tilaka, My neck with tulasi beads, and My hands will be effulgent with the marks of a disc and conchshell etc. I will accept the dress and loincloth of a sannyasi.

 

(43) mad-bhakta vicarishyanti, kalau bhagavatottamah.

 

“‘Alongwith Me, My topmost eternally liberated devotees will travel here & there and perform My work of inspiring all living entities to become devotees also.

 

(44) svarnadi-tiram asthaya, navadvipa-janalayah;

tatra dvija-kulam prapto, bhavishyami janalaye.

 

“‘I will take birth in a brahmana family in Sri Navadvipa, and reside there by the Ganges’ shore.

 

(45) bhakti-yoga-pradanaya, lokasyanugrahaya ca;

sannyasa-rupam asthaya, krishna-caitanya-nama-dhrik.

 

“‘To show mercy to the people and award them the supreme gift of devotional service, I will become a sannyasi and I will be glorified by the name Sri Krishna Caitanya.

 

(46) anandasru-kala-purnah, pulakavali-vihvalah;

bhakti-yogam pradasyami, hari-kirtana-tat-parah.

 

“‘Always eager and devoted to the loud chanting of the holy names of Lord Hari, My eyes will be always beautified & filled with tears of bliss and the hairs of My body will stand erect when I will be agitated by transcendental happiness. In this way, I will give to the people the supreme gift of the science of devotional service unto Lord Krishna.

 

(47) tenaiva sarva-lokanam, nistaro vai bhavishyati;

man-nama-smaranat kincit, kalau nasty eva vaidikam.

 

“‘Simply by remembering My holy names even once, all the living entities in the universe will be delivered. I will exhibit this kind of compassion because in Kali-yuga it is not possible for anyone to strictly follow the path of the Vedas.

 

(48) mad-bhakta yatra gayanti, tatra tishthami niscitam;

tat svayam bhuvi bhakta vai, jayadhvam bhakti-tat-parah.

 

“‘I always reside where My devotees sing My names and glories. So all of you demigods, please personally appear on the earth as My devotees and eagerly practice My devotional service.

 

(49) yena lokasya nistaras, tat kurudhvam mamajnaya;

dharitri bhavita cabhir, mayaiva dvija-dehinah.

 

“‘By My order please act in such a way that all the people of the people will become delivered. Then I will personally accept the form of a brahmana and relieve the earth of all her fears by performing My pastimes.

 

(50) sadyas tatra sva-gopanam, santa tu kamalalaya;

namna gadadhara iti, vikhyato dharani-tale.

 

“‘All the cowherd people of My highest abode of Vraja will also appear on the earth. She (Srimati Radharani), the original source and resting place of all the goddesses of fortune will be known on earth as Sri Gadadhara Pandita.

 

(51) balaramo mamaivamsah, so’ pi mat-prishtham eshyati;

nityananda iti khyato nyasi-cudamanih kshitau

 

“‘Lord Balarama, who is My first expansion and non-different from Me will also appear by My side as Lord Sri Nityananda. He will become the crest jewel of all renunciants on the earth.

 

(52) kritvavadhuta-vesham sa, dharman bhagavatan bahun;

grahayitva janan ittham grihinam asramam tatah.

 

“‘Assuming the dress of an avadhuta, he will freely distribute bhagavata dharma i.e. love of God. He will distribute this pure love through various means and deliver all the living entities. He will do first as a brahmacari and later as a householder.

 

(53) jahnavy-adibhir atmanam, darsayishyati manavan.

 

“‘Accompanied by His eternal consort Srimati Jahnavi-devi and many other intimate associates, He (Nityananda) will reveal his transcendental pastimes to the people.

 

(54) kamadeva iti gatva, dhruvanandeti samjnitah;

jahnavi-sishyatam etya lokan nistarayishyati

 

“‘The demigod Kamadeva will appear as Dhruvananda. He will become a disciple of Srimati Jahnavi-devi and deliver many living entities.

 

(55) naicim tanum samasthaya, loka-sikshartha-tat-parah

vikhyato hari-daso yo, mama bhaktim karishyati

 

“‘To teach the whole world that low birth is not an obstacle for chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, you (Brahma) will accept birth in a low-caste family. Your name will be Haridasa Thakura and you will most diligently engage in My pure devotional service.

 

(56) rudro’ vatirya mad-bhaktim, srimad-advaita-samjnakah

grahiyishyati lokams ca, yatnat karunikah prabhuh

 

“‘Lord Siva will incarnate as My great devotee and His name will be Srimad Advaita Acarya. Due to His unlimited compassion, He will give pure bhakti to each & everyone with great endeavour.

 

(57) naradah srinivaseti, ramanandeti tumburuh;

vikhyatim prapya mad-bhaktau, kurutam baktim avyaye.

 

“‘Srila Narada Muni will become Srinivasa (also called as Srivasa Thakura) and Tumburu will become Srila Ramananda Raya. Both of them will become very famous due to their pure unalloyed devotional service unto Me.

 

(58) brihaspatir vasava-guruh, sarvabhaumo bhavishyati,

nanante vasinas tatra, sastrany adhyapayishyati.

 

“‘Indra’s guru Brihaspati will become Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. He will teach the ultimate truth of bhakti-yoga contained in various scriptures.

 

(59) punah siromanir bhutva, nyasadin prathayishyati.

 

“‘Just like in the heavenly planets, he will again become the crest jewel of all learned teachers and deliver many people including even sannyasis.

 

(60) candro bhaved vardhamano, yas tu dayalutavadhih;

evam anye bhavishyanti, devah svamsena bharatah.

 

“‘Many other demigods will also personally appear on the earth. As the moon increases day by day, so their mercy and virtues will increase unlimitedly by becoming My associates.

 

(61) tatraiva bhavita brahman vyasah kesava-bharatih

sannyasasyopadesena, bhavishyati gurur mama.

 

“‘O Brahma, Vyasa will also appear as the sannyasi Sri Kesava Bharati. He will assist in My pastimes by becoming My sannyasa guru.

 

(62) indro’ vatirya matiman, prithivyam prithivi-patih;

prataprudro vikhyato, mad-bhaktanam samasrayah

 

“‘Indra will descend to the earth as the most powerful King of Orissa Prataprudra.

He will take shelter of My associates and achieve pure devotion unto Me.

 

(63) anye deva-ganah sarve, mad-bhaktah mat-parayanah,

kurvanti mamakim bhaktim, srinu brahman samahitah.

 

“‘All the other demigods will also become My devotees and fully surrender unto Me.They will diligently engage in My devotional service. O Brahma, please hear this with great attention.

 

(64) sarve samagamishyamah, sva-sthanam punar acyutam;

prakasam mama devadyah, bhaktah krishna-parayanah.

 

“‘After manifesting in this way as devotees of Lord Krishna to assist Me in My pastimes, the demigods and others will return to their respective abodes.

 

(65) idam ye srinuyan nityam, bhaktitah parikirtayet;

koti-janmar jitam papam, tat-kshanat tasya nasyati.

 

“‘They who with devotion regularly or daily hear or recite these words of Mine, become instantly free from all the sins they have committed in ten million births.’”

 

(66) sri gautama uvaca

 

tato deva-ganah sarve, brahma loka-pitamahah;

pranamya deva-devesam, gantarah sva-puram yatha

 

Sri Gautama Muni said: “Accompanied by all the demigods, Lord Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, bowed before Lord Krishna, the master of all the demigods and reurned to his own abode.”

 

Smritis about Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s abode Sri Navadvipa Dhama

 

Please see the Srutis section in which Sri Navadvipa has been glorified in the Atharva Veda (Third Kanda, Brahma-vibhaga), Sama Veda, Sri Caitanya Upanishad-Atharva Veda and Chandogya Upanishad 8.1.1.

 

The following are the verses glorifying Navadvipa from the smriti-sastras:

 

SAMHITAS

 

sri ananta-samhitayam

 

svarnadi-tiram asritya, navadvipe dvijalaye;

sampradatum bhakti-yogam, lokasyanugrahaya ca.

 

In Sri Ananta-samhita, it is said:

 

“To show causeless mercy to all the living entities and award them devotional service, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear in a brahmana’s home in Navadvipa by the Ganges’ shore.”

 

sri garga-samhitayam

 

maya-tirthe ca yah snatva, mayam sampujya manavah;

sarvam manoratha-praptim, prapnuyan natra samsayah.

 

In the Sri Garga-samhita, it is said:

 

“Those who bathe in the Ganges at Mayapura and worship the external potency of Lord Gauranga known as Praudha Maya there will attain the fulfillment of all their desires. Of this there is no doubt.”

 

PURANAS

 

garuda-purane

 

(1) aham purno bhavishyami, yuga-sandhau viseshatah;

mayapure navadvipe, bhavishyami saci-sutah.

 

In the Garuda Purana, the Supreme Lord Himself declares:

 

“In My original spiritual form which is the source of all the incarnations, I will descend as the transcendental son of Srimati Sacidevi in Navadvipa-Mayapura at the beginning of Kali-yuga.”

 

(2) sadhavah kali-kale tu, tyaktvanya-tirtha-sevanam;

vrindaranye ’thava kshetre, nava-khande vasanti va.

 

“In the age of Kali the devotees will abandon the service of other holy places and live in either Navadvipa or Vrindavana or Jagannatha Puri.”

 

skanda purane

 

(1) mayapurim samasritya, kalau ye mam upasate;

sarva-papa-vinirmuktas, te yanti paramam gatim.

 

In the Skanda Purana the Lord says:

 

“They who in the age of Kali take full shelter of Sri Mayapura and worship Me become completely free from all sins and attain the supreme destination.

 

(2) yat tirtham vartate sriman, navadvipe vibhagasah

tat-tirtha-mahima tatra, sata-koti-gunam kalau

 

“The glories of all the other holy places in the universe are present hundreds and millions of times over in Navadvipa in the age of Kali.

 

(3) yatha cintamaneh sangat, dhatu-mulyam pravardhate;

gaura-sangat tatha tirtha-mahatmyam parivardhate.

 

“As a metal’s value increases (becomes gold) with a cintamani jewel’s touch, so the glory of any holy place increases with Lord Gaura’s touch.”

 

(4) godrumakhye hareh sthane, vasanti ye narottamah

sarva-papa-vinirmuktas, te yanti paramam padam

 

In the Skanda Purana, Godruma-mahamtmya, it is said: “Those who reside in Lord Gaurahari’s abode named Godruma become the most exalted among human beings. Being completely freed from all sins, they attain the supreme abode.”

 

padma purane

 

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango 'ham mahi-tale;

bhagirathi-tate* ramye, bhavishyami saci-sutah.

 

In the Padma Purana, the Supreme Lord affirms:

 

“In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, I will appear as Gauranga on the earth in a beautiful place by the shore of the Ganges (*Navadvipa). I will become the son of Sacidevi and My complexion will be golden.”

 

brahma-purane

 

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango ’ham mahi-tale;

bhagirathi-tate* bhumni, bhavishyami sanatanah.

 

In the Brahma Purana, the Supreme Lord Himself declares:

 

“In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, I will appear as Gauranga on the earth in a beautiful place by the shore of the Ganges (*Navadvipa). I will descend in My original eternal form and My complexion will be golden.”

 

matsya-purane

 

mundo gaurah su-dirghangas, tri-srotas-tira-sambhavah*;

dayaluh kirtana-grahi, bhavishyami kalau yuge.

 

In the Matsya Purana, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“In the Kali-yuga I will appear in a place (*Navadvipa) where the three rivers meet (Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati). I will be fair with a shaven head and will have five large bodily parts (nose, arms, chin, eyes and knees). I will be very merciful and enchanted by the chanting of My own holy names.”

 

vishnu purane

 

bharatasyasya varshasya nava bhedan nisamayah;

indradvipah kaserus ca, tamraparnau gabhastiman.

 

nagadvipas tatha saumyo, gandharvastha varuna;

ayam tu navamas tesham, dvipah sagara sambhritah.

 

yojananam sahashrantu, dvipoh ayam dakshinottaram.

 

In the Vishnu Purana (2.3.6-7) it stated:

 

“Please hear about the nine islands of Bharata-varsha known as Indradvipa, Kaseru, Tamraparna, Gabhastiman, Nagadvipa, Saumya, Gandharva, Varuna, and the ninth, Navadvipa, which is situated near the ocean in the midst of the other eight islands. Navadvipa extends 1,000 yojanas from north to south.”

 

UPAPURANAS

 

vayu-purane

 

svarnadi-tiram asthaya, navadvipa-janalayah;

tatra dvija-kulam prapto, bhavishyami janalaye.

 

“I will take birth in a brahmana family in Sri Navadvipa, and reside there by the Ganges’ shore.”

 

YAMALAS

 

krishna-yamale

 

aham purno bhavishyami, yuga-sandhau viseshatah;

mayapure navadvipe, varam ekam saci-sutah.

 

In the Krisna-yamala, the Supreme Lord confirms:

 

“During the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, I will descend in My most complete and original form in Mayapura, which is in the heart of Navadvipa, as the divine son of Sacidevi.”

 

brahma-yamale

 

athavaham dharadhame, bhutva mad-bhakta-rupa-dhrik;

mayayam ca bhavishyami, kalau sankirtanagame.

 

In the Brahma-yamala, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“Sometimes I personally appear on the surface of the earth in the garb of My own devotee. In this form, I appear in Sri Mayapura in Kali-yuga to inaugurate the hari-nama-sankirtana movement.”

 

brihad-brahma-yamalakhye

tantre tat kathitam pura

 

kalau purnanandas tri-bhuvana-jayi gaura-sutanur

navadvipe* jatah suradhuni-samipe naraharih

dadat papibhyah samstutam api harer nama sukritam

taritva papabdhim bhuvi vijayate sri-gauracandrabhidhah

 

In ancient times in the Brihad-brahma-yamala Tantra it was said:

 

“All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Gauracandra, who appears in Kali-yuga as the personification of complete bliss. His beautiful form with the golden complexion is glorified throughout the three worlds. He appeared in Sri Navadvipa* which is on the banks of the Ganges. He delivered the most fallen people of the world from the ocean of sins by freely distributing to them the treasure of the most sacred and glorious names of Lord Hari.”

 

vande gauravataram kali-mala-mathanam sri-navadvipa-vasam*

kanthe malam dadhanam sruti-yuga-vilasat-svarna-samsakta-gandam

keyurangada-divya-ratna-ghatitam bahu-dvaye bibhratam

bhaktebhyo dadatam malapaharanam-namapi sarvam hareh

 

I offer my repeated obeisances to the Gaura-avatara, who destroys the unlimited impurities of Kali-yuga, who resides in Sri Navadvipa*, who wears an exquisite garland around His neck, whose cheeks are beautified by glistening golden earrings, who arms are adorned with spl endid jeweled keyura and angada armlets, and who awards His devotees the holy names of Lord Hari, which destroy all the impurities in their hearts.

 

TANTRAS

 

mukti-sankalini-tantre

 

kurukshetram krite tirtham, tretayam pushkaram smritam;

dvapare naimisharanyam, nava-khandam kalau kila.

 

In the Mukti-sankalini Tantra it is said:

 

“In Satya-yuga, Kurukshetra was the most important holy place, in Treta-yuga, Pushkara was the most important holy place, Naimisharanya was the important holy place in Dvapara-yuga, and in Kali-yuga Navadvipa is the most important holy place (because the Lord personally appears here in Kali-yuga).”

 

urdhvamnaya-tantre

 

avataram imam kritva, jiva-nistara-hetuna;

kalau mayapurim gatva, bhavishyami saci-sutah.

 

In the Irdhvamnaya-tantra, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“For the deliverance of the conditioned souls in Kali-yuga, I will incarnate in Sridhama Mayapura as the son of Srimati Sacidevi.”

 

kapila tantre

 

jambudvipe kalau ghore, mayapure dvijalaye;

janitva parshadaih sardham, kirtanam prakatishyati.

 

In the Kapila Tantra, the Supreme Lord declares:

 

“In the horrible Kali-yuga, I will descend in a brahmana’s home in Mayapura, in Jambudvipa. Assisted by My eternal associates, I will manifest the hari-nama-sankirtana movement.”

 

visvasara-tantre

 

gangayah dakshine bhage, navadvipe manorame;

kali-papa-vinasaya, saci-garbhe sanatani.

 

In the Visvasara Tantra, Lord Siva said to Candi:

 

“O eternal goddess, in order to destroy the sins of Kali-yuga, I will appear in the womb of Sacidevi, in the most beautiful Navadvipa, which is on the southern shore of the Ganges.”

 

kularnava-tantre

 

tatah kale ca samprapte, kalau ko ’pi maha-nidhih;

hari-nama-prakasaya, ganga-tire* janishyati.

 

In the Kularnava Tantra, Lord Siva said to Parvati:

 

“At the beginning of Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is a great treasure house of transcendental qualities, will take birth by the Ganges’ shore (* Navadvipa) in order manifest the chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.”

 

YOGA-VASIShTHA

 

yoga-vasishthe

 

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam, gaurango ’sau mahi-tale;

bhagirathi-tate* ramye, bhavishyati sanatanah.

 

In the Yoga-vasishtha it is said:

 

“In the first sandhya of Kali-yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Gauranga will appear on this earth on the beautiful banks of the Ganges (* Navadvipa), in His eternal golden form.”

 

(There are many other verses from Sri Garga-samhita, Padma Purana, Vishnu Purana, Varaha Purana, Linga Purana, Brahma Purana, Mahabharata, etc. which describe the glories of specific holy places in Navadvipa. These have been left out so that this book does not become voluminous.)

 

FURTHUR GLORIES FROM SRI ANANTA-SAMHITA

 

sri ananta-samhitayam

 

sri-mahadevá uvaca

 

(1) srinu gauri pravakshyami, sarva-papa-pranasanam;

navadvipasya mahatmyam, sa-prema-bhakti-dam nrinam.

 

In Sri Ananta-samhita, Part Two, Chapter Three (5-19, 38-41), Lord Siva describes to Parvati:

 

“O Gauri, please hear attentively and I will speak the great glories of Sridhama Navadvipa, which completely destroy all sins and award Krishna’s pure loving devotional service to all living entities.

 

(2) yatha vrindavanam dhama, sri-krishnasya kripa-nidheh;

navadvipas tatha kante, satyam satyam vadamy aham.

 

“The glories of Navadvipa are exactly the same as the glories of Vrindavana, the trancendental abode of Lord Krishna, who is an ocean of mercy. O beloved, I speak the truth.

 

(3) yadvad vrindavane ramye, sri-krishno radhaya saha;

reme bhaktananda-karas, tadvad dvipe nave sada.

 

“Lord Krishna, who delights the devotees by enjoying pastimes with Sri Radha in the most beautiful Vrindavana dhama, eternally also enjoys with Sri Radha is Sri Navadvipa dhama.

 

(4) ganga-yamunayor madhye, dvipah parama-sobhanah;

yasya smarana-matrena, sri-radha-krishnayo ratih.

 

“In the middle of both the Ganges and Yamuna is an exquistely beautiful island. Simply by remembering it one attains pure love for Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

 

(5) yadi tirtha-sahasrani, paryatanti narah kshitau

navadvipam vina devi, na radham krishnam apnuyat

 

“O goddess people who travel to thousands of holy places in this world will not attain Sri Sri Radha and Krishna if they do not travel to Navadvipa.

 

(6) dvipasyasyaika-dese ca, tirthani sakalani ca;

rishayo munayo devas, tatha siddhasramani ca.

 

(7) vedah sashtrani sarvani, mantradini mahesvari;

vasanti satatam durge, sri-radha-krishna-tushtaye.

 

“ O Durga, at a certain place on this transcendental island all holy places, sages, saints, demigods, asramas of perfected beings, all Vedic scriptures and all Vedic mantras constantly reside for the satisfaction of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

 

(8) asvamedha-sahasrani, vajapeyadhikani ca;

nana-vidhani karmani, kritva bhaktya muhur muhuh.

 

(9) yat phalam labhate martyo, yogabhyasena yat phalam;

navadvipasya smaranat, tesham koti-gunam labhet;

kim punah darsanam casya, phalam vakshyami parvati.

 

“The result a human being attains by performing thousands of asvamedha-yajnas, as well as vajapeya yajnas, and many other pious rituals repeatedly and constantly with great devotion, or by diligently practicing yoga for a very long time, is attained millions of times over simply by remembering Navadvipa once. O Parvati, how then will I be able to describe the result attained by directly seeing Navadvipa?

 

(10) sakrid yadi navadvipam, samsmareyur naradhamah;

sadhavas te tadaiva syuh, satyam satyam hi parvati.

 

“If the lowest of men just faithfully remembers Navadvipa for a single moment, they immediately become great saints. O Parvati, this is the truth, this is the truth.

 

(11) tesham dine dine bhaktir, vardhate natra samsayah;

tesham pada-rajah-puta, sapta-dvipa vasundhara.

 

“Every day their devotion increases. Of this there is no doubt. The whole earth with its seven continents becomes purified simply by the dust of their feet.

 

(12) ye vasanti navadvipe, manavah gaura-devatah;

na ca te manava-jneya, sri-gaurasya ca parshadah.

 

“Those human beings who reside in Navadvipa and accept Lord Gaura as their worshippable Lord should not be considered as ordinary human beings. They are the transcendental associates of Lord Gaura.

 

(13) tesham smarana-matrena, maha-patakino ’pi ca;

satyam sudhanti vai durge, kim punar darsanadibhih.

 

“O Durga, simply by remembering them, the greatest sinners are purified. How much more blessed are those who directly see them or associate with them.

 

(14) navadvipasyá mahatmyam, pancabhir vadanair aham;

kim varnayami nanantah, sahasrair vadanair alam.

 

“Even Lord Ananta, with His thousands of mouths is not able to properly glorify Navadvipa. So how can I do so with only five mouths?

 

(15) dhama-sarasya krishnasya, vrindaranyasya sailaje;

arohanasya sopanam, navadvipam vidur budhah.

 

“O Parvati, the learned and wise know that Navadvipa is a staircase leading to Vrindavana, the topmost abode of Lord Krishna.

 

(16) navadvipe ca sa krishna, adaya hridaye svayam;

gajendra-gamanam radham, sada ramayate muda.

 

“Lord Krishna will appear in Navadvipa. Taking the mood of Srimati Radha to His heart, Lord Krishna will constantly and blissfully relish Her love for Him. At that time His movements will be more graceful than those of the best of elephants.

 

(17) navadvipe tu tah sakhyo, bhakta-rupa-dharah priye;

ekangam sri-gaura-harim, sevante satatam muda.

 

“O beloved, assuming the forms of male devotees, the gopis and other associates will also appear in Navadvipa. With great happiness they will constantly serve Lord Gaurahari, who is Radha and Krishna combined in a single form.

 

(18) ya eva radhika-krishnah, sa eva gaura-vigrahah;

yac ca vrindavanam devi, navadvipam ca tat subham.

 

“O goddess, know for sure that Radha and Krishna will combine to become the single golden form of Lord Gaura, and Vrindavana will become the beautiful and auspicious Navadvipa.

 

(19) vrindavane navadvipe, bheda-buddhis ca yo narah;

tam eva radhika-krishne, sri-gaurange paratmani.

 

(20) mac-chala-pata-nirbhinna-dehah so ’pi naradhamah;

pacyate narake ghore, yavad ahuta-samplavam.

 

“With my trident I will cut into pieces anyone who thinks that Vrindavana and Navadvipa are different, or that Radha-Krishna and Lord Gauranga are different, or that Lord Gauranga is not the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a person is most degraded and he will burn in a terrible hell until the time of the universal devastation.

 

(21) yahi turnam navadvipam, bhaja gauram kripa-nidhim;

yadi vrindavane ramye, sri-radha-krishna-sannidhau;

dasatvam durlabham loke, bhakti-saram yam icchasi.

 

“‘Lord Hari said to Anantadeva: If you desire the most rare essence of all kinds of pure devotional service i.e. the direct service to Sri Sri Radha Krishna in the beautiful abode of Vrindavana, then go at once to Navadvipa and worship Lord Gaura, who is an ocean of causeless mercy.’

 

(22) tatra gatva navadvipe, naga-rajo dhrita-vratah;

pujayam asa gaurangam, api varshayutam priye.

 

“O beloved, the king of serpents Ananta then went to Navadvipa. Following strict vows with great determination, He worshipped Lord Gauranga for ten thousand years.

 

(23) tatah prasanno bhagavan, sri-gauro jagad-isvarah.

darisayam asa svam rupam, anantaya mahatmane.

 

“Greatly pleased the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the master of all the universes revealed

His transcendental golden form to His great devotee Ananta.

 

(24) ayam eva navadvipo, vrindavana-samo ’nagha;

anugrahaya jivanam, radhaya nirmitah pura.

 

“Lord Gauranga then said to Ananta: ‘O sinless one, Navadvipa is equal to Vrindavana is all respects. To show mercy to the living entities Sri Radha created it long ago.

 

(25) yatha mama priya radha, tatha vrindavanam mahat;

tadvad ayam navadvipa, iti satyam vadamy aham.

 

“‘As Radha is dear to Me, so the great Vrindavana and Navadvipa are also dear to Me. I speak to You the truth.

 

(26) vrindavane yathananta, vasami radhaya saha;

radhaya militango ’ham, tathaivasmin sada vase.

 

“‘O Ananta, as I reside in Vrindavana with Sri Radha, so I also stay eternally in Navadvipa, My transcendental form embraced by Sri Radha.

 

(27) yatha vrindavanam tyaktva, gacchami na ca kutracit;

tatha deva navadvipam, na tyajami kadacana.

 

“‘O Anantadeva, as I do not leave Vrindavana to go to any other place, so also I never give up Navadvipa and go anywhere else.’”

 

FURTHUR GLORIES FROM IRDHVAMNAYA-TANTRA

 

urdhvamnaya-tantre

 

(1) aprakritam navadvipam, cin-mayam cid-viseshanam;

jadatitam param dhama, brahma-puram sanatanam.

 

(2) vadanti srutayah sakshad, daharam sarva-sundaram;

navá-sankhyas tatha dvipa, vartante padma-pushpa-vat.

 

In the Irdhvamnaya-tantra, Lord Siva declares to Parvati:

 

“The Vedas directly glorify Navadvipa as completely spiritual with no material tinge, full of knowledge, beyond dull and inert matter, the topmost eternal transcendental abode and an all-beautiful lotus flower. The nine islands of Navadvipa are just like the parts of that great lotus flower.

 

(3) srinu devi pravakshyami, nava-khanda-svarupakam;

yatra vai rajate nityam, sri-gaurasundaro harih.

 

“O goddess, please listen attentively as I describe the nature and form of these nine islands where Lord Gaurasundara eternally shines with great splendor.

 

(4) antardvipas tatha devi, simantadvipa-samjnakah;

godrumadvipa-samjno ’nyo, madhyadvipas tatha parah.

 

(5) ganga-purva-tate ramye, devi dvipa-catushtayam;

koladvipa-ritudvipo, jahnudvipah, suresvari;

modadrumas tatharudrah, pancaite pascime tate.

 

“O goddess, on the beautiful eastern shore of the Ganges are the four islands Antardvipa, Simantadvipa, Godrumadvipa, and Madhyadvipa. On the western shore are the five islands Koladvipa, Ritudvipa, Jahnudvipa, Modrumadvipa, and Rudradvipa.

 

(6) ganga ca yamuna caiva, godavari sarasvati;

narmada sindhuh kaveri, tamraparni payasvini.

 

(7) kritamala tatha bhima, gomati ca drishadvati;

sarvah punya-jala nadyah, vartante ’tra yatha-yatham;

navadvipo maha-devi, tabhih sarvaih parivaritah.

 

“O great goddess, Navadvipa is surrounded by the pure and sacred waters of the Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri, Tamraparni, Payasvini, Kritamala, Bhima, Gomati, Drishadvati and all other holy rivers.

 

(8) ayodhya mathura maya, kasi kanci hy avantika;

dvaravati kurukshetram, pushkaro naimisham vanam;

vartante ’tra navadvipe, nitye dhamni mahesvari.

 

“O goddess, Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kasi, Kanci, Avantika, Dvaraka, Kurukshetra, Pushkara, and Naimisharanya, are all eternally present in the transcendental abode of Navadvipa.

 

(9) bhagirathy-alakananda, mandakini tathapara;

bhogavatiti gangaya, asti dhara-catushtayam;

navadvipasya paridhis, catvari yojanani ca.

 

“Bhagirathi, Alakananda, Mandakini, and Bhogavati are the four streams of the ganges that surround Navadvipa for 32 miles.

 

(10) prithivyam yani tirthani, rasayam divi va priye;

tani sarvani tishthanti, navadvipe suresvari.

 

“O dear goddess, all the holy places on the earth and in the upper and lower planetary systems are present in Navadvipa.

 

(11) naham vasami kailase, na tvam vasasi mad-grihe;

na deva divi tishthanti, rishayo na vane vane.

 

“I do not reside in Kailasa. You do not reside in my home. The demigods do not reside in heaven. The sages do not stay in the forest.

 

(12) sarve vayam navadvipe, tishthamah prema-lalasah;

gaura gaureti gayantah, sankirtana-para bhuvi.

 

“We all stay in Navadvipa overwhelmed with the great longing for obtaining pure love for Krishna. All of us constantly perform sankirtana, singing “Gaura! Gaura! while residing there.”

 

(13) ye narah kritino devi, navadvipe vasanti te;

jivena marane tesham, patir eko mahaprabhuh.

 

“O goddess, for the extremely fortunate devotees who live in Navadvipa, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is their only Lord & maintainer in this life and also after death.

 

(14) panca-tattvatmakam gauram, krishna-caitanya-samjnakam;

ye bhajanti navadvipe, te me priyatamah kila.

 

“They who in Navadvipa worship Lord Gaura, who is known as Sri Krishna Caitanya in His five features (panca-tattva), are most dear to me.

 

(15) padmakaram navadvipam, antardvipam ca karnikam;

simantadi-sthalams tatra, dalan ashta-svarupakan.

 

“Navadvipa has the form of a great lotus. Antardvipa is the whorl of that lotus and Simantadvipa and the other islands are its eight petals.

 

(16) karnika-madhya-bhage tu, pitham ratnamayam param;

panca-tattvanvitam tatra, gauram purata-sundaram;

ye dhyayanti janah sasvat, te tu sarvottamottamah.

 

“In the middle of that whorl (Antardvipa) is the topmost sacred place of jewels. (Mayapura).

There resides the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the handsome golden Gaura in His five features (panca-tattva). Those who always meditate on Lord Gaura in Mayapura is the most exalted of all exalted souls.

 

(17) yatra tatra navadvipe, sa sannyasy athava grihi;

ha gaureti vadan nityam, sarvanandan samasnute.

 

“Whether a sannyasi or a grihastha, a person who somewhere in Navadvipa always chants the name of Gaura merges in full transcendental bliss.

 

(18) bhagirathi-tate purve, mayapuram tu gokulam;

tasyas tate pascime hi, vrindavanam vidur budhah.

 

“The wise know that on the eastern shore of the Ganges, Mayapura is Gokula, and on the western shore is Vrindavana.

 

(19) tatra rasa-sthali divya, pulinam balukamayam;

rasa-sthali pascime tu, punyam dhira-samirakam;

yad yad vrindavane devi, tat tat tatra na samsayah.

 

“On the western shore is the most beautiful and transcendental sandy arena of the rasa dance which is filled with bakula flowers and gentle breezes. O goddess, this place is non-different than Vrindavana and all the opulences of Vrindavana are present here. Of this there is no doubt.

 

(20) tvam hi maya hareh saktir, durghatana-patiyasi;

cin-mayam antaradityam, acchadayasi sampratam.

 

“O Parvati, you are Lord Hari’s insurmountable and formidable illusory potency. So at present you cover the spiritual sun shining there.

 

(21) tato mayapura-khyatir, yoga-pithasya bhu-tale;

praudha maya tava khyatih, sarvatra vartate priye.

 

“O beloved you eternally reside at the outskirts of this Mayapura Yogapitha as Praudha Maya to keep out unqualified people from the dhama.

 

(22) gate tu pulinabhyasam, kale sri-gaura-vigrahe;

vamsivatam samasritya, tvam pasi vaishnavan janan.

 

“When the form of Lord Gaura enjoys personally His pastimes on the shore there, you stay nearby in Vamsivata to protect the Vaishnavas.

 

(23) navadvipa-samam sthanam, sri-gauranga-samah prabhuh;

krishna-prema-sama praptir, nasti durge kadacana.

 

“O Durga, no place in the creation is equal to Navadvipa, no master is as merciful as Lord Sri Gauranga, and no attainment in the whole world is equal to pure love for Krishna.

 

(24) etad dhi janma-saphalyam, vaishnavanam viseshatah;

bhajanam sri-navadvipe, vraja-lokanusaratah.

 

“The success of life, especially for the Vaishnavas, is to worship Lord Krishna by residing in Navadvipa and following the footsteps of the residents of Vrindavana.

 

(25) kshauram uposhanam sraddham, snana-danadikam hi yat;

anya-tirtheshu kartavyam, navadvipe na tad vidhih.

 

“In other holy places shaving the head, fasting, offering sraddha, taking ritual bath, giving charity, and other duties are mandatory, but in Navadvipa there is no such rule that they must be done.

 

(26) tani tani hi karmani, kritani yadi tatra vai;

nasyanti sahasa devi, karma-granthi-nikrintanat.

 

“O goddess, in Navadvipa one’s hard knot of karma is completely cut and thus the all the karmic reactions of previous lives are destroyed forever.

 

(27) bhidyate hridaya-granthis, chidyante sarva-samsayah;

kshiyante jada-karmani, gaure drishte parat pare.

 

“The strong knot of material attachment in the heart from millions of lives is pierced, all the misgivings and doubts are cut to pieces, the chain of material fruitive activities is permanently terminated when one sees Lord Gaura, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the master of all masters, in Navadvipa.

 

(28) ato vai munayo devi, nava-khandam samasritah;

kurvanty ahaitukim bhaktim, radha-krishna-padambuje.

 

“O goddess, all the great sages thus take full shelter of Navadvipa and serve Sri Sri Radha-Krishna’s lotus feet with unmotivated devotion.

 

(29) aho dvipasya mahatmyam, na ko ’pi varnane kshamah;

anya-tirtha-mritih pumsam, bhukti-mukti-pradayini;

navadvipa-mritih sakshat, kevala bhakti-dayini.

 

“No one has the power to properly and fully describe the glories of Navadvipa. Death in all other holy places brings future sense-gratification or liberation, but death in Navadvipa awards with one with the greatest gift of kevala-bhakti i.e. pure unalloyed devotional service to Lord Krishna following in the footsteps of the Vrajavasis.

 

(30) akala-maranam vapi, kashta-mrityur grihe mritih;

apamrityur na doshaya, nava-khande varanane.

 

“O goddess with a beautiful face, in Navadvipa, an untimely death, a painful death, a peaceful death at home nor an unnatural death are all extremely auspicious.

 

(31) anyatra yoga-mrityur va, kasyam jnana-mritir bhavet;

tat sarvam phalam carv-angi, navadvipe mritasya vai.

 

“O beautiful goddess, all the cumulative results if dying in a yoga trance in other holy places or dying absorbed in transcendental knowledge in Kasi are attained by dying in Navadvipa.

 

(32) varam dinam navadvipe, prayage kalpa-yapanat;

varanasi-nivasad va, sarva-tirtha-nishevanat.

 

“By staying for a single day in Navadvipa, one attains all the results of living for a kalpa (4.32 billion years) at Prayaga, staying for a very long time at Varanasi, or serving all the other holy places.

 

(33) yoge ’nyatra phalam yat tad, bhoge dvipe nave subhe;

pada-kshepe maha-yajnah, sayane dandavat phalam.

 

“By merely living in Navadvipa, one attains the result of practicing yoga in any other holy place. In Navadvipa walking one step is like performing maha-yajnas and lying down to rest is like offering repeated dandavats.

 

(34) yatra tatra navadvipe, yad annam tan-niveditam;

tad grahyam brahmana sakshac, candalad api candike.

 

“O goddess Candika, if a brahmana is offered Gaura-prasadam anywhere in Navadvipa, he should accept it even if it is given by a candala (dog-eater).

 

(35) bhojane paramesasya, prasada-sevanam bhavet;

kim punah sraddadhanasya, hari-nama-parasya ca;

gaura-prasada-bhaktasya, bhagyam tatra vadamy aham.

 

“Even ordinary eating there becomes equal to honouring the prasadam of the Supreme Lord. So how much more fortunate are those faithful devotees who chant the holy names of Lord Hari and partake Lord Gaura’s prasadam while residing in Navadvipa!”

sri-gaura-ganoddesa-dipikayam ca

 

rasajnah sri-vrindavanam iti yam ahur bahu-vido

yam etam golokam katipaya-janah prahud apare

sita-dvipam prahuh param api para-vyoma jagadur

navadvipah so ’yam jayati paramascarya-mahima

 

In the Sri Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, it is said:

 

“Some devotees expert in relishing the mellows of bhakti declare that Navadvipa is identical with Vrindavana. Some very learned devotees say that Navadvipa is actually the spiritual planet Goloka. Some say that Navadvipa is the planet Svetadvipa, and others say that Navadvipa is actually the spiritual sky (paravyoma) of Vaikuntha. All glories to the superexcellent opulences of Sridhama Navadvipa!”

 

Smritis about Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s prasadam

 

urdhvamnaya-tantre

 

(1) prasadam paramesani, gaurangasya mahaprabhoh;

pavanam sarva-jivanam, durlabham dushkritam kila.

 

In the Irdhvamnaya-tantra, Lord Siva declares to Parvati:

 

“O supreme goddess, the prasadam of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu purifies all the living entities and cannot be attained by the sinful people.

 

(2) aham brahma tvam isani, devas ca pitaras tatha;

munayo rishayah sarve, prasada-yacaka dhruvam.

 

“I, Brahma, you, O goddess, the demigods, the forefathers, the munis and sages (rishis), all desperately beg for that prasadam.

 

(3) gaura-niveditannena, yashtavyah sarvada vayam;

pavitram gaura-nirmalyam, grahyam deyam janaih sada.

 

“All of us eternally worship the foodstuffs offered to Lord Gaura. Lord Gaura’s remanants are supremely pure and should always be distributed and accepted by everyone.

 

(4) jaty-abhimana-mohandha-vidyahankara-piditah;

dushkriti-dushitah sattvah, prasade rati-varjitah.

 

“They who are blinded by the pride and illusion of birth in a high family, they who are tortured by the pride of knowledge, and they who are contaminated in consciousness due to sinful activities are not attracted to this prasadam.

 

(5) aham tan raurave devi, nikshipya yatana-maye;

dandam dadami satyam te, vadami natra samsayah.

 

“O goddess, I cast them into a hell filled with great tortures. In this way I will severly punish them. I tell you the truth. Of this there is no doubt.

 

(6) yatra tatra navadvipe, yad annam tan-niveditam;

tad grahyam brahmana sakshac, candalad api candike.

 

“O goddess Candika, if a brahmana is offered Gaura-prasadam anywhere in Navadvipa, he should accept it even if it is given by a candala (dog-eater).

 

(7) sushkam paryushitam vapi, nitam va bahu-duratah;

prapti-matrena bhoktavyam, natra kala-vicarana.

 

“Whether dried up, stale, or brought from very far away, this prasadam should be eaten immediately when it is received. There is no consideration of whether it is the proper time or not.

 

(8) na desa-niyamas tatra, na patra-niyamas tatha;

na datri-niyamo devi, gaura-bhukta-nishevane.

 

“O goddess, in honouring the food enjoyed by Lord Gaura, there are no rules and restrictions of what is proper place and time, who is the proper recepient, or who is the proper giver.

 

(9) a-kantha-bhojanad devi, gaure bhaktih prajayate;

na cati-dharma-vadho ’sti, gaura-bhukta-nishevane.

 

“O goddess, by eating this prasadam until one is filled upto the neck, devotion of for Gaura is born. Overeating Gaura-prasadam is not against any religious principles.”

 

Srutis and Smritis about the Hare Krishna maha-mantra preached by Lord Caitanya

 

kali-santarana upanishadi

 

(1) hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;

hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

 

(2) iti shodasakam namnam, kali-kalmasha-nasanam;

natah parataropayah, sarva-vedeshu drisyate.

 

In the Kali-santarana Upanishad (5-6), it is stated:

 

“The sixteen words-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-are especially meant for counteracting the contaminations of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali, there is no alternative in all the Vedas except the chanting of these sixteen words.”

 

(3) iti shodasa kalasya jivasyavarana vinasanam;

tatah prakasate para brahma medhapaye ravi rasmi mandali veti

 

“This maha-mantra consisting of sixteen names of Krishna is the destroyer of the (16-layered) illusory covering of all the living entities. Only when the coverings are destroyed, Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear in the heart of the living entities, just like the sun appears with full intensity when the clouds are removed.”

 

atharva-veda- sri-caitanyopanishadi (11-14)

 

(11) sa eva mula-mantram japati, harir iti krishna iti rama iti.

 

In the Sri Caitanya Upanishad-Atharva Veda, the maha-mantra is glorified:

 

“The Supreme Lord will chant a mantra consisting of His own names Hari, Krishna, and Rama (the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare).

 

(12) harati hridaya-granthim vasana-rupam iti harih.

krishih smarane tac ca nas tad-ubhaya-melanam iti krishnah.

ramayati sarvam iti rama ananda-rupah. atra sloko bhavati.

 

“These three seed names of the maha-mantra of the Supreme Lord (Hari, Krishna, and Rama) may be explained in the following way: {1} ‘Hari’ means He who removes (harati) the knot of material desire in the hearts of the living entities; {2} ‘Krishna’ is composed of the two syllables ‘krish’ and ‘na’. ‘Krish’ means He who attracts the minds of all living entities, and ‘na’ means the supreme transcendental pleasure; and {3} ‘Rama’ means He who is the personification of all transcendental bliss.

 

(13) mantro guhyah paramo bhakti-vedyah.

 

“The maha-mantra is the topmost and most confidential of all mantras. It can only be understood when one engages in the pure devotional service of the Supreme Lord.”

 

(14) namany ashtav-ashta ca sobhanani, tani nityam ye japanti dhiras. te vai mayam atitaranti, nanyah paramam-mantram parama-rahasyam nityam avartayati.

 

“Those who seriously desire to make progress in spiritual life should continually chant these sixteen beautiful names (maha-mantra) of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in this way they will cross beyond the bondage of the illusory enery in this material world. There is no other mantra which is as powerful as this supremely great and most confidential of all mantras, which has directly descended from the spiritual world.”

 

agni purane

 

hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;

ratanti helaya vapi, te kritartha na samsayah.

 

In the Agni Purana, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra as preached by Lord Caitanya is mentioned:

 

“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare: Whoever chants this mantra, even neglectfully, will attain the supreme goal of life. Of this there is no doubt.”

 

padma-purane-svarga-khande (50.6)

 

harir eva samaradhyah, sarva deve suresvarah;

hari nama maha-mantrair, nasyat papa pisacakam.

 

In the Padma Purana, Svarga Khanda (50.6), the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is mentioned:

 

“All the grievous sins of one who one-pointedly worships Lord Sri Hari, the Lord of all

the demigods and devotees, and chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, are removed.”

 

narada-pancaratre

 

trayo vedah shad-angani chandamsi vividhah surah

sarvam ashtaksharantah-stham yac canyad api van-mayam

sarva-vedanta-sararthah samsararnava-taranah

 

The Narada-pancaratra also praises the Hare Krishna maha-mantra as follows:

 

“The essence of all Vedic knowledge-comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity [karma-kanda, jnana-kanda and upasana-kanda], the chandas, or Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods-is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Translation by Srila Prabhupada)

 

vayu purane

 

kalau nashta-drisam esha, mat-padyarka udeshyati.

 

In the Vayu Purana, the maha-mantra is described:

 

“‘For they who have become blinded by the influence of Kali-yuga, a verse with My holy names will rise like a glorious sun. This verse is:

 

hare krishna, hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;

hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

 

“‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare;

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

 

sakrid dvis trir yatha-sakti, yavaj jivam athapi va;

vyaharan svapaco ’pi syan, mama bhakto na samsayah.

 

“‘Everyone should chant this maha-mantra again and again, either once, twice, thrice or as many times as possible during the day & night, for as long as one lives. By chanting this mantra even the most sinful person who was a dogeater will immediately become My devotee. Of this there is no doubt.’”

 

ananta-samhitayam

 

hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;

hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

 

In the Ananta-samhita, it is mentioned:

 

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare;

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

 

shodasaitani namani, dvatrimsad varnakani hi;

kalau yuge maha-mantrah, sammato jivatarane.

 

This mantra comprising of sixteen words or thirty-two syllables is known as the maha-mantra in Kali-yuga and is only powerful means through which the living entities can be delivered in Kali-yuga.

 

varjayitva tu namaitad, durjanaih parikalpitam;

chandobaddham susiddhanta, viruddham nabhyaset padam.

 

One should never neglect or give up the chanting of this maha-mantra and take to other so-called purificatory processes which are invented by fools and miscreants. One should not engage even in chanting other metrical compostions of the names of God that are against the pure conclusions of the scriptures.

 

tarakam brahma-namaitad, brahmana gurunadina;

kalisantaranadyasu sruti-svadhigatam hareh.

 

Lord Brahma and other highly advanced spiritual masters have called this maha-mantra as ‘taraka-brahma-nama’ which means this transcendental mantra is the deliverer of one and all.

This mantra has been glorified in srutis like the Kali-santarana Upanishad and also by Lord Hari Himself.

 

praptam sri brahma-sishyena, sri naradena dhimata;

namaitad-uttamam srauta-paramparyena brahmanah.

 

After receiving through aural reception, this topmost of all mantras from their father Lord Brahma, Sri Narada and Brahma’s other sons & disciples chanted it, achieved perfection and taught it to their own disciples in the parampara system.

 

utshrjyaitan-maha-mantram, ye tvanyat kalpitam padam;

mahanameti gayanti, te sastra-guru langhanah.

 

Abandoning this maha-mantra, those who recite verses or poems or songs which have been manufactured through someone’s imagination, transgress the instructions of the scriptures and the bona-fide spiritual masters, even though the verses they are reciting may be full of the principal names of Lord Krishna.

 

tattva-virodha-sanpriktam, tadrisam daurjanam matam;

sarvatha pariharyam syadatma-hitarthina sada.

 

Those who are interested in their real self-interest, should never accept in any form whatsoever, these concocted mantras or verses which are against the philosophical conclusions of the scriptures and may contain subtle deviations from the Vedic knowledge.

 

hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;

hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

 

Thus everyone should take full shelter and chant with great sincerity:

 

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare;

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

 

stava-mala-vibhushana-bhashye

 

hare krishneti mantra-pratika-grahanam.

shodasa-namatmana dvatrimsa-daksarena mantrenoccair uccaritena

sphurita krita-nritya rasana jihva yasya sah.

 

In the Stava-mala-vibhushana-bhashya, Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana says:

 

“The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is non-different from Krishna Himself. When the sixteen words or the thirty-two syllables of the Hare Krishna mantra are loudly vibrated, the Supreme Lord Krishna Himself dances of one’s tongue.”

 

stavamala caitanyashtake

 

hare krishnety uccaih sphurita-rasano nama-ganana

krita-granthi-sreni-subhaga-kati-sutrojjvala-karah

 

In the Stavamala Caitanyashtaka verse 5, Srila Rupa Gosvami states:

 

Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu loudly chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, which dance upon His tongue, as His radiant lotus hand counts the name by fingering the beads on the beautiful knotted counting string tied to His waist.

 

sri caitanya-bhagavate

 

(1) hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;

hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

 

In Sri Caitanya-bhagavata Madhya Khanda 23.76-78, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed all the people of Navadvipa to chant:

 

“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare;

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”

 

(2) prabhu bole,-“kahilan ei mahamantra;

iha japa giya sabe koriya nirbandha.”

 

The Lord said, “Please hear this Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Everyone please chant this maha-mantra daily in ‘nirbandha’ or constantly. “

 

(3) iha hoite sarva-siddhi hoibe sabara

sarva-kshana bolo’ ithe vidhi nahi ara

 

The Lord continued, “By chanting in this way one will achieve all perfection in one’s life. Please keep on chanting constantly because there is no consideration of any rules and regulations for this chanting process.”

 

Chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra is the yuga-dharma for Kali-yuga:

 

brihan-naradiya purane

 

harer nama harer nama, harer namaiva kevalam;

kalau nasty eva nasty eva, nasty eva gatir anyatha.

 

In the Brihan-naradiya Purana (38.126), it is very emphatically stated:

 

“For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali which is full of quarrel and hypocrisy, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord.”

 

srimad-bhagavata-mahapurane

 

(1) krishna-varnam tvishakrishnam, sangopangastra-parshadam;

yajnaih sankirtana-prayair, yajanti hi su-medhasah.

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.32) Karabhajana Muni speaks to Videharaja Nimi:

 

“In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting (of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra) to worship the incarnation of Godhead (Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu), who constantly sings the name of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish (but is like molten gold), He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons, and confidential companions.”

 

(2) kaler dosha-nidhe rajann, asti hy eko mahan gunah;

kirtanad eva krishnasya, mukta-bandhah param vrajet.

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.3.51) it is said:

 

“My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.”

 

(3) krite yad dhyayato vishnum, tretayam yajato makhaih;

dvapare paricaryayam, kalau tad dhari-kirtanat.

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.3.52) it is said:

 

“Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Vishnu, in Treta-yuga by performing sacrifices and in Dvapara-yuga by serving the Lord’s lotus feet can also be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.”

 

(4) kalim sabhajayanty arya, guna-jnah sara-bhaginah;

yatra sankirtanenaiva, sarva-svartho ’bhilabhyate.

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.5.36) Karabhajana Muni speaks to Videharaja Nimi:

 

“Those who are advanced and highly qualified and are interested in the essence of life know the good qualities of Kali-yuga. Such people worship the Age of Kali because in this age one can advance in spiritual knowledge and attain life’s goal simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.”

 

(5) nama-sankirtanam yasya, sarva-papa pranasanam;

pranamo duhkha-samanas, tam namami harim param.

 

In the last verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.5.53) it is concluded:

 

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of obeisances unto whom relieves all material suffering.”

 

(6) etan nirvidyamananam, icchatam akuto-bhayam;

yoginam nripa nirnitam, harer namanukirtanam.

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.1.11) it is said:

 

“O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.”

 

(7) mantratas tantratas chidram, desa-kalarha-vastutah;

sarvam karoti nischidram, anusankirtanam tava.

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (8.23.16) it is said:

 

“There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.”

 

(8) etavan eva loke ’smin, pumsam dharmah parah smritah;

bhakti-yogo bhagavati, tan-nama-grahanadibhih.

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.33.22) it is said:

 

“Devotional service, beginning with the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is the ultimate religious principle for the living entity in human society.”

 

(8) sankirtyamano bhagavan anantah

srutanubhavo vyasanam hi pumsam

pravisya cittam vidhunoty asesham

yatha tamo ’rko ’bhram ivati-vatah

 

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (12.12.48) it is said:

 

“When people engage properly in the hari-nama-sankirtana relating to the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or simply hear about His power, the Lord personally enters their hearts and cleanses away every trace of misfortune, just as the sun removes the darkness or as a powerful wind drives away the clouds.”

 

padma purane

 

dhyayan krite yajan yajnais, tretayam dvapare ’rcayan;

yad apnoti tad apnoti, kalau sankirtya kesavam.

 

In the Padma Purana (Uttara-khanda 72.25), it is said:

 

“Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of yajna in Treta-yuga or by the worship of Krishna’s lotus feet in Dvapara-yuga is also obtained in the Age of Kali simply by chanting the glories of Lord Kesava.”

 

narayana-samhitayam

 

dvapariyair janair vishnuh, pancaratrais tu kevalaih;

kalau tu nama-matrena, pujyate bhagavan harih.

 

In the Narayana Samhita, it is said:

 

“In Dvapara-yuga one could satisfy Krishna or Vishnu only by worshiping Him gorgeously according to the pancaratriki system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting the holy name.”

 

kali-santarana upanishadi

 

hare krishna hare krishna, krishna krishna hare hare;

hare rama hare rama, rama rama hare hare.

 

iti shodasakam namnam, kali-kalmasha-nasanam;

natah parataropayah, sarva-vedeshu drisyate.

 

In the Kali-santarana Upanishad it is stated:

 

“The sixteen words-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-are especially meant for counteracting the contaminations of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of Kali, there is no alternative in all the Vedas except the chanting of these sixteen words.”

 

vishnu-rahasye

 

yad abhyarcya harim bhaktya, krite kratu-satair api;

phalam prapnoty avikalam, kalau govinda-kirtanat.

 

In the Vishnu Rahasya, it is said:

 

“Whatever fruit can be obtained in Satya-yuga by devotedly worshiping Sri Hari through the performance of hundreds of sacrifices for hundreds of years, that same result can be obtained very quickly in Kali-yuga simply by the performance of Govinda-kirtana.

 

sri caitanya-bhagavate

 

ataeva kali-yuge nama-yajna sara;

ara kona dharma kaile nahi haya para.

 

In Sri Caitanya-bhagavata Adi Khanda 14.139, it is said:

 

“Therefore the essence of all religious principles in the age of Kali is the sacrifice of chanting the holy names of the Lord. One cannot be delivered by following any other religious principles.”

 

sri caitanya-caritamrite

(1) kali-kale nama-rupe krishna-avatara;

nama haite haya sarva-jagat-nistara.

 

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 17.22, it is said:

 

“In this Age of Kali, the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, is the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Simply by chanting the holy name, one associates with the Lord directly. The whole universe will be delivered simply by the chanting of the holy names.”

 

(2) avatari’ caitanya kaila dharma-pracarana

kali-kale dharma-krishna-nama-sankirtana

 

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Madhya-lila 11.98, it is said:

 

“In this Age of Kali, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has descended to preach the religion of Krishna consciousness. Therefore the chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna is the religious principle for this age.”

 

 

sri caitanya-mangale

 

 

hari-nama-cintamanau

 

varnasrama-dharma ara sankhya-yoga-jnana;

kalijive uddharite nahe balavan.

 

In the Hari-nama-cintamani, Srila Haridasa Thakura states:

 

“The practices of discharging one’s occupational duties perfectly, acquring analytical or speculative knowledge and the eight-fold process of meditation, are not powerful enough to deliver the fallen living entities of Kali-yuga.

 

kali-yuge suduhsadhya anya subha karma;

ataeva nama asi’ haila yuga-dharma.

 

“Also it is extremely difficult to engage in pious activities due to the degraded condition of Kali-yuga. So the name of Krishna has descended by the causeless mercy of the Lord and become the yuga-dharma of Kali-yuga.

 

prabhu tumi jivera mangala cinta kori’;

kali-yuge nama-sange svayam avatari.

 

“My dear Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, for the sake of bringing all-auspiciousness in the lives of all living entities in Kali-yuga, You have descended personally accompanied by Your most powerful holy names.

 

yuga-dharma pracarile nama-sankirtana;

mukhya pathe jiva paya krishna-prema dhana.

 

“You have then preached the congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra which is the yuga-dharma for Kali-yuga, through Your own example, instructions and devotees. This is only main process through which the living entitiy will achieve the ultimate treasure of pure love of Krishna.

 

namera smarana ara nama-sankirtana.

ei matra dharma jiva koribe palana.

 

“The only religious priniciple that the living entity has to follow now is the continuous chanting and rememberance of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

 

upaya haiya (nama) avirbhuta dharatale;

upeya upaya aikya sarva sastre bale.

 

“The Hare Krishna maha-mantra has descended from the spiritual world and become the means for achieving perfection but at the same time it eternally remains the goal as well. Thus in the chanting process, the means and end have become one (unlike other spiritual processes like karma, jnana and yoga where the means and the end remain different), making it very easy for conditioned souls in Kali-yuga to achieve perfection. This is verdict of all the Vedic scriptures.”

 

Mention 10 offenses. Chanting should be without offenses

 

Smritis about Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu

 

vayu purane

 

(1) balaramo mamaivamsah, so’ pi mat-prishtham eshyati;

nityananda iti khyato nyasi-cudamanih kshitau

 

In the Vayu Purana, the Lord tells Brahma:

 

“‘Lord Balarama, who is My first expansion and non-different from Me will also appear by My side as Lord Sri Nityananda. He will become the crest jewel of all renunciants on the earth.

 

(2) kritvavadhuta-vesham sa, dharman bhagavatan bahun;

grahayitva janan ittham grihinam asramam tatah.

 

“‘Assuming the dress of an avadhuta, He will freely distribute bhagavata dharma i.e. love of God. He will distribute this pure love through various means and deliver all the living entities. He will do first as a brahmacari and later as a householder.

 

(3) jahnavy-adibhir atmanam, darsayishyati manavan.

 

“‘Accompanied by His eternal consort Srimati Jahnavi-devi and many other intimate associates, He (Nityananda) will reveal his transcendental pastimes to the people.’”

 

ananta-samhitayam

 

nityanando maha-kayo, bhutva mat-kirtane ratah;

vimudhan bhakti-rahitan, mama bhaktan karishyasi.

 

In the Ananta-Samhita, the Lord states to Ananta:

 

“When I appear in Navadvipa in Kali-yuga , You will become Nityananda. You will have a very tall, beautiful and large body, and You will be constantly absorbed in chanting My name & glories. In this way, by Your causeless mercy You will convert many bewildered fools who are devoid of devotion into My pure unalloyed devotees.”

 

sri caitanya-caritamrite

 

mayatite vyapi-vaikuntha-loke

purnaisvarye sri-catur-vyuha-madhye

rupam yasyodbhati sankarshanakhyam

tam sri-nityananda-ramam prapadye

 

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 1.8, it is said:

 

I surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, who is known as Sankarshana in the midst of the catur-vyuha [consisting of Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha]. He possesses full opulences and resides in Vaikunthaloka, far beyond the material creation.

 

sankarshanah karana-toya-sayi

garbhoda-sayi ca payobdhi-sayi

seshas ca yasyamsa-kalah sa nitya-

nandakhya-ramah saranam mamastu

 

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 1.7, it is said:

 

May Sri Nityananda Rama be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarshana, Sesha Naga and the Vishnus who lie on the Karana Ocean, Garbha Ocean and ocean of milk are His plenary portions and the portions of His plenary portions.

 

Smritis about the Panca-tattva

 

urdhvamnaya-tantre

 

panca-tattvamakam gauram, krishna-caitanya-samjnakam;

ye bhajanti navadvipe, te me priyatamah kila.

 

In the Irdhvamnaya-tantra, Lord Siva declares to Parvati:

 

“They who in Navadvipa worship Lord Gaura, who is known as Sri Krishna Caitanya in His five features (panca-tattva), are most dear to me.”

 

sri caitanya-caritamrite

 

panca-tattvatmakam krishnam, bhakta-rupa-svarupakam;

bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam, namami bhakta-saktikam.

 

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 1.14, it is said:

 

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Krishna, who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee (Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya), devotional incarnation (Lord Sri Nityananda), devotional manifestation (Lord Sri Advaita), pure devotee (Srivasa Thakura) and devotional energy (Sri Gadadhara Pandita).

 

Smritis about Sri Advaita Acarya

 

vayu purane

 

rudro’ vatirya mad-bhaktim, srimad-advaita-samjnakah

grahiyishyati lokams ca, yatnat karunikah prabhuh

 

In the Vayu Purana, the Lord tells Brahma:

 

“Lord Siva will incarnate as My great devotee and His name will be Srimad Advaita Acarya. Due to His unlimited compassion, He will give pure bhakti to each & everyone with great endeavour.”

 

sri caitanya-caritamrite

 

maha-vishnur jagat-karta, mayaya yah srijaty adah;

tasyavatara evayam, advaitacarya isvarah.

 

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 1.12-13, it is said:

 

Lord Advaita Acarya is the incarnation of Maha-Vishnu, whose main function is to create the cosmic world through the actions of maya.

 

advaitam harinadvaitad, acaryam bhakti-samsanat;

bhaktavataram isam tam, advaitacaryam asraye.

 

Because He is nondifferent from Hari, the Supreme Lord, He is called Advaita, and because He propagates the cult of devotion, He is called Acarya. He is the Lord and the incarnation of the Lord’s devotee. Therefore I take shelter of Him.

 

Smritis about parampara

 

Teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

dasa mula & acintya bheda

 

Importance of reading & hearing Gaura-lila

 

dhanye kalau sampravishte, gaura-lila manorama;

prakata bhavita hy etat, vyaktam tada bhavishyati. ut 82 pg 179

 

Text 57 pg 167

fn 2

 

srinvanti paraya bhaktya, ye gaura-kirtana-drumam;

na tesham punar avrittih, sive samsara-sagare.

 

 

 

Deity worship (?)

 

Sastras (mother) (Intro with Vedas, puranas& bhakti smrti sastras quotes)

 

Worship of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai Deities in every home required in Kali-yuga

 

Krishna is the Supreme Absolute truth, the source of all incarnations (?)

 

Glories of the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

 

Srimad-Bhagavtam is the topmost pramana

 

Glories of the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

 

Misfortune of those who do not take shelter of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

 

e-vanyaya ye na bhase, sei jiva chara

koti-kalpe kabhu tara nahika nistara

 

“Anyone who does not float in this inundation is most condemned. Such a person cannot be delivered for millions of kalpas.

Antya 3.255

 

Offering a flower to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

 

sri caitanya-caritamrite

 

ku-manah su-manastvam hi, yati yasya padabjayoh;

su-mano-’rpana-matrena, tam caitanya-prabhum bhaje.

 

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 15.1, it is said:

 

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya because simply by offering a flower at His lotus feet even the most ardent materialist becomes a devotee.

 

Glories of chanting the names of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

 

srivasa balena,--ye tomara nama laya

tara koti aparadha saba haya kshaya

 

Srivasa Thakura replied, “Anyone who takes Your holy name vanquishes ten million of his offenses immediately.

Adi 17.96

Offering obeisances to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

 

amake pranati kare, haya papa-kshaya

tabe se ihare bhakti laoyaile laya

 

“If these rogues offer Me obeisances, the reactions of their sinful activities will be nullified. Then, if I induce them, they will take to devotional service.

Adi 17.263

 

pranatite ha’be ihara aparadha kshaya

nirmala hridaye bhakti karaiba udaya

 

“Offering obeisances will relieve them of all the reactions to their offenses. Then, by My grace, devotional service [bhakti] will awaken in their pure hearts.

17.266

 

Seeing Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

 

urdhvamnaya-tantre

 

bhidyate hridaya-granthis, chidyante sarva-samsayah;

kshiyante jada-karmani, gaure drishte parat pare

 

In the Urdhvamnaya-tantra, Lord Siva declares to Parvati:

 

“The strong knot of material attachment in the heart from millions of lives is pierced, all the misgivings and doubts are cut to pieces, the chain of material fruitive activities is permanently terminated when one sees Lord Gaura, the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the master of all masters.”

 

aparadha nahi, kaile lokera nistara;

ye toma’ dekhila, tara chutila samsara.

 

“There was no offense in Your appearing as Nrisimhadeva. Rather, any man who saw You in that mood was immediately liberated from the bondage of material existence.”

Adi 17.96

 

emana kripalu nahi suni tribhuvane

krishna-prema haya yanra dura darasane

 

There is no one as merciful as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu within all three worlds. Simply by seeing Him from a distance, one is overwhelmed with love of Godhead.

Madhya 16.121

 

Madhya 9.7-8

purvavat pathe yaite ye paya darasana

yei grame yaya, se gramera yata jana

sabei vaishnava haya, kahe ‘krishna’ ‘hari’

anya grama nistaraye sei ‘vaishnava’ kari’

 

As previously stated, all the residents of the villages visited by Lord Caitanya became Vaishnavas simply by seeing Him and began to chant Hari and Krishna. In this way, in all the villages visited by the Lord, everyone became a Vaishnava, a devotee just by seeing the Lord.

10

sei saba loka prabhura darsana-prabhave

nija-nija-mata chadi’ ha-ila vaishnave

 

By the influence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all these people of South India abandoned their own opinions and became Vaishnavas, devotees of Krishna.

11

vaishnavera madhye rama-upasaka saba

keha ‘tattvavadi’, keha haya ‘sri-vaishnava'

 

At the time, all the South Indian Vaishnavas were worshipers of Lord Ramacandra. Some were Tattvavadis, and some were followers of Ramanujacarya.

12

sei saba vaishnava mahaprabhura darsane

krishna-upasaka haila, laya krishna-name

 

After meeting Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all those different Vaishnavas became devotees of Krishna and began chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

Madhya 9.13

 

hindura isvara bada yei narayana;

sei tumi hao,-hena laya mora mana.

 

“I know that Narayana is the Supreme God of the Hindus, and I think that You are the same Narayana. This I feel within my mind by simply seeing you.”

Adi 17.215

 

Remembering Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

sri caitanya-caritamrite

 

kathancana smrite yasmin, dushkaram sukaram bhavet;

vismrite viparitam syat, sri-caitanyam namami tam.

 

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 14.1, it is said:

 

“Things that are very difficult to do become easy to execute if one somehow or other simply remembers Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But if one does not remember Him, even easy things become very difficult. To this Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu I offer my respectful obeisances.”

 

muka kavitva kare yan-sabara smarane

pangu giri langhe, andha dekhe tara-gane

 

By remembering the lotus feet of the Panca-tattva, a dumb man can become a poet, a lame man can cross mountains, and a blind man can see the stars in the sky.

Adi 8.5

 

Importance of Sri Caitanya-bhagavata

 

 

Smritis about the golden age in Kali-yuga (10,000 years) brought by Lord Caitanya

(1486 AD to 11486 AD)

 

brahma-vaivarta purane

 

(1) bhagirathy uvaca

he natha ramana sreshtha, yasi golokam uttamam;

asmakam ka gatis catra, bhavishyati kalau yuge.

 

In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, mother Ganges petitions the Lord:

 

“O protector, Supreme enjoyer, on your departure for the supreme abode, Goloka, thereafter what will be my situation in the age of Kali?”

 

(2) sri bhagavan uvaca

kaleh panca sahasrani, varshani tishtha bhutale;

papani papino yanti, tubhyam dasyanti snanatah.

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: “On the earth 5,000 years of Kali will be very sinful and sinners will come and deposit their sins in you by bathing.”

 

(3) man-mantropasaka sparsad, bhasmi bhutani tat kshanat;

bhavishyanti darsanac ca, snana deva hi jahnavi.

 

“Thereafter simply by the sight or touch of One who will worship Me by My mantra*, all those sins will be burnt at once.”

 

(* Here Lord Krishna is indicating His own concealed incarnation in the form of Lord Caitanya in Kali-yuga, when He will appear as His own upasaka for the purpose of teaching devotional service to everyone by the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.)

 

(4) harer namani yatraiva, puranani bhavanti hi;

tatra gatva savadhanam, abhih sarddham ca sroshyasi.

 

“Everywhere there will be chanting of the name of Hari and reading of the Bhagavata Purana. At that time you can also go to such a place and attentively hear My glorification.”

 

(5) purana sravanac caiva, harer namanukirtanat;

bhasmi bhutani papani, brahma-hatyadikani ca.

 

“All sinful reactions including the killing of a brahmana can be completely nulified simply by hearing the Bhagavata Purana and the continuous and devoted chanting of the names of Hari following in the footsteps of the devotees (who are the followers of the mantra-upasaka Lord Caitanya).”

 

(6) bhasmi bhutani tanyeva, vaishnavalinganena ca;

trinani sushka kasthani, dahanti pavako yatha.

 

“Just as dry grass or wood is consumed by fire, simply by the embrace of these Vaishnavas all sins of the living entities will be burnt.”

 

(7) tathapi vaishnava loke, papani papinamapi;

prithivyam yani tirthani, punyanyapi ca jahnavi.

 

“O Ganges (Jahnavi), the whole planet will become a most auspicious pilgrimage sight by the presence of Vaishnavas, even though it had been very sinful in the past 5000 years.”

 

(8) mad bhaktanam sarireshu, santi puteshu santatam.

mad bhakta pada rajasa, sadah puta vasundhara.

 

“In the body of My devotees, there is extraordinary potency to purify everything. Thus even Mother Earth will become purified by the dust of the feet of My devotees.”

 

(9) sadyah putani tirthani, sadyah putam jagat tatha;

man mantropasaka vipra, ye mad ucchishta bhojinah.

 

“As My devotees will purify the whole world, they will purify even the pilgrimage sites. Those intelligent learned followers of the worshipper of My maha-mantra (Lord Caitanya), will only partake My remnants and thus purify everything.”

 

(10) mam eva nityam dhyayante, te mat pranadhikah priyah;

tad upasparsa matrena, puto vayusca pavakah.

 

“Those who meditate on Me constantly by the chanting of the maha-mantra, are more dear to Me than My very life. Even the air and fire (which are already purifiers) will become pure simply even by their indirect touch.”

 

(11) kaler dasa-sahasrani mad bhaktah santi bhutale

eka varna bhavishyanti mad bhakteshu gateshu ca

 

“For 10,000 years of Kali (golden age), such devotees of Mine will fill the whole planet. After the departure of My devotees, all of those who will remain will be like outcastes.”

 

(12) mad bhakta sunya prithivi, kali grasta bhavishyati;

eta smin namtare tatra krishna dehad vinirgatah.

 

“After these 10,000* years, completely devoid of My devotees, the earth will be shackled by Kali’s strong influence (as described in the 12th Canto of the Bhagavata Purana). Saying this, Lord Krishna departed.”

 

(* Kali-yuga total duration is 432,000 years. So after 5,000 years of sinful degradation and the next 10,000 years of the golden age of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as described above, the balance 417,000 years of Kali-yuga will be the most sinful period for the earth planet due to the complete domination by the personality of Kali. At the end, i.e. 427,000 years from now, the Lord will appear on a white horse in his partial incarnation of Kalki to annihilate the demons and restablish the Satya-yuga.)

 

Elements of the four major sampradayas accepted by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu:

 

In Sri Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, Chapters 15 & 16, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has described his revelations regarding the svarupa of the transcendental abode and the ma of the Lord performed in the area of Navadvipa. During these narrations, sri Nityananda Prabhu took Srila Jiva Goswami on a tour of the nine islands of Navadvipa, and told him many wonderful things. Herein it is mentioned how Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu accepted two principles from each of the four Vaisnava sarnpradayas, and incorporated these into His own sampradaya. It is also mentioned that the four principal acharyas of these four lineages later took birth as Lord Chaitanya's devotees during His manifest lila.

 

Ramanuja - of the Laksmi-sampradaya (who preached the philosophy of dasya-rasa) -Was reborn as the Gaura-bhakta named Ananta (who lived near Vallabhacharya's house):

 

1 ) concept of unalloyed devotion free from karma and jnana (ananya-bhakti)

 

2) service to the devotees bhakta-jana-seva

 

Madhava - of the Brahma-sampradaya:

 

1 ) complete defeat of mayavada philosophy (kevale-advaita-nirasana)

 

2) worship of the deity of Krishna, understanding it to be eternal (krsna-murti-sevana)

 

Visnusvami - of the Rudra-sampradaya (who preached suddha advaita philosophy)-Was reborn as the Gaura-bhakta named Vallabha Bhatta, who perfected his own sampradaya by Gauranga's mercy:

 

1 ) the sentiment of total dependence on Krishna (tadiya-sarvasva-bhava)

 

2) the path of spontaneous devotional service (raga-marga)

 

Nimbarka - of the Kumara-sampradaya (who preached dvaitaadvaita philosophy)-Was reborn as the Gaura-bhakta named Kesava Kasmiri (who perfected his worship of bhava-marga with a mantra described in Sanat Kumara Samhita):

 

1 ) the necessity of taking exclusive shelter of Radhika

(ekanta - radhikasraya)

 

2) the exalted mood of the gopis' love for Sri Krishna (gopi-bhava)

[Ash]

 

Conclusive evidence of

Lord Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu’s predicted appearance

in the Vedas <table border="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="right" width="25%">

</td> <td align="right" width="25%">

</td></tr></tbody></table>

Scriptures quoted:

Bhagavat Puran | Adi Puran | Kurma Puran | Garuda Puran | Narasimha Puran | Padma Puran | Narada Puran | Brahma Puran | Bhavisya Puran | Agni Puran | Matsya Puran | Vayu Puran | Markandeya Puran | Varah Puran | Vaman Puran | Upa Puran | Ananta Samhita | Mahabharat | Atharva Ved | Sama Ved | Chaitanya Upanishad | Chandogya Upanishad | Svetasvatar Upanishad | Purusa-Bodini-Upanisad

 

Prediction of Lord Gauranga's advent in the form of a brahmana.

 

** In the Adi-Puran and in the Narada Puran, the Supreme Person says:

aham eva dvija-srestho

nityam pracchanna-vigrahah

bhagavad-bhakta-rupena

lokam raksami sarvada

I shall advent in the form of a Brahmana devotee [aham eva dvija-srestho] and I shall hide my factual identity [prachanna vigrahah]. I shall deliver all the worlds [lokam raksami sarvada].

 

 

Prediction of His advent as a sannyasi.

 

** In the Upa-Puranas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna speaks to Srila Vyasadeva:

 

aham eva kvacid brahman

sannyasa asramam asritah

hari bhaktim grahayami

kalau papa-hatan naran

O Brahmana, I occasionally take the Sannyas Asram [sannyasa asrama asritah] in an attempt to bring the fallen people of Kali Yuga to take up the path of Bhakti or devotional service to Lord Krishna [hari bhaktim grahayami].

 

 

Prediction of His actual time of incarnation.

 

** In the Kurma-Purana, it is stated:

 

kalina dahyamanam

uddhararaya tanu-bhrtam

janma prathama sandhyayam

bhavisyati dvijalaye

The Supreme Person will appear in the first part of the age of Kali [janma prathama sandhyayam]. He will appear in the home of a Brahmana [bhavisyati dvijalaye], to save the embodied conditioned souls [uddharaya tanu-bhrtam] burning in the troubles of Kali-Yuga.

 

 

Description of the purpose of Sri Chaitanya's incarnation.

 

** In the Garuda-Purana, the Supreme Person says:

 

kalina dakyamananam

paritranaya tanu-bhrtam

janma prathama sandhyayam

karisyami dvijatisu

In the first part [prathama sandhya] of the age of Kali, I will come among the brahmanas [karisyami dvijatisu] to save the fallen souls, [paritranaya tanu-bhrtam] who are being burned by the troubles of the age of Kali [kalina dahyamananam].

 

 

Prediction of the name of His mother and the actual name of His future birthplace.

 

** In the Garuda-Purana, the Supreme Lord says:

 

aham purno bhavisyami

yuga-sandhyau visesatah

mayapure navadvipe

bhavisyami sachi sutah

I will take birth as the son of Sachi [bhavisyami sachi sutah], in Navadvip-Mayapur [mayapure navadvipe]. I will come in my complete spiritual form in the first part of Kali-Yuga.

 

 

Prediction of the name of His future first wife and His future assumption of the sannyasa order.

 

** In the same Garuda-Purana, it is Also stated:

 

kaleh prathama sandhyayam

lakshmi- kanto bhavisyati

daru-brahma-samipa-sthah

sannyasi gaura-vigrahah

In the first part of Kali-Yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will come in a gold-like form. First He will become the husband of Lakshmi [srimati Lakshmi Devi, Lord Chaitanya's first wife]. Then He will become a sannyasi, near Lord Jagannatha who will appear in a divine wooden form.

 

 

Prediction of the bodily color of Sri Chaitanya and the nature of His future activities.

 

** In the Nrsimha-Purana, it is said:

 

satye daitya-kuladhi-nasa-samaye

simhordhva-martyakrtis

tretayam das-kandharam

paribhavan rameti namakrtih

 

gopalan paripalayan vraja-pure

bharam haran dvapare

gaurangah priya-kirtanah

kali-yuge chaitanya-nama prabhuh

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead who in the Satya-Yuga appeared as a half-man, half-lion to cure a terrible disease that had ravaged the daityas, and who in the Treta-Yuga appeared as a person named Rama [Lord Ramachandra], the person who defeated the ten-headed Demon Ravana, and who in the Dvapara-Yuga removed the earth's burden, and protected the Gopa [cowherd men] people of Vraja-pura, will appear again in the Kali-Yuga. His form will be golden, He will delight in chanting the Lord's holy names, and His name will be Chaitanya."

 

 

Prediction of the future advent of Sri Chaitanya by His direct name.

 

** In the Padma-Purana, it is said:

 

yatrayogesvarah saksad

yogi-cintyo janardanah

chaitanya vapur aste vai

sandranandatmakah

The Supreme Personality, Janardana, who is the object of the yogis' meditation [yogi-chintyo- janardanah], who saves the devotees from various sufferings, and who is the master of all yogic practices [yogesvarah], who is always full of divine transcendental ecstasy and bliss [sandra-ananda-atmakah], will advent in His own divine form of Sri Chaitanya [Chaitanya-vapah].

 

 

Description of the time and place Sri Chaitanya's future advent.

 

** In the Padma-Purana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself states:

 

kaleh prathama-sandhyayam

gaurangotham mahi-tale

bhagirathi-tate ramye

bhavisyami sachi-sutah

I shall appear on this earth [mahi-tale] in the first part of Kali-Yuga [kaleh prathama sandhyayam] in a beautiful place on the bank of the Bhagirathi [bhagirathi-tate ramye]. I shall have a golden form [gaurangah], and I shall take birth as the son of Sachi [bhavisyami sachi-sutah].

 

 

Prediction of the purpose of Sri Chaitanya's advents.

 

** In the Narada-Purana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead says:

 

aham eva kalau vipra

nityam prachanna-vigrahah

bhavavad-bhakta-rupena

lokan raksami sarvada

O Vipra, in the age of Kali, I will come disguised [nityam prachanna vigraha] as a devotee [bhagavad-bhakta-rupena] and I will save all the worlds [lokan raksami sarvada].

 

 

Prediction of His mother's name and the nature of His specific preaching method [sankirtana].

 

** The Supreme Personality of Godhead states in the Narada-Purana:

 

divija bhuvi jayadhvam

jayadhvam bhakta rupinah

kalau sankirtana arambhe

bhavisyami sachi-sutah

O Divija (demigods), please come and advent as devotees on this earth [bhuvi jayadhvam jayadhvam] in the age of Kali-Yuga. I will incarnate as the son of Sachi [bhavisyami sachi-sutah] to inaugurate the congregational chanting of the name of Krishna [kalau sankirtana arambhe].

 

 

Prediction of the revelation of Sri Chaitanya's form.

 

** In the Brahma-Purana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead says:

 

kaleh prathama sandhyayam

gaurangotham mahi-tale

bhagirathi-tate bhumni

bhavisyami sachi-sutah

I will reveal my eternal golden form [gaurangotham mahi-tale] in the first part of Kali- Yuga [kaleh prathama sandhyayam]. I will advent on the earth on the bank of the Bhagirathi [bhagirathi-tate bhumni] as son of Mother Sachi [bhavisyami sachi-sutah].

 

 

Prediction of the future sannyasi role and ecstasy of Sri Chaitanya.

 

** In the Bhavisya-Purana, the Supreme Lord says:

 

anandasru-kala-roma

harsa-purnam tapo-dhana

sarve mama eva draksyanti

kalau sannyasa-rupinam

O austere sage, you should know that in the age of Kali, everyone will see my transcendental form as a sannyasi [kalau sannyasa rupinam]. I will be exhibiting symptoms of ecstasy like shedding tears of bliss and hairs standing in ecstasy [anandasru-kala-roma-harsa-purnam].

 

 

Prediction of the color of Sri Chaitanya and the nature of His future associates.

 

** In the Agni-Purana, it is said:

 

prasantatma lamba-kanthas gaurangas ca suravrtah

The Supreme Personality of Godhead will come in a golden form [gaura-anga], full of peace [prasantatma], and a beautiful long neck [lamba-kanthah]. He will be surrounded by many saintly devotees [sura-avrtah].

Note: This is an indirect prediction of the future advent of the members of the Pancha-Tattva.

 

 

Prediction of the characteristics of Sri Chaitanya.

 

** In the Matsya-Purana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead says:

 

mundo gaurah su-dirghangas

tri-srotas-tira-sambhavah

dayaluh kirtana-grahi

bhavisyami kalau-yuge

In the age of Kali, I shall advent [bhavisyami kalau yuge] where the three rivers meet [tri-srotas-tira-sambhavah]. I shall have a shaven head [mundah]. I shall have a golden complexion [gaurah]. I will be very kind and always chant the holy name of Krishna [dayaloh kirtana-grahi].

 

 

Prediction of the name of the river where Sri Chaitanya will take his birth and other characteristics.

 

** In the Vayu-Purana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead states:

 

suddho gaurah-su-dirghango

ganga-tira-samudbhavah

dayaluh-kirtana-grahi

bhavisyami kalau yuge

In the age of Kali-Yuga, I shall come [bhavisyami kalau yuge] in a place on the bank of the Ganges [ganga-tira-samudbhavah]. I will be very pure [suddhah], have a golden complexion [gaurah], and be very tall [su-dirghangah] and chant the holy names of Krishna. [Vyau Puran next quote]

 

 

Prediction that the Supreme Lord will leave Goloka and corne in a golden form.

 

** In the Markandeya-Purana, the Supreme of Godhead declares:

 

golokam ca parityajya

lokanam trana-karanat

kalau gauranga-rupena

lila-lavanya-vigrahah

"In the Kali-Yuga, I will leave Goloka and, to save the people of the world, I will become the handsome and playful Lord Gauranga."

 

 

Prediction of one of the purpose of Sri Chaitanya's appearance.

 

** In the Varaha-Purana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead declares:

 

aham eva dvija-srestho

lila-pracurya-vigrahah

bhagavad-bhakta-rupena

lokan raksami sarvada

I shall come as the best of the brahmanas [aham eva dvija-srestha]. I will exhibit many pastimes [lila-pracurya-vigrahah] in the form of a devotee [bhagavad-bhakta-rupena]. I shall deliver the people of the world [lokan raksami sarvada].

 

 

Prediction of the name of the mother of Sri Chaitanya and His future role as the deliverer of the darkness of Kali-Yuga.

 

** In the Vamana-Purana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead declares:

 

kali-ghora-tamas-channat

sarvan acara varjitan

sachigarbhe ca sambhuya

tarayisyami narada

O Narada Muni, I will take birth in the womb of Sachi [sachi-garbhe ca sambhuya]. I shall save the people, who will give up all proper good conduct [sarvan acara varyitan], from the terrible darkness of the age of Kali-Yuga [kali-ghora-tamas-channan].

 

 

Prediction of the future advent of Sri Chaitanya, His birth time, His mother, His birth city, His name and His mission.

 

** In the Vayu-Purana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead says:

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="47%">paurnamasyam phalgunasya

phalguni-rksa-yogatah

bhavisye gaura-rupena

sachi-garbhe purandarat

</td> <td align="center" width="6%">-></td> <td align="center" width="47%">svarnadi-tiram asthaya

navadvipe janasraye

tatra dvija-kulam prapto

bhavisyami janalaye

</td></tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="47%">bhakti-yoga-pradanaya

lokasyanugrahaya ca

sannyas-rupam asthaya

krishna-chaitanya-nama-dhrk

</td> <td align="center" width="6%">-></td> <td align="center" width="47%">tena lokasya nistaras

tat kurudhvam mamajnaya

dharitri bhavita cabhir

mayaiva dvija-dehina

</td></tr></tbody></table>

I shall advent in the month of Phalguna, when the star Phalguni is conjoined with the full moon. I shall incarnate in a golden complexion in the womb of Sachi and Purandara Misra. I will be born in the city of Navadvipa,on the Ganges's shore, in a Brahmana's family. I shall take the renounced order of life [sannyasa] and show kindness to the people in general and engage them in Bhakti. I will be known as Sri Krishna Chaitanya. All of you should follow My order and deliver the people of the world. I shall appear as a Brahmana. I shall make this earth fearless. [Vayu Puran previous quote]

 

 

Prediction of Sri Chaitanya's birth city, the name of the river close to His birth site, the name of His mother, His close associates and their divine roles in His lila, His divine reason for incarnating as well as different names by which Sri Chaitanya will be known.

 

** In the Ananta-Samhita, it is said:

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center" width="47%">svarnadi-tiram asritya

navadvipe dvijalaye

sampradatum bhakti-yogam

lokasyanugrahaya ca </td> <td align="center" width="6%">-></td> <td align="center" width="47%">sa eva bhagavan krmo

radhika-prana-vallabhah

srsty-adau sa jagannatho

gaura asin mahesvari </td></tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="47%">avatirno bhavisyami

kalau-nija-ganaih saha

sachi-garbhe navadvipe

svardhuni-parivarite </td> <td align="center" width="6%">-></td> <td align="center" width="47%">aprakasyam idam guhyam

na prakasyam bahir mukhe

bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam

bhaktam bhakti-pradam svayam </td></tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="47%">man-maya-mohitah kecin

na jnasyanto bahir-mokhah

jnasyanti mad-bhakti-yuktah

sadhavo-nyasinotmalah </td> <td align="center" width="6%">-></td> <td align="center" width="47%">krmavatara-kale-yah

striyo ye purusah priyah

kalau te'vatarisyanti

sridama-subaladayah </td></tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="47%">catuh-sasti-mahantas te

gopa dvadas balakah

Caitanyera Simhera... </td> <td align="center" width="6%">-></td> <td align="center" width="47%">dharma-samsthapanarthay

a viharisyami tair aham </td></tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="47%">kale nastam bhakti-patham

sthapayisyamy aham punah

gacchantu bhuvi te putrah

jayantam bhakta-rupinah</td> <td align="center" width="6%">-></td> <td align="center" width="47%">dharma-samsthapanam kale

kurvantu te mamajnaya </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" align="center" width="100%">krishnas chaitanya-gaurango

gaurachandrah sachi-sutah

prabhur gauro gaura-harir

namani-bhakti-dani me</td></tr></tbody></table>

"To show mercy to the people and give them devotional service, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear in a Brahmana's home in Navadvip by the Ganges' shore. The Supreme Person, Sri Krishna Himself, who is the life of Srimati Radharani, and is the Lord of the universe in creation, rnaintenance, and annihilation, appears as Gaura, O Mahesvari.

 

In Kali-Yuga, I will descend to the earth with My associates. In Navadvip, which is surrounded by the Ganges, I will take birth in Sachi-devi's womb.

 

They who are bewildered by My illusory potency will not understand the great secret of the appearance in this world of Me in My personal form,

 

• in My form as the incarnation of devotion,
• in My form as the incarnation of a devotee,
• in My form bearing the name of a devotee,
• in My form as a devotee, and
• in My form as the giver of devotional service.

This secret is not to be revealed to them. Only the saintly, pure, renounced devotees, diligently engaged in My devotional service, will be able to understand Me in these five forms.

 

My dear male and female associates, headed by Sridama and Subala, who came to this world at the time of My advent as Lord Krishna, will come again during the Kali-Yuga.

 

The Gopas will become the sixtyfour mahantas and the twelve gopalas. To establish the truth of religion, I will enjoy many pastimes with them.

 

In this way I will again reveal the path of devotional service, which has been destroyed in the course of time. My sons should also descend to the earth, assume the forms of devotees, and, by My order, also work to re-establish the principles of true religion.

 

At this time My names will be: Krishna Chaitanya, Gauranga, Gaurachandra, Sachisuta, Mahaprabhu, Gaura and Gaurahari. Chanting these names will bring devotion to Me."

 

 

What other major vedic literatures also describe characteristics of the advent of Sri Chaitanya?

 

** The Great Epic Mahabharata (Dana-Dharma, Visnu-Sahasra-Nama Stotra) points out the divine characteristics of Sriman Mahaprabhu's appearance.

suvarna varna hemango

varangas candanangadi

sannyasa krt-chamah santo

nistha shanti parayanah

In His early activities Lord Chaitanya comes as a householder. He has a golden complexion [suvarna varnah]. His limbs are very beautiful [vara-anga] and are smeared with sandalwood pulp [candana-angadi]. He has the appearance of molten gold [hema-anga].

 

The Supreme Lord Chaitanya accepts the renounced order of life [sannyasa-krt]. He is fully sense-controlled or equipoised [sama], and is completely peaceful [santa]. He is completely fixed in the chanting of the holy name of Lord Krishna, [nistha]. He is the highest abode of devotion and transcendental peace. He silences the mayavadi impersonalists [nistha santi parayanah].

 

The sanskrit words suvarna-varna indicate one who has gold-like complexion. The Vedic text to support this point is:

yada pasya pasyate rukma-varnam

kartaram isam purusam brahma-yonim

The words rukma-varnam kartaram isam refer to the Supreme Person [sri Chaitanya] who has a complexion like molten gold.

 

** Quotations of Lord Chaitanya's bodily features according to some of the great devotees present at the time:

 

Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, one of the foremost disciples of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Jagannath Puri, composed an entire series of prayers describing in detail the various features of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, called Sri Gauranga-Prati-Anga-Varnanakhya-Stava-Rajah, or the King of Prayers, proclaiming the glory of each limb of Sri Gauranga. Let us carefully present a few of these divine gems.

 

 

** Lord Chaitanya's bodily luster.

 

Srila Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya has described the complexion of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's body.

tapta hema dyutim vande

kali-krishnam jagad-gurum

caru-dirgha-tanum srimac

chaci-hrdaya-nandanam

I worship Lord Krishna, the spiritual master of the universe, who appears in the age of Kali with a luster like molten gold. His body is beautiful and tall. He is like molten gold, and He is the delight and the son of Sachidevi.

 

Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura also describes Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's golden complexion.

ananda lilamaya vigrahaya

hemabha-divya-cchavi-sundaraya

"O Lord Chaitanyachandra, O Lord whose form is full of blissful pastimes, O Lord whose complexion is as splendid as gold..."

 

Srila Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami similarly describes Lord Chaitanya:

tapta hema sama kanti prakanda sarira

"...the luster of His expansive body resembles molten gold..."

 

Prabodhananda Sarasvati also further describes Sri Chaitanya's golden complexion.

svayam devo yatra-kanaka-gaurah karunaya

"His complexion is as fair as molten gold."

 

 

** Sri Chaitanya's beautiful hair.

lasan-mukha-lata-naddha

charu-kuncita-kuntalam

"His lovely curling locks are interwoven with creepers of glistening pearls..."

 

 

** Sri Chaitanya's shoulders and chest.

 

Prabhodananda Sarasvati Thakura describes the shoulders of Mahaprabhu.

simha skandham...

"May Lord Chaitanya, whose shoulders are like a lion..."

 

Srila Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami also points out the nature of Sri Chaitanya's shoulders and voice.

simha griva simha-virya simhera hunkar

"He has the shoulders of a lion, the powers of a lion, and the loud voice of a lion."

 

 

** Sri Chaitanya's arms.

ajanulambita-bhuja

His arms reach all the way to his knees.

ajanulambita bhumau kanaka vadatau

Their arms (of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda) reach all the way to their knees.

kankanangada-vidyoti-janu-lambi-bhaja-dvayam

"....His two arms, glittering with bracelets and bangles, extend down to His knees."

 

 

** Sri Chaitanya's face

prema-pravaha-madhura

raktotpala-vilocanam

h la-prasuna-susnigdha

nutanayata-nasikam

His beautiful eyes are just like reddish lotus flowers. They are most beautiful, just like lakes of Krishna Prema. His nose is arched and is resplendent just like the sesame flower.

sri-ganda-mandollasi

ratna-kundala-manditam

savya-karna-suvinyasta

sphurac-caru-sikhandakam

His cheeks are round and they shine brilliantly. He wears jeweled earrings. He has a peacock feather placed near His left ear.

madhura-sneha-susnigdha

praraktadhara-pallavam

isad-danturita-snigdha

sphuran-mukta-radoijvalam

His lips are tender and very lustrous. They resemble reddish blossoming flowers. He reveals his pearl-like teeth out His kindness.

 

 

** Chaitanya-charitamrita, Adi-Lila 3.77

sankirtana-pravartaka sri krma-chaitanya

sankirtana-yajne tanre bhaje sei dhanya

"Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya is the initiator of sankirtana [congregational chanting of the holy name of Lord Krishna]. One who worships Him through sankirtana is fortunate indeed"

 

 

** Susloka-Satakam -59- Sri Gauranga Mahima

vintala-kamala-vaktrah pakva-bi nbadharosthas

tila-kusu na-su-nasah katnbu-kanthah su-dirghah

suvaliuta-bhuja-dando nabhi-gambhira-rupah

sphuratu hrdaya-madhye gaura-candro-natendrah

"His face is flawless like a blooming lotus and His lips are red as ripe as bimba fruits. His nose is as beautiful as the sesame flower and his neck is like a three-ringed conch. He is very tall and His rod-like arms make artistic movements while He dances. His navel is very deep. May my Lord Gaura Chandra, the king of dancers, reveal Himself in the core of My heart."

<hr> According to the authoritative statements of the great purva-acharyas [previous authorized bona fide spiritual masters] such as Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatana Goswami, Srila Jiva Goswami, Srila Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, and His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the foremost representative of all the Acharyas in the Gaudiya Sampradaya, and many other great Acharyas and pure devotees, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the Yuga-Avatar, and the incarnation of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna combined who has appeared to taste the transcendental mellow bliss experienced by Srimati Radharani. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This transcendental conclusion is supported by the statements of the Vedas, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, various puranas, upa-puranas, the Mahabharata, various Samhitas, Tantras and Pancaratric texts.

Scriptures quoted:

Bhagavat Puran | Adi Puran | Kurma Puran | Garuda Puran | Narasimha Puran | Padma Puran | Narada Puran | Brahma Puran | Bhavisya Puran | Agni Puran | Matsya Puran | Vayu Puran | Markandeya Puran | Varah Puran | Vaman Puran | Upa Puran | Ananta Samhita | Mahabharat | Atharva Ved | Sama Ved | Chaitanya Upanishad | Chandogya Upanishad | Svetasvatar Upanishad | Purusa-Bodini-Upanisad

Is there any specific reference in the Vedas as to when in this yuga, the Supreme Lord’s Avatar- Sri Krishna Chaitanya was scheduled to appear?

 

** In the Atharva-Veda; Purusa-Bodini-Upanisad, it is said:

saptame gaura-varna-visnor ity aena sva-saktya

caikyam etya pratar avatirya saha svaih sva-manum siksayati

"In the seventh manvantara, in the beginning of the Kali-Yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will, accompanied by His own associates, descend in a golden form to the earth. He will teach the chanting of His own names."

 

 

When exactly does He come in the kali-yuga, and where does He specifically appear and what will He do?

 

** In the Atharva Veda, the Supreme Person says:

itotham krta sannyaso'vatarisyami sa-guno nirvedo

niskamo bhu-girvanas tira-atho' lakanandayah kalau

catuh-sahasrabdhopari panca-sahasrabhyantare

gaura-varno dirghangah sarva-laksana-yukta isvara

prarthito nija-rasasvado bhakta-rupo misrakhyo

vidita-yogah syam

I will descend on the earth after the passage of four thousand years in the Kali-Age, [kalau chatuh sahasrabdhopari] and before the passage of five thousand years [pancha sahasra abhyantare].

 

I will come on the earth on the bank of the Ganges, [tira-sthah alakanandayah]. I will be a tall and saintly Brahmana devotee. I will have all the auspicious symptoms of an exalted person [dirghangah sarva-laksana-yuktah].

 

I will exhibit renunciation. I will have all auspicious signs. I will be a devotee, practicing bhakti yoga. I will taste the rasa of My own devotional service.

 

 

** In the Sama Veda, the Supreme Lord says:

tathaham krta sannyaso bhu-girvano 'vatarisye

tire'lakanandayah punah punah isvara-prarthitah sa-

parivaro niralambo nirdhuteh kali-kalmasa-kavalita-

janavalambanaya

I shall come to the earth, accompanied by My associates, in a place by the bank of the Ganges. I will advent to save the people who are afflicted and devoured by the sins of the age of Kali. I will manifest as an Avadhut Brahman Sannyasi.

 

 

What is the name of the place where the Supreme Lord appears?

 

** The Chandogya Upanisad describes the place of advent of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya.

 

This is explained by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, in the Sabadvipa Dham Mahatmya (text 5):

tan-madhye daharam saksan

mayapuram itiryate

tatra vesma bhagavatas

chaitanyasya paratmanah

tasmin yas tv antarakaso

hy antardvipah sa ucyate

The spiritual city in the shape of a lotus has the abode of Sri Mayapur as its heart. Sridham Mayapur is the divine abode of Lord Chaitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the middle of Mayapur is the place called Antardvip.

 

(ACBSPN Note: One needs to catch a local train to “Krishna Nagar” from “Sealdah Station” in Calcutta. After the 3 hour train journey, you got to catch a bus for Mayapur, which will take another hour or so. Alternatively, you could catch a local train from Howrah for Navadvip. These trains are very rare - about 4 or 5 a day, so its better to go thru Sealdah. From Navadvip station you got to take a cycle-rickshaw to the “Ghat” [bank of Ganges]. Then you cross the Ganges and reach Mayapur. The half an hour motorized boat ride may cost you about 1 to 2 Rupees!)

 

 

Are there any other relevant scriptural references in the vedas describing the appearance or qualities of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?

 

** The Svetasvatara Upanisad (Ch. 6, text 7) describes the qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Chaitanya:

tam isvaranam paramam mahesvaram

tam devatanam paramam ca daivatam

patim patinam paramam parastad

vidama devam bhuvanesam idyam

"O Supreme Lord, you are the Supreme Mahesvara, the worshipable Deity of all the demigods and the Supreme Lord of all Lords. You are the controller of all controllers, the Personality of Godhead, the Lord of everything worshipable."

 

 

** Svetasvatara Upanisad Ch 3 text 12, 14

mahan prabhur vai purusah

sattvasyaisa pravartakah

sunirmalam imam praptim

isano jyotir avyayah

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Mahaprabhu, who disseminates transcendental enlightenment. Just to be in touch with Him is to be in contact with the indestructible brahmajyoti. "

 

 

** Sri Chaitanya Upanisad (Chaitanyopanisad), text 5:

jahnavi-tire navadvipe golokakhye dhamni govindo

dvi-bhujo gaurah sarvatma maha-puruso mahatma

maha-yogi tri-gunatitah sattva-rupo bhaktim loke

kasyatiti. tad ete sloka bhavanti

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, the supreme enjoyer, whose form is transcendental, who is beyond the touch of the three modes of material nature, and who is all pervading Supersoul residing in the-hearts of all living entities, will appear again in the Kali-age. Appearing as the greatest devotee, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will assume a two-armed form of golden complexion in His abode of Goloka Vrindavan manifested on the bank of the Ganga at Navadvip. He will disseminate pure devotional service in the world. This incarnation of the Lord is described in the following verses."

 

 

In what color will the Lord appear in the Kali-yuga, and what will He do?

 

** Sri Chaitanya Upanisad text 6:

eko devah sarva-rupi mahatma

gauro rakta syamala-sveta-rupah

chaitanyatma sa vai chaitanya-saktir

bhaktakaro bhakti-do bhakh-vedyah

"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of all transcendental potencies, and who may be known only by devotional service, [bhakti vedyah] appears in innumerable transcendental forms. He has appeared in red, white and black complexions, [gauro rakta syamala sveta rupah] and He will also appear in the golden form of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He will assume the role of a perfect devotee [bhakta akarah] and He will teach the conditioned souls the path of pure devotional service [bhakti dah].

 

 

What is the nature of the form of Lord Chaitanya and how is He understood?

 

** Chaitanya Upanisad. text 7:

namo vedanta vedyaya

krmaya paramatmane

sarva chaitanya rupaya

chaitanyaya namo namah

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Him, who is understood by Vedanta [namo vedanta vedyaya], who is Lord Krishna [Krishnaya], the Supersoul [paramatmane], whose form is fully transcendental and conscious of everything [sarva-chaitanya-rupaya]. We offer our humble obeisances again and again. [chaitanyaya namo namah]

 

 

What is the result of understanding the divine position of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?

 

** Sri Chaitanya-Upanisad. text 8:

vedanta vedyam purusam puranam

chaitanyatmanam visva-yonim mahantam

tam eva viditva' mrtyum eti

nanyah pantha vidyatetyanaya

"Knowing Him who is the object of knowledge in the Upanisads, the oldest person, the embodiment of consciousness, the source of the universe and the greatest of all, one crosses over death. There is no other path for going there."

 

 

What will Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu do in this incarnation ?

 

** Sri Chaitanya-Upanisad. text 9:

sva-nama mula-mantrena sarvam hladayati vibhuh

The Supreme powerful [vibhuh] Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya appears in His golden form, and He will fill the universe with bliss [hladayati] by the chanting of His own holy names [sva-nama-mula-mantrena].

 

 

Which mantra will this yuga avatar chant?

 

** Sri Cartanya Upanisad text 10.

sa eva mula-mantra japati harir iti krishna iti rama iti

Sri Krishna Chaitanya will chant the maha-mantra comprised of the divine names of Hari, Krishna and Rama. i.e.,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

(ACBSPN Note: the pronunciation of “Rama” is “rAma” or “rAm” and *not* "rAmA" as commonly misunderstood.)

 

 

Does Lord Chaitanya appear in every day of lord brahma? Just like the original Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna does appear once in every day of Lord Brahma.

 

** Answer: Srila Prabhupada once explained in Melbourne, Australia, in answer to the question of how long it would be before Lord Krishna would come to this planet again in His personal form: after 8 billion, 600 milion years.

 

Devotee: How long do you say it is before Krishna comes to this planet again in His physical form?

 

Srila Prabhupada: Now, calculate, I have already given the duration of one day, twelve hours, of Brahma means 4,300,000 years multiplied by one thousand....the eight billion.

 

Devotee (2): 600,000,000.

 

Srila Prabhupada: So Krishna comes after this period in one day, after one day of Brahma, He appears.

 

Devotee: Srila Prabhupada, does Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also appear every day of Brahma?

 

Srila Prabhupada: Yes, following Krishna. Krishna comes in the Dvapar-Yuga. There are four sets of yugas: Satva, Treta, Dvapar, Kali. So Krishna comes at the end of Dvapar-Yuga, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu comes in the Kali-Yuga so almost the same year, same circulation... Similarly, Krishna appears in rotation in this universe after so many years, eight billion years. So next He goes to another universe....

[Melbourne Australia. 22nd May 1975.]

 

 

Did the Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavat-Puran), the foremost of all Vedic literatures predict the appearance of Lord Chaitanya Maraprabhu?

 

** In the seventh canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Prahlad Maharaj directly hints at the hidden nature of the Supreme Lord's appearance. Because the Supreme Lord is also called Tri-Yuga, or one who appears in only three yugas (satya, dvapara, treta), He is sometimes said to appear in a concealed form, in the age of Kali.

channah kalau yad abhavas tri-yugo'tha sa tvam

(Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.38)

 

 

Are there any more direct references in the Simad Bhagavatam, than the above reference?

 

** In the Tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, chapter eight, Gargamuni the family priest of Nanda Maharaja, explains that the young boy Sri Krishna has three colors - white, red and yellow - when He appears in His transcendental form in different ages. In the current incarnation of Krishna, He has appeared ...as black.

asan varnas trayo hy asya grhnatotnvyugam tanuh

suklo raktas tatha pita idanim krmatam gatah

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.8.13)

 

Srila Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami, the celebrated author of the Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta, explains that the three colors of white, red and yellow are the three bodily colors which the Supreme Lord assumes in the ages of Satya, Treta and Kali respectively.

sukla rakta pita-varna ei tina dyuti

satya-treta-kali-kale dharena sri-pati

The Bhagavatam explains in the conversation between Karabhajan Muni and King Nimi, that in the Dvapara-Yuga, the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead appears in a blackish form [dvapare bhagavan syamah]. He has a yellow dress and carries His own weapons [pita-vasa-nija-ayudhah]. He is beautified with the mark of Srivatsa and the Kaustubha jewel [sri vatsa-adibhih ankais ca laksanaih]. This is the actual description of His characteristics [upalaksitah].

 

The great sage continues his instruction to King Nimi by saying that people in general in the age of Dvapar-Yuga worshiped the Lord of the Universe [iti dvapara urvisam stuvanti jagad isvaram]. In the age of Kali, they worshipped the Supreme Person by the regulation of the scriptures [tantra vidhana].

krishna varnam tvisakrmam sangopangastra parsadam

yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.32)

"In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the holy name of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions."

 

 

How does this verse refer to the advent of Lord Chaitanya, since his name is not directly mentioned there?

 

** Just as the symptoms and characteristics of the various previous incarnations are mentioned in the scriptures, similarly the symptoms of the appearance of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are described.

 

Krishna-varnam indicates that He belongs to the category of Krishna. Krishna varnam also means one who constantly repeats and sings the name of Krishna. The main business of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the chanting of the holy name of Krishna. Thus the words Krishna varnam and Krishna Chaitanya are equivalent.

 

Srila Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami has elucidated the two meanings of the words Krishna varnam by stating:

krishna ei dui varna sadayanra mukhe

athava krmake h'nho varne nija sukhe

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu always sings the two syllables Krish & na [Krishna ei dui varna sada yanra mukhe], or He always relishes great transcendental pleasure while describing Lord Krishna [athava krmake tinho varne nija-sukhe].

 

 

Is there any hint or explanation of His bodily characteristics?

 

His bodily complexion is not black [tvisa akrishnam]. Lord Chaitanya appeared in a very light, golden like complexion. His complexion was yellow [akrma-varane kahe pita-varana]. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is very beautiful.

 

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is often described as Gaurasundara. Gaura means fair and Sundar means beautiful. Sometimes He is also called Gauranga or one who has a very fair complexion.

<hr> Thus it is clearly established from the various Vedic Literatures and also by the various writings of the great Acaryas, that Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, whose appearance and birthplace were predicted and whose activities were also foretold.

 

[Pankaja_Dasa]

Srimad Bhagavatam

10.8.13

 

Translation

Your son Krsna appears as an incarnation in every millennium. In the past, He assumed three different colors—white, red and yellow—and now He has appeared in a blackish color. [in another Dvapara-yuga, He appeared (as Lord Ramacandra) in the color of suka, a parrot. All such incarnations have now assembled in Krsna.]

 

Purport extract:

Prahlada Maharaja states that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is channa; that is, although He is Krsna, He is covered by a yellow color. Thus the Gaudiya Vaisnavas accept the conclusion that although Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in pita color, He is Krsna.

--

Verse that Prahladha Maharaja says:

In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.

(Bhag. 11.5.32)

http://www.vedabase.net

==

We need Guru/Sadhu/Sastra.

If we have No Guru then we cannot

understand Sastra.

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

 

Some persons still think that Sri Caitanya MahAprabhu never said He is the same Krishna, the Supreme Lord.

That's not much of a defense of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, rather it will only bring Him insult. It would be like if a Swaminarayan follower told you that Swaminarayan is God because he actually said it himself. One's own word isn't evidence to prove one's divinity.

[Nitaichandra]

Ok , it is very nice to quote scriptures , more so when they are accepted by other followers of the vedas than gaudiyas . ( Ramanujaists , Madhavaites... ) .

 

But it is important to point out that some scriptures or verses have been invented by gaudiya teachers to defend the divinity of Chaitanya .

In fact , in the "deceased" Gaudiya-discussions forum ( what a pity , sigh ... ) there was an interesting thread exactly discussing this point . And one of the members got into detail , and examined a lot of the verses and scriptures , for pointing out what was accurate and what wasn´t . ( one of these lists has been quoted above )

He explained what could have been some poetic freedom , or even overzeal in an attempt to back up the avatar-identity of Chaitanya .

 

One thing I remember is the " Caitanya Upanishad " , "discovered" by Bhaktivinode Thakur , who claimed that it had existed since vedic times ...

Upon rigourous scrutiny it was then pointed out that this scripture was either written by Bhaktivinoda himself or by his followers .

 

So , if Chaitanya is really the divine avatar , why manufacture scriptures to back up this thesis ?

 

( PS : The member of that forum was a fixed-up gaudiya vaishnava , a very well-read one , with a lot of shastric knowledge . A true believer so to say ... )

[Pankaja_Dasa]

 

But it is important to point out that some scriptures or verses have been invented by gaudiya teachers to defend the divinity of Chaitanya .

Invented? Like they were 'made-up?'. Who told you this? I wouldn't believe everything you hear. Gaudiya Vaishnava's don't invent anything. They are very strict. There are many people clued up on Sastra. But that doesn't make them an expert. I can blurt out a few verses here and there with the best of them. But if you ask me what I really know about Krishna? I wouldn't even know. Me personally I read and consider only a few verses. As if I can remember them all. Srila Prabhupada I am told only quoted a few verses. This is 'taking the essence'. You only need one solid verse to make you think or change your entire perspective. Krishna Grace. Bye!

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

 

One thing I remember is the " Caitanya Upanishad " , "discovered" by Bhaktivinode Thakur , who claimed that it had existed since vedic times ...

Upon rigourous scrutiny it was then pointed out that this scripture was either written by Bhaktivinoda himself or by his followers .

As far as I recall it is only Jagat who promotes this theory that Bhaktivinoda Thakur was a liar and cheater. At one point Jagat had even publicly forgiven Bhaktivinoda Thakur for his human weaknesses and mistakes. Now to cite Jagat's theory as though it is an absolute fact is being a little too blind. Caitanya Upanishad does not resemble Bhaktivinoda's writting style, and it closely follows other Vedic meters. On top of it you would have to assert that Bhaktivinoda Thakur is a liar and cheater, which is not in line with his character.

 

Are we expected to accept Jagats view of Bhaktivinoda Thakur being a liar and cheater based on Jagats personal opinion? If we analyse the two personalities we find that Bhaktivinoda Thakur's character is spotless whereas the accusers is not. No need to go into that, but it is relevant when someone is accusing an Acharya of being a liar and cheater.

[Nitaichandra]

Jagat has participated in the thread mentioned above , but he wasn´t the principal one making all the research and trying to look for the sources and looking if the relevant passages are included in the authoritative editions . ( so I wasn´t pointing to him )

 

Concerning this present thread , I am not interested in categorizing the character of persons neither from the past , nor from the present .

 

What is relevant for me , is if all these scriptural references pointing to the divinity of Chaitanya are accepted by scholars and researchers outside of Gaudiya vaishnavism . ( ~~~ and for followers of Vishnuswami , Nimbarkacharya , Shankara , Madhava ... )

[Guest guest]

 

What is relevant for me , is if all these scriptural references pointing to the divinity of Chaitanya are accepted by scholars and researchers outside of Gaudiya vaishnavism . ( ~~~ and for followers of Vishnuswami , Nimbarkacharya , Shankara , Madhava ... )

Nitai, some may not be, but what does that prove? There is quite enough solid scriptural evidence (or at least indication) for Lord Caitanya's divinity. Even one solid scriptural reference should be sufficient.

[aashish108]

Yea i agree, that was tons of evidence more than enough for any doubting person!

[Nrsinghadev]

Haribol,

 

to the administrators and the people who keep this forum up and running I have a suggestion to make:

When severe Vaisnava Aparadha is taking place, just like in this topic, is it possible to place some sort of warning sign next to the outside topic header indicating Aparadha is taking place inside? In this way I won't have to stumble on any corrupted and poisonous language.

And if that is impossible, could the offenders please be banned? To enter into or continue a discussion with them right after they insult some of our greatest acharya's seems so awfully foul and wrong to me.

Now, someone gravely insulting Bhaktivinode Thakur was more or less forced down my throat, which I must honestly say feels like a dagger is being stabbed through my heart. Thanks in advance

 

Hare Krishna

[aashish108]

i am dissapointed really, why didn't Kalkin714 respond to those quotes from the veda's??! thats a lot of pages of evidence

[Kalkin714]

 

i am dissapointed really, why didn't Kalkin714 respond to those quotes from the veda's??! thats a lot of pages of evidence

I can hardly be expected to read and respond to all of that mass 'copy and pasteing', nor do I have an ounce of respect for such tactics (think for yourself, don't just parrot!). From what I have had time to read over so far seems to be alot of Puranas and other secondary (or even sect specific) scripture, which first off must be rejected if contadicts Shruti, and second of all are alegorical tales not to be taken literaly, all characters are simply plot devices to deliver Vedic truths through simple stories (for simple people). Besides that there seem to be alot of "quotes" without verse number referances and I doubt the poster ever actualy opened up the scriptures and read them for himself, again he's just a 'copy and paste' parrot with no real understandig of Shruti.

I will get to what I can get to in my responses (I do have better things to do than argue with brainwashed people). However I have quoted the most authoratative of all Vedic literature, the major Upanishads, (in other threads) in support of Advaita (and will post more soon) ,that I studied and found myself without having to 'copy and paste' from a propaganda site, that no one has yet to explain how the Shruti can say this and them self still concider Vedanta to be anything but Advaitic.

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

 

What is relevant for me , is if all these scriptural references pointing to the divinity of Chaitanya are accepted by scholars and researchers outside of Gaudiya vaishnavism.

But if we go by this standard then half the Bhagavad Gita should be taken as interpolated. Scholars and researches in indology do not accept any of the Vedic texts as authoritative. Everyone has their own system of belief, and they have invested a lot of their life into their own belief system. It isn't easy for someone to look beyond all their wasted learning and come to accept something that would completely alter their system of belief.

[Pankaja_Dasa]

I went on a Hindu forum where some were saying the Bhagavad-gita may have been interpolenated because somebody said so, something about sruti and smirti. [i think it was this forum]. People have such motives they can fool people easil by changing around meanings and people not knowing anything will accept it as fact. I am sure Kalkim accepts the Bhagavad-gita as he has been posted links around. Does Bhagavad-gita talk about advaita?

Krishna says the soul is NEVER Cut. This is enough.

Advaitains cannot say anything to this.

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Not another advaita thread, please.

 

Let each thread focus on it's own topic.

[Guest guest]

 

Nitai, some may not be, but what does that prove? There is quite enough solid scriptural evidence (or at least indication) for Lord Caitanya's divinity. Even one solid scriptural reference should be sufficient.

It might be true for a believing person .

But most of the scriptural evidences are a little bit tricky :

_The "hidden avatar"~~~channa-avatar ....

_"krishnavarnam tvishakrishnam"~~~non-black colour

[Nitaichandra]

 

It might be true for a believing person .

But most of the scriptural evidences are a little bit tricky :

_The "hidden avatar"~~~channa-avatar ....

_"krishnavarnam tvishakrishnam"~~~non-black colour

This was me , forgot to log in ...

On another note , to give a complete picture , it is important to point out that the history of indology is full with dirt :

In the 19th century , there have been envious and racist english and german indologists , that have been paid for making false translations and for adding concocted passages . They have been hired by the govenments ( Monarchy , republic ...) , with the purpose of making look the indian heritage and civlization as barbaric .

So , if the general populace would be fed with the gruesome tales of a barbaric indian civilization , the idea of colonization and christianization of India would be more accepted ...

So , naturally , the indologists of today are carrying this weight on their shoulders , knowingly or unknowingly ...

They are still using the old texts of the racist and eurocentric indologists of days gone , and are naturally absorbing their ideas ...

On the whole , I´m interested to look behind the curtains :

Yes , I know that a lot of the theories of the indologists can not be trusted , and that´s why I take it with a grain of salt .

But on the other hand , I want to do the same with the gaudiya teachers : Differenciate between what is historical truth and what has been added as a kind of poetic freedom ...

[Kulapavana]

 

It might be true for a believing person .

But most of the scriptural evidences are a little bit tricky :

_The "hidden avatar"~~~channa-avatar ....

_"krishnavarnam tvishakrishnam"~~~non-black colour

since it was me who wrote that original comment...

Nitai, if you have no faith in the words of the Vaishnava scriptures you are wasting your time, and our time, discussing these issues here. What's it to you? Do you have nothing better to do?

As far as I can see, your argument was, that some scriptural quotes used to support Lord Caitanya's divinity are not authoritative... and when you get a counter argument you dont like, you say you don't accept any scripture on it's face value... Whatever... make up your mind and take a solid stand.

There is no need for you to accept the divinity of Lord Caitanya. He came to play a part of Lord Krishna's devotee, and if you see Him in this way, that is just fine. That is how many Vaishnava lineages see Mahaprabhu. But don't blow your nose on all the Vaishnavas who see Mahaprabhu as Krishna's incarnation, as there are many reasons to see Him in that way - besides the fact that there is no need to mess with their faith.

[Nitaichandra]

Then , I invite the interested among you , to read how some very well-read gaudiya vaishnavas view some of the scriptural references that are often used to back up Chaitanya´s divinity .

 

I think it lies in the interest of all the gaudiya vaishnavas to know how authoritative their scriptures are . Also how much they are accepted outside of their community .

 

As far as I know , there are a lot of persons from other hindu denominations coming to this forum (and other faiths ) . If they are presented with a list of predictions that isn´t accurate , how will they view the gaudiyas ?

 

So , why not take advantage of the research another Gaudiya vaishnava has made (to find in the link above ), and try to improve on that ....

If it already has been proven by extensive research that a lot of quotes aren´t accurate , then why not research further to find better quotes , and shastras that are accepted by all kind of schools ?...

 

Churn out the truth , so to say ...

 

Besides , even if I have lost my faith in vaishnavism and the shastras , still I want to know what is bona-fide about it , how much accuracy lies in it and so on ...

It is my right , because I have believed in it for a major part of my life , and have invested a lot of time for sadhana and shastrical study , that I could have used otherwise ...

 

Now , it is the time for me to reflect , and examine the whole thing from another angle ...( Still , I like shastras and the whole concept of "authorized " , bona-fide" . So why not apply these parameters to all these quotations and see how far it stands the test ... )