Throughout his life, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu displayed the highest level of devotion to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. Learn about His life and teachings.
As Sri Krishna inaugurated this Kali-yuga with Sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the Holy Names represents the spiritual yuga dharma for this age.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance
At the end of the month of Phalguni Purnima evening in 1486 AD, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in Navadvipa, in the city of Sridhama Mayapura. Navadvipa was the place where his father, Sri Jagannatha Mishra, was a student as a brahmana. A great scholar of Navadvipa, Srila Nilambara Chakravarty, lived with his wife Srimati Sachidevi on the banks of the Ganges. After accepting the renounced order of life, their youngest son, named Vishvambhara, became Nimai Pandita and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
A description of Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu‘s biographers have recorded the wonderful pastimes he performed in Navadvipa and Jagannath Puri. According to Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Gosvami, the Chaitanya-Charitamrita (by Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Gosvami) more vividly describes the early life of the Lord than the Chaitanya-bhagavata (by Sri Vrindavana Dasa Thakura). In our Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, they are now available to the English-speaking public.
- Pastimes of childhood
- A Debate with a Kashmiri Pandita
- Sankirtana Movement Inauguration
- Jagai and Madhai’s deliverance
- Sannyasa Order Acceptance
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Teachings
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spread the Bhagavad-gita teachings in the most practical way by preaching the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Chaitanya Manjusha contains the essence of His teachings:
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, appeared as the son of the King of Vraja (Nanda Maharaja).
- There is no difference between Vrindavana-dhama and the Lord, therefore it should be worshiped as much as the Lord.
- Vrajabhumi’s damsels exhibited the highest form of transcendental worship of the Lord.
- For understanding the Lord, the Srimad-Bhagavata Purana is the perfect literature.
- Ultimately, human life is about reaching prema, or love for God.
Bhagavan Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s instructions
The teachings he gave Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami, his talks with Ramananda Raya, the debate with Prakashananda Sarasvati and Vedanta Sutra, and his discussion with Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya are all really good sources for learning about Him and His teachings.
Only eight slokas of the Lord’s instructions are in writing, and they are called Siksastaka. The Lord’s six Gosvamis of Vrndavana, along with their followers, wrote all the other literature based on His teachings.
Mission of Lord Chaitanya – The Universal Religion
The purpose of his mission was to preach the importance of chanting the holy names of the Lord during this time of Kali (quarrel). There are quarrels over trifles even in this day and age. Therefore, the shastras recommend chanting the holy names of the Lord as a common platform for realization.
It is possible for people to hold meetings to glorify the Lord in their own languages and with melodious songs, and if such performances are executed without offense, it is certain that the participants will gradually become spiritually perfect without the need for more rigorous practices.
All are able to hear transcendental sounds at such gatherings, both the learned and foolish, the rich and the poor, Hindus and Muslims, Englishmen and Indians, chandalas and brahmanas, and thus cleanse their hearts of dust accumulated from material associations. As a common platform for humanity’s universal religion, the holy name of the Lord will be accepted by all peoples of the world to confirm the Lord’s mission.
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FAQs
who is chaitanya mahaprabhu
Lord Chaitanya (or Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) was Krishna’s incarnation who appeared in Nadia, West Bengal, India in the 15th century.
where was chaitanya mahaprabhu born
Lord Chaitanya was born Nadia, West Bengal, India in the 15th century.
how did chaitanya mahaprabhu die
Chaitanya mahaprabhu died on June 14, 1533.