Lord Chaitanya and His Commander-in-Chief

February 28, 2010 is the appearance anniversary of the Supreme Personality of Godhead - Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu- who is none other than Sri Krishna Himself. This most auspicious day is celebrated all over the world, by those who are fortunate enough to know the the glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, as Sri Gour Pournima.

Around 5000 years ago, Sri Krishna appeared in Sri Vrindavan. He established the principles of religion by killing great demons like Kamsa, and by speaking the superlative knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita. That was the Dvaapaar Yuga. The yuga has since changed; we are now into the Kali Yuga – the age of rapid decline of spiritual standards. To reestablish the highest religious principles, just around 500 years ago, the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna once again descended into this world, this time appearing in Mayapur, West Bengal, in His eternal form of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The Srimad Bhagavatam glorifies this most loving avatar of the Lord as follows:

krishna varnam tvishaakrishnam
saangopaangaastra-paarshadam
yadnaih sankirtanam praayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah

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 (Srimad Bhaagavatam 11.5.32).

Lord Chaitanya brings Sankirtan to the streets!

In this age of Kali there is no way of achieving spiritual perfection other than loudly chanting the holy names of Sri Krishna in sankirtan. In this avatar, the Lord doesn’t kill the demons, but kills the demonic tendencies present in their heart, by giving them the Holy Name. Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, as the yuga-avatar, incarnated for the express purpose of spreading the Holy Name Sankirtan movement far and wide, even outside the land of India. The following verse from one of the authoritative biographies of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat – reveals His mission in unambiguous words:

prithvith aachhe yata nagaraadi graama
sarvatra prachaara haibe mora naama

“In every town and village of the world, the chanting of My name will be heard.” (Caitanya-Bhaagavata, Antya 4.126)

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu treated the highly learned non-devotional scholars like the great Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya and Sri Prakashananda Saraswati by His unparalleled scriptural and philosophical acumen. And he treated the masses by the all-conquering weapon of the sweet uproarious chanting of the Holy Name in Sankirtan. Be it the philosophy or the Sankirtan, by both methods, hearts were transformed, and everyone who came in touch began chanting the holy names of Krishna and experienced the divine bliss of Love of God. Even the most wretched infamous evil brothers Jagai-Madhai, who had left no sin uncommitted, weren’t spared by the all merciful Sri Chaitanya. Indeed, after converting even them to superlative Vaishnavas, Lord Chaitanya’s fame knew no bounds.

Lord Chaitana delivers the sinful Jagai-Madhai

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appointed one of His most trusted servants to carry out the unprecedented and monumental task of spreading His mission all over the world. His prediction of such a personality is recorded in the Chaitanya Mangal as follows (paraphrased):

If sinful people get away by being in distant countries where my personal preaching will not reach, I will send my devotee commander in chief, senaapati-bhakta, to deliver them.

Carrying the divine grace of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, His Divine Grace AC Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada - the senaapati-bhakta - ventured into unchartered territories, outside the safety of his peaceful dwelling in Vrindavan, to carry out the mission of the Supreme Lord. In 1965, at the ripe old age of 70, Srila Prabhupada found himself alone on the streets of New York, with unflinching faith in Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy as his only shelter. But what is impossible for the Lord. In 1966, Srila Prabhupada founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) as the medium through which he would spread Lord Chaitanya’s message. In a short span of 12 years, the Hare Krishnas became a household name all over the world. Just like Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada applied the two-pronged strategy by writing volumes of authoritative philosophical literature for the classes, and by bringing Sri Hari Naam Sankirtan to the streets all over the world for the masses.

Srila Prabhupada

Even today, as the number of devotees and well-wishers grows, the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu continues to reach thousands through the medium of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON. On this most auspicious occasion of Sri Gour Pournima, the appearance anniversary of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, we look back in amazement at the limitless mercy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the astounding accomplishments of Srila Prabhupada, and the unimaginable potential that this movement holds for the future.

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Lord Chaitanya - The Most Munificent!

1530, March 22, 2008.
Mountain View, California, USA.

(Lord Gouranga during Abhishek on Gour Pournima - March 21, 2008, Sri Sri Radha Madanmohan Temple (ISV - ISKCON silicon Valley), San Jose.)

Hare Krishna!

Today is the last day of this US trip. And the Krishna Conscious activities are yet not over! I will shortly go to H. G. ShyamLila Prabhu's house for attending an "Essence of Bhagavad Gita" class. Such is the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Lords Chaitanya-Nitai that wherever you go you will find devotees and Krishna Consciousness. Who can describe the glories of the Sankirtan movement? We keep hearing that Lord Goura Sunder is the most munificent incarnation of Godhead. In fact, He is Godhead Himself in His most munificent mood. But actually, as with so many other truths that we hear or read about in Srila Prabhupada's movement, we cannot really fathom the true magnitude of the significance of this truth.

Yesterday was the appearance day of Lord Nimai. The same darling of Yasoda Mai came again as the life and soul of Mother Shachi. What have we done to deserve being part of His Sankirtan movement? Are we spotlessly pure, are we severely austere, are we madly in Love of God? Then how is it that such ordinary persons like me are associating (through their teachings) with such Paramahamsas like Srila Prabhupada, Srila BhaktiSiddhanta, Srila BhaktiVinod, the six Goswamis, and so on ? How is it that I have got access to the Srimad Bhagavatam through a bonafide disciplic succession, whereas pure devotees in the past had to struggle so hard to get the same mercy?

The answer lies in understanding the significance of the phrase "the most munificent incarnation of Godhead". Lord Gour Hari is so merciful that he doesnt look for any qualifications while showering His mercy. He doesnt require that one be in the mode of goodness, or austere, or pure hearted, or scholarly, or already devoted, and other such qualifications. He doesnt look for a reason or a cause to bestow His divine mercy. That is the meaning of causeless mercy. Without such causeless mercy, what chance is there for the people of this age to get Love of God? Which other form of worship can the Kali Yuga residents perform? Can they do elaborate daily deity worship in their homes amidst their tight work schedules? Can they perform regular fire sacrifices in the cities that they live in where there is no place to even walk safely? Will they leave all their worldly activities and go to the Himalayas in search of perfection? These thoughts do not even cross their minds.

Even if someone develops a desire to take to spirituality, he/she finds that these authorised paths are not possible for him to practice. They are just too tough. Therefore, such an unfortunate person either gives up the idea of spirituality as impractical and too utopian, or he/she takes to other unauthorised practices that are typically mental concoctions of some imperfect human being. Thus, either they are frustrated, or they are cheated. In such an unfortunate state of affairs advents the Lord of Goloka - Goura Sunder. He rises as if millions of suns and dissipates the dense clouds of spiritual ignorance, spiritual laziness, frustrated material and so-called spiritual endeavours, and misdirected pursuits of happiness, by the brilliant rays of the sound vibrations of the infallible holy names of Himself! The Sankirtan Movement of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the only shelter for all souls in this dark age of Kali. No process can be as authorised as His Sankirtan movement, because He is the Supreme Lord, and this process is created by Him directly. And at the same time, it is so easy that a even a new born baby can take part in it. No qualifications are required. This is His munificence.

When it comes to preaching to the masses, to one and all, the teachings have to be simple and not esoteric. And yet, for the movement to serve its purpose, the message must be powerful enough to take one back to Godhead. Furthurmore, the philosophy has to be infallible for it to stand against the scores of mental speculators and armchair philosophers whose only aim tends to be the satisfaction of their puffed up egos and whose only occupation tends to be rejecting the conclusions of the standard authorities of the scriptures like Madhvacharya, Ramanujacharya, Lord Chaitanya, Narada, Vyasa, etc. This impossible combination of requirements are quite easily met by the teachings of His Divine Grace Srila Abhay Charanarvinda BhaktiVedanta Swami Prabhupada. And his advent on this earth is another example of the unfathomable munificence of Lord Gouranga.

(Lord Gouranga is Krishna Himself, in the mood of Srimati Radharani!)

In Pune, there are hundreds of devotees. But in San Jose, there are only about a hundred (at the moment). There is a different kind of charm in such a small congregation. I am always touched when I see the humble heartfelt attempts of the San Jose devotees to serve Srila Prabhupada by helping H. G. Vaisesika Prabhu (temple president and massive book distributor). Especially, I get a lot of inspiration here to go out and distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. I hope and pray that after reaching Pune, with the blessings of the Vaishnavas, I can add book distribution to my list of regular Krishna Conscious activities.

(H. G. Vaisesika Prabhu pointing at something during book distribution)

Yours in the service of Krishna,

Abhijit.