Form Va 1433: Fill & Download for Free

Lord Caitanya’s Visit to SrirangamSri Caitanya Caritamrta Madha-lila chapter 9 verses 79-165 describe visit of Lord Caitanya to Srirangam. Lord Krishna appeared 500 years ago in Bengal as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who accepted the mood of a devotee of Krishna. After taking sannyasa, the renounced order of life, Lord Caitanya travelled throughout India for 6 years, visiting holy places and spreading the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. In the year 1433 Sakabda (A.D. 1511), when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He visited Srirangam. Lord Caitanya observed the practice that a sannyasi ceases travel during the 4 months of the rainy season (Caturmasya). During that period, the longest time He spent in one place was at Srirangam at the house of a Sri Vaishnava brahmana named Venkata Bhatta, who then got the opportunity to serve the Lord to his heart’s content. Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, who is one of the Six Gosvami’s of Vrindavana, was the son of Venkata Bhatta.Because Venkata Bhatta was a devotee with whom Lord Caitanya could discuss the transcendental pastimes of Lord Krishna, Lord Caitanya passed His days at Srirangam in great happiness.While there, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took His bath in the river Kaveri and visited the temple of Sri Ranganatha Swami. Every day the Lord also danced in ecstasy. The beauty of Lord Caitanya’s body and His ecstatic love of God were witnessed by everyone. Many people used to come see Him, and as soon as they saw Him, all their unhappiness and distress vanished. Every day, local Vaishnava brahmanaswould invite Caitanya Mahaprabhu to their homes for prasadam.Venkata Bhatta and Caitanya Mahaprabhu developed a friendly relationship, and they would happily laugh and joke together. Since Venkata Bhatta belonged to the Sri Sampradaya and worshiped the Supreme Lord in His majestic aspect as Laxmi-Narayana, Caitanya Mahaprabhu would have lengthy spiritual discussions with him about worshiping Laxmi-Narayana and worshiping the Lord in His most sweet form as Radha-Krishna. Lord Caitanya (all the while in a pleasant mood) cited a scriptural reference that tells how Laxmi, the consort of Narayana, wanted to join the most confidential pastimes of Krishna but was not allowed to do so.Unable to defeat Lord Caitanya’s arguments, Venkata Bhatta said, “You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna Himself. You know the purpose of Your activities, and the person whom You enlighten can also understand Your pastimes.”Caitanya Mahaprabhu enlightened Venkata Bhatta in all the subtle details of Lord Krishna's most intimate pastimes. Lord Caitanya then said, “There is no difference between the transcendental forms of the Lord. Different forms are manifested due to different attachments of different devotees. Actually the Lord is one, but He appears in different forms just to satisfy His devotees.”When the four-month period ended, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took permission from Venkata Bhatta to continue on with His travels. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu bade farewell, Venkata Bhatta fell down unconscious in the ecstasy of spiritual love. Pilgrims to Srirangam can still visit the house of Venkata Bhatta. During His stay Lord Caitanya carved with His own hands deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra and worshipped Them. This deities are worshipped even today in a small temple called Jagannatha Math across the road from Venkata Bhatta’s house.Foot Prints temple of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at SrirangamThis temple is at the centre on the main road going towards Srirangam templePrabhupada: “There is nothing at all, any contradiction, even, even in the preachings of the great acaryas. I am speaking of India. There were many great acaryas, I mean to say, reformers, came. Lord Buddha also appeared in India. Then, after Lord Buddha, Shankaracarya came. Then, after Shankaracarya, Sri Ramanujacarya came. Then, after Sri Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, and then, lately, Sri Caitanya, Lord Caitanya. He came. But you will find a link, a link, although superficially we may see that Lord Buddha is speaking something which is contradictory to Lord Shankaracarya’s teaching, or Ramanujacarya is speaking something which is contradiction to Shankara. No. There is no contradiction. It is the question of studying how they are paving way for ultimate spiritual realization. That requires a very, I mean to say, substantial knowledge, how they are paving the way, just step by step.”Lecture #2 - BG 2.58-59 – New York, April 27, 1966:Srila Prabhupada uses a quote from Ramanujacarya’s Vedartha-sangraha to explain how to understand the real identity of the absolute truth in CC Adi 7.140.“Partial realization of the Absolute Truth as impersonal Brahman denies the complete opulences of the Lord. This is a hazardous understanding of the Absolute Truth. Unless one accepts all the features of the Absolute Truth — namely impersonal Brahman, localized Paramatma and ultimately the Supreme Personality of Godhead — one’s knowledge is imperfect. Sripada Ramanujacarya, in his Vedartha-sangraha, says, jnanena dharmena svarupam api nirupitam, na tu jnana-matram brahmeti katham idam avagamyate. He thus indicates that the real identity of the Absolute Truth must be understood in terms of both His knowledge and His characteristics. Simply to understand the Absolute Truth to be full of knowledge is not sufficient. In the Vedic literature (Mundaka Up. 1.1.9) we find the statement yah sarva-jnah sarva-vit, which means that the Absolute Truth knows everything perfectly, but we also learn from the Vedic description parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate that not only does He know everything, but He also acts accordingly by utilizing His different energies. Thus to understand that Brahman, the Supreme, is conscious is not sufficient. One must know how He consciously acts through His different energies. Mayavada philosophy simply informs us of the consciousness of the Absolute Truth but does not give us information of how He acts with His consciousness. That is the defect of that philosophy.”From the above it is clear that the siddhanta of the Sri Vaisnavas and the Madhava-Gaudiya Vaisnavas is fundamentally the same.Although the Sri sampradaya and the Madhava-Gaudiya sampradaya are different lineages, Srila Prabhupada affirms that the Sri Vaisnavas are bona fide “if they strictly follow”; and the same is true for the Madhava-Gaudiya followers.Ramanujacarya stressed “prapatti” which means complete surrender to Sriman Narayana. He preached the utmost importance of Bhakti marga or devotional service which he described as a steady flow of loving meditation directed to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He taught his followers to recite the “Charmasloka,”which is the famous Bhagavad-gita sloka spoken by Lord Krishna. Sarva dharman parityajya man ekam saranam vraja - “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” (Bg 18.66)In the purport to CC Madhya 25.56, Srila Prabhupada writes, “The ultimate goal of studying all Vedic literature is the acceptance of Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Krishna consciousness movement is propagating the philosophical conclusion of Srila Vyasadeva and following other great acaryas like Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Vishnu Svami, Nimbarka and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.”Ramanujacarya, Yamunacarya, and King Kulasekhara were often quoted by Srila Prabhupada in his purports. In the CC Adi 7.121 Ramanujacarya’s Vaisistya philosophy is referred to prove that merging into the material or spiritual energies does not involve loss of individuality.“Nondevotees factually appreciate the wonderful creation of material nature, but they cannot appreciate the intelligence and energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is behind this material creation. Sripada Ramanujacarya, however, refers to a sutra from the Aitareya Upanishad (1.1.1), atma va idam agra asit, which points out that the supreme atma, the Absolute Truth, existed before the creation. One may argue, “If the Supreme Personality of Godhead is completely spiritual, how is it possible for Him to be the origin of creation and have within Himself both material and spiritual energies?” To answer this challenge, Sripada Ramanujacarya quotes a mantra from the Taittiriya Upanishad (3.1) that states:yato va imani bhutani jayanteyena jatani jivantiyat prayanty abhisamvisantiThis mantra confirms that the entire cosmic manifestation emanates from the Absolute Truth, rests upon the Absolute Truth and after annihilation again reenters the body of the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The living entity is originally spiritual, and when he enters the spiritual world or the body of the Supreme Lord, he still retains his identity as an individual soul. In this connection Sripada Ramanujacarya gives the example that when a green bird enters a green tree it does not become one with the tree: it retains its identity as a bird, although it appears to merge with the greenness of the tree. To give another example, an animal that enters a forest keeps its individuality, although apparently the beast merges with the forest. Similarly, in material existence, both the material energy and the living entities of the marginal potency maintain their individuality. Thus although the energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead interact within the cosmic manifestation, each keeps its separate individual existence. Merging with the material or spiritual energies, therefore, does not involve loss of individuality. According to SriRamanujapada’s theory of Visishtadvaita, although all the energies of the Lord are one, each keeps its individuality (vaisishtya).”Prabhupada described Ramanujacarya as one of the most learned Vedic scholars and an actual follower of the Bhakti path on the level of a Mahajana, a great authority of Krishna consciousness.Prabhupada: “Amongst the Vaishnavas, he was the greatest acarya, Ramanujacarya. And to kill the Mayavadis, he was the ablest person, Ramanujacarya. Still in South India, the Mayavadis and the Ramanujas, they have talks, and the Mayavadis are defeated always.”Letter to V. S. R. Chakravarti -- Bombay 22 November, 1974:Prabhupada: “So far I am personally concerned, following the footsteps of my guru Maharaj Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada, we accept the principles of all the acaryas, although officially we belong to the Madhva sampradaya. Our sampradaya is known as the Madhva Gaudiya sampradaya. We find great shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Ramanujacarya because his lotus feet are the strongest fort to combat the mayavadi philosophy.”In the following conversation Srila Prabhupada indicates the similar position taken by Ramanujacarya and Lord Caitanya concerning their objection of Mayavada philosophy.Room Conversation -- July 1, 1976, New VrindabanHari-sauri: Ramanujacarya is very well known in India, so why don't they read his commentary?Prabhupada: “They hate Ramanujacarya because he's Vaishnava.Hari-sauri: Because he doesn't allow them to speculate.Prabhupada: He is very strict. He is a stubborn enemy of Shankaracarya. All the Vaishnava acaryas. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, declare it: mayavadi-bhashya sunile haya sarva-nasa (CC Madhya 6.169). If you hear the interpretation of Mayavadis, then you are doomed. You have no hope for spiritual advancement. This is the statement. Mayavadi-bhashya sunile haya sarva-nasa. Finished, your spiritual life is finished. You can write this also, that Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction is strictly to avoid the so-called Vedantists.”Ramanujacarya – the follower of scripturesIn the following purport of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada affirms that Ramanujacarya accepts the statements of Srimad Bhagavatam.SB 2.2.26, Translation and PurportThe statements of Srimad-Bhagav0atam are accepted by great acaryas like Sridhara Svami, Ramanujacarya and Vallabhacarya. Lord SriCaitanya Mahaprabhu specifically accepts Srimad-Bhagavatam as the spotless Vedic authority.Srila Prabhupada also indicates that Ramanujacarya and Madhavacarya gave attention to reading Bhagavad-gita. Ramanujacarya wrote a commentary to the Bhagavad-gita in which he gave evidence from the Upanisads and Vedas. He refers to Ramanuja as an acarya.Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-Is He an Incarnation?In this Kali-yuga the incarnation is Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is stated in the Shastra, krishna-varnam, Krishna varnayati: “He is simply chanting ‘Krishna,’ although He is Krishna Himself.” Krishnam-varnam tvisakrishnam. Therefore He has hidden Himself. His bodily color is more Krishna, but golden. Krishna has got four colors: Suklo raktas tatha pita idanim krishnatam gatah. So Krishna has another color: pita. Pita-varna-gaurah. That is Lord Caitanya. Therefore tvisa akrishna: “Bodily complexion, not Krishna.” Sangopangastra-parsadam: Followed by many devotees. Krishna are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Radha and Krishna are one in Their identity, previously They separated Themselves. Now these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Sri Krishna Caitanya.- Cc. adi 1.5Why Hidden?Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He’s channa. Channa means “covered.” Lord Caitanya is a covered avatara, or incarnation, of the Supreme Lord because He appeared as a devotee. In the Kali-yuga He does not appear directly like other incarnations, such as Narsimhadeva, Vamanadeva, or Lord Ramachandra. He appears as a devotee. Why? Because He is the most magnanimous avatara. People are so foolish that they could not understand Krishna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to give mercy to the fallen souls, who are so foolish that they cannot take to Krishna consciousness. He is personally teaching how to take to Krishna consciousness. And that process is this kirtana, chanting Krishna’s holy names.You appear in various incarnations as a human being, an animal, a great saint, a demigod, a fish, or a tortoise, thus maintaining the entire creation in different planetary systems and killing the demoniac principles. According to the age, O my Lord, You protect the principles of religion. In the Age of Kali, however, You do not assert Yourself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore You are known as Triyuga, or the Lord who appears in three yugas. – Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.38The Lord tried to conceal His identity as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by representing Himself as a devotee, but His pure devotees could recognize Him by His special features. The Vedas and Puranas foretell the appearance of Lord Caitanya, but still He is sometimes called, significantly, the concealed descent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. – Introduction to Cc. adi Chapter 3External Reasons for Lord Caitanya’s AppearanceAccording to the Vedic literature, the foremost occupational duty for humanity in this Age of Kali is nama-sankirtana, or congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord. The incarnation for this age especially preaches this process, but only Krishna Himself can explain the confidential loving service performed in the four principal varieties of loving affairs between the Supreme Lord and His devotees. Lord Krishna therefore personally appeared, with His plenary portions, as Lord Caitanya. As stated in this chapter, it was for this purpose that Lord Krishna appeared personally in Navadvipa in the form of Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.Advaita acharya felt sorry for the condition of the world because even after Lord Krishna’s appearance, no one had interest in devotional service to Krishna. This forgetfulness was so overwhelming that Advaita Prabhu was convinced that no one but Lord Krishna Himself could enlighten people about devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Therefore Advaita requested Lord Krishna to appear as Lord Caitanya. Offering tulasi leaves and Ganges water, He cried for the Lord’s appearance. The Lord, being satisfied by His pure devotees, descends to satisfy them. As such, being pleased by Advaita acharya, Lord Caitanya appeared. – Introduction to Cc. adi Chapter 3Activities of Lord CaitanyaAfter accepting the renounced order of life, Caitanya Mahaprabhu converted many karma-nisthas who were addicted to fruitive activities, many great logicians like Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, nindakas (blasphemers) like Prakasananda Sarasvati, pasandis (nondevotees) like Jagai and Madhai, and adhama paduyas (degraded students) like Mukunda and his friends. All of them gradually became devotees of the Lord, even the Pathans (Muslims). – Cc. adi 7.39, purportImparting Transcendental KnowledgeFor ten days Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at Prayaga and instructed Rupa Goswami, empowering him with the necessary potency. -Cc. adi 19.135Inaugurating the Sankirtana MovementSri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to preach the sankirtana movement of love of Krishna throughout the entire world, and therefore during His presence He inspired the sankirtana movement.– Cc. adi 7.171, purportDelivering the most fallenLord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has freely given this love of Krishna everywhere and anywhere, even to the most fallen, such as Jagai and Madhai. What then to speak of those who are already pious and elevated? – Cc. adi 8.20Lord Caitanya’s Preaching MissionSri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted the cult of His sankirtana movement to spread all over the world. Now that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness has taken up this task of preaching the cult of Lord Caitanya, its members should not only construct temples in every town and village of the globe but also distribute the books that have already been written and further increase the number of books. – Cc. adi 7.164, purportKrishna-varnam tvisakrishnam sangopangastra-parsadam/ yajnaih sankirtana-prayair 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-Bhagavatam 11.5.32So now I think you will know that we are the two schools following the same educational board.(e.g. two government schools under CBSE)So, therefore please chantHare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare HareHare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hareto get the mercy of Lord ChaitanyaThank YouHare Krsna