Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bigraphy, stories - Indian saint

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu : biography

1486 – 1534

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST ‘) (1486–1534) was a social reformer in eastern India (specifically present-day Bangladesh and states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Assam, and Odisha of India) in the 16th century, worshipped by followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism as the full incarnation of Lord Krishna. Sri Krishna Chaitanya was a notable proponent for the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga (meaning loving devotion to Krishna), based on the philosophy of the Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita. "Lord Caitanya not only preached the Srimad-Bhagavatam but propagated the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita as well in the most practical way." Specifically, he worshipped the forms of Krishna, popularised the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra "He spread the Yuga-dharma, or the practice most recommended for the attainment of pure love for Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. That process is Harinam Sankirtan, or the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare" and composed the Siksastakam (eight devotional prayers) in Sanskrit. His line of followers, known as Gaudiya Vaishnavas, revere him as an Avatar of Krishna in the mood of Radharani who was prophesied to appear in the later verses of the Bhagavata Purana. "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."

He was also sometimes referred to by the names Gaura (Sanskrit for ‘golden’), due to his fair complexion, "He was also given the name of ‘Gaura’ because of his extremely fair complexion." and Nimai due to his being born underneath a Neem tree. "They named Him Nimai, as he was born under a neem tree." There are numerous biographies available from the time giving details of Chaitanya’s life, the most prominent ones being the Chaitanya Charitamrita of Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, the earlier Chaitanya Bhagavata of Vrindavana Dasa (both originally written in Bengali but now widely available in English and other languages), and the Chaitanya Mangala, written by Lochana Dasa. (salagram.net) These works are in Bengali with some Sanskrit verses interspersed. In addition to these there are other Sanskrit biographies composed by his contemporaries. Chief among them are the literary masterpiece, Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam Mahakavyam (written in 20 sargas and 1911 shlokas) by Kavi Karnapura and Sri Krishna Chaitanya Charitamritam by Murari Gupta.

Chaitanya’s tradition

Image:Panca-tattva Altar.jpg|thumb|This is an interactive (clickable) image-map. Click on lotus feet. Krishna Chaitanya (centre), Nityananda Prabhu (wearing blue), Advaita Acharya (with beard), Gadadhara Pandit (purple dhoti), Srivas Pandit (with shaven head and saffron dhoti). Pancha-Tattva deities: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara and Srivasa, installed on a Vaishnava altar. |300 px|alt=Click on lotus feet rect 248 267 338 353 w:Chaitanya rect 156 265 237 347 w:Nityananda rect 66 290 154 370 w:Advaita Acharya rect 340 262 437 347 w:Gadadhara rect 455 267 560 350 w:Srivasa Thakura

Despite having been initiated in the Madhvacharya tradition and taking sannyasa from Shankara’s tradition, Chaitanya’s philosophy is sometimes regarded as a tradition of his own within the Vaishnava framework – having some marked differences with the practices and the theology of other followers of Madhvacharya. He took Mantra Upadesa from (Isvara Puri) and Sanyasa Diksha from Kesava Bharathi.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is not known to have written anything himself except for a series of verses known as the Siksastaka, or "eight verses of instruction", "Although Lord Caitanya was widely renowned as a scholar in His youth, He left only eight verses, called Sikshashtaka" which he had spoken, and were recorded by one of his close colleagues. The eight verses created by Mahaprabhu are considered to contain the complete philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in condensed form. Chaitanya requested a select few among his followers (who later came to be known as the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan) to systematically present the theology of bhakti he had taught to them in their own writings. "He requested … the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, to systematically present … the theology of bhakti he had taught" The six saints and theologians were Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, Gopala Bhatta Goswami, Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami, Raghunatha dasa Goswami and Jiva Goswami, a nephew of brothers Rupa and Sanatana. These individuals were responsible for systematising Gaudiya Vaishnava theology.