Pastimes of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in His Boyhood and Youth

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, had mercifully appeared at Yogpeeth (in  Mayapur, West Bengal, India) about 500 years ago (in the year 1486 AD), to bless us with the most wonderful, deep and ecstatic pastimes of Gaura lila. Eminent brahmana, Sri Jagannatha Misra and Saci devi were the proud parents of Lord Chaitanya. The below article is a humble attempt to address and ponder upon the most blissful pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden avatar, in His boyhood and youth. The identity of Lord Chaitanya as the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be verified in a number of Vedic scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, Garuda Purana, Nrsimha Purana, Padma purana, Bhavishya Purana, Narada Purana etc. We are quoting two of such scriptural references below, for the pleasure of the devotees.

aham purno bhavisyami yuga sandhyau visesatah
mayapure navadvipe bhavisyami saci sutah
(Garuda Purana)
–
Translation – In the future, in first part of Kali yuga, I shall appear in my complete spiritual form at Mayapura, Navadvipa and become the son of Saci.

The mission of the Lord, along with a description of His golden complexion and how He descends along with His confidential associates in this age of Kali ,to inaugurate the Sankirtana Yajna is revealed in Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata purana) –

Krishna varnam tvishakrishnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32)

Lord Chaitanya’s life and teachings have been instrumental in uniting people across different nationalities, across different backgrounds – be it social, economic, linguistic, cultural. Eminent personalities have concluded that Sri Chaitanya’s life & teachings have no parallel in human history. Sri Chaitanya’s pastimes defy the investigative and the descriptive abilities of phenomenologists and psychologists of religious experience. The below verses depicting the wondrous pastimes of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu have been composed by Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his book – Srimad Gauranga Lila Smarana Mangala Stotram.

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Childhood Pastimes of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | Gauranga Lila Smarana

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, had mercifully appeared at Yogpeeth (in  Mayapur, West Bengal, India) about 500 years ago (in the year 1486 AD), to bless us with the most wonderful, deep and ecstatic pastimes of Gaura lila. Eminent brahmana, Sri Jagannatha Misra and Saci devi were the proud parents of Lord Chaitanya. The below article is a humble attempt to address and ponder upon the most blissful childhood pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden avatar. The identity of Lord Chaitanya as the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be verified in a number of Vedic scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, Garuda Purana, Nrsimha Purana, Padma purana, Bhavishya Purana, Narada Purana etc. We are quoting two of such scriptural references below, for the pleasure of the devotees.

aham purno bhavisyami yuga sandhyau visesatah
mayapure navadvipe bhavisyami saci sutah
(Garuda Purana)
–
Translation – In the future, in first part of Kali yuga, I shall appear in my complete spiritual form at Mayapura, Navadvipa and become the son of Saci.

The mission of the Lord, along with a description of His golden complexion and how He descends along with His confidential associates in this age of Kali ,to inaugurate the Sankirtana Yajna is revealed in Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata purana) –

Krishna varnam tvishakrishnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32)

Lord Chaitanya’s life and teachings have been instrumental in uniting people across different nationalities, across different backgrounds – be it social, economic, linguistic, cultural. Eminent personalities have concluded that Sri Chaitanya’s life & teachings have no parallel in human history. Sri Chaitanya’s pastimes defy the investigative and the descriptive abilities of phenomenologists and psychologists of religious experience. The below verses depicting the wondrous pastimes of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu have been composed by Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his book – Srimad Gauranga Lila Smarana Mangala Stotram.

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Essence of Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana)

Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana), also appreciated as the ripened fruit of the Vedas is a bonafide commentary on the Vedanta Sutra, presented by the author Srila Vyasadeva himself. It is one of the eighteen great Puranas that addresses a wide range of topics including cosmology, astronomy, genealogy, yoga, bhakti, etc. It is abundant with accounts of transcendental glories, name, fame, form, and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord and is intended for bringing about a revolution in the impious life of a misdirected civilization. This article is a humble effort to exhibit the essence of Srimad Bhagavatam and a summary of its quintessential teachings.

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Summary of Bhagavad Gita | Essence of Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita appears as an episode of Mahabharata, the great Sanskrit epic (itihasa) portraying the history of the ancient world. Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna about 5000 years ago at the onset of the great war of Kurukshetra and their discussion is considered to be one of the most celebrated philosophical and religious dialogues known to man. The following article presents the summary and the essence of the Bhagavad Gita. Relevant Slokas from the Bhagavad Gita have been cited below to help explain these principles.

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Ashta Sakhi of Radha – 8 Principal Gopis of Vrindavan

The eight principal Gopis of Vrindavan are Lalita, Visakha, Citra, Champakalata, Tungavidya, Indulekha, Rangadevi and Sudevi. They are also known as ‘Ashta sakhi’ or ‘Parama Prestha Sakhis’ as they are the dearmost friends of Sri Radha. These most exalted Gopis of Vrindavan are celebrated as the most intimate associates of Sri Radha-Krishna and they are always engaged in assisting the divine couple manifest their loving pastimes. The love these Gopis hold for Sri Radha and Krishna is unique and unmatched. They are endowed with beautiful forms, transcendental qualities, and sweet features. A brief sketch of their families, moods, and the services they render is presented below.

#1 Lalita

Among the eight Gopis of Vrindavan, Sri Lalita devi is the chief. She is twenty-seven days older than Sri Radha. Another of her names is ‘Anuradha’. Her body possesses a yellowish tone resembling that of cow’s urine and her attire mirrors the hue of a peacock feather. Visoka is her father and Sarada is her mother. She is endowed with the quality of harshness which adds a special flavor to her relationship with Krishna. Bhairava, her husband, also a friend of the cowherd boy Govardhana.

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108 Names of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | Gauranga Ashtottara ShataNamaVali

Sri Gauranga Ashtottara Shata Nama (Ashtottara ShataNamaVali) are the 108 names of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The following amazing all-purifying verses have been composed by Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya to disseminate the glories of Lord Gauranga all over the creation. Below are their translations for the pleasure of all the devotees of Lord Gauranga.

namaskrtya pravaksyami deva-devam jagad-gurum
namnam-astottara-satam caitanyasya mahatmanah

After offering my respectful obeisances unto Lord Chaitanya, who is a great soul, the Lord of all Lords, and the spiritual master of the entire universe, I will now narrate His 108 holy names.

visvambharo jita-krodho maya-manusa-vigrahah
amayi mayinam sretho vara-deso dvijottamah

• Viswambhara – He supports and sustains the creation
• Jita Krodha – He is triumphant over the influence of ordinary worldly anger
• Maya Manusha vigraha – He assumes the illusory form of a human
• Amayi – He is bereft of deceitful behaviour
• Mayinam Shrestha – He is the chief of transcendental cheaters
• Vara desha – He appears in the best of lands
• Dvijottama – He is best among the brahmanas

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