Most Holy Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya
Today is Gaura Purnima, the most holy appearance day of Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing as His own devotee in His most merciful manifestation to bestow what no other incarnation has so freely given before, pure love of Godhead. Lord Caitanya appeared in what is now Mayapur, West Bengal in 1486, where ISKCON has its world headquarters. Devotees fast completely from all foods (drinking water is okay) up until moonrise in the evening after which they partake of a feast of vegetarian foodstuffs which have been offered to Lord Caitanya with love and devotion.
Lord Caitanya is wonderfully glorified in the following verse, which is given in the Srimad Bhagavatam, 11th Canto, Chapter 5, Text 32:
kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ
“In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.”
Srila Prabhupada gives a wonderful purport to this verse where it is cited in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila, Chapter 3, Text 52 as follows:
"This text is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32). Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has explained this verse in his commentary on the Bhāgavatam, known as the Krama-sandarbha, wherein he says that Lord Kṛṣṇa also appears with a golden complexion. That golden Lord Kṛṣṇa is Lord Caitanya, who is worshiped by intelligent men in this age. That is confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by Garga Muni, who said that although the child Kṛṣṇa was blackish, He also appears in three other colors—red, white and yellow. He exhibited His white and red complexions in the Satya and Tretā ages respectively. He did not exhibit the remaining color, yellow-gold, until He appeared as Lord Caitanya, who is known as Gaura Hari.
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that kṛṣṇa-varṇam means Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. Kṛṣṇa-varṇa and Kṛṣṇa Caitanya are equivalent. The name Kṛṣṇa appears with both Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya Kṛṣṇa. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He always engages in describing Kṛṣṇa and thus enjoys transcendental bliss by chanting and remembering His name and form. Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself appears as Lord Caitanya to preach the highest gospel.
Lord Caitanya always chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and describes it also, and because He is Kṛṣṇa Himself, whoever meets Him will automatically chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and later describe it to others. He injects one with transcendental Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which merges the chanter in transcendental bliss. In all respects, therefore, He appears before everyone as Kṛṣṇa, either by personality or by sound. Simply by seeing Lord Caitanya one at once remembers Lord Kṛṣṇa. One may therefore accept Him as viṣṇu-tattva. In other words, Lord Caitanya is Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.
"Sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam further indicates that Lord Caitanya is Lord Kṛṣṇa. His body is always decorated with ornaments of sandalwood and with sandalwood paste. By His superexcellent beauty He subdues all the people of the age. In other descents the Lord sometimes used weapons to defeat the demoniac, but in this age the Lord subdues them with His all-attractive figure as Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that His beauty is His astra, or weapon, to subdue the demons. Because He is all-attractive, it is to be understood that all the demigods lived with Him as His companions. His acts were uncommon and His associates wonderful. When He propagated the saṅkīrtana movement, He attracted many great scholars and ācāryas, especially in Bengal and Orissa. Lord Caitanya is always accompanied by His best associates like Lord Nityānanda, Advaita, Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa.
"Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī cites a verse from the Vedic literature which says that there is no necessity of performing sacrificial demonstrations or ceremonial functions. He comments that instead of engaging in such external, pompous exhibitions, all people, regardless of caste, color or creed, can assemble together and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa to worship Lord Caitanya. Kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇam [SB 11.5.32] indicates that prominence should be given to the name of Kṛṣṇa. Lord Caitanya taught Kṛṣṇa consciousness and chanted the name of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, to worship Lord Caitanya, everyone should together chant the mahā-mantra—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. To propagate worship in churches, temples or mosques is not possible, because people have lost interest in that. But anywhere and everywhere, people can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Thus worshiping Lord Caitanya, they can perform the highest activity and fulfill the highest religious purpose of satisfying the Supreme Lord.
"Śrīla Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, a famous disciple of Lord Caitanya, said, 'The principle of transcendental devotional service having been lost, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya has appeared in order to deliver again the process of devotion. He is so kind that He is distributing love of Kṛṣṇa. Everyone should be attracted more and more to His lotus feet, as humming bees are attracted to a lotus flower.' "
We are requesting all of our readers to fast from all eating (water is okay) until moonrise in the evening of 9 March for observing Gaura Purnima, the transcendental appearance day of Lord Caitanya, in the best possible way. Then kindly attend the Gaura Purnima celebration at your nearest ISKCON center. Click here for the list of centers all over the world. If you are in the Austin area kindly attend our Austin program, which starts at 6pm. Click here for the location of ISKCON Austin.
If you have any questions, please write me at: sd@worldleader.com
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Your Divine Grace and Srimati Gurumata ji.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
How is the health of Your Divine Grace? How can I raise fund for Iskcon Austin on my birthday on Facebook?
Your servant,
Sacinandana Das
My Dear Sacinandana,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
My physical body is greatly tormented by acute itching all over my body. I have been to many doctors both of western and eastern medicine and have tried many different types of medication. So far no one and nothing
has been able to give me any relief.
I am therefore requesting all of my disciples to strictly follow their initiation vows. My ailment may be because of disciples who are not strictly following their initiation vows.
In this connection Srila Prabhupada has written in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam, Ninth Canto, Chapter 9, Text 5 as follows:
"Sometimes the spiritual master, after accepting a disciple, must take charge of that disciple's past sinful activities and,being overloaded, must sometimes suffer -- if not fully, then partially -- for the sinful acts of the disciple. Every disciple,therefore, must be very careful not to commit sinful activities after initiation."
As the spiritual master has been merciful to accept the disciples for delivering them back to home, back to Godhead, the disciples must always in reciprocation be merciful upon their spiritual master by not causing him
to suffer by committing sinful activities after their initiation.
To raise funds for ISKCON Austin have your readers go to this web page: www.iskconaustin.com/donate
I hope this meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic mood.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Lord Caitanya is wonderfully glorified in the following verse, which is given in the Srimad Bhagavatam, 11th Canto, Chapter 5, Text 32:
kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ
sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair
yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ
“In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.”
Srila Prabhupada gives a wonderful purport to this verse where it is cited in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila, Chapter 3, Text 52 as follows:
"This text is from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32). Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has explained this verse in his commentary on the Bhāgavatam, known as the Krama-sandarbha, wherein he says that Lord Kṛṣṇa also appears with a golden complexion. That golden Lord Kṛṣṇa is Lord Caitanya, who is worshiped by intelligent men in this age. That is confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by Garga Muni, who said that although the child Kṛṣṇa was blackish, He also appears in three other colors—red, white and yellow. He exhibited His white and red complexions in the Satya and Tretā ages respectively. He did not exhibit the remaining color, yellow-gold, until He appeared as Lord Caitanya, who is known as Gaura Hari.
Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that kṛṣṇa-varṇam means Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. Kṛṣṇa-varṇa and Kṛṣṇa Caitanya are equivalent. The name Kṛṣṇa appears with both Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya Kṛṣṇa. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He always engages in describing Kṛṣṇa and thus enjoys transcendental bliss by chanting and remembering His name and form. Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself appears as Lord Caitanya to preach the highest gospel.
Lord Caitanya always chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and describes it also, and because He is Kṛṣṇa Himself, whoever meets Him will automatically chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and later describe it to others. He injects one with transcendental Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which merges the chanter in transcendental bliss. In all respects, therefore, He appears before everyone as Kṛṣṇa, either by personality or by sound. Simply by seeing Lord Caitanya one at once remembers Lord Kṛṣṇa. One may therefore accept Him as viṣṇu-tattva. In other words, Lord Caitanya is Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.
"Sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam further indicates that Lord Caitanya is Lord Kṛṣṇa. His body is always decorated with ornaments of sandalwood and with sandalwood paste. By His superexcellent beauty He subdues all the people of the age. In other descents the Lord sometimes used weapons to defeat the demoniac, but in this age the Lord subdues them with His all-attractive figure as Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that His beauty is His astra, or weapon, to subdue the demons. Because He is all-attractive, it is to be understood that all the demigods lived with Him as His companions. His acts were uncommon and His associates wonderful. When He propagated the saṅkīrtana movement, He attracted many great scholars and ācāryas, especially in Bengal and Orissa. Lord Caitanya is always accompanied by His best associates like Lord Nityānanda, Advaita, Gadādhara and Śrīvāsa.
"Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī cites a verse from the Vedic literature which says that there is no necessity of performing sacrificial demonstrations or ceremonial functions. He comments that instead of engaging in such external, pompous exhibitions, all people, regardless of caste, color or creed, can assemble together and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa to worship Lord Caitanya. Kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇam [SB 11.5.32] indicates that prominence should be given to the name of Kṛṣṇa. Lord Caitanya taught Kṛṣṇa consciousness and chanted the name of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, to worship Lord Caitanya, everyone should together chant the mahā-mantra—Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. To propagate worship in churches, temples or mosques is not possible, because people have lost interest in that. But anywhere and everywhere, people can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. Thus worshiping Lord Caitanya, they can perform the highest activity and fulfill the highest religious purpose of satisfying the Supreme Lord.
"Śrīla Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, a famous disciple of Lord Caitanya, said, 'The principle of transcendental devotional service having been lost, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya has appeared in order to deliver again the process of devotion. He is so kind that He is distributing love of Kṛṣṇa. Everyone should be attracted more and more to His lotus feet, as humming bees are attracted to a lotus flower.' "
We are requesting all of our readers to fast from all eating (water is okay) until moonrise in the evening of 9 March for observing Gaura Purnima, the transcendental appearance day of Lord Caitanya, in the best possible way. Then kindly attend the Gaura Purnima celebration at your nearest ISKCON center. Click here for the list of centers all over the world. If you are in the Austin area kindly attend our Austin program, which starts at 6pm. Click here for the location of ISKCON Austin.
If you have any questions, please write me at: sd@worldleader.com
The Golden Avatar--Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom
Question: How is Your Health?
Hare Krishna Srila Gurudev,Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Your Divine Grace and Srimati Gurumata ji.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
How is the health of Your Divine Grace? How can I raise fund for Iskcon Austin on my birthday on Facebook?
Your servant,
Sacinandana Das
Answer: I Am Suffering Greatly
From: ISKCON Austin, Texas USAMy Dear Sacinandana,
Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
My physical body is greatly tormented by acute itching all over my body. I have been to many doctors both of western and eastern medicine and have tried many different types of medication. So far no one and nothing
has been able to give me any relief.
I am therefore requesting all of my disciples to strictly follow their initiation vows. My ailment may be because of disciples who are not strictly following their initiation vows.
In this connection Srila Prabhupada has written in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam, Ninth Canto, Chapter 9, Text 5 as follows:
"Sometimes the spiritual master, after accepting a disciple, must take charge of that disciple's past sinful activities and,being overloaded, must sometimes suffer -- if not fully, then partially -- for the sinful acts of the disciple. Every disciple,therefore, must be very careful not to commit sinful activities after initiation."
As the spiritual master has been merciful to accept the disciples for delivering them back to home, back to Godhead, the disciples must always in reciprocation be merciful upon their spiritual master by not causing him
to suffer by committing sinful activities after their initiation.
To raise funds for ISKCON Austin have your readers go to this web page: www.iskconaustin.com/donate
I hope this meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic mood.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Lord Caitanya Embraces and Heals the Leper Vasudeva
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