Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

The age in which Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took birth can be termed as a great revolutionary period. At that time, tumultuous changes in the political, social and economic spheres sparked off. Religion was in a confused state, lacking in clarity and vision. The practice of black magic and other malefic branches of religion eroded whatever little bit of belief people had in religion. People lost interest in the Vedic tradition, of which India was a forerunner and was proud of. When religion denied showing the people the right path, they strayed and started following dogmas and meaningless rituals. Religion was then in the hands of a few which further flared up the misunderstandings about it. People got tired of listening to the age-old words which said, "World is a falsehood. The world is an illusion". This was so, as they were actually in search of something that would touch their heart. Anything pertaining to the brain bored them.

People who came from lower castes were not considered to be eligible for the realization of the Almighty. They even didn't have any right to perform rituals or to attend religious gatherings. In such circumstances, people expected the birth of a new order or religious movement, which didn't discriminate between anybody. At this juncture, many great men from different provinces of India came into being and established their own ideologies. The theme of all the religions at this time was 'Vaishnavism'.

At the very beginning, Swami Ramanand appeared. He wiped off the restrictions on the lower castes regarding the study and propagation of religion. He discarded all the barriers pertaining to castes, religion and sects. He left behind him twelve staunch disciples. All of them belonged to lower hierarchies of the society such as cobblers, weavers, barbers, scavengers etc.

Out of his twelve disciples, saint Kabir was the most prominent one. Kabir's teachings had profound influence all over India and it still has a great following.

Kabir was a great intellectual and at the same time, he was courageous to speak out whatever he believed in. Others such as Raidas, Namdev and many more took birth and flourished at about the same time period.The time also saw the great religious leader, Guru Nanak Dev in Punjab. His teachings also had widespread influence among the people.

At this juncture, Guru Ramdas took birth. Among his disciples, Emperor Shivaji was the most prominent one. The popular saint Tukaram contributed a lot in social reforms. Side by side, Kashi saw the birth of Vallabhacharya, a socio-religious thinker.

In this way, when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took birth in Bengal, India was full of philosophers, thinkers and great religious leaders.

BIRTH

In the month of March 1542, a full moon day which was being celebrated as Holi (the festival of colors), Pandit Jagannath Mishra was at home. In the gay atmosphere of the day, Jagannath Mishra's wife, Shachi Devi started writhing with labor pains. There were no ladies around to take care of her. So, her sister was called who lived in the village itself. In the evening, Shachi Devi gave birth to a baby boy. Shachi's sister gave the message of the birth of the baby to Jagannath Mishra. He was exhilarated listening to the news. The news spread everywhere and whosoever got the message about the childbirth, came to the house and congratulated him. Shachi's father, who was a great astrologer, rushed to the spot. He made the horoscope of the child instantly. He was very much happy looking at his birth chart. He said to Jagannath, "This child will definitely become a great man. He will be associated with the upliftment of multitude of people. He will be an extraordinary man and this is destined to happen." Jagannath was happy to hear all these things. Being happy with the turn of events, he distributed clothes, food and money among the poor. He also invited some Brahmins and gave them a feast. Following the usual religious rituals, the boy child was named Gaurang.

Normally, any child stays in its mother's womb for nine months or for a maximum of 10 months. But Gaurang was in his mother's womb for a complete period of 13 months. Because of this, at the time of his birth itself, he seemed to be a year old. He was physically strong and had hair longer than usual. Due to curly hair, his face appeared beautiful - just like a full-grown lotus. Both the parents were happy seeing their wondrous child.

It is a practice in Bengal that the mother is allowed to come out of the labor room only after a month. When Gaurang was a month old, Shachi Devi left the labor room. Alongwith some of her friends, Shachi Devi took Gaurang with her and approached to the Ganges to take a bath. Along the Ganges, the rituals were performed according to the custom and prayers were done for the well being and bright future of the child.

LAXMIDEVI ENAMOUREDL

Laxmi Devi was one of the girls who visited the Ganges to pray regularly. She was an innocent and simple girl had a natural liking for Nimai. She was happy the moment she saw Nimai. Out of the intense attraction, she blushed and felt a pull towards Nimai. Strangely, Nimai wouldn't tease Laxmi Devi and he didn't even ask her for sweets.

One day, when Laxmi Devi was going towards the temple, he stopped her and said, "Worship me." Listening to this strange wish, that innocent lady really started worshiping him. With shaking hands, she anointed his forehead with sandal wood paste. She even offered victuals and stood with folded hands in front of him. Pleased with her behavior, he blessed her saying, "May you get a husband who is handsome and virtuous like the Gods themselves." Listening to this, Laxmi Devi blushed and went away from him speedily. Later on, she became his first wife.

Nimai was the leader among the boys of the locality. He was incomparable when it came to being naughty and playful. All the boys were always ready to do anything at his instance. He loved to tease everyone. Many a times, he made balls of sand and distributed them among his friends. All of them would wait for the men who returned after having a bath in the Ganges. The moment they saw anyone, at one go, many sand balls were thrown on the people who walked merrily after cleaning themselves in the Ganges. They even soaked the dry clothes of the people in the river.

For hours together, Nimai alongwith his friends used to bath in the Ganges, forgetting everything in the world. Splashing water on each other, they had a blissful time in the Ganges. Sometimes, they waited for the ladies to come to the Ganges to take bath. Nimai and his friends would swim underwater and frighten the ladies by pulling their legs from underneath the water. Nimai would come out and splash water as if it were the fault of the ladies who came in his territory. At this behavior, some ladies got angry, while others actually liked him.

Every now and then, men and women went to Nimai's house and complained about him. One day, a group of men came to Nimai's house and complained saying, "Go and have a look at your son and see yourself as to how he is harassing everyone." Angrily, Jagannath hurried towards the Ganges. Somehow, Nimai came to know about his father's approach towards the riverbank. Nimai scampered towards his house taking another route. Reaching home, he asked his mother to massage him with oil so that he could take bath in the Ganges. On the other hand, Nimai's father reached the riverbank and was inquiring the boys, asking, "Did Nimai come here? Where is he?" The boys were already taught as to what to say. So, according to the plan, they said that they didn't see Nimai for the whole day. Contended, his father started towards home. On the way, when he saw Nimai, he said, "Why do you harass people? What do you get from doing so?" Nimai replied to this saying, "I don't know why everyone is after me. Even mother was talking to me like this. I am just coming from home but still, people have not stopped complaining about me without reason. But now, I have decided to really harass people because it is better to take the blame of the misdeeds that you do rather having false allegations against you." Saying this, Nimai went to take bath laughingly. Later on, he gathered the boys and told the incident making fun of everyone.

Nimai's brother, Vishwarup was then 16 years old. The family decided to marry him. So, they were in the look out for an appropriate match for him. But Vishwarup always wanted to be detached from all kinds of worldly attachment. The feeling of renunciation and spiritualism were deep rooted in him. When he heard about his marriage, he started thinking, "Will I get the supreme peace and bliss that I want just by marrying? Should I constrict my love just to my parents and brothers and stay in this futile world?"

Gradually, Vishwarup's detachment increased. Through constant thinking over the issue, he was then above all the worldly things and relationships. He realized that all the living beings are constantly engaged in doing deeds without understanding that all the actions are actually pre-decided by destiny. Living in the higher planes of consciousness, he gave up all the affection towards his mother, father, brother, relatives and society. He had his own knowledge and understanding following which he was aloof and detached from everyone.

Vishwarup then decided to leave his home. He denied living in the false and illusionary world. One chilly, winter night, he left home without telling anyone at home. In the morning, when Shachi Devi and Jagannath Mishra came to know about everything, they went berserk with sorrow.

Nimai never went to study before Vishwarup left home. Nimai whiled away time sitting with his friends and harassing people. But there was a distinct change in Nimai just after Vishwarup left home. He stopped being naughty and troublesome. He started studied properly and stopped playing altogether. His behavior with parents was more polite and polished. Seeing this change in Nimai, his mother and father wondered whether he would also leave home or not. There was a question in their minds, "Would Nimai also follow his brother and leave home?"

EDUCATION

One day, Jagannath Mishra called his son, Nimai and said, "I would like to tell you something and you must follow what I say; whether it is good or bad is none of your worry. I say, stop studying from today. There is no need to study." Nimai politely said, "As you wish, I would do as you say."

From the next day, he stopped studying. He became naughty and unstoppable like before. He went to the Ganges and bathed there for hours together, splashing water on everybody. He troubled others by throwing the clothes, which were kept for drying along the riverside. He also ate the sweets, which were kept for the prayers. Some reproached him while others threatened to assault him for his misbehavior. People were tired of his pranks and complained frequently to his parents. His father used to advise him saying, "You should not be naughty to the extent that people start hating you." Nimai would reply saying, "Then what shall I do? I shouldn't study, play or enjoy. How can I sit at home doing nothing?" This silenced his father.

Nimai's pranks gradually increased invariably. One day, he wore tattered clothes. He dressed himself up as an injured man taking along a small boy with him. He would go from home to home and beg. He would say, "Mother, help this blind beggar. God would help you if you help the helpless." Looking at Nimai in a new get up, the ladies would laugh and give him something to eat. Finishing all the houses in the village, he reached his home and would exclaim loudly, "Mother, please help this blind beggar." His mother would look at him with disbelief and say, "Nimai what are you becoming into? You have started asking for alms! What not have you got at home? Why are you behaving so strangely?"

Listening to his mother's words, he would open the straps from his eyes and say, "The son of a poor Brahmin, who is a fool, is definitely blind. I don't have any other option but to go for alms. If you don't allow me to study, then I will have to beg." Nimai then played pranks willfully. Seeing the never-ending trouble, his mother's eyes were filled with tears. When she tried to make him understand his mistakes, he would say, "If you don't let me study then I will continue to do what I like." Hearing this she thought, "If I let him study, its fine, but it should not result in anything similar to Vishwarup's renunciation." In a dilemma, his mother was frightened and perturbed whenever she thought of Nimai.

The ladies, who lived in the neighborhood, counseled her asking her to let him study if he wanted to. They argued that all the learned people didn't become ascetics and so, he should be allowed to study. After consulting many people, there was a change in Shachi Devi's attitude and so, she tried to convince Jagannath to let Nimai study. At last, Nimai was allowed to study, which marked the beginning of another phase of Nimai's life

EDUCATION

One day, Jagannath Mishra called his son, Nimai and said, "I would like to tell you something and you must follow what I say; whether it is good or bad is none of your worry. I say, stop studying from today. There is no need to study." Nimai politely said, "As you wish, I would do as you say."

From the next day, he stopped studying. He became naughty and unstoppable like before. He went to the Ganges and bathed there for hours together, splashing water on everybody. He troubled others by throwing the clothes, which were kept for drying along the riverside. He also ate the sweets, which were kept for the prayers. Some reproached him while others threatened to assault him for his misbehavior. People were tired of his pranks and complained frequently to his parents. His father used to advise him saying, "You should not be naughty to the extent that people start hating you." Nimai would reply saying, "Then what shall I do? I shouldn't study, play or enjoy. How can I sit at home doing nothing?" This silenced his father.

Nimai's pranks gradually increased invariably. One day, he wore tattered clothes. He dressed himself up as an injured man taking along a small boy with him. He would go from home to home and beg. He would say, "Mother, help this blind beggar. God would help you if you help the helpless." Looking at Nimai in a new get up, the ladies would laugh and give him something to eat. Finishing all the houses in the village, he reached his home and would exclaim loudly, "Mother, please help this blind beggar." His mother would look at him with disbelief and say, "Nimai what are you becoming into? You have started asking for alms! What not have you got at home? Why are you behaving so strangely?"

Listening to his mother's words, he would open the straps from his eyes and say, "The son of a poor Brahmin, who is a fool, is definitely blind. I don't have any other option but to go for alms. If you don't allow me to study, then I will have to beg." Nimai then played pranks willfully. Seeing the never-ending trouble, his mother's eyes were filled with tears. When she tried to make him understand his mistakes, he would say, "If you don't let me study then I will continue to do what I like." Hearing this she thought, "If I let him study, its fine, but it should not result in anything similar to Vishwarup's renunciation." In a dilemma, his mother was frightened and perturbed whenever she thought of Nimai.

The ladies, who lived in the neighborhood, counseled her asking her to let him study if he wanted to. They argued that all the learned people didn't become ascetics and so, he should be allowed to study. After consulting many people, there was a change in Shachi Devi's attitude and so, she tried to convince Jagannath to let Nimai study. At last, Nimai was allowed to study, which marked the beginning of another phase of Nimai's life

FIRST TRANCE

Nimai grew into a healthy and attractive boy of nine. His body was a muscular one having all the qualities of a wrestler. Despite being a boy of nine, he appeared to be of 16 years. Seeing the time appropriate, his father made arrangements for the initiation ceremony of Nimai.

On the day of the ceremony, the house was decorated and a small 'Mandap' (a small cabin with a clothed roof supported by bamboo) was prepared. On one side of the entrapment, Brahmins sat who were accompanied by other relatives and on the other corner, ladies sang traditional songs. At the time of the ceremony, Nimai entered into the Mandap after having a tonsure. The Guru made Nimai wear saffron colored clothes. The yellow clothes looked beautiful on the fair body of Nimai. As part of the initiation ceremony, the sacred fire was given life to by adding ghee(clarified butter). His father went near Nimai and recited the sacred 'Gayatri Mantra' in his ears. Instantly, just after listening to the chants, Nimai submerged into the trance of the Almighty. He became unconscious, which panicked everybody. His father sprinkled water on his face after which he came back to consciousness.

It was customary that the person for whom the ceremony was conducted must ask for alms from all people present in the ceremony. Accordingly, Nimai stood up and asked for alms. Some gave him sweets, some gave money and others gave him things of different kinds.

It is said that just after the ceremony was over, a very aged man who stooped with the help of a stick came, towards Nimai and called him. Nimai went near the old man who gave him a beetlenut seed with shaking hands. Nimai took the seed and put it in his mouth. Instantly, Nimai flew in the stream of emotions and started saying, "Mother don't take food till the 11th day from today." Shachi Devi took the words to be of a divine being who had entered Nimai's body and heard each and every word intently. After sometime, he again said, "I am going now; please protect your son." Saying this, Nimai again fell on the ground in an unconscious state. After few moments, he came back to his senses and saw around him with disbelief as to what had happened to him. His father enquired him about the happening. Nimai answered him very simply saying, "No, No, nothing had happened, father. I was just feeling sleepy." Hearing this, everybody around him was dumbfounded.

TRANSFORMATION

Nimai was an extremely emotional person. He grew more emotional as time passed by. One day, while walking on the road, he threw all the books and things from his hand and started running towards his home. The people who witnessed this were aghast to see such an odd behavior from Nimai. He appeared to be inexplicable. When he reached home, he straightaway entered the kitchen and threw all the utensils in the courtyard. His mother was perplexed, unable to understand his behavior. But Nimai was not at all worried of what people thought about him. His mother went outside and called some neighbors to help her control Nimai. When some of the people went near him, in order to bring him back to normaly, he hit them wantonly. With much difficulty, the people who gathered in the house, caught hold of him and made him sleep on the bed. Everyone settled around his bed. Then, he had even started to talk without any context just like an insane person. He said, I am Vishnu (the creator and sustainer). Worship me. I am the only one across the oceans who is worshiped. All you people should chant my name and sing songs of Lord Krishna. Only the name of Krishna is the essence of this world. And all the other things except the name of Lord Krishna is uninteresting." In this way, he talked continuously in a meaningless fashion.

Seeing this weird behavior, people started guessing various things according to their knowledge. Some said, "He might be affected with gastric disease"; some talked of another disease, which had mutated and attacked him. When the news about Nimai reached Budhimant Khan and Mukund Sanjay, both of them came down to Nimai's house. Everyone was perplexed. Oils of different kinds such as Vishnu Tel and Nirogi Tel were applied on his head. The oils were very much expensive but the doctors realized that there was no way out except using these oils. Each doctor diagnosed and prescribed differently. Many days passed by like this and slowly he came back to normalcy. After that, he started going back to school as before.

There was a change in his health and behavior after the incident. He became more serious and sedate. In the evenings, he prayed and spent most part of the day in isolation. Alongwith him, his students also prayed in the temple. In this way, the playful and naughty that boy Nimai was, changed into a pious and God-fearing gentleman.

In the school also, he started preaching about the importance of prayers and worship. One day, as usual he was giving a discourse on the importance of worship. He said, "The main reason behind worship and salvation are the deeds that we do. Deeds are of two kinds - one, which occurs without any intention, and the other, which has a definite purpose. The deeds, which have a definite purpose lead to salvation. And through such deeds, one can attain control over the three worlds and all the pleasures of the world. The deeds, which do not have a definite purpose, are actually more important because they result in the cleansing of the soul.

A devotee, who is kind and lives his life through his heart, is abounded with divine qualities. He can also develop a feeling of detachment from the world and it is only through his knowledge that he achieves salvation. Until and unless a feeling of detachment and salvation is not developed, every man should do his duties according to the role assigned to him. Those, who renounce this world before having the feeling of detachment due to ignorance, cannot enlighten others, they can neither become a devotee nor can they become knowledgeable. Such people get entangled in this illusionary world and rotate in this worldly cycle endlessly. Worship and salvation are not two different things but they are the two faces of the same coin."

Nimai's second wife was suitable to him in every respect. She respected him and his family and acted exactly as Nimai wanted. She served him without any condition. Having a pleasant nature, she took good care of him. The only worry that she had was, even in the presence of every comfort, that Nimai was dissatisfied with his life. Despite having an understanding and well-mannered wife, respect in the society and good standard of living, he stayed aloof and sorrowful. For hours together, he used to ponder and contemplate. He didn't have the slightest of attachment for the worldly things and relationships. It appeared as if he was feeling himself to be incomplete and void. Because of this change in him, his well wishers, family and friends were very much worried. Nimai also desired to go on a pilgrimage to Gaya.