This Site to Close on January 1, 2006 Appeal for Help
Regrettably if I do not receive any financial support to help maintain this site in the coming year from sincere souls such as you, I will have to cancel this site on January 1, 2006 or at least stop updating it. READ MORE

Natural Nirvana Company Policies and Reason for Being.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
(1486-1534)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in Navadvipa, West Bengal, in 1486. His father’s name was Jagannatha Misra and His mother’s name was Saci Devi. He is also known by the names Gaura, Gauranga and Nimai. He was initiated by Isvara Pura at Gaya. His spiritual master, Iswara Puri, was in the line of Madhavendra Puri, who was in the line of Madhvacarya.

Lord Caitanya lived until he was 24 in Navadvipa, spreading the sankirtana (chanting the holy names of God) movement. He accepted the renounced order of life at twenty-four from Kesava Bharati at Katwa. He then left Navadvipa and went to Puri in Orissa. He then traveled in South India for a year, after which He returned to Puri. He then made a trip to Vrindavana, stopping at various places on the way, including Varanasi and Allahabad. He then returned to Puri and stayed there until He left His body at the age of 48.

Gaudiya Vaishnavas accept Sri Caitanya as nondifferent from Lord Krishna, in the form of a devotee. He taught that by chanting the holy names of the Lord, specifically the mantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, one could attain transcendental devotion to God.

He taught the philosophy that the Supreme Lord and the individual souls are inconceivably and simultaneously one and different. He explained the direct meaning of the sastras (scriptures) as devotion (bhakti) to Lord Krishna.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Visit to Vrindavana
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spent two months in Vrindavana. He arrived in 1515 (some say 1514) on Kartika Purnima (the full moon day of Kartika in Oct-Nov) and stayed until the month of Pausa (Nov-Dec). When Lord Caitanya first arrived in he went to Gokula. He then went to Mathura and bathed at Visrama Ghata. He then proceeded to bathe in the 12 ghatas south of Visrama Ghata and then in the 12 ghatas north of Visrama Ghata. He then proceeded on parikrama of Braja Mandala.

Lord Caitanya spent one month touring the 12 forests of Vrindavana. During this time he went to the village of Arit-grama (Arista-grama). There He discovered Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda. He went to the village of Gantholi (Ganthuli-grama) and took darsana of Gopala, Who was normally worshiped in a temple on top of Govardhana Hill. Because of fear of a Muslim attack Sri Gopala was moved to Gantholi.
After seeing the Gopala Deity, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Sri Kamyavana. After visiting the places of Krishna’s pastimes at Kamyavana, Lord Caitanya then went to Nandagram, Pavana Sarovara, Sesasayi, Khela-tirtha, Bhandiravana, Bhadravana and Lohavana. He then went to Mahavana and saw Gokula, the place of Lord Krishna’s early childhood pastimes. Upon seeing the place where the twin Arjuna trees had been broken by Sri Krishna, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was moved to great ecstatic love. After seeing Gokula, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Mathura, where He saw the birthplace of the Lord.

“Seeing a great crowd assemble at Mathura, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left and went to Akrura-tirtha. He remained there in a solitary place. The next day, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Vrindavana and took His bath at Kaliya Lake and Praskandana. After seeing the holy place called Praskandana, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to Dvadasaditya. From there He went to Kesi-tirtha, and when He saw the place the rasa dance had taken place. He immediately lost consciousness due to ecstatic love. When the Lord regained His senses. He began to roll on the ground. He would sometimes laugh, cry, dance, and fall down. He would also chant very loudly. Being thus transcendentally amused, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passed that day happily at Kesi-tirtha. In the evening He returned to Akrura-tirtha, where He took His meal.

The next morning Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu returned to Vrindavana and took His bath at Chira-ghata. He then went to Imli-tala, where He took rest. The tamarind tree named Imli-tala was very old, having been there since the time of Lord Krishna’s pastimes. Beneath the tree was a very shiny platform. Since the river Yamuna flowed near Imli-tala, a very cool breeze blew there. While there, the Lord saw the beauty of Vrindavana and the water of the river Yamuna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to sit beneath the old tamarind tree and chant the holy name of the Lord.

At noon He would return to Akrura-tirtha to take lunch. All the people who lived near Akrura-tirtha came to see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and due to the large crowds, the Lord could not peacefully chant the holy name. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would go to Vrindavana and sit in a solitary place, where He would chant the holy name until noon. In the afternoon, people were able to speak to Him. The Lord told everyone of the importance of chanting the holy name.” (Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya 18.70-81)
He then stayed at Akrura Ghata and went every day to Vrindavana. In Vrindavana he visited Kaliya Ghata, Chira Ghata, Kesi Ghata, Rasa-sthala and Imli Tala.

Copyright ©2001 John Howley and Spiritual Guides