Isn't it amazing that the most valuable was given freely to the most unqualified? Yesterday, many of us celebrated the wonderful appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This morning I felt very grateful simply remembering the Lords unparalleled mercy and therefor got the inspiration to share some excerpt of Gaura Katha we have heard and spoken these days:
The Lord had two types of desires. One is called bahiranga, the desire to do something to satisfy others and the second desire is called antaranga, the desire to do something which gives pleasure to one's own self. When the Lord appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, both desires where fulfilled.
The Lord, first of all, appeared to answer the call of Sri Advaita Acarya, who worshiped the Lord with great love and determination: „Sri Advaita Acarya would enthusiastically worship Krishna with tualis-manjaris and Ganges water. He loudly called for Krishna in great spiritual ecstasy. That sound vibration pierces the covering of the universe and was heard in the Vaikuntha planets. On hearing Advaita Prabhu's cries of love, Lord Krishna personally appeared, for He is controlled by the love of His devotees.“ (1)
The other external reason for the Lords appearance in this world was to inaugurate the Yuga Dharma, the congregational chanting the Holy Name. After Lord Krishna returned to the spiritual world, He reflected about His pastimes and thought: „I have given confidential knowledge (that the spiritual soul is different from the body), more confidential knowledge (that one should surrender to the Supersoul) and most confidential knowledge (that one should always think of Krishna, become Krishnas Devotee and surrender unto him) this secret was revealed to Arjuna for all mankind, but in this most sinful age of Kali the consciousness of people is polluted and therefore they will not be able to understand the path of surrender! I gave only theoretical knowledge.“ After thinking like this the Lord therefore concluded: “I shall personally inaugurate the religion of the age — nāma-saṅkīrtana, the congregational chanting of the holy name. I shall make the world dance in ecstasy (..) I shall accept the role of a devotee, and I shall teach devotional service by practicing it Myself.“ (2)
The internal reason included three desires. The Lord wanted to understand: "What is Radaharanis Love? What is my rupa-madhurya, my excellent beauty that Radharani relishes? What kind of happiness does Radharani derive by relishing my beauty?“
Krishna is the visaya - the object of Love and Radha is the asraya the abode of Love. Krishna wanted to understand what Radharani is experiencing as the asraya, as the one who gives Love! Therefore he entered the heart of Srimati Radharani, stole here mood and appeared as Gaura.
The most amazing characteristic of Sri Gauranga is that He gave the highest (Prema - pure Love of Godhead) to the lowest (the people of Kali-yuga). Has there been any incarnation such as Gauranga in the past? And will there ever be such in incarnation in the future? The answer is: No! We will never find such a merciful incarnation, who offers Krishna-Prema indiscriminately.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu relished the fruits of love himself and distributed them without asking any price. All the wealth in the three worlds cannot equal the value of one such nectarean fruit of devotional service. Not considering who asked for it and who did not, nor who was fit and who unfit to receive it, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu distributed the fruits of devotional service.
“I am the only gardener. How many places can I go? How many fruits can I pick and distribute? Therefore I order every man within this universe to accept this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and distribute it everywhere. Let people eat these fruits and ultimately become free from old age and death.“ (3)
This is our legacy - To relish the fruits of devotional service, of Love of God and to distribute them to others! How fortunate are we, that by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we are invited to follow in the footstep of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu?
Unfortunately, I still have not fully realized the merciful nature of the Lord. Otherwise, I would constantly remember that most munificent golden Avatar and would dedicate my life fully to His mission.
„I invited my spiritual death by not worshiping Lord Caitanya. Due to my neglect, I have lost the transcendental treasure of love for Krishna!“ (4)
„Without love of Godhead, my life is useless. Therefore I pray that You accept me as Your servant and give me the salary of ecstatic love of God!“ (5)
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1 - Caitanya Bhagavata Adi 1.81-83
2 - CC Ādi 3.19-20
3 - CC Ādi 9.34,36,39
4 - Gaura Pahu, Song by Locana Dasa Thakur
5 - CC Antya 20.37
