Who was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a great Saint and devotee of
Shree Krishna. He popularized the process of Naam
Sankirtan (Congregational chanting of the names of God),
which is very simple, yet extremely powerful technique for
increasing love for God.
Birth and early Childhood
 He appeared on the full moon
night of February 18, 1486, at the
time of lunar eclipse, in the town
of Nabadwip, in Nadia District of
West Bengal.
 He was the second child of
Jagannath Misra and Sachi Devi.
 He was called Nimai in his
childhood, since he was born
under a neem tree.
 He is also known as Gauranga
because of his exceedingly fair
complexion.
 When he was an infant, he would
sometime weep continuously, and
when the neighboring women
would chant “Haribol-Haribol”
Young Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu
 He was a quick learner. At the age of 10, He was well
versed in Sanskrit grammar.
 By the age of sixteen, he developed marvelous
scholarly talents.
 He mastered many branches of learning as grammar,
logic, literature and philosophy.
 Despite achieving so much at this early age , he was
very loving, caring , compassionate, sweet person.
 His father died while he was still learning.
 To support the family he started teaching.
Turning Point
 He travelled to Gaya for
performing
the
shraadha
ceremony of his father, and there
he met his Guru, Ishwar Puri.
 This meeting transformed him
completely from a scholar to a
devotee.
 He would now constantly chant
the names of Shree Krishna and
dance in ecstasy.
 Sometime he would be so
observed in devotion(love for
God) that he would laugh, weep,
fall on the ground and roll in the
dust.
 He would cry for Lord Krishna,
oblivious to his surroundings.
Sankeertan Movement
 Once Mahaprabhu met one ascetic named
Nitai(Nityananda). He was ascetic from a very young
age and wandered about in search of Krishna.
 When they met each other they become intimate, like
brothers.
 Mahaprabhu instructed Nitai and other devotees to go
door to door , requesting them to chant the name of
Krishna.
 People would come out and chant the name on the
streets of Nabdwip. This is called sankeertan
movement.
Sankeertan Movement
Story: Forgiveness
Jagai and Madhai were the notorious criminals in the area of
Nabdwip. They were also habitual drunards. Nityananda decided
to convert these sinners, to reveal the glory of Mahabrabhu
compassion.
A procession was organized to the home of Jagai and Madhai,
doing kirtan all the way. Nitai was leading the group. When he
came across the two, he asked them to take the name of Shree
Krishna. This angered Madhai and he attacked Nitai with a piece of
a broken pot. Blood gushed from the wound.
When Mahaprabhu heard of the attack on Nitai by Jagai and
Madhai, he flew into a rage and wanted to kill brothers with his
divine chakra. Niatai begged him to pardon these two sinners.
Moved by Nitai’s compassion ,two criminal hearts melted and they
become disciples of Mahaprabhu’s.
Compassion of Nitai (Nityananda) pabhu
Sankeertan Movement
 Niamai and Nitai would
conduct sankirtans in various
places in Nabadwip, chanting
the names of Radha Krishna.
They would conduct religious
processions, where devotees
went dancing and singing
through
the
streets.
Thousands would join them
and in a natural and easy
way, evoke love for God
within their hearts.
 At the age of 24, chaitanya
Mahaprabhu decided to take
sanyas for the well fare of
human society.
 After becoming a sanyasi,
Mahaprabhu
went
to
Jagannath Puri.
Nitai( Nityananda prabu ) and Nimai (Chaitanya mahaprabhu or Gauranga)
Pastimes at Jaganath Puri
 He walked from his hometown Nabadwip to puri a
distance of around 368 miles.
 When he entered temple of Lord Jagannath, he
was so overwhelmed by love for God, that he
fainted in ecstasy.
 At that time Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, the most
learned scholar of vedic scriptures in Puri
happened to enter the temple.
 He saw the highest symptoms of devotion
manifesting in the body of Mahaprabhu.
 He had Mahaprabhu’s unconsious body carried to
his house.
 Mahaprabhu returned to consciousness only when
the name of “Hari “ was chanted in his ears.
Lord Jagannath Temple at Puri
Deities at the Jagannath Temple
Pastimes in Puri
 A debate ensued between Mahaprabhu and
Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya. With utmost mastery of the
vedic scriptures , Mahaprabhu convinced Sarvabhuma
that love for God is the ultimate goal of Human life.
Sarvabhauma was so impressed that from being a dry
scholar he was transformed into a devotee .
 Mahaprabhu then revealed his divinity to him, by
showing him six armed form, with two arms of Shree
Krishna( holding the flute) two arms of Shree
Ram(holding the bow and arrow), and two arms of
sanyasi(holding the staff and bowl of a monk).
Pastimes in Puri
Mahaprabhu settled in puri, but went on pilgrimage
from there. On one such tour, he walked all the way from
puri through south India to Dwaraka in Gujarat, and
back.
On this trip, he met a leper, named Vasudev. His wounds
were rotting on his body, and worms had made their
home in them. However Vasudev was so kind hearted
that when a worm fell from the wound , he would place
it back on the wound.
He wanted to offer his respect to Mahaprabhu ji but was
hesitant because of his condition, Mahaprabhu
embraced him tightly, and instantly all his wound got
healed.
Mahaprabhu’s mercy on Leper
In puri, Rath Yatra is the biggest festival. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would
celebrate it joyfully. In front of the chariot, he would dance with his
devotees playing drums and cymbals etc.
Rath Yatra festival
Mahaprabhu dancing in ecstasy
Later Years of Mahaprabhuji
 In his later years, Mahaprbhu stopped
interacting with people. He spent his time in a
small room, called “ Gambhira”.
 All day and night, he would long to meet God,
in the mood of Radharani’s longing for Shree
Krishna.
 During this period of his life he displayed the
highest levels of divine love or love for God,
that have inspired devotees ever since.
 It is believed that he entered the temple of
Lord Jagannath, and walked into the deity,
merging himself with the Lord.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo8-jks-32c
Movie on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
moviehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo8-jks-32c