A Safe God
[Adi 2]
Historical and academic accounts of Shri Chaitanya paint the picture of a God-conscious saint who appeared in India during the sixteenth century. The Encyclopaedia Britannica, for example, documents Shri Chaitanya as a charismatic Hindu preacher who popularised the practice of congregational chanting. There is, however, no mention of His supreme identity. Even many within the Vedic tradition are often unaware that Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is actually Lord Krishna Himself.
Vaishnava theologians explain the reason for this lack of widespread acknowledgement. Since Shri Chaitanya inaugurated Himself as a channa-avatar (secret incarnation) who specifically appeared in the guise of a devotee, His divine status is more difficult to ascertain. He never brought attention to Himself, but rather promoted the process of nama-sankirtan. Even when He was glorified as the Supreme Person, Shri Chaitanya would vehemently deny such claims, not wanting anything to compromise His purpose in coming as a devotee of Krishna. Nevertheless, when one carefully explores devotional Vedic literature, the full spiritual significance of Shri Chaitanya and the bhakti movement that He inaugurated comes to light. Millions worshiped Him as the Supreme Lord in His lifetime, and among them were astute individuals of the highest learning and intelligence. On some rare occasions, Shri Chaitanya actually revealed His divine form and identity to these great devotees.
Through logical, systematic and scientific argument, Vedic scriptures emphatically establish the rationale for a spiritual source behind the physical world we see. Some understand God as energy (brahman), while others recognise Him as the divine presence within every living being (paramatma). The source of these manifestations, however, is the Supreme Person who has a human-like form (bhagavan). Krishnadasa meticulously establishes this fact, describing how bhagavan is the cherished object of love for all living beings.
This Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as Shri Krishna, the source of even Vishnu and Narayana. The goal of life, and the very essence of our existence, is to love and be loved. When that innate desire is reposed in Krishna, everything makes perfect sense, we reconnect with our true purpose, and life becomes full of joy and happiness. This understanding of Krishna’s supremacy is not simply a sectarian perspective, but is founded upon vast scriptural evidence across the board. He is the original candle from which all other candles are lit, and in kali-yuga He personally appears as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
How can we confirm Shri Chaitanya’s divinity? In recent years, it has become common practice to sentimentally and whimsically accept anyone as an incarnation of God. Separating the avatars from the avaricious is often difficult. Thankfully, the Vedic scriptures set up clear parameters which help us identify a SAFE incarnation :
S – Scripture – Every incarnation of God is predicted in scripture. This is the most important and easily identifiable reference point. Krishnadasa quotes from numerous scriptures to establish Shri Chaitanya’s divinity, and Shrila Prabhupada adds to the evidence by citing further references in his purports .
A – Astrology & Attributes – Specific planetary movements also indicate the appearance of divine personalities. Respected astrologers noted the unique constellations during the advent of Shri Chaitanya and thus detected His divinity . Whenever the Lord appears, He also displays certain bodily attributes which further confirm His identity .
F – Follow Authorities – Scriptural statements and astrological predictions are confirmed by the acaryas (great spiritual preceptors). By dint of their philosophical depth and spiritual purity, they are able to identify the various incarnations of the Supreme Lord .
E – Extraordinary activities – Incarnations of the Lord perform extraordinary activities while on this planet. One of the most wondrous acts is the upliftment and spiritual reform that they instigate. They transform the lives of those who they meet, leave behind invaluable instructions, and establish a religious process for generations to come.
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