Writing Chaitanya-Charitamrita
[Adi 5 & 8]
In Chapter Five, Krishnadasa relates the events which triggered his relocation to Vrindavana. When Krishnadasa invited Mineketana Ramadasa, a great devotee of Nityananda Prabhu, to his home, the household priest neglected to receive Mineketana appropriately. Detecting that this was due to the priest’s lack of reverence for Nityananda, Mineketana angrily left that place, and Krishnadasa was left lamenting the grievous offence. That very night, Nityananda appeared to Krishnadasa in a dream and ordered him to immediately journey to Vrindavana, assuring him that he would meet all success there. Krishnadasa unhesitatingly left home the very next day.
In Vrindavana, the local Vaisnavas would eagerly gather to hear the captivating pastimes of Sri Caitanya being narrated by Haridas Pandita. Vrindavana das Thakur, who was considered the primary authority on Shri Chaitanya’s life, had compiled a comprehensive biography known as Caitanya-Bhagavata (also known as Caitanya-Mangala). Fearing that it would become too voluminous, however, he avoided describing many of Sri Caitanya’s later pastimes. Eager to hear those narrations in detail, the devotees in Vrindavana requested the saintly Krishnadasa to compose a second book detailing the Lord’s later pastimes.
Feeling entirely unqualified, but moved by the desire to please the Vaisnavas, Krishnadasa humbly approached the deity of Madana-Mohan for blessings and empowerment. As Krishnadasa prayed, the garland from Madana-Mohan miraculously slipped down and all the Vaishnavas cheered, recognising that Krishnadasa had been given the divine go-ahead. Acting as a puppet in Krishna’s hands, he commenced the mammoth task of compiling Caitanya-Caritamrita. Although suffering from old age, ailing health and increasing invalidity, Krishnadasa faithfully continued on to compose a poetic masterpiece, chronicling each pastime with extraordinary devotion and depth.
Jiva Goswami offered Krishnadasa the title 'Kaviraja' (poet), after reading his literary gem, Govinda Lilamrita. He glorified Krishnadasa as the connoisseur among devotees, whose writings had the power to move stones to tears. Although a learned and austere practitioner of spotless character, Krishnadasa writes about himself, 'I am deaf, dumb, wholly illiterate, worldly-minded, and lower than a worm in stool.' His profound humility is the defining trademark of an elevated Vaisnava.
Caitanya-Caritamrita is considered his magnum opus, a literature which is universally recognised as the most authentic and authoritative biography of Sri Caitanya. In the scholarly world, it has been referred to as 'the final word'. Why?
• Sources: Krishnadasa received detailed information for Caitanya- Caritamrita from Raghunath das Goswami. Since Raghunath had spent sixteen years with Sri Caitanya in Jagannatha Puri and had close friendship with Svarupa Damodara, the Lord’s personal secretary, he had gained a full comprehension of Sri Caitanya’s life. Rupa and Santana Goswamis convinced Raghunath to share this information, knowing that these extraordinary accounts would inspire many generations to come .
• Scriptures: Generously quoting from a range of Sanskrit and Bengali texts, Krishnadasa provides an elaborate and comprehensive explanation of the Vaisnava theology that Sri Caitanya came to teach.
• Style: Krishnadasa perfectly combines biographical narration and philosophical exposition to make for an entertaining and educational book. His writing makes the weighty philosophical precepts of Gaudiya Vaisnavaism intelligible for readers from all walks of life.
• Sweetness: Caitanya-Caritamrita enters the sweetest exchanges of love, and in particular the intensly affectionate dealing between Sri Krishna and Sri Radha. This delineation of Vraja-bhakti, the sweet love found in Vrindavana, constitutes entrance into the inner chamber of God's heart.
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