Caitanya Caritamrta Compact
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  • Welcome to Caitanya Caritamrta Compact Online!
  • The Flow Of Nectar
  • Copyright
  • Dedication
  • Contents
  • Introduction
    • The God who Dances
    • Postgraduate Spirituality
    • A Humble Offering
  • Overview
    • Breakdown of Sri Chaitanya's Life
    • Layout of Book
  • ADI-LILA
    • Invocation
      • Auspicious Prayers
      • A Safe God
      • The Golden Opportunity
      • Five Stars
      • Writing Chaitanya-Charitamrita
      • The Desire Tree
    • Incarnation
      • The Rising Sun
      • Greatness and Sweetness
    • Education
      • Life Lessons
      • The Greatest Scholar
    • Transformation
      • The Turning Point
      • Birth of Kirtan
      • Exhibitions of Divinity
      • Overcoming the Opposition
      • The World is My Family
  • MADHYA-LILA
    • Renunciation
      • Snapshot
      • An Emotional Meeting
      • Lessons on the Road to Puri
      • Sarvabhauma’s Salvation
    • Propagation
      • The South Indian Tour
      • Returning to HQ
      • Preparations for Rathayatra
      • The Ecstatic Festival of Chariots
      • King Prataparudra’s Strong Desire
      • Expanding the Mercy
    • Aspiration
      • An Unfulfilled Aspiration
      • The Journey Home
      • Vraja Mandala Parikrama
    • Organisation
      • Systematic Documentation
      • Rupa and Sanatana’s Escape
      • Teachings to Rupa Goswami
      • Teachings to Sanatana Goswami
      • Essential Instructions to the Goswamis
      • Prakashananda and the Mayavada Sannyasis
  • ANTYA-LILA
    • Appreciation
      • Humility and Empowerment – Rupa Goswami
      • Devotion – Pradyumna Brahmachari
      • Pure Chanting – Haridas Thakur
      • Surrender and Vaishnava Etiquette – Sanatana Goswami
      • Renunciation – Raghunath das Goswami
      • Remembrance of Krishna – Gopinath & Vaninath
      • Service Attitude – Govinda
      • Spontaneous Love - Jagadananda Pandita
      • Following instructions – Raghunath Bhatta Goswami
    • Correction
      • Inappropriate Association - Chota Haridas
      • Dangers of Mayavada Philosophy – Bhagavan Acharya & Bengali poet
      • Criticism and Faultfinding – Damodara Pandita & Ramachandra Puri
      • Superficial Discrimination – Pradyumna Mishra
      • Respecting Teachers – Vallabha Bhatta
    • Intoxication
      • Feelings of Separation
      • Lessons in Eagerness
      • Instances of Ecstacy
    • Instruction
      • Shikshastakam
      • Closing Pastimes
      • Concluding Words
  • APPENDIX
    • Cover
    • Mangalacharana Breakdown
    • Ramananda-Samvada
    • CC Family Tree
    • Shikshastakam Breakdown
    • References & Extra Reading
    • End Notes
    • Shri Chaitanya's Travels
    • The Author
    • Wisdom That Breathes
    • Support this work
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  1. ADI-LILA
  2. Transformation

The Turning Point

[Adi 17]

PreviousTransformationNextBirth of Kirtan

Last updated 1 year ago

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” - Bhagavad-Gita 7.19

Krishna declares that surrender of mind, body and word to God is the perfection of spirituality. When He comes as Shri Chaitanya, He demonstrates how that surrender is possible through the chanting of Krishna’s names. Having established Himself as the greatest scholar, Nimai was now ready to fulfil His true purpose: propagation of the sankirtan movement. But before doing so, He would become transformed by the holy name Himself and personally demonstrate the power of this process. These youthful pastimes of the Lord are known as the yauvana-lila (age 16-24). Since the pastimes in this chapter are elaborately described in Chaitanya Bhagavata, Krishnadasa offers only a brief summary.

In order to perform the customary ceremonies for His deceased father, Nimai travelled to Gaya. Upon arrival He met Ishvara Puri, a saintly devotee who was absorbed in chanting the holy name of Krishna with great love and relish . This was a stark contrast to the dry philosophising that Nimai was accustomed to. The saintly teacher lovingly corrected Nimai, explaining in no uncertain terms that His academic prowess would not bring Him to spiritual perfection. He then initiated Nimai into the chanting of Krishna’s names, explaining it to be the essential religious process in the present age. Having received the mantra, Nimai proceeded to chant with great enthusiasm and immediately found Himself swooning in transcendental happiness. Perplexed by His sudden feelings of spiritual intoxication, Nimai approached His spiritual master to inquire whether something had gone wrong. Ishvara Puri smiled, explaining how the powerful holy name can quickly awaken love of God within anyone, causing them to dance, laugh and cry in unbounded spiritual happiness!

[17.1-17.9]