The Turning Point
[Adi 17]
'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 Sri Caitanya, 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). Because the pastimes in this chapter are elaborately described in Caitanya 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 graciously 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 joy. Perplexed by His sudden feelings of spiritual intoxication, Nimai approached His spiritual master to inquire whether something was amiss. Isvara 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!
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