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. ANTYA-LILA
  2. Appreciation

Service Attitude – Govinda

[Antya 10 & 13]

PreviousRemembrance of Krishna – Gopinath & VaninathNextSpontaneous Love - Jagadananda Pandita

Last updated 1 year ago

After meeting the devotees at Narendra Sarovar, Shri Chaitanya engaged everyone in congregational chanting and began to dance in unbounded ecstasy. The kirtan continued for a long time, and seeing everyone gradually become fatigued, Shri Chaitanya eventually stopped. He then took prasadam and lay down to rest in the doorway of the Gambhira.

[-]

Every day, after Shri Chaitanya had finished honouring prasadam, His servant Govinda would come to massage His legs and thereafter accept the Lord’s remnants as his meal. On this occasion, however, he couldn’t get into the room because Shri Chaitanya was blocking the entrance. He repeatedly requested the Lord to move to one side, but Shri Chaitanya flatly refused. Govinda then reluctantly stepped over Shri Chaitanya’s body – an act which is generally considered a serious breach of etiquette. He proceeded to massage the Lord’s legs, and patiently waited till the Lord awoke. When He did, Shri Chaitanya questioned why he had not taken prasadam. Govinda replied that Shri Chaitanya was blocking the door and that he could not pass through to reach the prasadam. Although Govinda stepped over Shri Chaitanya’s body for the purpose of service, he refused to step back over the Lord’s body for his own ends. Thus, the glory of Govinda’s service attitude became known to all. Govinda continued to oversee the arrangements for Shri Chaitanya’s daily meals whilst the Lord resided in Puri.

[-]

Once, Shri Chaitanya heard someone beautifully singing the Gita-govinda, and was spontaneously drawn toward the voice. When He began running in the direction of the singer, Govinda quickly intercepted and grabbed Shri Chaitanya, explaining that it was a lady who was singing. Shri Chaitanya was deeply grateful for Govinda’s ever-alert service attitude, and requested His godbrother to always remain by His side for protection.

[10.1-10.81]
10.82
10.162
13.78
13.88
Although Govinda stepped over Shri Chaitanya’s body for the purpose of service, he refused to step back over the Lord’s body for his own interest. In this way, the glory of Govinda’s service attitude became known to all.