Criticism and Faultfinding – Damodara Pandita & Ramachandra Puri
[Antya 3 & 8]
[3.1-3.48]
When Sri Caitanya repeatedly gave audience to a young boy whose father had died, Damodara Pandita became increasingly annoyed. He criticised the Lord, fearing the public may speak disparagingly about a sannyasi intermingling with the son of a young, widowed mother. Although 135 Sri Caitanya appreciated his simplicity and straightforwardness, He nevertheless ordered Damodara to leave Jagannatha Puri and relocate to Navadvip, where he could look after Sachimata. Damodara was a great devotee, but it was not his position to advise the spiritual master (who was Krishna Himself).
Isvara Puri (Sri Caitanya’s spiritual master) and Ramachandra Puri were both disciples of Madhavendra Puri. While Isvara Puri maintained the proper mood of service and submission, Ramachandra began criticising and instructing his spiritual master. This offensive mentality destroyed his character and triggered his spiritual downfall. Once, seeing ants in the home of Sri Caitanya, Ramachandra accused the young sannyasi of eating too many sweets. Even though the criticisms were completely unfounded, Sri Caitanya humbly reduced His eating by half and continued to offer Ramachandra all respect. Amazingly, Ramachandra then criticized Sri Caitanya for being a dry renunciant who was being unnecessarily austere! On the desperate plea of the devotees Sri Caitanya resumed His regular eating habits, but demonstrated how a humble Vaishnava can even utilise a faultfinder’s criticisms to improve. Due to his countless offenses, Ramachandra was forced leave Jagannatha Puri, deprived of Sri Caitanya’s priceless association forever.
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