Criticism and Faultfinding – Damodara Pandita & Ramachandra Puri

[Antya 3 & 8]

[3.1-3.48]

When Shri Chaitanya 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 Shri Chaitanya 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).

[8.1-8.103]

Ishvara Puri (Shri Chaitanya’s spiritual master) and Ramachandra Puri were both disciples of Madhavendra Puri. While Ishvara 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 Shri Chaitanya, Ramachandra accused the young sannyasi of eating too many sweets. Even though the criticisms were completely unfounded, Shri Chaitanya humbly reduced His eating by half and continued to offer Ramachandra all respect. Amazingly, Ramachandra then criticized Shri Chaitanya for being a dry renunciant who was being unnecessarily austere! On the desperate plea of the devotees Shri Chaitanya 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 Shri Chaitanya’s priceless association forever.