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. MADHYA-LILA
  2. Aspiration

An Unfulfilled Aspiration

[Madhya 16]

PreviousAspirationNextThe Journey Home

Last updated 1 year ago

The aspiration and eagerness to visit Vrindavana had been brewing within Shri Chaitanya for many years. After being initiated by Ishvara Puri in Gaya, He desired to go straight to Vrindavana. The urgent need, however, was to inaugurate the sankirtan movement in Navadvip. After accepting sannyasa, Shri Chaitanya set off for Vrindavana, but was misdirected to Shantipur by Nityananda Prabhu. His attempts failed for the second time.

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While residing in Jagannatha Puri, Shri Chaitanya again resolved to visit Vrindavana, but, fearing unbearable separation, the local devotees dissuaded him. As per tradition, the devotees from Bengal came to visit Shri Chaitanya in Puri during the four months of the rainy season, and it therefore became increasingly difficult for Him to leave. After celebrating all the festivals and personally instructing each devotee, Shri Chaitanya encouraged them to return home.

[-] [Madhya -]

After three years of such meetings, Shri Chaitanya devised a new plan to visit Vrindavana, placing it before Sarvabhauma and Ramananda. After receiving their permission, Shri Chaitanya departed in great anticipation towards Krishna’s holy village. Fearing the pain of separation, the devotees of Puri were willing to abandon all their responsibilities to travel with Him, but Shri Chaitanya forbade them to do so. As He journeyed forward, Shri Chaitanya attracted thousands of followers, and changed the hearts of even Muslim villagers. Arriving at Ramakeli, He met the great devotees, Rupa and Sanatana, who were working for the Muslim occupational government of Bengal. Overjoyed, they surrendered to their master, but begged Him to avoid visiting Vrindavana with such crowds due to the criticism and dangerous attention He would attract. Shri Chaitanya acquiesced and went back towards Jagannatha Puri, travelling via Shantipur to advise Raghunath das Goswami in the matter of renunciation.

Upon arrival in Puri, Shri Chaitanya made a firm resolve to visit Vrindavana. This time nothing would stop Him. His desire was becoming stronger and stronger, and the failed attempts simply fuelled His anticipation to an overwhelming extent.

Holy places have always been focal points for pilgrims, who make long (and often arduous) journeys to reinvigorate their faith. Pilgrimage is not just a physical journey to a special place but also an inner spiritual journey towards transcendence. For Christians and Jews that holy place may be Bethlehem or Jerusalem, for Muslims its Mecca and Medina, and for Buddhists it’s Bodh Gaya. For devotees of Krishna, Vrindavana is their cherished destination.

Krishna eternally resides in the spiritual realm of Vrindavana with His loving associates. In that divine abode, the selfless relationships generate an ocean of joy in Krishna and His devotees. That place is our true home. The earthly Vrindavana (Bhauma Vrindavana) is considered identical to Vrindavana in the spiritual world (Goloka Vrindavana) and thus it holds a special place in the heart of all Vaishnavas. Thus, when Krishna appeared as Shri Chaitanya, He exhibited this intense eagerness to visit Vrindavana. Pilgrimage is an essential devotional experience for every devotee, and Shri Chaitanya taught this by His personal example.

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