Devotees of Lord Caitanya - an essential subject

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Lord Caitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna (God's Name), and His devotees are the eternal associates of Radha Krishna in Vrindavana (the original, primeval abode of God). Lord Caitanya is the eternal tree of love for Krishna, and His associates are the branches of this tree. The Caitanya Caritamrta, a biography of Lord Caitanya, and the magnum opus of Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami, focuses for a larger part on the interactions between the Lord and His devotees. As such, along with the Caitanya Bhagavata and other biographies, it is the authoritative reference for knowing about the associates of Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya is forever controlled by the love of His devotees. He is the Supreme Lord Himself, but pure love controls even Him. Pure devotional service is the only means to attract the Lord. He is all-attractive, but pure devotional service attracts even Him. On the strength of this love (for Krishna), every single associate of Lord can deliver entire universes from the clutches of material illusion (forgetfulness of God). Srila Prabhupada states that ISKCON is also a branch of the Caitanya tree.

Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes Devotees of Lord Caitanya category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following 9 quotes.

Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books


vanipedia.org 		Similarly, the present verse also describes that by the illumination of all the moons, brightened by the reflection of the Kṛṣṇa sun, or by the grace of all the devotees of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the entire world will be illuminated, despite the darkness of Kali-yuga. Only the devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu can dissipate the darkness of Kali-yuga, the ignorance of the population of this age. No one else can do so. We therefore wish that all the devotees of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement may reflect the supreme sun and thus dissipate the darkness of the entire world. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 13.5)



vanipedia.org 		Whatever income he had, he used fifty percent for the worship of mother Ganges, and with the other fifty percent he provided for his necessities. On the whole, he was so very poor that he lived in a cottage that had a broken roof with many holes in it. He could not afford brass utensils, and therefore he drank water from an iron pot. Nevertheless, he was a great devotee of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He is a typical example of how a poor man with no material possessions can become a most exalted devotee of the Lord. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.19.7)



vanipedia.org 		Renunciation is the basic principle sustaining the lives of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's devotees. Seeing this renunciation, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is extremely satisfied. Anyone, whether an ordinary materialistic person or a pure devotee, can understand the behavior of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's devotees if he studies it minutely. One will thus find that the devotees of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are not at all attached to any kind of material enjoyment. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Antya-līlā 6.220)



vanipedia.org 		Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally traveled to different regions of India to spread the bhakti cult throughout the country. He also personally relished transcendental activities. By His personal behavior He has given an example for devotees to follow. That is, one should broadcast the cult of devotional service. He specifically instructed His devotees to enjoin all Indians to broadcast this message throughout the world because at that time the Lord could not personally travel to other parts of the world. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.264)



vanipedia.org 		Śrīla Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī Prabhu, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya, described that kaivalya is no better than a hellish condition of life, and as for the delights of the heavenly planets, they are factually will-o'-the-wisps, or phantasmagoria. They are not wanted by devotees. Devotees do not even care for the positions held by Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva, nor does a devotee desire to become equal with Lord Viṣṇu. As a pure devotee of the Lord, Pṛthu Mahārāja made his position very clear. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.20.23)



vanipedia.org 		Śuklāmbara Brahmacārī resided in Navadvīpa on the bank of the Ganges. When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was dancing in ecstasy, he approached the Lord with a begging bag containing rice. The Lord was so pleased with His devotee that He immediately snatched the bag and began to eat the raw rice. No one forbade Him, and thus He finished the entire supply of rice. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 17.20)



vanipedia.org 		Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted devotees all over the world, and Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura and Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura confirmed this. It is in pursuit of their will that the ISKCON movement is spreading all over the world. Genuine devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu must take pride in the spread of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement instead of viciously criticizing its propaganda work. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 10.160)



vanipedia.org 		Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Bhavānanda Rāya, "Your five sons are all My dear devotees. Rāmānanda Rāya and I are one, although our bodies are different." The Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (120–24) states that Rāmānanda Rāya was formerly Arjuna. He is also considered to have been an incarnation of the gopī Lalitā, although in the opinion of others he was an incarnation of Viśākhādevī. He was a most confidential devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 10.134)



vanipedia.org 		Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then informed all His devotees, “Please hear about Mukunda's love of Godhead. It is a very deep and pure love and can only be compared to purified gold. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.119)


Devotees of Lord Caitanya - explore more within this category.

Vanipedia has now over 903 introductory articles compiled from Srila Prabhupada's books under the series titled Essential Subjects. All these articles can be seen in the Table of Content on the right side of this article and also here in this Umbrella Category. Browse through them to relish the breadth and depth of Srila Prabhupada's teachings - There is a subject for everyone.


   
 

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