37. Beauty and Form of Lord Caitanya

37. Beauty and Form of Lord Caitanya:

"As a child, Nimai was so strong and restless that women could hardly hold Him in their arms. One peculiarity of the boy was that a mere uttering of the names of Hari could pacify Him whenever He cried. It is a fact, and not a poet's creation, that Nimai's complexion resembled molten gold. His palms and foot soles were so naturally red that they appeared to be freshly painted with vermilion.

"Nimai's features were beautifully formed, and the contour of His body was simply perfect. Nimai's fascinating face was brighter than the moon, and more beautiful than a blossoming golden lotus flower. His lips were ruddy like a ripe bimba fruit. His eyes, elongated like the petals of a lotus, slightly tinged with red, and appearing as if "moist with honey," were perhaps more lovely than any other part of His body.

Anyone who looked at the child felt an immediate attraction towards Him." (Lord Gauranga)

"Lord Gauranga places His budding lotus hands above His head. Gaura's soft cheeks are bathed in tears from His eyes. He is dressed in garments the colour of a freshly blossomed lotus whorl. Lord Gauranga's complexion robs gold of its splendour. Please offer your respectful obeisances to Lord Gaura." (Sri Caitanya Candramrta)

"Gauranga's eyes defeated the redness of the horizon at sunset. His beautiful complexion shamed the newly minted gold lying in treasuries all over the world. The moon of His brow, the moon of His cheeks, the moons of His fingertips and toes banished the dull ignorance of the world and created a glowing shelter for His devotees. Gauranga's large, dark eyes were as beautiful as the petals of fully blossomed lotus flowers and moved with charming affection for His devotees." (Sri Gaura Lila)

Ananta-samhitā says, "Lord Gaurānga, who is as splendid as molten gold, has two very attractive lotus feet with toenails glistening like millions of moons. Forest flower garlands decorate His broad chest marked with Śrīvatsa. Śrī Gaura wears silken garments. A bright white sacred thread hangs from His lion-like shoulder, and He is more enchanting than millions of Kamadevas."

Caitanya-bhāgavata describes the beautiful form of Lord Caitanya during His teaching pastimes: "A smile always brightened Nimai Pandita's graceful face. His two lotus eyes sparkled with splendid glances. His perfectly formed teeth defeated the splendour of pearls. Nimai's lips were red. His entire body was soft and enchanting to behold. Long, curly hair adorned His head. His neck resembled a lion's.

"With shoulders like an elephant's and a broad, handsome chest, the powerful Lord looked extraordinary. Nimai was very tall. The glorious Ananta Šeşa took the form of His sacred thread. Attractive, nicely formed tilaka graced His forehead. His long handsome arms reached to His knees." (Caitanya Bhagavata)

The divinely perfect lotus feet of Śrīmatī Rādhikā and Lord Śyāmasundara are splendrously beautified with 19 auspicious marks each. It is interesting to note that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's wonderful lotus feet display 32 marks which include practically all the marks of both Radha and Krsna.

Śrīla Vīśvanātha Cakravarti Thakura describes Gauranga's wonderful lotus footprints in Sri Rūpa-Cintamani.

"The sole of Gauranga's right foot is adorned with an 1) umbrella, 2) spear (sakti), 3) barleycorn, 4) goad, 5) thunderbolt, 6) four rose-apples (jambū phāla) 7) earring, 8) an altar, 9) staff (danda), 10) club, 11) chariot, 12) lotus flower, 13) four benediction symbols (svasti), 14) octagon, 15) pristine mountain, 16) upwarding-curving line. These marks extend from the big toe and encircle His sole to the small toe.

Oh my dear mind! Please remember the glorious marks on the sole of Visvambhara's left lotus foot: 1) conch shell, 2) sky emblem (akasa), 3) waterpot (kamandalu), 4) flag, 5) vine (lata), 6) flower garland, 7) half-moon, 8) cakra, 9) unstrung bow, 10) triangle, 11) bangle, 12) flower, 13) four jugs, 14) fish, 15) cow's hoofprint, 16) turtle. These marks extend from His beautiful big toe and encircle His sole to the small toe." (Sri Rūpa-cintamani)

"I worship the golden-hued Śrī Caitanya, whose beautiful hair is bound with a string of glistening pearls. His moonlike face bears a gentle, sweet smile, and His powerful body, anointed with aguru and candana, is covered with beautiful cloth. Ornaments adorn His limbs, and a fragrant transcendental garland hangs from His lionlike neck. Tasting the nectar of bhakti-rasa, Gauranga is absorbed in dancing ecstatically. He is more brilliant than Cupid and is always being served by His devotees." (Gaura-govindarcana Smarana Paddhati)

"Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu displayed a transcendental form with 6 arms known as şad-bhuja rūpa. Kṛṣṇa's blue arms holding a flute, Rama's green arms holding bow and arrow, and Lord Caitanya's golden arms holding a sannyāsa danda and kamandalu. Some say that with these 6 arms Lord Caitanya kills the 6 enemies of this world (lust, anger, greed, illusion, madness and envy). Others say that with these 6 arms Lord Caitanya gives devotional service, ecstatic love of God and the 4 goals of life (dhāma, artha, kāma, and moksa). (Sri Caitanya Candramrta)