39. The Hidden Avatāra

39. The Hidden Avatāra:

"Lord Krşņa said, 'In the age of Kali, when the sankirtana movement is inaugurated, I shall descend as the son of Śaci devī. By the Ganges shore in Navadvīpa in a brāhmana's house, I shall appear as the best of the brahmanas." (Vayu Purāṇa)

"Peaceful at heart, His neck long and His complexion fair, the Supreme Lord will appear as Gauranga, surrounded by His devotees." (Agni Purana)

In 1885 Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thakura made this prophetic declaration in Sajjana-toșani: "Lord Caitanya did not advent Himself to liberate only a few men in India. Rather, His main objective was to emancipate all living entities of all countries throughout the entire universe."

ittham nr-tiryag-rşi-deva jhasavata rair

lokan vibhavayasi hamsi jagat pratipan

dharmam mahā-purusa pasi yuganuvrttam

channah kalau yad abhavas tri-yugo 'tha sa tvam

"In this way, my Lord, You appear in various incarnations as a human being, an animal, a great saint, a demigod, a fish or a tortoise, this maintaining the entire creation in different planetary systems and killing the demoniac principles. According to the age, O my Lord, You protect the principles of religion. In the age of Kali, however, You do not assert Yourself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore You are known as Triyuga, or the Lord who appears in three yugas." (SB 7.9.38)

This Srimad Bhagavatam verse spoken millions of years ago by Sri Prahlada Mahārāja gives indication of Lord Caitanya's appearance. The words “channah kalua”, which mean in kalau (Kali-yuga) the avatara is channah (hidden). Or as Srila Prabhupāda translates: "In the age of Kali, however, You do not assert Yourself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

The advent of Śrī Krsna Caitanya in Kali-yuga was virtually hidden from the view of the common people. During Gauranga Navadvīpa lilā, only a few knew that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead appearing in a golden form. Gauranga's real identity remained hidden beneath the veil of His yogamāyā potency. The scriptures openly state that Śrī Kṛṣṇa descends Himself at three scheduled times during the first three ages of the universe. The references to the avatāra within Kali-yuga are highly confidential.

Why is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called the most confidential incarnation? He alone revealed the highest expressions of love exchanged between Rādhā and Krșna within the innermost chambers of Vraja Gokula, the topmost portion of the spiritual sky. By the causeless mercy of Śrī Caitanya one can understand and enter Rådhā- Govinda's eternal Vrndāvana pastimes. Lord Caitanya embodied the compressed sweetness of Śrīmatī Rādhikā's transcendental form, mood and mellow. Lord Gauranga descended to this world as the personification of Rādhārāņī's desire to mercifully share Krsna's divine love with everyone. Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī, therefore, glorifies Gauranga as “namo mahā vadanyaya”, the most munificent avatara ever to grace the world.