41. Advent of Lord Caitanya

41. Advent of Lord Caitanya:

Gaura Narayana:

In every Kali-yuga, Lord Krsna appears as Lord Caitanya to preach the yuga-dharma of hari-nama-sankirtana. This religious function is executed merely by an amsa-avatara of the Supreme. Only once in a day of Lord Brahma does the full manifestation of svayam bhagavan Sri Krsna and svayam bhagavān Lord Caitanya come to the material world. Why does the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Śrī Kṛṣņa and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya come?

yuga-dharma-pravartana

haya amsa haite

amă vină anye näre

vraja-prema dite

"My (amsas) plenary portions can establish the principles of religion for each age. No one but Me, however, can bestow Vraja prema, the kind of loving service performed by the residents of Vraja (Cc. Adi 3.26)

When Lord Krsna comes in Kali-yuga only to propagate the yuga-dharma He is known as Gaura-Nārāyana. In this form Lord Caitanya, or Gaura Nārāyana, does not distribute Vraja-prema or mañjari- bhāva. "Whenever there is congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, Gaura Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Lord Caitanya, appears and is worshiped by sankīrtana-yajña." (SB 4.30.36 pur.)

We are very fortunate to have been born in Kali-yuga wherein svayam bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa has united with the bodily complexion (dyūti) and sentiment (bhāva) of Śrīmatī Rādhārāņi to appear in His most merciful form as Rasarāja Mahābhāva, who is none other than Śrī Kṛṣņa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Unlike so many Lord Caitanyas that have appeared in previous Kali-yugas, Mahāprabhu is freely giving the most rarely attained gift of Rādhā-Krsna prema- bhakti.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared in 1486 A.D. on the sacred banks of the Gangā in Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur within the Nadia district of West Bengal. The Lord appeared on a Sunday at dusk during a lunar eclipse of the Phalgun full moon (February-March). Because of the eclipse, the entire town of Navadvipa was vibrating with the melodious sound of hari-năma -sankirtana.

"During the eclipse, limitless millions of children, adults, women, saints and sinners bathed in the Gangă calling out, 'Hari bol! Hari bol! Hari! Hari!' The sound of Hari's holy name filled the 4 directions of Nadia and all the universes. The demigods beat drums and roared 'Jai! Jai!' while showering flowers everywhere. Seeing this wonderful event, the devotees cheered, 'May this eclipse last forever." (Caitanya Bhagavata)

May we realize our good fortune to be living just a few moments after this most-merciful Golden Avatāra, sincerely surrender to Him, and purely chant the yugala-mantra for obtaining Vraja-prema: Hare Krşņa Hare Krsna Krsna Krşņa Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!