Thursday, 5 March is Gaura-Purnima, the appearance date of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Lord Krishna manifested Himself in the form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu in eastern India in 1486. Basing his work upon the Bhagavad-Gita and the Bhagavata Purana, Sri Caitanya taught the way of Bhakti yoga as the best form of worship when addressing Radha and Krishna. In addition, he popularized the chanting of the Maha-mantra.
Since we are born into the Kali Yuga, in which the ego has become dominant and Dharma is at an all-time low, many felt that ours was the worst age. Sri Caitanya; however, felt that this was the best age to be born into. There is nothing for anyone to do other than to devote themselves to the service of God. If one wanted to come to know God and be in His service, then all one had to do was to repeatedly chant the names of God, since God and the name of God are identical.
Through the maha-mantra (HARE KRSNA, HARE KRSNA, KRSNA KRSNA, HARE HARE/ HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE), one may join with Sri Krishna and develop a deep devotional relationship which will elevate one to the highest plateaus.
Sri Caitanya taught ten basic maxims:
- Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth
- Krishna is possessed of all energies.
- Krishna is the depth of theology.
- Our individual souls are part of Krishna.
- Our individual states are currently bound to the material world.
- Once liberated our individual souls are Spirit, no longer bound by the material.
- Our individual souls are both identical to and different from Krishna.
- Pure devotion is the practice of the individual soul.
- Pure love of Krishna is our ultimate goal (Bhakti-yoga).
- Krishna is the only lovable blessing to be received.
These ten basic maxims begin a revival of a millennia’s old practice. Sri Caitanya teaches the simple route to God through pure love and devotion, and initiates a group of followers who have worked to keep his teachings alive through the centuries.
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