Chapter Summary - Chaitanya-bhagavata - Adi-khanda Ch. 2
Back to Chaitanya-bhagavata  · Table of Contents

Brief Summary:  The author, Srila Vrindavana dasa Thakura is still writing in general terms, still setting the stage for more specific details about the life of Lord Caitanya.  The author mentions how many time Lord Caitanya would later comment that it was only due to Sri Advaita Acharya's constant prayers that He took His birth.  Like a King who only travels with his entourage, immediately before His divine appearance, many of the most elevated and eternal servants of the Lord appeared all around India, later to all meet in Nabadwip. At least 20 such exalted personalities are mentioned in Ch. 2.  Again the author pays his respects to his spiritual master, Lord Nityananda as he mentions more glories qualities pertaining to Him.  The descriptions of Lord Chaitanya are again in a general nature, however this is the first time I have heard His mother, Saci, referred to as The Universal Mother - (similar to Mary of the Holy Bible). The spiritual activities and importance of Advaita Acharya is explained (The pre-eminent (superior) spiritual preceptor (the head of a school ) - was the exponent (a person or thing that expounds, explains, or interprets) on knowledge of the absolute science of devotion and renunciation; His delineation (diagram, sketch, description) of Krishna-conscious topics equaled Lord Siva's). That Srivasa has three brothers is mentioned  (one of Srivasa's brothers eventually marries Nararani - whose child is the author of this book). Vrindavana dasa Thakura not only mentions how beautiful eulogies are offered to the Lord at the time of his birth, he also mentions the blessing of deep attachment for Lord Krishna that is bestowed upon all who read them (see link below to read).

Quiz: (see bottom for answers)

1. The reason Lord Chaitanya appeared when he did was to:

A.  Re-establish religion
B.  Sing and dance
C.  Satisfy his mother
D.  Answer the call offered-up to Him by Advaita Acharya.

2.  How many brothers did Srivasa have?

A. 3
B. none
C. 1
D. 6

3.  Lord Nityananda's father's name was

A.  Vasudeva Datta
B.  Sri Visvarupa
C.  Hadai Pandita
D.  Pundarika Vidyanidhi

4.  How did Lord Caitanya propagated the process of congregational chanting?

A.  By reading the Holy Scripture to His followers.
B.  By Praying to Lord Jagganatha.
C.  By performing many miracles.
D.  By practicing congregational chanting Himself.

5.  Who is the giver of devotion?

A.  Lord Nityananda
B.  Lord Shiva
C.  Advaita Acharya
D.  Mother Saci

Actions:  In order to re-establish the religious process of the age, the Supreme Lord descended on the earth with His eternal associates.

Physical descriptions:  His beautifully brilliant luster overshadowed the sun's shining rays and dazzled my eyes. At birth, His drawn out, slightly drooping eyes defied description & His complexion was the color of sandalwood paste; His feet were marked with the signs of flag, lightning etc;

Scriptures Quoted:

1. "Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendent of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion, at that time I descend myself. In order to deliver the pious and annihilate the miscreants, as well as to re-establish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium." Bhagavad Gita 4.7

2. It is confirmed in the Srimad Bhagavatam that the Supreme Absolute Truth, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, incarnated solely to propagate the congregational chanting of Krishna's holy name:

"O King Nimi, devotees always offer prayers to the Supreme Lord Hari, but now I will explain how the devotees in the Kali Yuga offer the choicest prayers accompanied by various rituals and regulations for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. In this age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient intelligence will worship the Lord, Who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana yajna."

According to His desire, His eternal associates appeared before Him, taking birth as humans. Ananta Sesha, Siva, Brahma, the sages and other associates of the Lord all took birth as highly elevated, pure Vaishnava devotees - Bhagavatas. Lord Chaitanya, Krishna, knew everyone's position and identity.  Most of them took birth in Nabadwip, yet some were born in Cattogram, Radhadesh or Srihatta (Bengal) and still others in Orissa. All these associates appeared in different places, but everyone met in Nabadwip.

 Devotee Mentioned: Srivasa Pandita; Sri Rama Pandita; Sri Chandrasekhar; Sri Murari Gupta; Pundarika Vidyanidhi (the foremost Vaishnava devotee), Chaitanya Vallabha (who was very dear to Lord Chaitanya); Vasudeva Datta; Haridas; Hadai Pandita (Lord Nityananda's father); Sri Paramananda Puri (who was Lord Chaitanya's close associate in Nilacala); Advaita Acarya  (foremost of the great Vaishnavas in Nabadwip); Sri Chandrasekhar, Sri Jagadisa, Sri Gopinatha, Sriman, Sri Murari, Sri Garuda; Sri Gangadasa; Suklambara; Sri Visvarupa (was the Lord's older brother);

Flowery Language: The crown jewels of all Vedic conclusions are the Supreme Lords Chaitanya and Nityananda Prabhus;  

Lord Nityananda:  Lord Nityananda is factually the Supreme Father of all living entities; the giver of devotion; By the Lord Caitanya's desire, Lord Nityananda descended before Him in the land called Radha, in a village called Ekacakra; His mother was Srimati Padmavati devi;  His father Sri Hadai Pandita;

Lord Caitanya:  Lord Chaitanya made his appearance because of Advaita Acarya Prabhu's sincere plea (The Lord Himself often repeated this fact); Sri Jagannatha Misra was his father's name (and he was of the same spiritual category as Kasyapa, Dasaratha, Vasudeva, or Nanda); Srimati Sacidevi was the Lord's mother who was the embodiment of devotion to the Supreme Lord (she was the Universal Mother); Sri Visvarupa was the Lord's older brother; Lord Caitanya propagated the process of congregational chanting of the Holy Name by practicing it Himself; {The moon was eclipsed by Rahu; the ocean of the holy name inundated Nabadwip, drowning and subduing the darkness of Kali Yuga. The Supreme Lord was manifest!};

Advaita Acharya:  The pre-eminent (superior) spiritual preceptor (the head of a school ) - was the exponent (a person or thing that expounds, explains, or interprets) on knowledge of the absolute science of devotion and renunciation; His delineation (diagram, sketch, description) of Krishna-conscious topics equaled Lord Siva's; His explanations on all existing scriptures arrived at the same conclusion: the essence of everything is devotion to Lord Krishna's lotus feet; his devotional service was the most glorious in Lord Brahma's planetary system; He was the leader of the Vaishnavas; "If my Lord descends then He can liberate everyone. I can boast of being an incarnation of Lord Maha Vishnu only if I can convince the Lord of Vaikuntha, Krishna, to appear in this world. And when that Lord of Vaikuntha descends in person, I shall sing and dance in joy and liberate all the conditional souls."  Considering matters in this way, He constantly worshipped the lotus feet of Krishna with undeviating resolve; Lord Chaitanya made his appearance because of Advaita Acarya Prabhu's sincere plea;

Srivasa Pandita:  Lord Chaitanya performed many pastimes in Srivasa's house; he had 3 brothers who would vociferously sing the Lord's name in their house; was threatened by neighbors for making so much noise;

Blessings:  One receives loving devotion to the Supreme simply by hearing transcendental topics about Lord Chaitanya; The eulogies (high praise or commendation) of Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, and other demigods are most confidential knowledge, and hearing them will result in deep attachment for Krishna.

Misc. Facts:  The religion for Kali Yuga is congregational chanting of the Lord's Holy Name; The village Ekacakra is in the Radhadesa district of Bengal. The Supreme Lord Nityananda made His
appearance there; the birthplace of a pure Vaishnava becomes a place of pilgrimage; spiritual identities known as Svarupa; The Supreme Lord descends when religious principles decline and He feels that his devotees are suffering;  As Lord Buddha you (The Supreme Personality of Godhead) preached the religion of compassion and non- violence; The Supreme Lord, the demigods and the human beings had all come together to frolic with one another upon His birth.

Words:

1. ontological (the branch of metaphysics that studies the nature of existence or being as such.)

Quiz:  D - A - C - D - A