Chaitanya's Life And Teachings: From his contemporary Begali biography the Chaitanya-charit-amritaKṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmi
Religion
Chaitanya's Life And Teachings: From his contemporary Begali biography the Chaitanya-charit-amrita
Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmi
Chaitanya, 1486-1534; Hinduism
The Master returned to His quarters; Sárvabhauma feasted Him by means of
Gopinath Acharya. Next day He went to Jagannáth's temple, and beheld the
god rise from his bed. The attending priest presented to the Master the
garland and offered rice of the god. The Master rejoiced at it, tied the
gifts to the hem of his garment, and hastened to Bhattáchárya's house.
It was dawn; Bhattáchárya awoke just then and cried out "O Krishna! O
Krishna!" to the delight of the Master. Coming out Bhattáchárya met the
Master, bowed at His feet in a tumult of reverence, and seated Him. The
Master untied the knot in His skirt and presented the _prasád_ to
Sarvabhaurna, who joyously ate it after reciting the following verse,
though he had not yet bathed, nor said his matin prayer, nor even
cleaned his teeth,--because Chaitanya's grace removed all stupor from
his mind.
From the _Padma Purán_, _Taste the mahá-prasád as soon as you get it,
though it may be dry, stale or brought from a distance. Wait not for a
more proper time in this case._
Then, again, Hari has said, '_In tasting the mahá-prasád no rule of time
or place should be observed; a good man should eat it as soon as he gets
it.'_
At this the Master was delighted and embraced Sárvabhauma in a
transport. They both danced, Master and pupil, clasping each other,
perspiring, trembling, shedding tears in ecstasy. The Master said,
"To-day have I conquered the three worlds lightly! To-day have I
ascended Baikuntha! To-day all my wishes are realized! Because
Sárvabhauma has shown faith in the _mahá-prasád_. To-day you have taken
refuge in Krishna with all your heart. Krishna has taken pity on you
without any reserve. To-day he has removed your bondage to flesh; to-day
you have torn off the meshes of illusion. To-day your heart has been
made worthy to gain Krishna, because you have eaten the _prasád_ in
violation of Vedic ceremonies. As the _Bhágabat_, II. vii. 41, puts it:
_"Those whom the Lord favours and who take refuge at His feet with all
their heart and without reserve, can conquer illusion. Then they no
longer look ubon this fleshly body the food of dogs and jackals as 'I'
or 'mine'."_
So saying the Master returned home. Thenceforth Bhattáchárya lost his
pride (of learning). Thenceforth he knew of nothing except Chaitanya's
feet, and expounded no scripture except that of _bhakti_. At his deep
Vaishnavism, Gopinath Acharya danced, clapping his hands and crying
_Hari! Hari!_ Next day Bhattáchárya came to visit the Master, without
having first gone to Jagannáth. He lay prostrate, and thanked the Master
much, penitently recounting his own former follies. As he wished to hear
of the chief means of cultivating faith, the Master instructed him by
chanting Hari's name.
_"Hari's name, Hari's name, Hari's name alone; in the Kali era there is
no other means of salvation, no other, indeed no other!" [Vrihad Narad
Puran.]_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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