Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, had mercifully appeared at Yogpeeth (in Mayapur) about 500 years ago (in the year 1486 AD), to bless us with the most wonderful, deep and ecstatic pastimes of Gaura Lila. The word ‘Yoga’ means ‘connection’ and the term ‘Yogpeeth’ denotes the place where the Supreme Lord connects with or descends into this material world. Lord Chaitanya is none other than Lord Krishna (Vrajendra-nandana jei, saci-suta hoilo sei, balarama hoilo nitai).
The identity of Lord Chaitanya as Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be verified in several Vedic scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, Garuda Purana, Nrsimha Purana, Padma Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Narada Purana, etc. We are quoting references from some of these scriptures that shall conclusively establish His divine identity.
#1 Garuda Purana
aham purno bhavisyami yuga sandhyau visesatah
mayapure navadvipe bhavisyami saci sutah
(Garuda Purana)
–
In the future, in the first part of Kali-yuga, I shall appear in my complete spiritual form at Mayapur, Navadvipa, and become the son of Saci.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born on the phaguni purnima of 1486 AD at Mayapur, West Bengal, India. Srimati Saci devi, Mahaprabhu’s mother, had conceived eight daughters before but sadly, all of them died mysteriously just after their birth. Thereafter Saci Mata conceived Visvarupa, Nimai’s elder brother in her womb, and after His birth, both parents were a bit comforted. Visvarupa was an expansion of Lord Balarama, and He had prepared the womb to make way for Sri Chaitanya, the Supreme Lord.
#2 Srimad Bhagavatam
Krishna varnam tvishakrishnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32)
–
In Kali-yuga, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead (Lord Chaitanya) who constantly engages in singing the holy name of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons, and confidential companions.
ittham nr-tiryag-rsi-deva-jhasavatarair
lokan vibhavayasi hamsi jagat-pratipan
dharmam maha-purusa pasi yuganuvrttam
channah kalau yad abhavas tri-yugo ’tha sa tvam
(Srimad Bhagavatam. 7.9.38)
–
My Lord, You kill all the enemies of the world in Your various incarnations in the families of men, animals, demigods, saints, aquatics, and so on. Thus You illuminate the worlds with transcendental knowledge. 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.
One of the reasons for Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance in this world was to widely propagate the yuga-dharma, congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna. Along with His associates, Sri Chaitanya had broadcasted the confidential message of divine love, the highest stage of spiritual perfection. He preached that chanting the holy names of Lord Krishna was the means of achieving this elusive goal.
#3 Nrsimha Purana
satye daitya-kuladhi-nasa-samaye
simhordhva-martyakrtis
tretayam dasa-kandharam
paribhavan rameti namakrtih
gopalan paripalayan vraja-pure
bharam haran dvapare
gaurangah priya-kirtanah
kali-yuge Chaitanya-nama prabhuh
(Nrsimha Purana)
–
The Supreme Personality of Godhead who in the Satya-yuga appeared as a half-man, half-lion (Lord Nrsimha) incarnation to cure a terrible disease that had ravaged the demons, and who in the Treta-yuga appeared as a person named Rama (Lord Ramacandra), a person who defeated the ten-headed demon Ravana, and who in the Dvapara-yuga removed the earth’s burden, and protected the Gopa (cowherd men) people of Vrindavan, will appear again in the Kali-yuga. His form will be golden, He will delight in chanting the Lord’s holy names, and His name will be Chaitanya.
#4 Padma Purana
kaleh prathama-sandhyayam gaurangotham mahi-tale
bhagirathi-tate ramye bhavisyami sachi-sutah
–
I shall appear on this earth in the first part of Kali-Yuga at a beautiful location on the bank of the Bhagirathi (Ganges). I shall have a golden form, and I shall take birth as the son of mother Sachi.
#5 Narada Purana
divija bhuvi jayadhvam jayadhvam bhakta rupinah
kalau sankirtana arambhe bhavisyami sachi-sutah
–
O Divija (demigods)! appear as devotees on this earth in the age of Kali-Yuga. I will Myself incarnate as the son of mother Sachi to inaugurate the congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna.
#6 Vamana Purana
Kali-ghora-tamas-channat
sarvan acara varjitan
sacigarbhe ca sambhuya
tarayisyami narada
(Vamana-Purana)
–
O Narada Muni, I shall take birth in the womb of mother Saci and save people, who will give up all proper conduct, being influenced by the terrible darkness of the age of Kali-Yuga.
#7 Mahabharata, Visnu Sahasranama stotram
suvarna-varno hemango
Varangas-candanangadi
–
He (Lord Chaitanya) appears in a golden form, His limbs are the complexion of molten gold. His body is extremely beautiful and decorated with sandalwood pulp.
sannyasa-krcchamah santo
nistha santi-parayanah
–
He later accepts sannyasa and shows equanimity. He is peaceful. He is the highest abode of peace and devotion.
#8 Chandogya Upanishad
tan-madhye daharam saksan mayapuram itiryate
tatra vesma bhagavatas chaitanyasya paratmanah
tasmin yas tv antarakaso hy antardvipah sa ucyate
–
The spiritual city, having the shape of a lotus flower, has the abode of Sri Mayapur at its heart. Sridham Mayapur is the divine abode of Lord Chaitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. At the very center of Mayapur is the place called Antardvipa.
#9 Svetasvatara Upanishad (Yajur Veda)
mahan prabhur vai purusahsattvasyaisa pravartakah
sunirmalam imam praptim isano jyotir avyayah
(Svetasvatara Upanishad 3.12)
–
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who distributes transcendental enlightenment. Just to be in touch with Him is to be in contact with the indestructible brahmajyoti.
#10 Chaitanya Upanishad
rahasyam te vadisyami-jahnavi-tire navadvipe golokakhye dhamni govindo dvi-bhujo gaurah sarvatma maha-puruso mahatma maha-yogi tri-gunatitah satva-rupo bhakti loke kasyatiti, tad ete sloka bhavanti
(verse 5)
–
Lord Brahma replied, “Listen carefully, for I shall reveal to you a confidential truth. Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme enjoyer, whose form is transcendental, who is beyond the jurisdiction of the three modes of material nature, and who is the all-pervading Supersoul residing in the hearts of living entities, shall appear again in the age of Kali. Appearing as the greatest devotee, the Supreme Lord will assume a two-armed form of golden complexion in His abode of Goloka Vrindavana that is manifest on the bank of the Ganges at Navadvipa. He will broadcast pure devotional service in the world. This incarnation of the Lord (Gauranga) is explained in the following verses”.
eko devah sarva rupi mahatma
gauro rakta shyamala shveta rupah
Chaitanyatma sa vai Chaitanya shaktir
bhaktakaro bhakti do bhakti vedyah
(Verse 6)
–
The one Supreme Lord appears in innumerable transcendental forms. He has appeared with red, black, and white complexions, and He shall also appear in the golden form of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who may only be known by pure devotional service. He shall assume the role of the perfect devotee, and shall disseminate the path of pure devotional service.namo vedanta-vedyaya
krishnaya paramatmane
sarva-Chaitanya-rupaya
Chaitanyaya namo namah
(Verse 7)
–
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Sri Krishna, the all-conscious all-pervading Supreme Lord, who is known by the study of Vedanta. He appears as Lord Chaitanya unto whom I offer my respectful obeisances.
#11 Atharva Veda
itotham krta sannyaso’vatarisyami sa-guno nirvedo
niskamo bhu-girvanas tira-atho’ lakanandayah kalau
catuh-sahasrabdhopari panca-sahasrabhyantare
gaura-varno dirghangah sarva-laksana-yukta isvara-
prarthito nija-rasasvado bhakta-rupo misrakhyo
vidita-yogah syam
(Atharva Veda)
–
The Supreme Lord said : When between four thousand and five thousand years of Kali-yuga have passed, I will descend to the earth in a place by the Ganges’ shore. I will be a tall and saintly brahmana devotee having a golden complexion. I will have all the auspicious symptoms of an exalted person. I will exhibit renunciation. I will have all auspicious signs. I will be a devotee, practicing bhakti-yoga. I will taste the sweet mellows of My own devotional service. Only the great Devotees will understand Me.
#12 Atharva Veda, Purusa Bodhini Upanishad
saptame gaura-varna-visnor ity aena sva-saktya
caikyam etya pratar avatirya saha svaih sva-manum siksayati
(Atharva-Veda Purusa-Bodhini-Upanisad 8)
–
In the seventh manvantara, (the beginning of the Kali-Yuga), the Supreme Personality of Godhead, being accompanied by His own associates, will appear in a golden form on the earth. He will teach the chanting of His own names.
#13 Brahma-yamala Tantra
atha vaham dharadhame
bhutva mad-bhakta-rupa-dhrk
mayayam ca bhavisyami
kalau sankirtanagame
(Brahma yamala tantra)
–
Sometimes I personally appear in this world in the garb of a devotee. Specifically, I appear as the son of Saci in Kali-yuga to commence the sankirtana movement.
#14 Krishna Yamala Tantra
punya-ksetre navadvipe bhavisyami saci-sutah
(Krishna Yamala Tantra)
–
I shall appear in the holy land of Navadvipa as the son of mother Saci.
#15 Vayu Purana
paurnamasyam phalgunasya
phalguni-rksa-yogatah
bhavisye gaura-rupena
saci-garbhe purandarat
(Vayu Purana)
–
On the full moon day of the month of Phalguna (March-April), conjoined with the star Phalguni, I shall appear in a golden form begotten by Purandara (Jagannath Misra) in the womb of mother Sachi.