Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the illustrious founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, graced the world with His divine presence in the year 1486 AD. His blessed birth took place in the sacred town of Mayapur, nestled in the heart of West Bengal, India. He was lovingly born to Jagannath Misra and Saci Devi, hailing from the beautiful region of Sylhet, which is now part of Bangladesh. Numerous sacred Vedic scriptures resoundingly affirm that Sri Chaitanya was none other than the revered Lord Krishna Himself, who descended to Earth to illuminate the path of Bhakti, the profound and pure expression of loving devotion, to humanity. His divine mission was to enrich the spiritual landscape and shower boundless grace upon all souls, inviting them to embrace the sublime essence of love and devotion towards the Supreme. Through His teachings and exemplary life, He stirred the hearts of countless devotees, inspiring them to walk the path of divine love and devotion with unwavering faith and profound reverence. In this article, we are going to discuss the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in a nutshell.
There are a number of Vedic scriptures that confirm his divine identity. For example, Bhagavata Purana states the following –
Krishna varnam tvishakrishnam sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah
(Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32)
–
During the Age of Kali, wise individuals engage in collective chanting to venerate the incarnation of Godhead, who ceaselessly sings the name of Krishna. Despite His appearance not being dark, He is none other than Krishna Himself, accompanied by His companions, servants, weapons, and trusted confidants.
#1 Unconditional Devotion to Krishna
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings illuminate that all living beings are inseparable parts of Krishna, the Supreme Lord. He is the ultimate object of one’s love, and it is this divine love that every living entity yearns for, throughout lifetimes. The pinnacle of existence is reached when the living being comprehends their connection with the Supreme Lord and finds their rightful place by offering unconditional devotional service to Krishna. That is why Lord Chaitanya writes – Oh mighty Lord! I do not crave wealth, nor do I seek pleasure from beautiful companions, nor do I yearn for followers. All I truly desire is to be blessed with Your causeless devotional service in every lifetime, without any interruption or end.
#2 The Exclusive Path of Devotional Service to Attain Lord Krishna
Lord Chaitanya emphasizes that if one desires to attain Lord Krishna, there is no other way except through devotional service. While other paths like yoga, rituals, and scriptural study are beneficial, they cannot establish a direct connection with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
#3 The Glorious Practice of Sankirtan and the Potency of Chanting the Holy Names
Sri Chaitanya glorifies the practice of Sankirtan in his shikshashtakam prayers. He writes – Praise be to the Sri Krishna Sankirtan, the sacred chanting that purifies the heart, sweeping away the accumulated dust of countless years. Through this divine movement, the relentless cycle of repeated birth and death, the fiery ordeal of conditional existence, is finally extinguished. This Sankirtan movement stands as the greatest boon for humanity, showering the benevolent rays of a blessed Moon. It breathes life into all transcendental wisdom, elevates the ocean of blissful spirituality, and grants a glimpse of the sweet nectar that forever captivates our longing souls. Oh, my Lord! Only Your Sacred Name possesses the power to bestow blessings upon all living beings. Hence, You have countless Names, such as Krishna, Govinda, and many more. Within these divine Names, You have infused all Your transcendental energies, and there are no strict rules for chanting them. You have graciously made it effortless to approach You through Your Holy Names.
Sri Chaitanya also delineates the process of chanting the Holy names – The Holy Name of the Lord can be chanted with a humble heart, considering oneself lower than the straw on the street, more tolerant than a tree, free from false pride, and genuinely respectful towards others. Embracing such a mentality, one can chant the Holy Name of the Lord incessantly.
#4 Transcendental Happiness through Bhakti
Lord Chaitanya reveals that engaging in devotional service and developing love for Krishna dispels distress caused by material activities. With a taste for Krishna consciousness, one loses interest in material pursuits, leading to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. He advises that love for God may not manifest immediately, but one can cultivate it through submissive hearing, chanting, and engaging in devotional practices. The ultimate goal is to be immersed in love of God, where the devotee feels intense separation from Krishna, the epitome of perfection.
#5 The Profound Emotions of a Devoted Heart: Longing for Krishna’s Divine Presence
Devotional service entails a genuine and altruistic disposition towards God. It goes beyond mere belief and involves actively serving Him. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu depicts the mood of a perfected devotee, longing for a deep connection with the Divine – “O my Lord! When will tears of love adorn my eyes as I chant Your Holy Name? When will my voice tremble with emotion while uttering Your sacred Name? And when will the hairs on my body stand on end in ecstasy as I recite Your Name? Oh Govinda! Your absence makes every moment seem like twelve long years or more, and tears pour from my eyes like torrents of rain. Without You, the world feels empty and desolate. Krishna, You are my only Lord, and that will never change, even if Your embrace is rough or Your presence seems distant, leaving my heart broken. You are free to act in any way, yet forever, You remain my adored and worshiped Lord, unconditionally.”
Shikshashtakam Prayers
While Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings continue to endure through the instructions He imparted to His disciples, He refrained from documenting His wisdom, except for the Shikshastakam Prayers. These prayers hold immense worth as they were personally penned by Lord Chaitanya Himself, serving as a profound expression of His heartfelt emotions. We are pleased to include them in this article for your enrichment.
Verse 1:
ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam
shreyah-kairava-chandrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambhdhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamritasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate shri-krishna-sankirtanam
–
All glories to Sri Krishna Sankirtana (congregational chanting of Lord Krishna’s holy names), which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of material existence. That sankirtana movement is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all transcendental knowledge. It expands the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always zealous.
Verse 2:
namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-shaktis
tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalaha
etadrishi tava kripa bhagavan mamapi
durdaivam idrisham ihajani nanuragahah
–
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benedictions to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names, you have invested all Your transcendental potencies and there are no hard and fast rules for remembering them. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You through Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have any attachment towards them.
Verse 3 :
trinad api sunicena
taror api sahishnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harihi
–
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, considering oneself lower than a straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, being devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect unto others. In such a state of mind, one can chant the holy name of the Supreme Lord continually.
Verse 4 :
na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagad-isha kamaye
mama janmani janmanishvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi
–
O, almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate material wealth, nor do I want beautiful women, nor do I desire any followers. All I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service unto You.
Verse 5:
ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram
patitam mam vishame bhavambudhau
kripaya tava pada-pankaja-
sthita-dhuli-sadrisham vichintaya
–
O son of Maharaja Nanda (Krishna), I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into this horrible ocean of birth and death. Please bestow your mercy and rescue me from this ocean of nescience and place me as a particle of dust at Your lotus feet.
Verse 6 :
nayanam galad-ashru-dharaya
vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira
pulakair nichitam vapuh kada
tava nama-grahane bhavishyati
–
O my Lord, when will my eyes be beautified with tears of love gliding down as I chant Your holy name? When will my voice falter, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end in transcendental ecstasy as I chant Your holy name?
Verse 7:
yugayitam nimeshena
chakshusha pravrishayitam
shunyayitam jagat sarvam
govinda-virahena me
–
O, Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering even a moment to be a great millennium. Tears flow from My eyes like torrents of rain, and I perceive the entire world as void in Your absence.
Verse 8:
ashlishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam
adarshanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparaha
–
I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He roughly handles me by His embrace or breaks my heart by not being visible to me. He is a debauchee, after all, and He is completely free to do anything He wishes, but still, He alone, and no one else, shall be the worshipable Lord of My heart.