View source for Biography:Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

{{short description|Bengali Hindu saint of Nabadwip}}
{{short description|}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
|name       = Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
|image      = Chaitanya-Mahabrabhu-at-Jagannath.jpg
|religion   = [[Religion:Hinduism|Hinduism]]
|caption    = Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannath, painting form 1900
|birth_date = 18 February 1486
|birth_place = Nabadwip<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chattopadhyay|first=Nripendra Krishna|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.265084|title=Sri Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita|date=1961}}</ref>, Nadia, [[Place:Bengal|Bengal]] (<Small>present day ''West Bengal''</Small>), India
|birth_name = Vishvambhar Mishra, ''Nimāi''
|death_date= {{death date and age|1533|6|14|1486|2|18|df=yes}}
|guru      = Swami Isvara Puri (mantra guru); Swami Kesava Bharati (sannyas guru)
|philosophy = Bhakti yoga, [[Philosophy:Achintya Bheda Abheda|Achintya Bheda Abheda]] 
|known_for  = Expounded [[Religion:Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Gaudiya Vaishnavism]], Bhakti yoga 
|Followers  = Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, [[Religion:Gopala Bhatta Goswami|Gopala Bhatta Goswami]], Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami, Raghunatha dasa Goswami, Jiva Goswami and others 
|founder    = [[Religion:Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Gaudiya Vaishnavism]]<br />[[Philosophy:Achintya Bheda Abheda|Achintya Bheda Abheda]]
|free_label = Birth Anniversary
}}
{{Hindu philosophy}} 
'''Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu''' (1486 – 1533; {{IAST3|Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Caitanya Mahāprabhu}} {{aka}} {{IAST|Mahāprabhu}} or "Great Lord") was a Hindu mystic whose mode of worshipping the god [[Religion:Krishna|Krishna]] with ecstatic song and dance had a profound effect on [[Religion:Vaishnavism|Vaishnavism]] in [[Place:Bengal|Bengal]]. He was also the chief proponent of the Vedantic philosophy of [[Philosophy:Achintya Bheda Abheda|Achintya Bheda Abheda]]. Mahaprabhu founded [[Religion:Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Gaudiya Vaishnavism]] ({{aka}} Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya). He expounded Bhakti yoga and popularized the chanting of the [[Unsolved:Hare Krishna (mantra)|Hare Krishna mantra]].<ref>[http://www.scsmath.com/docs/chaitanya_mahaprabhu.html Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu] "He spread the Yuga-dharma as the practice for attainment of pure love for [[Religion:Radha|Radha]]-[[Religion:Krishna|Krishna]]. That process is Harinam-Sankirtan, or the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare"</ref> He composed the ''[[Religion:Shikshashtakam|Shikshashtakam]]'' (eight devotional prayers).<ref>[http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 Srimad Bhagavatam (Introduction)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525203633/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 |date=25 May 2013 }} "Lord Caitanya not only preached the but propagated the teachings of the [[Religion:Bhagavad Gita|Bhagavad Gita]] as well in the most practical way."</ref>

He is sometimes called Gauranga or Gaura due to his molten gold like fair complexion.<ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Mar122006/finearts1054102006310.asp In the Name of the Lord (Deccan Herald)] "He was also given the name of ‘Gora’ because of his extremely fair complexion." {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207225342/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Mar122006/finearts1054102006310.asp |date=7 December 2006 }}</ref> His birthday is celebrated as Gaura-purnima.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.krishna.com/node/1407|title=Gaura Purnima |publisher=www.krishna.com|accessdate=16 December 2008|last=|first=}}
</ref><ref>[https://givegita.com/sri-chaitanya Sri Gaura Purnima]"givegita.com"</ref> He is also called Nimai due to his being born underneath a Neem tree.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/Krishna-Chaitanya-Mission KCM Archive]"They named Him Nimai, as he was born under a neem tree." {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424064200/http://www.archive.org/details/Krishna-Chaitanya-Mission |date=24 April 2008 }}</ref>

His followers revere him as an expansion of [[Religion:Krishna|Krishna]], the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with the loving mood and golden complexion of the source of his inspiration, [[Religion:Radha|Radha]].<ref>Evidence of predicted appearance of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Vedas: [http://www.veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/caitanya.htm link1], [https://givegita.com/blog/conclusive-evidence-of-lord-shri-gauranga-mahaprabhus-predicted-appearance-in-the-vedas link2]</ref><ref>Benjamin E. Zeller (2010), Prophets and Protons, New York University Press, {{ISBN|978-0814797211}}, pages 77-79</ref>

==Life==
[[File:Ganga mata math.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Deity of Shadabhuja Gauranga at Ganga Mata Math in Puri.]]
Chaitanya (Bengali: চৈতন্য) means '"consciousness"; Maha means "Great" and Prabhu means "Lord" or "Master".
Chaitanya was born as the second son of Jagannath Mishra and his wife Sachi Devi. Jagannath's family lived in the village of Dhakadakshin, Golapganj, Srihatta, [[Place:Bengal|Bengal]] (now Sylhet, Bangladesh). The ruins of his ancestral home still survive in present day Bangladesh.<ref>https://www.thegaudiyatreasuresofbengal.com/2019/11/02/dhaka-dakshin-jagannatha-misras-ancestral-home-sylhet-bangladesh/</ref><ref>[http://lordcaitanya.com/prologue/en1 Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: His Life and Precepts, by Bhaktivinoda Thakura] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517215040/http://lordcaitanya.com/prologue/en1 |date=17 May 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Nair, p. 87">Nair, p. 87</ref> According to ''[[Religion:Chaitanya Charitamrita|Chaitanya Charitamrita]]'', Chaitanya was born in Nabadwip in Bengal (<Small>present day ''West Bengal''</Small>) on the full moon night of 18 February 1486, at the time of a lunar eclipse.<ref>[http://lordcaitanya.com/prologue/en1 ''Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: His Life and Precepts'' by Bhaktivinoda Thakura] oh{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517215040/http://lordcaitanya.com/prologue/en1 |date=17 May 2014 }} "Chaitanya Mahäprabhu appeared in Nabadwip in Bengal just after sunset on the evening of the 23rd Phälguna 1407 Shakabda, answering to 18 February 1486, of the Christian Era. The moon was eclipsed at the time of His 'birth'"</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Chattopadhyay|first=Nripendra Krishna|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.265084|title=Sri Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita|date=1961}}</ref>

A number of stories also exist telling of Chaitanya's apparent attraction to the [[Unsolved:Japa|chanting]] and singing of Krishna's names from a very young age,<ref>[http://vedabase.net/cc/adi/14/22/en1 CC Adi lila 14.22] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306060122/http://vedabase.net/cc/adi/14/22/en1 |date=6 March 2012 }}</ref> but largely this was perceived as being secondary to his interest in acquiring knowledge and studying [[Social:Sanskrit|Sanskrit]]. When travelling to Gaya to perform the shraddha ceremony for his departed father, Chaitanya met his [[Biography:Guru|guru]], the ascetic Ishvara Puri, from whom he received initiation with the Gopala Krishna mantra. This meeting was to mark a significant change in Chaitanya's outlook<ref>[http://www.vedabase.net/cc/adi/17/9/en1 CC Adi lila 17.9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924124446/http://vedabase.net/cc/adi/17/9/en1 |date=24 September 2014 }} "In Gayla, Sri Chaitanya Mähaprabhu was initiated by Isvara Puri, and immediately afterwards He exhibited signs of love of Godhead. He again displayed such symptoms after returning home."</ref> and upon his return to Bengal the local Vaishnavas, headed by Advaita Acharya, were stunned at his external sudden 'change of heart' (from 'scholar' to 'devotee') and soon Chaitanya became the eminent leader of their Vaishnava group within Nadia.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

After leaving Bengal and receiving entrance into the [[Philosophy:Sannyasa|sannyasa]] order by Swami Kesava Bharati,<ref>[http://www.vedabase.net/tlc/17/en1 Teachings of Lord Chaitanya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515000756/http://vedabase.net/tlc/17/en1 |date=15 May 2015 }} "They were surprised to see Lord Chaitanya after He accepted his sannyasa order from Kesava Bharati"</ref> Chaitanya journeyed throughout the length and breadth of {{wipe|India}} for several years, chanting the divine Names of Krishna constantly. At that time He travelled on foot covering a lot of places like Baranagar, Mahinagar, Atisara and, at last, Chhatrabhog. Chhatrabhog is the place where Goddess Ganga and Lord Shiva met, then one hundred mouths of Ganga were visible from here. From the source of Vrindavana Dasa's ''Chaitanya Bhagavata'', he bathed at Ambulinga Ghat of Chhatrabhog with intimate companions with great chorus-chanting (kirtan). After staying one night he set for Puri by boat with the help of Local Administrator Ram Chandra Khan. He spent the last 24 years of his life in Puri, Odisha,<ref>[http://www.gaudiya.com/index.php?topic=history History of Gaudiya Vaishnavism]. The first 6 years, he traveled extensively from Rameshavara in South India to Vrindavan in North India, sharing the message of bhakti. He is also said to have achieved major intellectual successes in converting intellectual giants of his times such as Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya and Prakashananda Saraswati to his devotional understanding of Vedanta. "Chaitanya spent the remainder of His life, another 24 years, in Jagannäth Puri in the company of some of His intimate associates, such as Svarüpa Dämodara and Rämänanda Räya"</ref> the great temple city of [[Religion:Jagannath|Jagannath]] in the Radhakanta Math. The Gajapati king, Prataprudra Dev, regarded Chaitanya as Krishna's avatar and was an enthusiastic patron and devotee of Chaitanya's recitation (sankeertan) gatherings.<ref>[http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/hindu/devot/gauvai.html Gaudiya Vaishnavas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302041337/http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/hindu/devot/gauvai.html |date=2 March 2009 }} "His magnetism attracted men of great learning such as Särvabhauma Bhattächärya, the greatest authority on logic, and Shree Advaita Ächärya, leader of the Vaishnavas in Bengal, and men of power and wealth like the King of Odisha, Pratap Rudra and his minister, Rämänanda Räya..."</ref> It was during these years that Chaitanya is believed by his followers to have sunk deep into various Divine-Love (samādhi) and performed pastimes of [[Unsolved:Religious ecstasy|divine ecstasy]] ([[Philosophy:Bhakti|bhakti]]).<ref>[http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 Srimad Bhagavatam, Introduction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525203633/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 |date=25 May 2013 }} "At Puridhawm, when he [Chaitanya] entered the temple of Jagannätha, he became at once saturated with transcendental ecstasy"</ref>

[[Place:Vrindavan|Vrindavan]], the land of Radha Rani, the “City of Temples” has more than 5000 temples to showcase the pastimes of Radha and Krishna. The essence of Vrindavan was lost over time until the 16th century, when it was rediscovered by Chaitanya. In the year 1515, Chaitanya visited Vrindavana, with the purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Lord Sri Krishna's transcendent pastimes. He wandered through the different sacred forests of Vrindavana in a spiritual trance of divine love. It was believed that by His divine spiritual power, he was able to locate all the important places of Krishna's pastimes in and around Vrindavan including the seven main temples or ''sapta devalay'', which are worshiped by Vaishnavas in the Chaitanya tradition to this day.<ref>[http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 Srimad Bhagavatam (Introduction)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525203633/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 |date=25 May 2013 }} "Lord Caitanya not only preached the Srimad-Bhagavatam but propagated the teachings of the [[Religion:Bhagavad Gita|Bhagavad Gita]] as well in the most practical way."</ref>

== Biographies ==
There are numerous biographies available from the time giving details of Chaitanya's life, the most prominent ones being the ''[[Religion:Chaitanya Charitamrita|Chaitanya Charitamrita]]'' of Krishnadasa Kaviraja, the earlier ''[[Religion:Chaitanya Bhagavata|Chaitanya Bhagavata]]'' of Vrindavana Dasa<ref>[http://www.gaudiya.com/index.php?topic=literature Gaudiya Literature]</ref> (both originally written in [[Social:Bengali language|Bengali]] but now widely available in English and other languages), and the ''Chaitanya Mangala'', written by "Lochana Dasa".<ref>[http://www.salagram.net/parishad39.htm Biography of Sri Locana Dasa Thakura] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613224024/http://www.salagram.net/parishad39.htm |date=13 June 2013 }} (salagram.net)</ref> These works are in Bengali with some Sanskrit verses interspersed. In addition to these, there are other Sanskrit biographies composed by his contemporaries. There is also ''Caitanya Caritāmṛta Mahākavya'' by Kavi Karnapura and ''Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Carita Maha-Kavya'' by Murari Gupta.<ref>[http://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/kavi-karnapura-goswami-biography/ Caitanya Caritāmṛta Mahākavya by Kavi Karnapura],</ref><ref>[http://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Murari_Gupta_Sri_Krsna_Caitanya_Carita_Maha_Kavya.pdf Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Carita Maha-Kavya by Murari Gupta]</ref>

'''Works on Chaitanya:'''<ref>{{cite book |author-last=Mukherjee |author-first=Sujit |year=1999 |title=A Dictionary of Indian Literature |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YCJrUfVtZxoC&pg=PA66 |volume=One: Beginnings – 1850 |publisher=Orient Longman |isbn=8125014535 |page=65-66, 174, 280}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author-last=Manring |author-first=Rebecca J. |year=2005 |title=Reconstructing Tradition: Advaita Acarya and Gaudiya Vaisnavism at the Cusp of the Twentieth Century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vs1b9KjnnDgC&pg=PA34 |publisher=Columbia University Press |chapter=2. Advaita Acarya: A New Imminence |location=New York |isbn=0231129548 |pages=34-42, 44}}</ref><ref>[https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/127571/14/14_chapter%206.pdf PDF].{{cite book |author-last=Mamoni |author-first=Sarma |title=History of vaisnavite cultures in assam and bengal a comparative study |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/127571 |chapter=Chapter 14 |page=253-255 |quote=Note, Sarma Mamoni is a researcher at Gauhati University under Chakraborty Amalendu.}}</ref><ref>http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Chaitanyamangal Chaitanyamangal</ref>

* ''Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta'' ({{c.}} 1513 or 1536–1540; Sanskrit)
: By Murari Gupta. Known as a ''kadcha'' or chronicle. Chaitanya's Navadwipa ''līla'' and each ''panca-tattva'' presented as a form of the Lord. Caitanya went for the first time to Murari's house at Navadwipa. Murari's standing and reputation for learning gave his biographical materials great weight in the Vaishnava community. This ''Kadcha'' (notes) became the guiding lines for other biographers.

* ''Kadcha'' or chronicle (Sanskrit)
: By Svarupa Damodara. He was the personal secretary of Chaitanya. Details the life of Caitanya.

* ''Govindadaser Kadcha'' (Bengali)
: By Govinda Dāsa who accompanied Chaitanya on his tour of Deccan. This poem describes their experiences on the journey and some imaginary events in the life of Chaitanya as well as his ideas and philosophy. It is another significant biographical work, but it was regarded as controversial because of the authencity.

* ''[[Religion:Chaitanya Bhagavata|Chaitanya Bhagavata]]'' ({{c.}} 1535 or 1546–1550; Bengali)
: By Vrindavana Dasa Thakura. Three parts: ''Adi-Khanda'', ''Mādhya-Khanda'', and ''Antya-Khanda''. Chaitanya's earlier life, activities, early movement in Navadwip.

* ''Krsna-Caitanya-caritra-mahakavya'' ({{c.}} 1535)
: By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen).

* ''Krsna-Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam'' ({{c.}} 1535 – 1570s)
: By Kavi Karnapura. Based on Murari Gupta's ''Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta''. When Karnapura was a small child, he interacted with Chaitanya personally.

* ''Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam'' ({{c.}} 1538 or 1540 or 1572 or 1579; Sanskrit)
: By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen). Dramatic play in ten acts of Chaitanya's life.

* ''Caitanya-caritāmṛta-kavya'' ({{c.}} 1542 – late 1500s; Sanskrit)
: By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen). A long biographical poem on Chaitanya's life and acts.

* ''[[Religion:Chaitanya Charitamrita|Caitanya-caritāmṛta]]'' ({{c.}} 1557 or 1580 or 1615; Bengali)
: By Krishnadasa Kaviraja. Three parts: ''Adi-lila'', ''Madhya-lila'', and ''Antya-lila''. Massive authoritative composition of Chaitanya's biography and teachings. According to Manring, he draws liberally from previous writers (poets, theologians and biographers) as he deems correct, omitting Kavi Karnapura's works perceived as threatening Rupa's authority.

* ''Caitanya-Mangala'' ({{c.}} 1560 or late 1500s; Bengali)
: By Jayananda. Nine parts: ''Adikhanda'', ''Nadiyakhanda'', ''Vairagyakhanda'', ''Sannyaskhanda'', ''Utkalkhanda'', ''Prakashkhanda'', ''Tirthakhanda'', ''Vijaykhanda'', and ''Uttarkhanda''. Biographical poem in the form of a narrative play focused on Chaitanya's godly image. It is the only work in which his death is mentioned. Introduction mentions several previous biographers, of whom only Vrindavan is known. Written for the common people (not devotees).

* ''Chaitanya Mangala'' ({{c.}} 1560–66 or 1575)
: By Lochana Dasa ({{aka}} Trilocan Dasa). Four parts: ''Sutrakhanda'', ''Adikhanda'', ''Madhyakhanda'', and ''Antyakhanda''. A narrative play depicting Chaitanya's childhood activities and his human side without highlighting any divine matters to make it popular. Influenced by Murari Gupta's ''Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta'' and Vrindavana Dasa Thakura's ''Chaitanya Bhagavata'' as well as the ''[[Religion:Mahabharata|Mahabharata]]'' and different ''[[Religion:Puranas|Puranas]]''.

* ''Chaitanya-chandrodaya-kaumudi'' (Bengali)
: By Premadas (Purushottam Mishra). A verse adaptation to Kavi Karnapura's ''Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam'' drama.

* ''Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika'' ({{c.}} 1576)
: By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen).

* ''Chaitanya-samhita'' (Bengali)
: By Bhagirath Bandhu. Work follows the tradition of agama or tantric texts in its presentation as a story told by Shiva to his spouse.

* ''Chaitanya-vilasa'' ({{c.}} 1500s; Oriya)
: By Madhava Dasa. A short poetical work in ten sections dealing with the life of Chaitanya. The poet probably came into contact with the saint when the latter came to Puri.

* ''Gauranga-vijay'' ({{c.}} 1500s)
: By Chundamani dasa. Biographical epic, believed to have been written in three volumes, only part of the first volume still exists. It contains some information about Chaitanya, Nityananda and Madhavendra Puri not found elsewhere.

* ''Sriman-mahaprabhor-asta-kaliya-lila-smarana-mangala-stotram'' ({{c.}} late 1600s; Sanskrit)
: By Visvanatha Chakravarti. Eleven ''sutras'' (seed verses) describing the eternal eight-fold daily pastimes of the fair-complexioned Lord.

* ''Sri Gauranga-Lilamrta'' ({{c.}} late 1600s – 1700s; Bengali)
: By Krishna Dasa (disciple of Visvanatha Chakravarti). Expounded on his guru's eleven ''sutras'', often quoting verses from Vrindavana Dasa Thakura's ''Chaitanya Bhagavata'', plus songs by Narahari Ghanashyama (author of Bhakti-Ratnakara) and Lochana Dasa (author of Chaitanya-Mangala).

* ''Caitanya-upanisad''
: A book that is a part of the ''[[Religion:Atharvaveda|Atharvaveda]]'' which offers overwhelming evidence of Lord Caitanya's identity as the Supreme Lord and ''Yuga Avatara''.

* ''[[Religion:Chaitanya Charitamrita|Sri Caitanya-caranamrta Bhasva]]'' (1887)
: By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Commentary on an original handwritten manuscript of the ''Caitanya-upanisad'' from one pandita, Madhusudana Maharaja, of Sambala-Pura.

* ''Amrita-pravaha-bhashya'' ({{c.}} late 1800s – early 1900s; Sanskrit)
: By [[Biography:Bhaktivinoda Thakur|Bhaktivinoda Thakur]]. Commentary on ''Caitanya-upanisad''.

* ''[[Religion:Chaitanya Charitamrita|Anubhāsya]]'' (1915)
: By [[Biography:Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati|Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati]]. Commentary on Krishnadasa Kaviraja's ''Caitanya-caritāmṛta''.

* ''Gaurkrishna bhajan shatak'' (1926); ''Gaurcharan gitabali'' (1951); ''Gaurcharan padyabali''
: By Gaurcharan, collected by his son Harikrishna Mishra containing 100 lyrics. A later and larger collection ''Gaurcharan gitabali'' was further enlarged to include 276 songs and published as ''Gaurcharan padyabali''.

* ''[[Religion:Chaitanya Charitamrita|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]]'' (1974; English)
: By [[Unsolved:A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada|A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami]] in English with original Bengali and Sanskrit. Commentary on Krishnadasa Kaviraja's ''Caitanya-caritāmṛta'', based on Bhaktivinoda Thakur's ''Amrita-pravaha-bhashya'' and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's ''Anubhāsya'' commentaries.

==Identity==
According to the hagiographies of 16th-century authors, he exhibited his Universal Form same as had Lord Krishna on number of occasions, notably to Advaita Ācārya and Nityānanda Prabhu.<ref>[http://vedabase.com/en/cc/adi/17/10/ CC ''Adi-lila'' 17.10]</ref><ref>Chaitanya Bhagavata ''Ādi-khaṇḍa'' 1.122</ref><ref>Chaitanya Bhagavata, ''Madhya-khaṇḍa'' 24</ref>

When Rupa Goswami first met the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, he saw the divinity in him and composed the following verse:
<blockquote>
"O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden colour of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://caitanyacaritamrta.com/madhya/19/53/en1 |title=Caitanya Caritamrita 2.19.53 |publisher=Caitanyacaritamrta.com |accessdate=2013-06-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214205744/http://caitanyacaritamrta.com/madhya/19/53/en1 |archivedate=14 February 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 
</blockquote>

The evidence for the belief that the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is an incarnation of Lord Krishna is found in the Srimad Bhagavatam:

{{quote|In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.|source=Canto 11, Chapter 5, Verse 32<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/11/5/32/|title=ŚB 11.5.32|website=vedabase.io|language=en|access-date=24 February 2020}}</ref>}}

{{quote|In this way, my Lord, You appear in various incarnations as a human being, an animal, a great saint, a demigod, a fish or a tortoise, thus maintaining the entire creation in different planetary systems and killing the demoniac principles. According to the age, O my Lord, You protect the principles of religion. 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.|source=Canto 7, Chapter 9, Verse 38<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/7/9/38/|title=ŚB 7.9.38|website=vedabase.io|language=en|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref>}}

[[Religion:Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Gaudiya Vaishnavas]] consider Chaitanya to be Lord Krishna himself but appearing in the covered form (channa avatar) who appeared in the Kali-yuga as his own devotee to show the easiest way to achieve Krishna Consciousness.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/?id=4CQiBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT9&dq=golden+volcano#v=onepage&q=the%20hidden%20incarnation&f=false|title=The Golden Volcano of Divine Love: The Highest Conception of Ultimate Reality|last=Sridhar|first=Bhakti Rakshak|publisher=Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=36|language=en}}</ref>The Gaudiya Vaishnava acharya Bhaktivinoda Thakura had also found out the rare manuscript of Chaitanya Upanisad of the Atharvaveda section, which reveals the identity of Chaitanya. <ref>http://www.krishna.com/sri-chaitanya-vedas</ref> There are various evidences in the Hindu scriptures to show that, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was non-different from Krishna. Unlike the other avatars of Krishna he did not kill any demon. Mahaprabhu brought light to the chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. According  to Chaitanya Bhagavat, which gives a detailed description of Mahaprabhu's life, Mahaprabhu made a prediction that the holy name of Krishna will be sung in every town and village of the world and this is evident in the history. International Society of Krishna Consciousness was started by Srila Prabhupada in the USA, proved the prediction to be correct.

==Teachings==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
Chaitanya sankirtan.jpg|Chaitanya and Nityananda are shown performing a 'kirtan' in the streets of Nabadwip, Bengal.
Panca-tattva Altar.jpg|[[Religion:Pancha Tattva (Vaishnavism)|Pancha Tattva]] deities installed on a [[Religion:Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] altar. From left to right: Advaita Acharya, Nityananda, Chaitanya, [[Biography:Gadadhara Pandita|Gadadhara Pandita]], Srivasa.
Mahaprabhu 103.jpg|Statue of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Chaitanya mahaprabhu.jpg|Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Neelachal.
</gallery>
Lord Chaitanya's direct teachings are recorded in Sanskrit verses called Siksastakam (though, in [[Religion:Vaishnava Padavali|Vaishnava Padavali]] it is said: "Chaitanya himself wrote many songs on the Radha-Krishna theme").

Chaitanya's epistemological, theological and ontological teachings are summarised as ten root principles called dasa mula.<ref>Thakura, B. (1993). Jaiva dharma: The universal religion (K. Das, Trans.). Los Angeles, CA: Krishna Institute.</ref>

# The statements of ''amnaya'' (scripture) are the chief proof. By these statements the following nine topics are taught.
# Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth.
# Krishna is endowed with all energies.
# Krishna is the source of all [[Religion:Rasa (theology)|rasa]]- flavor, quality, or spiritual rapture/emotions.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.iskconbangalore.org/blog/lord-chaitanya-in-the-scriptures/ |title = 10 Scriptures that Reveal Lord Chaitanya's Identity as Lord Krishna|date = 18 February 2015}}</ref>
# The [[Philosophy:Jiva|jiva]]s (individual souls) are all separated parts of the Lord.
# Inbound state the ''jivas'' are under the influence of matter, due to their [[Philosophy:Tatastha|tatastha]] (marginal) nature.
# In the liberated state the ''jivas'' are free from the influence of matter.
# The ''jivas'' and the material world are both different from and identical to the Lord.
# Pure devotion is the only way to attain liberation.
# Pure love of Krishna is the ultimate goal.
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
চৈতন্য মহাপ্রভু.jpg|60 feet Chaitanya Mahaprabhu statue in Nabadwip.
Gauranga mahaprabhu.jpg|Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Prachin Mayapur, Nabadwip.
Yogapith, Mayapur.jpg|Yogapith, the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Built-in the 1880s by [[Biography:Bhaktivinoda Thakur|Bhaktivinoda Thakur]] (1838-1914) in [[Place:Mayapur|Mayapur]] (West Bengal, {{wipe|India}}).
Gaura Nitai shrine at ISKCON temple, Delhi.jpg|''Gaura Nitai'' shrine at ISKCON Temple Delhi.
</gallery>

==Philosophy and Tradition==
Despite having been initiated in the [[Religion:Madhvacharya|Madhvacharya]] tradition and taking sannyasa from [[Biography:Adi Shankara|Shankara]]'s tradition, Chaitanya's philosophy is sometimes regarded as a tradition of his own within the [[Religion:Vaishnavism|Vaishnava framework]] – having some marked differences with the practices and the [[Religion:Theology|theology]] of other followers of Madhvacharya. He took Mantra Upadesa from Isvara Puri and Sanyasa Diksha from Keshava Bharati.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Chaitanya is not known to have written anything himself except for a series of verses known as the ''Siksastaka'', or "eight verses of instruction",<ref>[http://lordcaitanya.com/mission/en1 TLC: Lord Chaitanya's Mission] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203073845/http://lordcaitanya.com/mission/en1 |date=3 February 2014 }} "Although Lord Caitanya was widely renowned as a scholar in His youth, He left only eight verses, called Sikshashtaka"</ref> which he had spoken, and were recorded by one of his close colleagues. The eight verses created by Chaitanya are considered to contain the complete philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in condensed form. Chaitanya requested a select few among his followers (who later came to be known as the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan) to systematically present the theology of bhakti he had taught to them in their own writings.<ref>[http://www.gaudiya.com/index.php?topic=history History of Gaudiya Vaishnavism] "He requested ... the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, to systematically present ... the theology of bhakti he had taught"</ref> The six saints and theologians were Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, [[Religion:Gopala Bhatta Goswami|Gopala Bhatta Goswami]], Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami, Raghunatha Dasa Goswami and Jiva Goswami, a nephew of brothers Rupa and Sanatana. These individuals were responsible for systematising Gaudiya Vaishnava theology.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Narottama Dasa, Srinivasa Acarya and Syamananda Pandit were among the stalwarts of the second generation of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Having studied under Jiva Goswami, they were instrumental in propagating the teachings of the Goswamis throughout Bengal, Odisha and other regions of Eastern India. Many among their associates, such as Ramacandra Kaviraja and Ganga Narayan Chakravarti, were also eminent teachers in their own right.<ref>[http://www.dharmakshetra.com/sages/Saints/lilas%20of%20narotamma%20das.html Narottama Dasa Thakur: Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510120845/http://www.dharmakshetra.com/sages/Saints/lilas%20of%20narotamma%20das.html |date=10 May 2015 }}</ref>

In the early 17th century Kalachand Vidyalankar, a disciple of Chaitanya, made his preachings popular in Bengal. He travelled throughout India popularising the gospel of anti-untouchability, social justice and mass education. He probably initiated 'Pankti Bhojon' and Krishna Sankirtan in the eastern part of Bengal. Several schools (sampradaya) have been practising it for hundreds of years. Geetashree Chabi Bandyopadhyay and Radharani Devi are among many who achieved fame by singing kirtan. The Dalits in Bengal, at that time a neglected and underprivileged caste, readily accepted his libertarian outlook and embraced the doctrine of Mahaprabhu. His disciples were known as Kalachandi Sampraday, who inspired the people to eradicate illiteracy and casteism. Many consider Kalachand as the Father of Rationalism in East Bengal (Purba Banga).{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

The festival of Kheturi, presided over by Jahnava Thakurani,<ref>[http://www.iskcon.net/nityananda/nitaibio4.htm Festival of Kheturi] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122094841/http://www.iskcon.net/nityananda/nitaibio4.htm |date=22 November 2005 }}</ref> the wife of Nityananda, was the first time the leaders of the various branches of Chaitanya's followers assembled together. Through such festivals, members of the loosely organised tradition became acquainted with other branches along with their respective theological and practical nuances.<ref>[http://www.gaudiya.com/pdf/Charismatic_Renewal_in_Gaudiya_Vaishnavism.pdf Charismatic Renewal in Gaudiya Vaishnavism] (pdf)</ref> Around these times, the disciples and descendants of Nityananda and Advaita Acharya, headed by Virabhadra and Krishna respectively, started their family lineages (''vamsa'') to maintain the tradition. The ''vamsa'' descending from Nityananda through his son Virabhadra forms the most prominent branch of the modern Gaudiya tradition, though descendants of Advaita, along with the descendants of many other associates of Chaitanya, maintain their following especially in the rural areas of Bengal. Gopala Guru Goswami, a young associate of Chaitanya and a follower of Vakresvara Pandit, founded another branch based in Odisha. The writings of Gopala, along with those of his disciple Dhyanacandra Goswami, have had a substantial influence on the methods of internal worship in the tradition.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

From the very beginning of Chaitanya's ''[[Philosophy:Bhakti|bhakti]]'' movement in Bengal, [[Biography:Haridasa Thakur|Haridasa Thakur]] and others, Muslim or Hindu by birth, were participants. [[Biography:Ramakrishna|Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa]], the great sage of Dakshineswar, who lived in the 19th century, emphasised the bhakti marga of Chaitanya, whom he referred to as "Gauranga." (''[[Religion:The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna|The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna]]''). This openness received a boost from Bhaktivinoda Thakura's broad-minded vision in the late 19th century and was institutionalised by [[Biography:Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati|Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati]] in his Gaudiya Matha in the 20th century.<ref name=Sherbow2004>{{cite journal
| author = Sherbow, P.H.
| year = 2004
| title = AC Bhaktivedanta Swami's Preaching in the Context of Gaudiya Vaishnavism
| journal = The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant
| url = https://books.google.com/books?q=and%20others%20%20Haridasa%20of%20Muslim%20by%20birth%20were%20the%20participants&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8
| page = 139
}}</ref> In the 20th century the teachings of Chaitanya were brought to the West by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977), a representative of the Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati branch of Chaitanya's tradition. Prabhupada founded his movement known as The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to spread Chaitanya's teachings throughout the world.<ref>[http://www.krishna.com/main.php?id=551 History of the Hare Krishna Movement] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807225130/http://www.krishna.com/main.php?id=551 |date=7 August 2007 }}</ref> Saraswata gurus and acharyas, members of the Goswami lineages and several other Hindu sects which revere Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, including devotees from the major Vaishnava holy places in Mathura District, West Bengal and Odisha, also established temples dedicated to Krishna and Chaitanya outside India in the closing decades of the 20th century. In the 21st century, Vaishnava bhakti is now also being studied through the academic medium of Krishnology in a number of academic institutions.<ref>[http://www.did-you-mean.com/Krishnology.html Krishnology (definition)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205182516/http://www.did-you-mean.com/Krishnology.html |date=5 February 2012 }}</ref>

==Cultural legacy==
Chaitanya's influence on the cultural legacy in [[Place:Bengal|Bengal]] and Odisha has been significant,{{Citation needed|reason=needs a source citation|date=May 2017}} with many residents performing daily worship to him as an avatar of Krishna. Some attribute to him a Renaissance in Bengal,<ref>[http://www.bengal-studies-conference.org/ Bengal Studies Conference] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217014530/http://bengal-studies-conference.org/ |date=17 December 2014 }} "History says that the Bengali people experienced the renaissance: not only once but also twice in the course of history. Bengalis witnessed the first renaissance in the 16th century when Hossain Shah and Sri Chaitanya’s idealism influenced a sect of the upper literal class of people"</ref> different from the more well-known 19th-century Bengal Renaissance. Salimullah Khan (b. 1958), a noted Bangladeshi linguist, maintains, "Sixteenth-century is the time of Chaitanya Dev, and it is the beginning of Modernism in Bengal. The concept of 'humanity' that came into fruition is contemporaneous with that of Europe".{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Noted Bengali biographical film on Chaitanya, ''Nilachaley Mahaprabhu'' (1957), was directed by Kartik Chattopadhyay (1912-1989).<ref name="SurGoswami1999">{{cite book|last1=Sur|first1=Ansu|last2=Goswami|first2=Abhijit|title=Bengali Film Directory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R-hkAAAAMAAJ|page=96|year=1999|publisher=Nandan, West Bengal Film Centre}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Place:Vrindavan|Vrindavan]]
*[[Religion:Gauranga|Gauranga]]
*Jagannath Temple (Puri)
*[[Religion:Pancha Tattva (Vaishnavism)|Pancha Tattva (Vaishnavism)]]
*Prabhupāda
{{Clear}}

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}} 
*{{cite book |title=Indiaʼs spiritual renaissance: the life and times of Lord Chaitanya |last=Rosen |first=Steven  |year=1988 |publisher=Folk Books |isbn=0-9619763-0-6 |page= |url= |ref= }}
*{{cite book |title=Sages Through Ages – Volume II: India's Heritage|last=Nair|first=K. K.|year=2007|publisher=AuthorHouse |isbn=978-1-4208-7802-8 |page= |url= https://books.google.com/?id=z3rAr456ngQC&pg=PA87&dq=chaitanya+mahaprabhu&cd=13#v=onepage&q=chaitanya%20mahaprabhu|ref= na|accessdate= 7 April 2013}}
*{{cite book |title= In Search of a Forgotten Mahatma: Kalachand Vidyalankar |author=Sandipan Manna|edition=I|year=2013|publisher=Kalyani Foundation|isbn=978-81-927505-4-5 }}
*{{citation
 |last = Dasa |first = Shukavak N.
 |title = Hindu Encounter with Modernity: Kedarnath Datta Bhaktivinoda, Vaiṣṇava Theologian
 |year = 1999
 |publisher =  Sanskrit Religions Institute
 |place = Los Angeles, CA
 |isbn = 1-889756-30-X
 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=KHvXAAAAMAA
 |edition = revised, illustrated
 |accessdate = 31 January 2014
 |ref = harv}}
*{{cite thesis
 |last = Fuller |first = Jason Dale
 |title = Bhaktivinode Thakur and the transformation of religious authority among the Gauḍīya Vaisṣṇavas In nineteenth-century Bengal
 |type = Ph.D.
 |url = http://repository.upenn.edu/dissertations/AAI3179733/
 |year = 2005
 |publisher = University of Pennsylvania 
 |accessdate = 8 June 2014
 |id = UMI Microform 3179733
 |oclc =    
 |ref = harv}}
*Das, Khudiram (2017). [http://professorkhudiramdas.com/files/ebooks/Sri-Chaitanya-and-Gaudiya-Vaishnava-Dharma.pdf]''[http://professorkhudiramdas.com/files/ebooks/Sri-Chaitanya-and-Gaudiya-Vaishnava-Dharma.pdf Sri Chaitanya and Gaudiya Vaishnava Dharma]'' (Ebook).
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
*Jadunath Sarkar, Chaitanya's pilgrimages and teachings, from his contemporary Bengali biography, the Chaitanya-charit-amrita: Madhya-lila by Kr̥ṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmi
* [https://www.thegaudiyatreasuresofbengal.com/2018/12/28/sri-chaitanya-mangala-sutra-khanda-celestial-pastimes-preceding-advent-lord-gauranga/ Learn more about the Life and pastimes of Lord Chaitanya. Checkout this widely appreciated enlightening book by Locana das Thakura : Sri Chaitanya Mangala (Sutra Khanda) – The celestial pastimes preceding the advent of Lord Gauranga]

==External links==
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* {{Internet Archive author}}  
* {{Internet Archive author|name=Chaitanya}}  
* [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Chaitanya Chaitanya] at ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' 
* [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chaitanya-movement Chaitanya movement] at ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' 
* [http://www.gaudiya.com/ Gaudiya Vaishnavism – The Tradition of Chaitanya]
* [http://www.CauseOfAllCauses.com/upanisad.htm Caitanya Upanisad]
* [http://www.CauseOfAllCauses.com/bhagavat.htm Caitanya Bhagavata Biography]
* [http://www.gaudiya.com/ Gaudiya Vaishnavism – The Tradition of Chaitanya]
* [http://www.purebhakti.com/mission/bhakti-is-love-mainmenu-75/799-life-of-sri-chaitanya-mahaprabhu.html Life of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]
* [http://veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/caitanya.htm Scriptural Statements/Predictions regarding Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birth]
* [http://hpb.narod.ru/SreeChaitanyaHWBM.html Lord Gouranga and His Message of Devotion] (theosophical.ca)
* [https://www.thegaudiyatreasuresofbengal.com/2018/01/08/635/ YogPeeth, Mayapur, Navadvipa – The birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu]
* [https://learn.culturalindia.net/chaitanya-mahaprabhu.html at ''Chaitaniya mahaprabhu biography'']
* [https://www.thegaudiyatreasuresofbengal.com/2020/06/21/who-is-lord-chaitanya-the-hare-krishna-movement/ Who is Lord Chaitanya?]

{{VaisnavaSampradayas}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahaprabhu, Chaitanya}}
[[Category:Spiritual practice]]

{{Sourceattribution|Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|1}}