Caitanya As an Ordinary Human Being - The Divine Disguise
In the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, there is a fascinating interplay between His divinity and His humanity. Although He is the Supreme Lord, He accepted the role of a devotee to teach the science of bhakti. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord frequently presented Himself as an ordinary human being to set the perfect example for others. By acting within the jurisdiction of human limitations and social etiquette, He demonstrated how a sincere aspirant should conduct their life.
The Role of an Ācārya
As the ideal teacher (ācārya), Lord Caitanya was extremely conscious of public opinion. He knew that if He acted whimsically, the general public would not take His teachings seriously. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that although He was the Supreme Lord and had no reason to fear anyone, He adhered strictly to the rules of the sannyāsa order. He declared that as an "ordinary human being," He had to be careful with His body, mind, and words to avoid criticism, thus teaching neophyte devotees the importance of strict behavior.
- Although Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Sri Krsna Himself, the Supreme Lord, and was therefore not at all fearful, He still acted like a human being to teach neophytes how to act.
- When Ramananda Raya addressed Caitanya as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Caitanya Mahaprabhu objected, saying, "I am not the Supreme Personality of Godhead but an ordinary human being. Therefore I must fear public opinion in three ways - with My body, mind and words."
- Because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was playing the part of an acarya, the Lord considered Himself an ordinary human being.
The Intimacy of Pure Love
For the intimate associates of the Lord, viewing Him as an ordinary human being was not a result of ignorance, but of intense transcendental love. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the affection of Damayantī (the sister of Rāghava Paṇḍita), who would prepare elaborate bags of food for the Lord. She constantly worried that if He ate too much, He would become sick or develop mucus in His abdomen. This human-like concern is a symptom of the highest vātsalya-rasa (parental love), where the devotee feels the Lord is dependent on their care.
- Because of her natural love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Damayanti considered the Lord an ordinary human being. Therefore she thought that He would become sick by overeating and there would be mucus within His abdomen.
- Because of extreme love, devotees like Raghava Pandita and his sister, Damayanti, thought of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as a human being, but their love for Him was boundless.
Avoiding Cheap Imitation
One of the primary reasons Lord Caitanya insisted on being treated as an ordinary human being was to warn against false incarnations. When Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya or others praised Him as the Supreme Lord, He would often cover His ears and protest, claiming to be an insignificant living entity. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Sanātana Gosvāmī understood this strategy: the Lord played the part of an ordinary brāhmaṇa so that in the future, unauthorized people would not cheaply claim to be God without showing the proper symptoms.
- Lord Caitanya protested against being called the Supreme Lord: "My dear sir, I am an ordinary living entity. I cannot know the real meaning of the Vedanta-sutra, but Vyasadeva, who is an incarnation of Narayana, knows its real meaning."
- He (Sanatana Gosvami) could understand that in the future there would be many people who would try to imitate Lord Caitanya because the Lord played as an ordinary brahmana, despite the fact that His devotees accepted Him as an incarnation.
Conclusion
While those with imperfect senses mistakenly see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu as an ordinary mortal, the pure devotees understand the mystery of His "human" disguise. By hiding His opulence, the Lord allows for a more intimate exchange of love and establishes the standard for religious practice. As Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes, even if one offers obeisances to Him thinking Him to be an ordinary sannyāsī, one still achieves liberation—such is the potency of His mercy.
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