Caitanya Embracing Sanātana Gosvāmī - The Transcendental Touch
The relationship between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī is defined by a unique mixture of extreme humility on the part of the servant and overwhelming mercy on the part of the Master. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when Sanātana Gosvāmī arrived in Jagannātha Purī, his body was covered in itching sores. Out of deep humility, Sanātana tried to stay at a distance to avoid polluting the Lord, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu insisted on embracing him, teaching the world that a devotee’s body is always spiritual.
Forced Mercy and Sanātana’s Humility
When Sanātana Gosvāmī first appeared in the courtyard of Kāśī Miśra’s house, he appeared like a common mendicant. As soon as the Lord saw him, He rushed forward with great haste to embrace him. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how Sanātana, distressed by his own condition, tried to back away, crying out for the Lord not to touch him. However, the Lord caught him by force. This "forced mercy" showed that the Lord does not see the external condition of His devotees but rather their internal heart.
- Sanatana Gosvami backed away, but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu caught him by force and embraced him.
- Although Sanatana Gosvami repeatedly forbade Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to embrace him, the Lord still did so. Thus His body was smeared with the moisture from Sanatana's body, and Sanatana became greatly distressed.
The Scent of Sandalwood Pulp
One of the most striking aspects of this pastime is the Lord's perception of Sanātana's body. While the world might have seen a man with a contagious skin disease, the Lord experienced something entirely different. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that the Lord smelled the aroma of catuhsama—a mixture of sandalwood, camphor, aguru, and musk—emanating from Sanātana. This proves that the body of a pure devotee is apṛākṛta, or non-material, and remains fragrant and pure regardless of external appearances.
- Caitanya said: Sanatana Gosvami is one of the associates of Krsna. There could not be any bad odor from his body. On the first day I embraced him, I smelled the aroma of catuhsama (a mixture of sandalwood pulp, camphor, aguru and musk).
- In fact, however, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu embraced the body of Sanatana Gosvami, by the Lord's touch alone there was manifested a fragrance exactly like that of sandalwood pulp.
Healing through the Divine Touch
The embrace of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was not merely a symbolic gesture; it was a powerful act of transformation. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that through this contact, the Lord accepted Sanātana's body as spiritual. Eventually, after many such embraces, Sanātana’s disease was completely eradicated. His skin became clear, and his entire body took on a beautiful golden luster, resembling the complexion of the Lord Himself. This miraculous healing demonstrated that the Lord's touch is the ultimate cure for all material and physical afflictions.
- After saying this, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again embraced Sanatana Gosvami. Thus immediately Sanatana's sores disappeared, and his entire body resembled the color of gold.
- The moisture oozing from Sanatana’s itching skin did not affect the Lord at all. After speaking with Sanatana Gosvami in this way, the Lord again embraced him, and after this embrace, Sanatana Gosvami became free from the disease.
The Lord’s Great Pleasure
While Sanātana Gosvāmī felt unhappy and fearful that he was offending the Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu reassured him. He told Sanātana that embracing him gave Him "great pleasure." Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the Lord's love for His associates is so profound that He finds joy in their company, regardless of their social or physical standing. By embracing Sanātana and Haridāsa Ṭhākura together, the Lord also demonstrated His rejection of the caste system and external bodily designations.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu continued, "My dear Sanatana, do not be aggrieved, for when I embrace you I actually get great pleasure."
- Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu praised the character of Sanatana Gosvami, and He embraced Sanatana, accepting his body as spiritual.
Conclusion
The embrace of Sanātana Gosvāmī is a testament to the fact that the Supreme Lord is bhakta-vatsala, or the lover of His devotees. He ignores the temporary conditions of the material body to embrace the eternal soul. As Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches, by following the example of Sanātana Gosvāmī's humility and the Lord's compassion, we can understand the true spiritual standard of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism—where love transcends all material barriers.
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