Glorious Position of Caitanya's Servants
The constitutional position of every living entity is to serve Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this identity is so glorious that even the incarnations of Godhead, such as Lord Nityānanda and Advaita Ācārya, crave the mood of servitude, finding it more relishable than the position of the Supreme Lord. He emphasizes that the relationship between Lord Caitanya and His servants is eternal, transcending the boundaries of birth and death.
Universal Principle of Servitude
Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that in the absolute sense, there is only one Master, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and everyone else is His servant. While respectful addresses are used among Vaiṣṇavas, he clarifies that the ultimate reality is that every soul is subordinated to the will of the Golden Avatāra, and accepting this truth is the beginning of liberation.
- Any Vaisnava is addressed as prabhu - but Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is mahaprabhu, the topmost prabhu, the master prabhu. All others are servant prabhu.
- Every living entity is eternally a servant of Sri Krsna Caitanya; therefore the spiritual master cannot be other than a servant of Lord Caitanya.
- That same Lord Krsna has descended as Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Everyone, therefore, is His servant.
Joy of Divine Servitude
Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that the bliss derived from serving Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is so immense that it captivates even His plenary portions. He notes that Lord Nityānanda and Advaita Ācārya, though nondifferent from the Lord in power and category, voluntarily adopt the mood of servants to experience the unique sweetness of devotion to Gaurāṅga.
- He says, "Nityananda and I are servants of Lord Caitanya." Nowhere else is there such joy as that which is tasted in this emotion of servitude.
- Sri Advaita Acarya, however, considers Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu His master, and He thinks of Himself as a servant of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Advaita Prabhu’s aspiration was to be a servant of Lord Caitanya, not His spiritual master. He therefore devised a plan to antagonize the Lord.
Eternal Recognition and Protection
The bond between the Lord and His servant is never broken. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recognizes His eternal associates even when they appear in different circumstances, such as the ministers Dabira Khāsa and Sākara Mallika. Furthermore, he highlights how the Lord actively protects His servants from the dangers of material life, as evidenced by His rescue of Kṛṣṇadāsa.
- Birth after birth you have been My eternal servants. I am sure that Krsna will deliver you very soon.
- Actually this (CC Madhya 1.208) is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s initiation of Dabira Khasa and Sakara Mallika. They approached the Lord with all humility, and the Lord accepted them as old servants, as eternal servants, and He changed their names.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is well known as Patita-pavana, the savior of all fallen souls, and He proved this in His behavior toward His personal servant, Krsnadasa, whom He saved.
Intimacy in Personal Service
Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the position of a personal servant, such as Govinda, as one involving great intimacy and responsibility. He notes that while the Lord was strict in His personal conduct, often chastising His servants for slight deviations like hoarding food, this discipline was a manifestation of His love and a means to teach the highest standards of renunciation.
- Govinda was the personal servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered His personal servant Govinda that no one should take the water that had washed His feet.
- Everyone respected Govinda as the dearest servant of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Govinda served all the Vaisnavas and saw to their needs.
Conclusion
To be a servant of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the perfection of existence. It is a position sought after by the demigods and cherished by the Lord's intimate associates. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that whether through the strict execution of orders or the internal cultivation of humility, those who accept this servitude find themselves under the direct protection of the Supreme Lord.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Caitanya's Servants. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.