Joining Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu - The Call to Eternal Service
The movement of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is a universal invitation to return to our original, spiritual nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord’s saṅkīrtana movement is unique because it requires no previous qualification; anyone, regardless of their background, can join and become a perfect human being. From the wealthy and influential to the wild animals of the forest, the call of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is an irresistible force that awakens the dormant love of God in every living entity's heart.
A Universal Invitation Without Qualification
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the path opened by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is entirely inclusive. In previous ages, spiritual processes often required strict prerequisites, but the saṅkīrtana movement is accessible to everyone. By simply joining the movement and following the Lord's teachings, an individual can achieve the highest human perfection. This accessibility is what made the movement so popular and allowed it to spread rapidly among the masses.
- Everyone can join in His (Lord Caitanya's) sankirtana movement. No previous qualification is necessary. Just by following His teachings, anyone can become a perfect human being.
- When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a grhastha, a householder, He was so much honored that merely by the direction of His finger He was able to enlist thousands of people to join Him in a civil disobedience movement.
- He (Caitanya Mahaprabhu) was so influential that simply by His calling, hundreds and thousands of men immediately joined to go to the Chand Kazi's house to perform kirtana. So just imagine what was His social position, so popular, leader.
Renunciation and Dedication of the Gosvāmīs
Among those who joined Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the example of Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī is particularly striking. Despite being the son of a wealthy landlord with a massive income, he felt an intense spiritual urge to join the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how Raghunātha dāsa eventually escaped the vigilance of his parents to join the Lord in Jagannātha Purī. His journey from a comfortable life to one of strict tapasya as a Gosvāmī serves as an inspiration for all who seek to dedicate their lives to the mission of the Lord.
- After all, Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, somehow or other, in spite of vigilance of the father and mother, he left home and joined Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very glad that Raghunatha has come.
- Formerly he was simply Raghunatha, and when he joined Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then he became Raghunatha dasa Gosvami.
- Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's father's income was twelve lakhs of rupees. He left his happy home and joined Caitanya Mahaprabhu and exemplified tapasya.
- These Gosvamis left their very comfortable lives as ministers. Zamindars and learned scholars and joined Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement, just to show mercy to the fallen souls of the world - dina-ganesakau karunaya.
Transformation of Heretics and Opponents
The spiritual power of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was so great that even those who initially opposed Him were transformed and joined His cause. Śrīla Prabhupāda recounts how the Chand Kazi, who had tried to stop the saṅkīrtana, eventually joined the party himself. Similarly, the great Māyāvādī scholar Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī was charmed by the Lord’s ecstatic dancing and transcendental beauty, leading him and his thousands of disciples to join in the chanting of the holy names.
- The Kazi then joined the sankirtana party. The world was astonished at the spiritual power of the Great Lord, and hundreds and hundreds of heretics converted and joined the banner of Visvambhara after this affair.
- As soon as he (Prakasananda Sarasvati) saw the beautiful body of Lord Caitanya and the Lord dancing with His associates, Prakasananda Sarasvati also joined and began to sing: Hari! Hari.
- When Prakasananda Sarasvati saw the Lord, he and his disciples also joined the chanting with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Prakasananda Sarasvati was charmed by the Lord's dancing and ecstatic love and by the transcendental beauty of His body.
Joining Caitanya in the Animal Kingdom
One of the most extraordinary aspects of Lord Caitanya’s pastimes was His ability to engage even the animal kingdom in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. While passing through the forests of Jharikhaṇḍa, the Lord’s chanting was so pure and potent that tigers, elephants, and deer joined Him in dancing and shouting the holy names. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this proves hari-nāma can attract every living soul, as the core of every living entity—regardless of its external body—is a servant of Kṛṣṇa.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu practically exhibited that hari-nama sankirtana, krsna-kirtana, can attract even animals, tigers, elephants. They also join with Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- When Caitanya was passing through the jungles of South India some five hundred years ago, He chanted Hare Krsna, and all the animals - the tigers, elephants and deer - joined Him in dancing to the holy names. Of course this depends on the purity of the chanting.
- When He (Lord Caitanya) was traveling through the forests of Jharikhanda in central India for spreading His sankirtana movement, the tigers, the elephants, the deer and all the other wild animals joined Him and were participating, in their own ways.
- All the cowherd boys who saw Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu passing joined with Him and began to shout loudly, "Hari! Hari!"
Conclusion
Joining Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the ultimate call to eternal service for every living entity. As Śrīla Prabhupāda illustrates, the Lord’s movement is not restricted by any material barrier, whether it be wealth, education, or even species. By the mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His associates like Lord Nityānanda, the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness has been made available to all. Whether one is a scholar like Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī or a wild animal in the forest, the act of joining the Lord’s saṅkīrtana brings one to the platform of transcendental bliss and serves as the only remedy for the suffering of the material world.
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 Joining Caitanya. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.