Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu's Tour of South India
Shortly after accepting the renounced order of life, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu undertook an extensive tour of South India. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this journey, which covered the southern peninsula from Jagannātha Purī down to Cape Comorin, was a strategic mission to spread the saṅkīrtana movement. For two years, the Lord traveled from village to village, delivering the holy name of Kṛṣṇa and converting thousands of people to Vaiṣṇavism.
Delivering the South
Śrīla Prabhupāda uses a powerful analogy to describe the impact of Lord Caitanya's preaching in the south. Just as Lord Viṣṇu delivered the elephant Gajendra from the jaws of a crocodile, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saved the residents of South India from the "crocodiles" of various non-devotional philosophies, including Buddhism, Jainism, and Māyāvāda. By His logic and personal ecstasy, He defeated opposing scholars and established the supremacy of bhakti.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's converting the people of South India into Vaisnavas is compared to Lord Visnu's delivering Gajendra the elephant from the attack of a crocodile.
- Being thus defeated by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, all these philosophers and their followers entered into His cult. In this way Lord Caitanya made South India into a country of Vaisnavas.
- Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not manifest His spiritual potencies at Navadvipa, but He did manifest them in South India and liberated all the people there.
Meeting Rāmānanda Rāya
One of the most significant events of the tour was the meeting with Rāmānanda Rāya on the banks of the Godāvarī River. Acting on the advice of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Lord Caitanya sought out this great devotee. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that although the Lord is the Supreme Teacher, in this instance, He took the position of a student to hear the confidential truths of conjugal love (mādhurya-rasa) from Rāmānanda Rāya.
- When Lord Caitanya went to southern India, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya advised Him to meet Ramananda Raya, declaring that there was no devotee as advanced in understanding the conjugal love of Krsna and the gopis.
- While touring South India, Lord Caitanya met Ramananda Raya by the bank of the Godavari, and in their long discourses the Lord took the position of a student, and Ramananda Raya instructed Him.
Cāturmāsya in Śrī Raṅgam
During the four-month rainy season known as Cāturmāsya, the Lord stayed in Śrī Raṅgam at the house of Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, a brāhmaṇa of the Rāmānuja-sampradāya. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that this stay was pivotal, as the Lord interacted with Veṅkaṭa's family, including his son Gopāla Bhaṭṭa (who later became one of the Six Gosvāmīs) and his brother Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī, bestowing His mercy upon them.
- In the year 1433 Sakabda (A.D. 1511), when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He stayed for four months during the period of Caturmasya at the house of Venkata Bhatta, who then got the opportunity to serve the Lord to his heart's content.
- From historical records it is found that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu traveled in South India in the year 1433 Sakabda (A.D. 1511) during the Caturmasya period, and it was at that time that He met Prabodhananda, who belonged to the Ramanuja-sampradaya.
Recovering Lost Scriptures
A major contribution of the South Indian tour was the recovery of authorized distinct scriptures. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord discovered handwritten copies of the Brahma-saṁhitā and Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta. Recognizing their value, He hand-copied them and brought them back to Jagannātha Purī, presenting them to His devotees as authoritative evidence of the supremacy of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
- It is understood that these verses (Brahma-samhita) were written by Brahma, and when Lord Caitanya was traveling in South India He picked up this book from a temple, hand-written, and He delivered to His devotees. So it is very authorized book.
- The Lord excavated from South India two very important old literatures, namely the Brahma-samhita and Krsna-karnamrta.
- The Lord said, "For your sake only, I have brought two books from South India."
Conclusion
Upon His return to Jagannātha Purī, the devotees felt as if their lives had returned. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Mother Śacī and all the associates were relieved to hear of His safe arrival. The tour of South India stands as a testament to the Lord's determination to reclaim the conditioned souls, using every method—from philosophical debate to the simple distribution of the holy name—to inaugurate a golden era of devotion.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Caitanya in South India. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience his teachings in their direct, verbatim form.