Caitanya Mahāprabhu

The Bhavishya Purāṇa presents Caitanya Mahāprabhu as one of the supreme manifestations of Kali Yuga. He was born to fulfil a divine promise and to spread Vaishṇava dharma (the way of devotion to Bhagavān Vishṇu) across Bhārata.

The Purāṇa tells his coming through two linked accounts. In the first, the brāhmaṇa Vishṇuśarman earns Vishṇu-loka by a thousand years of bhakti, and his Vaishṇava tejas (spiritual radiance) comes down through the grace of Bhagavān Sūrya. In the second, Bṛhaspati tells Indra that Bhagavān Vishṇu will be born as the son of Śacī in Gauḍadeśa. The Purāṇa calls Caitanya “Yajñāṃśa-Kṛshṇa-Caitanya”, the part (aṃśa) of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa that is given to yajña (the fire ritual). It also shows him gathering the Rudra-aṃśas, the Vaishṇava mahātmas and the bhakti sants (devotee-teachers) of Kali Yuga into one spiritual mission.

The origin: Vishṇuśarman’s thousand years

Long before Caitanya was born, a brāhmaṇa named Vishṇuśarman lived in complete and steady devotion to Bhagavān Vishṇu. His mind was praśānta (calm). Along with his Vishṇu-bhakti he did Sūrya-ārādhana (worship of Bhagavān Sūrya). He lived and moved among people for a thousand years. He lit the lamp of jñāna (knowledge) in dark hearts and never broke from his devotion. At the end of the thousand years he reached Vishṇu-loka.

When the time came to protect dharma in the deepest Kali Yuga, this stored Vaishṇava tejas, joined with the radiance of Bhagavān Sūrya, became the spiritual seed from which Caitanya would be born.

Bṛhaspati’s words to Indra

The devas (the shining ones) suffered under the mleccha oppression of Kali Yuga. It was felt most sharply when Taimūr-laṅga damaged the sālagrāma-śilās (sacred stones of Bhagavān Vishṇu) and sacred images. The devas went to Indra in distress. Indra was shaken, and he went to his guru Bṛhaspati.

Bṛhaspati said to Indra: “O Mahendra! Bhagavān Vishṇu has already given his word that he will be born as the son of your wife Śacī. That time is now near. She will take birth in Gauḍadeśa, in Śāntipura on the bank of the Gaṅgā, in the form of a brāhmaṇī. You too will take birth in the form of a brāhmaṇa and carry out the divine tasks.”

The Purāṇa says this came true. Śacī-devī was born as the mother Śacī, wife of Jagannātha Miśra, and Indra was born as the father. From this union Caitanya Mahāprabhu was born.

Īśvarapurī, the teacher born before him

Before Caitanya came, his guru Īśvarapurī Ācārya was sent ahead. Dhātṛśarman was a devoted brāhmaṇa of Barhishmatī (Biṭhūr). He had worshipped Bhagavān Sūrya for five years and had won Bhagavān Sūrya’s direct grace. In Kali Yuga he was born again as Īśvarapurī Ācārya, in the house of a good brāhmaṇa named Kāvyakartā.

In his life Īśvarapurī defeated all the Vedic scholars of his time in śāstrārtha (debate on the scriptures) and became the acknowledged paramācārya (the highest teacher). He prepared the way for the greater mission that would follow through his disciple.

The mission: spreading Vaishṇava dharma

The Pratisarga Parva describes Caitanya Mahāprabhu as “Yajñāṃśa-Kṛshṇa-Caitanya”, the form of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa that carries the aṃśa of yajña. He moved through Kali Yuga and gathered around himself all the great spiritual powers that had come down to protect dharma.

The Purāṇa describes an assembly. Caitanya sat in his āśrama in Viśālapura. The assembled ṛshis came there to take leave of him before going to Indra-loka. Around Caitanya were gathered:

  • Āhlādudu, a great devotee
  • Gorakha-yogī, the great Nātha yogī
  • Śaṅkara and other Rudra-aṃśa mahātmas
  • Bhartṛhari Mahārāja and other royal disciples
  • Many other ananya-yogī devotees (devotees who look to Bhagavān Kṛshṇa alone)

This assembly came from the Vaishṇava, Śaiva and yogic paths, and all of them gathered under Caitanya’s guidance.

Dialogue with Paramātmā

The Pratisarga Parva also keeps a sacred saṃvāda (dialogue) between Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Paramātmā. It teaches the dharma of Kali Yuga, the nature of bhakti, and the path open to all beings whatever their birth or condition. The conversation says that nāma-saṅkīrtana, the chanting of the divine names together, is the highest yajña of Kali Yuga.

The other bhakti sants of Kali Yuga

The Pratisarga Parva places Caitanya among many other bhakti mahātmas of Kali Yuga, and it traces their earlier births. It describes the past-life origins of Kabīr, Narasī Mehtā, Pīpā, Nānak, Nityānanda, Sādhana, Raidāsa, Nāmadeva and others. All of them were born to spread bhakti-dharma among different communities and regions of Bhārata.

Sources

  • Bhavishya Mahā Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapters 6–7 (Bṛhaspati’s words to Indra; the birth of Śacī and Indra)
  • Bhavishya Mahā Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 7 (Īśvarapurī)
  • Bhavishya Mahā Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 10 (Vishṇuśarman)
  • Bhavishya Mahā Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapters 17–21 (the other bhakti sants)
  • Bhavishya Mahā Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapters 19–21 (the assembly and the mission)
  • Bhavishya Mahā Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 4, Chapter 20 (the dialogue)