The Moods of Love in Separation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Gaura Purnima, March 9-10, 2020
These are a string of verses, spoken by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in a mood of deep separation and longing for Lord Krsna. They are quoted toward the end of the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita by its author, Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami. I bow to the beauty and depth of these verses on this 533rd anniversary of His appearance in this world.
“The ring of Krsna’s rasa-lila, manufactured by Sukadeva Goswami, the most auspicious craftsman, is as pure as an earring made from a conchshell. The yogi of my mind is wearing that earring upon his ear. From a gourd, he has carved out a bowl of my aspirations, and he has taken a bag of my expectations on his shoulder.”
“The yogi of my mind wears the torn quilt of anxiety on his body, which is covered with dust and ashes. His only words are, “Alas, Krsna!” He wears twelve bangles of distress and a turban of greed on his head. Because he has not eaten anything, he is very thin.”
“The great yogi of my mind always studies the poetry and discussions of Lord Krsna’s Vrndavan pastimes. In Srimad Bhagavatam and other scriptures, great saintly yogis like Vyasadeva and Sukadeva Goswami have described Lord Krsna as the Supersoul, beyond all material contamination.”
“The mystic yogi of my mind has assumed the name Mahabaula and made disciples of my ten senses. Thus my mind has gone to Vrndavan, leaving aside the home of my body and the great treasure of material enjoyment.”
“In Vrndavana, he goes from door to door begging alms with all his disciples. He begs from the moving and the inert inhabitants- the citizens, the trees and the creepers. In this way he lives on fruits, roots and leaves.”
“The gopis of Vrajabhumi (Vrndavana) always taste the nectar of Krsna’s attributes, His beauty, His sweetness, His aroma, the sound of His flute, and the touch of HIs body. My mind’s five disciples, the senses of perception, gather the remnants of that nectar from the gopis and bring them to the yogi of my mind. The senses maintain their lives by eating those remnants.”
“There is a solitary garden where Lord Krsna enjoys His pastimes, and in one corner of a pavilion of that garden, the yogi of my mind along with his disciples practices mystic yoga. Wanting to see Krsna directly, the yogi remains awake throughout the night, meditating on Krsna, who is the Supersoul, uncontaminated by the three modes of nature.”
“When my mind lost the association of Krsna and could no longer see Him, he became depressed and took up mystic yoga. In the void of separation from Krsna, he experienced ten transcendental transformations. Agitated by these transformations, my mind fled, leaving my body, his place of residence, empty. Thus I am completely in trance.”
When the gopis felt separation from Krsna, they experienced ten kinds of bodily transformations. These same symptoms appeared in the body of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
I place my head at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, on HIs holy appearance day today.
All the best,
Rukmini Walker