I Cannot Come Without My Ammunition (01/12/02)If You Want to Save Your Countrymen From Sahajiyāism…(01/22/02)The Mood Concerning Mahāprabhu’s Sannyāsa Līlā (01/15/02)
Dear M__ and P__,
Hare Kṛṣṇa. Thank you for your email below. Yes, your thinking is correct. Here at Govindajī Gardens we observed the sannyāsa anniversary of Mahāprabhu in a happy mood and a nice feast was offered to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Śrī Śrī Rādhikā-Mādhavasundara.
However, when living in the holy dhāma, like Māyāpura or Navadvīpa, it is important to perform devotional practices and observances etc. with a mood of always being sensitive to the feelings of the eternal residents of Navadvīpa (this was done at the āśrama of Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja). The līlās of Mahāprabhu are eternally going on in Navadvīpa-dhāma and therefore we will do things differently in the dhāma than when we are living elsewhere.
If Mahāprabhu had not taken sannyāsa, then the residents of South India would never have had His darśana, and the rest of the world would have lived in ignorance for eternity. So we are happy on the occasion of Mahāprabhu’s sannyāsa, but we remember that for the residents of Navadvīpa, a great tragedy took place.
Mahāprabhu began His preaching of the Holy Name widely in Bengal immediately after His initiation from Śrī Iśvara Purī in Gayā. But not until Mahāprabhu’s sannyāsa-līlā manifest did He extend His mercy to other lands and to other countries. It was also only after taking sannyāsa that Mahāprabhu was able to capture those who were avoiding His mercy.
The descriptions of Mahāprabhu’s sannyāsa are also found in ‘The Golden Volcano of Divine Love’ by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja. That is my favourite book and I am sure you will appreciate it also.
Praṇāmas,
Swami B.G. Narasiṅgha
