This year is the 500th anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s acceptance of sannyasa. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left His young, beautiful and chaste wife, who was only 15 years old. He left His old mother, Saci mata, who was already bereaved on account of her husband’s death. She gave birth to eight daughters but none of them survived. Then she gave birth to two sons, one of them took sannyasa at an early age. Nimai was everything for her and now He was also about to leave her and take sannyasa.
Lord Caitanya would perform Harinam Sankirtana, all day long, with His beloved associates. The greatest Vaishnavas in the universe had assembled in the most holy place of Navadwip. At night Lord Caitanya with all of His associates would perform Sankirtan in the house of Srivas Thakur. This Harinam Sankirtan was non-different from the rasa-lila of Vrindavan.
“Material wealth is not very substantial, as far as money and possessions; but relationships, that is something very deep and substantial because relationship touches the heart.”
Lord Caitanya was highly respected in the scholarly circles. He defeated Keshava Kashmiri, the greatest scholar on earth. He was extremely influential, by His one order millions of people gathered to march to the house of Chand Kazi. Chand Kazi hated hindus but he ultimately surrendered to Lord Caitanya.
What Lord Caitanya had here in Navadwip, was extraordinary. Material wealth is not very substantial, as far as money and possessions; but relationships, that is something very deep and substantial because relationships touch the heart. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had the deepest possible relationships, on the highest spiritual platform with His mother, His wife and all His friends and devotees.
– Radhanath Swami
