Writing about Caitanya to Purify the Heart

Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that composing literature about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is a profound devotional act that directly purifies the heart. However, it requires absolute adherence to authorized conclusions and the blessings of the pure Vaiṣṇavas, guarding strictly against material discrepancies and mundane deviations.

Dependence on Mercy for Purification

Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights the immense humility of exalted Vaiṣṇava authors like Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī. Despite his advanced age and profound scholarship, he wrote the Caitanya-caritāmṛta completely depending on the mercy of the Lord and His devotees, considering the act of writing primarily as a means to purify himself.

• I (Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami) am writing this narration of the pastimes and attributes of the Lord by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates. I do not know how to write properly, but I am purifying myself by writing this description.
• It is because I have offered my prayers unto the lotus feet of all of you that whatever I have written about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has been possible.
• The daughter of Kala (Time) cannot overcome a Vaisnava. Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami engaged in writing Caitanya-caritamrta when he was very old, yet he presented the most wonderful literature about the activities of Lord Caitanya.
• Thus let me write about His magnanimous contribution of devotional service in love of God.

Exalted Poetic Glorification

The verses composed by the direct associates of the Lord are considered invaluable jewels in the disciplic succession. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes how pure devotees like Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya perfectly captured the highest mellows of devotional service and the absolute identity of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

• Rupa Gosvami wrote of Caitanya: Devotional service itself is the highest platform, the glorious platform which You (Lord Caitanya) have contributed. You are Krsna in a yellow complexion, and You are Sacinandana, the son of mother Saci.
• Rupa Gosvami wrote of Caitanya: Those who hear Caitanya-caritamrta will keep You (Lord Caitanya) in their hearts. It will be easy to understand Krsna through You.
• The verses (written by Bhattacarya) are considered to be most important jewels by the devotees of the Lord in disciplic succession, and by virtue of these famous verses Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya has become known as the highest of devotees.
• She (Mira) appreciated that Lord Caitanya is Krsna, and she has written one poetry, song, that "Now You have left aside Your flute, and You have taken the sannyasi rod and where is Your hair and peacock feather? Now You are bald-headed."

Rejecting Unauthorized Discrepancies

Because Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, writing about Him must be perfectly aligned with pure siddhānta. Śrīla Prabhupāda recounts how Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and the Lord Himself strictly reviewed literary works, unhesitatingly chastising writers who introduced material discrepancies or false prayers.

• A brahmana from Bengal wrote a drama about the characteristics of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and came with his manuscript to induce the Lord to hear it.
• Svarupa Damodara Gosvami recommended that a brahmana, he wrote something about Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and there were so many discrepancies. So Svarupa Damodara Gosvami was not at all satisfied with such writings. He chastised the brahmana.
• Lord Caitanya said to Rupa Gosvami: "Your exalted poetic descriptions of the mellows of Lord Krsna's pastimes are like an ocean of nectar. But why have you put in a false prayer about Me? It is like a drop of detestable alkali."
• Regarding Macmillan publishing Srimad Bhagavatam if this is so, then the introductory portion about Lord Chaitanya must be included also.

Defeating Deviations Through Commentary

Authorized writing serves as an impenetrable fortress against philosophical deviations. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes how Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura utilized his Anubhāṣya commentary to completely repudiate the offensive concoctions of sahajiyās and gaurāṅga-nāgarīs who attempted to ascribe mundane lust to the Lord's pure pastimes.

• Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya - He (Lord Caitanya) never placed Himself in the position of a debauchee. Lusty materialists like the members of the sahajiya-sampradaya hanker after women, even others’ wives.
• Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya - He (Lord Caitanya) remained everlastingly predominated by Krsna and never accepted the part of the predominator by imitating conjugal love with an ordinary woman, as sahajiyas generally do.
• Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya - when they (sahajiyas) try to ascribe the responsibility for their lusty activities to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they become offenders to Svarupa Damodara and Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura.
• The personal behavior of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the verses written by Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura have completely repudiated the lusty desires of the gauranga-nagaris.

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda firmly establishes that writing about Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is a sacred responsibility entrusted only to those situated in pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The exalted Vaiṣṇava ācāryas undertook this task not for literary fame, but to purify their own hearts and to document the Lord's magnanimous distribution of pure love of God. To preserve this purity, strict authorities like Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī ruthlessly rejected material discrepancies, while later ācāryas like Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura used their profound commentaries to permanently defeat sahajiyā deviations. By studying these authorized, perfectly composed jewels of transcendental literature, the conditioned soul is securely guided to the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

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