Blaspheming Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu - Offense and Deliverance
To blaspheme the Supreme Personality of Godhead is a perilous act, yet in the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, even such offenses became opportunities for the Lord to display His causeless mercy. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while the Lord is naturally tolerant, His devotees cannot bear to hear Him criticized. The interactions between Lord Caitanya and His critics in Vārāṇasī and Jagannātha Purī illustrate the gravity of vaiṣṇava-aparādha and the power of the Lord's forgiveness.
The Agony of the Devotees
For a pure devotee, hearing blasphemy against the Lord is more painful than death. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the intense anguish of devotees like Tapana Miśra and Candraśekhara. When the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs in Vārāṇasī criticized Lord Caitanya, these devotees felt that life was no longer worth living. Similarly, Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's shame when his own son-in-law, Amogha, insulted the Lord.
- The Mayavadi sannyasis are all criticizing Your Holiness. We cannot tolerate hearing such criticism, for this blasphemy breaks our hearts.
- How long can we tolerate the blasphemy by Your critics against Your conduct? We should give up our lives rather than hear such blasphemy.
- They could not stop it , however, and therefore they appealed to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu because this blasphemy (against Caitanya) was so intolerable that they had decided to give up their lives.
- I (Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya) brought You (Lord Caitanya) to my home just to have You blasphemed. This is a great offense. Please excuse me. I beg Your pardon.
Criticism by the Māyāvādīs
The primary criticism leveled against Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu by the learned sannyāsīs of Vārāṇasī was regarding His method of worship. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that they could not understand why a sannyāsī would engage in singing and dancing with "sentimentalists" instead of studying Vedānta. They considered His behavior to be a violation of the renounced order's principles, a point Śrīla Prabhupāda often uses to illustrate the dryness of speculative philosophy versus the ecstasy of devotion.
- The blasphemers said, "Although a sannyasi, He does not take interest in the study of Vedanta but instead always engages in chanting and dancing in sankirtana."
- The Mayavadis in Varanasi blasphemed Lord Caitanya because His behavior did not follow these (accepting the renounced order very strictly and wearing nothing more than a loincloth) principles.
- While Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was passing through Varanasi on His way to Vrndavana, the Mayavadi sannyasi philosophers blasphemed against Him in many ways.
- Hearing all this blasphemy, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu merely smiled to Himself, rejected all these accusations and did not talk with the Mayavadis.
The Offense of Amogha
According to Śrīla Prabhupāda's commentary, Amogha committed a grave offense by criticizing the Lord's eating. Seeing a large quantity of prasādam arranged for the Lord, Amogha blasphemed Him as a glutton. The reaction was immediate: Amogha contracted cholera and was on the verge of death. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that despite this offense, Lord Caitanya displayed His divine mercy by personally saving him.
- However, as soon as the Bhattacarya began distributing prasadam and was a little inattentive, Amogha came in. Seeing the quantity of food, he began to blaspheme.
- Amogha was an offender because he blasphemed the Lord (Caitanya). As a result, he was about to die of cholera.
- If the man who blasphemed Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is killed, his sinful action may be atoned.
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "What Amogha has said is correct; therefore it is not blasphemy. What is your offense."
Transformation and Deliverance
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the ultimate goal of the Lord is not to punish but to deliver. After correcting the Māyāvādīs and saving Amogha, these former blasphemers became great devotees. Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī admitted that his spiritual achievements were lost due to blasphemy but were restored by taking shelter of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes Amogha's deep repentance, where he slapped his own cheeks for having used his mouth to insult the Lord.
- Prakasananda Sarasvati continued, because You (Caitanya) are greater than all of us in education and realization. Therefore by blaspheming You, we have committed the greatest offense. Please excuse us.
- Not only did Amogha beg the Lord's pardon, but he also began slapping his own cheeks, saying, "By this mouth I have blasphemed You."
- Jagai and Madhai uttered Your holy name by way of blaspheming You. Fortunately, that holy name became the cause of their deliverance.
- I must certainly deliver all these fallen souls who blaspheme Me and do not offer Me obeisances.
Conclusion
The incidents of blaspheming Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu serve as a stern warning against criticizing the Lord or His devotees. Yet, as Śrīla Prabhupāda reminds us, they also reveal the ocean of mercy that is Lord Caitanya. He tolerates personal insults but acts decisively to save the offenders when their criticism becomes an obstacle to their own spiritual progress.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Blaspheming Caitanya. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.