Following in the Footprints of Lord Caitanya - The Path of Saṅkīrtana
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is so merciful that when the conditioned souls failed to understand His instructions in the Bhagavad-gītā, He returned in the form of His own devotee: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Lord Caitanya did not come simply to give philosophy; He came to teach by His own personal behavior. To achieve spiritual perfection in this dark age of Kali, our sole duty is to strictly follow in His divine footprints.
The Authorized Process of Chanting
The central mission of Lord Caitanya was the inauguration of the saṅkīrtana movement—the congregational chanting of the holy names. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that we do not need to invent new methods of meditation or yoga. We simply need to chant the exact same sixteen-word mahā-mantra that Lord Caitanya chanted. Because we follow His authorized method, the chanting remains absolutely potent today.
- Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted these sixteen names - Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna - therefore we also follow the footprints of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We are also chanting the same Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and we shall request you also.
- By His personal behavior, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu showed that He was never distressed but always happy in chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. One should follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and engage constantly in chanting the maha-mantra.
- Because we are following in His (Caitanya's) footsteps and are also chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, the effect is almost as potent as during the time of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who five hundred years ago inaugurated the movement of sankirtana, krsna-kirtana, we are trying to introduce this movement, according to superior orders, all over the world.
Following vs. Imitating
There is a profound difference between being a true Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava and a mundane sahajiyā (cheap imitator). Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly warns that we cannot imitate Lord Caitanya's intense, ecstatic feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa, nor can we imitate His extraordinary pastimes. Instead, we must follow His practical instructions and the stringent rules and regulations laid down by His direct representatives, the Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana.
- Of course, we cannot imitate the activities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, but we should follow in His footsteps.
- One can understand Srimad-Bhagavatam only by following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who was mad for Krsna. We cannot, of course, imitate Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is not possible.
- To understand the mission of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and follow in His footsteps, one must very seriously follow in the footsteps of the six Gosvamis - Sri Rupa, Sanatana, Bhatta Raghunatha, Sri Jiva, Gopala Bhatta and Dasa Raghunatha.
- Gaudiya Vaisnava, the devotees following the footprints of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's, they are not sahajiyas; they are devotee of the Adhoksaja. Beyond the sense perception.
The Preacher's Mood of Tolerance
Lord Caitanya taught that to chant the holy name constantly, one must be humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree. When facing opposition—such as the Chand Kazi who tried to stop the saṅkīrtana movement—Lord Caitanya did not resort to mundane violence. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs us to follow this example by using strong philosophy, reason, and scriptural arguments to defeat the enemies of the Lord.
- Following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, being more tolerant than the tree, humbler than the grass and offering all respect to others without requiring respect in return. In such a way one will be able to depart from the body successfully.
- If we became violent in every case, it would be difficult for us to manage our affairs. We should therefore follow in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who disobeyed the order of Chand Kazi but subdued him with reason and argument.
- We should follow in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya as far as possible and try to convince the opposition by quoting from the sastras and presenting the conclusion of the acaryas. It is in this way that we should try to defeat all the enemies of the Lord.
- Demons are trying to obstruct the sankirtana movement we are executing all over the world, and this proves that our sankirtana movement is still pure and genuine, following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
A Global Mission of Deliverance
Before Lord Caitanya's appearance, strict caste brāhmaṇas believed that one had to be born in India to practice Vedic spirituality. Lord Caitanya shattered this misconception, declaring that His name would be chanted in every town and village. Śrīla Prabhupāda fulfilled this prophecy by taking the movement globally, proving that anyone who strictly follows the principles of Vaiṣṇava behavior is a qualified brāhmaṇa, regardless of their birth.
- Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Advaita Acarya, we can accept a devotee from any part of the world and recognize him as a brahmana as soon as he is qualified due to following the principles of Vaisnava behavior.
- We are trying to the best of our ability to introduce the Krsna Consciousness movement directly into the countries of the yavanas and mlecchas. Such yavanas and mlecchas are coming to us and becoming purified Vaisnavas who follow in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
- Every devotee should be very enthusiastic, not only in performing his daily rituals of devotional service, but in trying to preach the cult peacefully by following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya.
- Anyone who attempts to serve Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu sincerely by following in His footsteps and following the instructions of the acaryas will successfully be able to preach the holy names of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra all over the universe.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda states that if we stick to our principles and faithfully follow in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and the Pañca-tattva, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will go on unchecked by any material opposition. By casting aside our false ego, refusing to imitate the Lord, and enthusiastically adopting His mission of chanting and preaching, we are guaranteed to achieve the ultimate perfection of life.
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 Following in the Footsteps of Caitanya. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.