The Golden Incarnate

PARMARTHI RAINA





Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a leading light of the Bhakti movement, is considered by many to be none other than Lord Krishna. He is known as Gauranga, the Golden avatara, because His body was the hue of molten gold. Shri Chaitanya disclosed that Krishna was so intrigued by the intensity of Radharani's unconditional love for Him, that to find out why Radharani found Him so attractive, He appeared on this earth as Chaitanya, a devotee of Krishna.He said whenever He wished to taste the sweetness (madhurya) of Krishna, He would assume the feelings and emotions Radha had for Krishna. But in His avatara as Krishna's devotee, His mission was to propagate sankirtana (congregational chanting of the names of the Lord) as the best way to counter kaliyuga and overcome material bondage.
Lord Chaitanya appeared on this planet in 1486 in Navadweep, Bengal. Not many people perceived Him as the Supreme Lord. But Krishna walked the earth over 5,000 years ago, during the Mahabharata days, without being recognised as God Almighty . The gopis of Vrindavana knew Him as the bewitching cowherd boy , Nandagopal.
Since Krishna is Absolute, explained Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, there is no difference between Krishna and anything associated with Him. For example, Krishna's name, qualities, form and pastimes (lilas) associated with Him are identical to Him. Thus, meditating on anything connected with Him, particularly His name, has the same potency as meditating on Krishna Himself.