The Life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: Sri Chaitanya Lilamrita (Books on Hinduism; Hindu Books, Teachings of Lord Chaitanya)

The Life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu offers a brief history of the 15th-century Vedic spiritual revolutionary, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who expounded Bhakti yoga, popularized the chanting of Hare Krishna, and is an incarnation of Lord Krishna.

In this abridged biography of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Swami B. B. Bodhayan informs how Sri Krsna appeared in the form of Lord Chaitanya to deliver all fallen souls by distributing His love without discrimination. He taught his devotees how to surrender by His own example and how surrender is the soul of devotional practice.

Many scriptures describe Lord Chaitanya as non-different from Lord Krsna; although Lord Chaitanya is Krsna Himself, He took the role of being His own devotee to deliver the people of the world. To spread the chanting of the holy name of the Supreme Lord, which will ultimately give us the taste of divine love, Lord Chaitanya took the renounced order (sannyasa). Thus, He gave the order to everyone to spread His name: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

We have seen Lord Chaitanya, Himself, preach and inspire people to chant the Hare Krsna mahamantra. But personally, He did not give initiation. He also did not establish any temples. He taught us to spread sankirtana without having any ulterior motives. Our spiritual lineage all follow in the footsteps of Lord Chaitanya. If anyone follows the principle of “first preserve then propagate,” then one shall definitely be delivered from this material world.