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The above verse, featuring in the Jitamtestotra, means:

The wise, attaining to Thee alone the surest refuge, cross the terrible ocean of birth and death, the cause of endless pain and misery.

The fine fabric of Indian philosophy and culture has been brilliantly embellished with the stories of some of the greatest ever saints and sages Mother Earth ever created! The teachings of these Punya Atmas (great souls) have been the very foundation of our philosophical and spiritual heritage since time immemorial. But for these seers, our quest for moksha or even mukti (liberation) from mundane life would have been an impossible dream.

In the first part of this two-part series, we bring you inspiring life sketches of some of the most powerful saints and sages who dared to look ahead of their times and changed the whole society's outlook, thereby fulfilling their mission against all odds. 

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

THE UNION OF RAMA AND KRISHNA WITH CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was one of the greatest revolutionist seers of his time. Born on the 4th of February, 1486 A.D. at Nabadwip, a district situated on the banks of the Ganges in West Bengal, Chaitanya went on to become a Vaishnava monk, also social reformer in Bengal and Orissa. Chaitanya propogated Bhakti Yoga (loving devotion to Lord Krishna) and based his entire philosophy on the Bhagavata Purana and the Bhagavad Gita. Worshipping the divine love of Radha and Krishna, he was the one who popularized the chant:

"Hare Krishna Hare Krishna; Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama; Rama Rama Hare Hare"

Having a huge line of followers, referred to as Gaudiya Vaishnavas, Chaitanya was actually considered to be an avatar of Krishna in the aspect of Radharani, who, it was prophesized in the Bhagavata Purana, would reincarnate at a later point of time.

Chaitanya's birth

Chaitanya was born to Pundit Jagannath Misra, alias Purandar Misra and Sachi Devi, both pious and hailing from a highly scholarly lineage. Chaitanya, born as Viswambar, was their tenth child. Eight daughters before him died soon after birth. The ninth child, Viswarup, had renounced the world at sixteen and entered a South Indian monastery. Chaitanya was given the nickname Nimai (Neem tree) in order to ward off all external evil influences. 

Chaitanya as Gauranga

Many neighbors christened him Gaur, Gaur-Hari and Gauranga, for his remarkable beauty and glowing countenance. "Gaur" here meant "fair" and "Anga" meant "body". They also called him Gaur-Hari because the name "Hari" always soothed the lad and made him smile even when he was very upset. Nothing could pacify baby Gauranga like Hari would!

Gauranga's boyhood

Gauranga studied logic at Vasudev Sarvabhauma's school. Sarvabhauma was a very well-known professor of Nyaya. Gauranga showed a very keen intellect, which did not escape the notice of Radhunath, the brilliant author of a book on logic, called 'Didheeti'. Raghunath knew that the lad had a lot more intelligence and potential than his own teacher, Sarvabhauma. Raghunath secretly hoped to be known as the most learned man of his time. But when he saw Gauranga's sheer brilliance, the former lost faith in himself and developed a fear of the lad. 

Gauranga's large-heartedness

Gauranga, at that time, had written a manuscript on Nyaya, which Raghunath requested him to read out to him. As they were crossing the river by boat, the lad read it out to him. Raghunath realized that this was indeed the most scholarly exposition of Nyaya ever. Raghunath congratulated Gauranga on how good it was, but also told him how he had lost hopes that he would ever get to attain the first place in the world as professor on Nyaya. Without batting an eyelid, Gauranga immediately threw his own manuscript into the river, thereby allowing Didheeti to occupy the foremost position in the world of logic. Such was Gauranga's magnanimity even as a mere lad!

Very soon, Gauranga had mastered all aspects of Sanskrit and he even started a Tol or a school at the age of sixteen. In spite of his tremendous genius, he was always the kindest, gentlest and most compassionate human being one could ever know. He was a friend of the poor and the champion of the downtrodden. People just loved to be around him.

SRI CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU AND HIS WIFE LAKSHMIPRIYA

Gauranga's youth

After his marriage to Lakshmi, Gauranga toured many districts of Bengal and soon won a great amount of recognition for his work. When Lakshmi died of a snake bite, he married Vishnupriya and continued to spread his vast knowledge among several pupils. 

The turning point in Gauranga's life

SRI CHAITANYADEV WITH IDOL OF KRISHNA

It was in the year 1509 that Gauranga left on a pilgrimage to Gaya along with his companions. Here, he met Isvar Puri, a Sanyasi of the Madhavacharya order and accepted him as his Guru. This veritably turned Gauranga's life around. He surrendered completely to Lord Krishna and lost all his pride in his own knowledge and wisdom. He would go on chanting, "Krishna, Krishna! Hari Bol, Hari Bol". In sheer ecstasy and bliss, he would jump about singing and dancing the name, laugh, cry and even roll on the ground. In such phases of pure bliss, he would neither eat nor drink - only contemplate the Lord. 

On visiting the Gadadhar temple, Gauranga broke into the same feeling of bliss and begged of his Guru to liberate him from the ties of Samsara (the material world) and initiate him into Madhura Bhakti (loving devotion), just as Radha felt for her Krishna. He yearned to feel the deep and pure Prem (love) that Radha felt for her Lord and wished to drown in that prem-rasa. 

Isvar Puri then taught Gauranga a ten-lettered Mantra (prayer) invoking Krishna. This mantra filled the latter with total bliss. He lost all control of his emotions and gave up his entire self to the bhakti of Krishna. His sought Krishna's refuge and constantly sat in prayer, now laughing loudly, now shedding silent tears, entreating Krishna to shower His grace on him. Gauranga desired to visit Vrindavan, the abode of Krishna, but was forcibly stopped by his companions. 

NITAI GAUR SUBMERGED IN BHAKTI RASA OF KRISHNA

Nitai

Nityananda alias Nitai was a Brahmin ascetic who too sought the divine presence of Krishna. Though he had toured Vrindavan, he could not find Krishna. When Gauranga met Nitai, there was an immediate bonding and the former invited the latter to his home. Gauranga considered him to be his lost brother, Viswarup.  

Both Nitai and Gauranga would then arrange and head processions performing the Nama Sankirtana (singing the name) of Radha and Krishna. They would go dancing around the streets of Nabadwip, in pure joy. Gauranga was love incarnate. He breathed love and oozed pure love from every pore of his being. Though he gave very few discourses on bhakti, he set an example for people to follow. Even if he blessed a man by placing a hand on his head, that man would straightaway go into a blissful state of pure Prem and Samadhi. This attracted many folk around him and they would go along with his procession, chanting, "Hari Bol, Hari Bol". 

Gauranga takes Sanyas

VAISHNAVA DEVOTEES

When Gauranga realized he was blessed with the divine presence and the capacity to bestow purity to one and all who came to visit him, he decided to take Sanyas and transform as many people as he possibly could. So at age twenty-four, Gauranga fought against the orthodoxy existing at that time and got himself initiated into Sanyasa under Swami Keshava Bharati. Now, Gauranga became known as 'Krishna Chaitanya'. 

As a Sanyasi, Krishna Chaitanya observed all the rules strictly, being totally detached from the world and sacrificing all worldly pleasures for his one goal - Krishna. He even declined to meet great kings as it was considered a sin for Sanyasis to meet the royal family. He lived a simple, sparse life, wearing the simplest of clothes, even sleeping on the bare floor.

Chaitanya became a great Vaishnavite preacher and he propogated Vaishnavism far and wide. He was helped in his mission by people such as Nityananda, Swarup Damodar, Advaitacharya, Sribas, Murari, Haridas, Gadadhar and some eminent others. 

Jagai and Madhai 

Jagai and Madhai were brothers who were the worst ever sinners and criminals one could think of. Both of them also were Kotwals of Nabadwip. Though they were Brahmins, they involved themselves in all kinds of himsa (violence) one could envisage, including drinking, plundering and outraging the modesty of all women they ever fancied.  

Chaitanya and Nitai prepared themselves to reclaim the brothers and make them realize the futility of their lives. They proceeded towards Jagai and Madhai's camp. On seeing Nitai singing and dancing the praises of the Lord, an incensed Madhai hit him with the broken neck of an earthen jar, which left a huge, gaping wound on Nitai's head. Jagai, the softer of the two brothers, remonstrated Madhai for attacking a Sanyasi. 

Seeing this, Chaitanya gratefully hugged Jagai for his support, who instantly went into a trance of ecstasy. Madhai understood his folly and prostrated in front of both Chaitanya and Nitai, seeking their pardon. When Nitai hugged him, he too went into a trance like his brother. They both later became saints of high order. Together, they also prepared a bathing Ghat at Nabadwip, which is still referred to as the 'Madhai Ghat'.  

The Washerman

Chaitanya once came across a washerman who was busy beating clothes to clean them. When he asked the washerman to utter the word, 'Hari Bol', he initially refused. But once he started, he could not stop himself and started chanting 'Hari Bol' and danced around in sheer bliss. This alarmed his wife, who alerted the village folk on the goings on. When some villagers tried to take hold of him, they too got transformed and starting chanting and dancing themselves! Such was the sway Chaitanya had over people - he could transform them and give them mukti with just a glance and a loving smile!

Pilgrimages and trips to holy shrines

Chaitanya and Nitai undertook many pilgrimages to Orissa and Puri and then toured the South extensively. They visited Tirupati, Kancheepuram, Srirangam, Madurai, Rameshwaram and, finally, Kanyakumari. They also went to Pandharpur, Nasik and Udipi. Fulfilling his greatest desire to visit Vrindavan, he bathed in the Yamuna and filled himself even more with the divine energy there. 

Chaitanya then decided to settle down in Puri, where he stayed on till Samadhi. He performed many miracles there too.  

CHAITANYA MAHAPRAPBHU AT THE PURI JAGANNATH TEMPLE

Miracles at Puri 

During the time of Car Festival (pulling of the chariot) of Lord Jagannath (an aspect of Krishna) at the Puri temple, devotees could not move the chariot no matter how hard they tried. Even several elephants trying to pull it could not succeed. Chaitanya pushed the car lightly and, to the devotees' utter delight, it began to move immediately. 

Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, a learned scholar of Vedanta, also had a huge ego and great pride in himself. He did not have much of an opinion about Chaitanya and thought of him as a mad mendicant. But when he came face to face with the latter, he was struck by his deep knowledge of Sanskrit, bhakti and the great love he emanated. Instantly humbled, Sarvabhauma got converted and became Chaitanya's ardent disciple. 

Vasudeva was a simple Brahmin who was excommunicated by society as he suffered from leprosy. Compassionate as he was, Chaitanya went up to him and lovingly embraced him. In the very next second, Vasudeva healed and became completely normal! Such was the healing power of his love.

Pundit Sreebas was one of the foremost devotees of Chaitanya. (The Chaitanya Bhagavata, a Biography on Chaitanya, was written by his grandson.) A Kirtan party was held at Sreebas' residence that day. Chaitanya and his followers were singing and dancing in great joy. Unknown to them, Sreebas' grandson had died of cholera just then. Though his wife was broken, Sreebas chose to join the Kirtan and continued dancing, unaffected by the tragedy that had struck him. When Chaitanya came to know about the death, he asked for the boy's body to be brought in front of him. When he commanded it to speak, the boy's soul immediately entered the body and stated that he had departed to a wonderful world and that he was happy being there now. This left the bereaved family feeling assured and even blessed.

Nitai, Sarvabhauma and Ramananda Ray had the privilege of witnessing the sheer divinity of Chaitanya. Chaitanya is said to have revealed himself to them as a six-handed divine being, two hands wielding the bow and arrow, two playing the flute and the other two holding a Danda and Kamandalu (staff and pot). With this manifestation, he was indicating that he was both Rama and Krishna.  

Chaitanya once dived into the sea at Puri, imagining it to be the Yamuna at Vrindavan. As he floated on the water, he happened to be caught by a fisherman, who, sensing the weight of his catch, was very happy thinking he had caught a huge fish. Meanwhile, Ramananda and Swaroopa, who were desperately searching for their master, found him lying unconscious beside the fisherman and brought him to, by repeatedly singing the name of 'Hari'.

Chaitanya's last days

Chaitanya kept chanting the Lord's name and got more and more deeply into spiritual contemplation and propagation of Bhakti Yoga. He became even more humble as he chanted: 

"Oh beloved Lord, I do not seek wealth, fame or followers. I do not seek knowledge or poetic genius. May my pure love and Bhakti for Thee continue whenever I come back again to life on this Earth."

With these words, Chaitanya attained Samadhi on the 14th of June, 1533.  

Chaitanya's legacy

In the 20th Century, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings breathed life and verve through the untiring efforts of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness. In the present 21st Century, this very Vaishnavite attitude on Bhakti Yoga is still being studied through the formal medium of what is known as Krishnology.  

Even today, Chaitanya is worshipped as an avatar of Krishna in many parts of Bengal. One can find sculptures of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in many major Radha Krishna temples of the world. Chaitanya is also considered by some to have influenced the Baul movement of folk singers in Bengal.