Chaitanya Charitamrta | Antya Lila | Chapter 14 | Section 202

Thus I have described the uncommon transformations of the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When people hear about this, they are very much astonished. (80)

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Thus I have described the uncommon transformations of the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. When people hear about this, they are very much astonished. (80) No one has witnessed such bodily changes elsewhere, nor has anyone read of them in the revealed scriptures. Yet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the supreme sannyāsī, exhibited these ecstatic symptoms. (81) These ecstasies are not described in the śāstras, and they are inconceivable to common men. Therefore people in general do not believe in them. (82) Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī lived continuously with Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. I am simply recording whatever I have heard from him. Although common men do not believe in these pastimes, I believe in them totally. (83)

One day, while Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was going to the sea to bathe, He suddenly saw a sand dune named Caṭaka- parvata. (84) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu mistook the sand dune for Govardhana Hill and ran toward it. (85) “[Lord Caitanya said:] ‘Of all the devotees, this Govardhana Hill is the best! O my friends, this hill supplies Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, as well as Their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all kinds of necessities-water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the hill offers respect to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, Govardhana Hill appears very jubilant.'” (86) Reciting this verse, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ran toward the sand dune as fast as the wind. Govinda ran after Him, but he could not approach Him. (87) First one devotee shouted loudly, and then a tumultuous uproar arose as all the devotees stood up and began to run after the Lord. (88)

Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, Jagadānanda Paṇḍita, Gadādhara Paṇḍita, Rāmāi, Nandāi and Śaṅkara Paṇḍita are some of the devotees who ran after Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (89) Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī also went toward the beach, and Bhagavān Ācārya, who was lame, followed them very slowly. (90) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was running with the speed of the wind, but He suddenly became stunned in ecstasy and lost all strength to proceed further. (91) The flesh at each of His pores erupted like pimples, and His bodily hairs, standing on end, appeared like kadamba flowers. (92) Blood and perspiration flowed incessantly from every pore of His body, and He could not speak a word but simply produced a gargling sound within His throat. (93) The Lord’s eyes filled and overflowed with unlimited tears, like the Ganges and Yamunā meeting in the sea. (94)

His entire body faded to the color of a white conchshell, and then He began to quiver like the waves in the ocean. (95) While quivering in this way, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fell down on the ground. Then Govinda approached Him. (96) Govinda sprinkled water from a karaṅga waterpot all over the Lord’s body, and then, taking His own outer garment, he began to fan Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. (97) When Svarūpa Dāmodara and the other devotees reached the spot and saw the condition of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, they began to cry. (98) All eight kinds of transcendental transformations were visible in the Lord’s body. All the devotees were struck with wonder to see such a sight. (99) The devotees loudly chanted the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra near Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and washed His body with cold water. (100) After the devotees had been chanting for a long time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu suddenly stood up and shouted, “Haribol!” (101)

When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up, all the Vaiṣṇavas loudly chanted, “Hari! Hari!” in great jubilation. The auspicious sound filled the air in all directions. (102) Astonished, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu stood up and began looking here and there, trying to see something. But He could not catch sight of it. (103) When Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu saw all the Vaiṣṇavas, He returned to partial external consciousness and spoke to Svarūpa Dāmodara. (104) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “Who has brought Me here from Govardhana Hill? I was seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, but now I cannot see them. (105) “Today I went from here to Govardhana Hill to find out if Kṛṣṇa was tending His cows there. (106) “I saw Lord Kṛṣṇa climbing Govardhana Hill and playing His flute, surrounded on all sides by grazing cows. (107) “Hearing the vibration of Kṛṣṇa’s flute, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and all Her gopī friends came there to meet Him. They were all very nicely dressed. (108)

“When Kṛṣṇa and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī entered a cave together, the other gopīs asked Me to pick some flowers. (109) “Just then, all of you made a tumultuous sound and carried Me from there to this place. (110) “Why have you brought Me here, causing Me unnecessary pain? I had a chance to see Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, but I could not see them.” (111) Saying this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to weep. When all the Vaiṣṇavas saw the Lord’s condition, they also wept. (112) At that time, Paramānanda Purī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī arrived. Seeing them, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became somewhat respectful. (113)

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to complete external consciousness and immediately offered prayers to them. Then these two elderly gentlemen both embraced the Lord with loving affection. (114) Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to Purī Gosvāmī and Brahmānanda Bhāratī, “Why have the two of you come so far?” Purī Gosvāmī replied, “Just to see Your dancing.” (115) When He heard this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt somewhat ashamed. Then He went to bathe in the sea with all the Vaiṣṇavas. (116) After bathing in the sea, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to His residence with all the devotees. Then they all lunched on the remnants of food offered to Lord Jagannātha. (117) Thus I have described the transcendental ecstatic emotions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Even Lord Brahmā cannot describe their influence. (118)

In his book Gaurāṅga- stava- kalpavṛkṣa, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī has very vividly described Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s pastime of running toward the Caṭaka- parvata sand dune. (119) “Near Jagannātha Purī is a great sand dune known as Caṭaka- parvata. Seeing that hill, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, ‘Oh, I shall go to the land of Vraja to see Govardhana Hill!’ Then He began running madly toward it, and all the Vaiṣṇavas ran after Him. This scene awakens in my heart and maddens me.” (120) Who can properly describe all the uncommon pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu? They are all simply His play. (121) I have briefly described them just to give an indication of His transcendental pastimes. Nevertheless, anyone who hears this will certainly attain the shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. (122) Praying at the lotus feet of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Raghunātha, always desiring their mercy, I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, narrate Śrī Caitanya- caritāmṛta, following in their footsteps. (123)

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