500^TH ANNIVERSARY OF LORD CAITANYA’S SANNYASA

JANUARY 14^TH-19^TH 2010

Throughout ISKCON we are celebrating from the 14^th January till the 19^th. The actual date of His sannyasa is a little obscure but it is definitely between those dates. Most likely it is the 18^th or the third day of the month of magha. Check your calendar. He left home early in the morning on the auspicious day of Makara sankranthi when the sun begins its northern journey. The Lord was in His 24^th year when he took sannyasa.

In Mayapura the festival will begin on the 14^th and go through till February 2^nd. They will visit many of the places visited by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu just after taking sannyasa culminating with His arrival in Puri.

We are hoping devotees will make every effort to spread the mission of Lord Caitanya at this time with mass Harinama sankirtana parties – perhaps with palanquins carrying Deities of Gaura Nitai and go through the towns and villages chanting the holy names. Readings and discussion about Lord Caitanya and His sannyasa, extra temple kirtanas etc..

In the Caitanya Bhagavat chapters 26-28 and the Caitanya Mangal chapters 10-14 there is much information on this pastime. Especially in the Caitanya Mangal the heart rending events concerning the Lord’s discussions with His mother Sacimata and wife Visnupriya are accounted. These will be sent out as a separate attachment shortly.

PREDICTION

Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila 3.49

"In His early pastimes He appears as a householder with a golden complexion. His limbs are beautiful, and His body, smeared with the pulp of sandalwood, seems like molten gold. In His later pastimes He accepts the sannyasa order, and He is equipoised and peaceful. He is the highest abode of peace and devotion, for He silences the impersonalist nondevotees."

Srila Prabhupada states that this is a verse from the Mahabharata (Dana-dharma, Visnu-sahasra-nama-stotra). In his commentary on the Visnu-sahasra-nama, called the Namartha-sudha, Srila Vyasadeva already confirmed this pastime would take place.

ANYONE WHO HEARS THE LORDS PASTIME OF TAKING SANNYASA WILL BE BLESSED AND FREED FROM KARMIC REACTION.

“The Madhya-khanda section of this book ends with the Lord receiving sannyasa. Whosoever hears this narration will immediately be rewarded with servitorship to His lotus feet. By hearing this most auspicious pastime of sannyasa initiation, one certainly receives the ultimate treasure of krsna-prema.” (Caitanya Bhagavat Ch. 28).

“The divine hero of Vaikuntha left home to enter the renounced order to liberate all living entities. My dear brothers, respected readers, by hearing the narrations of the Supreme Lord taking sannyasa, one is freed from all material bondage.   (Caitanya Bhagavat Ch 28: Sri Caitanya Takes Sannyasa)

“My dear readers, please listen attentively to the details of the Lord receiving sannyasa. By hearing this, one is freed from the bondage of infinite karmic reactions.