For a very long time, I was looking for an interesting book that can give me an unbiased account of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s life and his Bhakti Movement. In the process, I kept on buying books based on his life from different avenues, which even included different versions and languages. But, none of it could illuminate the effect that I was seeking, which could satisfy my curiosity of understanding the reasons for his immense popularity and his overwhelming spiritual ethos. The questions kept on pelting me to seek for a proper explanation of why he is such a prominent figure in the spiritual world? What changes did his movement create and How it impacted the society around? In fact, in some reads, he was portrayed as a leader adorned with supernatural powers, who would strike and terrorize those following a contrasted path or had cultivated unethical attitudes and deeds. These reads made me question the concepts of ‘Power’ in the spiritual realms and its proper definition that urges devotees to worship them as their saviour. But then, my search halted.
This book, “Chaitanya and His Age” by Dinesh Chandra Sen, has been the best find! This book has a detailed insight of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s life and his movement, along with well research accounts of different expressions of Bhakti and love nurtured in the Vaishnav traditions, adorning Bengal and its culture. To start, it begins with meticulous information on the Vaishnav saints and poets, before Sri Chaitanya, flourishing Bhakti literature with their passionate poems and realisations, followed by a detailed description of the political, social and cultural structure of his era. Then the book unravels Vishvambhar Mishra’s journey into being Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. My most favourite part of this book is this journey itself. Absolutely breathtaking and enigmatic! Vishvambhar Mishra is a human, inheriting all human-like characteristics and emotions. Being an erudite scholar, he had an exceptional understanding of Sanskrit literature, grammar and philosophies. He had a pedantically keen sense of detecting grammar flaws at one glance or hearings, with immense confidence to challenge reputed scholars and always emerging victorious in the debates. He possessed a personality that was spirited, enthusiastic along with a mindset that preferred rationalism over mawkish sentiments. This also made him prefer philosophies that would appeal the logic than emotions. He then fell in love with a beautiful lady named Lakshmi and married her under mutual consent. This happy marriage soon crumbles when Lakshmi dies of snakebite in her husband’s absence. This was the major climax in Vishvambhar’s life, altering his characteristics, making him reticent and aloof. In the pursuit of finding peace he plans to go to Gaya, but his mother sensing the sudden change in her son’s demeanour plans to get him married off with the delightful Vishnupriya. The very next day of the marriage, he leaves to Gaya that made him encounter life-changing realisations, experiencing the truth and vastness of the omnipotent existence, evolving his senses with an enlightening sight of Krishna Bhakti. The episodes followed by this, converted him into a passionate lover, awaiting and longing for Krishna, leading him to different places in India, spreading his realisations and causing a major impact in the proliferation of Bhakti Movement. The book, after completely narrating his life, continues to explore how this movement impacted Bengal culture, and the associated sects of Vaishnavism, forming a potent part in the culture.
Well, said a lot! But to surmise it, this book is based on heavily researched write-ups and articles, diligently presented with references, highlighting the veracity of the information in this book. Moreover, God becoming a God is easy, but a human becoming a God by realising the truth through his charged senses is more beautiful. Another important aspect of the book is its presentation of the philosophies behind Sri Chaitanya’s Bhakti movement, which went beyond the social divisions of caste and included everyone willing to immerse themselves in Krishna Bhakti. He saw God as One; All God being Krishna and Krishna being all God. Hence, he had no religious prejudices. He expressed how extreme emotions of love, which is natural to the human senses can make one see the true essence of God, eventually unifying the two perspectives of dwaita and adwaita (dualism and non-dualism).
This well-research book is a must-read for anyone interested in Indian philosophies and culture and can infuse the mind with in-depth insight, rendering it to be among the best collections one want to keep throughout their life.
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