300 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 25

PURPORT

If one saw the personal characteristics and activities of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, one would certainly be convinced that He was the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead. One can ascertain this by following in the footsteps of the
Sastric injunctions. This sincere study and appreciation of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu is also applicable to His authorized devotees, and it is clearly stated
in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya-lila, 7.11):

kali-kalera. dharma—krsna-nama-sankirtana
krsna-sakti vind nahe tara pravartana

In this age of Kali, real religious propaganda should induce people to chant the
Hare Krsna mahd-mantra. This is possible for someone who is especially em-
powered by Krsna. No one can do this without being especially favored by Krsna.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura comments in this regard in his Anubhasya,
wherein he quotes a verse from Narayana-samhita:

dvapariyair janair visnuh
paficaratrais tu kevalaih

kalau tu néma-matrena
ptjyate bhagavan harih

“In Dvapara-yuga, devotees of Lord Visnu and Krsna rendered devotional service
according to the principles of pdaficaratrika. In this age of Kali, the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead is worshiped simply by the chanting of His holy names.” Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura then comments: “Without being empowered
by the direct potency of Lord Krsna to fulfill His desire and without being
specifically favored by the Lord, no human being can become the spiritual master
of the whole world. He certainly cannot succeed by mental concoction, which is
not meant for devotees or religious people. Only an empowered personality can
distribute the holy name of the Lord and enjoin all fallen souls to worship Krsna.
By distributing the holy name of the Lord, he cleanses the hearts of the most fallen
people; therefore he extinguishes the blazing fire of the material world. Not only
that, he broadcasts the shining brightness of Krsna’s effulgence throughout the
world. Such an dcarya, or spiritual master, should be considered nondifferent
from Krsna—that is, he should be considered the incarnation of Lord Krsna’s
potency. Such a personality is krsnalingita-vigraha—that is, he is always embraced
by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Such a person is above the con-
siderations of the varnasrama institution. He is the guru or spiritual master for the
entire world, a devotee on the topmost platform, the mahd-bhdgavata stage, and
a paramaharnsa-thakura, a spiritual form only fit to be addressed as paramahamsa
or thakura.”
