Introduction 17
for a seed of a mango, although this fruit was out of season. When the seed
was brought to Him He sowed it in the yard of Srinivasa, and at once a
creeper began to grow out of the seed. Within no time this creeper became
a full-grown mango tree heavy with more ripened fruits than the devotees
could eat. The tree remained in Srinivasa’s yard, and from then on the
devotees used to take as many mangos from the tree as they wanted.

The Lord had a very high estimation of the affections of the damsels of
Vrajabhiimi (Vrndavana) for Krsna, and in appreciation of their unalloyed
service to the Lord, once Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted the holy names
of the gopis (cowherd girls) instead of the names of the Lord. At this time
some of His students, who were also disciples, came to see Him, and when
they saw that the Lord was chanting the names of the gopis, they were
astonished. Out of sheer foolishness they asked the Lord why He was
chanting the names of the gopis and advised Him to chant the name of
Krsna. The Lord, who was in ecstasy, was thus disturbed by these foolish
students. He chastised them and chased them away. The students were
almost the same age as the Lord, and thus they wrongly thought of the
Lord as one of their peers. They held a meeting and resolved that they
would attack the Lord if He dared to punish them again in such a manner.
This incidence provoked some malicious talks about the Lord on the part
of the general public.

When the Lord became aware of this, He began to consider the various
types of men which are found in society. He noted that especially the
students, professors, fruitive workers, yogis, nondevotees, and different
types of atheists were all opposed to the devotional service of the Lord.
‘“‘My mission is to deliver all the fallen souls of this age,” He thought, “but
if they commit offenses against Me, thinking Me to be an ordinary man,
they will not benefit. If they are to begin their life of spiritual realization,
they must some way or another offer obeisances unto Me.” Thus the Lord
decided to accept the renounced order of life (sannydsa) because people in
general were inclined to offer respects to a sannyasi.

Five hundred years ago the condition of society was not as degraded as
it is today. At that time people would show respects to a sannyasi, and the
sannydsi was rigid in following the rules and regulations of the renounced
order of life. Sr: Caitanya Mahaprabhu was not very much in favor of the
renounced order of life in this age of Kali, but that was only for the reason
that very few sannyasis in this age are able to observe the rules and regula-
tions of sannydsa life. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu decided to accept the
order and become an ideal sannyasi so that the general populace would
show Him respect. One is duty-bound to show respect to a sannyasi, for a
