The Life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu XXXV

While at Benares, Chaitanya had an interview with the learned sanyasis
of that town in the house of a Marhatta Brahmin, who had invited all the
sanyasis for an entertainment. At this interview, Chaitanya showed a miracle
which attracted all the sanyasis to Him. Then ensued reciprocal conversation.
The sanyasis were headed by their most learned leader Prakasananda Saras-
wati. After a short controversy, they submitted to Mahaprabhu, and admitted
that they had been misled by the commentaries of Shankaracharya. It was
impossible even for learned scholars to oppose Chaitanya for a long time, as
there was some spell in Him which touched their hearts and made them weep
for their spiritual improvement. The sanyasis of Benares soon fell at the Feet
of Chaitanya and asked for His grace (kripa). Chaitanya then preached pure
bhakti, and instilled into their hearts spiritual love for Krishna which obliged
them to give up sectarian feelings. The whole of Benares, on this wonderful
conversion of the sanyasis, turned Vaishnava, and they made a master samkirtan
with their new Lord.

After sending Sanatan to Vrindaban, Mahaprabhu went to Puri again
by the jungles, with His comrade Balabhadra. Balabhadra reported that
Mahaprabhu had shown a good many miracles on His way to Puri, such as
making tigers and elephants dance, on hearing the name of Krishna.

From this time, that is, from His 31st year, Mahaprabhu continually lived
in Puri in the house of Kasi Misra, until His disappearance in His forty-eighth
year at the time of samkirtan in the temple of Tota Gopinath. During these
18 years, His life was one of settled love and piety. He was surrounded by
numerous followers, all of whom were of the highest order of the Vaishnavas,
and distinguished from the common people by their purest character and
learning, firm religious principles and spiritual love of Radha Krishna.

Svarup-Damodar, who had been known by the name of Purushottamach-
arya while Mahaprabhu was in Nadia, joined Him from Benares and ac-
cepted His service as His secretary. No production of any poet or philosopher
could be laid before Mahaprabhu unless Svarup had passed it as pure and
useful. Rai Ramananda was his second mate. Both he and Svarup sang while
Mahaprabhu expressed His sentiment on a certain point of worship. Para-
mananda Puri was His minister in matters of religion. There are hundreds of
anecdotes described by His biographers which we do not think it meet here
to reproduce. Mahaprabhu slept short. His sentiments carried him farther
and farther in the firmament of spirituality every day and night, and all His
admirers and followers watched Him throughout. He worshipped, com-
municated with his missionaries at Vrindaban, and conversed with those
religious men who newly came to visit Him. He sang and danced, took no
