History of Indian Philosophy

SR No.: 007593
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Surendranath Dasgupta
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication Year: 1922
Total Pages: 2517
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 125 MB

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Caitanya and his Followers
[CH. Pandita and a great scholar, had gone over to Orissa to take refuge under the Hindu king there, Pratäparudra.
Caitanya studied in the Sanskrit school (tol) of Sudarśana Pandita. His study in the school was probably limited to the Kalāpa grammar and some kāvyas. Some later biographers say that he had also read Nyāya (logic); there is, however, no proper evidence in support of this. He had, however, studied at home some Purāņas, notably the great devotional work, Srīmad-bhāgavata. As a student he was indeed very gifted; but he was also very vain, and always took special delight in defeating his fellow-students in debate. From his early days he had shown a strong liking for devotional songs. He took a special delight in identifying himself with Krsna. Among his associates the names of the following may be mentioned: Srinivasa Pandita and his three brothers, Vāsudeva Datta, Mukunda Datta and Jagai, the writer, Srigarbha Pandita, Murārigupta, Govinda, Srīdhara, Gargādāsa, Dāmodara, Candrasekhara, Mukunda, Sanjaya, Purusottama, Vijaya, Vakreśvara, Sanatana, Hrdaya, Vladana and Rāmānanda. Caitanya had received some instruction in the Vedas also from his father. He had also received instruction from Vişnu Pandita and Gangādāsa Pandita. At this period of his life he became intimately acquainted with Haridāsa and Gadādhara.
Caitanya's first wife, Lakşmi Devī, daughter of Vallabha Miśra, died of snake-bite; he then married Vişnupriyā. After his father's death he went to Gayā to perform the post-funeral rites; there he is said to have met saintly persons like Paramānanda Purī, īśvara Purī, Raghunātha Purī, Brahmānanda Purī, Amara Purī, Gopāla Puri, and Ananta Puri. Ile was initiated by Isvara Puri and decided to renounce the world. He came back, however, to Navadvīpa and began to teach the Bhāgavata-purāna for some time.
Nityānanda, an ascetic (avadhūta), joined him in Navadvīpa. His friendship further kindled the fire of Caitanya's passion for divine love, and both of them, together with other associates, began to spend days and nights in dancing and singing. It was at this time that through his influence and that of Nityānanda, two drunkards, Jagai and Madhai, were converted to his Vaişnava cult of love. Shortly after this, with his mother's permission, he took the ascetic life and proceeded to Katwa, and from there to Santipur to meet Advaita there. From this place he started for Puri with his followers.