DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0151
Vaislmavism. Caitanya Sect. 139
when his first wife died from a snake-bite. At the age of
twenty-five (a.D. 1509) he resolved to abandon all worldly-
connexions, and give himself up to a religious life. Accord-
ingly, like Vallabhacarya and at about the same period, he
commenced a series of pilgrimages. His travels occupied
six years, and he is known to have visited some of the most
celebrated shrines of India, especially those of Benares, Gaya,
Mathura., Srlrangam, and ultimately the temple of Jagan-nath
at Purl in Orissa.
Having thus prepared himself for his mission, he addressed
himself to the real work of preaching and propagating his
own view of the Vaishnava creed. It is noteworthy that just
about the time when Luther was agitating the minds of men
in Europe, Caitanya was stirring the hearts of the people of
Bengal. After making many converts he seems to have
appointed his two most eminent followers, Advaita and
Nityananda, to preside over his disciples in that part of
India. He himself settled for twelve years at Katak in
Orissa. There he lived for the- rest of his life in close
proximity to the great temple of Jagan-nath, and contributed
to the reputation of the shrine by his presence at the annual
festivals.
His success as a preacher was remarkable. Even his
enemies were attracted by the persuasiveness of his manner
and the magnetic power of his eloquence. The lower classes
flocked to him by thousands. Nor was their admiration of
him surprising. The first principle he inculcated was that all
the faithful worshippers of Krishna (=Vishnu) were to be
treated as equals. Caste was to be subordinated to faith in
Krishna1. 'The mercy of God,1 said Caitanya, 'regards
neither tribe nor family.'
1 This was his theory, but among his numerous followers of the
present day the doctrine of equality does not overcome caste-feeling
and caste-observances except during religious services. The food pre-
sented to the idol of Jagan-nath is distributed to all castes alike, and
eaten by all indiscriminately at the annual festival.
when his first wife died from a snake-bite. At the age of
twenty-five (a.D. 1509) he resolved to abandon all worldly-
connexions, and give himself up to a religious life. Accord-
ingly, like Vallabhacarya and at about the same period, he
commenced a series of pilgrimages. His travels occupied
six years, and he is known to have visited some of the most
celebrated shrines of India, especially those of Benares, Gaya,
Mathura., Srlrangam, and ultimately the temple of Jagan-nath
at Purl in Orissa.
Having thus prepared himself for his mission, he addressed
himself to the real work of preaching and propagating his
own view of the Vaishnava creed. It is noteworthy that just
about the time when Luther was agitating the minds of men
in Europe, Caitanya was stirring the hearts of the people of
Bengal. After making many converts he seems to have
appointed his two most eminent followers, Advaita and
Nityananda, to preside over his disciples in that part of
India. He himself settled for twelve years at Katak in
Orissa. There he lived for the- rest of his life in close
proximity to the great temple of Jagan-nath, and contributed
to the reputation of the shrine by his presence at the annual
festivals.
His success as a preacher was remarkable. Even his
enemies were attracted by the persuasiveness of his manner
and the magnetic power of his eloquence. The lower classes
flocked to him by thousands. Nor was their admiration of
him surprising. The first principle he inculcated was that all
the faithful worshippers of Krishna (=Vishnu) were to be
treated as equals. Caste was to be subordinated to faith in
Krishna1. 'The mercy of God,1 said Caitanya, 'regards
neither tribe nor family.'
1 This was his theory, but among his numerous followers of the
present day the doctrine of equality does not overcome caste-feeling
and caste-observances except during religious services. The food pre-
sented to the idol of Jagan-nath is distributed to all castes alike, and
eaten by all indiscriminately at the annual festival.