Srila Prabhupada (founder of the Hare Krishna movement) was immersed in chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Aware of the holy name's power, he was confident enough to travel to America. He knew that although the Hare Krishna mantra would sound foreign to Western ears, the holy name was so powerful that it 'could manifest in their heart's regardless. By Srila Prabhupada's mercy, the powerful movement of chanting the holy names is spreading to every town and village around the world.

The holy name's power is not yet fully unleashed in Kali-yuga. People can see Krishna, if only they will take wholeheartedly to chanting. Those who are already chanting can see the holy name's power in their lives. We can only hope that society's leaders will discover the real universal power, and give up tinkering with their electronic and atomic energie before they bring about major destruction. Spreading the power of the holy name is the work of the Hare Krishna movement.

"We shall eagerly wait for the happy days of Bhagavata-dharma, or prema-dharma, inaugurated by the Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu."

(Bhagavatam., Introduction, p.40)

Srila Prabhupada writes about Narottama dasa Thakura's song where he says that all of Lord Caitanya's devotees are nitya-siddha. Prabhupada explains that "this does not mean only in the time of Lord Caitanya, but it also means now.' Of course, we know that Srila Prabhupada is a nitya-siddha and an intimate associate of Lord Caitanya, but we can understand from Prabhupada's words that what was going on in caitanya--lila has been extended now into a world wide movement of Vaisnavas coming from all different branches of Vaisnavism originating from Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

These are some intriguing statements describing the future. Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes: "The religion preached by Mahaprabhu is universal and not exclusive. . . . The principle of kirtana as the future church of the world invites all classes of men… 'This church, it appears, will extend all over the world and take the place of all sectarian churches, which exclude outsiders from the precincts of the mosque, church or temple. . . . Oh, for that day when the fortunate English, French, Russian, German, and American people will take up banners, mrdangas, and karatalas and raise kirtana through the streets and towns. When will that day come?"

    Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu who appeared 500 years ago in Navadvip west Bengal

Caitanya

In the late sixteenth century, with the advent of Krishna Caitanya, in Bengal, Ramanuja's and Madhva's theistic philosophy of Vaisnavism (worship of Vishnu, or Bhagavan) reached its climax. Caitanya's philosophy of acintya-bhedabheda-tattva completed the progression to devotional theism. Ramanuja had agreed with Sankara that the Absolute is one only, but he had disagreed by affirming individual variety within that oneness. Madhva had underscored the eternal duality of the Supreme and the jiva: he had maintained that this duality endures even after liberation. Caitanya, in turn, specified that the Supreme and the jivas are 'inconceivably, simultaneously one and different" (acintya-bhedabheda). He strongly opposed Sankara's philosophy for its defiance of Vyasadeva's siddhanta.

In rejecting impersonalism, Caitanya said that it clouds the Vedic literature's meaning. He explained the direct meaning of the sastras as devotion (bhakti) to Bhagavan Krishna. Thus, Caitanya made an unprecedented contribution. Here was the possibility of a devotional relationship between God and man. Rupa Gosvami, an early disciple,. described Caitanya's unique gift: "O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.... You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto you."

We know more about Krishna Caitanya than about the earlier acaryas, banks to such biographical sources as Sri Caitanya-caritamrta AD.1616), by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. Caitanya (AD. 1486-1534) was born in Navadvipa, Bengal. He took the renounced order (sannyasa) at the age of twenty-four. His spiritual master, Isvara Puri, was a disciple of Madhavendra Puri, who came in the line of Madhva. Caitanya's immediate followers (the six Gosvamis: Rupa, Sanatana, Jiva, Gopala Bhatta, Raghunatha Bhatta and Raghunatha dasa) compiled extensive Sanskrit literatures and thus documented Caitanya's philosophical system according to Vedic evidence. Himself, Caitanya wrote only eight verses, on the ecstasy of devotion to Krishna. His disciples understood Caitanya to be Bhagavan Krishna Himself appearing in the form of a devotee.

Some observers have charged Caitanya with introducing an erotic element into bhakti philosophy. What Caitanya actually taught was that the original and pure sex psychology exists in the person of the Absolute Truth, Bhagavan Krishna. The pure exchange of pleasure between the Supreme Bhagavan and His liberated servitors is characteristic of the highest spiritual relationship. This exchange is not tainted by mundane sex and cannot even be understood by a person still affected by material desire. When conditioned jivas try to understand the loving affairs of Bhagavan Krishna, they misconstrue Bhagavan Krishna as a mundane "god of love." Himself a sannyasi noted for strict avoidance of women and worldly affairs, Caitanya pointed out that the jiva's relationship with Bhagavan Krishna is eternally pure and transcendental. His Personality demonstrated conjugal longing for Krishna. Further, Caitanya taught that this conjugal mood is one of five original relationships between the jivas and Bhagavan. Finally, in Caitanya's view anyone can attain transcendental devotion to Bhagavan (God) if he absorbs himself in chanting Bhagavan's names.

"The sankirtana movement went on from one part of the town to another, as the Lord wandered everywhere performing kirtana. In this way He inundated the whole world by distributing love of Godhead."

(Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 13.32)

Prabhupada raises a doubt in his purport to this verse: "How all three worlds became inundated with love of Krishna since Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed kirtana only in the Navadvipa area? The answer is that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself. The entire cosmic manifestation results from the Lord's first setting it in motion. Similarly the sankirtana movement was first set in motion five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's desire.. ." It is a physical law that what is once set in motion will continue to move. Lord Caitanya gave the original push in Navadvipa, and that push has set the world-wide sankirtana movement in motion. ISKCON and many others are continuing the momentum of Lord Caitanya's original push.

KRISHNA -- SUPREME CONTROLLER. Srila Prabhupada used to say that we are all isvaras, controllers, to some extent. The President of the United States is a big controller, a religious leader may control hundreds of followers, a family man controls his wife, a yogi controls his senses, but only Krishna is the Supreme Controller.

From the Brahma-samhita: isvarah paramah krsnah., sac-cid-ananda- vigrahah. From the Caitanya-caritamrta: ekale isvara krsna ara saba bhritya. Only Krishna is the Supreme; all others are His servants. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam.

The two aspects of a controller are: (1) He is independent of others' control; and (2) His orders cannot be neglected by others. Lord Krishna fulfills both these criteria to an infinite degree. By His energy as Time, He controls all living beings in the universe. "Time I am and I have come to engage everyone." Time itself, as well as all subordinate gods and their cosmic operations, are all subject to the will of the Supreme. "Simply by Your and by Your partial representation of Vishnu, You are maintaining the universes. In this way, O Krishna, O enemy of Kamsa, there are so many Brahmas and Sivas who are simply carrying out Your orders." (NOD, Chap. 22, p.183)

PREDICTIONS OF LORD CAITANYA"Let me offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, by whose mercy even unclean yavanas become perfectly well-bred gentlemen by chanting the holy name of the Lord. Such is the power of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu." (Adi 17.1)

Prabhupada writes in his purport:

There is a persistent misunderstanding that one cannot become a brahmana unless he changes his body. As we have discussed several times, it is to be understood that by the supremely powerful potency of the Lord . . . everything is possible. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is as fully independent as Krishna. . . . If He wants, by His mercy He can convert even a yavana . . . into a perfectly well-behaved gentleman. This is actually happening in our propagation of the Krishna consciousness movement.

Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda dancing in front of Sri Sri Radha Krishna singing....