03/28/2021
Today, devotees around the world celebrate Gaura Purnima, the auspicious day some 535 years ago (1486) when the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, appeared on Earth as Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. In the form of His own devotee, He experienced, and enlightened people about, the mellows of devotional service, and taught the process of nāma-saṅkīrtana, or congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names, as the means for deliverance in this age:
Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare
Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu set into motion the sankirtana movement, spreading love of Godhead throughout India, converting thousands into devotees. He also uncovered the holy places associated with Lord Krishna’s pastimes in Vrindavan, which had been overgrown by jungle, instructing His disciples to excavate these places of pilgrimage and construct temples there.
The modern day Krishna consciousness movement, commonly known as the Hare Krishna movement, is carrying on in the footsteps of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu, spreading this message throughout the world.
You’ll find more information about His life and teachings in the biographical work, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/
A summary is presented in the article “Who is Lord Chaitanya?” published in Back to Godhead magazine: http://www.krishna.com/who-lord-chaitanya
Additional information on Krishna.com: http://www.krishna.com/chaitanya-mahaprabhu