Today March 21st, 2008
This most auspicious of all days is known as Gaura Purnima, the appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It was on this day in 1486 in what is now Mayapur, West Bengal, India that the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna appeared in the form of His own devotee, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Caitanya is known as the Golden Avatar, and He inundated the Indian sub-continent with the transcendental sound vibration of the Hare Krishna mahamantra creating an unprecedented spiritual revolution which has now expanded beyond the borders of India in the form of ISKCON for inundating the entire world in a tidal wave of love of God.
Srila Rupa Goswami, one of the Lord's most confidential devotees who was taught continually by Him for ten days, wrote this beautiful prayer in praise of Lord Caitanya:
namo mahā-vadānyāya kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-nāmne gaura-tviṣe namah
"I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord Śrī Krishna Caitanya, who is more magnanimous than any other avatar, even Krishna Himself, because He is bestowing freely what no one else has ever given-pure love of Krishna."
Krishna demands that we must surrender to Him in order to obtain His mercy. But Krishna in His most merciful form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu makes no such condition. He simply freely bestows Krishna prema, pure love of Godhead, on everyone who comes in contact with Him. Therefore if we beg Lord Caitanya for His special mercy, our pathway back to home, back to Godhead will become very smooth and easy.
On this day the devotees fast until moonrise, the time of the Lord's appearance, and then partake of a sumptuous feast offered to Lord Caitanya on this most auspicious occasion. We encourage you to attend your nearest ISKCON center this evening to participate in the wonderful festivities. Or if you live too far away you may observe Gaura Purnima in your own home by fasting all day and cooking a sumptuous feast for Lord Caitanya to be offered to Him at the time of the moonrise.
The feast should consist of fruits, vegetables, milk products, and grains. There should be no meat, fish, eggs, onions, garlic, or mushrooms. Make an opulent feast plate for Lord Caitanya and lay it before His photograph. (You can use the image given below for this purpose.) You may recite the above quoted prayer to offer it to Him. While the Lord is partaking of the offering you should serenade Him with an ecstatic Hare Krishna kirtan. Then after giving Him sufficient time to enjoy His feast, you should partake of the offered foodstuffs with great delight.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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