We are currently passing through the 540th year of the Gaura era meaning it has been approximately 540 years since the appearance of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared in the village of Mayapur, in the Nabadwip area of the Nadia district, West Bengal, India. This sacred appearance has been described in the Bhakti-ratnakara:

navadvīpa mājhe māyāpura grāma
yāhā avatīrṇa hailen gaura bhagavān

There are many names for Mahaprabhu. Some call Him “Sri Gauranga,” while others refer to Him as “Sri Gaurahari.”

The primary teaching of Mahaprabhu is beautifully summarized in the third verse of Śikṣāṣṭakam:

tṛṇād api sunīcena taror iva sahiṣṇunā
amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

“A person who thinks himself lower than grass, who is tolerant like a tree, who does not expect honour from others but gives respect to everyone—such a person is qualified to always chant the holy name of Hari.”

Śrīla Bhaktivinode Ṭhākura expanded upon this verse in the following profound kīrtana:

śrī-kṛṣṇa-kīrtane yadi mānasa tohār
parama yatane tahi labha adhikār

If you carefully and constantly engage your mind in glorifying Lord Kṛṣṇa through the sincere practice of Śrī Kṛṣṇa kīrtana, you will gradually gain true spiritual qualification.

tṛṇādhika hīna, dīna, akiñcana chāṛ
āpane mānabi sadā chāri ahaṅkār

Let go of all artificial pride and consider yourself insignificant. Be free from ego, and be even more humble than a blade of grass.

vṛkṣa-sama kṣamā-guṇa karabi sādhana
pratihiṃsā tyaji anye karabi pālana

Cultivate the tolerance of a tree. Renounce any tendency toward harming others, and instead try to care for and support all living beings.

jīvana-nirvāhe āne udvega nā dibe
para-upakāre nija-sukha pāsaribe

As you go through life, do not become the cause of worry or distress for anyone. Rather, work for the welfare of others, setting aside concern for your own comfort.

haileo sarva-guṇe guṇī mahāśaya
pratiṣṭhāśā chāḍi kara amānī hṛdaya

Even if you develop noble qualities, reject the desire for recognition or praise, and keep your heart free from pride.

kṛṣṇa-adhiṣṭhāna sarva-jībe jāni sadā
karobi sammāna sabe ādare sarvadā

Understanding that Lord Kṛṣṇa dwells within every living being, consistently treat all with sincere respect and honour.

dainya, dayā, anye māna, pratiṣṭhā-varjana
cāri guṇe guṇī haiyā karaha kīrtana

When a person embraces these four virtues humility, compassion, honoring others, and abandonment of the longing for prestige he becomes truly refined. In that purified condition, he is fit to sing the Lord’s glories.

bhakativinoda kā̐di, bole prabhu-pāya
heno adhikāra kabe dibe he āmāya

Weeping, Bhaktivinode submits this prayer at the Lord’s lotus feet:
“O Lord, when will You bless me with the eligibility to embody these qualities?”

This kīrtana explains the essence of Śrī Gauranga Mahāprabhu’s teachings. Mahāprabhu taught that if a person chants Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s holy name with great care, fixing the mind fully at the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and His pleasure potency Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, spiritual qualities will gradually appear in that person.

The only goal of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahāmantra is to give pleasure to the Lord. If a practitioner’s heart is filled with material desires, he can never achieve the real result of chanting love for Kṛṣṇa.

If someone chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahāmantra with offences, instead of gaining love for Kṛṣṇa, material desires for profit, worship, and fame will increase. The stronger one’s material desires become, the more indifferent one becomes toward chanting the holy name.

Our previous ācāryas compared material prestige to the stool of hogs. The more sincerely we chant the holy name under the guidance of Guru and Vaiṣṇavas, the more we receive the mercy of the holy name.

Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu personally instructed Svarūpa Dāmodar on the method by which chanting brings love of Kṛṣṇa:

je rūpe la-ile nāma prema upajāya
tāra lakṣaṇa-śloka śuna, svarūpa-rāma rāya

“O Svarūpa Dāmodar and Rāmānanda Rāy, in order to understand how to chant the Holy Name so that divine love awakens, please hear the symptoms of such chanting.”

uttama hañā āpanāke māne tṛṇādhama
dui-prakāre sahiṣṇutā kare vṛkṣa-sama

Though one may be exalted, he considers himself lower than a blade of grass. In two ways, he practices tolerance, just like a tree.

vṛkṣa yena kāṭileha kichu nā bolaya
śukāñā maileha kāre pāni nā māgaya

When a tree is cut, it does not protest. Even when it dries up, it does not beg anyone for water.

yei ye māgaye, tāre deya āpana-dhana
gharma-vṛṣṭi sahe, ānera karaye rakṣaṇa

Whoever asks of it, the tree gives its own wealth. It tolerates heat and rain, while giving shelter and protection to others.

uttama hañā vaiṣṇava habe nirabhimāna
jīve sammāna dibe jāni’ kṛṣṇa-adhiṣṭhāna

In this way, though elevated, a Vaiṣṇava remains free from pride. Knowing that Kṛṣṇa resides within every living being, he offers respect to all.

ei-mata hañā yei kṛṣṇa-nāma laya
śrī-kṛṣṇa-caraṇe tāṅra prema upajaya

Love for Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet awakens within the heart of one who chants Kṛṣṇa’s name in this spirit.
(Chaitanya Charitāmṛta, Antya-līlā 20.22-26)

Mahāprabhu is teaching us to decorate ourselves with true Vaiṣṇava qualities. Humility is the ornament of a Vaiṣṇava. Without humility, we cannot truly respect others or be tolerant.

Nowadays, many may wear the dress of a Vaiṣṇava, but without humility, they compete for profit, worship, and prestige. They fight and rival each other for recognition. A true Vaiṣṇava never criticizes others. He respects everyone.

Division, criticism, and quarrel among Vaiṣṇavas are not results of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahāmantra. The real fruit of chanting is love for Kṛṣṇa. This love frees us from material attraction and connects us to eternal spiritual joy in Goloka Vṛndāvana.

The great personality of loving devotion, Śrīla Narottam Dās Ṭhākur, prayed:

golokera prema-dhana, harināma saṅkīrtana
rati nā janmilo kene tāya

“The congregational chanting of the Holy Name is the treasure of divine love from Goloka why has attachment for it not awakened within my heart?”

The Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahāmantra has come from Goloka, the eternal abode of divine love, to free us from the quarrelsome nature of Kali-yuga and take us back to that spiritual world.

To chant properly, we must become free from offences especially criticizing Vaiṣṇavas and give proper respect to everyone. We must refine our speech so that no one feels hurt by our words:

prāṇī-mātra mano-vākye udvega nā dibe

“We should not cause mental distress to any living being.”

My revered Gurudeva, Nitya-līlā-praviṣṭa Oṁ Viṣṇupāda 108 Śrī Śrīmad Bhakti Pramode Purī Goswāmī Ṭhākura, used to give a beautiful example:

If someone steals something valuable from us, and we know it is in his pocket, we should not accuse him harshly. Instead, we should politely say that perhaps by mistake the item has gone into his pocket, and kindly request him to return it. In this way, he will feel ashamed rather than hurt, and may even give up stealing in the future.

Vaiṣṇavas always wish well for all living beings. They never harm anyone, even in thought. They are always engaged in the welfare of others.

Mahāprabhu taught:

āpani ācari dharma jīvere śikhāya
āpani na koile dharma śikhāno nā jāya

“One must practice religiosity oneself before teaching it to others.”

That is why Vaiṣṇavas do not perform any activity just to entertain others. They always try to engage themselves in pleasing the Lord and His devotees through service.

Śrīla Kṛṣṇadās Kavirāja Goswāmī composed Chaitanya Charitāmṛta and Śrī Govinda Līlāmṛta. In his eternal spiritual identity, he is known as Kasturī Mañjarī one of the eight prominent mañjarīs eternally engaged in the service of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

By the desire of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu, that same Kasturī Mañjarī appeared in the age of Kali as Kṛṣṇadās Kavirāja Goswāmī. He came to teach us many lessons of devotion, and taught that a Vaiṣṇava is the very embodiment of humility.

In profoundly humble words, he proclaimed to the world the mercy of Nityānanda Prabhu:

jagāi mādhāi haite muñi se pāpiṣṭha
purīṣera kīṭa haite muñi se laghiṣṭha

“I am more sinful than Jagāi and Mādhai. I am lower than a worm in stool.”

mora nāma śune yei tāra puṇya kṣaya
mora nāma laya yei tāra pāpa haya

“Whoever hears my name loses his piety. Whoever utters my name becomes sinful.”

emana nirghṛṇa more kebā kṛpā kare
eka nityānanda viṣu jagat bhitare

“Who in this world would ever show mercy to someone as fallen as me? No one except Lord Nityānanda.”

preme matta nityānanda kṛpā-avatāra
uttama, adhama, kichu nā kare vicāra

“Nityānanda, intoxicated with divine love, is the incarnation of mercy. He does not judge who is high or low.”

ye āge paḍaye, tāre karaye nistāra
ataeva nistārilā mo-hena durācāra

“He delivers whoever comes before Him. Therefore, He has delivered a wicked person like me.”
(Chaitanya Charitāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 5.208-209)

In the same spirit of humility, Śrīla Bhaktivinode Ṭhākura prayed:

sarvasva tomāra, caraṇe saṅpiyā
paḍechi tomāra ghare
tumi to ṭhākura, tomar kukura
baliyā jānaha more

“I have surrendered everything at Your lotus feet and taken shelter in Your home. You are my Lord; please accept me as Your dog.”

bāṅdhiyā nikate, āmāre pālibe
rahiba tomāra dvāre
pratīpa-janere, āsite nā dibo
rākhibo gaḍera pāre

“Keep me close to You and maintain me; I will remain at Your doorway. I will not allow opposing persons to enter but will keep them outside the gate.”

tava nija-jana, prasāda seviyā
ucchiṣṭa rākhibe yāhā
āmar bhojan, parama-ānande
prati-dina ha’be tāhā

“After Your own devotees honor Your prasāda, whatever remnants they leave—that will be my food, and I will partake of it daily with great joy.”

bosiyā śuiyā, tomāra caraṇa
cintibo satata āmi
nācite nācite, nikaṭe jāibo
yakhona ḍākibe tumi

“Whether sitting or lying down, I will always meditate on Your feet. Dancing with happiness, I will come near You whenever You call me.”

nijera poṣaṇa kabhu nā bhāvibo,
rohibo bhāvera bhore
bhaktivinoda, tomāre pālaka,
boliyā varaṇa kore

“I will never worry about my own maintenance; I will only remain absorbed in devotion. Bhaktivinode accepts You as his protector and guardian.”

The main teaching of Mahāprabhu is that every Vaiṣṇava should become like a faithful dog of Guru, the Vaiṣṇavas, and Kṛṣṇa. Only when someone develops the nature of such a dog can they truly be established in the path of Vaiṣṇavism.

A dog never cheats its master. It is fully surrendered. That is why even today, wealthy people often feel more secure keeping a dog at their home, office, or factory instead of hiring a guard. A guard might betray the master, but a dog will never betray. A dog is a faithful servant.

In the same way, we must also become faithful servants of God.

My most worshipable Gurudeva, Śrīla Bhakti Pramode Purī Goswāmī Ṭhākura, taught us to follow the Vaiṣṇavas and be under their guidance.

In 1997, at Śrī Gopinath Gauḍīya Maṭh in Māyāpur, the centenary celebration of Śrīla Gurudeva was being observed. Nearly a thousand devotees gathered. On that day, Gurudeva addressed the assembled devotees and said:

You have gathered here on my birthday, thinking me worthy of honor and worship. But I am not worthy of your worship. My most worshipable Gurudeva Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhakti Siddhānta Saraswatī Goswāmī Ṭhākura, my Parama-Gurudeva Paramahaṁsa-kula-cūḍāmaṇi Ṭhākura Śrīla Gaura Kiśore Dās Bābājī Goswāmī Mahārāja, Śrīla Saccidānanda Bhaktivinode Ṭhākura, and all the previous ācāryas are worthy of worship. You have actually gathered to worship them. I am only a pet dog of my Guruvarga.

You know that wealthy people keep foreign dogs in their homes. Those dogs often lie near the feet of their rich master. When someone brings a flower bouquet to honor the master, sometimes a flower falls near the dog’s feet. The dog never thinks that the flower was offered to worship him. In the same way, I do not think that you have come here to worship me. “

Gurudeva spoke these words from deep humility. I have personally seen in his life the result of worship performed with true humility.

In 1990, at Śrī Chaitanya Gauḍīya Maṭh in Māyāpur, Śrīla Gurudeva observed a complete fast on Gaura Pūrṇimā without even drinking water. The next morning, after finishing his daily duties, he sat with his japa beads chanting the holy name.

Many householder devotees had gathered to take his darśana before returning home. But Gurudeva was deeply absorbed in chanting and seemed unaware of his surroundings. Everyone thought he was resting and did not want to disturb him, yet, as is customary, they could not leave without his permission.

At that time, Sripad Ananda Gopal Prabhu, a disciple of Śrīla Bhakti Vilās Tīrtha Goswāmī Mahārāja and a neighbor from Gurudeva’s earlier life, arrived. Seeing Gurudeva apparently resting, he loudly called out, “Mahārāja!”

Immediately Gurudeva opened his eyes, saw everyone sitting there, and said, “Ananda Gopal Prabhu, you are here? Please forgive me. What could I do? Śrīmatī Rādhā Ṭhākurānī had engaged me in service at Rādhā Kuṇḍa. That is why you had to wait.”

Hearing this, everyone was astonished. Although Gurudeva was physically present in Māyāpur, by the order of Śrīmatī Rādhā Ṭhākurānī he was engaged in service at Rādhā Kuṇḍa in faraway Vṛndāvana. This is the result of devotional service performed with humility.

This humility is the ornament of the teachings of Śrī Gauranga Mahāprabhu. Without humility, negative qualities such as intolerance, desire for profit, worship, and prestige will arise. The heart will become filled with unwanted things (anarthas).

The main goal of our spiritual practice is to become free from these unwanted things and attain divine love (prema) .

The essence of Mahāprabhu’s teaching is:

niraparādhe nāma laile pāya prema-dhana

“If one chants the holy name without offences, one attains the treasure of divine love.”

Today, on this 540th year of Gaura, at the lotus feet of Śrī Gauranga Mahāprabhu, with folded hands and deep gratitude, I bow down and humbly pray at the lotus feet of all the devotees:

Please shower your causeless mercy upon me. Crush my pride and ego, and grant me the qualification to become humble—the ornament of a Vaiṣṇava. Gradually free me from offences so that by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahāmantra, I may attain love for Kṛṣṇa.

Begging for the dust of the Vaiṣṇavas’ feet,
An unqualified servant of Śrī Gauranga Mahāprabhu,
Tridandi Bhikshu Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan