Saint Chaitanya- Encyclopaedia of Saints of India (Part-22)

Chaitanya's appearance greatly enlightened all classes of people who were totally disillu- sioned at that time. The cult of Bhakti as depicted by Chaitanya became the perfect answer to the question of revival of Hinduism. He used to draw large crowds by his pleasing personality and everybody became moved and pleased by his divine grace-and attractive feature of Bhakti-dharma.

The theme has been divided into ten chapters which have deep bearing on his early life, pilgrim and preacher in Puri, Bengal, and Vrindaban, his religious outlook, Chaitanya and Jagannath, phases of his life and the incarnation. of Buddha-Jagannath.

This work would be useful for teachers, scholars and students in India and abroad.

Contents include: Life of Chaitanya; Pilgrim and Preacher; In Puri and Bengal; Pilgrimage to Vrindaban; The Master Favoured Rup; Sanatan Meets the Master; Religious Outlook of Chaitanya; Chaitanya and Jagannath; Phases of his Life; The Incarnation of Buddha-Jagannath.

Dr. S.R. Bakshi, Ph.D., D.Litt. is an eminent scholar of Modern Indian History and is the author of several works on Indian nationalism and freedom movement. His recent works include 'Encyclopaedic History of Indian Culture and Religion' (in 5 Vols.), The Great Marathas' (in 5 Vols.), The Great Rajputs' (in 6 Vols.), 'B.R. Ambedkar: His Political and Social Ideology' (in 2 Vols.), 'Encyclopaedic History of The Sikhs and Sikhism' (in 6 Vols.), The Great Moghuls' (in 8 Vols.), and 'Development of Women, Children and Weaker Sections' (in 5 Vols.). Dr. Bakshi is member of several academic institutions having deep bearing on historical research.

Dr. Sangh Mittra, LL.B. Ph.D. from Lucknow University, is Dy. Director (Research) in Indian Council of Historical Research. Her Ph.D. thesis on 'Iconographic Study of Minor Brahmanical Deities in Northern India' is published along with more than 20 Research Papers in reputed historical journals. She is Life Member of several academic institutions and a reputed examiner of Ph.D. thesis of Universities of North India. Besides she has actively participated in numerous national and international Seminars.

Jagan Natha Misra and his wife, Sachi Devi had ten children. The eldest child was a son, named Bisvarupa and the youngest was named Bisambhar. All the inter- vening daughters died when they were still young. Bisambhar was, later on, known as Sri Krishna Chaitanya. Chaitanya lost his father when he was fairly young: he was married when he was in his teens. When his wife died, he married once again and later on renounced his domestic life.

Chaitanya, a great prophet of India enlightened the nation with his appearance in the land at a time when this land was in deep darkness. Like the appearance of Buddha, Chaitanya also appeared to establish a religion anew without any division of caste and creed. So several biographical kavyas of Chaitanya have been composed. But the Caitanyabhagavata of Vindavanadasa as a bio- graphical kavya ranks higher than any other else.

His interpretation gives equal prominence to Bhakti. Bhakta and Bhagavata and tries to set up a credible link among them. Naturally as a result the Bhakti of Chaitanya and the Bhakti of a Bhakta merge to become a universal sentiment. The Bhakti of a Bhakta gets a much coveted treatment have to prove that the Lord is even willing to show favour to a true devotee. This created confidence and hope in the minds of ordinary people who were totally disillusioned at that time. So the cult of Bhakti as depicted by Chaitanya became the perfect answer to the question of revival of Hinduism.

**Contents and Sample Pages**