Fasting Day for Gaura Poornima so that we can chant more Hare Krishna mantra

Gaura Purnima Celebrations

According to Vedic Vaishnava tradition, Gaura Purnima is observed with a day-long fast until moonrise. On this day, devotees abstain from grains and beans as a mark of devotion.

As instructed by Srila Prabhupada, devotees fast until evening, when a ceremony is held, and a small amount of Ekadasi preparations are offered. The fast is broken after moonrise with anukalpa, or grain-free, foods. A special feast is offered to celebrate the birth of Lord Chaitanya. This year, Gaura Purnima falls on March 14th. Devotees will fast until moonrise, which occurs at 6:29 PM IST.

Life of Lord Caitanya

Lord Caitanya (1486-1534 CE) was a revered spiritual leader and reformer in India, revered as an incarnation of Lord Krishna by his followers. His life and teachings had a profound impact on the development of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

Lord Caitanya was born in Navadvipa, West Bengal, India, to Jagannath Mishra and Saci Devi. He was named Visvambhara, later known as Nimai, and demonstrated extraordinary intelligence and spiritual inclinations from childhood.

He studied Sanskrit and logic under prominent scholars and married Lakshmipriya, and later Vishnupriya after Lakshmipriya's untimely death.

Lord Caitanya met his guru, Isvara Puri, who initiated him into the Madhva tradition. This encounter led to a profound spiritual transformation, and he revealed his true identity as Krishna. He became known as Sri Krishna Caitanya.

Lord Caitanya began preaching the message of love and devotion to Krishna, attracting many followers, including prominent scholars and theologians. He introduced the practice of sankirtana (congregational chanting) and nagara-kirtana (public chanting), emphasizing the importance of bhakti (devotion) and humility.

At age 24, Lord Caitanya took sannyasa (renunciation), adopting the name Sri Krishna Caitanya. He traveled extensively, preaching and spreading his message, meeting with prominent spiritual leaders like Ramananda Raya and Vasudeva Datta. His teachings had a profound impact on the social and spiritual landscape of India.

Lord Caitanya emphasized the importance of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and taught the concept of achintya-bheda-abheda (inconceivable oneness and difference) between God and the individual soul. He encouraged devotees to cultivate humility, compassion and love for Krishna. Lord Caitanya founded the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition and inspired a lineage of prominent spiritual leaders, including the Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan. He continues to be revered as a divine incarnation by millions worldwide as the founder of the Hare Krishna movement.

Lord Caitanya disappeared in 1534 CE, at the age of 48, in Puri, Odisha, India.

Lord Caitanya's life and teachings continue to inspire and guide devotees on their spiritual journeys, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of spirituality.

Engaging sexual propensity in service of God (Krishna)

Sex is also to be engaged in Krsna consciousness. The conception of God as a father or mother does not allow the engagement of one's sex in the service of the Lord because there is no sexual relationship with the father and mother. But in the conception of God as a lover, there is sexual engagement also. Therefore, Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave the most perfect information ofour engagement with the Supreme Lord. In other religious conceptions of life, God is at the utmost taken as the father or mother. Many worshipers inIndia take goddess Kali to be the representation of God. Of course, that isnot sanctioned, but the belief is there, and also in the Christian religion the conception of God is as a father. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu informs us that one can even have sexual engagement with the Lord. This information is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's unique contribution. In this material world, sexual engagement is considered to be the highest engagement, the greatest pleasure, although it exists only in a perverted form. No one, however, has conceived that there can be sexual engagement in the spiritual world. There is not a single instance of such theology anywhere in the entire world. This information is given for the first time by Caitanya Mahaprabhu: one can have the Supreme Personality of Godhead as one's husband, as one's lover. This is possible in the worship of Radha and Krsna, but no one, especially the impersonalists, can understand Radha-Krsna. The impersonalists have no idea; they cannot even conceive that God has form. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that not only does God have form, but He has sex life also. This is the highest contribution of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

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From "The Highest Love"featured in The Science of Self-realizationby Srila Prabhupada

Chant:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare