Bhakti Yoga

As a crawling infant, Nimai caught a snake that entered the courtyard and lay peacefully on its coiled body. When family members screamed in fear, He simply smiled. Some recognized the snake as Ananta Sesha, the divine serpent.

During Rathayatra in Puri, Lord Jagannathas chariot refused to move despite being pulled by wrestlers and elephants. Chaitanya placed His head against the back of the chariot and pushed lightly, causing it to roll forward effortlessly while the ropes lay slack.

When Nityananda Prabhu arrived in Nadia, He hid at Nandanacharyas house. Chaitanya sent devotees to find Him but they failed. Finally, the Lord Himself went directly to Nityananda, and their ecstatic reunion overwhelmed all who witnessed it.

At age 16-17, Nimai visited Gaya to perform rituals for his deceased father. There he met Ishvara Puri, who initiated him with a Krishna mantra. After this initiation, Nimai completely transformed, abandoning scholarship for ecstatic devotion to Krishna.

The leper Vasudeva, whose body was covered with worms, would carefully replace any worm that fell. When he missed meeting the Lord, he fainted in grief. Mahaprabhu returned and embraced him, instantly curing his leprosy and transforming him into a beautiful devotee.

Madhavendra Puri secretly desired to taste the famous sweet rice offered to Gopinatha but felt it was an offense. That night, Lord Gopinatha stole a pot of sweet rice and hid it under His cloth for the devotee. The Deity became known as Khirachora Gopinatha.

The notorious criminals Jagai and Madhai had committed every sin. When Madhai struck Nityananda Prabhu with a pot, drawing blood, Chaitanya summoned His Sudarshana chakra. But Nityananda intervened, reminding the Lord of His mission to deliver sinners through love. Both brothers became great devotees.

A profound philosophical hymn pondering the origin of existence from a state of neither being nor non-being. It concludes with uncertainty, suggesting that perhaps even the gods do not know how creation occurred, as they came after it.

When Sanatana Goswami refused to serve the Sultan any longer, he was imprisoned. Using gold coins left by his brother Rupa, he bribed the jailer and escaped. He traveled to Varanasi where he received two months of intensive spiritual instruction from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

In the beginning arose Hiranyagarbha, the golden cosmic egg or womb, from the primordial waters. From this egg emerged Prajapati, the Lord of Creation, who upheld heaven and earth and became the source of all existence.

Sarama, the divine messenger of Indra, is sent to negotiate with the Panis for the return of stolen cows. In a dramatic dialogue, she resists their temptations of wealth and sisterhood, threatening them with Indras might and the Angirasa priests.

When Raghunatha Dasa approached Nityananda Prabhu seeking His mercy to join Chaitanya, the Lord playfully punished him by ordering him to feed all the devotees yogurt and chipped rice. This became the famous Panihati Chida-dahi Festival still celebrated today.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu composed only eight verses in His life, known as Shikshashtakam. These verses express the glory of the holy name, the humble attitude of devotion, and the intense feelings of separation from Krishna - considered the essence of His teachings.

When Chaitanya expressed concern about how Muslims could be saved, Haridas Thakur explained namabhasa - the shadow of the holy name. Even unintentionally uttering Gods name grants liberation, just as Ajamila was saved by calling for his son named Narayana.

Though Chaitanya initially refused to meet the King, Sarvabhauma arranged for Prataparudra to approach disguised as a common person during Rathayatra. When the King recited verses about Krishnas rasa dance, Chaitanya embraced him in ecstasy.

The demon Vala and the Panis concealed stolen cows, along with Surya (Sun) and Ushas (Dawn), in a mountain cave. Indra, aided by Brihaspati and the Angirasa sages, broke open the cave and released the cows and the light of dawn.

Tvastris three-headed son Vishvarupa secretly aided the Asuras while serving as priest to the gods. Indra discovered this betrayal and slew him. In revenge, Tvashtri created Vritra, leading to the great battle between Indra and the serpent demon.

Soma is both a deity and the sacred drink of immortality (amrita) pressed for ritual offerings. The entire ninth mandala celebrates Somas purification and pressing, describing how this divine nectar empowers the gods and grants immortality.

Vishnu traverses the entire cosmos in three mighty strides - the first covering the earth, the second the atmosphere, and the third reaching the highest heaven where immortals dwell. This feat symbolizes his cosmic sovereignty over all realms.

A dialogue between the twin siblings Yama and Yami, the first mortals. Yami proposes they unite to continue the mortal line, but Yama refuses, citing divine law and the watchful ordinances of Mitra-Varuna. Yama later becomes the god of death.