Lord Caitanya and the Illiterate Brahmana
Lord Caitanya’s Visit: When Lord Caitanya was traveling in South India, He arrived at the largest temple in the world, the Ranganatha temple.
Encounter with the Brahmana: He went to see the Deity and saw a brahmana reading the Bhagavad-gita. People were joking with him, saying, “Oh, Mr. Brahmana, how are you reading the Bhagavad-gita?” because they knew he was illiterate.
Serious Inquiry: Lord Caitanya, seeing the brahmana’s sincerity, asked, “My dear brahmana, what are you reading?”
The Brahmana’s Explanation: The brahmana, recognizing Lord Caitanya’s sincerity, explained, “My spiritual master asked me to read the Bhagavad-gita, but I am illiterate. So I simply look at the pictures and remember the story.”
Tears of Devotion: Lord Caitanya asked, “Why are you crying if you cannot read?”
Devotional Vision: The brahmana replied, “As soon as I take this Bhagavad-gita, I remember Krsna as the charioteer of Arjuna. I cry thinking of the Supreme Lord serving His devotee. This picture brings me immense joy and tears to my eyes.”
Lord Caitanya’s Approval: Lord Caitanya embraced him and said, “Your Bhagavad-gita reading is perfect. You have taken the essence.”
Moral of the Story:
“If you simply remember how Krsna is teaching Arjuna and Arjuna is hearing—if you simply remember the picture—that is sufficient. We don’t have to become learned men to argue with another learned man. Simply if I remember this picture, that is perfection. We have to simply think of Krsna. You think in any way. That is your perfection.
Spiritual Insight:
Smartavyah Satatam Visnuh: The injunction from Padma Purana states we should think of Visnu always. This is samadhi, meditation, and yoga siddhi, the perfection of yoga. One who has learned to think of Krsna always is already on the perfectional stage.
Aradhito Yadi Haris Tapasa Tatah Kim: If one has come to the stage of surrendering to Krsna, thinking of Him always, no further austerities or penances are needed. Without this stage, scholarship and learned arguments are useless.
Example of the Gopis: Lord Caitanya praised the gopis’ natural affection for Krsna, certifying their worship as the highest form. The gopis’ love for Krsna was not based on His divinity but on pure, unconditioned love.
Conclusion: The essence of Krsna consciousness is loving and thinking of Krsna always. This is the highest form of worship and devotion.
Chanting the Holy Name: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral/instructive story they hear so that everyone can benefit by hearing about Krsna and His dear devotees.
