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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST '; 18 February 1486 – 14 June 1534〔) was an Indian spiritual teacher. He is believed by his devotees to be Krishna himself who appeared in the form of His own devotee in order to teach the people of this world the process of Bhakti and how to attain the perfection of life. He is considered as the most merciful manifestation of Krishna. Chaitanya was the proponent for the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga (meaning loving devotion to God), based on ''Bhagavata Purana'' and ''Bhagavad Gita''.〔(Srimad Bhagavatam (Introduction) ) "Lord Caitanya not only preached the Srimad-Bhagavatam but propagated the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita as well in the most practical way."〕 Of various incarnations of Vishnu, he is revered as Krishna, popularised the chanting of the ''Hare Krishna'' mantra〔(Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ) "He spread the Yuga-dharma as the practice for attainment of pure love for Radha-Krishna. That process is Harinam Sankirtan, or the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare"〕 and composed the ''Siksastakam'' (eight devotional prayers) in Sanskrit. His followers, Gaudiya Vaishnavas, revere him as a Krishna with the mood and complexion of his source of inspiration Radha.〔Benjamin E. Zeller (2010), Prophets and Protons, New York University Press, ISBN 978-0814797211, pages 77-79〕 Chaitanya is sometimes referred to by the names Gauranga or Gaura due to his fair complexion,〔(In the Name of the Lord (Deccan Herald) ) "He was also given the name of ‘Gaura’ because of his extremely fair complexion." 〕 and Nimai due to his being born underneath a Neem tree.〔(KCM Archive ) "They named Him Nimai, as he was born under a neem tree."〕 There is no evidence, however, that he was born under a Neem Tree. He was very naughty in his young days. His original name is Bishamvar. He was a brilliant student and Nimai was his nickname. At an early age he became an scholar and opened a school. His teachings helped flourish Bhakti movement in east India, particularly Bengal and Odisha from 16th century onwards.〔(Britannica: Caitanya Movement )〕 ==Life== Chaitanya means wisdom ''(Jnana)'' Maha means Great . Prabhu means ‘Lord’ or ‘Master’i.e (Lord or master of wisdom). Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna himself. He was born as the second son of Jagannath Misra and his wife Sachi Devi, who lived in the town of Dhaka Dakhhin, Srihatta, now Bangladesh. According to ''Chaitanya Charitamruta'', Chaitanya was born on the full moon night of 18 February 1486, at the time of a lunar eclipse.〔(Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: His Life and Precepts, by Bhaktivinoda Thakura ) "Caitanya Mahäprabhu appeared in Nabadwip in Bengal just after sunset on the evening of the 23rd Phälguna 1407 Shakabda, answering to 18 February 1486, of the Christian Era. The moon was eclipsed at the time of His 'birth'"〕 His parents named him 'Vishvambhar'. His family roots are originally from Dhaka Dakhhin, Sylhet〔(Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: His Life and Precepts, by Bhaktivinoda Thakura )〕〔Nair, p. 87〕 Shrihatta (now Sylhet, Bangladesh), A number of stories also exist telling of Chaitanya's apparent attraction to the chanting and singing of Krishna's names from a very young age,〔(CC Adi lila 14.22 )〕 but largely this was perceived as being secondary to his interest in acquiring knowledge and studying Sanskrit. When travelling to Gaya to perform the shraddha ceremony for his departed father, Chaitanya met his guru, the ascetic Ishvara Puri, from whom he received initiation with the Gopala Krishna mantra. This meeting was to mark a significant change in Chaitanya's outlook〔(CC Adi lila 17.9 ) "In Gayla, Sri Chaitanya Mähaprabhu was initiated by Isvara Puri, and immediately afterwards He exhibited signs of love of Godhead. He again displayed such symptoms after returning home."〕 and upon his return to Bengal the local Vaishnavas, headed by Advaita Acharya, were stunned at his external sudden 'change of heart' (from 'scholar' to 'devotee') and soon Chaitanya became the eminent leader of their Vaishnava group within Nadia. After leaving Bengal and receiving entrance into the sannyasa order by Keshava Bharati,〔(Teachings of Lord Chaitanya ) "They were surprised to see Lord Chaitanya after He accepted his sannyasa order from Kesava Bharati"〕 Chaitanya journeyed throughout the length and breadth of India for several years, chanting the divine Names of Krishna constantly. He spent the last 24 years of his life in Puri, Odisha,〔(History of Gaudiya Vaishnavism ). The first 6 years, he traveled extensively from Rameshavara in South India to Vrindavan in North India, sharing the message of bhakti. He is also said to have achieved major intellectual successes in converting intellectual giants of his times such as Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya and Prakashananda Saraswati to his devotional understanding of Vedanta. "Chaitanya spent the remainder of His life, another 24 years, in Jagannäth Puri in the company of some of His intimate associates, such as Svarüpa Dämodara and Rämänanda Räya"〕 the great temple city of Jagannath. The Gajapati king, Prataparudra Dev, regarded Chaitanya as Krishna's avatar and was an enthusiastic patron and devotee of Chaitanya's sankeertan gatherings.〔(Gaudiya Vaishnavas ) "His magnetism attracted men of great learning such as Särvabhauma Bhattächärya, the greatest authority on logic, and Shree Advaita Ächärya, leader of the Vaishnavas in Bengal, and men of power and wealth like the King of Odisha, Pratapa Rudra and his minister, Rämänanda Räya..."〕 It was during these years that Chaitanya is believed by his followers to have sank deep into various Divine-Love (samādhi) and performed pastimes of divine ecstasy (bhakti).〔(Srimad Bhagavatam, Introduction ) "At Puridhawm, when he () entered the temple of Jagannätha, he became at once saturated with transcendental ecstasy"〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Chaitanya Mahaprabhu」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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