Page 16 - Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (English)

2 Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu

was an exalted devotee of Lord Kåñëa, as was his
wife Çacédevé.

Unfortunately, Navadvépa’s educational
ambience was overwhelmingly materialistic, being
based on mundane academics and sophistry.
Navadvépa’s scholars and teachers prided
themselves on their abilities in convoluted logic,
semantic jugglery, and pedantic argumentation.
Being content with formal observance of
traditional rituals, most brähmaëas cared little for
genuine religion and spurned authentic devotion
to God, or Kåñëa consciousness. Those few who
taught Bhagavad-gétä spewed forth dry speculations
instead of explaining its true devotional essence.
And the religious aspirations of the unlettered
masses went no further than worship of minor
gods for procurement of worldly boons. Moreover,
because Bengal was under Muslim rule and many
Muslims lived in Navadvépa, not only did Hindus
live in constant fear of persecution, but they had
to tolerate the sacrilege of cow slaughter being
practiced openly in their midst.

Çré Advaita Äcärya, the leader of Navadvépa’s
small but dedicated Vaiñëava community,
worshiped Lord Kåñëa with tulasé leaves and Gaìgä
water and beseeched Him to appear and rectify the