Page 23 - Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (English)

Birth and Childhood Pastimes 9

dive underwater and catch their legs to make them
lose their balance, or spit on their bodies, forcing
them to bathe repeatedly. He would throw sand on
those who had just finished their bath and would
mix up the men’s and women’s clothing on the
riverbank, causing considerable embarrassment
to all. Once when Nimäi understood that the
brähmaëas were going to complain about Him to
Jagannätha Miçra, He quickly jumped out of the
water, got dressed, put ink on His fingers, and
went home. When His father informed Him of
the brähmaëas’ grievances, He responded, “Father,
I have just come from school! Just look at My
fingers. I have not been to the Gaìgä at all. They
are making false accusations.”

One time Nimäi playfully struck His mother.
Pretending to faint, Çacémätä fell down. The
neighboring ladies told Nimäi, “Dear child, please
bring a coconut from somewhere, then Your
mother will be cured.” Nimäi rushed out and
immediately returned with two coconuts. Nobody
knew how He could have got them so quickly.
The young girls of the area would assemble by
the Gaìgä and worship Lord Çiva, supplicating his
benediction to get good husbands. Nimäi would
sit among them and demand all the nice articles
and food meant for Lord Çiva. He would tell them,