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10 The Nectar of Book Distribution

Kṛṣṇa’s descent. Because of the devotional service of these two persons,
Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu descended as an incarnation. Thus He
preached the holy name of the Lord and ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa to deliver
the entire world.

(e) Saṅkīrtana is the yuga-dharma

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam
yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi sumedhasaḥ

“In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting
to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the name of
Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself.
He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential
companions.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.5.32 and Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-
līlā 3.52)
Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 3.19 – 29: “I shall personally inaugurate the
yuga-dharma, the religion of the age: nāma-saṅkīrtana, the congregational
chanting of the holy name. I shall make the world dance in ecstasy, realizing
the four mellows of loving devotional service. I shall accept the role of a
devotee, and I shall teach devotional service by practicing it Myself. Unless
one practices devotional service himself, he cannot teach it to others. This
conclusion is indeed confirmed throughout the Gītā and Bhāgavatam.
‘Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O
descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion, at that time I
descend Myself. To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as
well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium
after millennium. If I did not show the proper principles of religion, all these
worlds would fall into ruin. I would be a cause of unwanted population and
would spoil all these living beings. Whatever actions a great man performs,
common people follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts,
all the world pursues.’ My plenary portions can establish the principles
of religion for each age. No one but Me, however, can bestow the kind of
loving service performed by the residents of Vraja. ‘There may be many
all-auspicious incarnations of the Personality of Godhead, but who other
than Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa can bestow love of God upon the surrendered souls?’
Therefore in the company of My devotees I shall appear on earth and perform
various colorful pastimes.” Thinking thus, the Personality of Godhead, Śrī
Kṛṣṇa Himself, descended at Nadia early in the age of Kali.