In Vedic culture, it’s the birthday child who gives gifts! Why? It’s an expression of humility, and the receiver of the gift showers profuse blessings upon the child.
Tomorrow is the birthday of God! When the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna appeared as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He came to give us a special gift. We only have to happily receive it. And then we will be blessed!
What’s that special gift?
Even after staying for thirteen months in the womb of His mother, the Lord refused to take birth. Nilambar Chakrvarty, a renowned astrologer and the maternal grandfather of Lord Chaitanya saw the charts and declared this child is waiting for the most auspicious moment to appear in this world. Then on a lunar eclipse, in 1486 AD, the child appeared. Interestingly lunar eclipse is considered inauspicious by many, then why did the Lord chose this time to take birth?
During the lunar eclipse millions of people congregated on the banks of Ganges in Nawadwip, Bengal, and took bath while loudly chanting the Holy Names of Krishna. Such chanting of ‘Govinda’ ‘Krishna’ and ‘Hari’ was to drive out all inauspiciousness. Even Muslims and other non-Hindus chanted Krishna’s Holy Names this evening, and in the midst of this resounding chanting, the Lord appeared as the son of Jaganath Mishra and Sachi devi. Thus the Lord taught that the most auspicious moment of our lives is when there is chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna. Advaita Acharya and Srivas Thakur, the stalwart devotees of that time, were jubilant to see the atmosphere reverberating with the loud chanting, and joyfully they declared, “May this eclipse never end!”
Later as a small toddler, the Lord would incessantly cry. Sachi devi and the other neighbourhood women would try to pacify the Lord but to no avail. Then one woman began chanting the Holy Names of Krishna, and immediately baby Nimai (Lord’s childhood name) smiled. Delighted, the other women joined in the chanting and soon Nimai was clapping and laughing. The news spread and daily many would gather to see the beautiful child of Sachidevi laugh and smile to the chanting of Holy Names of Krishna.
On many occasions, during these melodious kirtans, the Lord would crawl out and get sweets and fruits in His tiny palms, and offer them lovingly to the singing ladies. Thus the Lord showed how He is immensely pleased when we chant His Holy Names.
Lord Chaitanya also instructed that if we simply do two things; chant Hare Krishna and not offend other devotees, we’d please Him and attain the perfection of life.
On the occasion of Gaura Purnima, the annual appearance day of Lord Chaitanya, we remember how the Lord is pleased if we chant His Holy Names. This meditation can help us chant with attention and gratitude for the gift we have received.
