Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 10.131
Receiving Instruction Beyond Family Background
“In the list of devotees at Jagannātha Purī [which begins with Paramānanda Purī, Svarūpa Dāmodara, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya and Gopīnātha Ācārya], Kāśī Miśra was the fifth, Pradyumna Miśra the sixth and Bhavānanda Rāya the seventh. Lord Caitanya took great pleasure in meeting with them.”
What the purport teaches
- Kāśī Miśra, Pradyumna Miśra and Bhavānanda Rāya were listed among the devotees at Jagannātha Purī. Lord Caitanya took great pleasure in meeting them.
- Lord Caitanya lived at the house of Kāśī Miśra, who was the King’s priest. The house later passed to Vakreśvara Paṇḍita and then to his disciple Gopālaguru Gosvāmī, who established a Deity of Rādhākānta there.
- Pradyumna Miśra was born in a brāhmaṇa family, and Rāmānanda Rāya in a non-brāhmaṇa family. Yet Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu advised Pradyumna Miśra to receive instruction from Rāmānanda Rāya.
Try this today
Reflect briefly on whether family background affects your willingness to receive devotional instruction.
Ask yourself
How does the Lord’s advice to Pradyumna Miśra challenge judging a teacher by family background?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.