Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 10.134
Honor Rāmānanda Rāya Without Imitating Him
“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu told Bhavānanda Rāya, “Your five sons are all My dear devotees. Rāmānanda Rāya and I are one, although our bodies are different.””
What the purport teaches
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called all five sons His dear devotees. He said that He and Rāmānanda Rāya were one, although their bodies were different.
- Rāmānanda Rāya was a most confidential devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The purport identifies him as formerly Arjuna and also records identifications with Lalitā and, in others’ opinion, Viśākhādevī.
- The Lord praised Rāmānanda Rāya for remaining undisturbed even when touching a woman. This prerogative belonged only to Rāmānanda Rāya; no one should imitate him.
Try this today
Write one sentence distinguishing honoring Rāmānanda Rāya from imitating his exceptional activities.
Ask yourself
How can you honor Rāmānanda Rāya’s exalted position without treating his exceptional activities as permission to imitate them?
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.