Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 17.12
The Six-Armed Form Represents Three Incarnations
“After this function at the house of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura, Nityānanda Prabhu appeared, and when He met with Lord Caitanya He got the opportunity to see Him in His six-armed form.”
What the purport teaches
- Nityānanda Prabhu saw Lord Caitanya’s six-armed form. This form, called Ṣaḍ-bhuja, represents three incarnations.
- A bow and arrow symbolize Śrī Rāmacandra. A stick and flute, like those held by a cowherd boy, symbolize Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
- A sannyāsa-daṇḍa and a kamaṇḍalu, or waterpot, symbolize Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
Try this today
Write down the three pairs of objects and the incarnation each pair represents.
Ask yourself
What do the three pairs of objects teach me about the six-armed form?
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.