Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 7.13
Gosvāmī Means Qualification, Not Heredity
“Śrī Advaita Ācārya is Lord Caitanya’s incarnation as a devotee. Therefore these three tattvas [Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Nityānanda Prabhu and Advaita Gosāñi] are the predominators, or masters.”
What the purport teaches
- A gosvāmī or gosāñi has full control over the mind and senses. A servant of the senses cannot become a spiritual master.
- Gosvāmī is not a hereditary title but refers to spiritual qualifications. A spiritually advanced person may be called Gosvāmī regardless of where that person comes from.
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Advaita Gosāñi Prabhu are natural gosvāmīs because They belong to viṣṇu-tattva. All three are prabhus, or masters.
Try this today
When one unnecessary sense impulse arises today, pause before acting and practice restraint.
Ask yourself
Do you give more weight to a spiritual title or to the qualifications it should represent?
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.