Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Antya 14.25
Respect the Lord and His Devotees
“When he saw this, Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s personal servant, Govinda, hastily got her down from her position. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, chastised him for this.”
What the purport teaches
- Garuḍa is Lord Viṣṇu’s carrier and the supreme Vaiṣṇava. Touching his body with one’s feet or climbing his column is vaiṣṇava-aparādha, an offense to a Vaiṣṇava.
- By placing her foot on Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s shoulder, the woman was also offending Kṛṣṇa Himself.
- Seeing these offenses, Govinda hastily brought her down. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, however, chastised him for doing so.
Try this today
Today, pause before approaching a sacred place or object and consider how to show proper respect.
Ask yourself
How carefully do I show respect to the Lord and His devotees?
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.