Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 11.62
Joy in Seeing, Sorrow in Separation
“Upon seeing the bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannātha, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy. But when Lord Jagannātha retired after the ceremony, Lord Caitanya became very unhappy because He could not see Him.”
What the purport teaches
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very happy upon seeing Lord Jagannātha’s bathing ceremony. When Lord Jagannātha retired afterward, He became very unhappy because He could no longer see Him.
- After the bathing ceremony, the Lord Jagannātha Deity’s body is repainted. This period, called Anavasara, lasts about a fortnight before Ratha-yātrā.
- For those who regularly visit Lord Jagannātha every day, His retirement is unbearable. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu felt His absence from the temple very deeply.
Try this today
Spend a minute reflecting on the value of seeing Lord Jagannātha and the devotees’ sorrow during His absence.
Ask yourself
How does this account deepen my appreciation for the opportunity to see Lord Jagannātha?
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.