Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 12.20
An Earring Does Not Make a Yogī
“Nityānanda Prabhu continued, “The King has decided to become a mendicant and accept the sign of a mendicant by wearing an ivory earring. He does not want to enjoy his kingdom without seeing the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.””
What the purport teaches
- Mahārāja Pratāparudra was so depressed at not seeing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that he decided to become a mendicant yogī. He did not want to enjoy his kingdom without seeing the Lord’s lotus feet.
- The purport describes professional mendicants called yogīs or kāṇaphāṭā yogīs. Kāṇaphāṭā refers to someone who has pierced his ear to wear an ivory earring.
- Ordinary people may think an ivory earring marks a yogī, but it is not the sign of a real yogī. Mahārāja Pratāparudra also thought such an earring was necessary to become a mendicant yogī.
Try this today
Today, notice one outward appearance you associate with spirituality, and remind yourself that appearance alone does not establish spiritual standing.
Ask yourself
Do you ever mistake an outward sign for genuine spiritual standing?
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.