Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 6.12
Recognizing the Highest Ecstatic Symptoms
“Upon seeing the sign of sūddīpta-sāttvika, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya could immediately understand the transcendental ecstatic transformation in the body of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Such a sign takes place only in the bodies of eternally liberated devotees.”
What the purport teaches
- The Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu describes eight transcendental bodily transformations in advanced devotees. In dhūmāyitā, one or two are slightly present and concealable; in jvalitā, more than two or three appear and are concealed only with great difficulty.
- Four or five symptoms mark dīpta, while five, six or all eight appearing together mark uddīpta. In sūddīpta, all eight are multiplied a thousand times and visible at once.
- Sārvabhauma recognized sūddīpta-sāttvika, a sign found only in eternally liberated devotees. These nitya-siddha-bhaktas enjoy the Lord’s company as servant, friend, parent or conjugal lover.
Try this today
Make a short list of the five stages, noting how the visible symptoms increase.
Ask yourself
How does this description help you appreciate the extraordinary nature of what Sārvabhauma saw?
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.