(This is an excerpt from the book "Appreciating Navadvipa Dhama" by HH Mahanidhi Swami)
“Lord Caitanya's spiritual master blessed Him, telling Him to ‘dance, sing, propagate this saìkértana movement, and by instructing people about Kåñëa, try to deliver them from nescience.’ Lord Caitanya's spiritual master also taught Him the following verse from Çrémad Bhägavatam (11.2.40):
“A person who is constantly engaged in devotional service to Kåñëa and who chants His holy name becomes so transcendentally attached to the chanting that his heart becomes softened without extraneous endeavor. When this happens, he exhibits transcendental ecstasies and sometimes laughs, sometimes cries, sings and dances--not exactly in an artistic way, but just like a madman.”
“Lord Caitanya further informed Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté: ‘Because I have full faith in My spiritual master's words, I am always engaged in chanting Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare. I do not exactly know how I have become just like a madman, but I believe the name of Kåñëa has induced Me. I realize that the transcendental pleasure derived from chanting Hare Kåñëa Hare Kåñëa Kåñëa Kåñëa Hare Hare Hare Räma Hare Räma Räma Räma Hare Hare is just like an ocean.’ ” (TLC)
“Not considering who asked for it and who did not, nor who was fit and who was unfit to receive it, Caitanya Mahäprabhu distributed the fruit of devotional service.” (Cc. Ädi 9.29) Çréla Prabhupäda nicely describes the saìkértana movement in the purport to this verse:
“This is the sum and substance of Lord Caitanya's saìkértana movement. There is no distinction made between those who are fit and those who are not fit to hear or take part in the saìkértana movement. It should therefore be preached without discrimination. The only purpose of the preachers of the saìkértana movement must be to go on preaching without restriction. That is the way in which Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu introduced this saìkértana movement to the world.”
“Lord Caitanya passed through Jharikhanda jungle [Bihar], and all the wild animals joined His saìkértana movement. The tigers, elephants, bears and deer all together accompanied the Lord in saìkértana. By this He proved that by the propagation of the saìkértana movement even the wild animals can live in peace and friendship, and what to speak of men who are supposed to be civilized. No man in the world will refuse to join the saìkértana movement. Nor is the Lord's saìkértana movement restricted to any caste, creed, color or species.” (Bhag. intro.)
