Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a contemporary of Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya. Chaitanya was born in AD 1486 in a Brahmin family in Navadvipa or Nadia village, 75 miles north of Calcutta. At that time the Vaishnava devotees, frightened by the terror of the Muslims, were fleeing from Bengal and taking shelter in Navadvipa. Because of this, the stream of Vaishnava-bhakti was flowing in Navadvipa with uninterrupted speed.
After studying Sanskrit, grammar and poetry, Chaitanya studied Bhagavata Purana and other Puranas. His eldest brother Vishnurupa had taken sannyas at a very young age, so his mother married Chaitanya in his childhood. When Chaitanya was 11 years old, his father died. Chaitanya had to go to Gaya in AD 1505 for the father's Pind Daan and Shradh.
There he met a sannyasi named Ishwarpuri. Chaitanya became his disciple. After this Caitanya became detached from household life and began to be absorbed in Krishna-devotion. Chaitanya studied the Vedas and Upanishads deeply, but when Chaitanya's curiosity was satisfied, he adopted the path of attaining God through devotion and love. At the age of 24, he became a sanyasi after taking initiation from Keshwa Bharati. After retiring, Chaitanya toured the country for eight years.
He first went to Nilanchal and after that he stayed at places like Srirang Kshetra and Setubandh in South India. He went to every corner of the country and propagated the importance of Harinam. In AD 1515, on the day of Vijayadashami, Chaitanya left for Vrindavan with his huge disciples. He went to Vrindavan only through the forest.
It is said that even the wild animals started dancing after being captivated by the chanting of Chaitanya's Harinama. Lions, tigers and elephants also used to dance in front of them with love. On Kartik Purnima, Chaitanya reached Vrindavan with his disciples. In Vrindavan even today Gauranga-Agmanotsav is celebrated on the day of Kartik Purnima.
In Vrindavan, Mahaprabhu resided at Tamarind-Tala and Akrur-Ghat and awakened the dormant Bhakti-feelings of the people by exposing the importance of the ancient Shridham Vrindavan to the common man. From Vrindavan Mahaprabhu went to Prayag. After residing there for some time, Mahaprabhu performed sankirtana of the Lord in pilgrimages like Kashi, Haridwar, Sringeri (Karnataka), Kamakoti Peeth (Tamil Nadu), Dwarka, Mathura etc.
He believed that God takes many forms, but the most attractive and attractive form among them is that of Shri Krishna. They considered Krishna as an incarnation of God and not as God. According to him, the highest form of devotion and love is in relation to husband and wife, in which there is no business and there is no limit to that love. Hence Radha and Krishna have been conceived.
Krishna is the Supreme Brahman and His devotees are Radha's form. Therefore it is natural for a devotee to be engrossed in the love of Krishna. Caitanya used to become self-absorbed and forget his existence and get absorbed in Krishna.
Caitanya resorted to music and dance called sankirtana for devotion to the Lord. He along with his disciples started performing Hari Naam Sankirtana in high voice while dancing, playing instruments like dholak, mridang, cymbals, manjire etc. - 'Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare-Hare. Hare-Rama, Hare-Rama, Ram-Rama, Hare-Hare.'
His sankirtana system became widely popular from Mathura-Vrindavan to East-Bengal. In this, devotees used to perform sankirtana in groups. Chaitanya and his followers used to dance and sing while singing bhajans and kirtans on public streets and reach a semi-conscious state. Chaitanya himself also used to become unconscious and samadhi in the passion of devotion.
Chaitanya gave the mantra of Krishna-bhakti to the people. The only goal of his life was the promotion of Krishna-Bhakti and Kirtan. Due to his pure character and loving behavior innumerable people became his followers.
Chaitanya's religion was free from rituals and ostentation. He preached to have complete faith in God. His form of worship was love, devotion, kirtan and dance. It is only in love that the devotee experiences realization with the Supreme Soul. Chaitanya said that if a living entity has faith in Krishna, serves his guru, then he becomes free from the entanglement of illusion and attains the feet of Krishna. Chaitanya gave primacy to love and devotion over knowledge.
He exhorted women to be separate from men. He was not opposed to idol-worship and scriptures, but he hated rituals and ostentation. According to Chaitanya, all people can worship God equally. There is no discrimination of high and low in the path of devotion, all the devotees are entitled to be at the feet of Lord Krishna.
Chaitanya and his followers also preached Krishna-bhakti to Muslims and people of lower castes. Due to the influence of Chaitanya, the Shudras also got the right of devotion. Chaitanya in his 'Shikshashtak' I have expressed my views about Krishna-bhakti. According to him the first and main means of devotion 'Harinam Sankirtana' is.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was the greatest reformer of Bengal. In his view nothing happens by mere karma. To attain salvation, it is necessary to worship Hari and sing his praises. Prem and Leela are the characteristics of this sect. The Chaitanya Sampradaya, like Nimbarkacharya, believed in the principle of Bhedabheda, that is, the soul is both separate and inseparable from each other. Only by the power of devotion the human soul can reach Shri Krishna. Radha is the soul of man. He should remain absorbed in the love of Shri Krishna. The main goal of human life is to love Shri Krishna as a slave, friend, wife and son.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spent the last years of his life in Jagannath Puri. In the last twelve years of his life, he used to be engrossed in the separation of Krishna and tears flowed from his eyes all the time. His devotees used to console him by listening and listening to the love and pastimes of Krishna. In AD 1533, at the age of 47, on the day of Rath Yatra, Chaitanya entered the ocean in a frenzy of devotion and his body was complete.
The sankirtana devotion of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had a profound effect on the subjects of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh. After his death, the Goswamis of Vrindavan gave a systematic form to the principles and sankirtana-system of Chaitanya and established the Chaitanya-sampradaya. This sect is also known as Gaudiya Sampradaya. The Goswamis of Vrindavan considered Chaitanya as their lord, but the followers of Nadia village considered him to be an incarnation of Krishna and worshiped Chaitanya himself in the form of Gauranga Mahaprabhu.
Kabir
Kabir's name is foremost among Ramanand's disciples. He was born in Kashi in AD 1398 from the womb of a widow Brahmini. After being abandoned by his mother due to local law, Kabir grew up in the house of a Muslim weaver named Neeru. His wife's name was Loi. From him he had a son Kamal and daughter Kamali.
Kabir had not received formal education. When he grew up, he became a disciple of Ramanand. Kabir suggested the path of salvation even while living in a household. He had knowledge of the scriptures of both Hindu and Muslim. Kabir was a great religious reformer. He was a non-dualist and was a worshiper of the Nirguna-Nirkar Brahman. They did not believe in discrimination of caste, caste, untouchability, high and low etc.
He was critical of idol-worship and extravagance. His disciples were both Hindus and Muslims in large numbers. That is why he exhorted both Hindus and Muslims to give up hypocrisy and pomp and do true devotion to God and openly criticized their evils-
You who went to Turk-Turkani, why didn't you get circumcised inside!
Joe you went to Baman-Bamni, why didn't you come.
Kabir opposed misogyny, lies and deceit. According to him, just as iron sinks in water, in the same way a human being will also drown in the ocean because of misbehavior. Kabir believed that man's biggest enemy 'Kama' and 'woman' enhances work. That's why he called the woman 'Kamani Kali Nagani' That is, said the black snake who does magic.
Kabir refuted the meaningless pomp and rituals of both Hindus and Muslims. He was opposed to the impression-tilak and idol-worship of the Hindus and he also criticized the prayers of Muslims, fasting of Ramadan, worship of tombs and graves etc. There is no benefit from Hajj. Kabir emphasized on monotheism and loving devotion.
Kabir's collection of voices 'Bijak' famous by the name. Bijak has three parts- (1.) Ramani, (2.) Sabad, and (3.) Sakhi. Kabir's language is called Sadhukkadi or Khichdi, in which there is a mixture of many languages like Khari Boli, Awadhi, Braj, Punjabi, Rajasthani, etc. His language is influential even if it is not literary. Kabir worshiped the Nirguna-formal form of God. His Ram was not the son of Dasharatha, but the unborn, all-pervading and ever-changing Rama. His Rama was beyond all virtues. They say-
Some dhive to the formless, some dhyave shape.
She toh in chhodon tay nyara, jaane janaan lost.
Kabir died in AD 1518. Thus his age is considered to be 120 years. Kabir's teachings had a great impact on the lower castes of the society. His followers were called Kabir-Panthi. Later on, his disciples accepted him as an incarnation of God.
Bhakta Raidas
Bhakta Raidas was born in a Chamar family of Kashi. He was one of the twelve chief disciples of Ramananda. They were married and made their living by making shoes. Raidas was opposed to pilgrimage, caste-discrimination, fasting etc. There was no discrimination between Hindus and Muslims. He believed in Nirguna Bhakti. Their devotion to God is clearly visible in them.
The exclusive shelter of Shri Hari's feet is the life of his sadhana. Due to his influence, faith in the devotion of God arose among the people of the lower castes. Raidas's disciples 'Raidasi sect' Started. Rani Mirabai of the Mewar royal family considered him as her guru.
Guru Nanak
The name of Guru Nanak is the foremost among the saints of Punjab. He was born in AD 1469 in a Khatri family of Talwandi village, 50 km from Lahair. His father was a patwari of Kalu village. Nanak was married and had two sons, but later he started living in the company of sages and saints. They worshiped the Nirguna-formal God.
Nanak was a monotheist and did not believe in the distinction of high and low, Hindu-Muslim and caste-creation. He was also vehemently opposed to idol-worship and pilgrimage. According to Sikhism, one should lead a simple and renunciation life. Nanak said that even by living in the world and leading a beautiful householder's life, one can attain salvation. Sufism had more influence on Nanak and he was a supporter of Hindu-Muslim unity and called their quarrels an act of dishonesty-
Bande Ikkhuday Ke, Hindu Muslim.
Dawa Ram Rasool's, Ladde dishonest.
Nanak told his Hindu disciples that- 'I read the four Vedas, bathed in sixty eight pilgrimages, lived in forests and forests and meditated on the seven upper and lower worlds and came to the conclusion that human beings have four One can attain salvation through actions- fear of God, right actions, faith in God and His mercy and faith in a Guru who can guide properly.'
Nanak said to his Muslim disciples- 'Consider kindness as your mosque, goodness and sincerity as the door of prayer, whatever is just and just, that is your Quran. Take humility as your Sunnah, treat manners as your fast. This will make you a Muslim.'
Explaining the five prayers, he said- 'The first prayer is truth, the second justice, the third mercy, the fourth good-destiny and the fifth prayer is the worship of Allah.
Nanak spread his teachings by visiting various places. Nanak's disciples founded Sikhism. He is considered the first Guru of Sikhism. His teachings are found in Adi Granth which later came to be known as Guru Granth Sahib.