VISHNUPRIYA DEVI
Consort of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Many people are involved with the Sankirtan Movement today. Chanting the Holy Name began with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, thought to be an incarnation of both Radha and Krishna by many. Lashkmi incarnated as Vishnupriya Devi, wife of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. She is known as a Bhushakti. With Navratri upon us it's important to honor all forms of the Divine Mother. She is a very recent incarnation because both incarnated about 500 years ago. She had a very important role in the genesis of the movement.
Women historically have been involved with great social and spiritual change. Shakti is the energy which prevades the Universe, so this powerful energy is tapped in powerful ways by the feminine form. The Sankirtan Movement was at first banned by those in power in governments. This movement was one of the first modern civil disobedience movements. The people said "no" to their rulers and chanted with Sri Chaitanya. Vishnu and Lakshmi radically changed the consciousness of the world through the Sankirtan Movement. It was a radical idea: chant and you obtain the presence of the Divine. Later on the rulers themselves joined the movement, too. Many of those in their 30s, 40s and 50s today have received wonderful health benefits through chanting the Holy Name. Many have joined the movement because of the benefits they see in their everyday life. Later one they become more aware fo the spiritual connections and understandings. Many have been introduced to the Movement through Yoga studios. In this age people are connecting with the Divine directly through chanting of the Holy Name.
Vishnupriya had a great Vishnu bhakta father called Santana Mishra. He was known as a great humanitarian who fed, clothed and sheltered many people. This is part of Sankirtan, too, doing the outward work of compassion in the world. His daughter was equally devoted to daily spiritual practices, such as bathing in the Ganga three times a day. This is where she met the mother of Chaitanya, Mother Sachi. Chaitanya's first wife, Lakshmipriya, had made her transition and left the Earth Plane. In time Vishnupriya Devi became his wife. Chaitanya went to Gaya and met Sri Ishwar Puri and received initiation from him. He returned to Navadvipa as a Krishna Bhakta. He told Mother Sachi his identity and mission of chanting the Holy Name. His mother in prior lives had been Kaushalya, the mother of Sri Ram, and Devaki, the mother of Krishna. Later he revealed his mission and identity to Vishnupriya, his beloved wife. Soon afterwards he took sannyasa, where he began the Sankirtan Movement along with Nityananda Prabhu.
After he left she chanted the Holy Name before a portrait of Gauranga, a form of Krishna. Later on Chaitanya appeared to her in a dream instructing her to construct a Gauranga deity made of the margosa tree under which Mother Sachi had nursed him as a infant. So Vishnupriya was the first to worship Gauranga Mahaprabhu. This same murti exists to this day in this location of Navadvipa. In her separation from him, she brought union and helped foster in the Sankirtan Movement. In this time of Kali Yuga, Krishna appeared as both Radha and Krishna giving one a great way to experience and obtain liberation through the chanting of the Holy Name, known as the Maha Mantra. My Qigong Master, Master Lin, a well known Chinese International Qigong Master who lives in Minneapolis area, says chanting is one of the most important actions in healing since many energy channels are found in the brain area. So chanting does so much for you here and now and also in your future life. ust think 500 years ago a great movement started which changed the whole consciousness of the world. Now many are chanting this great Mantra every day. What a wonderful way to live!
JAI SHRI VISHNUPRIYA! JAI SHRI CHAITANYA!
Radhapriestess
