How old is He (Caitanya Mahaprabhu) at this (when He visited the Jagannatha temple) point?

Expressions researched:
"He visited Jagannatha temple" |"How old is He at this point"

1967 Conversations and Morning Walks

Twenty-four years. It is just after His sannyāsa. He took sannyāsa at the age of twenty-four. So He's visiting. After sannyāsa He's going to Jagannātha Purī. On the way He visited this Kṣīra-corā-gopīnātha, Sākṣi-gopāla, and ultimately He came to Jagannātha temple.

Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco:

Prabhupāda: The short story is that there was two brāhmins. Two brāhmins: one young brāhmin, one old brāhmin. They went to Vṛndāvana to see Gopāla, and the old brāhmin was so obliged to the young brāhmin, he promised to hand over his youngest daughter to the young brāhmin. But when he came back home, his eldest son objected. So he kept mum.

Then when the young brāhmin, I mean to say, reminded him that "You promised before Gopāla to hand over your daughter. Now you are silent. What is this?" so his eldest son said: "Well, if Gopāla comes to give witness that my father promised before Him, then my sister can be married with you." So he went back to Vṛndāvana and requested Gopāla to come and give witness. So He came, and the marriage ceremony was performed. This is the sum and substance of the story.

And since then Gopāla did not . . . Gopāla means statue. So in those days there was no transport service. And when Gopāla was present everyone became struck with wonder that, "Oh, such a devotee that Gopāla has come from Vṛndāvana to Orissa, more than 1,500 miles." So the king of that place constructed a very nice temple, and since then that temple is known as Witness Gopāla.

Sākṣi-gopāla means witness. So this story can be shortly described and chanted with music, and the scene of the temple will be seen, Caitanya Mahāprabhu dancing. Our real purpose will be the dancing and singing and little description.

Hayagrīva: Yes. Now, is that all of this?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Then He visited Jagannātha temple. And the Jagannātha temple you have to arrange, it is very crowdy temple. So many people were visiting Jagannātha temple, at the same time Lord Caitanya also entered, and He entered alone.

Hayagrīva: How old is He at this point? How old is He?

Prabhupāda: Caitanya Mahāprabhu?

Hayagrīva: His age at this time?

Prabhupāda: Twenty-four years. It is just after His sannyāsa. He took sannyāsa at the age of twenty-four. So He's visiting. After sannyāsa He's going to Jagannātha Purī. On the way He visited this Kṣīra-corā-gopīnātha, Sākṣi-gopāla, and ultimately He came to Jagannātha temple. And in the Jagannātha temple was very crowded temple, because it is always at least 500, 1,000 devotees are always seeing. It is significance of Jagannātha temple.

So He entered, and as soon as He saw Jagannātha He became overwhelmed with ecstasy and fell down unconscious. So all the people gathered, "He's a young sannyāsī. He has fallen down." So there was Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, the learned scholar of Purī. He saw, "Oh, this young sannyāsī, He's not ordinary."

So he asked his men to carry Him to his place, and that will be the scene. Then after His departure His followers will come, and they will search in the temple that Caitanya Mahāprabhu is not there. Then one Gopīnātha Ācārya . . . I think the character is there? Gopīnātha Ācārya?

Hayagrīva: Now is this the . . .

Prabhupāda: Yes, Gopīnātha Ācārya. Yes.

Hayagrīva: Is this the learned brāhmin?

Prabhupāda: Gopīnātha Ācārya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. They were brother-in-law.

Hayagrīva: Saba . . . be . . .

Prabhupāda: Bhauma.

Hayagrīva: Oh, his name is here. Yes, you didn't mention . . .

Prabhupāda: And Gopīnātha Ācārya is also there.

Hayagrīva: Yes, all right. Sarvabhooma.

Prabhupāda: So just note down. First of all, Caitanya Mahāprabhu enters the temple. As soon as He sees Jagannātha He becomes fainted and fell down unconscious. So all the visitors, they became astonished that, "Here is a young sannyāsī, and how is that, He has fallen down?"

But Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya noted that He is a high-grade sannyāsī. So he asked his men that, "You carry this body, unconscious body, to my place." So his men took away Caitanya Mahāprabhu's body unconscious, and Sārvabhauma also, and exit.

Then after their departure His party entered the temple. Nityānanda, Gadādhara and Murāri, all these men entered. So Gopīnātha Ācārya was present there. He was known to Gadādhara, and Gadādhara inquired that, "Is there any sannyāsī who came here?" Then Gopīnātha Ācārya said: "Yes, we have seen one sannyāsī.

He fell down in ecstasy and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya has taken Him to his home." So he invited, "All right, you come with me. I am taking you there." So all the parties were taken to Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya's place.