Authority and Pramana on Gaura-lila

Question: Who are the ācāryas we take as final authorities to settle differing opinions?

Answer: Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the propounder of our sampradāya. Therefore, Caitanya Mahāprabhu is the ultimate authority. But He did not write any philosophical works, as is seen in the case of the propounders of other sampradāyas, such as Śrī Rāmānujācārya. However, he personally instructed Rūpa Gosvāmī, and Sanātana Gosvāmī who wrote many books on the basis of His instructions. Therefore, they are our original authorities. Closely following them is Śrī Gopala Bhaṭṭ Gosvāmī, Śrī Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī and then Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī. What they say is the siddhānta because they are the ones who had the direct link to Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī did not personally meet Caitanya Mahāprabhu but he is the direct disciple of Śrī Rupa Gosvāmī, besides being his nephew.  Anyone who is aligned with them, such as ŚrI Kṛṣṇa Dāsa Kavirāja, is accepted as authority. 

Question: So, based on this statement, how are we to accommodate the fact that none of the six Gosvāmīs said that there is a Gaura-aprakaṭa-līlā? Because sādhus like Gopāla Guru, Dhyānacandra, Viśvanātha Cakravartī, and so on did indeed say that, but as far as my knowledge goes, I don’t know of any direct statement from the six Gosvāmīs about this point. And in that regard, I know devotees from, for example, the Advaita Parivāra, who state that according to abhāva-pramāṇa it is proven that there is no Gaura-aprakaṭa-līlā. So, I would like to know your opinion in this regard. Do you consider the Gosvāmī-grantha as our ultimate pramāṇa, and how do we establish the eternality of Gaura-aprakaṭa-līlā, if they didn’t openly speak about it?

Answer: Rūpa, Sanātana, Jīva Gosvāmīs did not write on Gaura-līlā—prakaṭa or aprakaṭa. They did compose some verses in praise of Caitanya Mahāprabhu but did not specifically write any book describing His līlā. But we know from their writings that all avatāras, such as Rāma, have their spiritual abode. The word avatāra means descent, which signifies that He descends into the material world. That is possible if He is already present in the spiritual world. In numerous salutary verses, Mahāprabhu is also acknowledged as avatāra by the Gosvāmīs. So, He must have His own abode, otherwise, the word avatāra would be misleading or meaningless.

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