Did Mahaprabhu cut the Pride of Brahmanas and Sannyasis? (Q&A)

Answer

Yes

Evidence

To vanquish the false pride of so-called renunciants and learned scholars, He spreads real religious principles, even through a sudra, or lowborn, fourth-class man. – CC Antya 5.84

Sanskrit

sannyasi pandita-ganera karite garva nasa
nica-sudra-dvara karena dharmera prakasa

sannyasi — persons in the renounced order; pandita–ganera — of the learned scholars; karite — to do; garva — pride; nasa — vanquishing; nica — lowborn; sudra — a fourth-class man; dvara — through; karena — does; dharmera prakasa — spreading of real religious principles.

Purport:

[…]

Generally brahmanas and sannyasis are very proud of their spiritual positions. Therefore, to cut down their false pride, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached Krsna consciousness through Ramananda Raya, who was neither a member of the renounced order nor a born brahmana. Indeed, Sri Ramananda Raya was a grhastha belonging to the sudra class, yet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu arranged for him to be the master who taught Pradyumna Misra, a highly qualified brahmana born in a brahmana family. Even Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, although belonging to the renounced order, took instruction from Sri Ramananda Raya. In this way Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited His opulence through Sri Ramananda Raya. That is the special significance of this incident.

According to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s philosophy, yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‘guru’ haya: anyone who knows the science of Krsna can become a spiritual master, without reference to whether or not he is a brahmana or sannyasi. Ordinary people cannot understand the essence of sastra, nor can they understand the pure character, behavior and abilities of strict followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s principles. The Krsna consciousness movement is creating pure, exalted Vaisnavas even from those born in families considered lower than those of sudras. This is proof that a Vaisnava may appear in any family, as confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.4.18):

kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa
abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah
ye ’nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah
sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah

“Kiratas, Hunas, Andhras, Pulindas, Pulkasas, Abhiras, Sumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.” (Bhag. 2.4.18) By the grace of the Supreme Lord Visnu, anyone can be completely purified, become a preacher of Krsna consciousness, and become the spiritual master of the entire world. This principle is accepted in all Vedic literature. Evidence can be quoted from authoritative sastras showing how a lowborn person can become the spiritual master of the entire world. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is to be considered the most munificent personality, for He distributes the real essence of the Vedic sastras to anyone who becomes qualified by becoming His sincere servant.