Chapter Summary
A summary of chapter nine has been given as follows by ÅšrÄ«la Bhaktivinoda ṬhÄkura in his Amá¹›ta-pravÄha-bhÄá¹£ya. In this chapter the author of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya-caritÄmá¹›ta has devised a figurative example by describing “the desire tree of bhakti.†He considers Lord Caitanya MahÄprabhu, who is known as ViÅ›vambhara, to be the gardener of this tree because He is the main personality who has taken charge of it. As the supreme enjoyer, He enjoyed the fruits Himself and distributed them as well. The seed of the tree was first sown in NavadvÄ«pa, the birth site of Lord Caitanya MahÄprabhu, and then the tree was brought to Puruá¹£ottama-ká¹£etra (JagannÄtha PurÄ«), and then to Vá¹›ndÄvana. The seed fructified first in ÅšrÄ«la MÄdhavendra PurÄ«, and then in his disciple ÅšrÄ« Īśvara PurÄ«. It is figuratively described that both the tree itself and the trunk of the tree are ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu. ParamÄnanda PurÄ« and eight other great sannyÄsÄ«s are like the spreading roots of the tree. From the main trunk there extend two special branches, Advaita Prabhu and ÅšrÄ« NityÄnanda Prabhu, and from those branches grow other branches and twigs. The tree surrounds the entire world, and the fruits of the tree are to be distributed to everyone. In this way the tree of Lord Caitanya MahÄprabhu intoxicates the entire world. It should be noted that this is a figurative example meant to explain the mission of Lord Caitanya MahÄprabhu.
