Saying the Unsayable:

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu Speaks of Mādhavendra Purī

Abstract

This article, "Saying the Unsayable: When Caitanya Mahāprabhu Speaks of Mādhavendra Purī," offers a literary analysis of the most comprehensive account of the Vaishnava saint Mādhavendra Purī found in the Caitanyacaritāmṛta. Focusing on Caitanya Mahāprabhu's narration of his parama guru's story, the author explores the textuality and narrative aesthetics of this account, rather than merely extracting historical information. The article highlights how the embedding of narratives, particularly through dream sequences and the blurring of internal and external textual layers, elevates Mādhavendra Purī's stature as a precursor to the Caitanya sampradāya. It underscores the significance of kathā as a genre that intertwines mythical and historical realities, ultimately demonstrating how the shared experience of narrating and listening to such divine pastimes (līlā) cultivates prema-bhakti and validates Mādhavendra Purī's profound spiritual state.