Lord Caitanya took sannyasa on Makara Sankranti

[Paramananda das]

Lord Caitanya took sannyasa on Makara Sankranti
Lord Caitanya chanted Gopi Gopi one day and the Smarta Brahmanas of Navadvipa got offended what is this nonsense chanting Gopi Gopi ? Lord Caitanya was absorbed in the mood of the Gopis, just like the six Goswamis that are all manjaris ,Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has helped us remember this lila in his Gauranga lila Smarana mangala stotram :
Verse 34
gopi-bhavat parama-vivaso danda-hastah pareso
vadasaktan ati-jada-matims tadayam asa mudhan
tasmat te yat-pratibhatataya vaira-bhavan atanvan
tam gaurangam vimukha-kadane divya-simham smarami
gopi—of the gois; bhavat—because of the love; parama—greatly; vivasah—overwhelmed; danda—with a stick; hastah—in hand; para—isah—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; vada-asaktan—smarta brahmanas, fond of controversy and debate; ati—greatly; jada—foolish; matin—in mind; tadayam asa—struck; mudhan—bewildered rascals; tasmat—for that reason; te—they; yat—of Whom; pratibhatataya—with the conception of retaliation; vaira—enimical; bhavan—stae; atanvan—manifested; tam—upon Him; gaurangam—Lord Gauranga; vimukha-averse; kadane—divya—splendid,transcendental; simham—lion; smarami-­I meditate.
When Lord Gauranga became greatly overwhelmed by experiencing the transcendental love felt by the gopis, some foolish smarta-brahmanas, attached to controversy and debate, tried to criticize him. When the Lord took a stick in His hand and struck them, they began to hate the Lord and harbor a desire for revenge. I meditate upon that Lord Gauranga, Who became like a splendid transcendental lion to chastize those averse to Him.
after this Lord Caitanya took sannyasa so even the smarta Brahmanas would get liberated by paying obaisences to Him as a sannyasi :Verse 35
tesam papa-prasamana-matih kantake magha-mase
lokesaksiprama-vayasi yah kesavan nyasa-lingam
lebhe-loke parama-vidusam pujaniyo varenyas
tam caitanyam kaca-virahitam danda-hastam smarami
tesam—of them; papa—of the sin; prasamana—quelling; matih—with the thought; kantake—in the village of Katwa; magha—of Magha (January-February); mase—in the month; lokesaksiprama-twenty-four; vayasi—at the ge; yah—Who; kesavat­—from Kesava Bharati; nyasa—of sannyasa; lingam—outward manifestation; lebhe—attained; like—in the world; parama-vidusam—of the greatest scholars; punjaniyah--worshippable; varenyah—best; tam—upon Him; caitanya—Lord Caitanya; kaca—hair; virahitam—without; danda—with a sannyasi danda; hastam--in His hand; smarami-­I meditate.
Wishing to remove the offenses of those smarta-brahmanas, the Lord accepted the renounced order of sannyasa in the town of Katwa, during the month of Magha, from Kesava Bharati. In this way the Lord became supremely worshippable by the best of learned scholars in this world. I meditate upon that Lord Caitanya, Who held a sannyasi danda, His head shaved as a sign of renunciation.
Srila Vyasadeva has predicted Lord Caitanya would take sannyasa :
tyaktva su-dustyajya-surepsita-rajya-laskhmim
dharmistha arya-vacasa yad agam-aranyam
maya-mrgam dayitayepsitam anvadhavad
vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam (34)
We offer our respects and humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, [vande maha purusa te carana aravindam] Who left his household life, [tyaktva sudustyajya] leaving His adorable consort, who is worshipped even by the demigods. He went to the forest [yad agad aranyam] to deliver the fallen souls, who are under the influence of the material energy [maya-mrgam].
And in Visnu Sahasra nama Lord Caitanya is also predicted as becoming a sannyasi :
suvarna varna hemango
varangas candanangadi
sannyasa krt-chamah santo
nistha santi parayanah (35)
In His early activities Lord Caitanya comes as a householder. He has a golden complexion [suvarna varnah]. His limbs are very beautiful [vara-anga] and are smeared with sandalwood pulp [candana- angadi]. He has the appearance of molten gold [hema-anga].
The Supreme Lord Caitanya accepts the renounced order of life [sannyasa-krt]. He is fully sense-controlled or equipoised [sama], and is completely peaceful [santa]. He is completely fixed in the chanting of the holy name of Lord Krsna, [nistha]. He is the highest abode of devotion and transcendental peace. He silences the mayavadi impersonalists [nistha santi parayanah].
When Lord Gauranga came to Katwa the Vaisnavas begging Lord Caitanya not to take sannyasa, but He did so anyway, thus this place became known as Nirdoya ,no mercy .
From there Lord Caitanya tried to go to Vrindavana but was diverted by Lord Nityananda to go to Advaita Acaryas house, and there Lord Gauranga promised His mother He will go to Puri instead and in this ways she could always get news about him since Bengali vaisnavas would constantly to forth and back to Puri
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has described this pastime
Verse 37
tatranita tt ajita-janani harsa-sokakula sa
bhiksam dattva katipaya-diva palayam asa sunum
bhaktya yas tad-vidhim anusaran ksetra-yatram cakara
tam gaurangam bhramana-kusalam nyasi-rajam smarami
tatra—there; anita—led; tu—and; ajita—of the unconquerable Supreme Personality of Godhead; janani—the mother (Srimati Saci-devi); harsa—with hoy; soka—and grief; akula—agitated; sa—she; bhiksam—alms; dattva—having given; kati-aya-diva—for some days; palayam-asa—protected; sunum--her son; bhaktya—with devotion; yah—who; tat—her; vidhim—instruction; anusaran—following; ksetra—to Jagannatha Puri; yatram—the journey; cakara—performed; tam—upon Him; gaurangam—Lord Gauranga; bhramana—for whom travelling; kusalam—is the auspicious and proper activity; nyasi—of sannyasis; rajam--the king; smarami-­I meditate.
The Lord's mother was brought there (to Santipura). Simultaneously joyful and grief-stricken she fed and protected her son there for some days. Devotedly obeying His mother's orders, the Lord then travelled to Jagannatha Puri. I meditate upon that Lord Gauranga, Whose travelling made the entire country auspicious, and Who is the monarch of sannyasis.