NEW DELHI: Union culture ministry on Friday released a commemorative non-circulation Rs 500 coin and a Rs 10 circulation coin as part of the yearlong celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of Hindu saint and social reformer Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's visit to Vrindavan.
Narendra Kumar Sinha, secretary, ministry of culture released the coins as the government is commemorating the 500th anniversary of Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Coming to Vrindavan by organising various programmes and exhibitions on Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s life and teachings in association with Vrindavan Research Institute and ISKCON.
Officials said that the inaugural function was organised by Vrndavan Research Institute at Vrindavan on 25 November, 2015. Another function was organised by Vrindavan Research Institute at Mayapur, Nadia, the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, during 05-07 November, 2016.
Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a famous Hindi Saint and social reformer were a distinguished promoter for the Vaishnava School of Bhakti Yoga. The Bhakti movement initiated by him strove to eradicate the evils of caste and feudal systems of medieval India. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu propagated the worship of Shri Krishna and popularised the chanting of “Hare Krishna Mantra” to all without any discrimination.
In the year 1515, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu visited Vrindavan, with the objective of locating the lost holy places associated with Lord Krishna's transcendent pastimes. It is believed that through his intuitive powers, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was able to locate all the places associated with Lord Sri Krishna and restore the pristine purity of the religious practices of the yore.
A Mobile Exhibition named “Shri Chaitanya Prem Rath” which started from Vrindavan on 08 February 2016 passed through various places in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha reached Delhi on 09 March 2016 on its way back to Vrindavan.