Question: Here are some chronology questions, regarding the life of Lord Caitanya.
1. How old was Nimai when he received diksa from Isvara Puri?
2. How old was Nimai when he was first united with Nityananda? Since Caitanya Bhagavat indicates that Nimai was married to Laxmi when he was 16, had he and Nityananda not met yet?
3. Was Nityananda 12 years older than Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
There are varying opinions about the exact years and ages of different pastimes; by cross-referencing the different sources, this is the best I can offer in response.
1. It appears that Nimai was seventeen years of age when he received diksa from Isvara Puri.
2. Since there are many significant pastimes between His initiation at the age of seventeen and sannyasa at twenty-four, it would appear that the meeting with Lord Nityananda occurred approximately when Mahaprabhu was twenty years of age. Regarding His marriage with Laxmi Devi, which occurred at the juncture of His student and professor life, from various reference sources it would seem to have been more like age fourteen.
3. It is generally accepted amongst Vaisnavas that Lord Nityananda was approximately 10-12 years older than Mahaprabhu.
