Could a man of flesh and blood be lord vishnu himself? the infant who insisted on claiming the offerings made to the lord had matured into a single-minded vaishnava people thronged to him for his happy, simple message of love this is the story of chaitanya mahaprabhu, the renowned vaishnava saint (16th century) who popularized the chanting of the hare krishna mantra his followers regard him as an avatar of krishna