Why did Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu travel to South India?

 

1. Sri Chaitanya is well versed in Brahmanic Vaishnavism as practiced in North India which is based on an avatar of Vasudev Krsna.
2. South India Practiced Sri Vaisnavisn and worshipped Narayana, called Perumal. Sri Vaishnavism is rich with literature (Nalayira Divya Prabhandam or 4000 verses on Lord Vishnu is their sacred text) due to Bhakti Movement of Alwars during 7 to 9 century. They travelled and established 108 Divyadesams all over India and in other world. Mystic Ramanuja and his followers established Rituals to be followed.
3. Sri Chaitanya astonished seeing the grandness of these works, got inspired, read the literature and started applying the principles in Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

Annexure:Sri Vaishnavism:

Want to taste the difference in South and North- read below:

1. You may be thinking, Vaishnavism and Sri Vaishnavism are same. It is not.
2. The complex history is reflected in the two main historical denominations of Vishnuvism.
3. South India worship Vishnu or Narayana, called Perumal as their founder, and are followers of Mayonism or Sri Vaishnavism.
4. While North regard Vasudeva-Krsna as their founder and are followers of Brahmanic Vaishnavism.
5. To make it little complicated, Sri Vaishnavism has two sects, Vadakalai (head quartered Kanchi) and Thenkalai(head quartered Nanguneri, Tirunelveli Dist).
6. Have you ever heard of Gaudiya Vaishnavism or ISKCON?

South has its own Mystics 12 Azhwars (64 Nayanmars of Shaivism, Sakthism and Murugan Worship) to follow and do not give much weightage to an Avatar Raman who is also present but more prominant elsewhere.

1. The Sanskrit Bhagavata Purana is essentially a Sanskrit "translation" of the bhakti of the Tamil alvars.
2. Sri Vaishnavism flourished in predominantly Shaivite South India during the seventh to tenth centuries CE with the twelve Alvars. One can find idols of 12 always in Northern side of temples within first enclosure.
3. Early writings in Tamil culture Sangam literatures, Tholkappiam and epics as Manimekalai and the Cilappatikaram present Mayon / Vishnu/ Perumal. References about Krishna can be found in Manimekalai and Cilappadikaram.
4. The Alvars, whose name can be translated "sages" or "saints", were devotees of
1. Mal -
2. Tiru Mal-
3. Sri and Mal-
4. Sri and her Pati-
5. Tiru and her Pati -
6. Tirupati. and there are 108 Tirupatis.
5. Vaishnavism in the 8th century came into contact with the advaidya doctrine of Adi Shankarar.
6. Many of the early Sri Vaishnava scholars such as Nathamuni, Yamunacharya and Ramanuja, contested the Advaita Vedanta doctrines and proposed Vishnu bhakti ideas instead.
7. Sri Vaishnavism flourished in predominantly Shaivite South India during the seventh to tenth centuries CE with the twelve Alvars, (many are non brahmins, including kings and others from all communities) saints who spread the sect to the common people with their devotional hymns. The temples that the Alvars visited or founded ( ritual certifications - present day ISO) are now known as Divya Desams and there are 108 TiruPatis or Divyadesams.
1. Tirumala Tirupati is one among them and
2. Yes, worlds largest functioning hindu temple Sri Rangam also one among them and
3. Richest temple Tiru Anantha Puram included.
4. Worlds Tallest Temple Gopuram in 1956,(Sri Rangam since 1987) and Tamil Nadu State Emblem, Tiruvilliputtur Andal (who wrote Tiruppavai) temple also one of Divya Desam.
5. One can find Vishnu in any of these three, lying, sitting and standing positions in Divyadesams.
8. Their poems in praise of Vishnu in Tamil language are collectively known as Naalayira Divya Prabandham(4000 divine verses).
9. Many of the Vijayanagara Emperors and their feudatory kings of Madurai, Tanjavur, Chenji, Chandragiri, Mysore who ruled South for over three centuries from 14th till 18th century are predominantly Sri Vaishnavites.