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The ''Chaitanya Charitamrita'' (; ), composed by
Krishnadasa Kaviraja Krishnadasa (born 1496, died 1588), known by the honorific '' Kaviraja'' (; ), was the author of the ''Chaitanya Charitamrita'', a biography on the life of the mystic and saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533), who is considered by the Gaudi ...
in 1557, is written in
Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
with a great number of
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
verses in its devotional, poetic construction, including '' Shikshashtakam''. It is one of the primary biographies detailing the life and teachings of
Caitanya Mahāprabhu Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (; ), born Vishvambhara Mishra () (18 February 1486 – 14 June 1534), was an Indian Hindu saint from Bengal and the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishna with bhajan-kirt ...
, the founder of
Gaudiya Vaishnavism Gaudiya Vaishnavism (), also known as Chaitanya Vaishnavism, is a Vaishnavism, Vaishnava Hindu denominations, Hindu religious movement inspired by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534) in India. "Gaudiya" refers to the Gaura or Gauḍa region o ...
. The stories of Chaitanya's life are mixed with philosophical conversations detailing the process of
Bhakti yoga Bhakti yoga (), also called Bhakti marga (, literally the path of '' bhakti''), is a spiritual path or spiritual practice within Hinduism focused on loving devotion towards any personal deity.Karen Pechelis (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, ...
, with special attention given to congregational chanting of the names of Krishna.


Contents

The Chaitanya Caritamrta is divided into three sections: Adi-lila (''Early pastimes''), Madhya-lila (''Middle pastimes'') and Antya-lila (''Final pastimes''). Each section refers to a particular phase in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's life:


Adi-lila

The Adi-lila explains Chaitanya's unique theological identity (
Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...
in the mood of
Radha Radha (, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. In scriptures, Radha is mentioned as the avatar of Lakshmi and also as the Prak� ...
rani—a combined
avatar Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes u ...
), his lineage, his closest childhood companions and their lineage, and his devotional associates. It ends with a brief summary of his life up to his acceptance of
sannyasa ''Sannyasa'' (), sometimes spelled ''sanyasa'', is the fourth stage within the Hinduism, Hindu system of four life stages known as ''ashrama (stage), ashramas'', the first three being ''brahmacharya'' (celibate student), ''Gṛhastha, grihast ...
. In the conversation with Chand Kazi (the
Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
ruler at the time), the word '
hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
' is used repeatedly for the inhabitants of
Nabadwip Nabadwip (), also spelt Navadwip, historically known as Nadia, is a heritage city in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is regarded as a holy place by Hindus, and is the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Located on the wes ...
who were not Muslims.Caitanya Caritamrta 1.17.174-215


Madhya-lila

The Madhya-lila details Chaitanya's
sannyasa ''Sannyasa'' (), sometimes spelled ''sanyasa'', is the fourth stage within the Hinduism, Hindu system of four life stages known as ''ashrama (stage), ashramas'', the first three being ''brahmacharya'' (celibate student), ''Gṛhastha, grihast ...
; Madhavendra Puri's life; Chaitanya's philosophical conversation with
Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya was medieval Pandit and Bhakti reformer from Kamrup. As a vedantist of the Advaita school, he refuted the monistic doctrines of Sankaradeva. See also * Adwita Makaranda * Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Chaitanya M ...
( Advaitin scholar) promoting
bhakti ''Bhakti'' (; Pali: ''bhatti'') is a term common in Indian religions which means attachment, fondness for, devotion to, trust, homage, worship, piety, faith, or love.See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. In Indian religions, it ...
as supreme over the impersonal view; Chaitanya's pilgrimage to
South India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...
; the daily and annual activities of Chaitanya and his devotees during the
Ratha Yatra Ratha Yatra (), or chariot festival, is any public procession in a chariot. They are held annually during festivals in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The term also refers to the popular annual Ratha Yatra of Puri that involves a public process ...
festival near Jagannath Temple (Puri, Odisha); their observance of other festivities; and Chaitanya's instructions on the process of
Bhakti yoga Bhakti yoga (), also called Bhakti marga (, literally the path of '' bhakti''), is a spiritual path or spiritual practice within Hinduism focused on loving devotion towards any personal deity.Karen Pechelis (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, ...
to both
Rupa Goswami Rupa Goswami Rupa Goswami (, , ; 1489–1564) was a devotional teacher (guru), poet, and philosopher of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. With his brother Sanatana Goswami, he is considered the most senior of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan as ...
and
Sanatana Goswami Sanatana Goswami (, ; ; 1488–1558) was a principal follower of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Sanatana wrote a number of works in the bhakti tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and was the senior most of the influential Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, amon ...
.


Antya-lila

The Antya-lila describes the devotional plays composed by
Rupa Goswami Rupa Goswami Rupa Goswami (, , ; 1489–1564) was a devotional teacher (guru), poet, and philosopher of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. With his brother Sanatana Goswami, he is considered the most senior of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan as ...
, Chaitanya's interactions with the occasional critics as well as his devotees such as
Raghunatha dasa Goswami ‘’’Raghunāthadāsa Gosvāmī’’’ was a disciple of Śrī Yadunandan Ācārya (see Vilāpa Kusumānjali, verse 4, Caitanya-Caritāmṛta Ādi chapter 12 and Antya 6) one of the apostle of the Vaishnava saint, Chaitanya Mahaprabh ...
and Jagadananda Pandita, and Chaitanya's increasing agony of separation from
Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...
( or ). It concludes with the Chaitanya's Shikshashtakam (eight verses of poetic instruction).


Composition of the Chaitanya Charitamrita

Although the author,
Krishnadasa Kaviraja Krishnadasa (born 1496, died 1588), known by the honorific '' Kaviraja'' (; ), was the author of the ''Chaitanya Charitamrita'', a biography on the life of the mystic and saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533), who is considered by the Gaudi ...
, never met
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (; ), born Vishvambhara Mishra () (18 February 1486 – 14 June 1534), was an Indian Hindus, Hindu saint from Bengal and the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishna with bha ...
personally, his guru,
Raghunatha dasa Goswami ‘’’Raghunāthadāsa Gosvāmī’’’ was a disciple of Śrī Yadunandan Ācārya (see Vilāpa Kusumānjali, verse 4, Caitanya-Caritāmṛta Ādi chapter 12 and Antya 6) one of the apostle of the Vaishnava saint, Chaitanya Mahaprabh ...
, was an associate of Chaitanya and was close to others who were intimates of his. In composing his work, Krishnadasa Kaviraja also referred to the ''Shri Krishna Chaitanya Charanamrita'' () of
Murari Gupta Murari Gupta (floruit, fl. 16th century) was born in a Baidya family in Sylhet. He was a physician and noted Bengali language, Bengali Vaishnava poet. He became a devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and moved to Nabadwip.He is incarnation of hanuman ...
and also the works of
Svarupa Damodara Svarupa Damodara, / Swarup Damodar also known as Purushottama Acharya was a Gaudiya Vaishnava saint and close associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He lived in Navadvipa. He always stayed with Chaitanya. Purushottama Acharya did not accept the dress ...
, both of whom knew Chaitanya. Krishna Dasa Kaviraja composed the Chaitanya Charitamrita in his old age after being requested by the Vaishnavas of Vrindavana to write a hagiography about the life of Chaitanya. Although there was already a biography written by
Vrindavana Dasa Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata () is a hagiography of Caitanya Mahāprabhu written by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura (1507–1589 CE). It was the first full-length work regarding Chaitanya Mahaprabhu written in Bengali language and documents his early lif ...
, called the
Chaitanya Bhagavata Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata () is a hagiography of Caitanya Mahāprabhu written by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura (1507–1589 CE). It was the first full-length work regarding Chaitanya Mahaprabhu written in Bengali language and documents his early lif ...
, the later years of Chaitanya's life were not detailed in that work. Krishna Dasa's Chaitanya Charitamrita covers Chaitanya's later years and also explains in detail the rasa philosophy that Chaitanya and his followers expounded. The Chaitanya Charitamrita also serves as a compendium of Gaudiya Vaishnava practices and outlines the Gaudiya theology developed by the Goswamis in metaphysics, ontology and aesthetics. The Chaitanya Charitamrita was frequently copied and widely circulated amongst the Vaishnava communities of Bengal and
Odisha Odisha (), formerly Orissa (List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2011), is a States and union territories of India, state located in East India, Eastern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by ar ...
during the early 17th Century. Its popularity during this period can be attributed to the propagation of three Vaishnava preachers—
Narottama Dasa Narottama Dasa Thakura (13 February 1520; date of death unknown), also known as Thakura Mahasaya, was a Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Gaudiya Vaishnava saint who spread Vaishnava bhakti throughout Odisha, in Bengal, and elsewhere in India. Narottama Da ...
, Shyamananda and Srinivasa—who were trained by
Jiva Goswami Jiva Goswami (; ) was an Indian philosopher and saint from the Gaudiya Vaishnava school of Vedanta tradition, producing a great number of philosophical works on the theology and practice of Bhakti yoga, Vaishnava Vedanta and associated discip ...
and Krishnadasa Kaviraja himself.


Modern publication

In 1974,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (; ) (1 September 1896 – 14 November 1977) was a spiritual, philosophical, and religious teacher from India who spread the Hare Krishna mantra and the teachings of "Krishna consciousness" ...
published ''Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta'' in English as a 17-volume set of books. It contains the original verses, romanized transliterations, word-for-word meanings, translations, and commentaries. His commentaries are based on Bhaktivinoda Thakur's ''Amrita Pravaha'' and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's ''Anubhasya'' commentaries. His publication popularized the Chaitanya Charitamrita outside of India and has been distributed in mass quantities worldwide.


See also

*
Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita (; ), often referred to as the Gita (), is a Hindu texts, Hindu scripture, dated to the second or first century BCE, which forms part of the Hindu epic, epic poem Mahabharata. The Gita is a synthesis of various strands of Ind ...
*
Bhagavata Purana The ''Bhagavata Purana'' (; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam)'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' () or simply ''Bhagavata (Bhāgavata)'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen major Puranas (''Mahapuranas'') and one ...
*
Chaitanya Bhagavata Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata () is a hagiography of Caitanya Mahāprabhu written by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura (1507–1589 CE). It was the first full-length work regarding Chaitanya Mahaprabhu written in Bengali language and documents his early lif ...
* Gouranga *
Hare Krishna (mantra) The Hare Krishna mantra, also referred to reverentially as the (), is a 16-word Vaishnava mantra mentioned in the Kali-Saṇṭāraṇa Upaniṣad. In the 15th century, it rose to importance in the Bhakti movement following the teachings o ...
*
Nityananda Nityananda (, ; c. 1474-c. 1540), also called Nityananda Prabhu and Nitai, was a primary religious figure within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Bengal. Nityananda was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's friend and disciple. Chaitanya and Nityananda are ...
* Pancha Tattva * Six Goswamis of Vrindavan


References


Bibliography

;Publications * ''Sri Chaitanya-charitamrta'' , published by Sri Chaitanya Matha. Kolkata, 1992. ;Printed sources * * ;Web sources * {{Authority control Bengali-language literature 16th-century Indian books Gaudiya Vaishnavism Books of Hindu biography Chaitanya Mahaprabhu