The Vedic Scriptures

The following important Vedic scriptures will be presented here in brief:

Sri Caitanya-Caritāmṛta

Śrī-Caitanya-Caritāmṛta is the biography of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, written in Bengali by Kṛṣṇadasa Kaviraja Goswami in the 16th century. This work is divided into three volumes: Ādi-līlā, Madhya-līlā and Antya-līlā. In the Ādi-līlā, Caitanya Mahāprabhu's early pastimes in Navadvipa up to his 24th year are narrated, and in the Madhya-līlā and Antya-līlā, the pastimes after his initiation into the state of renunciation are narrated.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, Himself. He appeared in Navadvipa, Bengal, about 500 years ago to bless the fallen souls of that age with ecstatic love for God and to liberate them from the mire of material existence. Although Kṛṣṇa himself, he appeared as a devotee of Kṛṣṇa – along with many of his eternal associates – from his spiritual kingdom and taught by his conduct and teachings how a flawless devotee of Kṛṣṇa behaves. He propagated the saṅkīrtana-yajña, the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of God, the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra, as the simplest and best process in the kali-yuga to attain liberation and ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. Everyone who saw or heard him was instantly overwhelmed with this love by his grace. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is also known as patita-pavana, saviour of the fallen. Among many of His glorious features, He was an ideal preacher of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which teaches pure devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Caitanya Mahāprabhu taught the Bhāgavatam by His practical example.

Kṛṣṇadasa Kaviraja Goswami, the author of the Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, was a disciple of Ragunatha dasa Goswami and Rupa Goswami, who was a trusted devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kṛṣṇadasa Kaviraja's disciple was Narottama dasa Thakura, whose disciple was Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's disciple was Jaganatha dasa Babaji, whose disciple was Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thakura's disciple was Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, whose disciple was Śrīla Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's disciples were Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Śrīla Śrīdhara Swami and many others. Śrīla Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada translated the Caitanya-Caritāmṛta into English, making this wonderful work available to the whole world.

“The Caitanya-caritāmṛta pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu constitute a very secret literature. It is the life and soul of all devotees. Those who are not fit to relish this literature, who are envious like hogs and pigs, will certainly not adore it. However, this will not harm my attempt. These pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will certainly please all saintly people who have pure hearts. They will certainly enjoy it. We wish that this will enhance their enjoyment more and more.”

— Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 25.283

“Śrī Caitanya's transcendental pastimes are an ocean of nectar. A single drop of this ocean can flood the whole world with transcendental bliss.”

— Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 18.228

“May this Lord, known as the son of Śrīmati Sacidevi, be transcendentally situated in the innermost chamber of your heart. Radiant with the lustre of molten gold, He appeared in the age of Kali through His causeless mercy to give what no other incarnation has ever given: the supremely sublime taste of divine love, which can be tasted in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.”

— Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Adi-līlā 1.4