CAITANYA SUBODHINI SERIES
Enriching the Experience of Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Study
CAITANYA SUBODHINI is a systematic study guide to Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, compiled by Gauranga Darshan Das. In four colourful volumes, it gives a bird’s eye view of the expanse and the depth of the philosophy and the pastimes of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the most merciful incarnation of Lord Sri Krishna.
Caitanya Subodhini simplifies the apparent complexity in understanding the Caitanya-caritamrita, by uncovering and integrating the explanations of Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami and Srila Prabhupada, thus catering for the taste and the needs of avid readers, scholars and even newcomers.
- Get a birds eye view of Caitanya Caritamrita chapters
- Drift in the flow of verses and sections
- • Savour the special thematic compilations
- • Zoom into the beauty of Holy name and analogies.
Delight in the pastimes of the most merciful form of the Lord – Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as cited by Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Goswami in his great work Sri Caitanya Caritamrita. Gauranga Darshan Das presents this fist volume in the series Caitanya Subodhini to assist the readers in their systematic study of the Caitanya-caritamrita. Submerge deeply into the fundamental principles of sambandha-jnana consisting of radha-tattva, krishna-tattva, guru-tattva, jiva-tattva and other tattvas as explained by Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja! Experience the transformation of Mahaprabhu’s Personality and character! In this volume, read the stages of Lord Caitanya’s life before his sannyasa. Relish the Lord’s tender childhood activities, His exploits as a learned scholar, humble disciple, great leader and an ecstatic devotee. This book culminates in Lord Caitanya’s taking to the renounced order of life.
Readers will move further from the Adi-lila, having studied the tattvas of the Lord as well as a glimpse of the childhood pastimes of Lord Caitanya, to His latter pastimes. In this volume, Caitanya Subodhini will take the readers through the overview of the post-sannyasa pastimes of Lord Caitanya – from His travels towards Jagannatha Puri, to His yatra across southern India. This first volume concludes with the Lord’s return to Jagannatha Puri in time to celebrate Jagannatha Ratha Yatra in great jubilation. As usual, this systematic study guide includes: Verse by verse overview of the chapters along with summary tables and overview charts; A special Map of Lord Caitanya’s South India Tour; Thematic Compilations such as Lord Caitanya’s Prasada Pastimes, Lord’s affectionate dealings and mercy and many more.
This volume of Caitanya Subodhini takes the readers through the overview of Lord Caitanya’s pastimes in the Jagannath Ratha yatra festival, His visit to the holy land of Vrindavan, and His deep philosophical and scientific teachings on bhakti-yoga to Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami and Prakasananda Saraswati. Caitanya Subodhini presents all the technical and philosophical chapters in a systematic, simplified and concise format with summary tables and flow charts.
This fourth and the last volume of Caitanya Subodhini presents a concise overview of the Antya lila of Sri Caitanya Caritamrita. The amazing pastimes of Lord Caitanya akes the readers through the overview of Lord Caitanya’s pastimes in the Jagannath Ratha yatra festival, His visit to the holy land of Vrindavan, and His deep philosophical and scientific teachings on bhakti-yoga to Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami and Prakasananda Saraswati. Caitanya Subodhini presents all the technical and philosophical chapters in a systematic, simplified and concise format with summary tables and flow charts.
CAITANYA SUBODHINI REVIEWS
The same winning formula of text and graphics so wonderfully presented in the Bhagavata Subodhini series of publications has now come to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Both complete beginners and sastra connoisseurs alike will relish such well-conceived, expertly designed, and profoundly illuminated guidebooks for study and contemplation.
“Subodhini” means the delightfully blossoming understanding of knowledge and this is literally what ‘Caitanya Subodhini’ is all about. I consider this work to be the result of the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha thoroughly relishing the intricacies of the delicious delicacies of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. ‘Caitanya Subodhini’ makes the post graduate study of Caitanya-caritamrta easy and enjoyable. The ‘bird’s eye view’ is excellent. The overview, thematic compilations as well as the appendix are brilliant. I would like to congratulate and gratefully thank the team of ISKCON Govardhan Eco-village for this literary contribution, which will further enrich our Gaudiya Vaishnava family globally. May Srila Prabhupada, Srila Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami and our predecessor Gaudiya acaryas continue to nourish the intellect of the Vidyapitha by showering their merciful glances.
It is very noble attempt. I find the Subodhini series a great aid in making our presentation more complete and interesting – both for the students and the teachers and for general audience who are interested in going deeper into the philosophy and practice of Krishna Consciousness. Subodhini will help people get attracted to study Srila Prabhupada’s works, and in a more easily understandable way. It is a great project, and we commend the devotees who are doing such hard work.
The Caitanya Subodhini is a study guide for the Caitanya-caritamrta, crystallising its essence with key verses and sumptuous summaries. Visually captivating and easy to read, this series is an invaluable addendum to the literature on Sri Caitanya and his lila. Just as Kaviraja Goswami drew liberally on the biographical literature that came before him, so, too, does Gauranga Darshan Prabhu distill the essence of his predecessors. All glories to the massive effort that produced this gem of devotional literature.
Caitanya Subodhini is a magnificent effort to glorify Sri Caitanya Caritamrita by presenting its profound subject matter in a lucid manner, thus making it easily accessible to everyone. Its colorful, crisp and structured presentation clutches the attention of the reader, thus facilitating one’s absorption in the flow, philosophy and pastimes of the original text. With its precise overview and interesting analysis of the Caitanya Caritamrita, Caitanya Subodhini offers a feast to the lovers of Lord Caitanya and becomes their constant companion.
Sri Caitanya Caritamrita has many chapters with several hundred verses and the reader can get lost in the midst of them, not getting the whole picture. Caitanya Subodhini with sections, flow charts, tables with colorful presentations makes Caitanya Caritamrita easily approachable for me and has increased my taste for reading it. Thanks to HG Gauranga Darshan Prabhu and the team of devotees, who have created a new revolution in ISKCON by increasing the taste of devotees worldwide in studying Srila Prabhupada’s books systematically with relish.
The challenge for teachers in today’s distracting world is to catch and retain students’ attention. Students, even if they can avoid distractions, still can easily be overawed by the vastness and seeming complexity of shastra. In such a setting, the Subodhini series comes to the aid of shastra teachers and shastra students by presenting the foremost texts of our tradition accessibly and appealingly. As our movement strives to create more resources for promoting education, the Subodhini series prepared by Gauranga Darshan Prabhu counts among the most valuable resources available for devotees in their efforts to savor and share the treasure of shastra that Srila Prabhupada has gifted us.
