Caitanya Charitamrita

Each Sunday morning, after guru puja (worship of the spiritual master) at 7.30 am, devotees gather to hear a discourse from the Chaitanya Charitamrita.

What is this book and why should we read it?

The Vedas explain that various religions of the world all stem from one Divine Source and aim to progress the sincere practitioner to a perfect stage of pure love. Though they vary in culture, ritual and expression, their core spiritual principles are universal. Since the same message was imparted in different historical periods, the externals were adapted while the essence was preserved. 

At the same time, however, religions are not completely identical. Each tradition emphasises different aspects of the Absolute Truth and approaches God with varying degrees of personal intimacy. This is where the Vedic scriptures offer something unique. They are replete with fascinating narratives which describe the sacred intricacies of God’s existence: His personality, associates, relationships and daily activities. The sheer volume of detailed information is unfathomable. Within the Vedic canon, Srila Prabhupada stressed the study of three particular scriptures:

• Bhagavad-Gita is considered a foundational study in spirituality. It is the word of God, and firmly establishes essential philosophical truths.
• Srimad-Bhagavatam is considered a graduate study; the activities of God that describe the enchanting character of Krishna and His saintly devotees.
• Chaitanya-Charitamrita is considered the postgraduate study in spirituality. It reveals the mind of God – the inner life of Krishna, and the appreciation and attraction He feels when He is conquered by the love of His devotees. 

The Chaitanya-Charitamrita reveals the deep compassion and munificence of God when He appears as his own devotee, in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In this age of spiritual apathy and material allure, the propagation of nama-sankirtan (the congregational chanting of God’s names) offers living entities (us) a golden opportunity to experience the profound happiness that comes from a relationship with God. 

The Chaitanya-Charitamrita was written by Krishnadasa Kaviraja in Bengali, likely between 1582–1615, approximately 60 years after the passing of Lord Chaitanya. It is considered the most authoritative biography of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, focusing on his later life and philosophy.

Studying the most accurate, authentic, and philosophical biography of Sri Chaitanya will surely inspire one to take full advantage of this priceless gift.