We invite the readers to 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. The study guide Caitanya Subodhini is a humble attempt by the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha to assist the readers in their systematic study of the Caitanya-caritamrita. We, at the Vidyapitha, found it helpful to divide the long chapters of Caitanya-caritamrita into subsections and present the technical sections in the form of crisp flowcharts and tables for easy readability, assimilation and quick reference. Even one, who hasn’t heard of the Caitanya-caritamrita, can read through Caitanya Subodhini and develop an interest in the original manuscript. Our humble endeavour in producing this systematic study guide is only to assist the readers in fully delighting in the splendour of the original book. 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 SrilaKrishnadasaKaviraja! Experience the transformation of Mahaprabhu’s Personality and character! From tender childhood There is no difference between Krishna-lila and Caitanya-lila therefore Nimai’s pastimes are as sweet or even more sweeter than the pastimes of little Gopal. Be the witness of Vishvambara’s childhood pranks and mischieves – playing with the snake, making all residents of Navadvipa chant the Holy Name, bothering the Brahmanas and Kumaris on the bank of Ganges and many others… Learned scholar Delight in the pastimes of Nimai Pandit who starts His own grammar school, derides the smarta Bhattacaryas and Cakravartis, smashes and establishes His own arguments in logic and finally destroys the pride of the great Pandit Keshava Kashmiri. Humble disciple To teach by His own example to the mankind, the God Himself accepts a guru by receiving mantra which He himself had whispered to His guru Sripad Isvara Puri and becomes a great devotee of Himself in the form of Krishna. Great leader Gauranga demonstrates the principle of “yadyadācaratiśreṣṭhas tat tad evetarojanaḥ” by inspiring the general people to revolt against the Kazi of Navadvipa by His own example and establishes the supreme position of Harinam Sankirtan. Madman A mood of supreme ecstasy never before demonstrated by the Supreme Lord in any of His previous incarnations!  After accepting initiation and continuously chanting the Holy Name, Mahaprabhu becomes so absorbed in separation from Krishna that He looses His consciousness again and again and makes His associates chant appropriate verses from the scriptures to nourish His mood. Renunciation Reciprocating with the love of the Gopis who sacrificed everything for the pleasure of Krishna at the peak of their youth, the supremely beautiful Lord Gaurasundar accepts sannyasa at a young age of 24, cuts His hair off and heads off to the city of the Lord of Universe – Nilacala. Compassionate brothers Saba avatar sara siromani – Lord Gaurachandra and Nimaichand delivers the two most sinful personalities of Nadia whose sins couldn’t be counted by even Chitragupta. Their mercy makes them the unalloyed first-class devotees of Lord Krishna. And finally the dearest friend of all and especially his associates His sweet loving exchanges with NityanandaPrabhu, AdvaitaAcarya, GadadharPandit, Srinivas Acarya, Haridas Thakur, KolavecaSridhara, Budhimanta Khan, Suklambarabrahmacari… And many more…  

CAITANYA SUBODHINI is a systematic study guide for Sri Caitanya Caritamrita. 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 Caitanya Mahaprabhu. 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. It presents the chapters of Caitanya Caritamrita in crisp sections and subsections with their interconnections and flow. The philosophical and technical sections are presented in the form of flowcharts and tables for easy readability, assimilation and quick references, so that one can fully delight in the splendour of the original manuscript. Caitanya Subodhini comes after the publication of a similar book, Bhagavata Subodhini, a systematic study guide for the Srimad Bhagavatam, completed up to Canto Six, in four volumes. This book has been well-received by the readers of Bhagavatam worldwide. Author & Compiler Gauranga Darshan Das is dean of the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha (www.vidyapitha.in) at ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village. He teaches systematic Bhagavatam courses at several places in India. He has written study guides, including Bhagavata Subodhini and Caitanya Subodhini, and compiled vital scriptural verses in the form of the Ratnamala and Tattvamala series. He runs a e-magzine called Bhagavata Pradipika.