Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (For Young Readers)

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Preface

I most humbly prostrate at the lotus feet of my Divine Master Sri Srimad Bhakti Kusum Sraman Goswami Maharaj, Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Lord Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and crave for their mercy to enable myself for rendering unalloyed eternal service to Sri Guru and Vaishnavas.

This book is intended to bring to the attention of young readers, a brief introduction of the holy life of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu; the Founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and the Redeemer of the people of Kali-Yuga through Krishna Nama Sankirtana. The Divine Incarnation of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared more than 500 years ago as the combined manifestation of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna. During His sojourn of 48 years in this world, He showed His Divine powers to several of His intimate associates. Most of His contemporary biographers and disciples, such as Murari Gupta, Svarup Damodar and Lochandas have recorded His early miracles and Divine powers.

He became an accepted scholar in Sanskrit at an early age of ten. At sixteen or seventeen years of age He got His spiritual initiation from Iswar Puri at Gaya. He embraced Sannyas under the guidance of Sri Kesava Bharati at the age of 24. He visited numerous places in south India up to Capecomorin in two years and returned to Puri. Later He visited Vrindavan, Gaya and Benaras. His last 18 years were spent at Puri. His life there was one of settled love and piety with humility personified. The religion preached by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is universal and intended for all classes of people without distinction of caste or clan. He is perhaps India's first non-violent fighter against age-old superstition, caste distinctions and other follies of religion. He preached spiritual brotherhood.

His Divine Grace Prabhupada Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur (1874- 1937) established centres to preach the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His religious thoughts on Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya. He established more than sixty- four Maths throughout India and abroad and trained several hundred preachers to carry Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's message from door to door. The original and principal Math, called Sri Chaitanya Math was established in 1918 at the Birth Place of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Mayapur, West Bengal. Sri Gaudiya Math, Chennai, was established by him in 1932 in Royapettah. Sri Sri Radha Krishna and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are the centres of all activities of Sri Gaudiya Math. The publications, the discourses, Bhajans, Kirtanas and the religious celebrations of the Math have made the Chennai Sri Gaudiya Math a great centre of Sri Krishna Bhakti and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings.

I claim no credit. I simply performed the task of a bee that collects honey from fragrant flowers. Publications on Lord Sri Chaitanya by several authors have helped me in preparing this book. To any knowledge this is perhaps the first book on Sri Chaitanya's life illustrations for young readers. I shall be extremely happy if this publication can help young readers to learn to become God-loving, pious and humble citizens.