Chaitanya Vaishnava Book Exchange

12/09/2024

HOT OFF THE PRESS!!!

Sri Krishna Prem by Jon Chapple!!

Our first copies just arrived from the printer today and the book is fantastic!! Sri Krishna Prema was one of the earliest Western followers of Chaitanya Vaishnavism who was initiated in the traditional "diksa" line coming from the Radharaman Goswamis. This is an extensive an well researched biography written by Jon Chapple.
In addition, Sri Krishna Prem's beloved guru was a great Vaishnavi (just to point this out to those who incorrectly think that a woman can't be a guru). Sri Krishna Prem was a great bhakta in many unconventional ways. You can also find a brief biography of him also contained in the book 'The Saints of Vraja' by OBL Kapoor (chapter 28).

Please find it on Amazon now to order your copy today!

Jaya Sri Krishna Prem!
Jaya Sri Radhe! 🙏🏻

06/03/2024

Radhe Radhe!

Here's an amazing eulogy written to Sri Jagadananda Das. It is absolutely worth the read! 🙏🏻
https://www.jiva.org/in-memorian-sriman-jagadananda-das-ji/

03/06/2024

Radhe Radhe!! Dandavat pranam! 🙏🏻

VERY happy to announce that the most authentic English translation of the Caitanya Caritamrita (by Ed Dimock, PhD & Tony Stewart, PhD) is back in print. It can be ordered at the following site. They do ship to the USA! This is absolutely an edition worth having and studying!

Jai Nitai! Jai Gaur!!

The Caitanya Caritamrta is an early-seventeenth-century Bengali and Sanskrit biography of the great saint and Vaisnava leader Caitanya (1486–1533 CE) by the poet and scholar Krsnadasa, who has been given by Bengali tradition the title Kaviraja—“Prince of Poets.” The text is of interest to th...

01/28/2024

Jai Nitai! Jai Gaura! 🙏🏻
My (first draft) translation of the biography of Sri Krishna Kamala Goswami from the book Gaudiya Vaishnava Jivani by Sri Haridas Das Babaji. Please share any feedback, comments, or corrections...

শ্রীগৌরাঙ্গ-পার্ষদ শ্রীসদাশিব কবিরাজের বংশে শ্রীকানুঠাকুরের সপ্তম অধস্তন-রূপে নদীয়া জেলার ভাজনঘাটে ১৭৩২ শকে জন্মগ্রহণ করেন । সপ্তমবর্ষ ববসে ইনি পিতার সহিত শ্রীবৃন্দাবনে গিয়া ব্যাকরণ পাঠ করেন এবং ত্রয়োদশ বর্ষে দেশে প্রত্যাবর্ত্তন করত নবদ্বীপের টোলে বিদ্যাভাস করিলেন । পিতৃ-বিয়োগের পর ইনি ঢাকায় আসিয়া বাস করিয়াছিলেন । সাহিত্যক্ষেত্রে তাঁহার দান—সর্বজন—প্রশংসিত । তিনি যাত্রর পালাহিসাবে আটখানি গ্রন্থ রচনা করিয়া চিরযশস্বী হইয়াছেন । নন্দহরণ, স্বপ্নবিলাস, দিব্যোন্মাদ, বিচিত্রবিলাস, ভরতমিলন, গন্ধর্ব্বমিলন, কালীয়দমন ও নিমাইসন্ন্যাস – এই গ্রন্থগুলির প্রত্যেকটিতে অপূর্বত্ব ও রসালত্ব বিদ্যমান । এইসব গ্রন্তর শ্রবণে শত সহস্র নরনারী অশ্রুপাত করিয়া দিবারাত্র এক অভিনব ভাববিহ্বলতা ও রসতন্ময়তা প্রাপ্তি করিয়াছিলেন । শ্রীকৃষ্ণকমলে একাধারে পাণ্ডিত্য, কবিত্ব ও সঙ্গীত বিদ্যায় পারদর্শিতার সহিত তাঁহাকে চির অমর করিয়াছে । তাঁহার অনুপ্রাস-প্রিয়তা সময়-বিশেষে শ্রুতিকটুতা আনয়ন করিলেও তাহাই আবার সময় বিশেষে বিভিন্নার্থের দ্যোতক হইয়া সুরসতাও দান করে-- একথাও স্বীকার্য্য । ১৮৮৮ খৃঃ ১২ই মাঘ ইনি চুঁচুড়ার নিকটে গঙ্গাতীরে অপ্রকট হন ।

TRANSLATION
In the family of Sri Sadasiva Kaviraj, the companion of Sri Gauranga, in the seventh generation from Sri Kanu Thakur (the grandson of Sadasiva Kaviraj), in the year 1810, he (Krishna-Kamal Goswami) was born in the district of Bhajanghat, Nadiya. When he was seven years old he went with his father to Vrindavan to study grammar and at thirteen years old he came back to Navadwip to study in Sanskrit grammar school. After the death of his father, he came to Dhaka to live. His contribution to the field of literature was appreciated by everyone! Having composed eight books of plays (jatra), he was well known. [His eight plays are:] Nandaharan - The Thief of Nanda, Svapna-Vilasa - The Dream of Amorous Sports, Divyonmad – Astonishing Bewilderment (of Maha Bhava*), Vicitra-Vilasa - Varieties of Sweetness, Bharata-Milan - They Were Filled In Meeting (one another), Gandharva-Milan – The Music of Their Meeting, Kaliya-daman – The Quelling of Kaliya (the serpent), and Nimai Sannyas – Nimai’s Taking the Renounced Order. (The content) in every one of these plays was unique and deeply appealing. In hearing all of these books, countless people having shed tears day and night, they got uniquely overwhelmed and found themselves fully absorbed in rasa. In Sri Krishna-Kamal simultaneously was scholarship, poetry, and expertise in music, (and) along with his expertise and conduct, he has become immortal. At special times he brought his endearing rhetoric (to the) acrimonious Sruti, therefore, again at special times having inspired different meanings, he gave very aesthetic rapture—this talk is recognized. On the twelfth of Magh (January/February), 1888, approaching the end (of life) he disappeared at the bank of the Ganga.

*See BRS 2.4.15 and UN 14.190.

06/07/2023

Radhe Radhe!! 🙏🏻

We will be at New York Rathayatra this Saturday in Washington Square Park from around 11am until only 2:30pm. Hopefully we can find a way to stay longer, but not sure as of yet. Please stop by as we have new books in! Looking forward to seeing you there! Jai Jagannath!