Prayers to Lord Caitanya
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
Prayers to Lord Caitanya
- svardhunyash charu-tire sphuritam ati-brihat-kurma-prishthabha-gatram
- ramyaramavritam san-mani-kanaka-mahasadma-sanghaih paritam
- nityam pratyalayodyat-pranaya-bhara-lasat-krishna-sankirtanadhyam
- shri-vrindatavy-abhinnam tri-jagad-anupamam shri-navadvipam ide
"I praise that holy dham, Navadvipa, which, being entirely nondifferent from Sri Vrndavana, is completely different from the material world consisting of the three planetary systems. It is situated on the gorgeous banks of the Ganges covered by beautiful groves and gardens appearing in form like the back of a gigantic turtle. Situated there are many great palatial houses made of gold bedecked with brilliant jewels, where Krsna-sankirtana is always being performed in the mellow of ecstatic love."
- shriman-mauktikadama-baddha-chikuram susmera-chandrananam
- shri-khandaguru-charu-chitra-vasanam srag-divya-bhashanchitam
- nrityavesha-rasanumoda-madhuram kandarpa-veshojjvalam
- caitanyam kanaka-dyutim nija-janaih samsevyamanam bhaje
I worship Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is being served by all His devotees and associates; whose hair is bound with strings of pearls; on whose moonlike face is the nectar of His gentle smile. His beautiful golden body is covered with lovely garments and various shining ornaments. He is so charming, being absorbed as He is in the enjoyment of sweet mellows in dancing, and is more splendid in His dress than even Cupid himself."
- yad advaitam brahmopanishadi tad apy asya tanu-bha
- ya atmantaryami purusha iti so 'syamsha-vibhavaha
- shad-aishvaryaih purno ya iha bhagavan sa svayam ayam
- na chaitanyat krishnaj jagati para-tattvam param iha
"What the Upanishads describe as the impersonal Brahman is but the effulgence of His body, and the Lord known as the Supersoul is but His localized plenary portion. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna Himself, full with six opulences. He is the Absolute Truth, and no other truth is greater than or equal to Him." (Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 1.3)
- anarpita-charim chirat karunayavatirnah kalau
- samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasam sva-bhakti-shriyam
- harih purata-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandipitaha
- sada hridaya-kandare sphuratu vah shacinandanaha
"May that Lord, who is known as the son of Srimati Sacidevi, be transcendentally situated in the innermost chambers of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold. He has appeared in the age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation ever offered before: the most sublime and radiant spiritual knowledge of the mellow taste of His service." (Cc. Adi, 1.4.)
- radha krishna-pranaya-vikritir hladini-shaktir asmad
- ekatmanav api bhuvi pura deha-bhedam gatau tau
- chaitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna tad-dvayam chaikyam aptam
- radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalitam naumi krishna-svarupam
"The loving affairs of Sri Radha and Krsna are transcendental manifestations of the Lord's internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Radha and Krsna are one in Their identity, They have separated Themselves eternally. Now these two transcendental identities have again united in the form of Sri Krsna Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Shrimati Radharani although He is Krsna Himself." (Cc.Adi,1.5)
- shri-radhayah pranaya-mahima kidrisho vanayaiva-
- svadyo yenadbhuta-madhurima kidrisho va madiyaha
- saukhyam chasya mad-anubhavatah kidrisham veti lobhat
- tad-bhavadhyah samajani shachi-garbha-sindhau harinduhu
"Desiring to understand the glory of Radharani's love, the wonderful qualities in Him that she alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appears from the womb of Srimati Sachidevi, as the moon appears from the ocean." (Cc. Adi. 1.6)
- dheyeyam sada paribhava-ghnam abhishta-doham
- tirthaspadam shiva-virinchi-mutam sharanyam
- bhrilyarti-ham pranata-pala-bhavabdhi-potam
- vande mahapurusha te charanaravindam
"O Supreme Personality of Godhead, O protector of the surrendered souls, You are now playing the role of Your own devotee, and Your lotus feet are the only object of perpetual meditation for the pure living entities. They destroy the material existence of the living entity. They are the fulfiller of all desires, the abode of all holy places, worshipable even by Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva, the shelter of all that exists, the destroyer of the troubles of Your devotees and the only boat for crossing over the ocean of material existence. Therefore I offer my obeisances unto Your lotus feet." (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.33)
- tyaktva-sudustyaja-surepsita-rajya-laksmim
- dharmishtha arya-vachasa yadagad aranyam
- maya-mrigam dayitayepsitam anvadhavad
- vande mahapurusha te charanaravindam
"O Mahaprabhu, You have given up the goddess of fortune (Lakshmi, Your wife), whose glance is desired by the great demigods, and who is the most difficult attachment to renounce. In order to keep the word of some brahmana's curse, You have gone to the forest. Thus to show Your great mercy to the helpless living entities who are following maya--the illusory energy--You have chased after them to give them Your own devotional service. Therefore I offer my humble obeisances unto Your lotus feet." (Bhagavatam 11.5.34)
- pancha-tattvatmakam krishnam
- bhakta-rupa-svarupakam
- bhaktavataram bhaktakhyam
- namami bhakta-shaktikam
"I bow down to Lord Krsna, who appears as a devotee (Lord Caitanya), as His personal expansion (Sri Nityananda), His incarnation (Sri Advaita), His devotee (Sri Srivasa), and His energy (Sri Gadadhara), and who is the source of strength for the devotees." (Cc.Adi.1.14)
- ananda-lilamaya-vigrahaya
- hemabha-divyach-chavi-sundaraya
- tasmai maha-prema-rasa-pradaya
- caitanya-chandraya namo namas te
"Obeisances unto Him, Sri Caitanya-chandra, the giver of the mellow of the highest love of Godhead, who is the embodiment of blissful pastimes, and who is so beautiful, having a dazzling luster, like gold." (Chaitanya-chandramrita)
- namo maha-vadanyaya
- krishna-prema-pradaya te
- krishnaya krishna-chaitanya-
- namne gaura-tvise namaha
"O most munificent incarnation! You are Krsna Himself appearing as Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden color of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krsna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You." (Cc.Madhya. 19.53)