Murari Gupta's Sri Krsnacaitanya-caritamrta

[Nitaidas]

Here is the link to this text at the other site (Bhajan-kutir). I think I have an updated version of it which I will post in the next few days.

Sri Krsna-caitanya-caritamrta of Murari Gupta.

[Nitaidas]

I meant to try to post this before Christmas, but was unable to finish it before heading out to Kentucky. I thought it would be nice to have our own birth story to remember instead of the Christian one. Gerardji reminded me that I had made a start on this some years ago. I would like to try to add chapters regularly to this in preparation for the coming Gaura-purnima.

Moreover, I've always wanted to produce a combined edition of the life stories of Mahaprabhu comparable to the collection of works in the New Testament. This work, since it is the first (about 1520 according to the manuscripts), would occupy the place of the Gospel of Mark in the NT, which is considered to be the earliest (around 70-80 CE). Murari Gupta's hagiography, however, was written, at least in part, by an actual witness of the life of Mahaprabhu. Biblical scholarship has demonstrated that none of the gospels were written by actual witnesses of the life of Jesus, or by the people each gospel is named after either for that matter. In this way CV has an advantage over Christianity.

The next life of Mahaprabhu in chronological order is Kavi Karnapura's Sri Krsnacaitanya-caritamrta, his kavya, not his natya. That is dated to around 1543 CE. He was not exactly a witness to Mahaprabhu's life, but at least he met him as an infant and had access to those who were witnesses. Let's see how far I get.

Sri Krsna-caitanya-caritamrta of Murari Gupta.

[Nitaidas]

Here is another chapter of this text. It is interesting. There is a tidbit suggesting why Mahaprabhu became identified with Sri Krsna. How does it work? Isn't a rather big conclusion to jump to? Let's talk about it.


Sri Krsna-caitanya-caritamrta of Murari Gupta.


I know. it is a long time to take for just one chapter. I will try to do them at the speed of one a week from now on. When the first section is done, I will put that one out. It will be about 180 pages.

[malati]

Thanks a lot Nitaidasji for your service to the CV sangha.

[Nitaidas]

Here is the latest version of this text.


Sri Krsna-caitanya-caritamrta of Murari Gupta.


I am going to try to finish the first part by the end of the month.

[madanmohandas]

Greetings Nitaidas,
Did you finish this work? I have the edition published by RBL&S, but there are typos in nearly every transliterated sloka, and the translation seems alright, but I prefer yours. I was pouring over Prakaran 1, Sarga 8, the first 10 verses; very interesting, but not altogether clear. In the edition mentioned it suggests that in the previous Sarga, a certain brahmana said, 'I shall go now, take care of your son.' Whereas in your translation it seems to suggest that Caitanya himself said it in a sort of possessed state. As if he had been possessed by a spirit that had now departed.

[Nitaidas]

May 13, 2020 16:34:42 GMT -6 madanmohandas said:

Greetings Nitaidas,
Did you finish this work? I have the edition published by RBL&S, but there are typos in nearly every transliterated sloka, and the translation seems alright, but I prefer yours. I was pouring over Prakaran 1, Sarga 8, the first 10 verses; very interesting, but not altogether clear. In the edition mentioned it suggests that in the previous Sarga, a certain brahmana said, 'I shall go now, take care of your son.' Whereas in your translation it seems to suggest that Caitanya himself said it in a sort of possessed state. As if he had been possessed by a spirit that had now departed.

Hi Madanamohanadasji,

राधे राधे !

My understanding of that passage is that it is Gauranga who goes into a trance and tells his mother to care for him while he is in it. The brahmana Damodara is hearing the story from Murari and is puzzled by it. In the last verse of chapter 7 he asks Murari to explain it to him. The first 10 verses of chapter 8 are that explanation. With verse 11 Murari returns to the narration of Caitanya's life. I have two editions of the text, one by Haridas Sastri and the other a more recent edition by a Goswami I am not familiar with. Sadly the text was almost lost over 4 centuries and it is only because of Shishir Kumar Ghosh's finding an ms of it that we have it today. It has some passages that are hard to interpret because of poor transmission of the text. It was poorly copied when it was copied and difficult to edit. Over time with new editions the text has improved somewhat. My translation of the whole first Prakarana is in the appendix of my edition of S. K. Ghosh's Lord Gauranga which is posted somewhere else on this site. I have done some of Prakarana 2, but not enough to post yet.

[Nitaidas]

Here at long last is the latest version of Murarigupta's text, the Sri Krsna-caitanya-caritamrtam. I completed the first section some time ago and never got around to posting it. It corresponds to the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament. The earliest of the accounts of Mahaprabhu's life, and perhaps the most reliable. Once this is done, the next in line is that poem by the young Kavi Karnapura, also called the Sri Krsna-caitanya-caritamrta-mahakavyam.

Anyway, here is the first section. Three more to go. You can access it here.