Sri Chaitanya Charitanusilana- Papers Presented at the Three Day International Seminar on Impact of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Maharprabhu and Some of His Followers on the Present Society

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Thanks to the co-operation and help forthcoming from all expected corners, the three-day International Seminar on "Impact of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Some of His Followers on the Present Society" held in Kolkata from March 5 to 7, 2010, was a grand success, the Governor of West Bengal, His Excellency Sri M. K. NarAyanan inaugurating the same, three retired and sitting judges of Calcutta High Court, including Hon'ble Justice Shyamalkumar Sen (Former Governor of West Bengal), adorning the Inaugural Session, which was graced by the holy presence of Svami Balabhadrananda of the Rd makrishna Mission as the Guest of Honour and His Holines Hanumatpreshaka Svami (alias Professor H. H. Robinson), Visiting Professor of Ricardo Palma University, Lima, Peru, South America, and Secretary General North American Institute of Oriental and Classical Studies, U.S.A, as the Chief Guest. The undersigned was assigned the duty of the Chairman of both Inaugural and Academic Sessions.

The organizers of the seminar, the authorities of the Gaudiya Mision, were so greatly inspired by the success that a little later they started to explore the possibility of bringing out a suitable publication incorporating the invaluable addresses delivered at the Inaugural Session and the learned papers presented at the Academic Sessions seminar. Sometime in the middle of August, 2010, they approached me to ascertain my availability for being the Editor of the Volume. It was difficult for me to ignore the request since, as mentioned in the "Vote of Thanks"* at the end of the Inaugural Session of the Seminar, "the whole idea of getting the Inaugural Ceremony of the Celebration with an International Seminar, selection of its subject, advice for having such a galaxy of scholars as speakers, have all come from one person Professor Dr. Samaresh Bandyopadhyay. Moreover, the craving in my heart to get associatied with something being done in the great and sacred name of Mahaprabhu S ri Chaitanya, a visible embodiment of sympathy and compassion and an incarnation of renunciation and transcendental wisdom, also prompted me to accept the offer.

Sometime in early September, 2010, copies of some articles were sent to me. A look to them, however, revealed their deficiency in many regards, hardly any article containing the needed reference or quoting properly the citations. Many of them also suffered from inaccuracy and inadequency. When the matter was drawn to the notice of the authorities of the Mission, they expressed their helplessness and I was at a loss as to what to do. Following instructions, Sri SadanandadAsa Brahmachari, Sri Nilamadhavaddsa Brahmachdri and SripAda Bhakti Nishtha Madhusedana Mandraj of the Mission, however, exhibited considerable patience and perseverance in tracing a large number of references to substantiate the statements in many articles. Moreover, many articles were in Bengali, although the intention has always been to publish something in English so that the contents of the volume reach a wider circle of readers. Initial attempts to get the articles in Bengali translated into English made by the Mission proving futile, I requested one of my former students, Sm. Mala Bag (Mrs. Maitra), Director of Mandra (Institute of Performing Art), to come forward and she obliged us much, quickly translating all the required articles.

For the convenience of scholars, the ,selected articles ,on S Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya, Sri Reim and Sri Sandtana and Sri Bhaktivinoda Thdkura have been included respectively in three different sections, entitled `Mahaprabhu Session', Rupa-Sanatana Session' and Bhaktivinoda Session'. The value of the volume has been considerably enhanced by a fitting 'Foreword' from the erudite pen of Bhakti Suhrid Paribrajak Maharaj, President of the Gaucliya Mission. All efforts have been made to make the volume worthy of the great and holy name of Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya, but we know that, inspite of our best efforts, there are certain blemishes including misprints in the volume for which we offer our sincere apology.

May the blessings of Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya be always with us all in our efforts to uplift ourselves. Vriddhirastu. Siddhirastu.

The 500th Anniversary Celebration of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's entry into sannyasa-figrama started with a Three-day International Seminar on "Impact of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Some of His Followers on the Present Society", organized by the Gaudiya Mission in Kolkata from March 5 to 7, 2010.

The seminar was inaugurated with a highly inspiring address by His Excellency the Governor of West Bengal, Sri M. K. Narayanan, at the famous Girish Mancha at Bagbazar, Kolkata. A learned Key-Note Address was delivered by the Chief Guest Professor H. H. Robinson (alias Hanumatpreshaka Svami), Visiting Professor of Oriental and Classical Studies, Ricardo Palma University, Lima, Peru, South America, and Secretary General, North American Institute of Oriental and Classical Studies of U. S. A. Svami Balabhadrananda of the Ramakrisbna Mission graced the occasion by his holy presence as the Guest of Honour and he delivered an informative lecture. Hon'ble Justice Kalyanjyoti Sengupta of Calcutta High Court was the Special Guest.

A well-wisher of our Mission and an eminent educationist Professor Dr. Samaresh Bandyopadhyay was the Chairman and he delivered an illuminating address on the antiquity of sannyasa in India and significance of Mahaprabhu's acceptance of sannyasa at the Inaugural Session, of which other speakers were Hon'ble Justice Shyamalkumar Sen, Bhakti Sundar Sanyasi Mahardj, Sri Tarak Bandyopadhyay, M.L.A., from the Cossipore Constituenty of West Bengal and Bhaktidipaka Damodara Maharaj.

Besides the Inaugural Session, there were three Academic Sessions on (i) Mahaprabhu, (ii) Rupa and Sanatana and (iii) Bhaktivinoda, in all of which distinguished scholars from different parts of India and foreign countries presented papers in English and Bengali.

Making arrangements for translation into English of all the articles in Bengali and with a well thought out plan, Professor Dr. Samaresh Bandyopadhyay, in the midst of his various academic and administrative commitments in and outside India and with his usual efficiency, has thoroughly edited the material sent to him and, working relentlessly, made ready quickly and nicely the present volume. He has also graciously devoted time to see the volume through the press. No words are adequate to express our gratitude to him.

Sri M. H. Dalmia, son of Jaydawal Dalmia of Dalmia Jain Trust (New Delhi) deserves our special thanks for generously bearing the entire cost of publication of the present volume.

This highly prestigious volume has been very appropriately titled Sri Chaitanyacharitanusilana by the esteemed editor and I have great pleasure to introduce it to 'the learned community of the world. I am confident that Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's multifaceted, exceedingly encouraging and ideal achievements, highlighted in the learned discourses included in the volume as lectures or papers, will certainly have a great impact on the present society and also go a long way to make the badly trouble-stricken present world a more peaceful and happier one.

I wish the volume to be read very widely.

**Contents and Sample Pages**