Sri Sri Caitanya Caritamrta: Adi Lila, Part-1 (Chapters 1-7)

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The history of the materialistic achievements of the conditioned jivas attached to material sense gratification, encourages others those expert in performing temporary fruitive activities. On the other hand, Sri Caitanya lila (pastimes of Sri Caitanya) awakens the dormant eternal tendency of the liberated souls [the janis] engaged in the renunciation of the fruits of temporary actions. It is the evanescent activities of the jivas, bound by time, that are described by the word 'caritra' (character sketch). However, the pastimes of Sri Caitanya are eternal and their ideals destroy the jwas' conception of being the enjoyer and establish them in their constitutional position; the mood of eternal service to Sri Krsna.

It is the associates of Sri Caitanyadeva alone who are the conservators of the description of all the ontological and pastimes purports of Sri Caitanyadeva. The books of Sri Murari Gupta, Sri Svarupa Damodara, Sri Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Rupa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, Sri Sarvabhauma Bhaṭṭacarya, Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati, Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, Sri Vṛndavana dasa Thakura, Kavi Karṇapura, Sri Kṛṣṇadasa Kaviraja Gosvami and others, alone are very respectfully accepted as evidence by the scholars. From amongst these, the pastimes of Sri Caitanyadeva, during His stay at Navadvipa, are mentioned in Sri Murari Gupta's diary 'Sri Caitanya- carita', and His pastimes especially after accepting the renounced order have been recorded in the diary of Sri Svarupa Damodara Prabhu. These two diaries alone later became the guide for those describing the pastimes of Sri Caitanya.