Caitanya Caritamrta of Krsnadasa Kaviraja By Edward C. Dimock, Jr.Tony K. St
By Edward C. Dimock, Jr. & Tony K. Stewart
The Caitanya Caritamrta is one of the most important classical texts of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition — a monumental seventeenth-century Bengali and Sanskrit biography of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533 CE), composed by the celebrated poet-scholar Krsnadasa Kaviraja, revered in Bengal as the “Prince of Poets.”
This authoritative English translation and study by Edward C. Dimock, Jr. and Tony K. Stewart presents the Caitanya Caritamrta not only as a devotional biography but also as a profound theological, philosophical, historical, and literary work.
Krsnadasa portrays Sri Caitanya as the divine unity of Krishna and Radha, embodying both supreme divinity and supreme devotion. The text explores the theology of bhakti, the aesthetics of divine love (rasa), and the nature of religious experience, presenting a vision in which spiritual realization and aesthetic emotion are deeply interconnected.
At the same time, the work offers invaluable historical insight into the social, religious, and cultural life of early modern Bengal and eastern India, documenting the rise and spread of the Caitanya movement across the subcontinent.
Rich in poetry, philosophy, and devotion, the Caitanya Caritamrta contains some of the finest devotional lyricism in Indian religious literature, making this edition essential for scholars, practitioners, and serious readers of bhakti traditions.
About the Authors
Edward C. Dimock, Jr. was Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago and a leading scholar of Bengali literature and religion.
Tony K. Stewart is Associate Professor of South Asian Religions at North Carolina State University and Director of the North Carolina Center for South Asia Studies, specializing in bhakti traditions and Bengali devotional literature.
Key Features
Authoritative English translation and academic study
Covers theology, philosophy, history, and devotional aesthetics
Essential source for Gaudiya Vaisnava studies
Ideal for scholars, students, devotees, and serious spiritual readers
