Suggested reading selections compiled by H.G. Bhūrijana Prabhu

Introduction by Gopikā Rādhikā Devī Dāsī (GBC SPT Research)

(GBC SPT Research- 23 March 2021)

Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī writes in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā 25.278:

ye līlā-amṛta vine,     khāya yadi anna-pāne,

tabe bhaktera durbala jīvana

yāra eka-bindu-pāne,     utphullita tanu-mane,

hāse, gāya, karaye nartana

“Men become strong and stout by eating sufficient grains, but the devotee who simply eats ordinary grains but does not taste the transcendental pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Kṛṣṇa gradually becomes weak and falls down from the transcendental position. However, if one drinks but a drop of the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, his body and mind begin to bloom, and he begins to laugh, sing and dance.”

The transcendental pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are the life-sustaining force of the devotees—an ambrosia to be had in abundance from the pages of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

In an attempt to facilitate devotees’ reading and discussions of this transcendental literature, provided below is a valuable compilation by H.G. Bhūrijana Prabhu. It offers pastime/topic-wise verse groupings that can aid devotees in having specific, theme-focused reading or discussion sessions from the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. These story selections are also an invaluable resource to help familiarize children with the engrossing pastimes of Lord Caitanya and develop a lifelong relationship with the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā

TitleChapterVerses
Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja attains Vṛndāvana5156-204
Lord Caitanya converts the Māyāvādīs738-110; 147-171
The advent of Lord Caitanya1363-124
Lord Caitanya’s childhood pastimes141-97
The Lord’s pastimes between the ages of five and ten151-34
Pastimes of the Lord just before His youth161-111
Pastimes of the Lord in His youth171-120
The Lord defeats the Kazi17121-226
Lord Caitanya takes sannyāsa17227-292

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā

TitleChapterVerses
Summary of Lord Caitanya’s pastimes after taking sannyāsa until Rāmakeli146-166
Lord Caitanya delivers Rūpa and Sanātana1167-227
The Lord travels throughout India and returns to Jagannātha Purī1228-287
Lord Caitanya takes sannyāsa and takes prasāda at the house of Advaita Ācārya31-107
The Lord’s pastimes at the house of Advaita Ācārya3108-219
Mādhavendra Purī worships Gopāla410-109
Mādhavendra Purī brings sandalwood4110-213
The activities of Sākṣi-gopāla51-139
Lord Caitanya enters Jagannātha Purī5; 6140-161 (chapter 5); 1-39 (chapter 6)
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya meets Lord Caitanya640-113
The liberation of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya6114-140; 176-286
The Lord desires to go on tour71-90
The Lord tours South India791-155
The Lord’s meeting with Rāmānanda Rāya81-68; 260-313
Lord Caitanya visits Raṅga-kṣetra91-107
The Lord converts Vyeṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa9108-165
Lord Caitanya travels to the holy places9166-258; 276-302
The Lord returns to Jagannātha Purī9303-365
The devotees come to Jagannātha Purī101-101
The Vaiṣṇavas meet the Lord10102-190
Mahārāja Pratāparudra’s affection for the Lord111-64
The devotees from Bengal visit Jagannātha Purī1165-185
The Beḍā-kīrtana pastimes11186-243
Lord Caitanya favors Mahārāja Pratāparudra121-69
The cleansing of the Guṇḍicā temple1270-152
The Lord’s activities before Ratha-yātrā12153-222
The Lord’s dancing at Ratha-yātrā131-33; 162-209
Performance of the Vṛndāvana pastimes141-105
The Lord’s pastimes with His devotees151-92
The devotees return to Bengal1592-185
Lord Caitanya takes prasāda at the home of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya15186-302
The Lord’s activities in Jagannātha Purī161-86
The Lord leaves Jagannātha Purī1687-201
The Lord attempts to go to Vṛndāvana16202-290
The Lord leaves for Vṛndāvana171-81
The Lord’s activities in Benares1782-148
The Lord reaches Mathurā17149-234
The Lord visits Vṛndāvana and sees Gopāla181-56
Kṛṣṇa is again in Vṛndāvana1857-127
Lord Caitanya leaves Vṛndāvana18128-229
The Lord meets Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī191-60
The Lord meets Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya1961-91
The Lord instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī1992-140; 235-257
The Lord meets Sanātana Gosvāmī201-61
The Lord instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī2062-118
Lord Caitanya tells the story of Mṛgāri the hunter24229-282
The Lord distributes Love of God to the Māyāvādīs2560-101; 154-185
The Lord meets Subuddhi Rāya and returns to Jagannātha Purī25186-238
Summary of the Lord’s Madhya-līlā pastimes25239-283

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā

TitleChapterVerses
Rūpa Gosvāmī’s meeting the Lord11-92
The transcendental writings of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī193-133
The glories of Nakula Brahmacārī and Nṛsiṁhānanda Brahmacārī21-83
The chastisement of Junior Haridāsa284-172
The Lord’s dealings with Dāmodara Paṇḍita31-47
The story of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Rāmacandra Khān393-164
Further pastimes of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura3165-272
Sanātana Gosvāmī meets Lord Caitanya41-114
The glories of Sanātana Gosvāmī4115-239
The chipped rice festival61-144
Raghunātha attains shelter6145-205
The glories of Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī6206-329
The story of Rāmacandra Purī81-103
The Lord saves Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka91-58
The Lord’s mercy to the family of Bhavānanda Rāya959-153
Rāghava’s bag101-80
The Lord takes prasāda1081-162
The passing away of Haridāsa Ṭhākura111-108
The Bengali devotees in Jagannātha Purī121-85
The love of Jagadānanda1286-155
Jagadānanda goes to Vṛndāvana131-77
The story of Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī1378-139
The Lord’s feelings of separation (part 1)141-40
The Lord’s feelings of separation (part 2)1454-123
Lord Caitanya’s mercy to Kālidāsa161-64
The Lord tastes nectar1665-115
The Lord’s bodily changes171-29; 59-73
Rescuing Lord Caitanya from the sea (part 1)181-87
Rescuing Lord Caitanya from the sea (part 2)18100-121

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