Nov/Dec - Back to Godhead

November/December 2013

WELCOME This issue corresponds with the annual festival of Gaura Purnima, which commemorates the divine appearance of Lord Krishna as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu 536 years ago in Bengal. The Vedic scriptures speak of innumerable avatars of Krishna who have appeared throughout the millenniums, but Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is known as His most merciful avatar. In our cover story for this issue, Gauranga Darshana Dasa tells of “Ten Characteristics of Lord Chaitanya’s Mercy,” based on a prayer by Srila Svarupa Damodara Goswami, Lord Chaitanya’s personal secretary and intimate associate.

Purushottama Nitai Dasa writes about “Lord Chaitanya’s Civil Disobedience,” an act inspired by persecution of His insipient sankirtana movement. Mayapur-shashi’s article on the great devotee and philosopher Sri Jiva Goswami informs us about this most prolific author among Lord Chaitanya’s early followers.

Before His movement had reached beyond the borders of Bengal, Lord Chaitanya predicted that it would someday spread throughout the world. Satyaraja Dasa provides evidence that Srila Prabhupada was the empowered devotee who did the most to fulfill that prediction. And Chaitanya Charana Dasa gives insights into the poem Srila Prabhupada wrote at sea on his way to America to begin his momentous work on behalf of the Lord.

Hare Krishna. – Nagaraja Dasa, Editor