Sri Gaudiya Gitanjali
Presented here is a collection of Sri Gaudiya Vaishnav kirtans (songs,
poetry) chanted regularly at Sri Chaitanya Saraswati Math. Most of the songs
are accompanied by the original Bengali text and an audio recording sung by
the Acharyas of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math—Srila B.N. Acharya Maharaj, Srila
B.S. Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami
Maharaj.
The first edition of Sri Gaudiya Gitanjali was published in Bengali in
1983 with the following Preface written by Om Vishnupad Srila Bhakti
Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj (translated into English by Sripad B.K.
Tyagi Maharaj):
Preface
By the causeless mercy of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga, a long-standing need has
been fulfilled by this publication of Sri Gaudiya-gitanjali within a
very short time. You will find in this Sri Gaudiya-gitanjali nearly
all the kirtans in the line of Sri Bhakti Vinod—Saraswati that were
sung daily and on special days in the time of Srila Prabhupad Bhakti
Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur and that are still now sung in Sri Chaitanya
Saraswat Math.
Our most worshippable Sri Guru Pada-padma's ever sincere friend and our
genuinely affectionate well-wisher, Param Bhagavat Pujyapad Srila Krsnadas
Babaji Maharaj, who has now reached the dust of Sri Vrndavan Dham, would
greatly satisfy Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva-Govindasundar by chanting
these songs with profound appreciation and tears in his eyes in extremely
sweet tunes that defamed even nectar. By joyfully, voluntarily, and proudly
spreading the Sanskrit verses composed by our Sri Guru Pada-padma everywhere
throughout India and affirming them to be consistent with and of dignity
equal to those of Sri Rupa and Sri Raghunath, it is he primarily who has
brought about good fortune for the souls of this world and thus felt the
greatest joy. So, to preserve holy remembrance of him, his favourite
kirtans have been compiled here and offered to his holy lotus hands.
May he always mercifully remain pleased with us. This is our prayer.
Earnestly devoted to Sri Guru Pada-padma Om Visnupad Srila Bhakti Raksak
Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj and Param Bhagavat Srila Krsnadas Babaji Maharaj,
Vaisnava Acharya Tridandi Swami Srimat Viraha Prakas Maharaj has generously
contributed to the publication of this book, set a great example in the
Vaisnava world, and thus become the recipient of everyone's gratiude.
Amongst all my godbrothers who have received the mercy of Sri Guru and Sri
Gauranga and become greatly worthy of recognition for this exceptional
achievement of publishing this book within a very short time, the names of
Sripad Nimaisundar Brahmachari Vidya Vinod Prabhu and Sriman Visvarup
Brahmachari Prabhu are especially deserving of mention.
O Vaisnavas who see no faults! If you will mercifully pardon me for all the
errors, as a result of my incapacity in editing, that have diminished the
beauty of this collection of supramundane songs and inform this fallen soul
of them so that proper service may be rendered in a future edition, I will be
most grateful.
Humble, poor, and fallen,
The editor
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