Preface

Locana Dasa was born in 1520 A.D. in Kograma within Gauramandala, West Bengal. He was a disciple of Sri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, an intimate eternal associate of Sri Caltanya Mahaprabhu. One day in 1537 A.D., following his guru's order, Locana Dasa sat on a stone slab under a badari tree and started writing the CaitanyaMangala on a piece of bark.

Since Vrndavana Dasa Thakura had already written a book entitled Caitanya-Mangala, the leading devotees inVrndavana [Sri Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami, Kasisvara Pandita, Pandita Haridasa Gosvami, and Anantacarya] met to resolve the problem. They decided that henceforth Vrndavana Dasa's book would be called Caitanya Bhagavata, and Locana Dasa Thakura's book would remain as CaitanyaMangala.

In The History and Literature of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, Dr. S. Das [a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura] says, "Locana Dasa does 'not claim to be a doctor of theology. He was a musician like his preceptor [Narahari Thakura]. He made music and dedicated his pre-eminent musical abilities toward serving one mission.

"Locana Dasa did not compose this beautiful naff^tive poem, Caitanya-Mangala, to thrust abstract philosophy and a labyrinth doctrine down the people's throat. Rather, he wanted to impress the divine character of Sri Caitanya on the popular mind, and thereby arouse its religious sensibilities."

In Vaisnava Abhidana, Haridasa Dasa [a famous Gaudiya Vaisnava historian] describes Caitanya-Mangala, "Locana Dasa based his Caitanya-Mangala on Murari Gupta's authorized Sanskrit biography of Lord Caitanya entitled Sri-Krishna-Caitanya-carita. CaitanyaMangala is written in simple, beautiful language, and it can be sung in various beautiful ragas.

"Caitanya-Mangala is a rasatmaka-sastra [book full of rasa], and Caitanya Bhagavata is a varnanatmaka-sastra [a book full of descriptions]. In some cases, Locana Dasa's poetic expression surpasses that of Vrndavana Dasa Thakura.

"Readers should not confuse Locana Dasa Thakura's authentic and authorized book, Caitanya-Mangala, with another book of the same title written by Jayananda. Jayananda's book has many strange descriptions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Among the society of Vaisnavas, Jayananda's book is not loved, appreciated, or widely read. In fact, Bhakti-ratnakara doesn't even mention or refer' to his book. Jayananda didn't show any talent in composing; his writing is incoherent and sloppy."

To produce this English translation of Sri Caitanya Mangala, we used a 1929 Bengali edition published by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura at the Bagbazaar [Calcutta] office of the Gaudiya Math. Between 1920-1936 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura printed many important books including Srimad Bhagavatatn, Bhagavad-gita, Caitanya-caritarnrta, Caitanya-Bhagavata, Caitanya-Mangala, Brahma-samhita, Upadesamrta, Prema-bhakti-candrika and Bhakti Sandarbha.

Srila Prabhupada strictly followed the example and teachings of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Through his Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Srila Prabhupada published almost all of the same books as his guru maharaja. Presenfiy, Srila Prabhupada has inspired the BBT to publish an English translation of Sri Jiva Gosvami's Sandarbhas.

Similarly, Srila Prabhupada has inspired us to publish this English edition of Sri Caitanya-Mangala. We hope that our guru maharaja, Srila Prabhupada, our param-guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and all the devotees will be pleased with our efforts.

Sri Guru and Gauranga Jayatah.t

Mahanidhi Swami

Krishna-Balarama Mandir

Vrndavana-dhama

Guru (Vyasa) Purnima

22 July 1994