Praise of Srila Krishnadas Babaji Maharaj.
By Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Translated from the Bengali text written by
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
in the first edition of Sri Gaudiya-gitanjali in 1983.
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 Krishnadas 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 Krishnadas 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 the 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 overlook faults! If you will mercifully pardon me for all the errors that as a result of my incapacity in editing 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
Dedication
শ্রীল কৃষ্ণদাস বাবাজী মহারাজের বন্দনা
srila krsna-dasa babaji maharajera vandana
Obeisance unto Srila Krishnadas Babaji Maharaj
by
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
সৌম্যং সত্ত্বতনুং সহাসবদনং কণ্ঠং সুতানান্বিতং
কৃষ্ণানন্দকরং রটন্তমনিশং নামাক্ষরং সুন্দরম্ ।
শ্রীনন্দীশ্বরমাশ্রিতং ব্রজভুবি গৌরে চ মায়াপুরং
বন্দে যুক্তবিরাগ-ভক্তি-লসিতং শ্রীকৃষ্ণদাস-প্রভুম্ ॥
saumyam sattva-tanum sahasa-vadanam kantham sutananvitam
krsnananda-karam ratantam anisam namaksaram sundaram
sri-nandisvaram-asritam vrajabhuvi gaure cha mayapuram
vande yukta-viraga-bhakti-lasitam sri-krsna-dasa-prabhum
“With his tranquil divine form, smiling face, and melodious voice, he pleases Sri Krishna by constantly and beautifully calling out His Name. Residing in Sri Nandisvar in Vraja Dham or Sri Mayapur in Gaura Dham, he is resplendent with perfect renunciation and devotion. I offer my obeisance to Srila Krishnadas Babaji Maharaj.”
