Locana dasa Thakura (2)

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Friday, January 3rd, 2003, Pratipat

Appearance day of Srila Locana Dasa Thakura

 

LOCANA DASA THAKURA

 

Preface to "Sri Caitanya Mangala" by HH Mahanidhi Swami

 

Locana Dasa was born in 1520 AD 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 AD, 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 in Vrndavana [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 Caitanya Mangala.

 

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 native 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. Caitanya-Mangala 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 Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, Caitanya-caritamrta,

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. Presently, 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

 

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P.S. For those who still didn't drink the nectar of "Sri Caitanya Mangala"

you have it in the attached file (zipped, 236 KB). You're welcome.