Sri Prema Bhakti Candrika, the Moon-rays of Loving Devotion

Prema Bhakti Candrika is perhaps the most important of all of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura€s work during his manifest pastimes on earth a little over four hundred years ago. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura wrote many songs that were full of instructions. The most popular among his works, are Prarthana and Sri Prema bhakti-candrika.

Prema bhakti-candrika is popularly known as Sri Rupanuga-gita as it contains the essence of all the teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Prema bhakti-candrika literarily means, the rays of the moonlight of loving devotional service to Lord Krishna. These rays of the moonlight of loving devotion are so soothing that they cool down the effects of the burning fire of material existence, and they enable the conditioned soul to drink the nectar of loving devotional service to Radha and Krishna.

While relishing love of Krishna Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu revealed to the world the essence of Krishna-bhakti. He gave to the world what was never given before€"love of Krishna, as practiced by the inhabitants of Vrindavana. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed the six Gosvamis headed by Srila Rupa and Srila Sanatana to write volumes of devotional scriptures about the nature of love of Krishna.

The Gosvamis carried out the instructions of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu by writing volumes of devotional scriptures such as: Sri Brhad Bhagavatamrta, Bhakti Rasamrta-sindhu, Ujjvalla Nilamani, Hari Bhakti Vilasa, Lalita Madhava, Vidagdha Madhava, the Sandharbas and others. Srila Krishna dasa Kaviraja Goswami then took the essence from these writings, and presented it to the world in the form of Si Caitanya Caritamrta.

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura was a disciple of Lokanatha Gosvami, a principal follower of Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered Lokanatha Gosvami to go to Vrindavana and excavate lost places of Krishna€s pastimes. He then foretold the appearance of Narottama dasa to Lokanatha Gosvami, saying, Lokanatha Goswami would in the future have a disciple who will manifest a unique style of devotional chantings (kirtan) that will captivate all human beings.

As an empowered master who teaches according to time, place and circumstance,Srila Narottama dasa Thakura composed Prema Bhakti-candrika in a simple style Bengali language. Though this renditions of Sri Caitanya€s teachings appeared simple, the purport is deep. The teachings of Lord Caitanya has thus been given in gist in the form of Sri Prema Bhakti Candrika. The Gosvami€s books that were difficult to undersatnd by the common masses were thus made easily understandable by the teachings of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura in his book€"Sri Prema Bhakti-candrika.

Prema Bhakti Candrika was considered by Srila Gaura Kishore dasa Babaji Maharaja as the only book needed for developing love of Krishna. All the teachings of Lord Caitanya are given in this gem of a book. Daily reading of this book assures one of perfection in Krishna consciousness. Complete with original Bengali, transliterations, word-for-word meanings, English translations and purports by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura.