Sri Stavamala

jaya jaya kuņdala-yuga-ruci-mandala vrta-ganda-sthala damitākhandala dhrta-govardhana gokula-vardhana dehi ratim me tvayi mura-mardana

(Prayer to Rāsa-rasika : Text no. 17)

O Lord whose cheeks are splendidly decorated with earrings, O Lord who defeated Indra, O Lord who lifted Govardhana Hill, O Lord who made Gokula prosper, all glories to You! All glories to You! O Lord who crushed the demonMura,pleasegiveto melovefor You.

Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī wrote many stavas (devotional songs). Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī collected these songs and compiled a book - “Stava Mālā.” In this book, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has compiled the songs in a proper order, starting from Lord Caitanya, Śrī Krşņa, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Krşņa. After this, many other songs are given glorifying pastimes of Śrī Krşņa. Then comes Gītāvalī, a collection of many songs. At last, songs glorifying the Lalitā Devī, Yamunā, Mathurāpurī, Govardhana, Vịndāvana and the Holy-names of the Lord. GovindaVirudāvalī is very dear to the devotees. It's vocabulary and meaning are easily drawn to the heart. But, Gītāvalī is also no less attractive. It's very similar to Śrī Gīta-Govinda of Śrīla Jayadeva Gosvāmī.

In his purport to Śrī Caitanya-caritāmsta Ādi-līlā 10.84, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes, In the Gaura-Gaņoddeśa-dīpikā (180) Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī is described to be the gopī named Śrī Rūpa-mașjarī. In the Bhakti-ratnākara there is a list of the books compiled by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī. Of all his books, the following sixteen are very popular among Vaisnavas: (1) Haṁsadūta, (2) Uddhava-sandeśa, (3) Krşņajanma-tithi-vidhi, (4 and 5) Rādhā-Krşņa-gaņoddeśa-dīpikā, Brhat (major) and Laghu (minor), (6) Stavamālā, (7) Vidagdha-Mādhava, (8) Lalita-Mādhava, (9) Dāna-keli-kaumudi, (10) Bhakti-rasāmstasindhu (this is the most celebrated book by Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī), (11) Ujjvala-Nīlamaņi, (12) Ākhyāta-candrikā, (13) Mathurā-māhātmya, (14) Padyāvalī, (15) Nāțaka-candrikā and (16) Laghu-Bhāgavatāmsta.

Inhis ŚrīCaitanya-caritāmộta, the author, Śrīla Krşņadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, has quotedmany verses from the Stava-mālā. One exampleis Madhya 13.206.

“In his prayer known as the Caitanyāșțaka, Srīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has given a vivid description of the Lord's dancing before the Ratha of Jagannatha.”

“Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī composed three prayers with the title Caitanyāșțaka, which are included in the book Stava-mālā.”

We hope and pray that this presentation with the translations of HG Kuşakratha Prabhu would be pleasing to the worldwide community of the devotees. With folded hands, we request the merciful devotees to please overlook the mistakes in this book, if any. Please bless us so that we can continue publishing these treasures with a pure consciousness with the aim to serve the devotees.

**Contents and Sample Pages**