Upadesamrta Subodhini (Enriching the Experience of Sri Upadesamrta Study)

About the Book Read, recollect and relish the nectarean instructions of Sri Upadesamrta, based on the commentaries of Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, concisely and lucidly presented by Gauranga Darshan Das, for providing deeper insights into the essence of bhakti for both beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.

Introduction Once at Jagannatha Puri, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the most merciful incarnation of Lord Krsna in this age of Kali, took His intimate devotees to the shore of the ocean. Seeing the blue ocean, He remembered Syamasundara, seeing the trees and sand dunes there He remembered Vrndavana and Govardhana, and became overwhelmed in the ecstasy of separation from Lord Krsna. With great difficulty the devotees brought Him to external consciousness. Then, Lord Caitanya began to softly instruct the devotees, among whom was Srila Rupa Gosvami. Rupa Gosvami recorded those instructions in the form of eleven verses that became famous as Sri Upadesamrta.

Upadesa means instruction. Amrta means nectar. Sri Upadesamrta is a book of nectarean instructions for all the practitioners of bhakti-yoga. For all sadhakas, this Upadesamrta is as dear as their very lives and like a necklace to be worn at all times. Lord Caitanya has personally enlightened Rupa Gosvami in the science of bhakti, and has instructed him to write literatures for the spiritual upliftment of humanity.

Srila Rupa Gosvami's Upadesamrta is a set of eleven verses that constitute the fundamental instructions to guide our activities in the practice (sadhana) of bhakti-yoga. These instructions are a precious gift to genuine sadhakas, and are indispensable.

Initially I didn't feel the need for a study guide to Sri Upadesamrta, owing to its small size. However, I received requests from devotees to make study guides for Sri Upadesamrta, Sri Isopanisad and Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu in the similar style of my previous works - Gita Subodhini, Bhagavata Subodhini and Caitanya Subodhini - especially to assist the students and teachers of the Bhaktisastri courses in ISKCON. This is the background behind my humble attempt to write Upadesamrta Subodhini.

In Upadesamrta Subodhini, I have presented the eleven verses of Sri Upadesamrta with relevant titles and line-by-line translations to relate with the Sanskrit easily. I have also concisely presented the key concepts and explanations from (i) The Nectar of Instruction by Srila Prabhupada, (ii) The Anuvrtti commentary by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and (iii) The Piyusa-varsini-vrtti commentary by Srila Bhakti-vinoda Thakura on the Upadesamrta, in simplified sections, subsections, flow charts and summary tables.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages