The great preceptor Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who is considered the pioneer of the modern day revival of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, had a grand vision of the fulfilment of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s prediction—prithivite ache yata nagaradi-grama, sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama, that His Holy Name will be preached in every town and village on the earth. Bhaktivinoda saw this vision taking place in Mayapura, West Bengal, India, and inaugurated its execution by mailing this small booklet, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu — His Life and Precepts, to McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 1896.
This present reprinting marks the 125th anniversary of its original publication and celebrates its significance as the first Gaudiya Vaishnava literature in English to reach the western world. This small book is a glimpse into the supremely divine life of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His core teachings, based on both His direct instructions and the teachings of His followers — expanding upon these instructions for the benefit of the people in the age of Kali-yuga.
We are immensely optimistic that this book, which marks an important milestone in the history of the preaching of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sankirtana movement, will continue to be well received, just as it has been in the past one and a quarter century, and will see many more editions in the future.
