The Oldest Copy of Caitanya Caritamrta

By Indradyumna Swami - 6.7 2015

The Oldest Existing Copy of Sri Caitanya Caritamrta

In an old temple tucked away in a street near Loi Bazar in Vrindavan is the oldest existing copy of Srila Krsna das Kaviraja Goswami’s epic Caitanya Caritamrta. Over 350 years old, it sits in a cabinet in a room near the alter. In 1982, Sri Harishan-kara dasa, the head priest, donated 475 precious manuscripts that had been with the temple for 400 years to the Vrindavan Research Institute. But he kept the Madhya-lila portion of the Caitanya Caritamrta. His son, Govinda Sankar Sharma kindly invited us to take darshan of the presiding deities, Sri Radha Nanda-kumara, as well as the old copy of Caitanya caritamrta. Visiting the ancient temple, seeing the old deities and touching the historic book made for yet another amazing day in Vrindavan. But mercy is meant to be shared – so here are our photos of the visit.