Hearing Gaura Katha on ekadasis in Kartika

[Paramananda das]

dear Vaisnavas
Please accept my humble obaisences
All glories to Srila Prabhupada who has introduced us to the lotusfeet of Lord Caitanya

One may ask what strange idea is this to hear about Lord Gauranga during Kartika , dear devotees kindly hear the sweet words from the lotuslips of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his Navadvipa Bhava tanaga.
This wonderfull book helps us also to understand how Navadvipa and Vrindavana is the same place.
http://www.philosophy.ru/library/asiatica/indica/authors/bhaktivino...:
51 South of Godruma lies the enchanting island of Madhya-dvipa. It is very beautiful to behold, being filled with a radiant series of wonderful forests. There, during the midday period of His eternal pastimes, Prabhu takes His devotees along and comes to visit the seven rishis.

52 There on the bank of the river Gomati is Naimisa forest, where the assembly of rishis are listening to recitations of the Gaura Bhagavat. In order to hear these narratives about Lord Gaura, Shiva and the other demigods quickly mount Brahma's swan-carrier and make haste to come.

53 When will I wander and wander throughout that forest and behold the wonderful vision of this assembly of sages hearing the Gaura Purana by the bank of the Gomati river? On the day of ekadasi during the most auspicious month of Kartika, I will listen to those stories of Caitanya-katha.

54 When will the audience of rishis headed by Saunaka show their mercy by grasping both my hands and putting the dust of their feet upon my head? I will exclaim, "O residents of Navadvipa, let us attentively drink the nectar of Sri Gauranga-katha in this forest!"

So one the 2 ekadasis during Kartika we can hear Caitanya Bhagavad, and Caitanya Caritamrta, and Caitanya Carita and Caitanya Mangala, the pastimes of Lord Gauranga these books melts even stones and the stone hearts of materialistic persons,what to speak of the vaisnavas.We can see in Jaiva Dharma how fond the pure vaisnavas was of Caitanya mangala. .

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada read the Caitanya Caritamrta and Caitanya Bhagavad many times, according to some of his disciples 100 times each. He has shown us by his example.Srila Prabhupada read Caitanya Caritamrta on board Jaladutta.He has shown us by his example.

Adi lila 8.33

As Vyasadeva has compiled all the pastimes of Lord Krsna in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Thakura Vrndavana dasa has depicted the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Thakura Vrndavana dasa has composed Caitanya-mangala. Hearing this book annihilates all misfortune.
By reading Caitanya-mangala one can understand all the glories and truths of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda and come to the ultimate conclusion of devotional service to Lord Krsna. In Caitanya-mangala [later known as Sri Caitanya-bhagavata] Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has given the conclusion and essence of devotional service by quoting the authoritative statements of Srimad-Bagavatam. If even a great atheist hears Caitanya-mangala, he immediately becomes a great devotee. The subject matter of this book is so sublime that it appears that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has personally spoken through the writings of Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura.
Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has written Caitanya-mangala and therein described in all respects the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. He first summarized all the pastimes of the Lord and later described them vividly in detail. The pastimes of Lord Caitanya are unlimited and unfathomable. Therefore, in describing all those pastimes, the book became voluminous. He saw them to be so extensive that he later felt that some had not been properly described. He ecstatically described the pastimes of Lord Nityananda, but the later pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained untold.

Krsna das Kaviraja has stated:
In Vrndavana there were also many other great devotees, all of whom desired to hear the last pastimes of Lord. By their mercy, all these devotees ordered me to write of the last pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because of their order only, although I am shameless, I have attempted to write this Caitanya-caritamrta. Having received the order of the Vaisnavas but being anxious within my heart, I went to the temple of Madana-mohana in Vrndavana to ask His permission also. When I prayed to the Lord for permission, a garland from His neck immediately slipped down. I was greatly pleased to have the garland signifying the order of the Lord, and then and there I commenced to write this book. Actually Sri Caitanya-caritamrta is not my writing but the dictation of Sri Madana-mohana. My writing is like the repetition of a parrot. I took permission from Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura by praying at his lotus feet, and upon receiving his order I have attempted to write this auspicious literature. Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura is the authorized writer on the pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Without his mercy, therefore, one cannot describe these pastimes. (CC Adi-lila 8:34-39,44-48,71-83)

O fools, just read Caitanya-mangala! By reading this book you can understand all the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I offer millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vrndavana dasa Thakura. No one else could write such a wonderful book for the deliverance of all fallen souls. (Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami,CC Adi-lila 8:33,40)

Krsna das Kaviraja is kindly chastising us if we do not read Caitanya Bhagavad, and thus giving so much respect to Srila Vrindavan das Thakura, we should also be called fools if we do not read Caitanya Caritamrta,Srila Narrotama das Thakura sings in one of his songs this Caitanya Caritamrta even melts stones.

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare


vaisnava das das anu das
 Paramananda  das

[Paramananda das]

http://www.prabhupadavani.org/main/page_book_narration_etc_caritamrta.html