A Note on Krsnadasa Kaviraja’s Caitanya‑Caritamrta
By Sushil Kumar De
Summary
The composition date of Krsnadasa Kaviraja's *Caitanya-Caritamrta* remains debated. Dinesh Chandra Sen proposed 1615 A.D., while Jagadbandhu Bhadra and others suggested 1581 A.D. (Saka 1503). A controversial verse in some manuscripts, absent in others, mentions Saka 1537 (1616 A.D.), but scholars deem this a later scribal addition. Internal evidence supports a post-1592 A.D. date, as the text cites Jiva Gosvamin’s *Gopala-campi* (completed 1592). Despite conflicting manuscript readings and editorial discrepancies, 1615 A.D. is widely accepted as the most plausible date. The work is recognized as one of the latest biographies of Caitanya in Bengal, acknowledging earlier works like Vrndavana-dasa’s *Caitanya-mangala*.
Conclusion
This analysis of Krsnadasa Kaviraja’s *Caitanya-Caritamrta* clarifies the longstanding debate over its composition date, emphasizing the likely accuracy of 1615 A.D. through manuscript evidence and internal textual references. The study highlights the challenges of reconciling conflicting dates from scholars like Dinesh Chandra Sen and Jagadbandhu Bhadra, while underscoring the significance of the work’s acknowledgment of *Chaitanya-bhagavata* and its position as a critical, late biographical account of Caitanya. By distinguishing between verified citations and editorial interpolations, the analysis reinforces the text’s historical value and its role in mapping the evolution of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The findings contribute to a clearer understanding of the text’s chronology and its place within the broader literary and devotional traditions of medieval Bengal.