(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 October 2012, Govinda Valley, Australia, Lecture)
The Caitanya Caritamrta is our main book! It is the one book that gives us our particular identity as gaudiya vaisnavas. All vaisnavas basically accept the Bhagavad-gita. Many vaisnavas appreciate Srimad Bhagavatam. Of course, we give most importance to Srimad Bhagavatam but Caitanya Caritamrta is the particular book which combines the element of Krsna with mercy, that we depend on mercy. So it makes the whole picture complete because without that mercy, where would we be!? We are not so strong spiritually so very much we need this book. We read and learn Bhagavad-gita, we study Bhagavatam but finally, in Caitanya Caritamrta, we find our spiritual life in a complete sense. This is why the Caitanya Caritamrta is the most important of all books.
Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakur was once in Assam and near a river. Suddenly, an earth tremor occurred which was quite strong and it created a flash flood. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the whole area flooded and then Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakur spoke about the maha-pralaya which is the stage when the universe floods and gets destroyed but later it comes into being again.
He spoke about maha-pralaya and he said that when the final devastating flood comes, then what will you do? You will grab your valuables, right! You grab the Bhagavad-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrta and you try to keep your head above water but when it gets too much… it gets too heavy… you can let the Bhagavad-gita go! Then you walk further with Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrta and he said if that gets too heavy, you can let the Bhagavatam go; put your whole arm around Caitanya Caritamrta. Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakur said that from this book everything can be restored!
Prabhupada said that it is due to Caitanya Caritamrta that we are unique. It is Caitanya Caritamrta which teaches us the unique features of our identity, of who we are as gaudiya vaisnavas. In other words, this is the book that tells us completely what we are doing! Not that I am speaking against the Bhagavad-gita because it includes Bhagavad-gita and it includes the Bhagavatam. So, we must study Bhagavad-gita but personally I make this book, the Caitanya Caritamrta, the object of my study!
