PROLOGUE
THE LIFE OF CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU
by
Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Mayapur in the town of Nadia, just after sunset on the evening of the 23rd Falgoon 1407 Sakabda, answering to the 18th February 1486 of the Christian Era. The moon was eclipsed at the time of His birth, and the people of Nadia were then engaged, as is usual on such occasions, in bathing in the Bhagirathi with loud cheers of  Haribol . His father, Jagannath Misra, was a poor Brahmin of the Vaidic order, and His mother, Sachi Devi, was a model good woman, both descended from Brahmin stocks originally residing in Sylhet. Mahaprabhu was a beautiful child and the ladies of the town came to see Him with presents. His mother's father, Pandit Nilambar Chakravarti, a renowned astrologer, foretold that the Child would be a great personage in time; and he, therefore, gave Him the name Vishwambhar. The ladies of the neighbourhood styled Him Gour Hari on account of His golden complexion, and His mother called Him Nimai on account of the Nim tree near which He was born. Beautiful as the Lad was, everyone heartily loved to see Him every day. As He grew up He be-
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