Gitavali ( Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur )

GĪTĀVALĪ

Songs of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura are widely known, respected and relished by all the Gaudiya Vaisnava Devotees- practitioners as well as advanced stalwart devotees, who have attained perfection,  all around the world. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura has written countless songs which are divided into four books. Fathomless eternal mercy of Śrī Śrī Guru-Gaurānga has descended to enable the present publication of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura’s four famous Bengali song books- Gītāvalī, Śaranāgatī, Kalyāna-Kalpataru and Gītamālā.

Gītāvalī presents seventy songs in fourteen chapters of this book specifically mentioning about songs to be sung at dawn, songs for the greeting ceremony of the Lord, Congregational Chanting songs in public places,songs including one hundred names of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and one hundred and twenty names of Lord Krsna, songs for worship, songs glorifying the holy name, songs in glorification of Srimati Radharani, prayers of divine instructions and glorifications. 

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura’s songs are proof of his causeless mercy upon the fallen souls of the entire world. Songs composed by the acharyas are not ordinary songs. When chanted by pure Vaishnavas who follow the rules and regulations of Vaishnavas character, they are actually effective in awakening the Krsna consciousness dormant in every living entity. We should always remember the danger of maya’s influence and endeavor to save ourselves from her great power. We must therefore always merge in the transcendental mellow of kirtana-rasa, for kirtana-rasa is the safest situation within the material world. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura composed songs for all classes of people. They are very instructive and practical for people of all ages, of all castes, and of all religions. By means of these songs, he hopes to attract everyone to the path of devotional service .