Jaiva Dharma - English

This compelling narrative based on spiritually developed personalities and others in cultured Bengali life a few hundred years ago, serves as the basis of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura's presentation of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava philosophy, from its basic tenets to its esoteric pinnacle. Woven into the story are penetrating philosophical questions that are commonly pondered and eternally relevant. The depth of the answers gives clarity and direction to the quest to establish ourselves in our jaiva-dharma, our soul's constitutional function.

The word jaiva-dharma refers to the dharma of the jiva, or the constitutional function of the living being. From external appearances, human beings seem to have different religions according to classifications of country, caste, race, and so on. The constitutional natures of human beings, animals, birds, worms, insects, and other living entities also seem to be of different varieties. But in reality, all living beings throughout the universe have only one eternal, immutable dharma. Jaiva-dharma gives a compelling and thorough description of this dharma, which is eternal and which applies everywhere, at all times, and to all living beings. This book is filled with a highly concise form of the essence of the exceedingly deep and confidential topics of the Vedas, Vedanta, Upanishads, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Puranas, Brahma-sutra, Mahabharata, Itihasas, Pancaratra, Sat-sandarbha's, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, Ujjvala-nilamani, and other ideal Sastras. Furthermore, it is written in the form of a tasteful, entertaining, and easily-comprehensible novel.

Contents: PREFACE by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, INTRODUCTION by Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajïana KeSava Gosvami Maharaja, FIRST DIVISION (The Fundamentals of Nitya- and Naimittika-dharma, The Eternal & Temporary Dharmas of the Jiva, The Nitya-dharma of the Jiva is Pure and Eternal, Naimittika-dharma is to be Relinquished, Vaisnava-dharma is Nitya-dharma, Vaidhi-bhakti is Nitya-not Naimittika-dharma, Nitya-dharma, Race & Caste, Nitya-dharma & Material Existence, Nitya-dharma & Vaiñnava Behavior, Nitya-dharma, Material Science & Civilization, Nitya-dharma & History, Nitya-dharma & Idolatry, Nitya-dharma & Sadhana), SECOND DIVISION (The Fundamentals of Sambandha Abhideya and Prayojana, Pramana & The Commencement of Prameya, Prameya: Sakti-tattva, Prameya: Jiva-tattva, Prameya: Jivas Possessed by Maya, Prameya: Jivas Free from Maya, Prameya: Bhedabheda-tattva, Prameya: Abhidheya-tattva, Prameya: Abhidheya–Vaidhi-sadhana-bhakti, Prameya: Abhidheya–Raganuga-sadhana-bhakti, Prameya: The Commencement of Prayojana-tattva, Prameya: Nama-tattva, Prameya: Namaparadha, Prameya: Namabhasa), THIRD DIVISION (Rasa-tattva, Introduction to Rasa-tattva, Rasa-vicara: Satvika-bhava Vyabhicari-bhava & Ratyabhasa, Rasa-vicara: Mukhya-rati, Rasa-vicara: Anubhavas and Santa Dasya & Sakhya Rasas, Madhura-rasa-vicara: Vatsalya & Madhura Madhura-rasa-vicara: Svakiya-nayikas & Krsna’s Svarupa as Madhura-rasa-nayaka, Madhura-rasa-vicara: Parakiya-nayikas, Madhura-rasa-vicara: Sri Radha’s Svarupa, Five types of Sakhis & Messengers Madhura-rasa-vicara: Different Categories of Sakhis, Madhura-rasa-vicara: Uddipana, Madhura-rasa-vicara: Sthayibhava & Stages of Rati, Srngara-rasa-vicara: Srngara-svarupa & Vipralambha Srngara-rasa-vicara: Mukhya-sambhoga, & Asta-kaliya-lila, Entering into Lila, The Supreme Wealth, Phala Sruti, The Fruits of Hearing), APPENDIX, Glossary of Terms, Glossary of Names Glossary of Places, Verse Index, General Index, Worldwide Centers & Contacts, Commentaries in the form of chapter-endnotes by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja.

TITLE: Jaiva Dharma
AUTHOR: Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
Translated from the Hindi edition of Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja
PUBLISHER: Gaudiya Vedanta Publications
ISBNs: 978-1-935428-63-3 9781935428633 1-935428-63-2 1935428632
Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number: 2013931160
EDITION: Second Printing of Fifth Edition, 2014, Gaudiya Vedanta Publications
BINDING: HardBound with Dust Jacket
PAGES: 1058
SHIPPING WEIGHT: 800 grams