Gītā-mālā (A Garland of Songs)

(translated by Daśaratha-suta Dāsa)

Gītā-mālā (‘A Garland of Songs’) was composed by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in 1893. It comprises of five sections containing 80 songs. The first chapter, Yāmuna Bhāvāvalī (‘The sentiments of Yāmuna’) has 27 songs based upon the Stotra-ratna of Yāmunācārya of the Śrī Sampradāya. Chapter two is called Kārpaṇya Pañjikā (‘an almanac of humility’) which is based upon a prayer written in Stava-mālā by Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī. Chapter three is called Śoka Śātana (‘The removal of lamentation’) and consists of 13 songs narrating the death of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura’s son during Mahāprabhu’s kīrtana at Śrīvāsāṅgana. Chapter four, Rūpānuga Bhajana Darpaṇa (‘A mirror reflecting the bhajana of the followers of Śrī Rūpa’) includes 29 songs describing the sādhana necessary to enter the mādhurya-līlā of Rādhā-Govinda as taught by Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī. Chapter five, Siddha Lālasā (‘Longing for perfection’) explains the achievment of bhajana-sadhana for the sādhaka.

Gītā-mālā – Chapter One
Yāmuna Bhāvāvalī (The Ecstasies of  Yāmunācārya)

Gītā-mālā – Chapter Two
Kārpaṇya Pañjikā (Diary of Selfish Humility)

Gītā-mālā – Chapter Four
Śrī Śrī Rūpānuga-bhajana-darpaṇa (A Mirror Reflecting the Worship Which Follows Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī)