History of Walther Eidlitz’ “Kṛṣṇa-Caitanya” and its Translations

Abstract

This article chronicles the complex history of Walther Eidlitz's seminal German work, "Kṛṣṇa Caitanya: Sein Leben und Seine Lehre" (1968), and its subsequent translations, particularly into English. It highlights the book's dual nature as both a scholarly endeavor and a service within the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava tradition. The abstract delves into the collaboration between Eidlitz and his teacher, Svāmī Sadānanda Dāsa, who provided crucial raw translations from Sanskrit and Bengali, revealing the challenges of merging poetic and academic styles. It discusses the initial difficulties in securing English publication and the eventual successful translation efforts driven by a team of dedicated individuals, emphasizing how the collective expertise and spiritual motivation of the translators helped overcome significant obstacles, ultimately enhancing the original work.