Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā

Author: Kavi Karṇapūra

"The Lamp that Names Gaura's Companions" — a handbook by Kavi Karṇapūra, completed in 1576. It answers the question of who, in Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, were those who surrounded Śrī Caitanya: Nityānanda is Balarāma, Advaita is Sadāśiva, Gadādhara is Rādhā, Svarūpa Dāmodara is Viśākhā, Rūpa Gosvāmī is Rūpa-mañjarī. The book opens with the five truths (pañca-tattva) and the line of teachers from Madhva to Īśvara Purī, then names Gaura's family, his cowherd friends, Rādhā's friends and the mañjarīs, and ends with a long list of devotees. Karṇapūra relies on the notes of Svarūpa Dāmodara, the words of elders and his own judgement, and honestly marks where opinions differ.