On Kavikarṇapūra

Abstract

Chapter 1 gives an overview of Kavikarṇapūra’s life and his works, and places both in the context of the Caitanya Vaiṣṇava tradition. Very little is known about Kavikarṇapūra’s life. He says little about himself in his works, nor do the hagiographies of Caitanya, as he was a child when Caitanya passed away. Nevertheless, beginning with his contemporary Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja, Caitanya Vaiṣṇavas have recorded stories about Kavikarṇapūra, especially his encounters with Caitanya. This chapter considers these images of Kavikarṇapūra as well as the reception of his works to gain an understanding of his position in the Caitanya Vaiṣṇava tradition. This chapter does not aim to recover a ‘historical’ Kavikarṇapūra, but to examine the way the tradition viewed Kavikarṇapūra, his works, and his position in the Vaiṣṇava community of his time. The chapter also examines Kavikarṇapūra’s views of his contemporary Vaiṣṇava communities, to understand how he saw himself in this tradition.