This is a translation of Manindranath Guha's classic Bengali book on the beliefs and practices centering around the "holy names" (the names of Krishna and of his consort Radha) of the Caitanya Vaisnava tradition (a form of modern Hinduism). Guha's book is a good introduction to an area of theological reflection in Caitanya Vaisnavism called the "theology of the holy name." In summary the theology of the holy name teaches that the names of the deities, Krishna and Radha, are not different from the deities themselves and thus the names possess a special transformative power for those who speak, whisper, or even merely think of them. Those who repeat those names whether loudly or softly are believed to be purified by the divine presence they represent and are also infused by that presence with divine love for the deities named. Now for the first time Guha's book is available in English with an introduction, footnotes, glossary, and bibliography by the translator, Neal Delmonico (PhD, University of Chicago, 1990).

A new edition of the delightful metrical English translation by Caleb of the Hindu classic, the "Bhagavad-gita," includes an introduction, annotations, and an appendix. The original Sanskrit text, in both Devanagari and transliteration, has been included on the left-hand pages for easy access and comparison with the translation.

Guha's work presents the fundamental beliefs and practices connected with the repetition of the names of Krishna, the primary deity of the Caitanya tradition. That tradition believes that the names of Krishna possess a special potency to illuminate and infuse with divine love those who repeat them sincerely. (World Religions)