Biographical
information compiled by Krsna-priya Devi Dasi
(Vaisnava Academy for Girls, Alachua, Florida, USA)
Here is
brief biographical information about the saints and incarnations
whose appearance and disappearance days are listed by the
Vaisnava calendar program. The calendar uses the term "appearance"
to denote the so-called birth of these great souls and incarnations
and the term "disappearance" to denote their departure
from this world.
Fuller
descriptions are to be found in the books of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, especially "Sri
Caitanya-caritamrta."
ABHIRAMA
THAKURA was one of the most vigorous preachers among the associates
of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. In the mood of a cowherd boy, Sri
Abhirama Thakura carried a bullwhip named Jaya Mangala. Whomever
he struck with this whip became filled with Krsna prema, love
for God. If Abhirama Thakura offered obeisances to any stone
other than a sacred salagrama-sila, it would at once burst
into pieces. Abhirama Thakura used his home for preaching
and for serving Vaisnava pilgrims. His house constantly resounded
with kirtana and topics of Krsna. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila 11.13.)
ADVAITA
ACARYA, an intimate associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
is considered an incarnation of Sadasiva and Maha- Visnu.
It was in response to His calls that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
descended to this world. Seeing the degraded condition of
the people in Kali Yuga, the Age of Quarrel, Sri Advaita Acarya
worshiped Lord Krsna on the banks of the Ganges with Ganges
water and tulasi leaves, crying out and begging for the Lord
to come save the suffering souls. Because of Sri Advaita Acarya's
pure devotion and compassion, Lord Krsna descended as Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (See Sri Caitanya- caritamrta, Adi-lila,
Chapter 6.)
BALADEVA
VIDYABHUSANA, the author of Govinda Bhasya, the first Gaudiya
commentary on the Vedanta-sutras, appeared in Remuna, Orissa,
in the late 1600s. In 1706 he was sent by Srila Visvanatha
Cakravarti Thakura to Galta (near Jaipur, India) to prove
the authenticity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. The
local Ramanandis (a branch of Sri Vaisnavas) had charged that
the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, having no commentary on the Vedanta-
sutras, were not a bona fide disiplic line and therefore they
had no right to worship Govindaji or any of the other Deities
of Vrndavana. By the grace of Govindaji, Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana
then swiftly wrote the Govinda-bhasya commentary. He also
wrote commentaries on the Upanisads and the Bhagavad- gita.
LORD BALARAMA
is the first personal expansion of Lord Krsna, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. All other incarnations expand from
Him. In Lord Krsna's pastimes, He plays as Krsna's older brother.
Together Krsna and Balarama enact many pastimes as cowherd
boys in the land of Vrndavana. Lord Balarama carries a plow
and club and is known for His great strength. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila, Chapter 5.)
BHAKTISIDDHANTA
SARASVATI THAKURA was the spiritual master of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of
ISKCON. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura powerfully
spread the teachings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the early
twentieth century. He preached strongly against the deep-rooted
influences of caste-ism and impersonalism. Meeting with scholars,
educators, and other leaders and writing over 108 essays and
books, he strove to present Krsna consciousness as a science
to be highly esteemed. He established 64 temples, known as
Gaudiya Maths, inside and outside of India.
A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA
SWAMI PRABHUPADA was the Founder-Acarya of the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness. It was he who brought the
teachings of Lord Caitanya out of India and spread them all
over the world. He was the author of "Bhagavad- gita
As It Is" and many other volumes of translation, commentary,
and scriptural instruction. The file PRABHPAD.TXT, which accompanies
the file you are reading, tells of his life in more detail.
BHAKTIVINODA
THAKURA reestablished, in the closing days of the nineteenth
century, the teachings of Lord Caitanya, which by then had
been largely misrepresented or lost. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
wrote almost one hundred books to explain the science of Krsna
consciousness, expose pseudo incarnations of God, and defeat
misconceptions about the path of devotional service. Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura was both an active preacher and the Deputy
Magistrate for Jagannatha Puri, Orissa, as well as the father
of ten children. One of his sons was Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura. Biographers say that Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura accomplished all his many duties perfectly.
BHURGARBHA
GOSVAMI, along with his intimate friend Lokanatha Gosvami,
located lost sacred places in Vrndavana by the order of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. To avoid material distractions, Bhugarbha
Gosvami would perform his worship to Krsna in a cave. Because
of this, he received the name Bhugarabha (bhu means "earth,"
garbha means "cave" or "hidden place").
(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 12.82.)
LORD SRI
CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU is Lord Krsna Himself, in the form of
His own devotee. He appears in this world to spread love for
Krsna through the congregational chanting of the holy names
of the Lord. He appeared in Sridhama Mayapur, West Bengal,
in 1486. His activities and teachings are described in detail
in the book "Teachings of Lord Caitanya" and the
multi-volume "Sri Caitanya- caritamrta." (See also
Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.32.)
DEVANANDA
PANDITA was a professional reciter of Srimad- Bhagavatam who
turned to pure devotional service during the time of Lord
Caitanya. Devananda Pandita used to explain Srimad- Bhagavatam
through impersonalistic interpretations. Because he had offended
a devotee, he couldn't understand the essence of the Bhagavatam
-- love and devotion for Krsna. But when Devananda Pandita
served an advanced devotee, Lord Caitanya became pleased with
him and revealed to him the path of devotion to Krsna. (See
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.77.)
DHANANJAYA
PANDITA took part in many of Lord Caitanya's kirtana pastimes
in Navadvipa. On the order of Lord Caitanya, he traveled widely
and preached Krsna consciousness. He is mentioned in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta
as being among the intimate servants of Lord Nityananda Prabhu.
(See Sri Caitanya- caritamrta, Adi-lila 11.31.)
GADADHARA
DASA PANDITA was one of Lord Nityananda's chief preachers
in Bengal. He influenced countless sinners and atheists to
take part in the sankirtana movement. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila 10.53.)
GADADHARA
PANDITA is among the group known as the Panca-tattva, consisting
of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and four of His closest associates.
Gadadhara Pandita spent most of his life in Jagannatha Puri
worshiping the Tota-Gopinatha Deity, who is still worshiped
in Puri. Gadadhara Pandita is considered an incarnation of
Srimati Radharani, the eternal consort of Sri Krsna. (See
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.15 and 16.130- 148.)
GANGAMATA
GOSWAMINI was the daughter of King Naresa Narayana of Bengal.
From childhood she showed deep devotion to Krsna. Refusing
to marry and renouncing her kingdom, she went in search of
a bona fide guru. In Vrndavana she accepted Haridasa Pandita
as her guru and took instructions from him. Performing severe
austerities, she wore only rags and begged food door to door.
On her guru's order, she went to Jagannatha Puri, where she
became a great preacher and guru. Hundreds of people attended
her discourses on Srimad-Bhagavatam, and many people, including
brahmanas, Lord Jagannatha's priests, and even the king, accepted
her as their spiritual master.
GAURIDASA
PANDITA is considered the emblem of the most elevated devotional
service in love of Godhead. He sacrificed everything for the
service of Lord Nityananda. Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda
personally appeared as Deity forms in his home. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila 11.26-27.)
GAURAKISORA
DASA BABAJI MAHARAJA, the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura, appeared early in the nineteenth century.
He lived a strictly renounced life as a bhajananandi, or one
who performs solitary worship. He was intimately associated
with Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, whom he respected as his
spiritual master.
GOPALA
BHATTA GOSVAMI, one of the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana, as a
young boy received the mercy of Lord Caitanya. While touring
south India, Lord Caitanya stayed four months at Gopala Bhatta's
house. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami later joined Lord Caitanya's
sankirtana movement. He proved himself an expert in Vaisnava
scriptural regulations, wrote Vaisnava books, and established
the temple of Sri Sri Radha-Ramana in Vrndavana. (See Sri
Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.105.)
GOUR GOVINDA
SWAMI MAHARAJA, a disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada, spread Krsna consciousness throughout Orissa.
He translated many of Srila Prabhupada's books into Oriya,
worked to establish a large ISKCON temple in Bhubaneswar,
traveled and taught Krsna consciousness throughout the world,
and brought many people to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada
and Krsna. He departed this world in 1996 at Sridhama Mayapur,
on the appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura,
during the centennial birth celebration of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
GOVINDA
GHOSH, an intimate associate of Lord Caitanya, was known for
his sweet kirtanas at the annual Jagannatha Puri Ratha- yatra
festival. Lord Caitanya would at once begin to dance whenever
Govinda Ghosh would sing. Govinda Ghosh and his brothers Vasudeva
and Madhava are eternal associates of Lord Caitanya and Lord
Nityananda Prabhu. (See Sri Caitanya- caritamrta, Adi-lila
10.115, 11.14-15, and 11.88.)
HARIDASA
THAKURA is considered the namacarya, the spiritual master
in chanting the holy name of Krsna. Though he was born in
a Muslim family, Lord Caitanya's devotees respected him as
being better than the best of brahmanas. He would not eat
or sleep until he finished his daily quota of chanting the
name of Krsna 300,000 times. Along with Lord Nityananda, Haridasa
Thakura spread the chanting of Krsna's name throughout Bengal.
In Jagannatha Puri, where Haridasa Thakura spent his later
days, Lord Caitanya would regularly send him prasadam and
discuss with him topics of Krsna. Haridasa Thakura died chanting
Krsna's name in the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After
Haridasa Thakura's death, Lord Caitanya carried his body to
the sea and with His own hands buried him in the sand. (See
Sri Caitanya- caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.43-47 and Antya-lila,
chapters 3 and 11.)
ISVARA
PURI was the spiritual master of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Even though Lord Caitanya, the Supreme Godhead, did not need
a spiritual master, He accepted Srila Isvara Puri as His guru
to establish the importance of accepting a spiritual master.
(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 9.11.)
JAGADISA
PANDITA lived near Jagannatha Misra, the father of Lord Caitanya,
in Sridhama Mayapur. Jagadisa Pandita assisted Lord Caitanya
in spreading the sankirtana movement (congregational chanting
of Krsna's name) in Jagannatha Puri. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila 11.30.)
JAGANNATHA
DASA BABAJI MAHARAJA, the spiritual master of Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura, confirmed Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's discovery
of the birthplace of Lord Caitanya. Upon arriving at the birthplace,
Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, though blind and crippled,
leaped high into the air and began chanting the names of Krsna
and dancing.
JAGANNATHA
MISRA appeared as the father of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, chapter 13.)
JAHNAVA
MATA was the wife of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. Especially after
the disappearance of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, she
became a leading figure in the sankirtana movement.
JAYADEVA
GOSVAMI is the author of the Gita-govinda, a poem about the
pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Krsna. He appeared 300 years before
the advent of Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya relished hearing
the Gita-govinda sung by His close associates. To this day
the poem is recited daily in the temple of Lord Jagannatha
in Jagannatha Puri, Orissa. Jayadeva Gosvami is also the author
of the famed Dasavatara Stotra.
JAYANANDA
PRABHU was a dedicated disciple of Srila Prabhupada's who
helped Srila Prabhupada introduce the Rathayatra festival
in the United States.
JIVA GOSVAMI,
the nephew and disciple of Srila Rupa Gosvami, was one of
the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana. After the disappearance of
Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Jiva Gosvami became
the leading acarya for the Vaisnava community. Srila Jiva
Gosvami was the greatest and most prolific scholar of his
time. He composed half a million Sanskrit verses about the
science of devotion and the glories of Krsna. (See Sri Caitanya-
caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.85.)
KALIYA
KRSNADASA is mentioned as having been a disciple of Gauridasa
Pandita.
KASISVARA
PANDITA served as Lord Caitanya's bodyguard in Jagannatha
Puri. Another of His services was to distribute prasadam after
kirtana. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 8.66)
LORD SRI
KRSNA is the Absolute Truth, the original form of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. The words of Bhagavad-gita are His
spoken instructions, and the entire Srimad-Bhagavatam aims
at describing His glories. (See also the summary study for
the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam entitled "Krsna,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead.")
LOCANA
DASA THAKURA, a disciple of Narahari Sarakara Thakura, wrote
many Bengali songs glorifying Lord Caitanya. His most famous
poetic work is the Caitanya-mangala, a depiction of Lord Caitanya's
life. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.78- 79.)
LOKANATHA
GOSVAMI was a personal associate of Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya
ordered him and Bhugarbha Gosvami to find the lost holy places
of Vrndavana. Years later, the six Gosvamis came to Vrndavana
and continued this work. Lokanatha Gosvami constructed the
Radha-Gokulananda temple in Vrndavana. Srila Narottama dasa
Thakura was his only disciple. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Madhya-lila 18.49.)
MADHAVENDRA
PURI was the spiritual master of the spiritual master of Lord
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Madhavendra Puri established the
worship of the Gopala Deity, who is today worshiped as Srinathaji.
(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya- lila, chapter 4.)
MADHU
PANDITA, a disciple of Sri Gadadhara Pandita, established
the temple of Gopinatha in Vrndavana, India. Before Srinivasa
Acarya, Narottama dasa Thakura, and Syamananda Prabhu went
to bring the books of the Gosvamis from Vrndavana to Bengal,
Madhu Pandita blessed Srinivasa Acarya with a garland from
Sri Gopinatha. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 12.88.)
MADHVACARYA
is the principal acarya, or spiritual teacher, in in the Brahma-sampradaya,
the Vaisnava disciplic line from which the Gaudiya sampradaya
descends. He was born in Udupi, South India, in the early
thirteenth century. At the age of five he took initiation
and at the age of twelve left home to take sannyasa. Madhvacarya
studied the Vedas under the compiler of the Vedas, Vyasadeva,
in the Himalayas. Madhvacarya's Vedanta- sutra commentary
-- Purnaprajna-bhasya -- establishes the doctrine known as
Suddha-dvaita-vada. Madhva used his erudite scholarship to
crush the Mayavada (impersonalistic) philosophy and establish
devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 9.245.)
MAHESA
PANDITA was one of the twelve gopalas who were close associates
of Lord Nityananda. He traveled and preached with Lord Nityananda.
(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 11.32.)
MUKUNDA
DATTA, the son of Vasudeva Datta, was a classmate of Lord
Caitanya's. Mukunda Datta had a melodious voice, and he knew
the intricacies of musical meters and ragas. Lord Caitanya
took sannyasa amidst Mukunda Datta's kirtana. (See Sri Caitanya-
caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.40 and 17.65 and Madhya-lila 11.137-140.)
MURARI
GUPTA was a lifelong associate of Lord Caitanya. He served
Lord Caitanya in all of the Lord's Navadvipa pastimes. By
profession a doctor, Murari Gupta freed his patients not only
from their physical ailments but also from the contamination
of the material energy. Murari Gupta is considered an incarnation
of Hanuman, the eternal servant of Lord Ramacandra. (See Sri
Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.49-51 and Madhya-lila 15.137-
157.)
NARAHARI
SARAKARA was a personal associate of Lord Caitanya. He would
often serve the Lord by fanning Him with a camara. He was
also a great scholar and poet. His books Padakalpataru and
Krishna-bhajanamrta include sweet songs praising Lord Caitanya
and Lord Nityananda. The celebrated Locana dasa Thakura was
his disciple. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.78-79.)
NAROTTAMA
DASA THAKURA was a leading acarya in the Gaudiya Vaisnava
line. He was the only disciple of Srila Lokanatha Gosvami.
Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura helped bring the books of the
Gosvamis from Vrndavana to Bengal and Orissa. In Kheturi gram,
Bengal, he inaugurated the first Gaura Purnima festival after
the disappearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is most famous
for his Prarthana, a composition of thirty-three Bengali songs.
NIMBARKACARYA
was the principal acarya in the Kumara sampradaya, one of
the four main lines of Vaisnava teachers and disciples. His
Vedanta-sutra commentary -- Parijata-saurabha- bhasya -- establishes
the doctrine known as Dvaitadvaita-vada. He preached Krsna
consciousness about 300 years before the advent of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu.
LORD NITYANANDA
PRABHU appeared as Lord Caitanya's principal associate for
spreading the congregational chanting of the holy names of
the Lord. He especially spread the holy name of the Lord throughout
Bengal. He is considered an incarnation of Lord Balarama.
(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, chapter 5.)
PARAMESVARI
DASA THAKURA, also known as Paramesvara Thakura, was an intimate
associate of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila 11.29.)
PUNDARIKA
VIDYANIDHI was a disciple of Madhavendra Puri and was the
guru of Sri Gadadhara Pandita. Pundarika Vidyanidhi was sometimes
misunderstood to be too much attached to material pleasures,
but just by hearing the recitation of one verse of the Bhagavatam
he would enter into a trance. In Krsna's pastimes he was Vrsabhanu,
the father of Srimati Radharani. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila 10.14 and Madhya-lila 16.76-81.)
PURUSOTTAMA
DASA THAKURA was a great devotee of Lord Nityananda. In Goloka
Vrndavana, Purusottama Dasa Thakura serves Lord Balarama as
a cowherd boy. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 11.38-40.)
SRIMATI
RADHARANI is the eternal consort of Lord Sri Krsna, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. She is the internal pleasure potency
of the Lord. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, chapter
4.)
RAGHUNANDANA
THAKURA was the son of the great devotee Mukunda Dasa. (See
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.78-79.)
RAGHUNATHA
BHATTA GOSVAMI, one of the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana, was
ordered by Lord Caitanya to go to Vrndavana and there constantly
chant the Hare Krsna mantra and read Srimad- Bhagavatam. Every
day in Vrndavana, he would sweetly sing the verses of the
Bhagavatam to the local residents. His tears of pure love
would wet the pages of the Bhagavatam as he sang. Raghunatha
Bhatta Gosvami never criticized anyone. He believed that all
Vaisnavas are sincerely serving Krsna according to their realization
and therefore one should overlook their faults. Under his
inspiration, a wealthy disciple built the temple for the Radha-Govinda
Deities in Vrndavana. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila
10.152-158.)
RAGHUNATHA
DASA GOSVAMI, one of the six Gosvamis, at a young age renounced
his beautiful wife and opulent home to join Lord Caitanya
and His sankirtana movement. For sixteen years, he was the
personal assistant of Lord Caitanya's secretary, Svarupa Damodara.
Along with Svarupa Damodara, he witnessed Lord Caitanya's
last days on earth. After the Lord's disappearance he went
to Vrndavana, where he lived austerely, absorbed in devotion,
in the company of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami.
(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.91- 103 and Antya-lila,
chapter 6.)
LORD SRI
RAMACANDRA is a powerful incarnation of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead as an ideal king. He appeared in the Treta-yuga,
more than two million years ago. Under the order of His father,
Maharaja Dasaratha, Lord Ramacandra lived in the Dandakaranya
forest for fourteen years, along with His wife, Sita Devi,
and His younger brother, Laksmana. After the powerful demon
Ravana kidnapped His wife, Lord Ramacandra retrieved her,
with the help of His faithful servant Hanuman, and killed
Ravana along with Ravana's armies. The history of Lord Ramacandra's
pastimes is recounted by the sage Valmiki in his Ramayana.
(See also Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.22, 2.7.23-25, 5.19.1-8 and
Canto Nine, chapters 10 and 11.)
RAMACANDRA
KAVIRAJA was a disciple of Srila Srinivasa Acarya and an intimate
friend of Srila Narottama dasa Thakura. He widely preached
the glories of the holy name of Lord Krsna and initiated many
disciples into the service of Lord Caitanya. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi-lila 11.51.)
RAMANANDA
RAYA was one of the most intimate associates of Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu would discuss with him
the most confidential topics of Krsna consciousness, and in
his company Lord Caitanya would relish the deepest feelings
of devotional service. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila
10.134, Madhya-lila 7.62-67, Madhya-lila chapter 8, and Antya-
lila chapter 5.)
RAMANUJACARYA
(1017-1137) was the principal acarya in the Sri sampradaya,
one of the four main lines of Vaisnava teachers and disciples.
His Vedanta-sutra commentary -- Sri-bhasya -- establishes
the doctrine known as Visistadvaita, "qualified nondualism."
A staunch proponent of the philosophy of personalism, he taught
that although the Supreme Lord and the individual souls are
qualitatively one, there is still a difference between them,
for the Lord is infinite and the living entities are infinitesimal.
Srila Ramanujacarya traveled extensively throughout India,
teaching personalism and defeating proponents of monistic
philosophy. He founded seventy-four centers of Sri Vaisnavism
and initiated seven hundred sannyasis (renounced monks), twelve
thousand brahmacharis (celibate students), and thousands of
householders, including kings and wealthy landowners.
RASIKANANDA
PRABHU preached Krsna consciousness in northern Orissa after
the disappearance of Lord Caitanya. He was the principal disciple
of Syamananda Gosvami.
RUPA GOSVAMI
is known as bhakti-rasacarya, the expert in the tastes of
pure devotional service. He and his elder brother, Srila Sanatana
Gosvami, left high posts in the government of Nawab Hussein
Shah to join Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Empowered by Lord Caitanya,
Srila Rupa Gosvami wrote many books about the science of Krsna
consciousness. A summary study of his Bhakti- rasasmrta-sindhu
is available as "The Nectar of Devotion," and his
Upadesamrta is available as "The Nectar of Instruction."
(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.84, Madhya-lila
1.36- 41, Madhya-lila chapter 19, and Antya-lila chapter 1.)
SANATANA
GOSVAMI, the elder brother of Srila Rupa Gosvami, was the
seniormost among the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana. At Varanasi,
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed him in detail about the
science of devotional service. Lord Caitanya sent Srila Sanatana
Gosvami to Vrndavana and gave him a fourfold mission: to uncover
the lost sites of Krsna's pastimes, to install Deities of
the Lord and arrange for Their worship, to write books on
Krsna consciousness, and to teach the rules of devotional
life. Srila Sanatana Gosvami, along with Srila Rupa Gosvami,
fulfilled all four parts of this mission. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,
Adi- lila 10.84, Madhya-lila 1.35, Madhya-lila chapters 20-24,
and Antya-lila chapter 4.)
SARANGA
THAKURA, an associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, lived under
a Bakula tree in Navadvipa during the time of Lord Caitanya.
During the day he would gather materials for the worship of
his Deities, and in the evenings he would cross the sacred
Ganges River to join Lord Caitanya's kirtanas. The great devotee
Murari Thakura was his disciple. (See Sri Caitanya- caritamrta,
Adi-lila 10.113.)
SITA DEVI,
a manifestation of the goddess of fortune, Laksmi Devi, is
the eternal consort of Lord Ramacandra. When Lord Ramacandra
was banished to the Dandakaranya forest, Sita Devi left the
comforts of the royal palace to join Him. While in the forest
she was kidnapped by the demonic king Ravana, yet despite
his endeavors to enjoy her beauty, she remained always dedicated
to Lord Ramacandra.
SITA THAKURANI
was the wife of Sri Advaita Acarya. She was always absorbed
in parental love for Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because of
Sita Devi's love, Saci Mata often chose her as the first person
to worship Lord Caitanya during any auspicious ceremony. (See
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 13.111-118.)
SIVANANDA
SENA, an associate of Lord Caitanya, used all his possessions
and wealth in the service of Lord Caitanya and His devotees.
Every year he would lead a party of 200 devotees from Bengal
to Jagannatha Puri to attend the annual Ratha-yatra festival.
He would arrange for the devotees' food, tolls, ferries, and
lodging. Sivananda Sena's family and servants were all dedicated
to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (See Sri Caitanya- caritamrta,
Adi-lila 10.54-55 and 10.60-64, and Antya-lila 1.16- 32, 2.22-82,
10.142-151 and 12.15-53.)
SRINIVASA
ACARYA was a member of the party that first brought the books
of the six Gosvamis from Vrndavana to Bengal and Orissa. He
converted King Birahambira to the Vaisnava religion and helped
organized the first Gaura Purnima festival, celebrating the
birth anniversary of Lord Caitanya, in Kheturi Gram.
SRIVASA
PANDITA, or Srivasa Thakura, was a member of the Panca- tattva,
consisting of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His four immediate
expansions and energies. Every night, Lord Caitanya and His
associates would chant the names of Krsna and dance in Srivasa
Pandita's house. Srivasa Pandita never made any effort to
support himself or his dependents. Because of his full dedication
to Lord Caitanya and His mission, Lord Caitanya provided for
all his needs. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi- lila 10.8.)
SVARUPA
DAMODARA GOSVAMI was the personal secretary of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. He is said to have been like a second Mahaprabhu
because he deeply understood the Lord's conclusions on Krsna
bhakti, devotional service to Krsna. He was a great scholar
as well as an expert musician. In the company of Srila Svarupa
Damodara Gosvami at Jagannatha Puri, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
would taste the deepest emotions of devotional service. (See
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 4.105 and Madhya- lila 10.102-129
and 13.163-167.)
SYAMANANDA
PRABHU, a disciple of Hrdaya Caitanya, established the temple
of Sri Radha-Syamasundara in Vrndavana. On the order of his
spiritual master, Syamananda, along with his foremost disciple,
Rasikananda Prabhu, spread the worship and service of Lord
Caitanya throughout Orissa.
UDDHARANA
DATTA THAKURA was an intimate associate of Lord Nityananda.
Raised in a family of gold merchants, he later married and
became a wealthy minister. Lord Nityananda would often stay
in his home. At the age of twenty-six, Uddharana Datta Thakura
renounced home and family and joined Lord Nityananda's kirtana
party. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi- lila 11.41.)
VAKRESVARA
PANDITA is mentioned in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta for his ecstatic
dancing. Once, in the house of Srivasa Thakura, he danced
in constant ecstasy for seventy-two hours. He made many disciples,
especially in Orissa, among them Sri Gopala-guru Gosvami.
(See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.17-18.)
VAMANADEVA
is Lord Krsna's incarnation as a dwarf brahmana. Lord Vamanadeva
begged from Bali Maharaja three paces of land. When the request
was granted, Lord Vamanadeva assumed a gigantic form and with
two steps covered first the earth and then the entire universe.
For the third step, Bali Maharaja was then pleased to receive
the Lord's lotus foot on his head. (See Srimad-Bhagavatam
1.3.19, 2.7.17 and Eighth Canto, chapters 20- 23.)
VAMSIDASA
BABAJI MAHARAJA was a paramahamsa devotee who sometimes lived
in Navadvipa at the time of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura. Wearing only a loincloth and eating whatever came
his way, Vamsidasa Babaji Maharaja traveled throughout India,
visiting holy places. He worshiped Lord Krsna on a spontaneous
platform that neophytes on the path of devotion cannot imitate.
VAMSIVADANANDA
THAKURA wrote many sweet poems expressing his devotion to
Krsna. The day he appeared, Lord Caitanya and Sri Advaita
Prabhu were staying in his home in Bengal. After the disappearance
of Srimati Visnupriya Devi, he worshiped her Deities in Navadvipa.
VARAHADEVA
is the boar incarnation Sri Krsna. He assumed the form of
a boar to lift the drowning planet earth from the Garbhodaka
Ocean with His tusks. The demon Hiryanyaksa had thrown the
planet earth into this ocean, but the Lord stabbed the demon
with His tusks and saved the earth. (See Sri Srimad- Bhagavatam
1.3.7 and 2.7.1 and Canto Three, chapters 13, 18 and 19.)
VASUDEVA
GHOSH, an intimate associate of Lord Caitanya, was known for
his kirtana. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta says that when Vasudeva
Ghosh led kirtana, even wood and stone would melt upon hearing
it. He composed many songs about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Vasudeva Ghosh and his brothers Govinda and Madhava are eternal
associates of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda Prabhu.(See
Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.115, 11.14-15, 11.19
and 11.88.)
VIRACANDRA
PRABHU was the son of Lord Nityananda's second wife, Vasudha
Devi, and was a disciple of Sri Jahnava Devi, Lord Nityananda's
first wife. He is considered an incarnation of Ksirodakasayi
Visnu.
VISNUPRIYA
DEVI was the wife of Lord Caitanya before He took sannyasa.
After His sannyasa, she lived a life of severe austerity.
Every day, she would set aside one grain of rice for every
round of the Hare Krsna mantra she chanted. At the end of
the day she would cook and offer these few grains to Lord
Caitanya, and that would be her meal. She is a manifestation
of the internal energy of the Lord. (See the Bhaktivedanta
purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.23.20.)
VISVANATHA
CAKRAVARTI THAKURA, a great Vaisnava acarya, appeared in 1674
in what is now the Nadia district of West Bengal. During his
time, he served as the protector, guardian, and acarya of
the Gaudiya Vaisnava line. He wrote more than forty Sanskrit
books on the science of pure devotion, including commentaries
on Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, and the books of the
six Gosvamis. His eight prayers to the spiritual master are
sung daily by the Gaudiya Vaisnavas.
VISVARUPA
was the elder brother of Lord Caitanya. He is considered a
partial expansion of Lord Nityananda. At an early age he left
home to take sannyasa. In 1431 he disappeared in Pandarpura
in the district of Solapura, India. (See Sri Caitanya- caritamrta,
Adi-lila 10.106, 13.74-80, and 15.11-14 and Madhya- lila 9.299-300.)
VRNDAVANA
DASA THAKURA was the author of Sri Caitanya Bhagavata, a great
biography of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is considered the
manifest Vyasadeva of Lord Caitanya's pastimes. He was born
shortly after the disappearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
At the age of twenty, he accepted formal initiation from Lord
Nityananda. It was on Lord Nityananda's order that he wrote
Sri Caitanya Bhagavata. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-
lila 8.33-42 and 11.54-55.)
A
brief biography of His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,
Founder and Acarya of the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness
and The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
His Divine
Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appeared in this
world in 1896 in Calcutta, India. He first met his spiritual
master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja,
in Calcutta in 1922. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent
religious scholar and the founder of sixty-four Gaudiya Mathas
(Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced
him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge. Srila
Prabhupada became his student and, in 1933, his formally initiated
disciple.
At their
first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati requested
Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge in English.
In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary
on the Bhagavad-gita, assisted the Gaudiya Matha in its work
and, in 1944, started "Back to Godhead," an English
fortnightly magazine. The magazine is now being continued
by his followers.
In 1950
Srila Prabhupada retired from married life, adopting the vanaprastha
(retired) order to devote more time to his studies and writing.
He traveled to the holy city of Vrindavana, where he lived
in humble circumstances in the historic temple of Radha-Damodara.
He accepted the renounced order of life (sannyasa) in 1959.
At Radha- Damodara, Srila Prabhupada began work on his life's
masterpiece: a multivolume commented translation of Srimad-Bhagavatam
(Bhagavata Purana).
After
publishing three volumes of the Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada
came to the United States, in September of 1965, to fulfill
the mission of his spiritual master. Subsequently, he wrote
more than fifty volumes of summary studies and commented translations
of the philosophical and religious classics of India.
When Srila
Prabhupada first arrived by freighter in New York City, he
was practically penniless. Only after almost a year of great
difficulty did he establish the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness, in July of 1966. Before he passed away,
on November 14, 1977, he had guided the Society and seen it
grow to a worldwide confederation of more than one hundred
centers, schools, temples, institutes, restaurants and farm
communities.
Srila
Prabhupada inspired the construction of several large international
centers in India. The center at Sridhama Mayapur is the site
for a planned spiritual city. In Vrindavan are the Krishna-
Balarama Temple and International Guesthouse and Srila Prabhupada
Memorial and Museum. There are major cultural centers and
temples in Bombay, Ahmedhabad, Bangalore and New Delhi.
Srila
Prabhupada's most significant contribution, however, is his
books, which are highly respected by scholars for their authority,
depth and clarity.
In just
twelve years, from his arrival in America in 1965 till his
passing on in Vrindavana in 1977, despite his advanced age
Srila Prabhupada circled the globe fourteen times on lecture
tours that took him to six continents. Notwithstanding such
a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically.
His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy,
religion, literature and culture.
|