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{{Short description|15th-century Indian Vaishnavite saint from Bengal}}
{{Short description|15th-century Indian Vaishnavite Hindu saint}}
{{redirect|Krishna Chaitanya|the Telugu lyricist|Krishna Chaitanya (lyricist)}}
{{redirect|Krishna Chaitanya|the Telugu lyricist|Krishna Chaitanya (lyricist)}}
{{redirect|Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|the 1954 Hindi film|Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (film)}}
{{redirect|Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|the 1954 Hindi film|Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (film)}}
{{Primary sources|date=October 2020}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2024}}
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{{Infobox Hindu leader
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name              = Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
| name              = Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
| image              = Gauranga.jpg
| image              = Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Dhameswar Mahaprabhu temple 6.jpg
| religion          = [[Hinduism]]
| religion          = [[Hinduism]]
| caption            = Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
| caption            = Wooden [[murti]] of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as Dhāmeśvara, Nabadwip<ref name=":0" />
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1486|2|18|df=y}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1486|2|28|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Nabadwip]], [[Bengal Sultanate]]<br />{{small|(present-day [[West Bengal]], India)}}
| birth_place        = [[Nabadwip]], [[Bengal Sultanate]]<br />{{small|(present-day [[West Bengal]], India)}}
| birth_name        = Vishvambhar Mishra
| birth_name        = Vishvambhara Mishra
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1534|6|14|1486|2|18|df=yes}}
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1534|6|14|1486|2|28|df=yes}}
| death_place        = [[Puri]], [[Gajapati Kingdom]]<br />{{small|(present-day [[Odisha]], India)}}
| death_place        = [[Puri]], [[Gajapati Empire]]<br />{{small|(present-day [[Odisha]], India)}}
| spouse            = Lakshmi Priya (first wife) and [[Vishnupriya]]
| spouse            = Lakshmi Priya (first wife) and [[Vishnupriya]]
| guru              = Swami Isvara Puri (mantra guru); Swami Kesava Bharati (sannyas guru)
| guru              = Swami Isvara Puri (mantra guru); Swami Kesava Bharati (sannyas guru)
| philosophy        = [[Bhakti yoga]], [[Achintya Bheda Abheda]]
| philosophy        = [[Bhakti yoga]], [[Achintya Bheda Abheda]]
| known_for          = Expounded [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]], [[kirtan]]
| known_for          = Expounded [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]], [[kirtan]]
| founder            = [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]]<br />[[Achintya Bheda Abheda]]
| founder            = [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]]<br/>[[Achintya Bheda Abheda]]
| free_label        = Birth Anniversary
| father            =  
| father            =  
| mother            =  
| mother            =  
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}}
{{Vaishnavism}}
{{Vaishnavism}}
{{Hinduism}}  
{{Hinduism}}
'''Chaitanya Mahaprabhu''' ({{IAST3|Caitanya Mahāprabhu}}; born '''Vishvambhar Mishra''')<ref name="Banglapedia Chaitanya"/> was a 15th-century Indian saint who is considered to be the combined [[avatar]] of [[Radha]] and [[Krishna]] by his disciples and various scriptures.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CC Ādi 7.11|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/adi/7/11/|access-date=26 December 2021|website=vedabase.io|language=en|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923172734/https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/adi/7/11/|url-status=live}}</ref> Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishna with [[bhajan]]-[[kirtan]] and dance had a profound effect on [[Vaishnavism]] in [[Bengal]]. He was also the chief proponent of the Vedantic philosophy of [[Achintya Bheda Abheda|Achintya Bheda Abheda Tattva]]. Mahaprabhu founded [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]] ({{aka}} the [[Brahma Sampradaya|Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya]]). He expounded [[Bhakti yoga]] and popularized the chanting of the [[Hare Krishna (mantra)|Hare Krishna Maha-mantra]].<ref>[http://www.scsmath.com/docs/chaitanya_mahaprabhu.html Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228155252/http://scsmath.com/docs/chaitanya_mahaprabhu.html |date=28 December 2017 }} "He spread the [[Yuga Dharma|Yuga-dharma]] as the practice for attainment of pure love for [[Radha]]-[[Krishna]]. That process is Harinam-Sankirtan, or the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare"</ref> He composed the ''[[Shikshashtakam]]'' (eight devotional prayers).<ref>[http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 Srimad Bhagavatam (Introduction)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525203633/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 |date=25 May 2013 }} "Lord Caitanya not only preached the but propagated the teachings of the [[Bhagavad Gita]] as well in the most practical way."</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.8 - See Purport for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu |url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/transcripts/750323sbcal/ |website=vedabase.io |access-date=22 January 2021 |language=en |archive-date=14 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414141815/https://vedabase.io/en/library/transcripts/750323sbcal/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
'''Chaitanya Mahaprabhu''' ({{langx|bn|মহাপ্রভু শ্রীচৈতন্য দেব}}; {{langx|sa|चैतन्य महाप्रभु|Caitanya Mahāprabhu}}), born '''Vishvambhara Mishra''' ({{IAST3|Viśvambhara Miśra}}<ref name="Banglapedia Chaitanya"/>) (28 February 1486 – 14 June 1534{{sfn|Delmonico|2007|loc=p. 549: "The form of Vaishnavism inspired by the sixteenth-century saint-reformer Shri Krishna Chaitanya (1486–1533 C.E.) rested heavily upon a belief in the purifying and salvific powers of the names of God, whose fullest self-revelation Chaitanya believed to be Krishna"}}), was an Indian [[Hindus|Hindu]] saint from [[Bengal]] and the founder of [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]]. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping [[Krishna]] with [[bhajan]]-[[kirtan]] and dance influenced [[Vaishnavism]] in [[Bengal]].  


Chaitanya is sometimes called [[Gauranga]] or '''Gaura''' due to his molten gold–like complexion.<ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Mar122006/finearts1054102006310.asp In the Name of the Lord (Deccan Herald)] "He was also given the name of ‘Gora’ because of his extremely fair complexion." {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207225342/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Mar122006/finearts1054102006310.asp |date=7 December 2006 }}</ref> His birthday is celebrated as [[Gaura-purnima]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.krishna.com/node/1407|title=Gaura Purnima|publisher=www.krishna.com|access-date=16 December 2008|archive-date=12 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312140828/http://www.krishna.com/node/1407|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://givegita.com/sri-chaitanya Sri Gaura Purnima] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001230238/https://givegita.com/sri-chaitanya |date=1 October 2020 }}"givegita.com"</ref> He is also called '''Nimai''' because he was born underneath a [[Neem]] tree.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/Krishna-Chaitanya-Mission KCM Archive]"They named Him Nimai, as he was born under a neem tree." {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424064200/http://www.archive.org/details/Krishna-Chaitanya-Mission |date=24 April 2008 }}</ref>
He is considered the chief proponent of the Vedantic philosophy of [[Achintya Bheda Abheda]]. The concept of inconceivable difference in non-difference, known as achintya-bhedabheda, was explained later by [[Jiva Goswami]] in his book Bhagavat Sandharbha,{{sfn|Dasa|2007|loc=pp. 377-378: "The Bhagavat Sandarbha [...] describes the concept of Bhagavan alluded to in Bhagavata 1.2.11. Jiva explains [...] [t]he relation between Bhagavan and His potency is one of inconceivable difference in non-difference, known as achintya-bhedabheda. It is in recognition of the nature of this relation that Chaitanya’s philosophy is called Achintya bhedaabheda-vada"}} and in his Sarva-samvadini.{{sfn|Gupta|2007|loc=p. 46, footnote 30: "[I]n the Sarva-samvadini, [J]iva Gosvami lists the names of different teachers and their schools of Vedanta, and then concludes by saying, 'sva-mate tu acintya-bhedabhedah,' 'but my view is acintya-bhedabheda'"}}{{sfn|Krsna Dasa, T.|2022|loc="[Jiva Goswami in his] Sarva-samvadini [commenting] Anuccheda 77 and 78 of the Paramatma Sandarbha [states that:] 'It is well known that Gautama, Kaṇāda, Jaimini, Kapila and Patañjali, as well as śrī-rāmānuja and śrī-madhvācārya’s accept bheda alone. To us, acintya-bheda-abheda alone is acceptable, because the substantive is endowed with acintya śaktis' "}}  


==Life==
Mahaprabhu founded [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism]]. He expounded [[Bhakti yoga]] and popularised the chanting of the [[Hare Krishna (mantra)|Hare Krishna Maha-mantra]].<ref>[http://www.scsmath.com/docs/chaitanya_mahaprabhu.html Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228155252/http://scsmath.com/docs/chaitanya_mahaprabhu.html |date=28 December 2017 }} "He spread the [[Yuga Dharma|Yuga-dharma]] as the practice for attainment of pure love for [[Radha]]-[[Krishna]]. That process is Harinam-Sankirtan, or the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare"</ref> He composed the ''[[Shikshashtakam]]'' (eight devotional prayers).
[[File:Ganga mata math.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Deity of Shadabhuja [[Gauranga]] at Ganga Mata Math in [[Puri]].]]
''[[Chaitanya (consciousness)|Chaitanya]]'' means "one who is conscious" (derived from Chetana, which means "Consciousness"); ''Maha'' means "Great" and ''Prabhu'' means "Lord" or "Master". Chaitanya was born as Vishvambhar Mishra, the second son of Jagannath Mishra. Jagannath and his wife, Sachi Devi, the daughter of Nilambara Chakravarti, were both [[Brahmin]]s of Sylhet.<ref name="Banglapedia Chaitanya">{{cite Banglapedia|article=Chaitanya, Sri|author=Stewart, Tony K}}</ref> Jagannath Mishra's family were from the village of [[Golapganj Upazila|Dhakadakshin]] in [[Sylhet District|Srihatta (Sylhet)]] (now in [[Bangladesh]]). The ruins of their ancestral home still survive in present-day [[Bangladesh]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chaitanya and his age|last=Sen|first=Dinesh Chandra|url=https://archive.org/details/chaitanyahisage00senduoft|access-date=16 August 2020|website=Internet Archive|language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Nair|2007|p=87}}


[[File:Yogapith, Mayapur.jpg|thumb|alt=A white ornate structure with a pyramidal pointed dome standing on the bank of a pond and surrounded by trees|Yogapith temple at Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthsite established in the 1880s by [[Bhaktivinoda Thakur]] in [[Mayapur]], [[West Bengal]].]]
Chaitanya is sometimes called [[Gauranga]] ({{IAST3|Gaurāṅga}}) or '''Gaura''' due to his molten gold–like complexion.<ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Mar122006/finearts1054102006310.asp In the Name of the Lord (Deccan Herald)] "He was also given the name of ‘Gora’ because of his extremely fair complexion." {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207225342/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Mar122006/finearts1054102006310.asp |date=7 December 2006 }}</ref> His birthday is celebrated as [[Gaura-purnima]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.krishna.com/node/1407|title=Gaura Purnima|publisher=www.krishna.com|access-date=16 December 2008|archive-date=12 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312140828/http://www.krishna.com/node/1407|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://givegita.com/sri-chaitanya Sri Gaura Purnima] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001230238/https://givegita.com/sri-chaitanya |date=1 October 2020 }}"givegita.com"</ref> He is also called '''Nimai''' because he was born underneath a [[Neem]] tree.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/Krishna-Chaitanya-Mission KCM Archive]"They named Him Nimai, as he was born under a neem tree." {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424064200/http://www.archive.org/details/Krishna-Chaitanya-Mission |date=24 April 2008 }}</ref>


According to ''[[Chaitanya Charitamrita]]'', Chaitanya was born in [[Nabadwip]] (in present-day ''[[West Bengal]]'') on the full moon night of 18 February 1486, at the time of a lunar eclipse.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chattopadhyay|first=Nripendra Krishna|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.265084|title=Sri Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita|date=1961}}</ref><ref name="birthplace">{{Cite web|last=Kabiraj|first=Krishnadas|title=Sachitra Sree Sree Chaitanyacharitamrita(Adi Lila)|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.453768|access-date=29 July 2020|website=Internet Archive|year=1897|language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Swami|first=A. C. Bhaktivedanta|title=Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta(Ādi-līlā)|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/adi/|website=vedabase.io|language=en|access-date=12 August 2020|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807122540/https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/adi/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Life==


A number of stories also exist telling of Chaitanya's apparent attraction to the [[Japa|chanting]] and [[Bhajan|singing]] of Krishna's names from a very young age,<ref>[http://vedabase.net/cc/adi/14/22/en1 CC Adi lila 14.22] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306060122/http://vedabase.net/cc/adi/14/22/en1 |date=6 March 2012 }}</ref> but largely this was perceived as being secondary to his interest in acquiring knowledge and studying [[Sanskrit]]. When travelling to [[Gaya, India|Gaya]] to perform the [[Śrāddha]] ceremony for his departed father, Chaitanya met his [[guru]], the ascetic [[Isvara Puri|Ishvara Puri]], from whom he received initiation with the [[Gopal (Krishna)|Gopala Krishna]] mantra. This meeting was to mark a significant change in Chaitanya's outlook<ref>[http://www.vedabase.net/cc/adi/17/9/en1 CC Adi lila 17.9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924124446/http://vedabase.net/cc/adi/17/9/en1 |date=24 September 2014 }} "In Gayla, Sri Chaitanya Mähaprabhu was initiated by Isvara Puri, and immediately afterwards He exhibited signs of love of Godhead. He again displayed such symptoms after returning home."</ref> and upon his return to Bengal the local [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Vaishnavas]], headed by [[Advaita Acharya]], were stunned at his external sudden 'change of heart' (from 'scholar' to 'devotee') and soon Chaitanya became the eminent leader of their [[Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] group within Nadia.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}
The religious hagiographies of Gauḍīya sampradāya are the only sources available for the reconstruction of Caitanya's life. These texts (in [[Sanskrit]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]]), consider Caitanya to be an ''avatāra'' of Kr̥ṣṇa, [[Svayam Bhagavan|Svayaṁ Bhagavān]], [[Radha Krishna|Rādhā-Kr̥ṣṇa]] (joint and separate), [[Nārāyaṇa]], [[Viṣṇu]], and [[Jagannātha]]. A canonical narrative was established in early 1600s through the ''Caitanya Caritāmr̥ta'' of Kr̥ṣṇadāsa Kavirāja, which is regarded within the tradition as the "final word" on Gauḍīya history and theology.<ref>{{cite book |last=Stewart |first=Tony |title=Oxford Bibliographies Online in Hinduism |date=2014 |chapter=Caitanya}}</ref>


After leaving Bengal and receiving entrance into the [[sannyasa]] order by [[Kesava Bharati|Swami Kesava Bharati]],<ref>[http://www.vedabase.net/tlc/17/en1 Teachings of Lord Chaitanya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515000756/http://vedabase.net/tlc/17/en1 |date=15 May 2015 }} "They were surprised to see Lord Chaitanya after He accepted his sannyasa order from Kesava Bharati"</ref> Chaitanya journeyed throughout the length and breadth of India for several years, chanting the divine names of Krishna constantly. At that time He travelled on foot covering a lot of places like [[Baranagar, Murshidabad|Baranagar]], [[Mahisagar district|Mahinagar]], Atisara and, at last, [[Chhatrabhog]]. [[Chhatrabhog]] is the place where [[Ganga (goddess)|Goddess Ganga]] and [[Shiva]] met, then one hundred mouths of [[Ganges|Ganga]] were visible from here. From the source of [[Vrindavana Dasa Thakura|Vrindavana Dasa]]'s ''[[Chaitanya Bhagavata]]'', he bathed at [[Ambulinga Ghat]] of [[Chhatrabhog]] with intimate companions with great chorus-chanting ([[kirtan]]). After staying one night he set for [[Puri]] by boat with the help of Local Administrator Ram Chandra Khan. He spent the last 24 years of his life in [[Puri (city)|Puri]], [[Odisha]],<ref>[http://www.gaudiya.com/index.php?topic=history History of Gaudiya Vaishnavism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171749/http://gaudiya.com/index.php?topic=history |date=14 June 2018 }}. The first 6 years, he traveled extensively from Rameshavara in South India to Vrindavan in North India, sharing the message of bhakti. He is also said to have achieved major intellectual successes in converting intellectual giants of his times such as Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya and Prakashananda Saraswati to his devotional understanding of Vedanta. "Chaitanya spent the remainder of His life, another 24 years, in Jagannäth Puri in the company of some of His intimate associates, such as Svarüpa Dämodara and Rämänanda Räya"</ref> the great temple city of [[Jagannath]] in the [[Radhakanta Math]]. The [[Gajapati Kingdom|Gajapati]] king, [[Prataprudra Dev]], regarded Chaitanya as [[Krishna]]'s avatar and was an enthusiastic patron and devotee of Chaitanya's recitation ([[sankirtan|sankeertan]]) gatherings.<ref>[http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/hindu/devot/gauvai.html Gaudiya Vaishnavas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302041337/http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/hindu/devot/gauvai.html |date=2 March 2009 }} "His magnetism attracted men of great learning such as Särvabhauma Bhattächärya, the greatest authority on logic, and Shree Advaita Ächärya, leader of the Vaishnavas in Bengal, and men of power and wealth like the King of Odisha, Pratap Rudra and his minister, Rämänanda Räya..."</ref> It was during these years that Chaitanya is believed by his followers to have sunk deep into various Divine-Love trances ([[samādhi]]) and performed pastimes of [[Religious ecstasy|divine ecstasy]] ([[bhakti]]).<ref>[http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 Srimad Bhagavatam, Introduction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525203633/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 |date=25 May 2013 }} "At Puridhawm, when he [Chaitanya] entered the temple of Jagannätha, he became at once saturated with transcendental ecstasy"</ref>
Chaitanya was born in a [[Brahmin]] family as Viśvambhara Miśra aka Nimāi, the second son of Jagannātha Miśra and his wife Śacī Devī, the daughter of Nilambara Chakrabarti, both [[Brahmin]]s of [[Sylhet]] region.<ref name="Banglapedia Chaitanya">{{cite Banglapedia|article=Chaitanya, Sri|author=Stewart, Tony K}}</ref> Jagannātha Miśra's family were from the village of [[Golapganj Upazila|Dhakadakshin]] in [[Sylhet District]] (now in [[Bangladesh]]), where the ruins of their ancestral home still survive.{{Sfn|Sen|1922|p=125}}{{sfn|Nair|2007|p=87}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Valpey |first=Kenneth |title=Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online |publisher=Brill |year=2018 |editor-last=Jacobsen |editor-first=Knut A. |chapter=Caitanya |editor-last2=Basu |editor-first2=Helene |editor-last3=Malinar |editor-first3=Angelika |editor-last4=Narayanan |editor-first4=Vasudha}}</ref> Hagiographies describe his birth as a divine event and state that it predicted his future mission of propagating ''harināma saṃkīrtana'' in [[Kali Yuga]].<ref name=":0" />


[[Vrindavan]], the land of [[Radha|Radha Rani]], the “City of Temples” has more than 5000 temples to showcase the pastimes of Radha and Krishna. The essence of Vrindavan was lost over time until the 16th century, when it was rediscovered by Chaitanya. In the year 1515, Chaitanya visited Vrindavan, with the purpose of locating the lost holy places associated with Krishna's transcendent pastimes. He wandered through the different sacred forests of Vrindavan in a spiritual trance of divine love. It was believed that by His divine spiritual power, he was able to locate all the important places of Krishna's pastimes in and around [[Vrindavan]] including the seven main temples or ''sapta devalay'', which are worshiped by [[Gaudiya Vaishnavas|Vaishnavas]] in the [[ISKCON|Chaitanya tradition]] to this day.<ref>[http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 Srimad Bhagavatam (Introduction)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525203633/http://srimadbhagavatam.com/introduction/en1 |date=25 May 2013 }} "Lord Caitanya not only preached the Srimad-Bhagavatam but propagated the teachings of the [[Bhagavad Gita]] as well in the most practical way."</ref>
While still a student, his father died, and he soon married Lakṣmīpriyā. He travelled to east Bengal to become a scholar and support his family, but his wife died in his absence. He then married [[Vishnupriya|Viṣnupriyā]], the daughter of paṇḍit Sanātana Miśra. Viśhvambara, also known as Nimāi Paṇḍit, was a promising Sanskrit scholar and is said to have once defeated [[Keshav Kashmiri|Keśava Bhaṭṭa]] of the [[Nimbarka Sampradaya|Nimbārka]] school in a debate on Sanskrit prosody, an example of his "superhuman erudition".<ref name=":0" />


== Biographies ==
Around 1508-1509, he left Nabadvip for Gaya to perform [[śrāddha]], a ritual homage to his dead father. There, he met an ascetic named Īśvara Purī, who initiated him using a mantra for [[Krishna|Kr̥ṣṇa]] worship. Gaudiya texts describe that after this meeting Viśvambhara abandoned all scholarly and domestic pursuits, developing an intense desire to hear and speak about Krishna. Within a year he took a vow of ''saṃnyāsa'' (renunciation) from his guru, Keśava Bhāratī, and changed his name to Kr̥ṣṇa Caitanya. His mother then asked him to at least live in the city of Puri so that he would not be too far from Bengal.<ref name=":0" />
There are numerous biographies available from the time giving details of Chaitanya's life, the most prominent ones being the ''[[Chaitanya Charitamrita]]'' of [[Krishnadasa Kaviraja]], the earlier ''[[Chaitanya Bhagavata]]'' of [[Vrindavana Dasa]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gaudiya.com/index.php?topic=literature |title=Gaudiya Literature |access-date=26 January 2007 |archive-date=13 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813041516/http://gaudiya.com/index.php?topic=literature |url-status=live }}</ref> (both originally written in [[Bengali language|Bengali]] but now widely available in English and other languages), and the ''[[Chaitanya Mangala]]'', written by "Lochana Dasa".<ref>{{cite web |title=Lochana Dasa Thakura {{!}} Gaudiya History |url=https://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/sri-locana-dasa-thakura/ |website=gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com |access-date=22 January 2021 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027184331/http://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/sri-locana-dasa-thakura/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These works are in Bengali with some Sanskrit verses interspersed. In addition to these, there are other Sanskrit [[biographies]] composed by his contemporaries. There is also ''Caitanya Caritāmṛta Mahākavya'' by Kavi Karnapura and ''Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Carita Maha-Kavya'' by Murari Gupta.<ref>[http://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/kavi-karnapura-goswami-biography/ Caitanya Caritāmṛta Mahākavya by Kavi Karnapura] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328013239/https://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/kavi-karnapura-goswami-biography/ |date=28 March 2023 }},</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Murari_Gupta_Sri_Krsna_Caitanya_Carita_Maha_Kavya.pdf |title=Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Carita Maha-Kavya by Murari Gupta |access-date=20 June 2023 |archive-date=16 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616044111/http://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Murari_Gupta_Sri_Krsna_Caitanya_Carita_Maha_Kavya.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>


'''Works on Chaitanya:'''{{sfn|Mukherjee|1999|pp=65–66, 174, 280}}{{sfn|Manring|2005|pp=34–42, 44}}<ref>[https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/127571/14/14_chapter%206.pdf PDF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626032050/https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/127571/14/14_chapter%206.pdf |date=26 June 2020 }}.{{cite book |author-last=Mamoni |author-first=Sarma |title=History of Vaishnavite cultures in Assam and Bengal a comparative study |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/127571 |chapter=Chapter 14 |pages=253–255 |hdl=10603/127571 |quote=Note, Sarma Mamoni is a researcher at Gauhati University under Chakraborty Amalendu. }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Chaitanyamangal |title=Chaitanyamangal |access-date=24 June 2020 |archive-date=26 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626162201/http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Chaitanyamangal |url-status=live }}</ref>
After his [[Renunciate|renunciation]], Caitanya spent his time teaching Kr̥ṣṇa bhakti and engaging in communal ''saṁkīrtana''. Hagiographies describe debates with followers of [[Advaita Vedanta|Advaita Vedānta]] and other theological opponents in form of ''digvijaya'' (conquest through debate). He spent two months in Vrindavan in c. 1515, where he instructed [[Sanatana Goswami|Sanātana Gosvāmī]] and [[Rupa Goswami|Rūpa Gosvāmī]]. He spent the last two decades of his life in Puri, where his ecstatic seizures yearning for Kr̥ṣṇa and his consorts, mainly Rādhā, intensified. He died in c. 1528-1534.<ref name=":0" />


* ''Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta'' ({{c.}} 1513 or 1536–1540; Sanskrit)
==Teachings==
: By [[Murari Gupta]]. Known as a ''kadcha'' or chronicle. Chaitanya's Navadwipa ''līla'' and each ''panca-tattva'' presented as a form of the Lord. Caitanya went for the first time to Murari's house at Navadwipa. Murari's standing and reputation for learning gave his biographical materials great weight in the Vaishnava community. This ''Kadcha'' (notes) became the guiding lines for other biographers.
{{main|Gaudiya Vaishnavism#Philosophical concepts}}


* ''Kadcha'' or chronicle (Sanskrit)
The ''Śikṣāṣṭaka'' is the only work accepted to be composed by Caitanya. The poem expounds upon the subjects of ''harināmajapa'', ''saṁkīrtana'', the relationship between individual souls and Kr̥ṣṇa, devotional submission to Kr̥ṣṇa, and Caitanya's personal ''virahabhakti''. Scholars debate the extent to which Caitanya played in the development of the complex Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava theology.<ref name=":0" />
: By [[Svarupa Damodara]]. He was the personal secretary of Chaitanya. Details the life of Caitanya.


* ''Govindadaser Kadcha'' (Bengali)
According to Murari Gupta, one of Caitanya's close associates, Caitanya taught that ''[[Kirtan|kirtana]]'' (chanting God's name) is the most effective spiritual practice in the Kali Age. He first gathered the community for ''kirtana'' in Srivasa's courtyard.{{Sfn|Stewart|2010|p=102, 108}} Caitanya revealed bhakti as the primary means to approach Krishna, and he appointed the Goswamis, such as [[Srinivasa Acarya]] and [[Narottama Dasa]], to gather and compose texts explaining this devotion.{{Sfn|Stewart|2010|p=5}}
: By Govinda Dāsa who accompanied Chaitanya on his tour of Deccan. This poem describes their experiences on the journey and some imaginary events in the life of Chaitanya as well as his ideas and philosophy. It is another significant biographical work, but it was regarded as controversial because of the authenticity.


* ''[[Chaitanya Bhagavata]]'' ({{c.}} 1535 or 1546–1550; Bengali)
According to [[Dinesh Chandra Sen]]'s analysis, Caitanya's teaching is centered on ''prema'' (divine love), described in Vaishnava texts as progressing through different spiritual phases.{{Sfn|Sen|1922|p=266-276}} Sen also states that Caitanya integrated compassionate service and taught that devotion to God is higher than social distinctions, quoting Caitanya's words "The moment that you say you love God, all human beings will be your brethren; there will be no Brahmin, no Sudra".{{Sfn|Sen|1922|p=276-283}}
: By [[Vrindavana Dasa Thakura]]. Three parts: ''Adi-Khanda'', ''Mādhya-Khanda'', and ''Antya-Khanda''. Chaitanya's earlier life, activities, early movement in Navadwip.


* ''Krsna-Caitanya-caritra-mahakavya'' ({{c.}} 1535)
== Biographies ==
: By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen).
'''Works on Chaitanya:'''{{sfn|Mukherjee|1999|pp=65–66, 174, 280}}{{sfn|Manring|2005|pp=34–42, 44}}<ref>[https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/127571/14/14_chapter%206.pdf PDF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626032050/https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/127571/14/14_chapter%206.pdf |date=26 June 2020 }}.{{cite book |author-last=Mamoni |author-first=Sarma |title=History of Vaishnavite cultures in Assam and Bengal a comparative study |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/127571 |chapter=Chapter 14 |date=2015 |pages=253–255 |hdl=10603/127571 |quote=Note, Sarma Mamoni is a researcher at Gauhati University under Chakraborty Amalendu. }}</ref>


* ''Krsna-Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam'' ({{c.}} 1535 – 1570s)
* ''Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta'' ({{c.}} 1513 or 1536–1540; Sanskrit): By [[Murari Gupta]]. Known as a ''kadcha'' or chronicle. Chaitanya's Navadwipa ''līla'' and each ''panca-tattva'' presented as a form of the Lord. Caitanya went for the first time to Murari's house at Navadwipa. Murari's standing and reputation for learning gave his biographical materials great weight in the Vaishnava community. This ''Kadcha'' (notes) became the guiding lines for other biographers.
: By Kavi Karnapura. Based on Murari Gupta's ''Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta''. When Karnapura was a small child, he interacted with Chaitanya personally.


* ''Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam'' ({{c.}} 1538 or 1540 or 1572 or 1579; Sanskrit)
* ''Kadcha'' or chronicle (Sanskrit): By [[Svarupa Damodara]]. He was the personal secretary of Chaitanya. Details the life of Caitanya.
: By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen). Dramatic play in ten acts of Chaitanya's life.


* ''Caitanya-caritāmṛta-kavya'' ({{c.}} 1542 – late 1500s; Sanskrit)
* ''Govindadaser Kadcha'' (Bengali): By Govinda Dāsa who accompanied Chaitanya on his tour of Deccan. This poem describes their experiences on the journey and some imaginary events in the life of Chaitanya as well as his ideas and philosophy. It is another significant biographical work, but it was regarded as controversial because of the authenticity.
: By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen). A long biographical poem on Chaitanya's life and acts.


* ''[[Chaitanya Charitamrita|Caitanya-caritāmṛta]]'' ({{c.}} 1557 or 1580 or 1615; Bengali)
* ''[[Chaitanya Bhagavata]]'' ({{c.}} 1535 or 1546–1550; Bengali): By [[Vrindavana Dasa Thakura]]. Three parts: ''Adi-Khanda'', ''Mādhya-Khanda'', and ''Antya-Khanda''. Chaitanya's earlier life, activities, early movement in Navadwip.
: By [[Krishnadasa Kaviraja]]. Three parts: ''Adi-lila'', ''Madhya-lila'', and ''Antya-lila''. Massive authoritative composition of Chaitanya's biography and teachings. According to Manring, he draws liberally from previous writers (poets, theologians and biographers) as he deems correct, omitting Kavi Karnapura's works perceived as threatening [[Rupa Goswami|Rupa's]] authority.


* ''Caitanya-Mangala'' ({{c.}} 1560 or late 1500s; Bengali)
* ''Krsna-Caitanya-caritra-mahakavya'' ({{c.}} 1535): By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen).
: By Jayananda. Nine parts: ''Adikhanda'', ''Nadiyakhanda'', ''Vairagyakhanda'', ''Sannyaskhanda'', ''Utkalkhanda'', ''Prakashkhanda'', ''Tirthakhanda'', ''Vijaykhanda'', and ''Uttarkhanda''. Biographical poem in the form of a narrative play focused on Chaitanya's godly image. It is the only work in which his death is mentioned. Introduction mentions several previous biographers, of whom only Vrindavan is known. Written for the common people (not devotees).


* ''[[Chaitanya Mangala]]'' ({{c.}} 1560–66 or 1575)
* ''Krsna-Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam'' ({{c.}} 1535 – 1570s): By Kavi Karnapura. Based on Murari Gupta's ''Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta''. When Karnapura was a small child, he interacted with Chaitanya personally.
: By Lochana Dasa ({{aka}} Trilocan Dasa). Four parts: ''Sutrakhanda'', ''Adikhanda'', ''Madhyakhanda'', and ''Antyakhanda''. A narrative play depicting Chaitanya's childhood activities and his human side without highlighting any divine matters to make it popular. Influenced by Murari Gupta's ''Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta'' and Vrindavana Dasa Thakura's ''Chaitanya Bhagavata'' as well as the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and different ''[[Puranas]]''.


* ''Chaitanya-chandrodaya-kaumudi'' (Bengali)
* ''Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam'' ({{c.}} 1538 or 1540 or 1572 or 1579; Sanskrit): By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen). Dramatic play in ten acts of Chaitanya's life.
: By Premadas (Purushottam Mishra). A verse adaptation to Kavi Karnapura's ''Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam'' drama.


* ''Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika'' ({{c.}} 1576)
* ''Caitanya-caritāmṛta-kavya'' ({{c.}} 1542 – late 1500s; Sanskrit): By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen). A long biographical poem on Chaitanya's life and acts.
: By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen).


* ''Chaitanya-samhita'' (Bengali)
* ''[[Chaitanya Charitamrita|Caitanya-caritāmṛta]]'' ({{c.}} 1557 or 1580 or 1615; Bengali): By [[Krishnadasa Kaviraja]]. Three parts: ''Adi-lila'', ''Madhya-lila'', and ''Antya-lila''. Massive authoritative composition of Chaitanya's biography and teachings. According to Manring, he draws liberally from previous writers (poets, theologians and biographers) as he deems correct, omitting Kavi Karnapura's works perceived as threatening [[Rupa Goswami|Rupa's]] authority.
: By Bhagirath Bandhu. Work follows the tradition of agama or tantric texts in its presentation as a story told by Shiva to his spouse.


* ''Chaitanya-vilasa'' ({{c.}} 1500s; Odia)
* ''Caitanya-Mangala'' ({{c.}} 1560 or late 1500s; Bengali): By Jayananda. Nine parts: ''Adikhanda'', ''Nadiyakhanda'', ''Vairagyakhanda'', ''Sannyaskhanda'', ''Utkalkhanda'', ''Prakashkhanda'', ''Tirthakhanda'', ''Vijaykhanda'', and ''Uttarkhanda''. Biographical poem in the form of a narrative play focused on Chaitanya's godly image. It is the only work in which his death is mentioned. Introduction mentions several previous biographers, of whom only Vrindavan is known. Written for the common people (not devotees).
: By Madhava Dasa. A short poetical work in ten sections dealing with the life of Chaitanya. The poet probably came into contact with the saint when the latter came to Puri.


* ''Gauranga-vijay'' ({{c.}} 1500s)
* ''[[Chaitanya Mangala]]'' ({{c.}} 1560–66 or 1575): By Lochana Dasa ({{aka}} Trilocan Dasa). Four parts: ''Sutrakhanda'', ''Adikhanda'', ''Madhyakhanda'', and ''Antyakhanda''. A narrative play depicting Chaitanya's childhood activities and his human side without highlighting any divine matters to make it popular. Influenced by Murari Gupta's ''Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta'' and Vrindavana Dasa Thakura's ''Chaitanya Bhagavata'' as well as the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and different ''[[Puranas]]''.
: By Chundamani dasa. Biographical epic, believed to have been written in three volumes, only part of the first volume still exists. It contains some information about Chaitanya, Nityananda and Madhavendra Puri not found elsewhere.


* ''Sriman-mahaprabhor-asta-kaliya-lila-smarana-mangala-stotram'' ({{c.}} late 1600s; Sanskrit)
* ''Chaitanya-chandrodaya-kaumudi'' (Bengali): By Premadas (Purushottam Mishra). A verse adaptation to Kavi Karnapura's ''Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam'' drama.
: By [[Visvanatha Chakravarti]]. Eleven ''sutras'' (seed verses) describing the eternal eight-fold daily pastimes of the fair-complexioned Lord.


* ''Sri Gauranga-Lilamrta'' ({{c.}} late 1600s – 1700s; Bengali)
* ''Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika'' ({{c.}} 1576): By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen).
: By Krishna Dasa (disciple of Visvanatha Chakravarti). Expounded on his guru's eleven ''sutras'', often quoting verses from Vrindavana Dasa Thakura's ''Chaitanya Bhagavata'', plus songs by Narahari Ghanashyama (author of Bhakti-Ratnakara) and Lochana Dasa (author of Chaitanya-Mangala).


* ''Caitanya-upanisad''
* ''Chaitanya-samhita'' (Bengali): By Bhagirath Bandhu. Work follows the tradition of agama or tantric texts in its presentation as a story told by Shiva to his spouse.
: A book that is a part of the ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' which offers overwhelming evidence of Lord Caitanya's identity as the Supreme Lord and ''Yuga Avatara''.


* ''[[Chaitanya Charitamrita|Sri Caitanya-caranamrta Bhasva]]'' (1887)
* ''Chaitanya-vilasa'' ({{c.}} 1500s; Odia): By Madhava Dasa. A short poetical work in ten sections dealing with the life of Chaitanya. The poet probably came into contact with the saint when the latter came to Puri.
: By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Commentary on an original handwritten manuscript of the ''Caitanya-upanisad'' from one pandita, Madhusudana Maharaja, of Sambala-Pura.


* ''Amrita-pravaha-bhashya'' ({{c.}} late 1800s – early 1900s; Sanskrit)
* ''Gauranga-vijay'' ({{c.}} 1500s): By Chundamani dasa. Biographical epic, believed to have been written in three volumes, only part of the first volume still exists. It contains some information about Chaitanya, Nityananda and Madhavendra Puri not found elsewhere.
: By [[Bhaktivinoda Thakur]]. Commentary on ''Caitanya-upanisad''.


* ''[[Chaitanya Charitamrita|Anubhāsya]]'' (1915)
* ''Sriman-mahaprabhor-asta-kaliya-lila-smarana-mangala-stotram'' ({{c.}} late 1600s; Sanskrit): By [[Visvanatha Chakravarti]]. Eleven ''sutras'' (seed verses) describing the eternal eight-fold daily pastimes of the fair-complexioned Lord.
: By [[Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati]]. Commentary on Krishnadasa Kaviraja's ''Caitanya-caritāmṛta''


* ''[[Chaitanya Charitamrita|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]]'' (1974; English)
* ''Sri Gauranga-Lilamrta'' ({{c.}} late 1600s – 1700s; Bengali): By Krishna Dasa (disciple of Visvanatha Chakravarti). Expounded on his guru's eleven ''sutras'', often quoting verses from Vrindavana Dasa Thakura's ''Chaitanya Bhagavata'', plus songs by Narahari Ghanashyama (author of Bhakti-Ratnakara) and Lochana Dasa (author of Chaitanya-Mangala).
: By [[A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada|A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami]] in English with original Bengali and Sanskrit. Commentary on Krishnadasa Kaviraja's ''Caitanya-caritāmṛta'', based on Bhaktivinoda Thakur's ''Amrita-pravaha-bhashya'' and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's ''Anubhāsya'' commentaries.


* ''[[Krishna-Chaitanya, His Life and His Teachings (book)|Krishna-Caitanya, His Life and His Teachings]]'' (2014; English; {{ISBN|978-91-981318-1-9}})                         
* ''Caitanya-upanisad:'' A book that is a part of the ''[[Atharvaveda]]'' which offers overwhelming evidence of Chaitanya's identity as the Supreme Lord and ''Yuga Avatara''.
: By [[Walther Eidlitz]], originally written in German - ''Kṛṣṇa-Caitanya: sein Leben und seine Lehre,'' and published by [https://libris.kb.se/bib/650114?tab2=subj Stockholm University], 1968, as a part of the scientific series "Stockholm studies in comparative religion".


==Identity==
* ''[[Chaitanya Charitamrita|Sri Caitanya-caranamrta Bhasva]]'' (1887): By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Commentary on an original handwritten manuscript of the ''Caitanya-upanisad'' from one pandita, Madhusudana Maharaja, of Sambala-Pura.
According to the hagiographies of 16th-century authors, on a number of occasions he exhibited his [[Vishvarupa|Universal Form]] in the same way that [[Lord Krishna]] had, notably to [[Advaita Ācārya]] and [[Nityānanda Prabhu]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://vedabase.com/en/cc/adi/17/10/ |title=CC ''Adi-lila'' 17.10 |access-date=13 October 2014 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312092802/http://www.vedabase.com/en/cc/adi/17/10/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Chaitanya Bhagavata ''Ādi-khaṇḍa'' 1.122</ref><ref>Chaitanya Bhagavata, ''Madhya-khaṇḍa'' 24</ref>


When [[Rupa Goswami]] first met the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, he saw the divinity in him and composed the following verse:
* ''Amrita-pravaha-bhashya'' ({{c.}} late 1800s – early 1900s; Sanskrit): By [[Bhaktivinoda Thakur]]. Commentary on ''Caitanya-upanisad''.
<blockquote>
"O most munificent incarnation! You are Krishna Himself appearing as Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. You have assumed the golden colour of Srimati Radharani, and You are widely distributing pure love of Krishna. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You."<ref>{{cite web |title=CC Madhya 19.53 |url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/19/53/ |website=vedabase.io |access-date=22 January 2021 |language=en |archive-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309170721/https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/19/53/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
</blockquote>


The evidence for the belief that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is an incarnation of [[Lord Krishna]] is found in the [[Srimad Bhagavatam]]:
* ''[[Chaitanya Charitamrita|Anubhāsya]]'' (1915): By [[Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati]]. Commentary on Krishnadasa Kaviraja's ''Caitanya-caritāmṛta''


{{blockquote|In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛṣṇa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kṛṣṇa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.|source=Canto 11, Chapter 5, Verse 32<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/11/5/32/|title=ŚB 11.5.32|website=vedabase.io|language=en|access-date=24 February 2020|archive-date=21 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221003543/https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/11/5/32/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
* ''[[Chaitanya Charitamrita|Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta]]'' (1974; English): By [[A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada|A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami]] in English with original Bengali and Sanskrit. Commentary on Krishnadasa Kaviraja's ''Caitanya-caritāmṛta'', based on Bhaktivinoda Thakur's ''Amrita-pravaha-bhashya'' and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's ''Anubhāsya'' commentaries.


{{blockquote|In this way, my Lord, You appear in various incarnations as a human being, an animal, a great saint, a demigod, a fish or a tortoise, thus maintaining the entire creation in different planetary systems and killing the demoniac principles. According to the age, O my Lord, You protect the principles of religion. In the Age of Kali, however, You do not assert Yourself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore You are known as Triyuga, or the Lord who appears in three yugas.|source=Canto 7, Chapter 9, Verse 38<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/7/9/38/|title=ŚB 7.9.38|website=vedabase.io|language=en|access-date=2019-11-15|archive-date=16 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616043214/https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/7/9/38/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
* ''[[Krishna-Chaitanya, His Life and His Teachings (book)|Krishna-Caitanya, His Life and His Teachings]]'' (2014; English; {{ISBN|978-91-981318-1-9}}): By [[Walther Eidlitz]], originally written in German - ''Kṛṣṇa-Caitanya: sein Leben und seine Lehre,'' and published by [https://libris.kb.se/bib/650114?tab2=subj Stockholm University], 1968, as a part of the scientific series "Stockholm studies in comparative religion".
 
==Cultural legacy==
Also in some other Scriptures like [[Vishnu Sahasranama]], [[Bhavishya Purana]], [[Padma Purana]] and [[Garuda Purana]] there are references of Chaitanaya Mahaprabhu being an incarnation of Krishna. Evidence such as the Krishna-varnam verse SB 11.5.32 have many interpretations by scholars, including  Sridhara Svami who is accepted as an authority by Mahaprabhu himself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jiva.org/sri-gadadhara-panditas-role-in-the-gaudiya-sampradaya/|title=Faith in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as Krishna|website=jiva.org|date=10 March 2013|language=en|access-date=10 March 2013|archive-date=29 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229123700/http://www.jiva.org/sri-gadadhara-panditas-role-in-the-gaudiya-sampradaya/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{See also|Bengal Renaissance}}
 
Chaitanya has influenced the cultural legacy in [[Bengal]], [[Odisha]] and [[Manipur]],{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}} with many residents performing daily worship to him as an avatar of Krishna. Some attribute to him a Renaissance in Bengal,{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}} different from the more well-known 19th-century [[Bengal Renaissance]]. Salimullah Khan (b. 1958), a noted Bangladeshi linguist, maintains, "Sixteenth-century is the time of Chaitanya Dev, and it is the beginning of Modernism in Bengal. The concept of 'humanity' that came into fruition is contemporaneous with that of Europe".{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}
[[Gaudiya Vaishnavism|Gaudiya Vaishnavas]] consider Chaitanya to be Lord Krishna himself but appearing in the covered form (''channa avatāra'') who appeared in the [[Kali Yuga]] as his own devotee to show the easiest way to achieve Krishna Consciousness.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CQiBgAAQBAJ&q=the+hidden+incarnation&pg=PT9|title=The Golden Volcano of Divine Love: The Highest Conception of Ultimate Reality|last=Sridhar|first=Bhakti Rakshak|publisher=Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math|pages=36|language=en}}</ref> The Gaudiya Vaishnava acharya Bhaktivinoda Thakura also became aware of the rare manuscript known as the Chaitanya Upanisad of the Atharvaveda section, which reveals the identity of Chaitanya.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sri Chaitanya in the Vedas {{!}} Krishna.com |url=http://www.krishna.com/sri-chaitanya-vedas |website=www.krishna.com |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=23 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923064711/http://www.krishna.com/sri-chaitanya-vedas |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
==Teachings==
{{main|Gaudiya Vaishnavism#Philosophical concepts}}
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
Chaitanya sankirtan.jpg|Chaitanya and [[Nityananda]] are shown performing a '[[kirtan]]' in the streets of Nabadwip, Bengal.
Panca-tattva Altar.jpg|[[Pancha Tattva (Vaishnavism)|Pancha Tattva]] deities installed on a [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] altar. From left to right: [[Advaita Acharya]], [[Nityananda]], Chaitanya, [[Gadadhara Pandita]], [[Srivasa Thakura|Srivasa]].
Mahaprabhu 103.jpg|Deity of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
</gallery>
Lord Chaitanya's direct teachings are recorded in Sanskrit verses called [[Siksastakam]] (though, in [[Vaishnava Padavali]] it is said: "Chaitanya himself wrote many songs on the Radha-Krishna theme").


Chaitanya's epistemological, theological and ontological teachings are summarised as ten root principles called dasa mula.<ref>Thakura, B. (1993). Jaiva dharma: The universal religion (K. Das, Trans.). Los Angeles, CA: Krishna Institute.</ref>
Noted Bengali biographical film on Chaitanya, ''[[Nilachaley Mahaprabhu]]'' (1957), was directed by Kartik Chattopadhyay (1912–1989).<ref name="SurGoswami1999">{{cite book|last1=Sur|first1=Ansu|last2=Goswami|first2=Abhijit|title=Bengali Film Directory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R-hkAAAAMAAJ|page=96|year=1999|publisher=Nandan, West Bengal Film Centre}}</ref> A Bengali film based on Chaitanya's demise, ''[[Lawho Gouranger Naam Rey]]'' (2025), is directed by [[Srijit Mukherji]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Shamayita |title=Parambrata to play Gourango in Srijit's next; will also sing in the film |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/parambrata-to-play-gourango-in-srijits-next-will-also-sing-in-the-film/articleshow/84485145.cms |access-date=31 March 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=16 July 2021 |language=en |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331172159/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/parambrata-to-play-gourango-in-srijits-next-will-also-sing-in-the-film/articleshow/84485145.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>


# The statements of ''amnaya'' (scripture) are the chief proof. By these statements the following nine topics are taught.
== Image gallery ==
# Krishna is the Supreme Absolute Truth.<ref>{{cite news |title=Krishna is the absolute truth |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/spirituality/2018/apr/21/krishna-is-the-absolute-truth-1803769.html |access-date=5 November 2020 |work=The New Indian Express |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807221732/https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/spirituality/2018/apr/21/krishna-is-the-absolute-truth-1803769.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
<gallery widths="200" heights="200" mode="packed">
# Krishna is endowed with all energies.
File:Chaitanya dances with followers.jpg|Kisangarh painting of Chaitanya dancing in a puddle of his own tears, surrounded by followers, c. 1750.
# Krishna is the source of all [[rasa (theology)|rasa]]- flavor, quality, or spiritual rapture/emotions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Relationships with Krishna, see also Rasas {{!}} Krishna.com |url=http://www.krishna.com/topic-term/relationships-krishna-see-also-rasas |website=www.krishna.com |access-date=5 November 2020 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111052407/http://www.krishna.com/topic-term/relationships-krishna-see-also-rasas |url-status=live }}</ref>
File:Chaitanya with dog - Indian Museum, Kolkata R.14277 S.223.jpg|Chaitanya with a dog, Murshidabad, 19th century CE
# The [[jiva]]s (individual souls) are all separated parts of the Lord.
File:Yogapith, Mayapur.jpg|alt=A white ornate structure with a pyramidal pointed dome standing on the bank of a pond and surrounded by trees|Yogapith temple at Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthsite established in the 1880s by [[Bhaktivinoda Thakur]] in [[Mayapur]], [[West Bengal]]
# In the bound state (non-liberated) the ''jivas'' are under the influence of matter, due to their [[tatastha]] (marginal) nature.
File:Chaitanya sankirtan.jpg|Nineteenth century lithograph by Calcutta Art Studio of Caitanya and [[Nityananda|Nityānanda]] performing a ''[[kirtan]]'' in the streets of Nabadwip, Bengal.
# In the liberated state the ''jivas'' are free from the influence of matter.
File:Chaitanya Deva listening to the Bhagabata - History of Bengali Language and Literature.png|Pratap Rudra bowing to Chaitanya, an early 20th century print copy of a painting held by the family of [[Maharaja Nandakumar]], Zamindars of Kunjaghata
# The ''jivas'' and the material world are both different from and identical to the Lord.
File:Idols of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Jagannath, Balarama, Subhadra and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (ISKCON Mayapur) in Mayapur, Nadia, West Bengal, India.jpg|Deities of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Jagannath, Balarama, Subhadra and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (in middle), at the ISKCON Durgapur Temple.
# Pure devotion is the only way to attain liberation.<ref>{{cite web |title="The Only Way To Understand God" BY SRILA PRABHUPADA . |url=https://iskcondesiretree.com/groups/India/forum/the-only-way-to-understand-god-2 |website=ISKCON Desire Tree {{!}} IDT |access-date=5 November 2020 |date=11 April 2011 |archive-date=22 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922181817/https://iskcondesiretree.com/groups/India/forum/the-only-way-to-understand-god-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
# Pure love of Krishna is the ultimate goal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ultimate Goal of Life {{!}} Krishna.com |url=http://www.krishna.com/taxonomy/term/104 |website=www.krishna.com |access-date=5 November 2020 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111022702/http://www.krishna.com/taxonomy/term/104 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
চৈতন্য মহাপ্রভু.jpg|60 feet Chaitanya Mahaprabhu statue in [[Nabadwip]].
Gauranga mahaprabhu.jpg|Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Prachin Mayapur, [[Nabadwip]].
Idols of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Jagannath, Balarama, Subhadra and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (ISKCON Mayapur) in Mayapur, Nadia, West Bengal, India.jpg|Idols of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Jagannath, Balarama, Subhadra and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (in middle), at the [[Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, Mayapur|Temple of the Vedic Planetarium]] (ISKCON Mayapur) in [[Mayapur]].
Gaura Nitai shrine at ISKCON temple, Delhi.jpg|''Gaura Nitai'' shrine at [[ISKCON Temple Delhi]].
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Philosophy and tradition==
{{more citations needed section|date=July 2015}}
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is said to be a disciple of Isvara Puri who was a disciple of Madhavendra Puri who was a disciple of Lakshmipati Tirtha who was a disciple of [[Vyasatirtha]](1469-1539) of Madhvacharya's Sampradaya.<ref>[https://gaudiya.com/pdf/Is_the_Gaudiya_Vaishnava_sampradaya_connected_to_the_Madhva_line.pdf Connection between Gaudiya and Madhva Sampradayas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903203259/https://gaudiya.com/pdf/Is_the_Gaudiya_Vaishnava_sampradaya_connected_to_the_Madhva_line.pdf |date=3 September 2021 }}(pdf)</ref> Despite having been [[initiation|initiated]] in the [[Madhvacharya]] tradition and taking sannyasa from [[Adi Shankara|Shankara]]'s tradition, Chaitanya's philosophy is sometimes regarded as a tradition of his own within the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava framework]] – having some marked differences with the practices and the [[theology]] of other followers of Madhvacharya. He took Mantra Upadesa from Isvara Puri and Sanyasa Diksha from Keshava Bharati.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gaudiya History Skip to content |url=https://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/tag/isvara-puri/ |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505223517/https://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/tag/isvara-puri/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Chaitanya is not known to have written anything himself except for a series of verses known as the ''[[Siksastaka]]'', or "eight verses of instruction",<ref>{{cite web |title=Shikshashtakam Overview and flow of the ashtakam {{!}} The Spiritual Scientist |url=https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2016/09/shikshashtakam-1-overview-and-flow-of-the-ashtakam/ |website=thespiritualscientist.com |access-date=22 January 2021 |archive-date=7 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307215047/https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2016/09/shikshashtakam-1-overview-and-flow-of-the-ashtakam/ |url-status=live }}</ref> which he had spoken, and were recorded by one of his close colleagues. The eight verses created by Chaitanya are considered to contain the complete philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in condensed form. Chaitanya requested a select few among his followers (who later came to be known as the [[Six Gosvamis of Vrindavan]]) to systematically present the theology of bhakti he had taught to them in their own writings.<ref>[http://www.gaudiya.com/index.php?topic=history History of Gaudiya Vaishnavism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171749/http://gaudiya.com/index.php?topic=history |date=14 June 2018 }} "He requested ... the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, to systematically present ... the theology of bhakti he had taught"</ref> The six saints and theologians were [[Rupa Goswami]], [[Sanatana Goswami]], [[Gopala Bhatta Goswami]], [[Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami]], [[Raghunatha Dasa Goswami]] and [[Jiva Goswami]], a nephew of brothers Rupa and Sanatana. These individuals were responsible for systematising Gaudiya Vaishnava theology.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 6 Goswamis |url=http://www.krishna.com/info/six-goswamis |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023000910/http://krishna.com/info/six-goswamis |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[Narottama Dasa]], Srinivasa Acharya and Shyamananda Mandal were among the stalwarts of the second generation of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Having studied under Jiva Goswami, they were instrumental in propagating the teachings of the Goswamis throughout Bengal, [[Odisha]] and other regions of Eastern India. Many among their associates, such as Ramacandra Kaviraja and Ganga Narayan Chakravarti, were also eminent teachers in their own right.<ref>[http://www.dharmakshetra.com/sages/Saints/lilas%20of%20narotamma%20das.html Narottama Dasa Thakur: Biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510120845/http://www.dharmakshetra.com/sages/Saints/lilas%20of%20narotamma%20das.html |date=10 May 2015 }}</ref>
In the early 17th century Kalachand Vidyalankar, a disciple of Chaitanya, made his preachings popular in Bengal. He travelled throughout India popularising the gospel of anti-untouchability, social justice and mass education. He probably initiated 'Pankti Bhojon' and Krishna Sankirtan in the eastern part of Bengal. Several schools (sampradaya) have been practising it for hundreds of years. Geetashree Chabi Bandyopadhyay and Radharani Devi are among many who achieved fame by singing kirtan. The Dalits in Bengal, at that time a neglected and underprivileged caste, readily accepted his libertarian outlook and embraced the doctrine of Mahaprabhu. His disciples were known as Kalachandi Sampraday, who inspired the people to eradicate illiteracy and casteism. Many consider Kalachand as the Father of Rationalism in East Bengal (Purba Banga).{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}
The festival of Kheturi, presided over by Jahnava Thakurani,<ref>[http://www.iskcon.net/nityananda/nitaibio4.htm Festival of Kheturi] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051122094841/http://www.iskcon.net/nityananda/nitaibio4.htm |date=22 November 2005 }}</ref> the wife of [[Nityananda]], was the first time the leaders of the various branches of Chaitanya's followers assembled together. Through such festivals, members of the loosely organised tradition became acquainted with other branches along with their respective theological and practical nuances.<ref>[http://www.gaudiya.com/pdf/Charismatic_Renewal_in_Gaudiya_Vaishnavism.pdf Charismatic Renewal in Gaudiya Vaishnavism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916111952/http://www.gaudiya.com/pdf/Charismatic_Renewal_in_Gaudiya_Vaishnavism.pdf |date=16 September 2009 }} (pdf)</ref> Around these times, the disciples and descendants of Nityananda and [[Advaita Acharya]], headed by Virabhadra and Krishna respectively, started their family lineages (''vamsa'') to maintain the tradition. The ''vamsa'' descending from Nityananda through his son Virabhadra forms the most prominent branch of the modern Gaudiya tradition, though descendants of Advaita, along with the descendants of many other associates of Chaitanya, maintain their following especially in the rural areas of Bengal. Gopala Guru Goswami, a young associate of Chaitanya and a follower of Vakresvara Pandit, founded another branch based in Odisha. The writings of Gopala, along with those of his disciple Dhyanacandra Goswami, have had a substantial influence on the methods of internal worship in the tradition.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}
From the very beginning of Chaitanya's ''[[bhakti]]'' movement in Bengal, [[Haridasa Thakur]] and others, Muslim or [[Hindu]] by birth, were participants. [[Ramakrishna|Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa]], the great sage of [[Dakshineswar]], who lived in the 19th century, emphasised the bhakti marga of Chaitanya, whom he referred to as "Gauranga." (''[[The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna]]''). This openness received a boost from [[Bhaktivinoda Thakura]]'s broad-minded vision in the late 19th century and was institutionalised by [[Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati]] in his [[Gaudiya Matha]] in the 20th century.{{sfn|Sherbow|2004|p=138}}
In the 20th century the teachings of Chaitanya were brought to the West. For the first time, by  Baba Premananda Bharati (1858–1914),{{sfn|Carney|2020|pp=135–136}} author of ''Sree Krishna—the Lord of Love'' (1904)—the first full-length treatment of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in English,{{sfn|Carney|2020|p=140}} who founded in 1902 the short-lived "Krishna Samaj" society in [[New York City]] and built a temple in Los Angeles.{{sfn|Carney|2020|p=152}}{{sfn|Jones|Ryan|2007|pp=79–80|loc=Baba Premanand Bharati}} He belonged to the circle of guru [[Prabhu Jagadbandhu]]{{sfn|Carney|2020|pp=140–143}} with teachings similar to the later [[ISKCON]] mission.{{sfn|Jones|Ryan|2007|pp=79–80|loc=Baba Premanand Bharati}} His followers later formed several organizations, including now defunct the Order of Living Service and the AUM Temple of Universal Truth.{{sfn|Jones|Ryan|2007|pp=79–80|loc=Baba Premanand Bharati}} Another prominent missionary was [[A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami|A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada]] (1896-1977), a representative of the Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati branch of Chaitanya's tradition. Prabhupada founded his movement known as [[The International Society for Krishna Consciousness]] (ISKCON) to spread Chaitanya's teachings throughout the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Hare Krishna Movement {{!}} Krishna.com |url=http://www.krishna.com/history-hare-krishna-movement-0 |website=www.krishna.com |access-date=22 January 2021 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124195422/http://krishna.com/history-hare-krishna-movement-0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Saraswata gurus and acharyas, members of the Goswami lineages and several other Hindu sects which revere Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, including devotees from the major Vaishnava holy places in [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]] District, West Bengal and Odisha, also established temples dedicated to Krishna and Chaitanya outside India in the closing decades of the 20th century. In the 21st century, Vaishnava bhakti is now also being studied through the academic medium of [[Krishnology]] in a number of academic institutions.<ref>[http://www.did-you-mean.com/Krishnology.html Krishnology (definition)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205182516/http://www.did-you-mean.com/Krishnology.html |date=5 February 2012 }}</ref>
==Cultural legacy==
{{See also|Bengal Renaissance}}
Chaitanya's influence on the cultural legacy in [[Bengal]], [[Odisha]] and [[Manipur]], has been significant,<ref>{{cite web |title=Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu |url=http://www.krishna.com/who-lord-chaitanya |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=7 June 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020607045307/http://www.krishna.com/printarticles/Lord_Chaitanya.html |url-status=live }}</ref> with many residents performing daily worship to him as an avatar of Krishna. Some attribute to him a Renaissance in Bengal,<ref>[http://www.bengal-studies-conference.org/ Bengal Studies Conference] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217014530/http://bengal-studies-conference.org/ |date=17 December 2014 }} "History says that the Bengali people experienced the renaissance: not only once but also twice in the course of history. Bengalis witnessed the first renaissance in the 16th century when Hossain Shah and Sri Chaitanya’s idealism influenced a sect of the upper literal class of people"</ref> different from the more well-known 19th-century [[Bengal Renaissance]]. Salimullah Khan (b. 1958), a noted Bangladeshi linguist, maintains, "Sixteenth-century is the time of Chaitanya Dev, and it is the beginning of Modernism in Bengal. The concept of 'humanity' that came into fruition is contemporaneous with that of Europe".<ref>{{cite web |title=Chaitanya Mahaprabhu |url=https://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/caitanya-mahaprabhu/ |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=17 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117000851/http://gaudiyahistory.iskcondesiretree.com/caitanya-mahaprabhu/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Noted Bengali biographical film on Chaitanya, ''[[Nilachaley Mahaprabhu]]'' (1957), was directed by Kartik Chattopadhyay (1912–1989).<ref name="SurGoswami1999">{{cite book|last1=Sur|first1=Ansu|last2=Goswami|first2=Abhijit|title=Bengali Film Directory|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R-hkAAAAMAAJ|page=96|year=1999|publisher=Nandan, West Bengal Film Centre}}</ref> A Bengali film based on Chaitanya's demise, ''Lawho Gouranger Naam Re'', will be directed by [[Srijit Mukherji]] where [[Parambrata Chatterjee]] will be seen portraying Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Shamayita |title=Parambrata to play Gourango in Srijit's next; will also sing in the film |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/parambrata-to-play-gourango-in-srijits-next-will-also-sing-in-the-film/articleshow/84485145.cms |access-date=31 March 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=16 July 2021 |language=en |archive-date=31 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331172159/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/parambrata-to-play-gourango-in-srijits-next-will-also-sing-in-the-film/articleshow/84485145.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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===Works cited===
== Sources ==
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  |pages=135–160
  |isbn=978-1-138-56179-3
  |isbn=978-1-138-56179-3
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  }}
  }}
* {{cite book |last=Dasa|first=Satyanarayana|year=2007 |chapter=The Six Sandharbhas of Jiva Gosvami |title=Krishna: A Sourcebook|pages=373–408 |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |isbn= 978-0-19-514891-6|url=https://ia903407.us.archive.org/5/items/Pushtimarg/Bryant_Edwin_F._%28editor%29_-_Krishna__A_Sourcebook.pdf}}
* {{cite book |last=Delmonico |first=Neal|year=2007 |chapter=Chaitanya Vaishnavism and the Holy Names|title=Krishna: A Sourcebook|pages=549–575 |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |isbn= 978-0-19-514891-6|url=https://ia903407.us.archive.org/5/items/Pushtimarg/Bryant_Edwin_F._%28editor%29_-_Krishna__A_Sourcebook.pdf}}
* {{cite book|last=Gupta|first=Ravi M.|year=2007|title=The Caitanya Vaisnava Vedanta of Jiva Gosvami: When knowledge meets devotion|url=https://a91d4da009214563389d-2291296bddf53d3482c090e6456303db.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/TheChaitanyaVaishnavaVedanta1464788607923.pdf|publisher=Routledge|isbn= 978-0-415-40548-5}}
* {{cite encyclopedia
* {{cite encyclopedia
  |last1=Jones |first1=Constance A.
  |last1=Jones |first1=Constance A.
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  |publisher=[[Infobase Publishing|Facts On File]]
  |publisher=[[Infobase Publishing|Facts On File]]
  |isbn=978-0-8160-5458-9
  |isbn=978-0-8160-5458-9
|ref=None
  }}
  }}
*{{cite web |url=https://bhaktitattva.com/2022/06/29/sri-jiva-goswami-coins-the-term-acintya-bheda-abheda/ |title=Śrī Jīva Goswami coins the term 'acintya bheda-abheda' |author=Krsna Dasa, T. |date=June 29, 2022 |website=The Krishna Bhakti site |publisher= |access-date=July 25, 2025 |quote=}}
*{{citation
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|first = Narendra
|author-link = Narendra Modi
|title = PM addresses program marking 150th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada Ji
|date = 8 February 2024
|url = https://www.narendramodi.in/prime-minister-narendra-modi-addresses-programme-on-150th-anniversary-of-srila-prabhupada-ji-at-bharat-mandapam-579097
|access-date = 15 February 2024
|ref=None
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* {{cite book
* {{cite book
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  |last=Manring |first=Rebecca J.
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  |isbn=0-231-12954-8
  |isbn=0-231-12954-8
  }}
  }}
* {{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Dinesh Chandra |url=http://archive.org/details/chaitanyahisage00senduoft |title=Chaitanya and his age |date=1922 |publisher=Calcutta, Univ. of Calcutta |others=Robarts - University of Toronto}}
* {{cite book
* {{cite book
  |last=Mukherjee |first=Sujit
  |last=Mukherjee |first=Sujit
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  |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]
  |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]
  |isbn=0-231-12256-X
  |isbn=0-231-12256-X
|ref=None
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  }}
* {{Cite book |last=Stewart |first=Tony K. |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/32857 |title=The Final Word: The Caitanya Caritamrita and the Grammar of Religious Tradition |date=2010-03-01 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-539272-2 |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195392722.001.0001}}


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}}
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==Further reading==
==Further reading==
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  |last=Sarkar |first=Jadunath |author-link=Jadunath Sarkar
  |last=Sarkar |first=Jadunath |author-link=Jadunath Sarkar
  |year=1913
  |year=1913
  |title=Chaitanya's Pilgrimages and Teachings - From his contemporary Begali biography the Chaitanya-charit-amrita: Madhya-lila
  |title=Chaitanya's Pilgrimages and Teachings - From his contemporary Bengali biography the Chaitanya-charit-amrita: Madhya-lila
  |url=https://archive.org/details/chaitanyaspilgri018817mbp/page/n1/mode/2up
  |url=https://archive.org/details/chaitanyaspilgri018817mbp/page/n1/mode/2up
  |location=Calcutta
  |location=Calcutta
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{{Sister project links|Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|display=Chaitanya Mahaprabhu|wikt=no|v=no|voy=no|n=no|b=no|author=no|d=Q870262}}
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* {{Internet Archive author}}
* {{Internet Archive author|name=Chaitanya}}
* {{Internet Archive author|name=Chaitanya}}
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* [http://www.CauseOfAllCauses.com/upanisad.htm Caitanya Upanisad]
* [http://www.CauseOfAllCauses.com/upanisad.htm Caitanya Upanisad]
* [http://www.CauseOfAllCauses.com/bhagavat.htm Caitanya Bhagavata Biography]
* [http://www.CauseOfAllCauses.com/bhagavat.htm Caitanya Bhagavata Biography]
* [http://www.gaudiya.com/ Gaudiya Vaishnavism – The Tradition of Chaitanya]
* [http://www.purebhakti.com/mission/bhakti-is-love-mainmenu-75/799-life-of-sri-chaitanya-mahaprabhu.html Life of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712011418/http://www.purebhakti.com/mission/bhakti-is-love-mainmenu-75/799-life-of-sri-chaitanya-mahaprabhu.html |date=12 July 2018 }}
* [http://www.purebhakti.com/mission/bhakti-is-love-mainmenu-75/799-life-of-sri-chaitanya-mahaprabhu.html Life of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]
* [http://veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/caitanya.htm Scriptural Statements/Predictions regarding Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birth]
* [http://veda.harekrsna.cz/encyclopedia/caitanya.htm Scriptural Statements/Predictions regarding Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birth]
* [http://hpb.narod.ru/SreeChaitanyaHWBM.html Lord Gouranga and His Message of Devotion] (theosophical.ca)
* [http://hpb.narod.ru/SreeChaitanyaHWBM.html Lord Gouranga and His Message of Devotion] (theosophical.ca)
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* [https://learn.culturalindia.net/chaitanya-mahaprabhu.html at ''Chaitaniya mahaprabhu biography'']
* [https://learn.culturalindia.net/chaitanya-mahaprabhu.html at ''Chaitaniya mahaprabhu biography'']
* [https://www.thegaudiyatreasuresofbengal.com/2020/06/21/who-is-lord-chaitanya-the-hare-krishna-movement/ Who is Lord Chaitanya?]
* [https://www.thegaudiyatreasuresofbengal.com/2020/06/21/who-is-lord-chaitanya-the-hare-krishna-movement/ Who is Lord Chaitanya?]
* [https://medium.com/@vaishnav_milan_mandali/scriptural-references-to-sri-chaitanya-mahaprabhu-being-avataar-of-sri-krishna-e733a323db12 Scriptural References To Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu being Avataar of Sri Krishna]


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{{Caitanya sampradaya}}
 
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahaprabhu, Chaitanya}}
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[[Category:Chaitanya Mahaprabhu| ]]
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[[Category:1486 births]]
[[Category:1533 deaths]]
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Revision as of 09:30, 10 March 2026


"Krishna Chaitanya" redirects here. For the Telugu lyricist, see Krishna Chaitanya (lyricist).
"Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu" redirects here. For the 1954 Hindi film, see Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (film).

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Wooden murti of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as Dhāmeśvara, Nabadwip[1]
Personal
Born
Vishvambhara Mishra

(1486-02-28)28 February 1486
Nabadwip, Bengal Sultanate
(present-day West Bengal, India)
Died14 June 1534(1534-06-14) (aged 48)
Puri, Gajapati Empire
(present-day Odisha, India)
ReligionHinduism
SpouseLakshmi Priya (first wife) and Vishnupriya
Known forExpounded Gaudiya Vaishnavism, kirtan
Founder ofGaudiya Vaishnavism
Achintya Bheda Abheda
PhilosophyBhakti yoga, Achintya Bheda Abheda
Religious career
GuruSwami Isvara Puri (mantra guru); Swami Kesava Bharati (sannyas guru)
Literary worksShikshashtakam
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Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.; Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.), born Vishvambhara Mishra (IAST: Viśvambhara Miśra[2]) (28 February 1486 – 14 June 1534[3]), was an Indian Hindu saint from Bengal and the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishna with bhajan-kirtan and dance influenced Vaishnavism in Bengal.

He is considered the chief proponent of the Vedantic philosophy of Achintya Bheda Abheda. The concept of inconceivable difference in non-difference, known as achintya-bhedabheda, was explained later by Jiva Goswami in his book Bhagavat Sandharbha,[4] and in his Sarva-samvadini.[5][6]

Mahaprabhu founded Gaudiya Vaishnavism. He expounded Bhakti yoga and popularised the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.[7] He composed the Shikshashtakam (eight devotional prayers).

Chaitanya is sometimes called Gauranga (IAST: Gaurāṅga) or Gaura due to his molten gold–like complexion.[8] His birthday is celebrated as Gaura-purnima.[9][10] He is also called Nimai because he was born underneath a Neem tree.[11]

Life

The religious hagiographies of Gauḍīya sampradāya are the only sources available for the reconstruction of Caitanya's life. These texts (in Sanskrit and Bengali), consider Caitanya to be an avatāra of Kr̥ṣṇa, Svayaṁ Bhagavān, Rādhā-Kr̥ṣṇa (joint and separate), Nārāyaṇa, Viṣṇu, and Jagannātha. A canonical narrative was established in early 1600s through the Caitanya Caritāmr̥ta of Kr̥ṣṇadāsa Kavirāja, which is regarded within the tradition as the "final word" on Gauḍīya history and theology.[12]

Chaitanya was born in a Brahmin family as Viśvambhara Miśra aka Nimāi, the second son of Jagannātha Miśra and his wife Śacī Devī, the daughter of Nilambara Chakrabarti, both Brahmins of Sylhet region.[2] Jagannātha Miśra's family were from the village of Dhakadakshin in Sylhet District (now in Bangladesh), where the ruins of their ancestral home still survive.[13][14][1] Hagiographies describe his birth as a divine event and state that it predicted his future mission of propagating harināma saṃkīrtana in Kali Yuga.[1]

While still a student, his father died, and he soon married Lakṣmīpriyā. He travelled to east Bengal to become a scholar and support his family, but his wife died in his absence. He then married Viṣnupriyā, the daughter of paṇḍit Sanātana Miśra. Viśhvambara, also known as Nimāi Paṇḍit, was a promising Sanskrit scholar and is said to have once defeated Keśava Bhaṭṭa of the Nimbārka school in a debate on Sanskrit prosody, an example of his "superhuman erudition".[1]

Around 1508-1509, he left Nabadvip for Gaya to perform śrāddha, a ritual homage to his dead father. There, he met an ascetic named Īśvara Purī, who initiated him using a mantra for Kr̥ṣṇa worship. Gaudiya texts describe that after this meeting Viśvambhara abandoned all scholarly and domestic pursuits, developing an intense desire to hear and speak about Krishna. Within a year he took a vow of saṃnyāsa (renunciation) from his guru, Keśava Bhāratī, and changed his name to Kr̥ṣṇa Caitanya. His mother then asked him to at least live in the city of Puri so that he would not be too far from Bengal.[1]

After his renunciation, Caitanya spent his time teaching Kr̥ṣṇa bhakti and engaging in communal saṁkīrtana. Hagiographies describe debates with followers of Advaita Vedānta and other theological opponents in form of digvijaya (conquest through debate). He spent two months in Vrindavan in c. 1515, where he instructed Sanātana Gosvāmī and Rūpa Gosvāmī. He spent the last two decades of his life in Puri, where his ecstatic seizures yearning for Kr̥ṣṇa and his consorts, mainly Rādhā, intensified. He died in c. 1528-1534.[1]

Teachings

Main article: Gaudiya Vaishnavism § Philosophical concepts

The Śikṣāṣṭaka is the only work accepted to be composed by Caitanya. The poem expounds upon the subjects of harināmajapa, saṁkīrtana, the relationship between individual souls and Kr̥ṣṇa, devotional submission to Kr̥ṣṇa, and Caitanya's personal virahabhakti. Scholars debate the extent to which Caitanya played in the development of the complex Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava theology.[1]

According to Murari Gupta, one of Caitanya's close associates, Caitanya taught that kirtana (chanting God's name) is the most effective spiritual practice in the Kali Age. He first gathered the community for kirtana in Srivasa's courtyard.[15] Caitanya revealed bhakti as the primary means to approach Krishna, and he appointed the Goswamis, such as Srinivasa Acarya and Narottama Dasa, to gather and compose texts explaining this devotion.[16]

According to Dinesh Chandra Sen's analysis, Caitanya's teaching is centered on prema (divine love), described in Vaishnava texts as progressing through different spiritual phases.[17] Sen also states that Caitanya integrated compassionate service and taught that devotion to God is higher than social distinctions, quoting Caitanya's words "The moment that you say you love God, all human beings will be your brethren; there will be no Brahmin, no Sudra".[18]

Biographies

Works on Chaitanya:[19][20][21]

  • Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta (c. 1513 or 1536–1540; Sanskrit): By Murari Gupta. Known as a kadcha or chronicle. Chaitanya's Navadwipa līla and each panca-tattva presented as a form of the Lord. Caitanya went for the first time to Murari's house at Navadwipa. Murari's standing and reputation for learning gave his biographical materials great weight in the Vaishnava community. This Kadcha (notes) became the guiding lines for other biographers.
  • Kadcha or chronicle (Sanskrit): By Svarupa Damodara. He was the personal secretary of Chaitanya. Details the life of Caitanya.
  • Govindadaser Kadcha (Bengali): By Govinda Dāsa who accompanied Chaitanya on his tour of Deccan. This poem describes their experiences on the journey and some imaginary events in the life of Chaitanya as well as his ideas and philosophy. It is another significant biographical work, but it was regarded as controversial because of the authenticity.
  • Krsna-Caitanya-caritra-mahakavya (c. 1535): By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen).
  • Krsna-Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam (c. 1535 – 1570s): By Kavi Karnapura. Based on Murari Gupta's Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta. When Karnapura was a small child, he interacted with Chaitanya personally.
  • Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam (c. 1538 or 1540 or 1572 or 1579; Sanskrit): By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen). Dramatic play in ten acts of Chaitanya's life.
  • Caitanya-caritāmṛta-kavya (c. 1542 – late 1500s; Sanskrit): By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen). A long biographical poem on Chaitanya's life and acts.
  • Caitanya-caritāmṛta (c. 1557 or 1580 or 1615; Bengali): By Krishnadasa Kaviraja. Three parts: Adi-lila, Madhya-lila, and Antya-lila. Massive authoritative composition of Chaitanya's biography and teachings. According to Manring, he draws liberally from previous writers (poets, theologians and biographers) as he deems correct, omitting Kavi Karnapura's works perceived as threatening Rupa's authority.
  • Caitanya-Mangala (c. 1560 or late 1500s; Bengali): By Jayananda. Nine parts: Adikhanda, Nadiyakhanda, Vairagyakhanda, Sannyaskhanda, Utkalkhanda, Prakashkhanda, Tirthakhanda, Vijaykhanda, and Uttarkhanda. Biographical poem in the form of a narrative play focused on Chaitanya's godly image. It is the only work in which his death is mentioned. Introduction mentions several previous biographers, of whom only Vrindavan is known. Written for the common people (not devotees).
  • Chaitanya Mangala (c. 1560–66 or 1575): By Lochana Dasa (a.k.a. Trilocan Dasa). Four parts: Sutrakhanda, Adikhanda, Madhyakhanda, and Antyakhanda. A narrative play depicting Chaitanya's childhood activities and his human side without highlighting any divine matters to make it popular. Influenced by Murari Gupta's Krsna-Caitanya-Caritamrta and Vrindavana Dasa Thakura's Chaitanya Bhagavata as well as the Mahabharata and different Puranas.
  • Chaitanya-chandrodaya-kaumudi (Bengali): By Premadas (Purushottam Mishra). A verse adaptation to Kavi Karnapura's Caitanya-candrodaya-natakam drama.
  • Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika (c. 1576): By Kavi Karnapura (Paramanand Sen).
  • Chaitanya-samhita (Bengali): By Bhagirath Bandhu. Work follows the tradition of agama or tantric texts in its presentation as a story told by Shiva to his spouse.
  • Chaitanya-vilasa (c. 1500s; Odia): By Madhava Dasa. A short poetical work in ten sections dealing with the life of Chaitanya. The poet probably came into contact with the saint when the latter came to Puri.
  • Gauranga-vijay (c. 1500s): By Chundamani dasa. Biographical epic, believed to have been written in three volumes, only part of the first volume still exists. It contains some information about Chaitanya, Nityananda and Madhavendra Puri not found elsewhere.
  • Sriman-mahaprabhor-asta-kaliya-lila-smarana-mangala-stotram (c. late 1600s; Sanskrit): By Visvanatha Chakravarti. Eleven sutras (seed verses) describing the eternal eight-fold daily pastimes of the fair-complexioned Lord.
  • Sri Gauranga-Lilamrta (c. late 1600s – 1700s; Bengali): By Krishna Dasa (disciple of Visvanatha Chakravarti). Expounded on his guru's eleven sutras, often quoting verses from Vrindavana Dasa Thakura's Chaitanya Bhagavata, plus songs by Narahari Ghanashyama (author of Bhakti-Ratnakara) and Lochana Dasa (author of Chaitanya-Mangala).
  • Caitanya-upanisad: A book that is a part of the Atharvaveda which offers overwhelming evidence of Chaitanya's identity as the Supreme Lord and Yuga Avatara.
  • Sri Caitanya-caranamrta Bhasva (1887): By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Commentary on an original handwritten manuscript of the Caitanya-upanisad from one pandita, Madhusudana Maharaja, of Sambala-Pura.
  • Amrita-pravaha-bhashya (c. late 1800s – early 1900s; Sanskrit): By Bhaktivinoda Thakur. Commentary on Caitanya-upanisad.
  • Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (1974; English): By A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami in English with original Bengali and Sanskrit. Commentary on Krishnadasa Kaviraja's Caitanya-caritāmṛta, based on Bhaktivinoda Thakur's Amrita-pravaha-bhashya and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's Anubhāsya commentaries.
  • Krishna-Caitanya, His Life and His Teachings (2014; English; ISBN 978-91-981318-1-9): By Walther Eidlitz, originally written in German - Kṛṣṇa-Caitanya: sein Leben und seine Lehre, and published by Stockholm University, 1968, as a part of the scientific series "Stockholm studies in comparative religion".

Cultural legacy

See also: Bengal Renaissance

Chaitanya has influenced the cultural legacy in Bengal, Odisha and Manipur,[citation needed] with many residents performing daily worship to him as an avatar of Krishna. Some attribute to him a Renaissance in Bengal,[citation needed] different from the more well-known 19th-century Bengal Renaissance. Salimullah Khan (b. 1958), a noted Bangladeshi linguist, maintains, "Sixteenth-century is the time of Chaitanya Dev, and it is the beginning of Modernism in Bengal. The concept of 'humanity' that came into fruition is contemporaneous with that of Europe".[citation needed]

Noted Bengali biographical film on Chaitanya, Nilachaley Mahaprabhu (1957), was directed by Kartik Chattopadhyay (1912–1989).[22] A Bengali film based on Chaitanya's demise, Lawho Gouranger Naam Rey (2025), is directed by Srijit Mukherji.[23]

Image gallery

  • Kisangarh painting of Chaitanya dancing in a puddle of his own tears, surrounded by followers, c. 1750.
    Kisangarh painting of Chaitanya dancing in a puddle of his own tears, surrounded by followers, c. 1750.
  • Chaitanya with a dog, Murshidabad, 19th century CE
    Chaitanya with a dog, Murshidabad, 19th century CE
  • A white ornate structure with a pyramidal pointed dome standing on the bank of a pond and surrounded by trees
    Yogapith temple at Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthsite established in the 1880s by Bhaktivinoda Thakur in Mayapur, West Bengal
  • Nineteenth century lithograph by Calcutta Art Studio of Caitanya and Nityānanda performing a kirtan in the streets of Nabadwip, Bengal.
    Nineteenth century lithograph by Calcutta Art Studio of Caitanya and Nityānanda performing a kirtan in the streets of Nabadwip, Bengal.
  • Pratap Rudra bowing to Chaitanya, an early 20th century print copy of a painting held by the family of Maharaja Nandakumar, Zamindars of Kunjaghata
    Pratap Rudra bowing to Chaitanya, an early 20th century print copy of a painting held by the family of Maharaja Nandakumar, Zamindars of Kunjaghata
  • Deities of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Jagannath, Balarama, Subhadra and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (in middle), at the ISKCON Durgapur Temple.
    Deities of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Jagannath, Balarama, Subhadra and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (in middle), at the ISKCON Durgapur Temple.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Valpey, Kenneth (2018). "Caitanya". In Jacobsen, Knut A.; Basu, Helene; Malinar, Angelika; Narayanan, Vasudha (eds.). Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Stewart, Tony K (2012). "Chaitanya, Sri". In Islam, Sirajul; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Delmonico 2007, p. 549: "The form of Vaishnavism inspired by the sixteenth-century saint-reformer Shri Krishna Chaitanya (1486–1533 C.E.) rested heavily upon a belief in the purifying and salvific powers of the names of God, whose fullest self-revelation Chaitanya believed to be Krishna".
  4. ↑ Dasa 2007, pp. 377-378: "The Bhagavat Sandarbha [...] describes the concept of Bhagavan alluded to in Bhagavata 1.2.11. Jiva explains [...] [t]he relation between Bhagavan and His potency is one of inconceivable difference in non-difference, known as achintya-bhedabheda. It is in recognition of the nature of this relation that Chaitanya’s philosophy is called Achintya bhedaabheda-vada".
  5. ↑ Gupta 2007, p. 46, footnote 30: "[I]n the Sarva-samvadini, [J]iva Gosvami lists the names of different teachers and their schools of Vedanta, and then concludes by saying, 'sva-mate tu acintya-bhedabhedah,' 'but my view is acintya-bhedabheda'".
  6. ↑ Krsna Dasa, T. 2022, "[Jiva Goswami in his] Sarva-samvadini [commenting] Anuccheda 77 and 78 of the Paramatma Sandarbha [states that:] 'It is well known that Gautama, Kaṇāda, Jaimini, Kapila and Patañjali, as well as śrī-rāmānuja and śrī-madhvācārya’s accept bheda alone. To us, acintya-bheda-abheda alone is acceptable, because the substantive is endowed with acintya śaktis' ".
  7. ↑ Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Archived 28 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine "He spread the Yuga-dharma as the practice for attainment of pure love for Radha-Krishna. That process is Harinam-Sankirtan, or the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare"
  8. ↑ In the Name of the Lord (Deccan Herald) "He was also given the name of ‘Gora’ because of his extremely fair complexion." Archived 7 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "Gaura Purnima". www.krishna.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  10. ↑ Sri Gaura Purnima Archived 1 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine"givegita.com"
  11. ↑ KCM Archive"They named Him Nimai, as he was born under a neem tree." Archived 24 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Stewart, Tony (2014). "Caitanya". Oxford Bibliographies Online in Hinduism.
  13. ↑ Sen 1922, p. 125.
  14. ↑ Nair 2007, p. 87.
  15. ↑ Stewart 2010, p. 102, 108.
  16. ↑ Stewart 2010, p. 5.
  17. ↑ Sen 1922, p. 266-276.
  18. ↑ Sen 1922, p. 276-283.
  19. ↑ Mukherjee 1999, pp. 65–66, 174, 280.
  20. ↑ Manring 2005, pp. 34–42, 44.
  21. ↑ PDF Archived 26 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine.Mamoni, Sarma (2015). "Chapter 14". History of Vaishnavite cultures in Assam and Bengal a comparative study. pp. 253–255. hdl:10603/127571. Note, Sarma Mamoni is a researcher at Gauhati University under Chakraborty Amalendu.
  22. ↑ Sur, Ansu; Goswami, Abhijit (1999). Bengali Film Directory. Nandan, West Bengal Film Centre. p. 96.
  23. ↑ Chakraborty, Shamayita (16 July 2021). "Parambrata to play Gourango in Srijit's next; will also sing in the film". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.

Sources

Further reading

External links

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