The Divine Masters
A teacher or guide is invaluable to anyone wishing to grow in any field of life.
Throughout our lives, we learn from parents, teachers, mentors, and those who have walked the path before us. Their wisdom, experience, and encouragement help us navigate challenges and realise our potential.
In the same way, a spiritual guide helps us cultivate a genuine and practical spiritual life. Through their guidance and example, the teachings of Bhakti become living wisdom rather than simply ideas to understand. In the Vedic tradition, receiving the guidance of a bona fide spiritual teacher is considered one of life's greatest blessings for the jīva soul.
Spiritual Lineage
Within our Divine lineage, Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Deva-Gosvāmī Mahārāja, and Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Deva-Gosvāmī Mahārāja are understood together as the Tri-Guru—three successive spiritual Masters who embody pure service and represent the Divine teachings, providing a complete and deeply developed understanding of the path of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His Sankirtana movement, revealed and applied in contemporary times.
Srila B A Keshava Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Asraya Keshava Maharaja is a native to New Zealand and appeared in this world in Invercargill in 1967. At the young age of 17 He quickly developed attraction to the path of Bhakti and joined with the Vaisnava tradition in 1985, under the teachings of Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja Prabhupada. For 10 years He lived in ashrams and travelled throughout the world receiving vital lessons on the path of Bhakti (Vedanta) by various teachers and well-wishers, He also lectured and taught in numerous ashrams around the globe.
In 1995 He met Eis eternal Master Om Vishnupada Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaja and received Harinama initiation, then in 1997 Diksha Gayatri mantra from His Gurudev personally in Navadwipa, India. For many years He was assisting His Gurudev's mission in the UK, Ireland, India and Sweden.
In October 2012 Srila Keshava Maharaja entered into the sacred order of Sannyasa. Although in separation from His beloved Master, the attempt to try to serve in separation became an inevitable inspiration for Him to enter the renounced order.
Srila Keshava Maharaja is currently based in New Zealand and Australia and is friend and teacher to an international community of students. Srila Keshava Maharaja is our initiating Guru and founder of The Bhakti Field Inc. The aim of our mission is to further expand the Divine path of Bhakti Yoga, as revealed and taught by Srila Govinda Maharaja, Srila Sridhar Maharaja & Srila Swami Maharaja Prabhupada.
Srila B S Govinda Maharaja
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaj made His Appearance in this world on December 17th, 1929, at Bamunpara, District Burdwan, only about six miles from Sripat Hapaniya where His beloved Gurudev made His Advent, also situated in the holy area of Gauda-Mandal. Revealing His pastimes to the conditioned souls of this worldly plane, at the tender age of only seventeen years, Srila Govinda Maharaj manifest His coming to the Lotus Feet of His Gurudev, Sri Srila Sridhar Maharaj, in April 1947, on the Holy Appearance Day of Lord Nrsimhadev.
On the Amavasya [dark-moon day] of August 12th, 1988, when Srila Guru Maharaj silently took His form of Holy Samadhi at His beloved place of bhajan, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip Dham, all the devotees felt that the exalted moon had disappeared from their vision; yet by His Divine Grace, Srila Guru Maharaj had already foreseen the devotees' need for uninterrupted light, for the smooth continuation of their devotional services, and therefore three years before He had conferred the holy order of Tridanda-Sannyasa upon Srila Govinda Maharaj, naming Him as His illustrious successor, as the guiding light to perfectly ensure that no darkness could enter into His Sampradaya.
Highly learned in Sanskrit and Bengali, Srila Govinda Maharaj, as well as His illustrious Gurudev, have given us many divine prayers and songs most valuable for the cultivation of our spiritual life. His valuable natural talent, coupled with His fine delivery of Hari Katha [holy talks of the Supreme Lord and His Pastimes], and, on the practical side of devotional life, His untiring services to His Gurudev in nurturing and upholding Srila Guru Maharaj's Indian and Worldwide Mission from the very beginning to the present (it was none other than He who designed and supervised the building of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math) have ever fulfilled the desires of Sri Gurudev.
The elixir of nectar which has been carried around the world from Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is still flowing by the mercy Sri Guru and Gauranga represented in the person of Srila Govinda Maharaj, and through Him it has become doubly sweet.
Srila Guru Maharaj - acclaimed by one and all as the "Maker of Gurus" - has presented to us His most precious gem in the personage of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
Srila B R Sridhar Maharaja
His Divine Grace Sri Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, the founder of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, was born in India in 1895, in a respected Brahmana family of the Bhattacarya order, at Hapaniya, District Burdwan, West Bengal. He received his education at Baharamapur University.
Having taken His pious birth in Sri Gauda-Mandal, the holy lands where Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited His divine pastimes on this earth, Srila Sridhar Maharaj, from His very childhood, had a natural affinity for the mission of Sri Chaitanya Sankirtan - the Grand Congregational Chanting of the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord.
In 1926, Srila Sridhar Maharaj joined the Sri Gaudiya Math, and became an initiated disciple of its founder, the illustrious Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Goswami Prabhupad (1874-1937). He later accepted the holy order of sannyasa in 1930. Recognizing Him as a faithful stalwart preacher of the perfect precepts of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupad conferred upon Him the name "Sri Bhakti Rakshak," which means "Guardian of Devotion." And further echoing the statement of the great Vaishnava Preceptor, Srila Jiva Goswami - who referred in His Sanskrit writings to the renowned Srimad Bhagavatam commentator, Sri Sridhar Swami, as bhakti eka raksaka [Supreme Guardian of Devotion] - Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupad gave Him the Tridandi-Sannyasa title of "Sridhar." Thus, He became Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Maharaj.
As a prominent preacher in the Sri Gaudiya Math mission, He travelled extensively throughout India and preached fluently in Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, and English, spreading the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on many levels in universities, public seminars, and Sankirtan festivals.
Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupad also expressed high appreciation of Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Sanskrit composition, Sri Bhaktivinoda Viraha Dasakam, considering it an omen of assurance that the grand ideals and dignity of the Sri Gaudiya Sampradaya would be perfectly upheld and preached by such a learned and sensitive devotee as Srila Sridhar Maharaj.
As a testimony to this fact, just prior to Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada's departure from this mortal world, Srila Prabhupada had Srila Sridhar Maharaj sing, in his presence, the holy prayer most venerated by the entire Sri Gaudiya Vaishnava community, Sri Rupa Manjari Pada. After the passing of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Goswami Prabhupad, Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Godbrothers, associates, and the public, naturally revered Him as the senior-most representative of the Sri Gaudiya Sampradaya, although Srila Sridhar Maharaj Himself was more inclined to anonymity as a humble Vaishnava. Nonetheless, by the call of divine duty and divine inspiration, He established the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math at Sri Nabadwip Dham, hinting in a short Sanskrit poem that the Math - as a sanctuary where the holy message of His Gurudev, Sri Rupa, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was preached - would inevitably become renowned throughout the world amongst the sincere and pious seekers of Unalloyed Truth and Divinity.
Srila Sridhar Maharaj is the composer of numerous classical prayers and commentaries in Sanskrit and Bengali. His works are hailed as gems of pure Vaishnavism by scholars, philosophers, and devotees worldwide. He authored Sri Sri Prapanna Jivanamrtam, a Sanskrit devotional treatise on the subject of divine surrender, which has become a standard text-book for devotees everywhere.
Upon reaching His eighties, not only Indians, but persons from America, Europe, and the world over, became attracted by Srila Sridhar Maharaj's teachings and personality. He was known as a pure saint of the most simple living habits. He was respected and loved for His saintly simplicity, and His affectionate nature and dealings. He was revered by His Godbrothers, disciples, other devotees, and the general public, and was unanimously venerated for His formidable encyclopedic command of the revealed scriptures, and His unique and unprecedented style of casting newer and newer light upon the most internal philosophical and revelatory purports of pure Sri Gaudiya Vaishnava Siddhanta. A vast library of Srila Sridhar Maharaj's taped discourses has been compiled by His disciples, and from such recordings, the exquisite English books - Search for Sri Krishna, Sri Guru and His Grace, The Golden Volcano of Divine Love, Loving Search for the Lost Servant, and Srila Sridhar Maharaj's unique commentary and interpretation of Srimad Bhagavad Gita: The Hidden Treasure of the Sweet Absolute - and many other books have been published. Many more publications are also anticipated.
On August 12th, 1988, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj departed from this world, to enter into His eternal pastimes. His departure did not herald the departure of one of the great stars of the Sri Gaudiya Vaishnava firmament, but that of the moon itself. Even the Earth herself trembled on two occasions, forecasting and punctuating the event. A divine temple, "The Temple of Union in Separation," was erected at his holy shrine at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip, and worship will continue throughout the generations.
Srila Sridhar Maharaj selected His most intimate and senior Sannyasi disciple, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaj, as his successor, blessing him with the position of Acharya-President of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and its affiliated branches worldwide.
Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was born in 1896 in Calcutta, India. He first met His spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced Him to dedicate His life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became His student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, He became His formally initiated disciple.
At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine.
Recognizing Srila Prabhupada's philosophical learning and devotion, the Gaudiya Vaisnava Society honoured Him in 1947 with the title "Bhaktivedanta." In 1950, at the age of fifty-four, Srila Prabhupada retired from married life, and four years later He adopted the vanaprastha (retired) order to devote more time to His studies and writing. Srila Prabhupada travelled to the holy city of Vrndavana, where He lived in very humble circumstances in the historic medieval temple of Radha-Damodara. There He engaged for several years in deep study and writing. He accepted the renounced order of life (sannyasa) in 1959. At Radha-Damodara, Srila Prabhupada began work on His life's masterpiece: a multivolume translation and commentary on the 18,000-verse Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana). He also wrote Easy Journey to Other Planets.
After publishing three volumes of Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada came to the United States, in 1965, to fulfill the mission of His spiritual Master. Since that time, His Divine Grace has written over sixty volumes of authoritative translations, commentaries and summary studies of the philosophical and religious classics of India.
In 1965, when He first arrived by freighter in New York City, Srila Prabhupada was practically penniless. It was after almost a year of great difficulty that He established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in July of 1966. Under His careful guidance, the Society grew within a decade to a worldwide confederation of almost one hundred asramas, schools, temples, institutes and farm communities.
In 1968, Srila Prabhupada created New Vrndavana, an experimental Vedic community in the hills of West Virginia. Inspired by the success of New Vrndavana, then a thriving farm community of more than one thousand acres, His students founded several similar communities in the United States and abroad.
In 1972, His Divine Grace introduced the Vedic system of primary and secondary education in the West by founding the Gurukula school in Dallas, Texas. The school began with three children in 1972, and by the beginning of 1975 the enrollment had grown to one hundred fifty.
Srila Prabhupada also inspired the construction of a large international center at Sridhama Mayapur in West Bengal, India, which is also the site for a planned Institute of Vedic Studies. A similar project is the magnificent Krsna-Balarama Temple and International Guest House in Vrndavana, India. These are centres where Westerners can live to gain firsthand experience of Vedic culture.
Srila Prabhupada's most significant contribution, however, is His books. Highly respected by the academic community for their authoritativeness, depth and clarity, they are used as standard textbooks in numerous college courses. His writings have been translated into eleven languages. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established in 1972 exclusively to publish the works of His Divine Grace, has thus become the world's largest publisher of books in the field of Indian religion and philosophy.
In the last ten years of His life, in spite of His advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that have took Him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
Srila Prabhupada left us a veritable library of Vedic philosophy and culture. Highly respected by scholars for their authority, depth, and clarity, His books are used at colleges and universities around the world.
The Tri-Guru Conception
Śrīla Prabhupāda's Relationship with Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja
Throughout His life, Śrīla Prabhupāda maintained the highest respect and confidence in His godbrother, Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Mahārāja. Their spiritual relationship was longstanding, and Śrīla Prabhupāda regarded Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja as a highly qualified Vaiṣṇava and spiritual guide.
In a letter dated 31 January 1969, Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly directed His disciple to seek śikṣā—spiritual instruction—from Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja, whom He identified as the most highly competent of all His godbrothers to act as a śikṣā-guru. His words demonstrate the profound confidence and respect He held for Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja as a spiritual guide and teacher.
This statement is recorded in The Guardian of Devotion in Śrīla Prabhupāda's letter dated 31 January 1969:
"Throughout His life, Śrīla Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda always maintained the highest respect and confidence in Śrīla Sridhara Maharaja. He considered that whenever it was not possible for His disciples to proceed directly under His guidance, that they should take direction from Śrīla Sridhara Maharaja. He once wrote in a letter to one of His students,
'Because you are my disciple, and I think, a sincere soul, it is my duty to refer you to someone who is competent to act as a siksa-guru. For spiritual advancement of life, we must go to someone who is actually practicing spiritual life. So, if you are actually serious to take instructions from a siksa-guru, I can refer you to the one who is the most highly competent of all my godbrothers. This is Śrīla B.R. Sridhara Maharaja, whom I consider to be even my siksa-guru, so what to speak of the benefit that you can have by His association. So if you are serious about the advancement of your spiritual life, I will advice you to go to Śrīla Sridhara Maharaja. It will be very good for your spiritual benefit, and I will feel that you are safe. When I was in India with the others, we lived with Śrīla Sridhara Maharaja. You can also make arrangements for your other Godbrothers to go there in the future. So, live peacefully with Śrīla Sridhara Maharaja, and thereby you will be spiritually enlightened.'”
This correspondence provides a significant historical record of Śrīla Prabhupāda's explicit direction that His disciples seek śikṣā from Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja, whom He recognised as His prominent śikṣā-guru, qualified to guide and instruct His disciples and future members of the ISKCON movement. Śrīla Prabhupāda's own words leave no ambiguity about the profound spiritual confidence He placed in Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja, whom He described as His own śikṣā-guru and whose association He recommended for the spiritual advancement and safety of His disciples.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja & Śrīla Govinda Mahārāja
The teachings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu have been carried through a living succession of spiritual teachers, each illuminating and expanding the understanding of the previous Ācāryas.
Within our Divine lineage, Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Śrīla Bhakti Rakṣaka Śrīdhara Deva-Gosvāmī Mahārāja, and Śrīla Bhakti Sundar Govinda Deva-Gosvāmī Mahārāja are understood together as the Tri-Guru—three successive spiritual Masters who embody pure service and represent the Divine teachings, providing a complete and deeply developed understanding of the path of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His Sankirtana movement, revealed and applied in contemporary times.
Śrīla Prabhupāda carried the teachings of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism from India to the Western world, establishing a global movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja, whom Śrīla Prabhupāda recognised as His own śikṣā-guru, provided profound philosophical guidance and clarification of the teachings. Śrīla Govinda Mahārāja, personally recognised and appointed by Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja as His successor, continued that current of divine service and instruction.
For aspiring followers of Kṛṣṇa consciousness within this lineage, these three Ācāryas are not viewed as separate or competing teachings. Rather, Their teachings are understood as successive expressions of one living current of Divine knowledge descending through Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, with each Ācārya embodying pure service and helping us to understand more deeply the teachings and mood of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
The Continuation of the Lineage
The relationship between Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja and Śrīla Govinda Mahārāja was not simply one of teacher and student. Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja progressively entrusted Śrīla Govinda Mahārāja with the responsibility of carrying forward His spiritual mission.
In Spiritual Assistance for Our Friends, this remarkable moment is described:
"Śrīla Guru Mahārāj took Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj by the hand and seated Him on the Guru’s exalted chair. He was happy to reveal His heart’s desire that His devoted followers—both personal servitors as well as newly arrived sincere seekers, would sincerely follow Śrīla Govinda Mahārāj. To this day, it is extremely rare in the history of the world to see such a thing."
This gesture expressed Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja's desire that His followers recognise Śrīla Govinda Mahārāja as the continuing spiritual guide of His mission.
His intention was made even more explicit in His last will and testament, recorded in Spiritual Assistance for Our Friends. There, Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja formally appointed Śrīla Govinda Mahārāja as His Divine successor:
Śrīla Guru Mahārāj’s Divine Desire and Testament
“The said Śrīmān Bhakti Sundar Govinda Mahārāj {of whom I, Śrī Bhakti Rakṣak Śrīdhar Dev-Goswāmī Mahārāj, am the Godfather, and am by caste Gauḍīya-Vaiṣṇava Brahmin, and am by occupation a Religious Preacher and Worshipper of the Deities at the address Śrī Chaitanya Sāraswat Maṭh, P.O. and Police Station Nabadwip}—the said Śrīmān Bhakti Sundar Govinda Mahārāj, who, despite temporarily changing His formal position, was named and recognised by me as Śrī Govinda Sundar Vidyārañjan and engaged by me in all the various services of the Maṭh; and upon whom on the 6th November 1985 I conferred the order of sannyāsa whence I again named and recognised him as Śrī Bhakti Sundar Govinda Mahārāj; and, since He has tirelessly and whole-heartedly assisted in the duties of organising and developing this Maṭh and also in the duties of establishing and developing Calcutta and Hāpāniyā Centres, etc., and since He has arranged many donors and has provided much encouragement to even myself in the duties of managing the Maṭh, etc., and all the above-mentioned tasks He is still performing up to this day; and since He is still naturally disposed to serve the Maṭh and its residents, and at all times He is endeavouring for the progressive development of Śrī Maṭh, and above all, He is well-known and unanimously acclaimed as being firmly established in the philosophy of the Perfect Axiomatic Truth [Siddhānta] of Bhakti as propounded by both myself as well as by my Divine Master—thus, I hereby appoint Him as my Successor Sevāite {Successor Guardian-servitor}, Āchāryya, and President. In compliance with the Rules and Regulations of the aforesaid Deed, all my lawful claims, directorship, and rights will automatically be inherited by Him. In all my Maṭhs, etc., He alone shall as the Āchāryya, confer initiation, etc., and shall as the Sevāite {Guardian-servitor} and President, manage all the duties of my established Temples, ashrams, etc.
Hereby, I do reveal my final desire and directives unto all my Eastern and Western lady and gentlemen disciples, as well as to the faithful souls devoted to the Divinity, that: they must respect Him as the exclusive Āchāryya and President, and remain faithful to Him and cooperate with Him in the service duties of the Maṭh.
“If anyone cannot honour these directives and this final desire of mine, then they shall be bound to disassociate themselves from my established Maṭhs...”
Receiving the Complete Current
The Tri-Guru conception therefore invites us to approach the teachings of Kṛṣṇa consciousness not selectively, but through the full current of the predecessor Ācāryas.
Śrīla Prabhupāda opened the door to the Western world, establishing the divine foundation for a worldwide movement. Through His tireless service, He energetically transmitted, translated, and presented the philosophical foundations of the Gauḍīya teachings, offering this grand and divine service to His spiritual Master. Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja revealed profound dimensions of siddhānta and provided the philosophical and spiritual guidance necessary to deepen that understanding. Śrīla Govinda Mahārāja received this current directly from Śrīla Śrīdhara Mahārāja and carried it forward through His own service, teachings, and personal example in the modern world.
To understand one Ācārya without properly appreciating the others can therefore leave our understanding incomplete, while also failing to offer the due regard, respect, and etiquette owed to other perfected Masters and Paramahaṁsas who serve as transcendental conduits of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His divine Saṅkīrtana movement.
The Tri-Guru conception encourages the sincere practitioner to honour, study, and follow the teachings of all three Ācāryas as one harmonious spiritual current, while maintaining reverence for all genuine and perfected spiritual Masters and Their aspiring followers who have dedicated themselves to serving and representing the divine mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
True appreciation of our own spiritual lineage should never require diminishing other perfected Masters and Their missions. Rather, genuine Vaiṣṇava etiquette teaches us to recognise, honour, and offer appropriate respect to all exalted servants of the Divine.
For those aspiring to follow Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's path today, this provides a living connection to the teachings of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava tradition—not simply as historical philosophy, but as a path that continues to be transmitted through genuine spiritual association, service, and practice in contemporary times.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada was born in 1873 at Jagannatha Puri. His father, Kedar Dutta Bhaktivinoda Thakura, was magistrate of the city and superintendent of Jagannatha temple. Once, during the Ratha yatra festival, the car stopped in front of the family’s house. Taking the opportunity, the mother of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura came out with the baby and put Him on the Lotus Feet of Jagannatha. A garland from the hand of Jagannatha fell down on the baby.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was educated in Calcutta and became learned in Mathematics and Astronomy. In His childhood He once took a mango which was meant as an offering for the Deity. When His father rebuked Him, saying that He should not have taken the fruit which was meant for the Lord, the child took it very seriously and thought Himself a great offender, promising not to take mango again throughout His whole life. He was known as Bimal Prasad Dutta before His renunciation. On account of His writing a book on astronomy known as Surya Siddhanta, He received the title Siddhanta Sarasvati. And, when he took sannyasa, preaching the gospel of Lord Chaitanya, He was known as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. He was acclaimed a great scholar in Calcutta, and the celebrated Dr. Kalidas Nag used to call him ‘a living encyclopedia’.
Thakura Bhaktivinoda trained His son in childhood for preaching, and, after taking sannyasa, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura started the Gaudiya Mission Institution. He started 64 branches of the Gaudiya Math all over India plus one in London and another in Berlin. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was the spiritual master of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, also Srila B R Sridhar Maharaja, the Founder Acharya of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswati Math.
Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji
The next in the parampara, after and is an associate of Bhaktivinoda Thakura - a great paramahamsa babaji by the name of Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja. Technically He was the disciple of Bhagavat Dasa Babaji Maharaja, who was a disciple of Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja.
In 1897 Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji Maharaja came to Mayapur Navadwipa Dhama from Sri Vrndavana Dhama, where He was accredited the exalted title "Bhajananandi". Srila Bhaktivinoda (Kedarnath Datt), seeing the transcendental behaviour of Babaji Maharaja, would use Him as an example of nirapeksa (indifference), as His level of renunciation was beyond belief.
This Vaisnava saint's life was an example of utter humility and poverty, the true attributes of a Vaisnava. Gaurakisora never accepted any material object from anyone. For His clothing He used the discarded loin cloths from corpses left on the bank of the Ganges. For food, He would collect rice by begging, soak it in river water, and garnish it with salt and chilly. He never asked favors from anyone and lived a fully detached life, devoid of all possessions.
Srila Gaurakisora lived on madhukari, begging and slept beneath a tree. He would lie prostrate, offering His humble obeisances to the residents of Vraja, considering them as embodiments of Lord Krsna. He even offered His obeisances to the flowers, trees, and land around Him. He spent about thirty years at Vraja mandala serving the deities there. Afterwards, perhaps by the direction of the Supreme Lord, He left for Navadvipa.
During His stay at Navadvipa, Gaurakisora underwent various transformations of spiritual moods. Sometimes He danced on the bank of the Ganges chanting, "Gaura, Gaura", while at other times He would lie on the ground in an unconscious state. He joyfully moved throughout the groves located on the bank of the Ganges, considering them sites of the divine sports of Sri Sri Radha Govinda. His only clothing was a strip of cloth around His waist and often went totally naked. He chanted japa on beads or sometimes knotted a cloth and used that as a substitute for japa beads. Occasionally, He went to Godruma Dvipa to listen to Bhaktivinoda Thakura recite ”Srimad Bhagavatam.
Babaji Maharaja would often visit Bhaktivinoda. During His last days in retirement, absorbed in Krsna katha, He would hear Srimad Bhagavatam at Bhaktivinoda's house and they would discuss together. Though Babaji Maharaja could neither read nor write He was regarded as vastly learned and self-realized. His only possessions were the Tulasi beads around His neck and the japa mala He kept in his hand. Sometimes He wore no Tulasi mala on His neck and would chant on knotted cloth as beads - such was His renunciation. Sometimes He would live under an old broken overturned boat, and other times He would scatter fish bones around a place He occasionally used as His bhajan kutir to make materialists think He was a fish-eater, and thus they would not disturb Him. But by His pure bhajan He purified the three worlds.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (1838-1914) is a prominent preceptor Acharya in our succession of spiritual Masters and disciples coming from Lord Krishna. He was a pioneering spiritual leader, a householder, a magistrate working in colonial India under the British rule, a prolific preacher, writer, and poet. He wrote volumes of books reintroducing the pure teachings of Lord Chaitanya at a time when those teachings had practically become lost. He composed hundreds of devotional songs glorifying Krishna to uplift the consciousness of the suffering people of this world. He corresponded with philosophers, theologians, leaders, scholars, and professors of His time and sent books, including The Life and Precepts of Lord Chaitanya, to university libraries in foreign countries, planting the seeds for a worldwide movement of Krishna consciousness.
Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered and excavated the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya. Along with His devoted wife, Bhagavati Devi, He raised ten children, including the illustrious Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, who would become a great spiritual leader in His own time and the spiritual Master of Srila Swami Maharaja Prabhupada and Srila B R Sridhar Maharaja.
Above all, Bhaktivinoda Thakura taught devotion to Krishna by His personal example. His life story demonstrates a tremendous amount of courage, character, and perseverance in the face of many difficulties and gives hope to those of us who may be wondering just how to find the time to serve Lord Sri Krishna, His holy names, and His devotees in our ever so busy lives.
In many ways, aspiring devotees of Krishna today owe a significant debt to Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura for charting the course and laying the foundation for the modern-day Krishna consciousness movement.
Once, as He looked out from his window across the river towards the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Bhaktivinoda Thakura had a vision that people from all nations would soon come together there in harmony through the blissful chanting of the holy names of Krishna, sankirtan.
Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaja
Shrila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja was respected by all the Vaishnava community and was thus known as Vaishnava Sarvabhauma, or chief amongst the Vaishnavas. There are some nice stories connecting Him with the finding of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's birthplace recorded in Shri Navadwipa Dhama Mahatmya.
Shrila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja was born around the year 1800 AD. He spent many years in Vrindavana where He became famous as a perfect Devotee, though more than this is not known of His early years and pastimes. What we do know, however, is that He was particularly enthusiastic in serving the Lord's Devotees and performing 'kirtan'. In later life His servant, Bihari Lal, used to carry Him on his shoulders in a basket, though when He would hear a 'kirtan' or Himself be engaged in 'kirtan', His body would extend itself out of the basket like a beautiful banyan tree and He would loudly shout, "Nitai ki nam eneche re! Nitai, ki nam diteche re!" "Oh Lord Nityananda, what a wonderful name you have brought! Oh Nitai, what a wonderful name you have given!"
Due to His old age, Shrila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji couldn't open His eyes, but had to forcibly open them with His fingers, what to speak of walk. If He went anywhere He was carried in His basket by Bihari Lal, but upon arriving at the transcendental site, He leapt out of the basket and danced in ecstasy shouting, "Haribol!" and "Gauranga!", definitely establishing it to be the very same birthplace of Lord Chaitanya.
Shrila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja had a disciple named Bhagavat Dasa Babaji Maharaja, and Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji was His disciple. However at this time there was another great exponent of Vaishnava teachings that, on passing, we have already mentioned. His name is Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
Other Acharyas
The 6 Goswamis Of Vrindavan
The Six Goswamis* were a group of scholarly and ascetic devotees of Krishna who lived and wrote in India during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century. They were the leading disciples of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
A number of the Goswamis came from aristocracy but left aside considerable wealth and influence to live as wandering mendicants, dedicating Themselves to writing commentaries on the Vedas. They also uncovered many of the lost places of Krishna's pastimes in Vrindavan, and established temples there that are visited to this day. Under Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's direction, They showed that the essence of all Vedic teachings is devotional service to God, Bhakti-Yoga . Their work largely forms the scriptural and philosophical basis of the Vaishnava or Hare Krishna culture.
The brothers Rupa and Sanatana were formerly high-ranking ministers in the Islamic government of Bengal, India. Their nephew Jiva, is considered by some Sanskrit scholars to be the greatest philosopher of all time. Gopal Bhatta was from an aristocratic South Indian family, Raghunatha Dasa's father and uncle were the wealthiest landowners in India, and Raghunatha Bhatta studied under Rupa and later established the famous Govindaji temple in Vrindavan.
Srila Rupa Goswami, the foremost of the six Goswamis of Vrindavan, was an incarnation of Rupa Manjari, the most important of the eight confidential maidservants of Srimati Radharani in the eternal spiritual Vrindavan.
It is said that without taking shelter of Srila Rupa Goswami one cannot enter into the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya, and without taking shelter of Rupa Manjari one cannot enter into the confidential loving pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Krishna.
Srila Rupa Goswami’s lineage can be traced back to Karnataka, South India where His Saraswata brahmana descendants held influential positions. Srila Rupa Goswami's nephew, Jiva Goswami has explained in His Laghu Toshani that Rupa's descendants were of the Bharadvaja gotra and were learned in the Yajur Veda.
Sri Krsna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared at Sridhama Mayapura, in the city of Navadvipa in Bengal, on the Phalguni Purnima evening in the year 1486 AD. His father, Sri Jagannatha Mishra, a learned brahmana from the district of Sylhet, came to Navadvipa as a student. He lived on the banks of the Ganges with His wife Srimati Sacidevi, a daughter of Srila Nilambara Cakravarti, a great learned scholar of Navadvipa. Their youngest son, who was named Vishvambhara, later became known as Nimai Pandita and then, after accepting the renounced order of life, Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Lord Chaitanya is Krishna Himself appearing as a devotee of Lord Krishna. Lord Chaitanya's appearance was predicted in the Vedic Literatures thousands of years before He physically manifested on this earth planet. Mahaprabhu is considered a hidden incarnation, also the most magnanimous incarnation of Godhead because He distributes love of Godhead to all souls and doesn't make a distinction between who's qualified and who's not like past incarnations.
The wonderful pastimes performed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the city of Navadvipa and in Jagannath Puri are recorded by His biographers. The early life of the Lord is most fascinatingly expressed by the author of Chaitanya-Bhagavata (by Sri Vrindavana Dasa Thakura), and as far as the teachings are concerned, they are more vividly explained in the Chaitanya-Caritamrta (by Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja Gosvami). Now they are available to the English-speaking public in our Teachings of Lord Caitanya.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu preached the Srimad-Bhagavatam and propagated the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita in the most practical way.
The essence of His teachings is recorded in Chaitanya Manjusha as follows:
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Lord Sri Krsna, who appeared as the son of the King of Vraja (Nanda Maharaja), is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is worshipable by all.
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Vrindavana-dhama is non-different from the Lord and hence is as worshipable as the Lord.
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The highest form of transcendental worship of the Lord was exhibited by the damsels of Vrajabhumi.
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Srimad-Bhagavata Purana is the spotless literature for understanding the Lord.
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The ultimate goal of human life is to attain the stage of prema, or love of God.
His instructions to Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami, His discussions with Ramananda Raya, the debate with the Mayavadi sannyasi Prakashananda Sarasvati and the Vedanta Sutra Discussion between Him and Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya are the excellent sources through which we understand His teachings in detail.
The Lord left only eight slokas of His instructions in writing, and they are known as the Siksastaka. All other literatures based on His teachings were extensively written by the Lord's principal followers, the six Gosvamis of Vrndavana, and their followers.
His mission was to preach the importance of chanting the holy names of the Lord in this age of Kali (quarrel). In this present age quarrels take place even over trifles, and therefore the sastras have recommended for this age a common platform for realization, namely chanting the holy names of the Lord. People can hold meetings to glorify the Lord in their respective languages and with melodious songs, and if such performances are executed in an offenseless manner, it is certain that the participants will gradually attain spiritual perfection without having to undergo more rigorous methods. At such meetings everyone, the learned and the foolish, the rich and the poor, the Hindus and the Muslims, the Englishmen and the Indians, and the candalas and the brahmanas, can all hear the transcendental sounds and thus cleanse the dust of material association from the mirror of the heart. To confirm the Lord's mission, all the people of the world will accept the holy name of the Lord as the common platform for the universal religion of mankind.