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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | |
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| Personal | |
| Born | Vishvambhara Mishra 18 February 1486 |
| Died | 14 June 1534 (aged 48) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Spouse | Lakshmi Priya (first wife) and Vishnupriya |
| Known for | Expounded Gaudiya Vaishnavism, kirtan |
| Organization | |
| Founder of | Gaudiya Vaishnavism Achintya Bheda Abheda |
| Philosophy | Bhakti yoga, Achintya Bheda Abheda |
| Religious career | |
| Guru | Swami Isvara Puri (mantra guru); Swami Kesava Bharati (sannyas guru) |
Disciples | |
| Literary works | Shikshashtakam |
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| Vaishnavism |
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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Bengali: মহাপ্রভু শ্রীচৈতন্য দেব; Sanskrit: चैतन्य महाप्रभु, romanized: Caitanya Mahāprabhu), born Vishvambhara Mishra; IAST: Viśvambhara Miśra[2]; 18 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 had a profound effect on Vaishnavism in Bengal.
He is considered the chief proponent of the Vedantic philosophy of Achintya Bheda Abheda. However, the concept of inconceivable difference in non-difference, known as achintya-bhedabheda, was developed later by Jiva Gosvami in his book Bhagavat Sandharbha.[4]
Mahaprabhu founded Gaudiya Vaishnavism (a.k.a. the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya). He expounded Bhakti yoga and popularised the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.[5] He composed the Shikshashtakam (eight devotional prayers).
Chaitanya is sometimes called Gauranga (IAST: Gaurāṅga) or Gaura due to his molten gold–like complexion.[6] His birthday is celebrated as Gaura-purnima.[7][8] He is also called Nimai because he was born underneath a Neem tree.[9]
- ^ Valpey, Kenneth (2018). "Caitanya". In Jacobsen, Knut A.; Basu, Helene; Malinar, Angelika; Narayanan, Vasudha (eds.). Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online. Brill.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Banglapedia Chaitanyawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ 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".
- ^ 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"
- ^ 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
- ^ "Gaura Purnima". www.krishna.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
- ^ Sri Gaura Purnima Archived 1 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine"givegita.com"
- ^ KCM Archive"They named Him Nimai, as he was born under a neem tree." Archived 24 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine