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Gadadara Pandit was a childhood friend of Nimai and both were students in the same ‘Tol’ or school. Gadadhar’s parents Madhav Mishra and Ratnavati were natives of Chattagram district but later moved to Navadwip. Gadadhar Pandit was born in Navadwip.

In the Gaura-ganodesa-dipika, verses 147 through 153, it is stated: “The pleasure potency of Sri Krishna formerly known as Vrindavaneshvari Srimati Radharani is now personified in the form of Sri Gadadhara Pandit in the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

From his early childhood, Gadadhara was very serene, patient, calm, quiet, fond of solitude and very renounced. Nimai Pandit during the time of His precocious youth would ask his fellow students meaningless, fallacious questions in logic. Gadadhara however, was not especially fond of this pastime, and therefore he sometimes used to remain at some distance from Nimai.

After some time, seeing Gadadhara alone, Nimai asked him again, “Where is my Lord Krishna? Please tell me.” Gadadhara answered, “Your Krishna is hidden within your heart.” At this, Nimai started digging into his chest with his nails. Gadadhara leapt forward and held Nimai’s hands tightly.

Years later, Gadadhara accompanied devotees from Navadwip to visit Mahaprabhu in Puri. He stayed on in Puri, not returning to Navadwip. Gadadhara started living in Jameshwar’s Tota (garden). Everyday, Gadadhara would read out aloud from the Srimad Bhagavatam for the pleasure of Mahaprabhu. 

Once while sitting on the beach, discussing some topics on Krishna, Nimai decided to bestow his special grace on Gadadhara. He told Gadadhara to dig in a particular spot. After digging for sometime, Gadadhara discovered the beautiful deity of Sri Gopinath. The deity was established in a temple in the garden and came to be known as Tota Gopinath. 

Soon after, Gadadhara took a vow of “Kshetra Sanyas” (limiting oneself to one particular place only), so as to do uninterrupted seva of Lord Sri Gopinath.

When Mahaprabhu started on his pilgrimage to Sri Vrindavan, Gadadhara said he would accompany him. Mahaprabhu reminded him about his vow. Gadadhara replied that Mahaprabhu was his “Sri Kshetra” and his Gopinath as well. Mahaprabhu was not happy. “This is not proper” he said. 

Gadadhara nearly fainted due to the sorrow of separation. Mahaprabhu told Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya to take him back to Sri Kshetra. He would not let him break his vow. On that particular occasion, Mahaprabhu’s Vrindavan trip was cancelled. Mahaprabhu told everyone that he felt his Vrindavan visit was cancelled because he had made Gadadhara unhappy. 

Srimati Radhika came in the form of Sri Gadadhara. We should try to know Gadadhara-tattva. There is no difference between Sri Gadadhara Pandita and Srimati Radhika, but the activities are different in Krsna’s pastimes and Gaura’s pastimes. In Gaura-lila Sri Gadadhara Pandita is in the mood of a servant.

Sri Caitanya Caritamrta further explains: “No one can define Gadadhara Pandita’s traits or intense love. As a result, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is also known as Gadadhara Prananatha, or “the life and soul of Gadadhara Pandita.”

After performing His pastimes on this planet for 48 years, Sri Gaurachandra wrapped up his manifest pastimes by entering into the deity of Shri Tota-Gopinathji, who Shri Gadadhara Pandita served at Jagannath Puri.

After the disappearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Gadadhara was afflicted with severe pangs of separation and quickly aged. At the age of 47, he was now old and could not serve Tota Gopinath, the deity given to him by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Gopinath knelt to accept the flower garlands of His most beloved devotee to reciprocate His loving service.

At the age of 47, unable to bear separation from the Lord of his life, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, any longer, he wrapped up his pastimes by entering the deity of Srimati Radharani on the side of Tota Gopinath.