"Sri Gauranga, Sri Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Sri Gadadhara and
Srivasa are all on the same platform, but in spiritually
distinguishing between them one should understand that Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu is the form of a devotee, Nityananda Prabhu appears in the
form of a devotee's spiritual master, Advaita Prabhu is the form of a
bhakta (devotee) incarnation, Gadadhara Prabhu is the energy of a
bhakta, and Srivasa is a pure devotee. Thus there are spiritual
distinctions between them."
Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi lila 7:5
"...Although Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared as a devotee,
He is none other than the son of Nanda Maharaja. Similarly, although
Sri Nityananda Prabhu appeared as Lord Caitanya's assistant, He is
none other than Baladeva, the carrier of the plow. Advaita Acarya is
the incarnation of Sadasiva from the spiritual world. All the devotees
headed by Srivasa Thakura are His marginal energy, whereas the
devotees headed by Gadadhara Pandita are manifestations of His
internal potency.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Advaita Prabhu and Nityananda Prabhu
all belong to the visnu-tattva category. Because Lord Caitanya is an
ocean of mercy, He is addressed as mahaprabhu, whereas Nityananda and
Advaita, being two great personalities who assist Lord Caitanya, are
addressed as prabhu. Thus there are two prabhus and one mahaprabhu.
Gadadhara Gosvami is a representative of a perfect brahmana spiritual
master. Srivasa Thakura represents a perfect brahmana devotee. These
five are known as the Panca-tattva.
Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi lila 17:301
"There is no difference between the energy and the energetic
in regard to the Lord's appearance as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His
four associates--Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadadhara, and
Srivasa. Amongst these five diverse manifestations of the Supreme Lord
(as the Lord Himself and His incarnation, expansion and energies)
there is no spiritual difference. They are five in one Absolute Truth.
For the sake of relishing transcendental flavors in the Absolute
Truth, there are five diverse manifestations. These are called the
form of a devotee, the identity of a devotee, the incarnation of a
devotee, the pure devotee and devotional energy.
Out of the five diversities in the Absolute Truth, the form of
Lord Caitanya is that of the original Personality of Godhead, Krsna.
Lord Nityananda is the manifestation of the first expansion of the
Supreme Lord. Similarly, Advaita Prabhu is an incarnation of the
Supreme Lord. These three--Caitanya, Nityananda and Advaita--belong to
the category of Visnu-tattva, or the Supreme Absolute Truth. Srivasa
represents the pure devotee, and Gadadhara represents the internal
energy of the Lord for the advancement of pure devotion. Therefore
Gadadhara and Srivasa, although included in Visnu-tattva, are
dependent, diverse energies of the Supreme Lord. In other words, they
are not different from the energetic, but they are manifest diversely
for the sake of relishing transcendental relationships. The whole
process of devotional service involves a transcendental reciprocation
in the relationship between the worshiper and the worshiped. Without
such a diverse exchange of transcendental flavors, devotional service
has no meaning."
Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 17
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam there is the following statement
regarding Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:
krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajhaih
sarikirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah
"In the age of Kali, people who are endowed with sufficient
intelligence will worship the Lord, who is accompanied by His
associates, by performance of sankirtana yaina." (Bhag. 11.5.32) Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu is always accompanied by His plenary expansion Sri
Nityananda Prabhu, His incarnation Sri Advaita Prabhu, His internal
potency Sri Gadadhara Prabhu and His marginal potency Srivasa Prabhu.
He is in the midst of them as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One
should know that Sir Caitanya Mahaprabhu is always accompanied by
these other tattvas. Therefore our obeisances to Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu are complete when we say, sri krsna-caitanya prabhu
nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivas adigaura-bhakta-vrnda. As
preachers of the Krsna consciousness movement, we first offer our
obeisances to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by chanting this Panca-tattva
mantra; then we say, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. There are ten offenses in
the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but these are not
considered in the chanting of the Panca-tattva mantra, namely, sri-
krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-
bhakta-vrnda. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is known as maha-vadanyavatara,
the most magnanimous incarnation, for He does not consider the
offenses of the fallen souls. Thus to derive the full benefit of the
chanting of the maha-mantra (Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare
Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), we must first take
shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, learn the Panca-tattva maha-
mantra, and then chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. That will be very
effective."
Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-Lila, 7.4
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila
Prabhupada.
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