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Ishvara Puri

Srimad Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami writes: "All glories to Madhavendra Puri, the storehouse of all Krishna-prema! He is a desire tree of bhakti, and it is to him that the seed of bhakti first fructified. The seed of Krishna-prema next fructified in the for of Sri Ishvara Puri, and then the gardener himself, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, became the main trunk of the tree of bhakti." Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati comments on this section of the Caitanya Caritamrita (CC Adi 9.10): "

Sri Isvara P

Haridasa Thakura

As Prahlada Maharaja appeared in a family of demons and Hanuman appeared as a monkey, Sri Haridasa Thakura appeared amongst the lower caste. Haridasa had a handsome form with all aristocratic features. Highly intellectual, he won all debates in Sanskrit and philosophy. Yet, he never lost his temper. In his youth, he became famous for his extreme devotion and ascetism. Though born in a Muslim family, when he became a Vaisnava, even brahmanas would eagerly smear their bodies with t

Gauri Dasa Pandita

In Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Krishna dasa Kaviraja Goswami has written:

tasya shri krishna chaitanya

sat premamara shakhinah

urdvhva-skandhavadhutendoh

shakharupan ganan numah

"Shri Nityananda Prabhu is the topmost branch of the indestructible tree of eternal love of Godhead, Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. I offer my respectful obeisances to all the sub-branches of that topmost branch." Gauridasa Pandit is one of the most important sub-branches of the Nityananda branch of the

Gaurakishore Das Babaji

niskincanasya bhagavan-bhajanon-mukhasya

param param jigamisor-bhava-sagarasya

sandarsanam visayinam-atha yostams ca

ha hanta hanta vis-bhaksanato'py asadhu

“For one who really wants to cross the material ocean and who wants to engage in the transcendental loving service of the Lord without any connection with anything material, seeing a materialist engaged in sense gratification and seeing a woman who is similarly interested is more abominable than drinking poison willingly.”

Gangamata Goswamini

Within the present state of Bengal, lies what was once the kingdom of Sri Naresh Narayana. King Naresh Narayana had a daughter named Sachi. From early childhood, Sachi was a topmost devotee of the Lord. Within a short time, Sachi began her education. At first she absorbed herself in grammar and poetry, but having become expert in these, she gradually became completely immersed in endlessly studying the scriptures. Even as a young girl, she was always fascinated with Krishna co

Gopal Krishna Goswami is received with honor.

The 29th National Sanatan Dharma Mahasamelan was held on 17th of April at the FICCI Auditorium, New Delhi. The meeting was organized by Sri Ramakant Goswami, Vice Chairman, Delhi Jal Board and General Secretary for the All India Sanatan Dharma Pratinidhi Samelan.

Gopal Krishna Swami was invited to represent ISKCON and bless the meetings. Meera Kumar, Lok Sabha Speaker of India, and Shela Dixit, Chief Minister, New Delhi, honored him by offering flower

Ganga Narayana Cakravarti

When Sri Ganga Narayana Cakravarti, a renowned brahmana, took initiation from Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura the smarta brah­manas became outraged. They complained to King Narasimha that the "audacious sudra," Narottama Dasa, had brazenly in­itiated a brahmana into the fold of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. The king, the smartas, and the dig vijaya pandit (world class scholar) went to challenge and conquer the "upstart" Narottama Dasa.

Krishna's devotees peacefully tolerate all insults

Gadadhara Das Thakura

Sri Gadadhara dasa Thakura used to live in Nabadwipa dhama, but after the disappearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he moved to Katwa. Finally he moved to a village called Endiyadaha-grama, where he made his ultimate residence. Gadadhara dasa Thakura had a disciple in Katwa named Yadunandana Cakravarti. Gadadhara dasa was one of the eternal associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu. The Gaura-ganodesa-dipika mentions Gadadhara dasa as the extension of Srima

Candrasekhara Acarya

Sri Candrasekhara Acarya (Acaryaratna) lived in Navadvipa near the house of Sri Nimai Pandit, his nephew. Since Candrasek­hara had no children, he accepted Nimai Pandit as his own and often entertained the Lord within his home. After the disap­pearance of Sri Jagannatha Mishra, Acaryaratna served as Gauranga's guardian and father. Sri Gaurasundara would regular­ly hold kirtans and once enacted a play in Candrasekhara's house. Dressed as Sri Laksmi Devi, Lord Caitanya played t

Birchandra Prabhu

Shrimad Birchandra or Birabhadra Prabhu took birth within this world on the ninth day of the dark moon in the month of Kartik, which corresponds to the divine appearance day of Shri Shrimad Bhakti Raksaka Shridhar Maharaja. Shri Krishna das Kaviraja Goswami writes (CC Adi 11.8-12):

"Shri Nityananda Prabhu is the topmost branch of the indestructible tree of eternal love of Godhead, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu...From that branch grow many branches and sub-branches...After Nityananda

Bilvamangala Thakura

Although born in a South Indian brahmana family, Sri Bilvamangala Thakura fell down with a prostitute named Cintamani, who ultimately satisfied his deepest desire. He became attached and rabid with lust. Even immediately after performing the sraddha rituals for his deceased father he ran to enjoy her. A raging storm and tossing waves could not deter him. In lustful delusion, he held a corpse to cross a turbulent river. Finding the gate locked, he scaled the wall by grabbing a

Bhugarbha Goswami

Just as there is very little mentioned in the scriptures about the life of Ûrila Lokanatha Gosvami, in the same way, there is little written about his dear friend Srila Bhugarbha Gosvami. Srila Lokanatha and Sri Bhugarbha Gosvami were of one heart and mind. On the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu they went to live in Vrndavana. Bhugarbha Gosvami was a disciple of Gadadhara Pandita. Among his disciples were Sri Govindadev’s pujari Caitanya dasa, as well as Mukundananda Cakravarti, Pr

Baladeva Vidyabhusana

Shrimad Baladev Vidyabhusan Prabhu was a pure devotee of the highest order, who cared for nothing but the service of the Lord. He didn't have a spot of desire for name and fame. He was the composer of many scriptures which are as priceless as precious gems, for the ultimate benefit of all those who have taken human birth. The exact location of his birth, the names of his mother and father, and their family tree is not known. The exact circumstances of his birth and childhood

Akincana Krishna Dasa Babaji Maharaja

"Srila Prabhupada said that Krishna Dasa Babaji was akincana (free from all material attachments and possessions) and a paramahamsa (a swan-like pure devotee). He was attached only to chanting the -holy name of Krishna. Born in E. Bengal, he began Krishna consciousness in college, joined the Gaudiya Math, and took initiation from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

"His sole engagement in the temple was chanting Hare Krish­na day and night. His Godbrother

Advaita Acarya Prabhu

He is a disciple of Madhavendra Puri, and constitutes one of the figures amongst the Pancatattva. He is the combined incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu and Lord Sadashiva. He was born in a varendra brahmana family on the seventh day of the bright fortnight in the month of Magha, 1355 Saka (1433 AD), in the village named Lauda in Srihatta.

According to Bangabhasa O Sahitya, Advaita Prabhu was born in 1434 AD and met Vidyapati in 1458 AD. Advaita's former name was Kamalaksha (Kamal

Long ago there lived a powerful sage named Astavakra Risi. The sage was curved in eight parts of his body, and when he walked his movements were quite peculiar and awkward. He was also very ugly, and ordinary people often laughed at the sight of him. Although externally he was awkward and crooked, internally his heart was pure because he had realized his eternal transcendental identity. He knew and realized the difference between the body and the soul. Once, Astavakra Risi was invited by the gre