Who was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Indian Celebrities Born In February

Also Known As: Vishvambhar Mishra

Died At Age: 50

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Lakshmipriya, Vishnupriya

Indian Men Indian Spiritual & Religious Leaders

Died on: June 14, 1534

place of death: Puri, India

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1

Where did Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spend most of his life?

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spent most of his life in the holy town of Puri, in the Indian state of Odisha.
2

What is the significance of the Hare Krishna mantra in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings?

The Hare Krishna mantra, also known as the Maha Mantra, is central to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings as it is considered the most powerful way to connect with the divine through chanting.
3

How did Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spread his teachings during his lifetime?

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu traveled extensively throughout India, especially in Bengal and Orissa, to spread his message of love, devotion, and the chanting of the holy names of Krishna.
4

What is the philosophical doctrine known as "Achintya Bheda Abheda?"

The doctrine of "Achintya Bheda Abheda" taught by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu emphasizes the simultaneous oneness and difference between the individual soul and the Supreme Being, illustrating the concept of inconceivable unity in diversity.

Childhood & Early Life

He was born as Vishvambhar Mishra on 18 February 1486 in present-day Nadia, West Bengal, India, into a Brahmin family, to Jagannath Mishra and his wife Sachi Devi. He was their tenth child and his childhood nickname was Nimai. Several of his older siblings had died soon after birth.

His mother’s father, Pandita Nilambara Chakravarti, a renowned astrologer, foretold that the child was destined for greatness in future.

He grew up to be a bright child and developed an early interest in religious pursuits. He entered the Gurukula of Gangadasa Pandita in Ganganagara when he was eight years old. A brilliant student, he excelled in his studies and became a scholar in Sanskrit grammar and rhetoric at a young age.

He went to Gaya as a teenager and it was here that he met the ascetic Ishvara Puri who would become his guru. Nimai received initiation with the Gopala Krishna mantra from his guru. This meeting had a significant impact on the young man who now became more inclined towards religion.

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Later Years

Upon his return to Bengal he became a prominent religious preacher and before long was considered the eminent leader of the Vaishnava group within Nadia. He soon received entrance into the sannyasa order by Keshava Bharati.

After becoming a sannyasi he travelled throughout India, visiting many places, spreading the name of the Lord Krishna. He also visited the house of Advaita Prabhu in Shantipura. Many followers, friends, and family members of Krishna Chaitanya—as Nimai was now known—came to meet him. The visitors included his mother.

Krishna Chaitanya popularized Krishna sankirtana—the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord—throughout India. He was the proponent for the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga (meaning loving devotion to God) and was revered by his followers and devotees as a merciful incarnation of Vishnu.

A major figure in the Bhakti movement, he founded the Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a religious movement with its foundations in the philosophies of the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana. The focus of the movement is the devotional worship (bhakti) of Radha and Krishna, and their many divine incarnations as the supreme forms of God.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also founded Achintya-Bheda-Abheda, a school of Vedanta representing the philosophy of inconceivable oneness and difference in relation to the power creation and creator. This philosophy differentiates the Gaudiya tradition from the other Vaishnava Sampradayas.

There is only one written work left by him, the ‘Shikshashtakam’, a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu prayer of eight verses composed in the Sanskrit language. The teachings in the prayer are believed to contain the essence of all teachings on Bhakti yoga within the Gaudiya tradition.

Major Works

He wrote a series of verses known as the ‘Shikshashtakam’, or "eight verses of instruction” which are considered to contain the complete philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in condensed form. He requested six saints and theologians among his followers to systematize the Gaudiya Vaishnava theology in their own writings.

Personal Life & Legacy

At the age of 14 or 15, he was married to Laksmidevi, The daughter of Vallabhachaarya, of Nadia. He renounced family life after a few years when he embarked into asceticism.

He left for his heavenly abode on 14 June 1534, in Puri, Odisha, at the age of 48.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left a deep impact on the cultural legacy in Bengal and Odisha. In the early 18th century Kalachand Vidyalankar made his preachings popular in Bengal, and even in modern times many people revere him as an avatar of Krishna.

In 1957, Kartik Chattopadhyay directed a Bengali biographical film on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu titled ‘Nilachaley Mahaprabhu’.

Facts About Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was known for his exceptional singing and dancing abilities, often captivating audiences with his melodious voice and graceful movements.

He was a strict vegetarian and promoted the importance of compassion towards all living beings, inspiring many to adopt a meat-free diet.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had a deep love for nature and often spent time meditating in the serene surroundings of forests and rivers, finding solace in the beauty of the natural world.

Despite his spiritual teachings and ascetic lifestyle, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had a playful and joyful demeanor, known for his sense of humor and ability to bring laughter to those around him.

He had a remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life, transcending social barriers and spreading his message of love and devotion to all who crossed his path.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Biography

You wanted to know

Where did Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spend most of his life?

What is the significance of the Hare Krishna mantra in Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings?

How did Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spread his teachings during his lifetime?

What is the philosophical doctrine known as "Achintya Bheda Abheda?"