Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means free will."

Hayagriva Dasa - "A man may know better but still act wrongly."

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, but that is free will but misuses his free will, just like a thief who knows he is stealing, it is bad, but still he does it. That is free will. He cannot check his greediness, so in spite of his knowing that he is doing wrong thing—he will be punished, he knows; he has seen another thief, he was punished, he was put into prison— everything he knows, but still he steals. Why? Misuse of free will. But unless there can be misuse of free will, then there is no question of free will." (Excerpt from: Philosophy Discussions with Srila Prabhupada on Rene Descartes)

Srila Prabhupada – "So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, or one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that is not independence, that is force." (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975)

Genuine loving exchanges, reciprocation, voluntary offerings and cooperation can NEVER exist in a domineering "one-sided" impersonal autocratic dictatorship! No, there must always be a "two-sided" exchange of feelings where the devotee (the individual jiva-soul) always chooses how to voluntarily serve the Lord.

Srila Prabhupada - "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling, only then there is love. Not by force! Krsna does not want to become a lover like that at the point of a gun - "do what I say or I will kill you." (Washington DC July 8, 1976)<>

One's relationship with God (Krsna or Visnu) in His Personal Kingdom's known as the Vaikuntha planets, and Goloka Vrindavana, is always voluntary and NEVER forced.

This means associating with Krsna and serving Him is NEVER a "one-sided master/slave" mindless none contributing dictatorship Prabhupada is telling us.

The individual jiva-souls in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, are forever voluntarily expanding their unique expressions based on their unique individuality, that is forever expanding with an unlimited variety of personal devotional offerings expressed freely as the devotee chooses (free will).

"Free will" is only fully experienced in the spiritual world's of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana, and NEVER in the temporary material world where the individual jiva-souls are subject to repeated birth and death (karma, good and bad) under the hash laws of material nature.

Those who only want to be Krsna's mindless non-contributing puppets, who are only told what to do and how to think, are practising impersonalism according to Srila Prabhupada's teachings.

Srila Prabhupada - "The individual jiva-soul's position in the spiritual world is always voluntary, some devotee want to serve Krsna as a flower; they become flower there. If I want that "As a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna," he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he can change his form, from flower to human body. That is spiritual life, there is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, he serves Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as blade of grass, a bench, a flag pole, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 1 text 1-4 Melb, Australia May 20, 1975)

Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will in the spiritual world, then you are a stone, the stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you must have free will! But don't misuse your free will. But don't try to become stone either. That is not life." (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)

Srila Prabhupada - "We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one or love cannot be executed only one, there must be two, there must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love." (Lecture SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

One's relationship with God (Krsna) in His Kingdom is always voluntary, it is never a "one-sided" master/slave mindless none contributing dictatorship Prabhupada is telling us here.

The individual jiva-souls in the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana, are forever voluntarily expanding the expressions of their individuality, that is ever increasing with an unlimited variety of personal devotional offerings inspired by free will.

Srila Prabhupada - "We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one or love cannot be executed only one, there must be two, there must be another one. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love." (Lecture SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take from him, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is not love. That is exploitation. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation." (Lecture BG, Ch 9 text 2-5, New York City, Nov 23, 1966)

The individual ability of self-expression (free-will) always exists in the spiritual world for the eternal individual jiva-souls, and allowed by Kṛṣṇa, for the purpose of permitting and encourage voluntarily contributions, where the individual jiva-souls (devotees) express themselves in a particular service they choose to do for Krsna. 

Each individual jiva-soul eternally has their own independent unique personality, that allows them to forever voluntary expand their variety of devotional contributions to Krsna. Therefore, the individual jiva-souls always choose how they want to serve Krsna, or even reject Krsna if they want. 

Without such freedom, then genuine voluntary loving exchanges and reciprocation with Krsna can never exist.

If Krsna denied the individual jiva-souls their freedom of expression (free-will), which is personal voluntary contributions with no strings attached, then their existence as a unique meaningful independent PERSON has no meaning at all, making them no better than dead useless stone or lifeless matter or mindless puppets always controlled by the strings of the impersonal puppeteer.

Srila Prabhupada - "So, unless there is a possibility of misusing our free will, there is no question of freedom." (Dialectical Spiritualism, Critique of Descartes).

The paradox here is the individual jiva-souls have their independence and free will too even though Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.

In other words, each eternal individual jiva-soul has their own unique personality, character and spiritual bodily form always separate and independent from Krsna's Personality and Form. 

Therefore, even though Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, and all living entities are fully dependent on Krsna, the paradox here is the individual jiva-souls have their unique freedom too.

Free will only has meaning when the individual jiva-souls can express themselves in a "two-sided" voluntary affair loving exchanges.

In other words, loving reciprocation is only possible in a "two-way" exchange with both the individual jiva-souls and Kṛṣṇa both contributing to the relationship's expansion of nectarine mellows of devotional service. 

Loving exchanges are only eternally possible on a two-way street. The word "reciprocation" only has meaning when there are two involved, not one. 

Free will only has meaning when the individual jiva-souls can express themselves in an open "two-sided" loving affair without being manipulated, used or bullied in anyway.

Also being able to reject Krsna proves that "free will" does truly exist.

Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means free will." (Philosophy Discussions with Rene Descartes)

Srila Prabhupada – "So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot become fall down, that is not independence. That is force." (Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "God is also an individual person as you are individual person, I am individual person, but the difference between God and you and me is this, that you know your business, I know my business, but God knows everyone's business. That is the difference." (Lecture Melb, Australia April 3, 1972) 

Having free will (freedom of expression) is the eternal constitutional make up of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul), and is the foundation for the individual jiva-soul's voluntary relationship with Krsna.

Srila Prabhupāda – "Love means a relationship between two persons, then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)

Even though Krsna allows the "freedom of expression" the individual jiva-souls have, it is really for His amusement, to see what they do with their eternal freedom of expression. 

Krsna at all times always has genuin eternal loving affection for His individual jiva-soul expansions (devotees) far more than they can ever have for Him. 

Krsna allows free will to see what the individual jiva-souls choose to  are given the freedom to voluntary make their own choices and decisions. 

Krsna always remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes and all that is happening is also His divine plan, just like the Sun-disc and the sun-rays cannot exist separately from each other. 

Similarly, Krsna cannot exist separately from His variety living entities- 

1 - Visnu-tattvas, unlimited  Visnu/Narayana expansions of Kṛṣṇa each with different names like Balarama, Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakashayi Visnu, Paramatma etc.

2 - Visnu-sakti-tattva is Srimati to Radharani and Her expansions who represents Kṛṣṇa's internal energy.  

3 - Siva-tattva, Lord Siva and his expansions who is in a league of his own and chooses to live in the temporary material world where very fallen jiva-souls (ghostly personalies) are attracted to him, and he towards them.

4 - Jiva-tattva (the individual jiva-souls who are Krsna’s separated living entities, this allows them to eternally have free will and act independently even though that action is also dependent on Krsna's will because not even a blade of grass can move without the will of the Lord.  

Each individual jiva-soul (marginal living entity) is a one of a kind individual with their own unique personality and spiritual bodily form different from Krsna's Personality and appearance, and from all other individual jiva-souls too.

Loving devotional service to Krsna is always based on a "two-way" voluntary exchange of personal cooperative feelings with no strings attached, manifesting as voluntary loving acts of devotion between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, who go on too always contribute their own unique expressions (offerings) to Him as the real act of surrendering to Krsna's will, that does not deny the free will and personal offerings of His devotees (the individual eternal jiva-soul)

On the other hand, when actions expressed in a "one-way" domineering forceful dictatorial mood coming from Krsna, or any so called God or His representative, denies personal voluntary contributions (service), that is only possible in a "two-sided" exchange of feelings and cooperation with Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, only leaves those devotees no better off than dead mindless stone explained above by Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada - "Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take from him, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is not love. That is exploitation. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation." (Lecture BG, Ch 9 text 2-5, New York City, Nov 23, 1966)

Srila Prabhupada - "The impersonalist philosophy is oneness, so how there be love with just one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience that love means one? No, love means two, there must be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He loves you so much that He's trying to get you back. That is Kṛṣṇa's attempt. "Please, My dear boy, or My dear friend, My dear servant." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)

Srila Prabhupada – "You have got little independence therefore you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God you have got independence, proportionately, that independence has to be accepted, little independence, we can misuse that." (Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976)

All the personal unique contributions offered to Krsna in the spiritual world, are coming from an unlimited variety of "voluntary services" (offerings) from His devotees (the eternal individual jiva-souls), who are forever expanding their intentional singular offerings to the Lord on the Vaikuntha planets serving Lakshmi/Visnu, and on Goloka-Vrindavana serving Radha/Krsna.

This allows the eternal individual jiva-souls to always make their own voluntary offerings to Krsna without the impersonal "puppet on a string" manipulations or forced control (the real meaning of free will)

In other words, voluntary contributions and service from the individual jiva-souls (devotees), forever increase and expand their natural individual emotions and cooperation with Kṛṣṇa in a healthy "two-way" exchange of loving reciprocation (the real meaning of surrender).

Srila Prabhupada - "Regarding your questions about how and from where did the conditioned souls fall, your first question if someone has a relationship with Lord Krsna on Krsnaloka, does he ever fall down? The souls are endowed with minute independence as part of their nature and this minute independence may be utilized rightly or wrongly at any time, so there is always the chance of falling down by misuse of one's independence." (Letter to Jagadisa dasa, Los Angeles 25 April, 1970)

Srila Prabhupada - "Those who are firmly fixed up in devotional service to Krsna are making proper use of their independence (free-will) and so they do not fall down. Regarding your second question, have the conditioned souls ever seen Krsna? Were they with the Lord before being conditioned by the desire to lord it over material nature? Yes, the conditioned souls are parts and parcels of the Lord and thus they were with Krsna before being conditioned. Just as the child must have seen his father because the father places the child in the womb of the mother, similarly each soul has seen Krsna or the Supreme Father. But at that time the conditioned souls are resting in the condition called susupti which is exactly deep sleep without dream, or anesthetized state, therefore they do not remember being with Krsna when they wake up in the material world and become engaged in material affairs. I hope this will satisfy your questions." (Letter to Jagadisa dasa, Los Angeles 25 April 1970)

The individual jiva-souls always have a unique "thinking mind of their own" as part of their eternal constitutional make-up that allows  them to offer personal contributions eternally.

This allows personal creative unique offerings to Krsna or Visnu in the spiritual world, where there is full varigateness and unlimited Past Times.

Such "free will" is allowed because God (Krsna) has given the individual jīva-souls the power to think, the power to reason, to analyse and question everything, making them the individual independent persons they are eternally.

Free will allows the individual jiva-souls in the spiritual world's of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka Vrindavana, (and partly achieved in the material world, but only in the human species of life), the personal ability to make their own individual voluntary contributions to Krsna, or can choose to act independently and separately without Kṛṣṇa.

The individual jiva-souls in their full spiritual potential are not non-thinking, mindless, non-contributing loveless porns or puppets ("yes" men and women)  who are only manipulated by the puppet master on how to think and act, therefore denied their independent PERSONAL individual self expression, and beautiful contributions. 

The above writings are based on the excellent teachings of His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, my eternal Spiritual Master and teacher.^.

Krsna does not want to be surrounded by "yes" men and women.

No, Krsna wants to be surrounded by those who express themselves as they individually choose, who are NOT afraid to sometimes say no. 

Only then can voluntary constructive contributing cooperative progressive reciprocal loving exchanges become possible.

Freedom of self-expression (free-will) must exist in the spiritual world so the eternal individual jiva-souls can have a "two-sided" cooperative reciprocal forever expanding relationship with Krsna. 

Such unique independence eternally experienced by the individual jiva-souls, is allowed by Kṛṣṇa to permit and encourage voluntary expression in a service the devotees (individual jiva-souĺs) choose to do, and not chosen by Krsna. 

Each individual jiva-soul eternally has their own unique independent personality and spiritual bodily form, allowing them to expand their chosen devotional contributions and service that they offer to Krsna, or reject Krsna if they choose.  

The individual jiva-souls as part and parcel of their natural constitutional make up, can always voluntary choose to serve Krsna in the way they want, or can even reject Krsna if they choose. 

This must be the case if free will truly exists. 

Krsna (God) is the source of all things, nothing can operate or exist separate from Krsna, not even a blade of grass can move without the will of the Supreme Lord. 

So, how are the individual jiva-souls able to freely express themselves when everything is under Krsna's absolute control including free will and past, present and future? 

Those individual devotees who wrongly believe that the ultimate goal of devotional service and surrender to Krsna means to be Krsna's mindless slave, puppet and "yes" men and women, who, once in the Kingdom of God, are only told what to do and what to think, without providing personal contributions and unique offerings, are practising mindless impersonalism, which is the pathway leading to spiritual suicide.

Without such freedom of expression, then genuine voluntary loving exchanges and reciprocation with Krsna can never exist.

If Krsna denied the individual jiva-souls their freedom of expression (free-will), which is being able to make their own voluntary contributions eternally, then the existence of the individual jiva-souls being a unique meaningful contributing individual PERSON, has no meaning at all, making them no better than dead stone or lifeless matter. 

The full devotional potential of the individual jiva-souls does not allow them to be mindless brainless unproductive puppets, who are always only controlled by the dictates and demands of an impersonal puppeteer and denied the ability to make personal unique contributions.

Free will in its full potential, means one can choose to accept Kṛṣṇa, or reject Krsna, otherwise the concept of loving exchanges and free will is meaningless.

Srila Prabhupada - "So, unless there is a possibility of misusing our free will, there is no question of freedom." (Dialectical Spiritualism, Critique of Descartes).

Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you must have free will!" (Aug 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)

The paradox here is the individual jiva-souls have their own independence and free will too, even though Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, cause of all causes who knows everything, and is behind everything, and therefore  simultaneously one and different from His creation of the living entities and the spiritual and material worlds.

In other words, each individual jiva-soul (devotee) has their own unique personality and character that is seemly always paradoxically separate from Krsna's Personality and absolute control, although we must never forget that Krsna is the cause of all causes behind everything and not a blade of grass can move without His sanction. 

Krsna allows it to be be this way to create diversities within His own creation, where a "two-sided" cooperative, or non-cooperative relationship exists between the individual jiva-souls (the created) and Krsna (the creator). 

If it was all a "one-way" totalitarian dictatorship without any diversity and unique independent contributions, expressed in a "two-way" exchange, for good or bad, that the individual jiva-souls can independently express, then the Kingdom of God is denying unique loving exchanges that only happen in "two-sided" cooperative reciprocation (personalism) leaving only an impersonal cold loveless existence of "oneness."

Srila Prabhupada - "The impersonalist philosophy is "oneness," so how there be love with just one? Is it possible? Have you got any such experience that love means one? "No, love means two." There MUST be two, the lover and the beloved. Kṛṣṇa is already lover. He loves you so much that He's trying to get you back. That is Kṛṣṇa's attempt. "Please, My dear boy, or My dear friend, My dear servant." (SB, Canto 2 Ch 1 text 3, Paris, June 12, 1974)

Srila Prabhupāda – "Love means a relationship between "two persons", then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there." (Aug 9, 1976, Tehran)

Srila Prabhupada - "We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. Love cannot be one or love cannot be executed by only one, there must be two. I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love." (SB, Canto 1 Ch 2 text 6, Delhi, Nov 12, 1973)

Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means free will." (Discussions with devotees on Rene Descartes philosophy)

Srila Prabhupada – "So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only, that you cannot become fall down, that is not independence. That is force." (Mayapur, June 20, 1973)

Krsna personally allows the individual jiva-souls to have their free will so diversity and a variety of different actions and thoughts can be expressed in a "two-way" exchange of both cooperative and uncooperative nature according to free will meaning one canveven reject Krsna if they choose.

Therefore, even though Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, and all living entities are fully dependent on Krsna, the paradox here is the individual jiva-souls also have their own unique freedom to express themselves the way they choose and not necessarily what Kṛṣṇa wants.

Free will only has meaning when the individual jiva-souls can express themselves freely, good or bad, in a "two-sided" voluntary affair exchanges and reciprocation or none-reciprocation with Krsna.

In other words, loving reciprocation is only possible when a "two-way" exchange is allowed and encouraged by Krsna so both the individual jiva-souls and Kṛṣṇa can each equally contribute to their relationship's expansion of nectarine mellows in devotional service. 

Yes, loving exchanges are only eternally possible on a "two-way street," meaning a cooperative spirit must exist between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees for love to exist.  

The word "reciprocation" only has meaning and expressed as loving exchanges when there are two involved, not one! 

Free will only has meaning when the individual jiva-souls can express themselves in an open "two-sided" loving affair without being manipulated, used, bullied or controlled in anyway.

Also being able to reject Krsna proves that "free will" does truly exist.

Having free will (freedom of expression) is the eternal constitutional make up of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul), and is the foundation for the individual jiva-soul's voluntary relationship with Krsna.

Even though Krsna allows the "freedom of expression" the individual jiva-souls have, it is really for His amusement, to see what they do with their eternal freedom of expression. 

Krsna at all times always has genuin eternal loving affection for His individual jiva-soul expansions (devotees) far more than they can ever have for Him. 

Yes, Krsna allows "free will" just to see what happens when the individual jiva-souls are given the freedom to voluntary make their own choices and decisions. 

And yes, some do choose to leave Krsna's association in the spiritual world and enter the temporary material world, and attempt to do as they please. 

Krsna always remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes, and behind everything that happens simply because it is all His creation.

Therefore, personal prayers to Krsna the Supreme controller do work because He knows everything.  

Just like the Sun-disc and the sun-rays cannot exist separately from each other, similarly Krsna cannot exist separately from His variety of living entities known as 

1 - Visnu-tattvas, unlimited direct expansions of Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes. 

2 - Sakti-tattva as its full potential meaning - in this case, referring to Srimati Radharani and Her unlimited expansions (Krsna's internal potency) 

3 - Siva-tattva, Lord Siva and his various expansions in the material world.

4 - Jiva-tattva, the individual jiva-souls or separated marginal living entities. Each individual eternal jiva-soul (marginal living entity) is a unique one of a kind independent individual that Kṛṣṇa allows, who have their own unique personality separate from Krsna's Personality, and all other individual jiva-souls.

Loving devotional service to Krsna is always is based on a "two-way" voluntary exchange of personal cooperative feelings manifesting as loving acts of devotion between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, who go on too voluntarily contribute their own unique expressions (offerings) to Him as the real act of surrendering to Krsna's will that does not deny the free will and voluntary offerings of each individual jiva-soul.

On the other hand, when actions expressed in a "one-way" domineering forceful mood from a "so called God or His representative" in His Kingdom, denies personal voluntary contributions expressed cooperatively as a "two-way" exchange of character building loving emotions, only leaves the individual jiva-souls became no better than dead useless stone explained by Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada - "Love means you take and you give also. Suppose if you love somebody and you simply take from him, but you don't give. Oh, do you think it is very good? No. It is not good. That is not love. That is exploitation. If I go on simply taking from you, and if I don't offer you anything, that is simply exploitation." (Lecture BG, Ch 9 text 2-5, New York City, Nov 23, 1966)

Srila Prabhupada – "You have got little independence therefore you can violate. Because you are part and parcel of God you have got independence, proportionately, that independence has to be accepted, little independence, we can misuse that." (Mayapur, Feb 19, 1976).

Krsna never tells His devotees how to think, act or what to offer, Krsna prefers His devotees to choose for themselves how to voluntarily serve Him.

Srila Prabhupada - "The individual jiva-soul's position in the spiritual world is always voluntary, some devotees want to serve Krsna as flower; so they become flower there. If I want to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna and become flower, voluntarily. And one can change their spiritual bodily form, from flower to human bodily form, that is spiritual life. There is no restriction, if a devotee wants to serve Krsna as cow, they serve Krsna as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, as field or pathway, as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything is possible, it is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB, Canto 6 Ch 1 text 1-4, Melb, Australia May 20, 1975).=.

Krsna's "Pancha Tattva" explained.

In Vaishnavism, the Pancha Tattva are five expansions of Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead (four are Viṣṇu-tattva and one is jiva-tattva). These expansions of Krsna together appeared on Earth in the late 15th century.

The five are-

1 - Lord Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the combination of Sri Radharani and Krsna in the one spiritual bodily Form, playing the role of Krsna's devotee.

2 - Lord Nityananda is Krsna's older brother Balarama which is the first expansion of Krsna from whom all Visnu tattva expansion expand from.

3 - Sri Advaita Acharya is Maha-Visnu -  Visnu-tattva who is non dfferent than Krsna.

4 - Sri Gadadhara Pandit is Srimati Radharani who is the incarnation of devotional energy and Krsna's internal potency or energy.

5 - Sri Srivasa (who is also Naradha Muni) represents the "marginal living entities" Krsna's separated energy known as jiva-tattva (individual jiva-souls) who are NOT God but have godly qualities like Lord Brahma and many other great pure devotees of Kṛṣṇa.

The Panca-tattva prayer where all five are mentioned- 

(jaya) sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi gaura bhakta vrnda

Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Lord Krsna enjoys by manifesting Himself as the Spiritual Masters, the devotees, the diverse energies, the incarnations and the plenary portions in the form of the Panca-Tattva.

The Panca-Tattva are all five in one. I, therefore, worship the lotus feet of these five diversities of the one truth, the Panca-Tattva, by invoking their benedictions.

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the spiritual masters, the devotees of the Lord, the Lord’s incarnations, His plenary portions, His energies and the primeval Lord Himself, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami)

1 - Sri Krsna Caitanya,

2 - Prabhu Nityananda,

3 - Sri Advaita,

4 - Gadadhara,

5 - Srivasa.

Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami in the Caitanya Caritamrita describes them as follows-

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "Spiritually, there are no differences between these five tattvas, for on the transcendental platform everything is absolute. Yet, there are also varieties in the spiritual world, and in order to taste these spiritual varieties, one should distinguish between them." (C.C.Adi 7.5)

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "Let me offer my obeisances unto Lord Sri Krsna, who has manifested Himself in five as a devotee (Lord Caitanya), expansion of a devotee (Lord Nityananda), incarnation of a devotee (Advaita Acarya), pure devotee (Srivasa), and devotional energy (Gadadhara)."(C.C.Adi 7.6)

1 - Lord Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "The loving affairs of Sri Radha and Krsna are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure giving potency. Although Radha and Krsna are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally. Now, these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Sri Krsna Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Srimati Radharani, although He is Krsna Himself." (C.C.Adi 1.5)

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "Desiring to understand the glory of Radharani’s love, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appeared from the womb of Srimati Saci devi as the moon appeared from the ocean." (C.C.Adi 1.6)

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the source of energy for all His devotees. He is maha-vadanyavatara, the most magnanimous incarnation of the Lord, for He does not consider the offenses of the fallen souls. In order to take full benefit of the Hare Krsna Mahamantra, we must first take shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

2 - Sri Nityananda Prabhu

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "May Sri Nityananda Rama be the object of my constant remembrance. Sankarsana, Sesa Naga and the Visnus who lie on the Karana Ocean, Garbha Ocean and Ocean of Milk are His plenary portions and the portions of His plenary portions." (C.C.Adi 1.7)

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "I surrender unto the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, who is known as Sankarsana in the midst of the catur-vyuha [consisting of Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha]. He possesses full opulences and resides in Vaikunthaloka, far beyond the material creation." (C.C.Adi 1.8)

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose partial representation called Karanadakasayi Visnu, lying on the Karana Ocean, is the original Purusa, the master of the illusory energy, and the shelter of all the universes." (C.C.Adi 1.9)

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "I offer my full obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, a partial part of whom is Garbhodakasayi Visnu. From the navel of Garbhodakasayi Visnu sprouts the lotus that is the birthplace of Brahma, the engineer of the universe. The stem of that lotus is the resting place of the multitude of planets." 

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "I offer my respectful obeisances unto the feet of Sri Nityananda Rama, whose secondary part is the Visnu lying in the Ocean of Milk. That Ksirodakasayi Visnu is the Supersoul of all living entities and the maintainer of all the universes. Sesa Naga is His further sub-part." (C.C.Adi 1.11)

Devotees understand that Lord Nityananda is Balarama Himself, the first expansion of Krsna. 

Vrindavan das Thakur, author of Caitanya Bhagavat prays- 

"I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhupada's, whose long arms extend to Their knees. They have splendid golden complexions, and They inaugurated the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord. Their eyes resemble the petals of lotus flowers. They are the maintainers of all the worlds, the best of the brahmanas, the protectors of religious principles for this age. They bring happiness to the people of the world, and are the most merciful incarnations.

Lord Nityananda is even more merciful than Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu because after Nitai was struck on the head with an earthen pot by the sinful Jagai and Madhai, He stopped Lord Caitanya from killing the two criminals. He begged the Lord to spare their lives because after all, their mood was to make devotees by killing the demoniac tendencies within, not by slaying wrong-doers.

The Lord agreed to do this if the demoniac brothers would give up their sinful activities and change their bad habits into Krsna Conscious ones. By His request, Mahaprabhu spared the brothers. By this mercy, the brothers fell at the feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and immediately surrendered their lives in devotion to Lord Caitanya."

3 - Sri Advaita Acharya

Advaita means non-dual because He is non-different from the Supreme Lord. Acharya means He is disseminating Krsna Consciousness.

Advaita Acharya is Maha-Visnu, whose main function is to create the cosmic material world through the actions of Maya-

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "Because He is nondifferent from Hari, the Supreme Lord, He is called Advaita, and because He propagates Krsna Consciousness, He is called Acharya. He is the Lord and the incarnation of the Lord’s devotee. Therefore I take shelter of Him." (C.C.Adi 1.13)

Advaita Acharya is in the Visnu-tattva with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu. These are the three masters, but Nityananda and Advaita are servants of Mahaprabhu. It was Advaita Gosai who prayed to the Lord by offering water and Tulasi leaves to His Salagram Sila Krsna Deity by loudly roaring his request for the Lord to appear.

4 - Sri Gadadhara Pandit.

Srila Prabhupada - "The pleasure potency of Śrī Kṛṣṇa formerly known as Vṛndāvaneśvarī is now personified in the form of Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī has pointed out that in the shape of Lakṣmī, the pleasure potency of Kṛṣṇa, she was formerly very dear to the Lord as Śyāmasundara vallabhā. The same Śyāmasundara vallabhā is now present as Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Formerly, as Lalitā-sakhī, she was always devoted to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī." (C.C.Adi 10.15 purport)

Gadadhara Goswami is a representative of a perfect brahmana spiritual master He is the Pleasure Potency of Sri Krsna (Srimati Radharani). He is a learned scholar and Gadadhara Pandit is simultaneously an incarnation of Srimati Radharani and Lalita sakhi

Gadadhara is the incarnation of devotional energy and of the internal potency who is sakti tattva, the confidential worshipper of the Visnu tattva. In this incarnation, Radharani was able to spend time with Her Lord as an intimate associate who helped spread the pastimes and glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

5 - Sri Srivasa Pandit Thakura.

Srivasa Thakura is the incarnation of the pure devotee of the Lord. He is jiva-tattva, the leader of all pure unalloyed devotees and is also known as Naradha Muni.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda! All glories to Advaita Prabhu, and all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya, headed by Srivasa!" (C.C.Adi 10.2)

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "These two captains, with Their soldiers, such as Srivasa Thakura, travel everywhere, chanting the holy name of the Lord." (C.C.Adi 3.75)

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "The devotees headed by Srivasa are His smaller limbs. They are like His hands, face and eyes and His disc and other weapons." (C.C.Adi 6.38)

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "Srivasa, Haridasa, Ramadasa, Gadadhara, Murari, Mukunda, Candrasekhara and Vakresvara are all glorious and are all learned scholars, but the sentiment of servitude to Lord Caitanya makes them mad in ecstasy." (C.C.Adi 6.49-50).

The Lord’s marginal energy (jiva-tattva or individual jiva-soul) is Srivas Thakur who is also Naradha Muni. Other jiva-souls include Lord Brahma. 

Marginal means the individual jiva-souls have their own independent spiritual bodily identity separate from Krsna's control like He has as Viṣṇu-tattva. This means the individual jiva-souls can choose to live in the spiritual world's of the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana (the KingdomsofGod), or can reject Krsna and attempt to live in the temporary material world, or even further try to end their existence (which is never possible) and enter the "inactive" impersonal brahmajyoti. 

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "There are innumerable pure devotees of the Lord, headed by Srivasa Thakura, who are known as unalloyed devotees." (C.C.Adi 7.16)

Even cats and dogs in the household of Srivasa Thakura were liberated. Cats and dogs and other animals are not expected to become devotees, but, in the association of a pure devotee, they are also delivered. The entire family of Srivasa was made up of exalted spiritual personalities.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "In the Gaura-ganodesa dipika, Srivasa Pandita is described as an incarnation of Narada Muni, and Sri Rama Pandita, his younger brother, is said to be an incarnation of Parvata Muni, a great friend of Naradas. Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita’s wife, Mālinī, is celebrated as an incarnation of the nurse Ambikā, who fed Lord Kṛṣṇa with her breast milk, and his niece Nārāyaṇī, the mother of Ṭhākura Vṛndāvana dāsa, the author of Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, was the sister of Ambikā in kṛṣṇa-līlā. We also understand from the description of Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata that after Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s acceptance of the sannyāsa order, Śrīvāsa Paṇḍita left Navadvīpa, possibly because of feelings of separation, and domiciled at Kumārahaṭṭa." (C.C.Adi 10.8)

The supreme energetic, the Personality of Godhead, manifesting in order to enjoy five kinds of pastimes, appears as the members of the Panca-tattva. Actually, there is no difference between them because they are situated on the absolute platform, but they manifest different spiritual varieties as a challenge to the impersonalists to taste different kinds of spiritual humors (rasas).

In the Caitanya Caritāmṛta it is said-

parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate - "The varieties of energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are differently known."

From this statement of one can understand that there are eternal varieties of humors, or tastes, in the spiritual world. Sri Gauranga, Sri Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Sri Gadadhara and Srivasa Thakura are all on the same platform. In spiritually distinguishing between them one should understand that-

1 - Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the form of a devotee, (the combination of Radha and Krsna in the mood of Radharani)

2 - Nityananda Prabhu appears in the form of a devotee’s spiritual master, (Balarama Krsna's older brother and Krsna's first Visnu-tattva expansion)

3 - Advaita Prabhu is the form of a bhakta (devotee) incarnation, (Visnu-tattva)

4 - Gadadhara Prabhu is the energy of a bhakta and the Personality of Krsna's internal energy Srimati Radharani.

5 - Srivasa Thakura is a pure devotee (jiva-tattva or individual jiva-soul) who is also Naradha Muni.

Caitanya Caritāmṛta - "The spiritual distinctions in the Pancha tattva-

1 - The bhakta-rupa (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu),

2 - The bhakta-svarupa (Sri Nityananda Prabhu)

3 - The bhakta-avatara (Sri Advaita Prabhu) are described as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. His immediate manifestation and His plenary expansion, and They all belong to the Visnu tattva category.

Although the spiritual and marginal energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are nondifferent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu, they are predominated subjects, whereas Lord Visnu is the predominator. As such, although they are on the same platform, they have appeared differently in order to facilitate tasting of transcendental mellows. Actually, however, there is no possibility of one being different from the other, for the worshiper and the worshipable cannot be separated at any stage. On the absolute platform, one cannot be understood without the other." (C. C. Adi 7.5)

The Pancha-tattva mantra-

(jaya) sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda.

Devotees of the Hare Krsna Movement (ISKCON) first offer obeisances to Lord Caitanya by chanting this Pancha-tattva mantra; then chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra-

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

There are ten offenses to avoid while chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but these are not considered in the chanting of the Pancha-tattva mantra.

ISKCON devotees follow the four regulative principles-

1 - No meat eating including no eggs or fish

2 - No gambling 

3 - No intoxication including tea and coffee

4 - No illicit sex including homosexuality

And the devotees must chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra daily and abide by the ten offenses while chanting the holy names-

1 - The first is to blaspheme the great devotees who have tried to spread the glories of the holy name throughout the world. The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa, and one who attempts to spread the holy names throughout the world is beloved of Him. Kṛṣṇa Himself does not tolerate offenses against His pure devotees.

2 - The second offense is to deny that Lord Viṣṇu is the Absolute Truth. There is no difference between His name, quality, form, pastimes and activities, and one who sees a difference is considered an offender. The Lord is Supreme, and no one is equal to or greater than Him. Consequently if one thinks that the Lord’s names are nondifferent from the names of demigods, he offends. The Supreme Lord and the demigods should never be considered on the same level.

3 - The third offense is to consider the bona fide spiritual master to be a common man.

4 - The fourth offense is to blaspheme Vedic literature and authorized scriptures like the Purāṇas.

5 - The fifth offense is to consider the glories attributed to the holy names to be exaggerations.

6 - The sixth offense is to concoct perverted theories about the holy name.

7 - The seventh offense is to commit sinful activities on the strength of chanting the holy name. It is understood that by chanting the holy names one is free from sinful reactions, but this does not mean that one should act sinfully on the strength of chanting. That is the greatest offense.

8 - The eighth offense is to consider that religious rituals, austerity, sacrifices or other forms of renunciation are equal to chanting the holy name. Chanting the holy name is as good as associating with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Pious activities are only means to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and they can even be performed for some material reason.

9 - The ninth offense is to preach the glories of the holy name of God to a faithless person who is not interested in hearing them.

10 - The tenth and last offense is to maintain material attachment even after hearing and chanting the holy names of God. The idea is that by chanting the holy name without offense, one can obtain elevation to the liberated platform. On the liberated platform one is freed from all material attachment. Thus if one chants the holy names and still has material attachments, he must be committing some offense." (from the Book "The Teachings of Lord Caitanya")

Lord Caitanya is known as “maha-vadanyavatara”, the most magnanimous incarnation, for He does not consider the offences of the fallen souls.

Thus to derive the full benefit of the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, we must first chant the Pancha-tattva-mantra and then chant the maha-mantra. This will help us to succeed in getting complete benefit of chanting the maha-mantra. Lord Nityananda is even more merciful than Lord Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Also, in the rare Kali-yuga Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu appears in, there is a 10,000 year Golden Age known as the Sankirtan Movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, which is the congregational chanting of the Hare Krsna Maha mantra in every Town, Village and City on the planet. 

In this very rare Kali-yuga, we are very fortunate to be given the great Sankirtan Movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and help spread the chanting of Hare Krsna all over the globe.

Over Lord Brahma's life of 311 trillion and 40 billion human years (100 of Brahma's years) Lord Kṛṣṇa and Lord Caitanya appear "once in every day of Brahma" which is 36,525 days - times over Brahma's life time.**.