Who is Srila Prabhupada?

Who is Srila Prabhupada?

His Divine Grace Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, 1st September 1896 – 14 November 1977.

Born Abhay Charan De, was an Indian spiritual teacher and the founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), commonly known as the "Hare Krishna Movement". 

Members of the ISKCON movement view Srila Bhaktivedānta Swāmi Prabhupada as a representative and messenger of Krishna Chaitanya who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes according to Gaudiya Vaishnavas.

Within the society he is commonly referred to as (Srila) Prabhupāda.

Born in Kolkata (then called Calcutta), he was educated at the Scottish Church College there. Before adopting the life of a novice renunciate (vanaprastha) in 1950,he was married with children and owned a small pharmaceutical business.

In 1959 he took a vow of renunciation (sannyasa) and started writing commentaries on Vaishnava scriptures. 

In his later years, as a travelling Vaishnava monk, he became an influential communicator of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology to India and specifically to the West through his leadership of ISKCON, founded in 1966.

As the founder of ISKCON, he "emerged as a major figure of the Western counterculture in the 1960s, initiating thousands of young Americans since." 

He was criticized by anti-cult groups, but was well regarded by religious scholars, such as J. Stillson Judah, Harvey Cox, Larry Shinn and Thomas Hopkins, who praised Bhaktivedānta Swāmi Prabhupada's translations and defended the group against distorted media images and misinterpretations.

Religious leaders from other Gaudiya Vaishnava movements have also later gave him credit for his achievements.

He has been described as a charismatic leader who was successful in acquiring followers in many countries including the United States, Europe and India.

His mission was to propagate throughout the world Gaudiya Vaishnavism, a school of Vaishnavite Vedic teachings that had been taught to him by his guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. 

After his death in 1977, ISKCON, the society he founded based on Krishnaism using the Bhagavata Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam) as a central scripture, continued to grow.

In February 2014, ISKCON's news agency reported reaching a milestone of distributing over half a billion of Srila Prabhupada's books since 1965. 

His translation of and commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, titled Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is, is considered by ISKCON adherents and many Vedic scholars as one of the finest translations into the English Language of Vaishnavism literary works.

Honorifics

1 - Swāmījī – original honorific used by American disciples

2 - Śrīla Prabhupāda – bestowed by American disciples, 1968, popularised by ISKCON meaning at the feet all other masters sit

3 - His Divine Grace – title of address bestowed by American disciples, popularised by ISKCON

Early life 

Born on 1 September 1896, the day after Janmastami, one of the most important Vedic festivals, in a humble house in Calcutta to a Bengali kayastha family, he was named Abhay Charan, "one who is fearless, having taken shelter at Lord Krishna's feet." 

Since he was born on the day of Nandotsava ("the celebration of Nanda," Krishna's father, a traditional festival in honour of Krishna's birth) he was also called Nandulāl.

His parents, "Sriman" Gour Mohan De and "Srimati" Rajani De, were devout Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu). 

In accordance with Bengali tradition, his mother had gone to the home of her parents for the birth, and only a few days later Abhay returned with parents to his home at 6 Sitakanta Banerjee Lane, Kolkata.

He received a European-style education at the Scottish Church College, which was well regarded among Bengalis; many Vaishnava families sent their sons there.

The professors, most of whom were Europeans, were known as sober, moral men.

The college was located in north Calcutta, near the De's family home on Harrison Road. In the college, Abhay Charan De (অভয়চরণ দে) was a member of the English Society as well as that of the Sanskrit Society, and it has been suggested that his education provided him with a foundation for his future leadership.

He graduated in 1920 with majors in English, philosophy and economics. He rejected his diploma in response to Gandhi's independence movement.

When he was 22 years old, he married Radharani Devi, who was then 11 years old, in a marriage arranged by their parents. At 14, she gave birth to their first son.

In 1922, when he first met his spiritual master, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was requested to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the English language.

In 1933 he became a formally initiated disciple of Bhaktisiddhānta. 

In 1944, (from his front room at Sita Kanta Banerjee, Calcutta), he started the publication called Back to Godhead, for which he was writer, designer, publisher, editor, copy editor and distributor.

He personally designed the logo, an effulgent figure of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the upper left corner, with the motto: "Godhead is Light, Nescience is darkness" greeting the readers. In his first magazine he wrote:

Srila Prabhupada - ''Under the circumstances since 1936 up to now, I was simply speculating whether I shall venture this difficult task and that without any means and capacity; but as none have discouraged me, I have now taken courage to take up the work''. (A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Back to Godhead magazine Vol. 1, 1–4, 1944)

In 1947, the Gaudiya Vaishnava Society recognised his scholarship with the title Bhaktivedanta, (bhakti-vedānta) meaning "one who has realised that devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the end of all knowledge"(with the words Bhakti, indicating devotion and Vedanta indicating conclusive knowledge).

His later well known name, Prabhupāda, is a Sanskrit title, literally meaning "he who has taken the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord" where prabhu denotes "Lord", and pāda means "taking shelter." 

Also, "at whose feet masters sit". 

This name was used as a respectful form of address by his disciples from late 1967/early 1968 onwards. Previous to this, as with his early disciples, followers had called him "Swamiji".

From 1950 onwards, he lived at the medieval Radha-Damodar Mandir in the holy town of Vrindavan, where he began his commentary and translation work of the Sanskrit work Bhagavata Purana.

Of all notable Vrindavana's temples, the Radha-Damodar mandir had at the time the largest collection of copies of the original writings of the Six Gosvamis and their followers – more than two thousand separate manuscripts, many of them 300 to 400 years old.

His guru, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, had always encouraged him to print books, and beholding his spiritual master, Abhay felt the words deeply enter his own life – "If you ever get money, print books." referring to the need for the literary presentation of the Vaishnava culture.

Renunciation

The Gaudiya Matha at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh was where he lived, wrote and studied, edited the Gauḍīya Patrikā magazine and where he donated the deity of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu which stands on the altar beside those of Radha Krishna (named Śrī Śrī Rādhā Vinodavihārījī).

During his visit in September 1959 he entered the doors of this matha dressed in white, as Abhoy Babu, but he left dressed in saffron, as a Vaishnava renunciate (sannyasi).

He took his renunciate vows from his friend and godbrother Bhakti Prajnana Keshava. On becoming a sannyasa he also took the prenominal Swami (स्वामी Svāmī).

He single-handedly published the first three volumes covering seventeen chapters of the first book of Bhagavata Purana, filling three volumes of four hundred pages, each with a detailed commentary.

The introduction to the first volume was a biographical sketch of Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He then left India, obtaining free passage on a freighter called the Jaladuta, with the aim and hope of fulfilling his spiritual master's instruction to spread the message of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu around the world.

In his possession were a suitcase, an umbrella, a supply of dry cereal, about eight dollars worth of Indian currency, and several boxes of books.

Mission to the West

In 1936, just days before Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's death, Prabhupada was specifically ordered to spread Krishna consciousness in the English language to the West. 

He did not take the mission given to him by his spiritual master with the utmost seriousness until he was reading a Bhagavad-gita commentary written by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, who was the father of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.

Between 25 August 1965 and 30 August 1965, the Jaladuta Journal falls silent for six days. On the seventh day, 31 August, the silence is broken with these simple words,

"Passed over a great crisis on the struggle for life and death."

When he sailed to the United States in 1965, his trip was not sponsored by any religious organization, nor was he met upon arrival by a group of loyal followers.

As the Indian freighter Jaladuta neared his destination, the magnitude of his intended task weighed on him.

On 13 September he wrote in his diary - 

"Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion, Lord Sri Krishna." 

On this occasion and on a number of others, he called on Krishna for help in his native Bengali. Examining these compositions, academics regard them as "intimate records of his prayerful preparation for what lay ahead" and a view on "how Bhaktivedanta Swami understood his own identity and mission."

Srila Prabhupada - ''I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place? How will I make them understand this message of Krishna consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified and most fallen. Therefore I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own''.

By journeying to the United States, he was attempting to fulfil the wish of his guru, possible only by the grace of "his dear Lord Krishna".

It was in July 1966 that he brought "global missionary Vaishnavism" to the Western world, founding the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) name in New York City almost one year after arriving in America on September 17th 1965.

He spent much of the last decade of his life setting up the institution. Since he was the Society's leader, his personality and his management capabilities were responsible for much of ISKCON's growth and the reach of his mission.

When it was suggested to him at the time of founding the ISKCON in 1966 that a broader term "God Consciousness" would be preferable to "Krishna Consciousness" in the title, he rejected this recommendation, suggesting that the name Krishna includes all other forms and concepts of God.

After a group of devotees and a temple had been established in New York, another centre was started in San Francisco in 1967 with the help of famous American beat poet Allen Ginsberg who would chant the Hare Krishna mantra before each of his poetry readings and had been doing it for years, even before Prabhupada arrived in America in 1965.

Allen Ginsberg had many discussions with Srila Prabhupada and even wrote the forward to the 1968 abridged version of Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad Gita As It Is.

From there he travelled throughout America with his disciples, popularizing the movement through street chanting (sankirtana), book distribution and public speeches.

One of 108 worldwide temples he opened by 1977, was dedicated to Krishna-Balarama in Vrindavana, India.

Once ISKCON was more established in San Francisco, a small number of devotees from the San Francisco temple were sent to London, England in 1968 where they came into contact with the famous rock and roll musical group The Beatles, who was by far, the most influential music band on the younger generation all around the Globe in the mid 1960s.

George Harrison, a member of the Beatles, took the greatest interest, spending a significant amount of time speaking with Srila Prabhupada and producing a record with members of what became the London Radha Krsna Temple, and releasing a number one hit record in November 1970 ''My Sweet Lord'' that had the Hare Krishna mantra in the song.

It is said many thousands people joined ISKCON as disciples and congregation because of this song.

Over the following years his continuing leadership role took him around the world several times setting up temples and communities on other continents.

By the time of his death in Vrindavan in 1977, ISKCON had become an internationally known expression of Vaishnavism.

In the twelve years from his arrival in New York until his final days, he:

1 - Circled the globe fourteen times on lecture tours that took him to six continents

2 - Initiated almost 4,900 disciples, also awarding sannyasa initiations to some disciples.

3 - Introduced Vedic Gurukul education to a Western audience

4 - Directed the founding of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, which claims to be the world's largest publisher of ancient and classical Vaishnava religious texts

5 - Founded the religious colony New Vrindavan in West Virginia in 1968.

6 - Founded the religious colony New Govardhana in Northern New South Wales Australia in May 1977.

7 - Authored more than eighty books (with many available online on Vedantic philosophy, religion, literature and culture (including four published originally in Bengali)

8 - Introduced international celebrations such as Jagannatha processions

9 - Watched ISKCON grow to more than 108 temples, various institutes, and farm communities.

10 - Through his mission, he followed and communicated the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and introduced bhakti yoga to an international audience. Within Gaudiya Vaishnavism this was viewed as the fulfilment of a long time mission to introduce Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teachings to the world.

11 - In his discussion with historian Arnold J. Toynbee in London, he is quoted as saying: "I have started this Krishna Conscious Movement among the Indians and Americans and for the next ten thousand years it will increase."

Evolution

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada rejects Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection in favour of creationism and intelligent design, claiming that behind nature is a plan created by God.

He dismisses fossil evidence supporting evolution. Bhaktivedanta Swami also criticizes Darwin's belief in chance mutations causing natural selection, stating "as soon as one says 'chance', it means his knowledge is imperfect."

He argues against the idea that humans evolved from monkeys, positing that all life that exists today has existed for millions of years, citing the Bhagavad Gita as evidence. He states he believes in evolution of the spirit rather than the evolution of the physical body.

Books and publishing

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's most significant contribution is considered to be his books.

During the final twelve years of his life, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada translated over sixty volumes of classic Vedic scriptures (such as the Bhagavad Gita, Chaitanya Charitamrita and the Srimad Bhagavatam) into the English language.

For their authority, depth and clarity, his books have won praise from professors at colleges and universities like Harvard, Oxford, Cornell, Columbia, Syracuse, Oberlin, and Edinburgh, and his Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is was published by Macmillan Publishers in 1968 with an unabridged edition in 1972.

It is now available in over sixty languages around the world and some other books by Bhaktivedanta Swami are available in over eighty different languages.

In February 2014, ISKCON's news agency reported to have reached a milestone of distributing over half a billion books authored by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, since 1965.

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust was established in 1972 to publish his works, and it has also published his multi-volume biography, Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta, that according to Larry Shinn, will "certainly be one of the most complete records of the life and work of any modern religious figure".

Srila Prabhupada reminded his devotees before his death that he would live forever in his books, and through them would remain present as a spiritual master or guru.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada had instilled in his followers an understanding of the importance of writing and publishing not only with regard to his works, but also their own initiatives. His early disciples felt Prabhupada had given them Back To Godhead for their own writings from the very start.

A prominent Gaudiya Vaishnava figure, Shrivatsa Goswami, who as a young man had met Bhaktivedanta Swami in 1972, affirmed the significance of book publishing and distribution in spreading the message of Caitanya in an interview with Steven Gelberg:

''Making these Vaishnava texts available is one of Srila Prabhupada's greatest contributions. Apart from the masses, his books have also reached well into academic circles and have spurred academic interest in the Chaitanya tradition. The significance of making these texts available is not merely academic or cultural; it is spiritual''.

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has also said -

''Actually, it doesn't matter – Krishna or Christ – the name is the same. The main point is to follow the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures that recommend chanting the name of God in this age''.

Other typical expressions present a different perspective, where he would point out that -

"Today I may be a Hindu, but tomorrow I may become a Christian or Muslim. In this way faiths can be changed, but dharma is a natural sequence, a natural occupation or a connection and it can not be changed, because it is permanent, according to him''. 

While the ISKCON theology of personal god is close to Christian theology, both personal and monotheistic, being a preacher of bhakti and a missionary he sometimes would add that "already many Christians have tasted the nectar of divine love of the holy name and are dancing with karatalas (hand-cymbals) and mridangas (drums)."

His approach to modern knowledge is also seen in sectarian Orthodox Judaism, where the skills and technical knowledge of modernity are encouraged, but the values rejected.

"Whatever our engagement is, by offering the result to Krishna we become Krishna conscious".

Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada himself taught a dualism of body and soul and that of the genders.

Similar to many traditional religions he considered sexuality and spirituality as conflicting opposites.

Among some liberal male followers there is a positive recognition of his example in applying the spirit of the law according to time, place, person and circumstance, rather than literal tracing of the tradition.

Within India

Beginning his public preaching mission in India, he founded the League of Devotees in Jhansi in 1953.

Following the establishment of temples and centres in the United States and Europe, he returned to India in 1971, holding many public programs which were well attended.

From 1971 onwards, the movement became increasingly popular and spread throughout India. 

He was particularly eager to see the progress on "the impressive temple project in" Mumbai which he and his disciples had fought with determination to establish, with large temples in Mayapur and Vrindavan to follow in the mid-1970s.

To promote the Vedic education system within the modern Indian education structure, he introduced a chain of Gurukul in various part of India. The Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School is one of the most successful schools in the list.

In 1996, the Government of India recognized his accomplishments by issuing a commemorative stamp in his honour as a part of Prabhupada Centennial celebrations.

Speaking at the inauguration of ISKCON's cultural centre in New Delhi on the occasion of Ramnavmi in 1998, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then newly elected as India's prime minister, said:

''If today the Bhagavad Gita is printed in millions of copies in scores of Indian languages and distributed in all nooks and corners of the world, the credit for this great sacred service goes chiefly to ISKCON.

For this one accomplishment alone, Indians should be eternally grateful to the devoted spiritual army of Swami Prabhupada's followers.

The voyage of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to the United States in 1965 and the spectacular popularity his movement gained in a very short spell of twelve years must be regarded as one of the greatest spiritual events of the century''.

A number of memorial samadhis or shrines to Bhaktivedanta Swami were constructed by the members of ISKCON in his remembrance, the largest of which are in Mayapur, Vrindavan and at the larger sized temples in the United States.

Prabhupada's Palace of Gold was designed and constructed by devotees of the New Vrindavan community and dedicated on 2 September 1979.

Back in 1972 it was intended to be simply a residence for Bhaktivedanta Swami, but over time the plans evolved into an ornate marble and gold palace which is now visited by thousands of Hindu pilgrims each year, visiting this centrepiece of the community strongly relying upon tourist trade.

Books

1 - Bhagavad-gītā As It Is (1968) ISBN 0-89213-134-9
2 - Śrī Īśopaniṣad (1969) ISBN 0-89213-280-9
3 - Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1972–77) ISBN 84-86883-07-5 (Vols.)
4 - Caitanya-caritāmṛta (1974) ISBN 0-912776-50-1 (Vols.)
5 - The Nectar of Instruction (1975) ISBN 0-912776-85-4
6 - Teachings of Lord Caitanya (1969) ISBN 0-912776-07-2
7 - KRSNA, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (1970) ISBN 0-89213-354-6
8 - The Nectar of Devotion (1970) ISBN 0-912776-05-6
9 - Easy Journey to Other Planets (1970)
10 - Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System (1970)
11 - Beyond Birth and Death (1972)
12 - The Perfection of Yoga (1972)
13 - Kṛṣṇa, the Reservoir of Pleasure (1972)
14 - On the Way to Kṛṣṇa (1973)
15 - Rāja-vidyā: The King of Knowledge (1973)
16 - Elevation to Kṛṣṇa Consciousness (1973)
17 - Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: The Matchless Gift (1974)
18 - Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers (1977)
19 - Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūtī

And many more are being printed from Prabhupada's morning walks, Class lectures, room conversations and some letters 

Bengali writings

1 - Geetār-gan
2 - Vairāgya-vidyā
3 - Buddhi-yoga
4 - Bhakti-ratna-boli.

The difference between Krsna, Visnu-tattva, Siva-tattva and Jiva-tattva (jiva-souls)

All the "living entity expansion categories" of Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes are-

1 - Visnu-tattva (headed by Balarama then His unlimited Visnu/Narayana expansions. 

And the internal "sakti" energy of Kṛṣṇa is headed by Srimati Radharani who Krsna created by dividing Himself into two just so He could experience loving intimate exchanges with a woman.

When Radha and Krsna become "one Body," then we have Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

2 - Siva-tattva (Lord Siva and his expansions) 

3 - Jiva-tattva (the marginal living entities or individual jiva-souls) 

All these expansions are dependent on Krsna's energy and are His eternal parts and parcels who belong to Krsna and comes from Krsna.

All that exists is Krsna's energy, and no-one can ever be independent from Krsna, even when some (the jiva-souls) are given free will and the independence to choose to serve Krsna, or reject Krsna and follow their own desires.

For both of these choices that may happen, still everything comes from Krsna and must be sanctioned by Krsna.

Generally, Krsna never interferes with free will and allows His own energy to be used rightfully or wrongly because He allows the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) to be free so they can experience voluntary loving exchanges.

Allowing freedom means one must be able to choose to do right or wrong, otherwise there is no question of having freedom.

We must understand that all things that exist is the energy of Lord Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes and nothing is independent from Him.

However, for each jiva-soul to be able to express themselves in their own unique way, means they must have their own independent personality separate from Krsna's Personality, only then can love exist.

In fact if Krsna never allowed freewill on the Vaikuntha planets and in Goloka-Vrindavana, then Him and all those around Him are no better that dead lifeless stone.

Life for the jiva-souls means "freedom" in the spiritual world that comes from "free will."

As said above, Krsna's expansions called jiva-tattva (jiva-souls), are separate "independent acting" living entities within Krsna's realm of Goloka-Vrindavana and the Vaikuntha planets, and to a lessor degree the material creation and the impersonal Brahmajyoti. 

In the spiritual world, the jiva-souls "voluntarily" always express themselves in their own unique way with offerings of personal contributions they provide to please Krsna.

Free will can NEVER be "surrendered" because our choices define who we individually are as a contributing individual devotee of Kṛṣṇa.  

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. 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 - "The jiva-soul's position in the spiritual world is voluntary. Some devotees want to serve Krsna as flower; they become flower there. If I want to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna and become a flower, voluntarily, and one can change 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 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, Melbourne, May 20, 1975)

In the spiritual world all relationships with Krsna are equally blissful to each other, just like one may like a carnation flower while others may choose to like a rose flower.

The jiva-souls (marginal living entities), as part of their eternal constitution, are ETERNALLY endowed with free will, as free thinking individuals in their full potential in the spiritual worlds that allows a loving reciprocal relationship of exchanges between Kṛṣṇa and the jiva-souls.

Srila Prabhupada - "The "immediate" expansions of the Lord are called svāṁśa or "personal direct" expansions (known as Visnu-tattva, where the Lord Himself plays a different role in His own pastimes). The "separated" expansions of the Krsna are called vibhinnāṁśa - (jiva-souls endowed with independence and free will) like us." (BG 10.37, Purport)

The word "marginal energy or potency" refers to the individual jiva-souls who are separated living entities each with their own personality separate from Krsna's Personality, and endowed with "free will."

Srila Prabhupada - "You are also energy; you are marginal energy. Marginal energy means you may be under the control of the spiritual energy or you may be under the control of material energy—your marginal position. But when you are under the control of the material energy, that is your precarious condition, struggle for existence. And when you are under spiritual energy, that is your life of freedom." (Introduction BG, As It Is, Los Angeles, Nov 23, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada – "Regarding your questions where are the spirit souls coming from?  These spirit souls and all spirit souls are coming from Vaikuntha, but in these material worlds they are taking various grades of bodies according to their material activities. There is no new soul. New and old are due to this material body, but the soul is NEVER born and NEVER dies, so if there is no birth, so how there can be new soul?" (Letter to Jagadisa dasa 7/9/1970)   

Srila Prabhupada - "We (the jiva-souls) are marginal energy (jiva-souls). Marginal means sometimes internal, sometimes external. When we are under the internal energy, that is our normal life, and when we are under the external energy, that is our abnormal life. Therefore, we are called marginal energy (jiva-souls); we can be either this way or that way. But being qualitatively one with the purusa, our tendency is to remain in the internal energy. Being in the external energy is our artificial attempt." (Letter to Lilavati, Allston, Mass 25 April, 1969)

The jiva-souls have the following qualities-

1 - Having 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities means the jiva-souls have 78.125% of Krsna's attributes.  

2 - Their own independent personality and unique character that is fully dependent on Krsna's energies.

3 - Their own individual spiritual bodily form (svarupa) that is originally 2 legs 2 arms like Krsnas but can voluntarily change to many other forms from a blade of grass to a tree  flower, flagpole, chair, cloud, rain etc including the 4 armed form similar to Lord Viṣṇu while living on the Vaikuntha planets.

No two jiva-souls are the same in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavan, each jiva-soul is unique with their own personality separate from Krsna's Personality.

Even though at a glance in the Vaikuntha planets, all jiva-soul's bodies resemble Lord Visnus, the fact is, each spiritual body resembling Lord Visnu's body, when carefully observed, is different, each has their own unique characteristics.

All the jiva-souls are independent from Krsna's Personality and dominance, having their own unique personality and free will, yet as said above, are always fully dependant on Krsna's all pervasive energies.

The jiva-souls have their own unique sense of self that allows them to voluntarily contribute their own personal offerings to Krsna instead of being told what to offer to Krsna.

Such a personal exchange between Kṛṣṇa and the jiva-souls adds flavour and mystery to the relationship.

The jiva-soul's individual, independent spiritual nature is an eternal person in the spiritual world where their full potential of freedom is fully realized.  

In other words, without having the "free will" to be a separate independent contributing individual living entity, then one is no better than a dead stone Prabhupada has warned us.

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! 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)

Having free will is the eternal constitutional make up of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul), and is the foundation for the 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 this freedom for His amusement to see what happens when the jiva-souls are given freedom, He always remains the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes.

Just like the Sun-disc and the sun-rays cannot exist separately from each other, similarly Krsna cannot exist separately from His living entities (parts and parcels) and the living entities cannot exist without Krsna.

Each jiva-soul (marginal living entity) is a one of a kind independent individual with their own unique personality and character different separate from Krsna's Personality and Character, and different from other jiva-souls and expansions of Kṛṣṇa.

Loving devotional service to Krsna is always is based on a "two-way" voluntary exchange of personal feelings manifesting as loving acts of devotion between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, who 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 of each individual jiva-soul.

On the other hand, actions expressed in a one-way domineering forceful mood from a "so called God" in His Kingdom that denies personal voluntary contributions expressed in a two-way exchange of feelings, only leaves the jiva-souls no better than dead stone as explained above by Prabhupada.

Such a mindless none productive relationship is dangerous impersonalism.

"Personalism" means having a "two-way" relationship with Krsna that includes voluntary loving exchange of feelings that expands, enriches and multiplies loving affection, sentiment and exchanges between the jiva-souls and Krsna.

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 on BG Ch 9 text 2-5, New York, Nov 23, 1966)

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 - "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 - "Surrender BY your intelligence but don't surrender your intelligence." (Letter to Bali Mardan 1974)

Love can never exist when only one is involved, the freedom must be there to voluntarily participate in a two-way relationship. Even Krsna had to divide Himself into two just so He could experience loving exchanges with a women. 

The word reciprocation only has meaning when there are two involved, NOT one.

As explained  above, free will is eternally the constitutional make up of every marginal living entity (jiva-soul) and the foundation in all relationship with Krsna because free will gives the jiva-souls a voice and ability to give and receive love.

If Krsna did deny the jiva-souls their free will, then the Vaikuntha planets and Goloka-Vrindavana are dead useless realms where only cold impersonalism exists.

Srila Prabhupada - "Love means two, there must be two, the lover and the beloved." (Lecture on BG Ch 9 text 2-5, New York, Nov 23, 1966)

Loving exchanges is activated by reciprocation between two, as said above, it can never exist on a one-way platform. 

Therefore, the destiny of the jiva-souls is not exclusively up to Krsna, the jiva-souls also have a choice as well.

The fact is Krsna will never force the jiva-souls to accept His promise of never again falling down to the material creation if they choose differently.

He can force His will on the jiva-souls if He wants because Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes and controls everything including the jiva-souls free will.

However, no, Krsna will never interfere with the jiva-soul's free will by forcing them to love Him because He knows by not allowing the jiva-souls to have their freedom, only makes them no better than dead useless stone.

In other words, forcing His will on the jiva-souls will only destroy their independent nature and unique personality, depriving them of experiencing "voluntary" exchanges with Krsna.

The experience of real love means a relationship between two, that includes the free will to even reject Krsna if one chooses.

Devotee – "Is the original body of the spirit soul a human form?"

Srila Prabhupada – "Yes, human form, God is also human form. Man is made after the shape of God. I think there is in the Bible. Is it not? So God is also like human form. Here you see Krsna, two hands, two legs."

Hari-sauri – "How do we understand, then, that there are peacocks and flowers and trees in the spiritual world? Are these not eternal forms?"

Srila Prabhupada – "[describing material form first]: Yes, they are more covered. Just like if you cover your body with blanket, the hands and legs are invisible. But you are not the blanket. So the trees and plants, they are more covered. They are not in full manifestation. The human form is the full manifestation of the soul."

Hari-sauri - "They are covered in the spiritual world?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Not in the spiritual world, there that is voluntary, some devotees want to serve Krsna as flower; so they become flower there. If I want that, to be a flower I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Krsna, then he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he can change 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 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, Melbourne, May 20, 1975)

All the individual personal contributions from the jiva-souls are forever expanding their unique ability of self expression in Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindavana.

This allows them to always make voluntary offerings to Krsna that forever increase and expand loving emotions in healthy two-way exchange between Kṛṣṇa and the individual jīva-souls.

It is very important to understand that the individual jiva-souls are "persons" with their own unique individual feelings of self expression existing always in both Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana.

It must be clearly understood for love to truly exist, each individual jiva-soul must have their free will so they can contribute in their own way and make their own choices in Vaikuntha and Goloka-Vrindavana, even if it means choosing to leave Krsna, otherwise there can be no question of genuine love or service.

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

This quality or attribute of free will is part of the jiva-soul's marginal constitutional nature, as an independent free thinking part and parcel expansion of the Krsna.

Krsna allows this freedom that all jiva-souls have because without free will loving exchanges and reciprocation can never exist.

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

Srila Prabhupada - "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 - "A man may know better but still act wrongly."

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, but that is free will. He misuses his. Just like a thief, he knows that his 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. Unless there is misuse of free will, there is no question of free will." (Discussions with Rene Descartes and Prabhupada)

The jiva-souls (marginal living entities) have 78.125% of Krsna's 100% qualities, which is 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities. 

This is important to understand and know what percentages mean with Krsna's expansions and different categories of living entities. 

For example, other than the marginal living entities (jiva-soul's 78.125% qualities), there are Krsna's more direct expansion known as Visnu-tattva who have 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities, which is 93.75% of Krsna's attributes.

Some expansions are complete and omnipotent beings like Krsna Himself, who are Krsna, playing different roles as Himself, but in unlimited different Narayana/Visnu forms. 

All these forms like Balarama, Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakashayi Visnu etc, have 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities. Then there is the Siva-tattva who is inbetween the jiva-tattvas and the Visnu-tattva who has 55 of Krsna's qualities which is 84.375% of Krsna's attributes.

Srila Prabhupada - "Balarama is the plenary manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore He is as good and powerful as Lord Krsna. He belongs to the Visnu-tattva - the principle of Godhead." (SB, 1.11.16-17, Purport)*^*^×

The glorious passing of His Grace Sanak Dasa ACBSP (Stavros Steve Vergis) from this world on his journey to be with Krishna.

Sanak Dasa ACBSP (Stavros Steve Vergis) has now left this world and his troublesome material body at the age of 70.

He lived a life full of adventure, lover of all animals but the protector of Horses, that Prabhupada has said is the most beautiful of all animals.

May you find peace in the Spiritual World of Goloka-Vrindavana with Krishna and all His dear friends

There are many Cows there too, but also Krishna keeps has His dear horses there as well, who pull His wonderful Chariot.

We all have to go through this transition eventually, giving up this material bodily decaying vessel, and waking up from the material dream to discover who we "really are" in the Kingdom of God, beyond this material creation.

Sanak Dasa ACBSP prabhu is on the left in top photo (April 1972) and myself on the right.

And with his beloved horses in the following two photos. First as a young child -

 And Sanak just recently while in Greece.

The next photo below is Sanak's initiation given to him by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in early April 1972.

In this next photo below, Sanak is standing near the middle of photo, he is 6th male devotee in from the right with freshly shaven head (July 1972)

Sanak as a young man with his family, and also training horses in the next three photos.

Lord Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, and origin of all Vishnu and Narayana forms of God.

Lord Narsingha dev, an expansion of Krishna,  the protector of His dear Devotees.

Lord Krishna in this photo below, Sanak greatly liked very much.

 Srila Prabhupada.

Gadādhara Paṇḍita from the Pancha-Tattva is an expansion of Srimati Radharani and Lalitā-sakhī.

Gadādhara Paṇḍita is simultaneously an incarnation of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and Lalitā-sakhī.

Srila Prabhupada - "Gadādhara Paṇḍita, the fourth branch, is described as an incarnation of the pleasure potency of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. No one, therefore, can equal him.

In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (147–53) it is stated -

"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 was present in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes as Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

Formerly, as Lalitā-sakhī, she was always devoted to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Thus Gadādhara Paṇḍita is simultaneously an incarnation of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and Lalitā-sakhī.

In the Twelfth Chapter of this part of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta there is a description of the descendants or disciplic succession of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

Gadādhara dāsa is stated to be the luster of the body of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, just as Śrīla Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosvāmī is an incarnation of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Herself." (CC Adi 10.15)

Srila Prabhupada - "Gadādhara dāsa went from Navadvīpa to Katwa. Thereafter he came to Eṅḍiyādaha and resided there. He is stated to be the luster of the body of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, just as Śrīla Gadādhara Paṇḍita Gosvāmī is an incarnation of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Herself." (CC Adi 10.53)

Gadadhara is expansion Radharani.

Srila Prabhupada - "Regarding your two questions, the first, Sri Gadadhara is expansion Radharani." (Letter to Tamala Krsna, Los Angeles 27 May, 1970)

Who are the Pancha Tattva? A full detailed explanation.

Who are the Pancha Tattva?

A full detailed explanation.

Left to Right in painting below,

1 - Sri Advaita Acharya is Maha-Visnu and Visnu-tattva.

2 - Sri Nityananda is Balarama Himself the first expansion of Krsna and is Visnu-tattva.

3 - Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the combination of Sri Radha and Krsna playing the part as Krsna's devotee.

4  - Sri Gadadhara Pandit is Srimati Radharani who is the incarnation of Krsna's devotional internal energy (sakti) also known as Visnu-sakti-tattva.

5 - Sri Srivasa "marginal energy" (jiva-tattva or jiva-soul) who is also Naradha Muni

(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 Caritamrita - "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 Caritamrita - "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 Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Caitanya Caritamrita - "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 Krishna Himself." (C.C.Adi 1.5)

Caitanya Caritamrita - "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 Caritamrita - "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 Caritamrita - "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 Caritamrita - "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 Caritamrita - "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." (C.C.Adi 1.10)

Caitanya Caritamrita - "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 subpart." (C.C.Adi 1.11)

Devotees understand that Lord Nityananda is Balarama Himself — the first expansion of Krishna. 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. Acarya means He is disseminating Krsna Consciousness.

Advaita Acharya is Mahavisnu, whose main function is to create the cosmic world through the actions of Maya

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

Advaita Acarya 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.

Caitanya Caritamrita - "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."

Srila Prabhupada - 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.

Caitanya Caritamrita - "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 Caritamrita - "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 Caritamrita - "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 Caritamrita - "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).

Part of he Lord’s "marginal energy" (jiva-soul) is Srivas Thakur who is Naradha Muni.

Caitanya Caritamrita - "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 Caritamrita - "In the Gaura-ganodesa dipika (90), 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 Narada’s. 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 Five Truths known as the Pancha Tattva.

Caitanya Caritamrita - "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 Vedas it is said, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate:

"The varieties of energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are differently known."

From this statement of the Vedas 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, (combination of Radha and Krsna)

2 - Nityananda Prabhu appears in the form of a devotee’s spiritual master, (Visnu-tattva)

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

4 - Gadadhara Prabhu is the energy of a bhakta, (Sakti Visnu tattva) and is Srimati Radharani.

5 - Srivasa Thakura is a pure devotee (jiva-soul) and is also Naradha Muni. Thus there are spiritual distinctions between them.

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)

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 in the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but these are not considered in the chanting of the Pancha-tattva mantra.

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 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.