Gadadhara Pandita
Gadadhara Pandita, also known as Pandita Goswami, was a close associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.[3] Gadadhara Pandita Goswami is described as a handsome young boy, student of Nyaya (Indian logic) and ranked highest among the inner circle of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's followers.[4]
Śrī Gadadhāra Pandita | |
|---|---|
 Murti of Śrī Gadadhāra Pandita, ISKCON Mayapur | |
| Other names | Gadādhar Bhaṭṭ[1] |
| Personal | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Known for | Expounded Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Bhakti yoga along with Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Śrī Nityānānda Prabhu |
| Other names | Gadādhar Bhaṭṭ[2] |
| Philosophy | Bhakti yoga, Achintya Bheda Abheda |
| Religious career | |
| Guru | Madhavendra Puri (mantra guru) |
| Associates | Śrī Advaita Ācārya, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Śrī Nityānānda Prabhu, Śrīvāsa Thakura, Haridasa Thakur, Ramananda Raya and others |
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In the later part of his life, Gadadhara Pandita lived in the Tota Gopinatha Temple.[5] The local legend around the temple is that the deity of Krishna in the temple sat down to accommodate Pandit Goswami's worship after he had become feeble due to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's departure. Others say that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Pandit Goswami disappeared on the same day inside the Gundicha Temple of Puri, Odisha.[6]
The Gadadhara Parivara
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally gave Gadadhara Pandita Goswami the deity to worship, and the responsibility to teach Srimad Bhagavatam.[7] Pandita Goswami's guru was Pundarika Vidyanidhi. Pandita Goswami initiated Bhugarbha Goswami, and Bhugarbha Goswami gave rise to one line of the Gadadhara parivara. The Gadadhara Parivāra (Parivāra means 'family') is one among different traditional Chaitanya lineages that have continued till modern times;[8] the Advaita Parivāra is another example.
Because Pandita Goswami is the combined power, the followers of Pandita Goswami aspire for mādhurya-rasa.[9] The custom of the Gadadhara parivara is to worship the deities of Gaura and Gadadhara.
Followers of the Gadadhara parivara are of the opinion that Rupa and Sanatana Goswami, Narottama Dasa Thakura Mahasaya and his guru Loknath Goswami were disciples of Gadadhara Pandita.[10] Others hold that Sanatana Goswami was the disciple of Vidyavacaspati, and Rupa Goswami was the disciple of Sanatana Goswami.
References
- https://www.oxfordscholarship.com/mobile/view/10.1093/oso/9780199478866.001.0001/oso-9780199478866-chapter-18
- https://www.oxfordscholarship.com/mobile/view/10.1093/oso/9780199478866.001.0001/oso-9780199478866-chapter-18
- De, Sushil K. (1942). Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal. p. 254.
- Kapoor, O.B.L. (1976). The Philosophy and Religion of Sri Caitanya. p. 23.
- "Tota Gopinatha temple". www.jagannathpuri.in. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- Das, Vrindaban. Shri Chaitanya Bhagawat, Publication=Reflect Publication, Kolkata.
- Shastri, Haridas (2015). Sri Guru Darsanam. Vrindavan: Shri Haridas Shastri Goseva Sansthan. p. 283. ISBN 978-81-929328-0-4.
- "Our Guru Shishya parampara". sriharidasniwas.org. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- "Worship of Sri Sri Gaura Gadadhara". jiva.org. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- "Sri Gadadhara Pandita's Role in the Gaudiya Sampradaya". jiva.org. Retrieved November 1, 2017.