Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | |
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Wooden murti of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as Dhāmeśvara, Nabadwip | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Vishvambhara Mishra 28 February 1486 |
| Died | 14 June 1534 (aged 48) |
| Spouse | Lakshmi Priya (first wife) and Vishnupriya |
| Known for | Expounded Gaudiya Vaishnavism, kirtan |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Founder of | Gaudiya Vaishnavism Achintya Bheda Abheda |
| Philosophy | Bhakti yoga, Achintya Bheda Abheda |
| Religious career | |
| Guru | Swami Isvara Puri (mantra guru); Swami Kesava Bharati (sannyas guru) |
Disciples | |
| Part of a series on |
| Vaishnavism |
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| Part of a series on |
| Hinduism |
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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Bengali: মহাপ্রভু শ্রীচৈতন্য দেব; Sanskrit: चैतन्य महाप्रभु, romanized: Caitanya Mahāprabhu), born Vishvambhara Mishra (IAST: Viśvambhara Miśra) (28 February 1486 – 14 June 1534), was an Indian Hindu saint from Bengal and the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's mode of worshipping Krishna with bhajan-kirtan and dance influenced Vaishnavism in Bengal.
He is considered the chief proponent of the Vedantic philosophy of Achintya Bheda Abheda. The concept of inconceivable difference in non-difference, known as achintya-bhedabheda, was explained later by Jiva Goswami in his book Bhagavat Sandharbha, and in his Sarva-samvadini.
Mahaprabhu founded Gaudiya Vaishnavism. He expounded Bhakti yoga and popularised the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. He composed the Shikshashtakam (eight devotional prayers).
Chaitanya is sometimes called Gauranga (IAST: Gaurāṅga) or Gaura due to his molten gold–like complexion. His birthday is celebrated as Gaura-purnima. He is also called Nimai because he was born underneath a Neem tree.