Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Bhakti saint who spread devotional singing to Krishna
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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a fifteenth- and sixteenth-century saint from Bengal who taught ecstatic devotion to Krishna through group singing and chanting. He founded the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, from which the modern Hare Krishna movement descends.
Biography
Scholar turned devotee
Born Vishvambhar Mishra in Nabadwip in 1486, he was a brilliant young scholar of Sanskrit. After a pilgrimage to Gaya in his early twenties, he became absorbed in devotion to Krishna and took up the life of a monk, taking the name Krishna Chaitanya.
Sankirtan
He popularised sankirtan — singing the names of God together in the streets with drums and cymbals — open to people of all castes. The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra became central to his movement.
Puri and Vrindavan
He spent most of his later life in Puri, near the Jagannath Temple, and sent followers to rediscover the holy places of Vrindavan associated with Krishna.
Legacy
He died in Puri in 1534. His followers, especially the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, developed the theology of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and in the twentieth century ISKCON carried his tradition around the world.
Timeline
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1486
Born in Nabadwip
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1510
Becomes a monk
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1534
Dies in Puri
Did you know?
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1
ISKCON’s chanting traces back to his teaching.
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2
He led devotional singing in the streets.
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3
He lived much of his later life near the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu?
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a fifteenth- and sixteenth-century saint from Bengal who taught ecstatic devotion to Krishna through group singing and chanting. He founded the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, from which the modern Hare Krishna movement descends.
Where is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu from?
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Nabadwip, Bengal.
What is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu known for?
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is best known for Gaudiya Vaishnavism; sankirtan (congregational chanting); the Hare Krishna mantra.
References
- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Q870262) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Chaitanya Mahaprabhu”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 2 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.” TrackFame, last updated 3 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/chaitanya-mahaprabhu
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