Gaudiya Mission, an ancient missionary organization propagandizes the message of Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The process of pure devotion through practice was preached at the Mission under the guidance of Srila Jiva Goswamipad in the name of “Visva Vaisnav Rajsabha” in 16th century, and Srila Rupa Goswamipad was its first president. Suddenly with pace of time it lost its influence. At about 200 years later Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur, the own person of Sri Gaur Sundar revitalized Vaishnava religion and re-established the ‘Rajshabha’ (congregation) in 1886. With the inventiveness and assistance of some self- realized souls like Srila Jagannatha Das Babaji and Srila Gaura Kishore Das Babaji he discovered and safeguarded the original birth site of Sriman Mahaprabhu, preserved various ancient literature on Suddha Bhakti(pure devotion) and composed songs of unalloyed devotion, and he became successful in bringing a renaissance in the Bhakti cult. Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur’s contribution is countless but the greatest one is Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, who later became most worthy successor and son of Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur. Gradually with course of time he transformed Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur’s dreams to reality by preaching and spreading the message of pure devotion in the entire world as propagated by Mahaprabhu.
Dynamic efforts of Srila Prabhupada, Visva Vaisnava Rajsabha’ transformed to Sri Gaudiya Math and gradually to Gaudiya Mission during the time of Srila Bhakti Prasad Puri Goswami Thakur (Sri Ananta Vasudev Prabhu). At a very early time span Prabhupada extended the list of Maths to 64 across India and abroad by his energetic preaching on the process of unalloyed devotion. After he receded from the view and as per his will Srila Bhakti Prasad Puri Goswami Thakur (Srila Acharyadev) became the next Acharya of Gaudiya Mission. Srila Acharyadev motivated the mass by his unmatched practice of pure devotion. As per his dictum Srila Bhakti Keval Audulomi Maharaj became the next Acharya. He remained Acharya for a prolonged period and kept the flow of pure devotion uninterruptedly. After Acharyadev the Acharya lila was enacted for the interim period by Srila Bhakti Pradeep Tirtha Maharaj. After Audulomi Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Srirup Bhagvat Maharaj (Acharyapad) became the Acharya. After Acharya lila Srila Bhakti Suhrid Paribrajak Maharaj is carrying forward the divine perceptual line and preserving the flow of pure devotion till date.
Gaudiya Mission practices and preaches the universal religion of the soul as indoctrinate by Srimad Bhagvatam, the ripened fruit of the Vedic literature. This religion is based on Krishna consciousness. The eternal truths of Srimad Bhagvatam belong to the transcendental realm (Adokshaja) which is beyond the understanding of the senses, intellect and mind. It is only through the enlightenment of the Vaishnava spiritual teacher in the disciplic succession starting from Lord Krishna himself, one can easily understand and realize the truth as well. The Acharyas coming in ‘Amnaya Dhara’ can deliver the truth and enlighten others. Lord Bramha, as he learnt the truth from Supreme Lord Krishna, forwarded to Narada. Sri Vyasadev, as he learnt it from Narada, taught Srimad Bhagvatam to Sukdeva, and Sukdeva to Parikshit Maharaj along with Suta Goswami and others. When the true message is diminished the Supreme Lord manifests Himself in different forms to re-establish the true religion as covenant in Srimad Bhagavat Gita.
As promised he appeared in Nadia (West Bengal) in the 15th Century as Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabu, in the disguise of a Devotee. The universal ‘Bhagvat Dharma’ based on Srimad Bhagvatam as adopted with zeal and vigour by the scholars, devotees and the general masses alike. Gaudiya Acharyas are carrying this religion and spreading the teachings of bhakti saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and enlightening the mass timeless knowledge of Srimad Bhagavtam, the spotless, pure & unalloyed Puran.
About Us
The Gaudiya mission has been registered since March 1940 as a society under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.
Aims and Objects
The Mission present before the mass genuine teachings of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and intends to foster the spiritual welfare of all souls irrespective of their caste and assist them in the study of the philosophy as propounded by Him. The elementary objective of the Members of the Mission is to learn, assimilate, practice and propagate the spirit and the teachings of the Vaishnava faith as described in the Srimad Bhagvatam, which was also preached and propounded by bhakti saint Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and practiced and taught by the Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharyas for moral and spiritual upliftment of mankind at a larger scale.
Srila Thakur Bhakti Vinode endowed his life’s mission to his successor Om Vishnupad Paramahamsa 108 Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad who appeared in 1874 A.D. at Sri Purushottam Kshetra, Puri. The line of work was started by Srila Bhaktivinode which received great impetus and was successfully pushed on all quarters by Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad, a true saint of the 20th century. To widespread teachings of Srila Thakur Bhakti Vinode in its pure and un-alloyed form, Srila Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad established numerous preaching centers across India and abroad and published numerous books and periodicals on Krishna Consciousness
Sree Chaitanya in different languages.
The chief aim of the Mission is to practise and propagate the spirit and teachings of pure Vaishnava faith as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam propounded and propagated by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and taught by Gaudiya Vaishnav Acharyas.
The basic principles of the Mission grounds on the Divine Love which can be attained by cultivating the function of the soul as distinct from those of the body and the material mind. The limitations that disrupt the activities of the body and the mind are not found in their baleful forms on the plane of the soul. These limitations can neither be vanquished nor abolished, but they can only be transcended by realization of the fact that the soul itself is distinct from the body and the mind with which the fallen souls so inevitably tend to identify themselves in their conditioned state.
Bhakti saint Mahaprabhu, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, taught the fallen souls that true conduct of life consists in the proper and Godly use of every object of the world in the service of Godhead without any personal attachment for them. A veracious devotee of the Divine personality of God is neither an enjoyer nor a renouncer. He is a servitor of the Omnipotent Lord in whose service he utilizes all the materials of the world and of whom he is but an infinitesimal part inseparably attached to Him by the bond of Love. Proffering loving service to the Lord he requires the benign guidance of a genuine spiritual teacher, who is inseparably attached to the Supreme Lord.
The Name-Distinct From Words
The name ‘Krishna’ is spiritual (Vaikuntha) unlike a material or proper name which acts as a symbol for the object and not for the object itself, namely water, which by constant repetition will not quench thirst. ‘Krishna’ is not only the name the Lord Himself — One and the Same. The Lord with His Forms, Attributes, Lila, Entourage and all that is His is same and identical with the Holy Name. The name is not a mundane word with its defects and limitations but the transcendental sound of infinite Potency and Beauty. The Holy name of Krishna is not a mundane word with its defects and limitations but the transcendental sound of fathomless potency and beauty. Repeated chanting of the name Hare Krishna with total submission can freed one from sins (Aparadha) under the counsel of a Sat-Guru (true spiritual teacher), serve the Holy Lotus Feet of the Lord. Chanting the mantras satisfies the Lord and purifies the mind of Sevakas (devotees). The chanting and the service of the Lord can properly be practiced by assembling number of devotees under the care and discipline of a Sat-Guru living in a congenial atmosphere.
Mahaprabhu Sri Krishna Chaitanya has been delighted to proclaim with applause the saying of Brihad Naradiya Purana (38/126 Sloka) as in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Adi, Chapter VII, Sloka 76:-
Harer nama Harer nama Harer namaiva kevalam
Kalou nastyeva nastyeva nastyeva gatiranyatha
“The name of Hari, the name of Hari, Oh, the Name of Hari alone; nothing else in kaliyug, nothing else, Nothing Else can lead us to Goal.”
Kirtan
It is only a self-deception to think that other than Bhakti there is any method that is productive of the highest good. The devotion denoted by Kirtan is the strongest and the best, which gives Jivas the highest good with little effort on their part. Therefore, practicing Kirtan at all times to encourage Jivas, by right of soul’s kinship, turning them homeward is true universal love, true help offered to others, true kindness shown and the actual duty of life. . The Gaudiya Mission envelops the populace of the universe without any exception and hustle it requests mankind to turn their faces towards God and to become the followers of this Bhakti denoted by Kirtan.
It is only a self-deception to think that any other method except Bhakti is productive of the highest good. Among all other forms of devotion to God, the devotion denoted by Kirtan is the strongest and the best, which gives Jivas the highest good with little effort on their part. Therefore, practising Kirtan at all times to induce Jivas, by right of soul’s kinship, turning them homeward is true universal love, true help offered to others, true kindness shown and the true duty of life. The Gaudiya Mission embraces all the inhabitants of the universe. Without exception and with importunity it requests all to turn their faces towards God and to become the followers of this Bhakti denoted by Kirtan.
