Advaita Acarya | The Hare Krishna Movement

Sri Advaita Acharya’s Appearance Day

07 Feb 2022 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Advaita Acarya Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, appearance day of Advaita Acharya, sri advaita acharya

Today marks the Appearance day of Advaita Acharya. The general practice is to observe a half-day fast, and hear the glories of this great vaisnava acharya. We share with you this short biography of his life and pastimes.

Sri Advaita Acharya’s Appearance Day

Sri Advaita Acharya was born in 1434 in Nabagram, Bengal to Sri Kubera Pandit and Srimati Nabha devi. They were originally inhabitants of Nabagram village near Sri Hatta, but later moved to Santipura on the banks of the Ganga.

When Sri Advaita Acharya made His appearance in this world, Srila Madhavendra Puri, Sri Ishvar Puri, Sachi Mata and Sri Jagannatha Mishra also made their advent.

Sri Advaita Acharya was a disciple of Srila Madhavendra Puri and is one of the chief figures amongst the Panchatattva – Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara and Srivasa.

Sri Advaita Acharya studied the Vedas and other scriptures under a scholar named Santacharya in Phulavati village near Santipura, where He was awarded the title ‘Acharya’.

Before the appearance of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu, all the Vaishnava devotees in the Navadweep are used to gather at the house of Advaita Acharya. In these meetings, Advaita Acharya preached on the basis of the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. The devotees took pleasure in Krishna Katha, worshipping Krishna and chanting the Lord’s names. Sri Chaitanya’s elder brother, Vishvarupa used to regularly visit Advaita Acharya’s house to engage in the chanting and dancing of nama sankirtan.

The Appearance Day of Advaita Acarya

11 Feb 2019 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Advaita Acarya, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Tags: A. C. Bhakthvedanta Swami Prabhupada, Adi lila, Advaita Acarya, appearance day of Advaita Acharya, Caitanya, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

Today marks the appearance day of Advaita Acarya. We honor it with a half day fast and a reading of the Sixth Chapter from the Adi-lila of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Full chapter follows:

The truth of Advaita Ācārya has been described in two different verses. It is said that material nature has two features, namely the material cause and the efficient cause. The efficient causal activities are caused by Mahā-Viṣṇu, and the material causal activities are caused by another form of Mahā-Viṣṇu, known as Advaita. That Advaita, the superintendent of the cosmic manifestation, has descended in the form of Advaita to associate with Lord Caitanya. When He is addressed as the servitor of Lord Caitanya, His glories are magnified because unless one is invigorated by this mentality of servitorship one cannot understand the mellows derived from devotional service to the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa.

Appearance Day of Advaita Acarya

23 Jan 2018 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Advaita Acarya Tags: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuapada, Advaita Acarya, appearance of advaita acharya, devotees, Krishna consciousness, Srila Prabhupada

Today marks the appearance of Advaita Acarya. We honor his appearance day with a half day fast, A lecture given by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, and a gallery of images.

jaya jaya śrī-caitanya jaya nityānanda
jayādvaita-candra jaya gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Glory to Śrī Caitanya and Nityānanda! Glory to Advaitacandra! And glory to all the devotees of Śrī Gaura [Lord Caitanya]! (Adi 1.17)

The Glories of Śrī Advaita Ācārya

05 Feb 2014 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Advaita Acarya, Advaita Acharya, Caaitanya-caritamrta, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada's Books Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Advaita Acarya, constitutional position, devotee, devotional service, Ganges water and tulasī leaves, inauspicious activities, infinitesimal living entities, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Lord Caitanya, material enjoyment, preaching devotional service, Rama, servant of the Supreme Lord, The sweetness of Lord Kṛṣṇa, tulasi leaves

Today marks the Appearance Day of Ari Advaita Acarya. We honor this auspisious day with a complete chapter from the Caitanya-caritamrta; “The Glories of Śrī Advaita Ācārya”

I offer my respectful obeisances to Śrī Advaita Ācārya, whose activities are all wonderful. By His mercy, even a foolish person can describe His characteristics. (Cc. 6.1)

Since He has no other occupation than to teach devotional service, His name is Advaita Ācārya. (Cc. 6.29)

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: Ādi-līlā 1975 Edition
By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Chapter 6

The Glories of Śrī Advaita Ācārya

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Appearance of Advaita Acharya

16 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Advaita Acarya, Festivals Tags: Advaita Acharya, advauta acharya, appearance of advaita acharya, Babla, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, madan gopal, pastimes of the lord, prakasha expansion, shaligram shila, Sita, Srimati Sita devi, yogamaya

click on image to enlarge

In honor of the Appearance day of Advaita Acharya we share this short biography of the live and pastimes of this great vaisnava acharya.

Sri Advaita Acharya’s Appearance Day
February 16, 2013

Appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Glories of Srimati Tulasi

31 Jan 2013 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Advaita Acarya, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Chanting Hare Krishna, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Srimati Tulasi Devi Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Sri Caitanya's descent, Advaita Acarya, appears by the desire of His devotee, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, protector of religion, srimati tulasi, tulasi buds in water from the ganges, Tulasi devi

…Whenever the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends in His human form, He sends ahead all His devotees, who act as His father, teacher and associates in many roles. Such personalities appear before the descent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Before the appearance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu, there appeared His devotees like Śrī Mādhavendra Purī; His spiritual master, Śrī Īśvara Purī; His mother, Śrīmatī Śacīdevī; His father, Śrī Jagannātha Miśra; and Śrī Advaita Ācārya.

Advaita Ācārya having appeared, He found the world devoid of devotional service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa because people were engrossed in material affairs.

Everyone was engaged in material enjoyment, whether sinfully or virtuously. No one was interested in the transcendental service of the Lord, which can give total relief from the repetition of birth and death.

Seeing the activities of the world, the Ācārya felt compassion and began to ponder how He could act for the people’s benefit.

[Advaita Ācārya thought:] “If Śrī Kṛṣṇa were to appear as an incarnation, He Himself could preach devotion by His personal example.

“In this Age of Kali there is no religion other than the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, but how in this age will the Lord appear as an incarnation?

“I shall worship Kṛṣṇa in a purified state of mind. I shall constantly petition Him in humbleness.

“My name, ‘Advaita,’ will be fitting if I am able to induce Kṛṣṇa to inaugurate the movement of the chanting of the holy name.”

“Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is very affectionate toward His devotees, sells Himself to a devotee who offers Him merely a tulasī leaf and a palmful of water.”

Advaita Ācārya considered the meaning of the verse in this way: Not finding any way to repay the debt He owes to one who offers Him a tulasī leaf and water, Lord Kṛṣṇa thinks, “There is no wealth in My possession that is equal to a tulasī leaf and water.”

Thus the Lord liquidates the debt by offering Himself to the devotee. Considering this, the Ācārya began worshiping the Lord.

Thinking of the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, He constantly offered tulasī buds in water from the Ganges.

He appealed to Śrī Kṛṣṇa with loud calls and thus made it possible for Kṛṣṇa to appear.

Therefore the principal reason for Śrī Caitanya’s descent is this appeal by Advaita Ācārya. The Lord, the protector of religion, appears by the desire of His devotee.

Appearance day of Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī

20 Sep 2012 1 Comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Advaita Acarya, Sita Thakurani, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Adi-lila 13.111-119, Advaita Acharya, Gokula, Jagannatha Misra, Krsna, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nimai, Sita Thakurani, Sitadevi, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, transcendental bodily effulgence

In honor of the Appearance day of Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī (the eternal wife of Sri Advaita Acharya), we are posting a brief pastime from Srila Prabhupada’s Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta: Ādi-līlā Chapter 13, Text 111-119, which gives the following account of Sita Thakurani’s visit to the house of Jagannatha Mishra after the birth of the Lord

One day shortly after Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu was born, Advaita Ācārya’s wife, Sītādevī, who is worshipable by the whole world, took her husband’s permission and went to see that topmost child with all kinds of gifts and presentations

She brought different kinds of golden ornaments, including bangles for the hand, armlets, necklaces and anklets.

There were also tiger nails set in gold, waist decorations of silk and lace, ornaments for the hands and legs, nicely printed silken sārīs and a child’s garment, also made of silk. Many other riches, including gold and silver coins, were also presented to the child.

Riding in a palanquin covered with cloth and accompanied by maidservants, Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī came to the house of Jagannātha Miśra, bringing with her many auspicious articles such as fresh grass, paddy, gorocana, turmeric, kuṅkuma and sandalwood. All these presentations filled a large basket.

When Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī came to the house of Śacīdevī, bringing with her many kinds of eatables, dresses and other gifts, she was astonished to see the newly born child, for she appreciated that except for a difference in color, the child was directly Kṛṣṇa of Gokula Himself.

Seeing the transcendental bodily effulgence of the child, each of His nicely constructed limbs full of auspicious signs and resembling a form of gold, Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī was very much pleased, and because of her maternal affection, she felt as if her heart were melting.

She blessed the newly born child by placing fresh grass and paddy on His head and saying, “May You be blessed with a long duration of life.” But being afraid of ghosts and witches, she gave the child the name Nimāi.

On the day the mother and son bathed and left the maternity home, Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī gave them all kinds of ornaments and garments and then also honored Jagannātha Miśra. Then Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī, being honored by mother Śacīdevī and Jagannātha Miśra, was greatly happy within her mind, and thus she returned home.

In this way mother Śacīdevī and Jagannātha Miśra, having obtained a son who was the husband of the goddess of fortune, had all their desires fulfilled. Their house was always filled with riches and grains. As they saw the beloved body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, day after day their pleasure increased.

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Appearance of Advaita Acarya

30 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Advaita Acarya, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Tags: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Adi. 12-13, Advaita Acarya, devotional service, Lord Advaita Acarya, Lords devotee, Maha-Visnu, maya, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

Thinking of the lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, He constantly offered tulasī buds in water from the Ganges.

While most of the world celebrated the Appearance day of Advaita Acarya yesterday…according to the BBT Art Calendar the variant date for our area is today. (go figure?) So we are posting some verses from the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta in honor of His appearance.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 1975 Edition
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Adi-lila Chapter 1, Text 12-13

mahā-viṣṇur jagat-kartā
māyayā yaḥ sṛjaty adaḥ
tasyāvatāra evāyam
advaitācārya īśvaraḥ

mahā-viṣṇuḥ—Mahā-Viṣṇu, the resting place of the efficient cause; jagat-kartā—the creator of the cosmic world; māyayā—by the illusory energy; yaḥ—who; sṛjati—creates; adaḥ—that universe; tasya—His; avatāraḥ—incarnation; eva—certainly; ayam—this; advaita-ācāryaḥ—of the name Advaita Ācārya; īśvaraḥ—the Supreme Lord, the resting place of the material cause.

Lord Advaita Ācārya is the incarnation of Mahā-Viṣṇu, whose main function is to create the cosmic world through the actions of Māyā.

advaitaṁ hariṇādvaitād
ācāryaṁ bhakti-śaṁsanāt
bhaktāvatāram īśaṁ tam
advaitācāryam āśraye

advaitam—known as Advaita; hariṇā—with Lord Hari; advaitāt—from being nondifferent; ācāryam—known as Ācārya; bhakti-śaṁsanāt—from the propagation of devotional service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa; bhakta-avatāram—the incarnation as a devotee; īśam—to the Supreme Lord; tam—to Him; advaita-ācāryam—to Advaita Ācārya; āśraye—I surrender.

Because He is nondifferent from Hari, the Supreme Lord, He is called Advaita, and because He propagates the cult of devotion, He is called Ācārya. He is the Lord and the incarnation of the Lord’s devotee. Therefore I take shelter of Him.

Pasted from; Prabhupada Books

The Expansions of Advaita Ācārya

03 Jun 2011 Leave a comment

by The Hare Krishna Movement in Advaita Acarya, Advaita Acharya, Diksha, Guru & Disciple, Siksa, Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta Tags: A.C. B, Adi lila, Advaita Acarya, disciples, Gaudiya Matha, guru, haktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, litigation, missionary activities, spiritual master, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta

The order of the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritual life. Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately becomes useless. (Adi 12.10)

…the followers of Advaita Ācārya divided into two parties. Such disagreement among the disciples of one ācārya is also found among the members of the Gauḍīya Maṭha. In the beginning, during the presence of Oṁ Viṣṇupāda Paramahaṁsa Parivrājakācārya Aṣṭottara-śata Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura Prabhupāda, all the disciples worked in agreement; but just after his disappearance, they disagreed. One party strictly followed the instructions of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, but another group created their own concoction about executing his desires. Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, at the time of his departure, requested all his disciples to form a governing body and conduct missionary activities cooperatively. He did not instruct a particular man to become the next ācārya. But just after his passing away, his leading secretaries made plans, without authority, to occupy the post of ācārya, and they split into two factions over who the next ācārya would be. Consequently, both factions were asāra, or useless, because they had no authority, having disobeyed the order of the spiritual master. Despite the spiritual master’s order to form a governing body and execute the missionary activities of the Gauḍīya Maṭha, the two unauthorized factions began litigation that is still going on after forty years with no decision. (Adi 12.8 purport)