Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition
Gaudiya math, is a monotheistic branch of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition that dates back to Lord Krishna Himself—the Supreme Personality of Godhead who appeared on Earth and spoke the Bhagavad-gita over five thousand years ago. We follow the teachings of Lord Krishna as revealed in the sacred Vedas, including Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam (aka Bhagavata Purana). Essential practices involve the chanting of God's holy names—among several processes of devotional service—to bring about lasting happiness and peace in society by reviving our loving relationships with God.
525 years ago Lord Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the form of His own devotee to establish the congregational chanting of God's holy names, sankirtana, as the easiest and most sublime spiritual practice for this age. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu popularized the chanting of the maha-mantra, comprised of sacred names of God: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
Gaudiya
So we belong to the Gaudiya-sampradaya. Gaudiya means, Gaudiya... Gauda-desa is called Bengal. There are panca-gauda. Punjab is also called Gauda-desa. There are five gauda and five dravida. In southern India, they are called dravida, and in the north India, they are called gauda-desa. So Gauda, Bengal is also Gauda, and the Vaisnavas belonging to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they are called Gaudiya-Vaisnava, Bengali Vaisnava. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu happened to be a Bengali, but He belonged to the Madhva-sampradaya. His guru was Isvara Puri, and his guru, Isvara Puri's guru, was Madhavendra Puri. And Madhavendra Puri belonged to Madhvacarya-sampradaya.The Gaudiya Vaishnava’s are generally known as followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who rejuvenated the culture of Krsna bhakti in the sixteenth century.
--Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja--
Vaishnava
Devotees of Krsna are also known as Vaishnavas, a Vaishnava is a devotee of Krishna or Vishnu or any of His divine incarnations.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism can be described as devotion to Krishna, or any of His divine incarnations. It is monotheism in which worship of a personal God is the focus. In sheer numbers, Vaishnavism prevails as the leading religious system over Shaivism, Shaktism, and the many other paths commonly associated with Hinduism.
There are ancient texts that form the basis of this religion: the Vedas, thePuranas, the Mahabharata (including the Bhagavad-gita, the Ramayana,and the writings of great teachers). Some of these texts date back to the second century B.C., with an oral tradition that goes back to antiquity.
Vaishnavism is known as sanatana dharma, or “the eternal function of the soul.” And it is also referred to as a bhakti-yoga, or “the devotional path through which one can link with the supreme.”
THE FOUR VAISHNAVA-TRADITIONS ( 4 Sampradayas)
The ancient Vaishnava-tradition felt a breeze of renewal around 1000 CE as four great Vaishnava-teachers presented their commentaries on the essence of Vedanta and taught the same to their numerous followers. They were:
-Vishnusvami (born ca. 700 CE) who founded his own school;
-Ramanuja (1017-1137 CE), who founded a tradition known as the Sri-sampradaya, basing his views on the teachings of the Alvar-saints of the past and forming a theology called visishta-advaita;
-Nimbarka (ca. 1100 CE), who founded his own tradition;
-Madhva (1199-1278 CE), who also offered his own interpretation of Vedanta, establishing his own theology known as dvaita.
The renaissance of Vaishnavism began in the early 1600's as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 CE) started his bhakti-movement in West Bengal in the district of Nadia. Despite having been initiated in the Madhva-tradition, Sri Chaitanya practically founded his own tradition, having marked differences with the practices and the theology of the Madhvites as he taught of devotion for Radha and Krishna, the divine couple of Vrindavan. The followers of Chaitanya took him to be the embodiment of Radha and Krishna who had descended to this world to show the path for attaining the devotional service of Radha and Krishna, the ultimate goal of life.
Vallabha (1479-1531 CE) was a contemporary of Chaitanya, who founded one of the most influential traditions of Northern India. The Vallabha-tradition claims a connection with the branch of Vishnusvami. The traditions of Chaitanya and Vallabha seem to have had much in common over their first two generations.
525 years ago Lord Krishna appeared as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the form of His own devotee to establish the congregational chanting of God's holy names, sankirtana, as the easiest and most sublime spiritual practice for this age. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu popularized the chanting of the maha-mantra, comprised of sacred names of God: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
Gaudiya
So we belong to the Gaudiya-sampradaya. Gaudiya means, Gaudiya... Gauda-desa is called Bengal. There are panca-gauda. Punjab is also called Gauda-desa. There are five gauda and five dravida. In southern India, they are called dravida, and in the north India, they are called gauda-desa. So Gauda, Bengal is also Gauda, and the Vaisnavas belonging to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they are called Gaudiya-Vaisnava, Bengali Vaisnava. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu happened to be a Bengali, but He belonged to the Madhva-sampradaya. His guru was Isvara Puri, and his guru, Isvara Puri's guru, was Madhavendra Puri. And Madhavendra Puri belonged to Madhvacarya-sampradaya.The Gaudiya Vaishnava’s are generally known as followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who rejuvenated the culture of Krsna bhakti in the sixteenth century.
--Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja--
Vaishnava
Devotees of Krsna are also known as Vaishnavas, a Vaishnava is a devotee of Krishna or Vishnu or any of His divine incarnations.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism can be described as devotion to Krishna, or any of His divine incarnations. It is monotheism in which worship of a personal God is the focus. In sheer numbers, Vaishnavism prevails as the leading religious system over Shaivism, Shaktism, and the many other paths commonly associated with Hinduism.
There are ancient texts that form the basis of this religion: the Vedas, thePuranas, the Mahabharata (including the Bhagavad-gita, the Ramayana,and the writings of great teachers). Some of these texts date back to the second century B.C., with an oral tradition that goes back to antiquity.
Vaishnavism is known as sanatana dharma, or “the eternal function of the soul.” And it is also referred to as a bhakti-yoga, or “the devotional path through which one can link with the supreme.”
THE FOUR VAISHNAVA-TRADITIONS ( 4 Sampradayas)
The ancient Vaishnava-tradition felt a breeze of renewal around 1000 CE as four great Vaishnava-teachers presented their commentaries on the essence of Vedanta and taught the same to their numerous followers. They were:
-Vishnusvami (born ca. 700 CE) who founded his own school;
-Ramanuja (1017-1137 CE), who founded a tradition known as the Sri-sampradaya, basing his views on the teachings of the Alvar-saints of the past and forming a theology called visishta-advaita;
-Nimbarka (ca. 1100 CE), who founded his own tradition;
-Madhva (1199-1278 CE), who also offered his own interpretation of Vedanta, establishing his own theology known as dvaita.
The renaissance of Vaishnavism began in the early 1600's as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534 CE) started his bhakti-movement in West Bengal in the district of Nadia. Despite having been initiated in the Madhva-tradition, Sri Chaitanya practically founded his own tradition, having marked differences with the practices and the theology of the Madhvites as he taught of devotion for Radha and Krishna, the divine couple of Vrindavan. The followers of Chaitanya took him to be the embodiment of Radha and Krishna who had descended to this world to show the path for attaining the devotional service of Radha and Krishna, the ultimate goal of life.
Vallabha (1479-1531 CE) was a contemporary of Chaitanya, who founded one of the most influential traditions of Northern India. The Vallabha-tradition claims a connection with the branch of Vishnusvami. The traditions of Chaitanya and Vallabha seem to have had much in common over their first two generations.