Bhakti Prajnan Keshava
Maharaja
Murti of Bhakti Prajnan Keshava Maharaja on the altar in the Gaudiya Math in Mathura
TitleGaudiya Vaishnava spiritual leader
Personal
Born(1898-02-09)9 February 1898
Banaripara, East Bengal, British India (now Bangladesh)
Died6 October 1968(1968-10-06) (aged 70)
Nabadwip, India
ReligionGaudiya Vaishnavism
Other namesVinodabihari Brahmacari Kritiratna Prabhu
Senior posting
Based inVrindavan, India
Period in office1940 - 1968
PredecessorBhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
SuccessorSrila Bhaktivedānta Vamana Goswāmī Maharaj.
InitiationDiksa–1919, Sannyasa–1940
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Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
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Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

Bhakti Prajnan Keshava (IAST: Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava; 9 February 1898 – 6 October 1968), addressed by the honorific Mahārāja (Mahārāja),[1] was a Gaudiya Vaishnava guru, disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and the founder-acharya of the religious organisation "Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti", formed in Calcutta in 1940,[1][2] and its headquarters, monastery Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math in Nabadwip.

Samadhi Mandir of Bhakti Prajnana Keshav and Bhakti Vedanta Bamana in Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math.

Bhakti Prajnan Keshava Maharaja and A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada were godbrothers (disciples of the same spiritual master). Abhay Charanaravinda Prabhu became A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (taking the title "Bhaktivedanta" and name Swāmī) when Keśava Gosvāmī initiated him into the renounced order of life (sannyasa) on 17 September 1959 at Keshava Maharaja's temple in Mathura.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ a b Brzezinski 2004, p. 89.
  2. ^ Sherbow 2004, p. 131.
  3. ^ Anil Sooklal, A socio-religious study of the Hare Krishna movement in South Africa, p.28, 1986.
  4. ^ The Gauḍīya Patrikā's journal of Bhaktiprajñāna Keśava has an account of the sannyasa initiation included a biographical sketch of Bhaktivedanta Swami, listing the major events of his life. The article concluded: "Bhaktivedanta Swami at the Śrī Keśavajī Gaudiya Math accepted sannyāsa from the founder of the Vedānta Samiti, Bhaktiprajñāna Keśava Mahārāja. Seeing him accept his āśrama of renunciation, seeing this pastime for accepting the renounced order of life, we have attained great affection and enthusiasm." Goswami, Satsvarupa Dasa (2002), Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, vol. 2 (2nd ed.), p. 1191, ISBN 0-89213-357-0

Bibliography

External links

Modern Gaudiya Vaishnavas (1800s to date)
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