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Gadadhar Pandit

A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma

Gadadhar Pandit
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Gadadhar Pandit


Table of contents
1 Overview
1.1 Companion of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
1.2 References to His Lila
1.3 List of Prayers
1.4 List of Biographical Writings

Overview

Gadadhara Pandita (also known as Pandita Prabhu and Gadai) was included amongst the Pancatattva. He was born of Madhava Misra and Ratnavati-devi in 1486 AD., on the new moon day of Vaisaka (Apr-May), in the village Beliti. His younger brother was Vaninatha.

A brahmana of the Varendra clan and Kasyapa gotra, Gadadhara, at the age of thirteen, migrated with his parents to Navadvipa to stay at his maternal uncle's house, nearby the residence of Jagannatha Misra. Some say that a wealthy person of Kandipura named Suraraja was instrumental in bringing Gadadhara from Beliti to Navadvipa. Gadadhara remained a #Naisthika-brahmacari|naisthika-brahmcari throughout his life. He received mantra from Pundarika Vidyanidhi.

Companion of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Gadadhara was a constant companion of Lord Gauranga and always read the Srimad-Bhagavatam to Him. After the Lord took sannyasa and went to Nilacala, Gadadhara also went with Him. Gadadhara passed away in Puri on the new moon day in the month of Jaistha (May-June) in 1534 AD. at the age of forty-seven, eleven months after the disappearance of Lord Caitanya.

Lord Caitanya wrote a sloka in His own handwriting on the personal copy of Gadadhara's Gita. According to Sadhanadipika 9, Gadadhara composed Premamrtastotra.

References to His Lila

In the biographies of Lord Caitanya, Gadadhara has been referred to in the following places:

  1. Gadadhara Pandita as Isa-sakti, Cc. 1.1.41, 1.4.227, 1.6.48.
  2. Meeting with Isvarapuri and others at Navadvipa, and study of Isvarapuri's book entitled Krsnalilamrta, CBh. 1.11.99-100.
  3. Gadadhara faints to hear the kirtana sung by Lord Gauranga at the house of Suklamvara, CBh. 2.1.56-108.
  4. Arguments with Lord Gauranga on Nyaya, CBh. 1.12.20-27.
  5. Gadadhara's counsel to Advaita Prabhu to abstain from witnessing the worship performed by Lord Gauranga, CBh. 1.12.126-142.
  6. Viraha-stricken Lord Gauranga comforts Gadadhara, CBh. 2.2.202-209.
  7. Betel-leaf offered to Lord Gauranga, CBh. 2.6.65, 2.20.27, 2.22.19.
  8. Doubts creeping into Gadadhara's mind when seeing Pundarika in the attire of an aristocrat, and Mukunda's explanation to clear these doubts, then Gadadhara receiving diksa, CBh. 2.7.44-112.
  9. Gadadhara's reaction upon seeing Nityananda Prabhu without garments, CBh. 2.11.23, 2.13.159.
  10. Water sports with Lord Gauranga after the conversion of Jagai and Madhai, CBh. 2.13.341.
  11. Gadadhara dancing as a Gopika in the drama staged at the house of Candrasekhar, CBh. 2.18.101-116.
  12. Gadadhara stands on the left of Lord Gauranga at the dance-recital celebrating the conversion of the Kazi, CBh. 2.23.211, 491.
  13. In constant association with Lord Gauranga, CBh. 2.24.31.
  14. Receiving the command in the house of Lord Gauranga to offer Visnu puja, CBh. 2.25.91.
  15. Gadadhara with reference to sannyasa, CBh. 2.28.44.
  16. Gadadhara residing in the same house with Lord Gauranga on the night before the Lord took sannyasa, CBh. 2.26.166-171.
  17. Gadadhara as a companion of Lord Caitanya after sannyasa, CBh. 2.28.104, 3.1.52.
  18. Gadadhara accompanies Lord Caitanya to Nilacala, CBh. 3.2.35.
  19. Gadadhara staying with Lord Caitanya at Nilacala, CBh. 3.3.228-231.
  20. Ksetra sannyasa, CC. 2.1.252.
  21. Meeting with Nityananda Prabhu at Tota Gopinatha and Lord Caitanya, Nityananda Prabhu, and Gadadhara enjoying their meals, CBh. 3.7.112A 164.
  22. Water sports in Narendra-sarovara, CBh. 3.8.122.
  23. Reference to the subject of siksa from Lord Caitanya, CBh. 3.10.22A 27.
  24. Gadadhara's recital of Srimad Bhagavatam on the bank of the NarendraA sarovara, CBh. 3.10.22-26.
  25. Gadadhara's refusal to give diksa when Vallabha Bhatta attempts to coax him, CC. 3.7.86-148.
  26. "The life and soul of Gadadhara Pandita" and "The Lord Gauranga of Gadadhara Pandita," CC. 3.7.163-164.
  27. Gadadhara argues with Lord Caitanya upholding the view that service to Lord Caitanya is the supreme duty, CC. 2.16.130-143.
  28. Gadadhara's reaction in seperation of Lord Caitanya, Bhaktiratnakara 3.135-143.
  29. Meeting with Srinivasa Acarya, Bhaktiratnakara 3.147-152.

List of Prayers

The following are the `astakas' composed on Gadadhara Pandita:

  1. By Sanatana Gosvami
  2. By Rupa Gosvami
  3. By Svarupa Gosvami
  4. By Lokanatha Gosvami
  5. By Bhugarbha Gosvami
  6. By Paramananda Gosvami
  7. By Sivananda Cakravarti

List of Biographical Writings

Other writings on Gadadhara Pandita are as follows:

  1. Sri Sri Gauragadadharastaka, a) by Acyutananda, b) Nayanananda Misra.
  2. Rati-janaka-dvadasa-namastotra, by Sarvabhauma
  3. Astottarasatanama stotra, by Sarvabhauma
  4. Sakhanirnayamrta, by Jadunatha
  5. Premamrtastotra, by Gadadhara Pandita

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