Spiritual Lineage

The spiritual lineage of Sri Caitanya Sangha traces its origin to the flute of Sri Krishna, into which he pours his life breath in search of his dearmost devotees, the milkmaidens (gopis) of his idyllic pastoral abode. It is said the sound of his flute took the shape of a mantra, and at the dawn of the creation, the four-headed Brahma heard this mystical sound with his eight ears. Sri Krishna’s mantra then entered his heart, which was pinning to realize life’s purpose, and addressed his concerns, after which Brahma proceeded to pass the mantra on. It soon reached the receptive ears of Vyasa, the legendary author of the sacred Hindu canon, who wrote about its significance in the Srimad Bhagavatam, his final work written only after he had reached spiritual maturity.

Thousands of years later, the great scholar and devotee Sri Madhvacarya embraced the teachings of Vyasa and commented briefly on the Srimad Bhagavatam, leaving room for further elaboration on its esoteric significance. Such esoteric insight was embodied in the person of Sri Caitanya and articulated in detail by the sanga, or spiritual family, that followed in the wake of his uncommon ecstasy.

The followers of Sri Caitanya, headed by Sri Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis, wrote extensive commentaries on Srimad Bhagavatam as well as a wealth of supplementary literature, while partaking in the ecstasy of the Krishna mantra and the congregational chanting of the name of God. Thus through their instruction, imparting of the Krishna mantra, and chanting of his name, they formed a lineage that today is many branched.

Our particular branch, often referred to as the Bhaktivinoda Parivara, or spiritual family of Thakura Bhaktivinoda, brought the teaching of Sri Caitanya to the modern world. It did so through the vision of Sri Kedarnatha Bhaktivinoda, which was implemented by Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura throughout India and abroad.

Following in the footsteps of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, his disciple Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada distributed the insights of Thakura Bhaktivinoda all over the world in an unprecedented manner, opening centers and publishing literature.

After the passing of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva Goswami preserved the purity of our lineage and fostered its growth in the hearts of a number of his and Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s disciples.

The illustrious founder of Sri Caitanya Sangha, Sri Tridandi Swami Bhaktivedanta Tripurari, is one such direct disciple of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who was further blessed by the divine guidance of Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Deva Goswami.