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.
Bhakti Prajnan Keshava Maharaja | |
|---|---|
 Murti of Bhakti Prajnan Keshava Maharaja on the altar in the Gaudiya Math in Mathura | |
| Title | Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual leader |
| Personal | |
| Born | 9 February 1898 Banaripara, East Bengal, British India |
| Died | 6 October 1968 (aged 70) |
| Religion | Gaudiya Vaishnavism |
| Other names | Vinodabihari Brahmacari Kritiratna Prabhu |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | Vrindavan, India |
| Period in office | 1940 - 1968 |
| Predecessor | Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati |
| Successor | Srila Bhaktivedānta Vamana Goswāmī Maharaj. |
| Initiation | Diksa–1919, Sannyasa–1940 |
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
edit- ^ a b Brzezinski 2004, p. 89.
- ^ Sherbow 2004, p. 131.
- ^ Anil Sooklal, A socio-religious study of the Hare Krishna movement in South Africa, p.28, 1986.
- ^ 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.), Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, p. 1191, ISBN 0-89213-357-0
Bibliography
edit- Bhaktivedanta, Narayana (1999), Acarya Kesari Sri Srimad Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami - His Life and Teachings (1st ed.), GVP, pp. 571 pages, ISBN 81-86737-14-6
- Broo, Måns (2003), As good as God: the guru in Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism, Åbo Akademi University Press, ISBN 951-765-132-5, archived from the original on 4 March 2016, retrieved 11 June 2010
- Brzezinski, Jan (2004). "Charismatic Renewal and Institutionalization in the History of Gaudiya Vashnavism and the Gaudiya Math". In Bryant, Edwin F.; Ekstrand, Maria L. (eds.). The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 73–96. ISBN 0-231-12256-X.
- Rosen, Steven J. (1994), Vaishnavism: Contemporary Scholars Discuss the Gaudiya Tradition, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-1235-2
- Goswami, Satsvarupa Dasa (2002), Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, vol. 2 (2nd ed.), Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, p. 1191, ISBN 0-89213-357-0
- Sherbow, Paul H. (2004). "A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami's Preaching in the Context of Gaudiya Vashnavism". In Bryant, Edwin F.; Ekstrand, Maria L. (eds.). The Hare Krishna Movement: The Postcharismatic Fate of a Religious Transplant. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 129–46. ISBN 0-231-12256-X.
External links
edit- Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti official website
- "Spiritual Leaders - Gaudiya-Vaishnava Acaryas - Srila Bhakti Prajna Kesava Maharaja". www.goloka.com. Retrieved 3 August 2008.