Pancha Tattva (Vaishnavism)

For other uses, see Pancha Tattva.

The Pancha Tattva (Sanskrit: पञ्चतत्त्व, romanized: pañca-tattva, from Sanskrit pañca meaning "five" and tattva "truth" or "reality"), in the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism, are five 15th-century religious figures, venerated as the five aspects of the god Krishna.

Pancha Tattva deities installed on a Vaishnava altar. From left to right (click on feet to go to article): Advaita Acharya, Nityananda, Chaitanya, Gadadhara Pandita, Srivasa.

Background

In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, these five features of God (Krishna) are believed to have incarnated on Earth as five people in the late 15th century: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara Pandit and Srivasa Thakur. They famously spread the Krishna mantra and the practise of devotion (bhakti) towards Krishna throughout India.

• Chaitanya is regarded as manifestation of Krishna (Svayam Bhagavan).
• Nityananada is Krishna's first personal expansion with the combined power of the god Balarama, brother of Krishna.
• Advaita Acharya is the combined power of the deities Vishnu and Shiva
• Srivasa is Krishna's pure devotee and symbolizes devotion (Bhakti).
• Gadadhara is the combined power of Krishna's internal energy (Shakti).

"I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, [(Krishna)], who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee [(bhakta-rūpa; Chaitanya)], devotional incarnation [(svarūpakam; Nityananada)], devotional manifestation [(bhaktāvatāraṁ; Advaita)], pure devotee [(bhaktākhyaṁ; Srivasa)], and devotional energy [(bhakta-śaktikam; Gadadhara)]."

— Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi 1.147.6

Pancha Tattva mantra

Within the Gaudiya tradition, a mantra formed from the names of the five members of the Pancha Tattva is often spoken or sung as a means of devotional worship, or japa. Often, this mantra is sung or chanted prior to the Krishna mantra.

jaya sri-krishna-chaitanya

prabhu nityananda

sri-adwaita gadadhara

shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda

An alternative version features another name for Chaitanya, "Gauranga":

śrī-gaurāṅga nityānānda, śrī-advaita-candra,

gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

See also

• Bhakti Yoga
• Chaitanya Charitamrita
• Panchatattva (Tantra)
• Six Goswamis of Vrindavan
• Vaishnavism

References

• Rosen, Steven J. Sri Pancha Tattva: The Five Features of God 1994 ISBN 0-9619763-7-3 Folk Books, New York