Gaura-Gadādhara Deities

Sri Gadadhara Angan

Opening Time
8:30am – 11:00am
3:30pm – 8:00pm

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the internal potencies of the Lord, of whom Śrī Gadādhara Prabhu is the foremost.
(CC Adi 1.41)

Gadādhara Paṇḍita, the fourth branch, is described as an incarnation of the pleasure potency of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. No one, therefore, can equal him.
PURPORT
In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (147-53) it is stated, “The pleasure potency of Śrī Kṛṣṇa formerly known as Vṛndāvaneśvarī is now personified in the form of Śrī Gadādhara Paṇḍita in the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu.” Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī has pointed out that in the shape of Lakṣmī, the pleasure potency of Kṛṣṇa, she was formerly very dear to the Lord as Śyāmasundara-vallabhā. The same Śyāmasundara-vallabhā was present in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes as Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Formerly, as Lalitā-sakhī, she was always devoted to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Thus Gadādhara Paṇḍita is simultaneously an incarnation of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and Lalitā-sakhī. In the Twelfth Chapter of this part of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta there is a description of the descendants or disciplic succession of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.
(CC Adi 10.15)

Gadādhara Paṇḍita’s pure ecstatic love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was also very deep. It was like that of Rukmiṇīdevī, who was always especially submissive to Kṛṣṇa.
(CC Antya 7.144)

No one can describe the characteristics and ecstatic love of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. Therefore another name for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Gadādhara-prāṇanātha, “the life and soul of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.”
(CC Antya 7.163)

Gadādhara Paṇḍita is celebrated all over the world for his gentle behavior, his brahminical attributes and his steady love for Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
(CC Antya 7.166)

After hearing the appeal of Mukunda, Śrī Gaurasundara went to the residence of Gadādhara. Gadādhara respectfully offered his obeisances to the Lord, who said, “Listen to what I have to say. O Gadādhara, I will not remain at home. I will go out to search for Kṛṣṇa. I will certainly give up My śikhā and brāhmaṇa thread. After shaving My head, I will go wherever I please.”
On hearing that the Lord would give up His śikhā, Gadādhara felt as though he had been struck in the head by a thunderbolt. In distress, Gadādhara said, “O Lord, Your statement is quite puzzling. Are You saying that a gṛhastha cannot be a Vaiṣṇava and that one attains Kṛṣṇa by giving up his śikhā and brāhmaṇa thread? O Lord, is this the benefit of shaving one’s head? This is just Your opinion, it is not the opinion of the Vedas. How will You leave Your widowed mother? You will from the outset become responsible for Your mother’s death. She will certainly not survive if You leave, for You are the only one she has left, and You are her life and soul. Is the Supreme Lord not pleased if one stays at home? A householder is liked by everyone. Still, if You are pleased by shaving Your head, then leave if that is what You desire.”
In this way, the Lord personally informed His intimate devotees, “I will give up My śikhā and brāhmaṇa thread.”
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa 26.166 – 26.178)

Mukunda said, “His name is Śrī Gadādhara. He is fortunate because since his childhood he has been detached from family life. He is known as the son of Mādhava Miśra. All the Vaiṣṇavas have great affection for him. He is constantly engaged in devotional service and always associates with devotees. On hearing your name, he came to see you.
(Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa 7.053 – 7.055)