The Gaudiya mission has been registered since March 1940 as a society. ‘Gaudiya Mission’ is a missionary organization for preaching the process of pure devotion through practice as taught by Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This was actually started by Srila Jiva Goswamipad in the name of “Visva Vaisnav Rajsabha” in 16th century, and Srila Rupa Goswamipad was its first president. With the pa
ssage of time, its influence slowly lost. About 200 years later, Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur, the own person of Sri Gaur Sundar, revived the Vaisnava religion and re-established the ‘Rajshabha’ (congregation) in 1886. Not only this, with the inspiration and help of some self-realized souls like Srila Jagannatha Das Babaji and Srila Gaura Kishore Das Babaji, he discovered and protected the actual birth site of Sriman Mahaprabhu, preserved various ancient literature on Suddha Bhakti(pure devotion) and composed songs of unalloyed devotion, and thus he brought about a renaissance in the cult of Bhakti. The greatest contribution of Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur is Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada. He appeared as the most worthy successor and son of Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakur to make his dreams a reality by preaching and spreading the message of pure devotion in the entire world as taught by Mahaprabhu. With the efforts of Srila Prabhupada, ‘Visva Vaisnava Rajsabha’ took the form of Sri Gaudiya Math and gradually to Gaudiya Mission at the time of Srila Bhakti Prasad Puri Goswami Thakur (Sri Ananta Vasudev Prabhu). Within a short span of time Prabhupada established about 64 Maths in India and abroad by his vigorous preaching of the process of unalloyed devotion. After His disappearance, and with His will, Srila Bhakti Prasad Puri Goswami Thakur (Srila Acharyadev) became the next Acharya of Gaudiya Mission. Srila Acharyadev inspired everyone by his unmatched practice of pure devotion. With his directives, Srila Bhakti Keval Audulomi Maharaj became the next Acharya. He remained as the Acharya for a long period and kept the flow of Pure devotion uninterruptedly. After Acharyadev, the Acharya lila was enacted for the interim period by Srila Bhakti Pradeep Tirtha Maharaj. After Audulomi Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Srirup Bhagvat Maharaj (Acharyapad) became the Acharya. After his Acharya lila, Srila Bhakti Suhrid Paribrajak Maharaj is carrying the divine preceptorial line and preserving the flow of pure devotion till date. Gaudiya Mission essentially practises and preaches the universal religion of the soul as taught in Srimad Bhagvatam, the ripened fruit of the Vedic literature. This religion is based on the loving service to Sri Kriahna. The eternal truths of Srimad Bhagvatam belong to the transcendental realm (Adokshaja) beyond the understanding of the senses, intellect and mind. It is only through the enlightenment from a spiritual master (Guru) in the disciplic succession starting from Lord Krishna himself, one can understand and realize the truth. Only the Acharyas coming in ‘Amnaya Dhara’ (disciplic succession) can deliver the truth and enlighten others. Lord Bramha, as he learnt the truth from Supreme Lord Krishna, gave it to Narada, Sri Vyasadev, as he leant it from Narada, taught Srimad Bhagvatam to Sukdeva, and Sukdeva to Pariksh*t Maharaj along with Suta Goswami and others. With the passage of time when the true message is lost, the Supreme Lord manifests Himself in different forms to re-establish the true religion as promised in Srimad Bhagavat Gita. True to His promise, He appeared in Nadia (West Bengal) in the 15th Century as Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabu , in the disguise of a Devotee. Thus the universal ‘Bhagvat Dharma’ based on Srimad Bhagvatam was adopted with zeal and vigour by the scholars, devotees and the general masses alike. Gaudiya Acharyas are carrying this religion till date by their preaching and practice, and enlightening us with the timeless knowedge of Srimad Bhagavtam, the spotless, pure & unalloyed Puran.
