SRI ADVAITA ACARYA
last update 16th February 2013

About His Life:
Advaita-tattva - The Advaita Principle - from Gaudiya Kanthara:

The Glories of Sri Advaita Acharya Prabhu - Sri Nandanandan dasa ACBSP

Advaita Acharya Reading by Giriraj Swami

Advaita-Acharya-biography from Gaudiya History http://gaudiyahistory.com/

Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Advaita Acharya

See the Shalagram Sila that Srila Advaita Acharya prayed to to invoke Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

With the intense eagerness he continually worships the Shalagram of Sri Krsna with Tulasi manjaris and Ganges water. By the momentum of his spiritual force, his loud shouts pierce the coverings of this universe and, resounding throughout Vaikuntha, reach the ears of Sri Krsna. Hearing this loving summons saturated with devotion, Sri Krsna advents Himself.

On the seventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magh, the great ocean of ecstasy swelled to its limits, being forcibly attracted by the moon of Adwaita, Who appeared from the womb of Sri Nabhadevi as the moon appears in the autumn sky. His father, Sri Kuvera, Pandit floated in that ocean of joy. In great happiness gave many gifts in charity to the brahmanas (who voluntarily accept vows of poverty). Very quietly he approached the maternity room to get a glimpse of his newborn son. Then his own face began to shine by the reflected light of that moon-like personage. The residents of Nabagram came running to see the child. Everyone remarked that they had never seen such a beautiful baby. What a pious activities his father must have been performed to get such a jewel of a son, and that in his old age. Thus Ghanasyama sings about this occasion. [B.R.12.1759] The child was named Mangal and his other name was Kamalaksa.

Advaita Acarya is the combined incarnation of Maha Visnu and Sadaisiva (who resides in Goloka). His two consorts, Sita and Sri are manifestations of Yoga Maya. Once when Advaita performed worship, whatever gods and demigods He used to meditate upon He saw all gathered at Lord Caitanya's lotus feet, offering prayers. Raising up his two hands, Advaita exclaimed in great ecstasy, "Today all the days of my life have produced a successful result, as all my desires have been fulfilled. My birth and activities have finally born fruit. I have directly perceived Your two lotus feet, which are proclaimed throughout the four Vedas but are unattainable thereby. Now, by Your causeless mercy, You have
revealed Yourself to Me."

Mahaprabhu replied, "Acarya, now you should perform My worship." First Advaita Acarya washed the Lord's two lotus feet with water scented by flower petals and then with water scented with sandalwood. Then He placed on His lotus feet Tulasi manjari dipped in sandalwood paste along with arghya - an auspicious offering of rice, durbagrass, yogurt etc. His eyes brimming with tears, he offered incense, ghee lamps, flowers, sandalwood paste, and some foodstuffs. After offering various prayers he loudly proclaimed the Lord's glories with auspicious shouts. All glories to the Lord and maintainer of the universe, the Lord of all that lives. All glories to Gaurcandra, the ocean of mercy. All glories to the most munificent incarnation of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, whose form is all-enchanting. All glories to He who is decorated with the ornaments of Sri Vatsa and Kaustubha. All glories to He who has revealed the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra. All glories to He who enjoys the pastimes of accepting devotion unto Himself. All glories to Mahaprabhu who reclines on the bed of Ananta Sesa. All glories to the refuge of all living entities. [C.B.Mad. 6.116]

Hearing Advaita's prayer's Mahaprabhu replied, "My dear Acarya, I am very pleased by your prayers. Now you can ask from me any benediction you like." Then Advaita requested that, "My only request is that you distribute love of Krsna even to women, laborers and the ignorant fools as well. [C.B. Mad. 6.167]

A Nrsimha sila and Deities, fashioned after a picture of Sri Sri Madan-Gopal that were worshipped by Advaita Acarya are still residing at Santipur in Madan-Gopal Para. Santipur is a short distance from Krsnanagar by bus.

The place on the banks of the Ganga where Advaita Acarya worshipped shalagram and called out to the Lord to please descend to the world is known today as Babla. A temple has been built in memory of Advaita Acarya's pastimes there. This place can be reached by rikshaw from Santipur.

THE SIXTH JEWEL: ADVAITA-TATTVA
Advaita-tattva - The Advaita Principle

6. 1
mahavisnur-jagat-karta mayaya yam srjaty adam
tasyavatara evayam advaitacarya isvaram

Lord Advaita Acaya is the incarnation of Mahavisnu, whose main function is to create the cosmic world through the actions of maya. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi 6.4)

6. 2
advaitam harinadvaitacayam bhakti-samsanat
bhaktavataramism tam advaitacaryam asraye

Because He is nondifferent from Hari, the Supreme Lord, He is called Advaita, and because He propagates the cult of devotion, He is called Acaya. He is the Lord and the incarnation of the Lord's devotee. Therefore I take shelter of Him. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi 1.12 - 13)

Mahavisnu, the Supersoul of material nature, is the efficent cause [nimitta] and Sri Advaita is the material cause [upadana] of the material creation.

6. 3
apane purusa - visvera "nimitta - karana
advaita-rupa "upadana" ha'na narayana
"nimittamse" kare ti-ho mayate iksana
"upadana" sri advaita karena brahmanda-srjana

Lord Visnu Himself is the efficient [nimitta] cause of the material world, and Narayana in the form of Sri Advaita, is the material cause [upadana]. Lord Visn, in His efficient aspect, glances over the material energy, and Sri Advaita as the material cause, creates the material world. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi 6.16 - 7)

Advaita is Sadasiva
6. 4
He who was Sri Sadasva is the bhakta-avatara, Sri Advaita Prabhu. (Gaura-Ganoddesa Dipika, 11)

The meaning of the name Advaita
6. 5
mahavisnura amsa - advaita gunadhama
isvare abheda, te-i "advaita" purna nama

Sri Advaita, who is a reservoir of virtues, is the main limb of Mahavisnu. His full name is Advaita, for He is identical in all respects with the Lord. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi 6.25)

Advaita Acarya is a preacher of krsna-bhakti
6. 7
jiva nistarila krsna-bhakti kari' dana
gita-bhagavate kaila bhaktira vyakhyana

He delivered all living beings by offering the gift of krsna-bhakti. He explained Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in the light of devotional service. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi 6.27)

He is the avatara of Mahavisnu of and is the servant of Sri Caitanya.
6. 8
advaitanacaya gosa-i saksat-isvara
prabhu, guru kari' mane ti-ho ta' kinkara

Lord Advaita Acarya is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although Lord Caitanya accepts Him as His preceptor, Advaita Acarya is a servant of the Lord. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi5.147)

Advaita and Nityananda are servants of Sri Caitanya
6. 9
eka "mahaprabhu," ara "prabhu" - duijana
dui prabhu seve maharabhu carana

There is one "Mahaprabhu" [Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu] and two "Prabhus" [Advaita Prabhu and Nityananda Prabhu]. The two Prabhus serve the lotus feet of Maharabhu. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi 7.14)

The twofold branches among the followers of Advaita: saragrahi (those who accept the essence) and asaravahi (those useless persons who accept the nonessential).
6. 10
advaitanghryu-abhabhrngamstan sarasarabhrto 'khilan
hitvasaran sarabhuto naumi caitanya jivanan

The followers of Sri Advaita were of two kinds. Some were real followers (saragrahi) and the others were false (sara-grahi). Rejecting the false followers, I offere my respectful obeisances to the real followers of Sri Advaita Acaya whose life and soul was Sri Caitanya Maharabhu. (Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi 12.1)

The Saragrahi followers of Advaita are devotees of Gauranga:
the asara-grahi (useless) are those who act independently and reject Gauranga.
6. 11
prathame ta' ekamata acaryera gana
pache dui mata haila daivera karana
keha ta' acaryera ajnaya, keha ta' svatantra
svamata kalpana kare daiva-paratantra
acaryera mata yei, sei mata sara
ta-'ra ajna langi' cale sei ta' asara

At first all the followers of Advaita Acaya shared a single opinion. but later they followed two different opinions as ordained by providence. Some of the disciples strictly accepted the orders of the acarya, and others deviated, independently concocting their own opinions under the spell of daivi maya. The opinion of the acarya is essential. Anyone who disregards his order is useless (asara-grahi) (Caitanya-Caritamrta Adi 12.8 - 10).

The useless followers of Advaita Acarya acted contrary
to the principles of Sri Caitanya and thus became cut off from his mercy.
6. 12
ihara madhye mali-pache kona saha-gana
na mane caitanya-mali durdaiva-karana
srjaila, jiyaila ta're na manila
krtaghna haila, ta're skandha ta're jala na sa-care
jalabhave krsa-sakha sukhaiya mare

After the disappearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who was the gardener of the tree of love of Godhead, some of the sub-branches of the Advaita branch, for unfortunate reasons, deviated from His path. Some branches did not accept the original trunk that vitalized and maintained the entire tree. When they thus became ungrateful, the original trunk was angry at them. Thus Lord Caitanya did not sprinkly upon them the water of his mercy, and they gradually withered and died.

GAUDIYA KANTHAHARA

THE SIXTH JEWEL: ADVAITA-TATTVA