Sri Gadadhar Pandita

Gadadhara Pandita, also known as Pandita Prabhu and Gadai, was one of the Pañcatattva. He was born in 1486 A.D., on the new moon day of Vaisaka, to Madhava Misra and Ratnavati-devi, in the village of Beliti (or, according to some sources, Srihatta or Chittagong) (Cc. Adi 1.1.41, purport). His younger brother was Vaninatha. In previous incarnations, Gadadhara Pandita appeared as Radhika and Lalita.

A brahmana of the Varendra clan and Kasyapa-gotra, Gadadhara Pandita, at the age of thirteen, migrated with his parents to Navadvipa, staying at his maternal uncle’s house near Jagannatha Misra. Some accounts mention a wealthy devotee named Suraraja as instrumental in bringing him to Navadvipa. Gadadhara remained a lifelong bachelor and received mantra initiation from Pundarika Vidyanidhi (Cc. Adi 1.6.48, purport).

Gadadhara Pandita was a constant companion of Lord Gauranga, reading the Srimad-Bhagavatam to Him daily. After Lord Caitanya took sannyasa and departed for Nilacala, Gadadhara Pandita also accompanied Him. Gadadhara Pandita passed away in Puri on the new moon day of Jaistha in 1534 A.D., at the age of forty-seven, eleven months after the disappearance of Lord Caitanya (Cc. Antya 3.7.164, purport).

Lord Caitanya personally wrote a verse on Gadadhara Pandita’s copy of the Bhagavad-gita, and Gadadhara Pandita himself composed the Premamrtastotra (Sadhanadipika 9).

Gadadhara Pandita is referred to throughout the Caitanya-caritamrita and other biographies of Lord Caitanya, including:

1. As Isa-sakti (Cc. Adi 1.1.41, 1.4.227, 1.6.48).
2. Studying Krsnalilamrta with Isvarapuri (Cc. Madhya 1.11.99-100).
3. Fainting at Lord Gauranga’s kirtana at Suklamvara’s house (Cc. Madhya 2.1.56-108).
4. Arguments with Lord Gauranga on Nyaya (Cc. Adi 1.12.20-27).
5. Counseling Advaita Prabhu to abstain from witnessing worship (Cc. Adi 1.12.126-142).
6. Comforted by Lord Gauranga in viraha (Cc. Madhya 2.2.202-209).
7. Offering betel-leaf to Lord Gauranga (Cc. Madhya 2.6.65, 2.20.27, 2.22.19).
8. Receiving diksa from Mukunda after doubts regarding Pundarika Vidyanidhi (Cc. Madhya 2.7.44-112).
9. Reactions upon seeing Nityananda Prabhu without garments (Cc. Madhya 2.11.23, 2.13.159).
10. Water sports with Lord Gauranga after the conversion of Jagai and Madhai (Cc. Madhya 2.13.341).
11. Dancing as a Gopika in a drama staged by Candrasekhar (Cc. Madhya 2.18.101-116).
12. Standing on the left of Lord Gauranga at the Kazi conversion dance recital (Cc. Madhya 2.23.211, 491).
13. Constant association with Lord Gauranga (Cc. Madhya 2.24.31).
14. Receiving the command to offer Visnu puja (Cc. Madhya 2.25.91).
15. Reference to sannyasa (Cc. Madhya 2.28.44).
16. Residing with Lord Gauranga the night before His sannyasa (Cc. Madhya 2.26.166-171).
17. Companion of Lord Caitanya after sannyasa (Cc. Antya 2.28.104, 3.1.52).
18. Accompanying Lord Caitanya to Nilacala (Cc. Antya 3.2.35).
19. Residing with Lord Caitanya at Nilacala (Cc. Antya 3.3.228-231).
20. Ksetra-sannyasa (Cc. Madhya 2.1.252).
21. Meeting Nityananda Prabhu at Tota Gopinatha and eating with Lord Caitanya (Cc. Antya 3.7.112-164).
22. Water sports in Narendra-sarovara (Cc. Antya 3.8.122).
23. Subject of siksa from Lord Caitanya (Cc. Antya 3.10.22-27).
24. Recital of Srimad Bhagavatam on Narendra-sarovara bank (Cc. Antya 3.10.22-26).
25. Refusal to give diksa to Vallabha Bhatta (Cc. Antya 3.7.86-148).
26. “The life and soul of Gadadhara Pandita” (Cc. Antya 3.7.163-164).
27. Argument with Lord Caitanya on supreme duty (Cc. Madhya 2.16.130-143).
28. Reaction in separation of Lord Caitanya (Bhaktiratnakara 3.135-143).
29. Meeting Srinivasa Acarya (Bhaktiratnakara 3.147-152).

For details regarding Sri Gadadhara Mantra, Dhyana, Gayatri, and Sri Gaura-Gadadhara Mantra, see Dhyanacandra Gosvami’s Sri Gauragovindarcana Paddhati (texts 37-44).

Gadadhara Pandita was glorified by many great Gosvamis, and numerous astakas and stotras were composed in his honor, including:

• By Sanatana Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami, Svarupa Gosvami, Lokanatha Gosvami, Bhugarbha Gosvami, Paramananda Gosvami, Sivananda Cakravarti.
• Sri Sri Gauragadadharastaka (Acyutananda, Nayanananda Misra).
• Rati-janaka-dvadasa-namastotra, Astottarasatanama-stotra by Sarvabhauma.
• Sakhanirnayamrta by Jadunatha.
• Premamrtastotra by Gadadhara Pandita.

Thus, Gadadhara Pandita exemplifies perfect devotion, intimate service to Lord Caitanya, and unflinching adherence to guru and scripture.

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