By his mercy, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu appeared.
By his mercy, the flood of nāma-saṅkīrtana began.
By his mercy, even the most fallen souls were granted access to love of Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Advaita Ācārya is the combined incarnation of Mahā-Viṣṇu and Sadāśiva, yet he appeared in this world as a humble devotee, solely to awaken devotion to the Supreme Lord. He appeared in Śrīhaṭṭa (present-day Sylhet, Bangladesh), in Lāuḍa-grāma, on the banks of a sacred river. Later, he resided in Śāntipura and Navadvīpa, becoming the foremost Vaiṣṇava of Navadvīpa-dhāma.

Seeing the people of Kali-yuga deeply absorbed in material life, Advaita Ācārya longed to bestow prema-bhakti, pure love of Kṛṣṇa. Liberation was easy for him to grant—but love of Kṛṣṇa is not cheap. Only Kṛṣṇa Himself can give it.

Understanding this truth, Advaita Gosāñi undertook an extraordinary act of devotion. With intense eagerness, he worshipped Śālagrāma-śilā with Gaṅgā water and Tulasī mañjarīs, fasting and loudly chanting the Holy Names. Through thunderous kīrtana and heartfelt tapasya, he declared:

“If my name is Advaita—non-different—then I will bring the Supreme Lord down.”

His cries of devotion pierced the coverings of the universe, resounded throughout Vaikuṇṭha, and reached the ears of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself. At the same time, in Kuliyā, Haridāsa Ṭhākura was also chanting intensely, praying for the Lord’s descent. Thus, by the combined devotion of His pure servants, the Lord confirmed His advent—as Śrī Gaurāṅga, the most merciful incarnation.

On the adhivāsa day of Lord Gaurāṅga, during the sacred fire sacrifices, devotees remembered how Advaita Ācārya’s powerful kīrtana and worship invoked the appearance of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Although Advaita Ācārya is ontologically superior—being an expansion of the Lord—Mahāprabhu always offered him great respect, considering him senior due to disciplic considerations. Yet Advaita Gosāñi knew the truth in his heart:

“He is the Original Personality of Godhead; I am but an expansion of His expansion.”

In a well-known pastime, simply to taste the joy of being corrected by the Lord, Advaita Ācārya once spoke Patañjali yoga mixed with Māyāvāda philosophy. Hearing this, Mahāprabhu chased him with a stick, warning him never to speak such ideas again. Advaita Gosāñi was overwhelmed with bliss, for being chastised by the Lord was the highest mercy.

On this sacred day—the seventh day of the bright fortnight of Māgha—the great ocean of ecstasy swelled as Advaita Ācārya appeared from the womb of Śrī Nabhā Devī, radiant like the autumn moon. His father, Śrī Kuvera Paṇḍita, distributed abundant charity in joy. The residents of Nabagrāma marveled at the child’s extraordinary beauty, saying they had never seen such a divine infant. He was named Maṅgala, also known as Kamalākṣa.

Advaita Ācārya’s two consorts, Sītā Devī and Śrī Devī, are manifestations of Yoga-māyā. In one divine moment, Advaita Ācārya saw all the demigods gathered—not before him—but at the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya. Raising his arms in ecstasy, he declared that his life had finally become perfect, for he had directly seen the Lord whom the Vedas glorify yet cannot fully attain.

Mahāprabhu then requested Advaita Ācārya to worship Him. With tears flowing, Advaita washed the Lord’s lotus feet, offered Tulasī, sandalwood, lamps, incense, foodstuffs, and heartfelt prayers, glorifying Him as the most munificent incarnation and the revealer of the Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahā-mantra.

When Mahāprabhu asked him to ask for a benediction, Advaita Ācārya prayed only:

“May You distribute love of Kṛṣṇa even to women, laborers, and the most ignorant.”

This prayer reveals the heart of Advaita Gosāñi—mercy without discrimination.

Even today, the Nṛsiṁha-śilā and Deities worshipped by Advaita Ācārya remain in Śāntipura, and the sacred place on the banks of the Gaṅgā where he called out to the Lord is known as Bāblā, where a temple now stands in remembrance of his divine pastimes.

Advaita Gosāñi stands as the forerunner of the saṅkīrtana movement. Before the nāma-yajña, before the festivals, before the flood of mercy—he stands first.

With folded hands, devotees prayed:

doyā koro sītā-pati advaita gosāñi,
tava kṛpā-bale pāi caitanya-nitāi

Śrī Advaita Gosāñi kī jaya!
May devotion to Gaura and Nitāi forever awaken in our hearts—only by his mercy