Prabodhananda Saraswati

After associating with Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Shri Rangam, Shri Prabodhananda Saraswati converted from Shri to Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Empowered by Shri Chaitanya, he taught Shrimad Bhagavatam and other devotional works to Gopala Bhatta Goswami, his nephew. His eloquent speech would engladden everyone.

   Good qualities and pure devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead ornamented his life. Even while sleeping he would remember Lord Caitanya. Prabodhananda Sarasvati was an extremely enthusiastic exponent of Shri Chaitanya's doctrine and divinity.

parama-vairagya-sneha murti manoram

maha-kavi gita vadya-nrtye anupam

   "Very austere and renounced, Prabodhananda Saraswati overflowed with love for the Devotees. His handsome form pleased the eyes. He was a learned poet and scholar. No one could compare with him in the arts of singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments." (Bhakti-ratnakar)

   Leaving Shri Rangam, he lived a detached life in Shri Vrindavana as a fully dedicated servant of Radha-Govinda. He was a rasika acharya, perfect in describing the nikunja-lilas of Gandharvika-Giridhari. He glorifies Lord Chaitanya, Radha-Krishna, Navadwipa, and Vrindavana with enlightened devotion. Prabodhananda Saraswati's writings bless the beginner with bhakti and shower rasika Vaishnavas with pure nectar. Sangita Madhava, Navadwipa-sataka, Chaitanya-chandramrta, Radha-rasa-sudhanidhi, Vrindavana-mahimamrta are some of his books.

   Prabodhananda Saraswati serves Shri Radha in Goloka Vrindavana as Tungavidya-gopi, one of Her asta-sakhis. His samadhi is behind Kaliya-ghat near the Kadamba tree of Krishna lila.