Shri Narahari Chakravarti Thakura appeared in the late 1600’s in West Bengal in a brahmana family. Jagannatha Vipra, his father, was a famous disciple of Shripad Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura. Narahari (Ghanashyama Dasa) was a disciple of Narasimha Chakravarti in the line of Shrinvasa Acharya.
By the order of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami remained a lifelong brahmachari. His service was constant chanting of Hare Krishna and reading Shrimad Bhagavatam. In Jagannatha Puri, Raghunatha satisifed Lord Gauranga by his exceptional cooking and kirtana performances, which won him the title, kirtana acharya.
Shri Rasikananda Prabhu (Rasika Murari) appeared as the son of a king. He became a perfect sage, Gaudiya Vaishnava scholar, rasika bhakta, and the most beloved disciple of Shri Shyamananda Prabhu.
He traveled widely for forty years, influencing everyone with the message of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Rasikananda delivered everyone from pious royal families to Muslims, outcastes, agnostics, atheists, and even wild animals.
Shrivasa Pandit, fifth member of the Panca-tattva, Shri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Shri Advaita, Gadadhara, Shrivasadi, Gaura Bhakta Vrinda lived in Navadwipa before the advent of Lord Chaitanya. Shrivasa lead his brothers Shri Rama, Shri Nidhi, and Shripati in their devotional lives of singing Krishna’s names, worshiping the Lord, and bathing thrice daily in the Ganges.
Receiving the seed of Krishna prema from Madhavendra Puri, Shri Ishvara Puri became the spiritual master of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Madhavendra Puri couldn’t move at the end of his life. So doing all humble services, Ishvara Puri even cleaned up his stool and urine. Ishvara Puri helped his guru to remember Shri Krishna by always chanting Hare Krishna and telling Radha-Krishna’s pastimes. Pleasing Madhavendra Puri by these menial acts, Ishvara Puri received the treasure of Krishna-prema from his spiritual master.
Appearing as the son of a king, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura (Shri Thakura Mahasaya) showed all the bodily symptoms of a mahapurusha (an exalted divine person). He had long arms, a deep navel, golden-complexioh, beautiful eyes shaped like the lotus petals. In school, he was a sruti dhara (able to memorize whatever he hears) Although he quickly mastered Sanskrit and the Vedas, he hankered to serve Krishna. He was a lifelong brahmachari. By the mercy of the Holy Name Gaura-Nitai, Narottama became detached, left his opulent family, and ran to Vrindavana. He took diksha from Shri Lokanatha Goswami and siksha in Gaudiya philosophy from Shri Jiva Goswami.
Before, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu met Ramananda Raya, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya told the Lord that no other Devotee’s knowledge of Radha-Krishna’s madhurya rasa compares with Ramananda Raya’s. Although Lord Chaitanya was half the age of forty year old Ramananda when they met, the Lord said, “My dear Ramananda, both you and I are madmen and therefore we meet intimately on an equal level.” Outwardly he acted as the Governor of Madras, but he was a poet, Sanskrit scholar, a dramatist well-versed in rasa literature, music, singing, dancing
Shri Gopala Bhatta Goswami (the son of a Vyenkata Bhatta, a Shri Vaishnava brahmana) appeared in Shri Rangam, South India. Lord Chaitanya once stayed four months in his home, and converted the family to Gaudiya Vaishnavism. A mere boy at this time, Gopala personally served the Lord. Shri Chaitanya treated him affectionately giving His remnants and blessings to’ become an acharya.
Madhavendra Puri’s body was completely full of divine love; so were his followers. He displayed uncommon love of God. Seeing a dark blue raincloud, he would fall down unconscious. Day and night he was intoxicated from drinking the ambrosia of Krishna prema.
All over the world the glories of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu are sung. However, without Sri Advaita Acharya Prabhu, also known as Gaur Ana Thakur, He who brought Gaura to this world, there would be no Mahaprabhu.