Bhakti Prajnan Keshava

Bhakti Prajnan Keshava
Maharaja
Bhakti Prajnan Keshava Maharaja
	Murti of Bhakti Prajnan Keshava Maharaja on the altar in the Gaudiya Math in Mathura
Title	Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual leader
Personal
Born	9 February 1898; Banaripara, East Bengal, British India
Died	6 October 1968 (aged 70); Nabadwip, India
Religion	Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Other names	Vinodabihari Brahmacari Kritiratna Prabhu
Senior posting
Based in	Vrindavan, India
Period in office	1940 - 1968
Predecessor	Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Successor	Srila Bhaktivedānta Vamana Goswāmī Maharaj.
Initiation	Diksa–1919, Sannyasa–1940

Bhakti Prajnan Keshava (IAST: Bhakti Prajñāna Keśava; 9 February 1898 – 6 October 1968), addressed by the honorific Mahārāja (Mahārāja),^[1] was a Gaudiya Vaishnava guru, disciple of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and the founder-acharya of the religious organisation "Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti", formed in Calcutta in 1940,^[1]^[2] and its headquarters, monastery Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math in Nabadwip.

Bhakti Prajnan Keshava Maharaja and A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada were godbrothers (disciples of the same spiritual master). Abhay Charanaravinda Prabhu became A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (taking the title "Bhaktivedanta" and name Swāmī) when Keśava Gosvāmī initiated him into the renounced order of life (sannyasa) on 17 September 1959 at Keshava Maharaja's temple in Mathura.^[3]^[4]

^ ^a ^b Brzezinski 2004, p. 89.
^ Sherbow 2004, p. 131.
^ Anil Sooklal, A socio-religious study of the Hare Krishna movement in South Africa, p.28, 1986.
^ The Gauḍīya Patrikā's journal of Bhaktiprajñāna Keśava has an account of the sannyasa initiation included a biographical sketch of Bhaktivedanta Swami, listing the major events of his life. The article concluded: "Bhaktivedanta Swami at the Śrī Keśavajī Gaudiya Math accepted sannyāsa from the founder of the Vedānta Samiti, Bhaktiprajñāna Keśava Mahārāja. Seeing him accept his āśrama of renunciation, seeing this pastime for accepting the renounced order of life, we have attained great affection and enthusiasm." Goswami, Satsvarupa Dasa (2002), Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, vol. 2 (2nd ed.), p. 1191, ISBN 0-89213-357-0

[FOOTNOTEBrzezinski200489-1] Brzezinski 2004, p. 89.

[FOOTNOTESherbow2004131-2] Sherbow 2004, p. 131.

[3] Anil Sooklal, A socio-religious study of the Hare Krishna movement in South Africa, p.28, 1986.

[4] The Gauḍīya Patrikā's journal of Bhaktiprajñāna Keśava has an account of the sannyasa initiation included a biographical sketch of Bhaktivedanta Swami, listing the major events of his life. The article concluded: "Bhaktivedanta Swami at the Śrī Keśavajī Gaudiya Math accepted sannyāsa from the founder of the Vedānta Samiti, Bhaktiprajñāna Keśava Mahārāja. Seeing him accept his āśrama of renunciation, seeing this pastime for accepting the renounced order of life, we have attained great affection and enthusiasm." Goswami, Satsvarupa Dasa (2002), Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta, vol. 2 (2nd ed.), p. 1191, ISBN 0-89213-357-0

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]