Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Topic: Bhakti and Sufi Traditions · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Gaudiya Vaishnavism is a school of devotion to Radha and Krishna from Bengal. "Gauda" is an old name for Bengal. Chaitanya founded it in the 16th century, and it spread through ecstatic kirtan, the singing and dancing of God's names. Chaitanya's disciples, the Gosvamis of Vrindavan, later set down its ideas in Sanskrit texts. It is a saguna tradition, which means it worships God with a form, as Krishna.
Example
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was founded in New York in 1966. It belongs to this tradition and has spread Chaitanya's form of kirtan around the world.
Don't confuse with
- Ekasarana dharma: This is Shankaradeva's Vaishnavism in Assam. It teaches devotion to Krishna alone, without Radha.