Pancha Tattva (Vaishnavism)

In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, these five features of God (Krishna) are believed to have incarnated on Earth as five people in the late 15th century: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara Pandit and Srivasa Thakur. They famously spread the Krishna mantra and the practise of devotion (bhakti) towards Krishna throughout India.

• Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa Himself (Svayam Bhagavan).
• Śrī Nityānānda Rāma Prabhu is Kṛṣṇa's first personal expansion with the combined power of Balarama.
• Śrī Advaita Ācārya is the combined power of Śri Viṣṇu & Śri Śiva (Harihara).
• Śrī Śrīvāsa Thakura is Kṛṣṇa's pure devotee and symbolizes devotion (Bhakti).
• Śrī Gadadhāra Pandita is the combined power of Kṛṣṇa's internal energy (Śakti).

"I offer my obeisances unto the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, who is nondifferent from His features as a devotee (bhakta-rūpa; Śrī Caitanya), devotional incarnation (svarūpakam; Śrī Nityānānda), devotional manifestation (bhaktāvatāraṁ; Śrī Advaita), pure devotee (bhaktākhyaṁ; Śrī Śrīvāsa), and devotional energy (bhakta-śaktikam; Śrī Gadadhāra)."

— Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi 1.147.6

Within the Gaudiya tradition, a mantra formed from the names of the five members of the Pancha Tattva is often spoken or sung as a means of devotional worship, or japa. Often, this mantra is sung or chanted prior to the Krishna mantra. It is believed by followers to be the most merciful mantra available in this age of Kali.

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda,

śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda[1]

An alternative version features another name for Chaitanya, "Gauranga":[2]

śrī-gaurāṅga nityānānda, śrī-advaita-candra,

gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

• Bhakti Yoga
• Chaitanya Charitamrita
• Panchatattva (Tantra)
• Six Goswamis of Vrindavan
• Vaishnava

• Rosen, Steven J. Sri Pancha Tattva: The Five Features of God 1994 ISBN 0-9619763-7-3 Folk Books, New York