Madhavendra Puri

Madhavendra Puri Biography

Madhavendra Puri Goswami was a Vaishnava saint who lived in the 14th century. Puri is often accepted as initial inspiration or initiator of the movement of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. As per historians, he started preaching the principles of Gaudiya Vaishnavism prior to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is believed to belong to Madhvacharya lineage and has been transcribed in the writings of Gopala Guru Goswami and wrorks like Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika and Prameya-ratnavali. Such writings also matche with other historical records.Yet little is known about his early life history before he accepted monastery life. His memorial at Remuna is still worshipped by his followers and regarded as a pilgrim place for Vaishnavites.

Not many records are available about the early life of Madhavendra Puri Goswami. Records are available since he has become a saint or sanyasi. As a monk, he travelled throughout India and finally settled at Vrindavana and Orissa. Main source of information about his way of life has been retrieved from Chaitanya Charitamrita, one of the primary biographies detailing the life and teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu written by Krishna Das Kaviraja in the 15^th century. Main data available is ‘he was a sannyasi of the Sankara sampradaya order belonging to Madhva line being a disciple of Lakshmipati Tirtha’.

He is considered a fountainhead of devotional worship of Krishna who initiated the worship of the Gopala deity. It has also been concluded that he was the founder of the Vaishnava centre at Mathura of Vrindavana. He re-discovered famous deity of Gopala near Govardhana which was later worshipped by Vallabhacharya. Madhavendra Puri died in Remuna, where a memorial was built and now a pilgrim place for Vaishnava groups.

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Updated: March 12, 2014