acintya-bheda-abheda tattva

Inconceivable Simultaneous Oneness and Difference

स्थापक: तत्समयश्च The श्रीचैतन्यमहाप्रभु: ईसवीय सन्

Founder of the Śrī Caitanya-Mahāprabhu 1486 AC., 533 Gaurabda
Sampradāya
Appointed Ācāryās

sambandha–ācārya - Śrīla Sanatana Gosvāmī

abhideya–ācārya - Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī
prayojana–ācārya - Śrīla Ragunatha dāsa Gosvāmī
दार्शनिकमतस्य नामाभिधानम् अचिन्त्यभेदाभेददर्शनम्
The nomenclature of the Śrī Brahmā-Madhva-Gauḍīya sampradāya
Sampradāya
Disciplic succesion coming from lord Brahmā, Madhvācārya and ācāryas from
land of Gauḍa
ṣaṭ-darśana – Six Schools Vedānta-darśana
of Vedic Philosophy
Doctrine acintya-bheda-abheda tattva
Inconceivable Simultaneous Oneness and Difference
Vedānta-bhāṣya –
Commentary on Vedānta- Śrī Govinda-bhāṣya, Śrī Bāladeva Vidyābhūṣana
sūtra
साहित्यम् ब्रह्मसत्रू स्योपरि गोविन्दभाष्यम’्
The Literature of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is spotless Purāṇa, amala-purāṇa
Sampradāya
śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ purāṇam amalaṁ yad vaiṣṇavānāṁ priyaṁ
yasmin pāra mahāṁsyam ekam amalaṁ jñānaṁ paraṁ gīyate
tatra jñāna-virāga-bhakti-sahitaṁ naiṣkarmyam āviskṛtaṁ
tac chṛṇvan su-paṭhan vicāraṇa-paro bhaktyā vimucyen naraḥ

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa. It is most dear to the vaiṣṇavas

because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahaṁsas.
This Bhāgavatam reveals the means for becoming free from all material
work, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge,
renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion,
becomes completely liberated.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.3.43
Essential Literature sambandha–grantha - Śrīla Sanatana Gosvāmī, Hari–bhakti–vilāsa
abhideya– grantha - Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Bhakti–rasāmṛta–sindhu
prayojana– grantha - Śrīla Ragunatha dāsa Gosvāmī, Vilāpa–kusumāñjali
प्रमाणानि Epistemology çrutiù pratyakñam aitihyam anumänaà catuñöayam /
pramäëeñv anavasthänäd vikalpät sa virajyate //

From the four types of evidence—Vedic knowledge, direct experience,

traditional wisdom and logical induction—one can understand the temporary,
insubstantial situation of the material world and thus become detached from the
duality of this world.
11.19.17
pratyakñeëänumänena nigamenätma–saàvidä /
ädy–anta–vad asaj jïätvä niùsaìgo vicared iha // 9 //
 “Lord Kåñëa said: ‘By direct perception, logical deduction, scriptural testimony
and personal realization one should know that this world has a beginning and an
end and so is not the ultimate reality. Thus one should live in this world without
attachment’”
Çrémad–Bhägavatam 11.28.9

bhrama, pramäda, vipralipsä, karaëäpäöava / ärña–vijïa–väkye nähi doña ei

saba // 86 //

“Mistakes, illusions, cheating and defective perception do not occur in the

sayings of the authoritative sages.

Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya–caritāmṛta, Ādi–līlā 2

svataù–pramäëa veda–pramäëa–çiromaëi /
lakñaëä karile svataù–pramäëatä–häni // 132 //

The self–evident Vedic literatures are the highest evidence of all, but if these
literatures are interpreted, their self–evident nature is lost.

Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya–caritāmṛta, Ādi–līlā 7

pramäëera madhye çruti pramäëa–pradhäna /

çruti ye mukhyärtha kahe, sei se pramäëa // 135 //
jévera asthi–viñöhä dui–çaìkha–gomaya /
çruti–väkye sei dui mahä–pavitra haya // 136 //
svataù–pramäëa veda satya yei kaya /
‘lakñaëä’ karile svataù–prämäëya–häni haya // 137 //

“Although there is other evidence, the evidence given in the Vedic version
must be taken as foremost. Vedic versions understood directly are first–class
evidence.” Caitanya Mahäprabhu continued, “Conchshells and cow dung are
nothing but the bones and the stool of some living entities, but according to the
Vedic version they are both considered very pure. “The Vedic statements are
self–evident. Whatever is stated there must be accepted. If we interpret
according to our own imagination, the authority of the Vedas is immediately
lost.”
Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya–caritāmṛta, Madhya–līlā 6
Method of Teaching pañcāṅga-nyāya – Fivefold Syllogisms
मल
ू भतू तत्त्वानि Dāśa-mūla-tattva, Ten Roots of Truth
tattvas - Metaphysics
āmnāyaḥ prāha tattvaṁ harim iha paramaṁ sarva-śaktiṁ rasābdhiṁ
tad-bhinnāṁśāṁś ca jīvān prakṛti-kavalitān tad-vimuktāṁś ca bhāvād
bhedābheda-prakāśaṁ sakalam api hareḥ sādhanaṁ śuddha-bhaktiṁ
sādhyaṁ tat-prītim evety upadiśati janān gaura-candraḥ bhajetaṁ

“I worship Śrī Gauracandra [Lord Caitanya] Who has revealed the path of
wisdom. The Vedic scriptures are the only authority for knowledge of the
ninefold aspects of wisdom, which are: (1) Śrī Hari is the only source of
wisdom; (2) He is omnipotent; (3) He is an ocean of bliss; (4) The living
entities are His parts and parcels; (5) Some of the living entities are
conditioned by the material nature; (6) Other living entities are liberated from
material nature; (7) Everything, including the jīvas, is one and different from
Śrī Hari; (8) Unalloyed devotional service is the only means for the conditioned
souls to go beyond this world of birth and death; and (9) Love for the Supreme
 Lord [prema] is the only goal.”
Essential Teachings bhagavān—’sambandha’, bhakti—’abhidheya’ haya
premā—’prayojana’, vede tina-vastu kaya

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, ”The Supreme Personality of Godhead is

the central point of all relationships, acting in devotional service to Him is
one’s real occupation, and the attainment of love of Godhead is the ultimate
goal of life. These three subject matters are described in the Vedic literature.

Śrīla Kṛṣṇa dasa Kavirāja Gosvāmī,

Śrī Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 6.178

Vastu-trāya – Threefold Substance

sambandha-jñāna - The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the central point of

all relationships
abhideya-jñāna – bhakti, devotional service unto Him is living beings real
occupation
prayojana-jñāna – prema, love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of spiritual
practice
ईश्वरस्वरूपम् Svayaṁ-bhagavan, Supreme Personality of Godhead is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, from whom
The Characteristics of all other expansions expands
Iśvara
जीवस्वरूपम् Jīva is living being, separated part and parcel, vibhināṁśa, of the Supreme
The Characteristics of Lord
Jīva
मायास्वरूपम्
The Characteristics of
Māyā
जगत: कार्य-कारणस्य सिद्धान्त:
The Characteristics of the
causality principle of the
world
बन्धस्वरूपं तत्कारणञ्च
The Characteristics of
bondage and its cause
मक्त
ु े : उपायाः Pure devotional service, śuddhā-bhakti, performed especially through yuga-
The Method of liberation dharma, congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord, Harināma-
saṅkīrtana

nava-lakṣana-bhakti – Nine Processes of Devotional Service

çré-prahräda uväca
çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù smaraëaà päda-sevanam /
arcanaà vandanaà däsyaà sakhyam ätma-nivedanam //
iti puàsärpitä viñëau bhaktiç cen nava-lakñaëä /
kriyeta bhagavaty addhä tan manye 'dhétam uttamam //

Prahläda Mahäräja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy
name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viñëu, remembering
them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship
with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His
servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything
unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)—these
 nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated
his life to the service of Kåñëa through these nine methods should be
understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete
knowledge.
Stages in Practice nava-vidha-bhakti - Nine Levels of Devotional Service

ädau çraddhä tataù sädhu-

saìgo ’tha bhajana-kriyä
tato ’nartha-nivåttiù syät
tato niñöhä rucis tataù
athäsaktis tato bhävas
tataù premäbhyudaïcati
sädhakänäm ayaà premëaù
prädurbhäve bhavet kramaù

’In the beginning there must be faith. Then one becomes interested in
associating with pure devotees. Thereafter one is initiated by the spiritual
master and executes the regulative principles under his orders. Thus one is freed
from all unwanted habits and becomes firmly fixed in devotional service.
Thereafter, one develops taste and attachment. This is the way of sädhana-
bhakti, the execution of devotional service according to the regulative
principles. Gradually emotions intensify, and finally there is an awakening of
love. This is the gradual development of love of Godhead for the devotee
interested in Kåñëa consciousness.’

Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Bhakti-rasämṛta-sindhu 1.4.15-16

मक्ति
ु स्वरूपं तत्प्रकारश्च Highest liberation is love of Godhead, prema
The Characteristics of
liberation and its cause
Worshipable Deities sambandhādideva - Śrī Śrī Rādhā–Madana–mohana
abhideyādideva - Śrī Śrī Rādhā–Govinda
prayojanādideva - Śrī Śrī Rādhā–Gopinatha

sambandhādhideva praṇāma

jayatāṁ suratau paṅgor mama manda–mater gatī /

mat–sarvasva–padāmbhojau rādhā–madana–mohanau // 16 //

Glory to the all–merciful Rādhā and Madana–mohana! I am lame and ill

advised, yet They are my directors, and Their lotus feet are everything to me.

abhideyādhideva praṇāma

dīvyad–vṛndāraṇya–kalpa–drumādhaḥ śrīmad–ratnāgāra–siṁhāsana–sthau/
śrīmad–rādhā–śrīla–govinda–devau preṣṭālībhiḥ sevyamānau smarāmi // 17 //

In a temple of jewels in Vṛndāvana, underneath a desire tree, Śrī Śrī Rādhā–

Govinda, served by Their most confidential associates, sit upon an effulgent
throne. I offer my most humble obeisances unto Them.

prayojanādhideva praṇāma

śrīmān rāsa–rasārambhī vaṁśī–vaṭa–taṭa–sthitaḥ /

karṣan veṇu–svanair gopīr gopīnāthaḥ śriye ’stu naḥ // 18 //

Śrī Śrīla Gopīnātha, who originated the transcendental mellow of the rāsa
 dance, stands on the shore in Vaṁśīvaṭa and attracts the attention of the
cowherd damsels with the sound of His celebrated flute. May they all confer
upon us their benediction.

Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya–caritāmṛta, Adī–līlā, 1

Mood of Worship madhurya-rāsa, Conjugal mellow
Speciality of Sampradāya parakīya-rāsa, paramour mellow of love of Godhead is the highest
dhāma – The Holy Places Śrī Vṛndāvana dhāma
Śrī Navadvīpa dhāma
Śrī Jagannātha Purī dhāma