The word 'Gaudiya' was etymologically derived from 'Gaud'. It was the erstwhile eastern terrain that witnessed the emergence of an enlightened Vaishnava movement culturally and popularly held as 'Gaudiya Vaishnava' movement.
Geographically it used to locate almost the entire stretch of modern Bengal and Bangladesh five centuries back despite discrepancies in demographic designs.The emergence of such hallowed religion was seminally influenced by Srikrishna Chaitanya Sriman Mahaprabhu whose divine life, luminous
philosophy and relentless socio-spiritual endeavour vitalized the religion and its pertinent practices persistently.It was his Sankirtana, an ardent longing for the Almighty Omniscient Lord Srikrishna that set the tone for Gaudia Vaishnava religious exercises.Virtually it drew the blueprint of an encompassing love empire.Together with Sriman Mahaprabhu, Prabhu Nityananda emerged as the dual architect of Chaitanya fraternity.
A lofty humanist and spiritual democrat Nityananda, straightway stood against casteism and all narrow, divisive malpractices.To repudiate prejudiced stereotypes, he retrieved Jagai-Madhai. Himself being a Brahmeen, he attended the inviting call of Uddharan Dutta.The latter virtually became one of the closest confederates of Netaichand.But we dare not undermine Adwaita Acharya Prabhu being the illustrious precursor of Gaudiya Vaishnavism because, as a vanguard of humanism, he promoted Yavan Haridasa to the admirable cushion of Brahmeens.
Besides the aspects of social and historical reforms, Gaudia Vaishnava Tatwa also surfaced as one of the all time greatest spiritual philosophies in concurrence with Adwaita Vedanta, Dwaitabaad, Bishistadwaitabaaad etc. Chiefly because of the incredible and divinely blessed wisdom of Sri Jeeva Goswami ("Sat Sandarbha" especially) and Acharya Baladeva Vidyabhusana, the divine philosophy of Sri Chaitanya was replenished with the grandeur of "Achintya Vedaveda". Later, from the discourse of Mahaprabhu and Rai Ramananda, the foundation of "Sadhya-Sadhan" Tatwa was laid with an eternal prominence. Krisnadas Kabiraj Goswami dealt with this particular concept elaborately in "Chaitanya Charitamrita".
Great Vaishnava anthological texts, to the capacity of 'Bhaktirasamrita Sindhu' and 'Ujjwal Nilmani', were resulted of Mahaprabhu's formative influence upon Sri Rupa, Sanatana,Sri Raghunatha, Lokanath, Bhugarbha Goswami and other Vaishnava Mahajanas.The style of worship; system of rituals; unflinching faith on the deity, devotee and scripture; the art of pouring heart out in doleful lament during prayer (kirtan) -- sum up on the whole, the crux of Gaudia Vaishnava Ritualistic cult. Setting apart all alluring earthly attachments of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksa; this glorious philosophical offshoot evaluates Prema (the divine love) ahead of all spiritual preconditions. That's why, Sri Radhika according to this philosophical school, does remain an inexhaustible fountain of ever flowing spiritual energy and Almighty Omniscient Krishna happens to be a mutually inseparable entity of that celestial Pleasure Principle or 'Hladini Shakti'.
