# Caitanya Associates *Devotees and companions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu* ## The Panca-Tattva (Five Forms) Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared with four principal associates: 1. **Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu** - Himself 2. **Nityananda Prabhu** - First associate and incarnation 3. **Advaita Acharya** - Initiated Caitanya's mission 4. **Gadadhara Pandit** - Eternal associate 5. **Srivasa Thakur** - Householder devotee ## The Six Goswamis of Vrindavan - [[index/personalities/six-goswamis|Six Goswamis]] - Appointed by Caitanya to develop theology and worship ## Major Associates in Navadvipa (Bengal) - Srivasa Thakura - Great devotee householder - Haridasa Thakura - Holy name chanter - Murari Gupta - Physician devotee - Jagannatha Das Babaji - Elderly devotee - Suklanananda - Senior companion ## Associates in Jagannatha Puri ### Ramananda Raya - [[index/entries/ramananda-raya|Ramananda Raya]] - Minister and devotee - Intimate confidant of Caitanya - Author of spiritual works ### Other Puri Associates - Sacaranda - Puri resident - Hari Das - Another Puri associate - Govinda - Caitanya's personal servant ## Associates in South India - Ramacandra Khan - South Indian devotee - Maharshi Kavi - Great poet and devotee - Vyenkata Bhatta - Scholar and devotee ## Characteristics of Caitanya's Associates - Demonstrating pure devotion (bhakti) - Various types of loving relationships with Caitanya - Willing to abandon material life - Preachers of Krishna consciousness - Models of spiritual realization ## Categories of Association ### Eternal Associates (Nitya-Siddhas) - Present from Caitanya's birth - Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara ### Newly Initiated Associates - Found and initiated by Caitanya - Developed through spiritual practice ### Male and Female Associates - Men as preachers and leaders - Women as devoted household members ## Related Topics - [[index/personalities/six-goswamis|Six Goswamis]] - Caitanya's appointed acharyas - [[index/personalities/acaryas|Acaryas]] - Teachers in the lineage - [[index/personalities/devotees|Devotees]] - Followers and students --- *This index is under development. Additional entries from Śrīla Prabhupāda's books, lectures, conversations and letters will be added as the indexing work progresses.*