Shri Nimbarkacharya (Appearance)

Accurate biographies are difficult to find, yet authorities agree that Shri Nimbarkacharya preached Krishna consciousness about three-hundred years before the adventure of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

In Navadwipa Dhama Mahatyam, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that Nimbarka had previously worshiped Lord Shiva in Bilva Paksha, Rudradwipa (Navadwipa). Lord Shiva appeared before Nimbarka instructing him to take initiation from the four Kumaras, who were meditating nearby. Nimbarka received Radha-Krishna mantra and continued living in Navadwipa. Following the teachings of the Sanat-Kumara Samhita, he worshiped Radha and Krishna with great love. Soon Radha and Krishna appeared before Nimbarka. Then the Divine Couple displayed Their unified form as Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

Lord Gauranga said, "Nimbarka, in the future when I begin My sankirtana movement I will personally preach the perfect transcendental philosophy of achintya-bheda-abheda-tattva. I will take the essence of the philosophies of Madhva, Ramanuja, Vishnuswami. From you, Nimbarka, I will take two important principles: 1) The necessity of taking shelter of Shrimati Radharani. 2) The high esteem of the Vraja gopis love for Shri Krishna." Lord Gauranga disappeared after instructing Nimbarka. Shedding tears of ecstasy, Nimbarka left Navadwipa to begin his preaching mission. In Chaitanya lila, Nimbarka appeared as Keshava Kashmiri and received love of Godhead directly from Nimai Pandit.

There are striking similarities between the Gaudiyas and Nimbarkas. The followers of Nimbarka accept the six forms of surrender, practice the nine limbs of bhakti, and believe in the dasa mula (ten cardinal points of Gaudiya philosophy). They also worship Radha and Krishna in Vrindavana. They worship Shrimati Radharani as the topmost Devotee, and they accept the gopis love for Krishna is supreme. With beads, bhajans, and kirtans the Nimbarkas chant their version of the maha-mantra: Radhe Krishna Radhe Krishna Krishna Krishna Radhe.Radhe, Radhe Syama Radhe Syama Syama Syama Radhe Radhe.

In Vrindavana, about one mile from Govardhana, there is the village of Nimgaon, named after Nimbarkacharya, who lived there from childhood and later performed bhajana there. Many of Radha-Krishna's pastime places in Vrindavana are now maintained by the Nimbarka sect. In Mathura-Vrindavana, innumerable Devotees follow Nimbarka's path of bhakti. The Shriji Mandir, just off Loi Bazaar in Vrindavana, serves as the center of Nimbarka sampradaya.