SRI ACYUTANANDA

Sri Acyutananda was the eldest son of Sri Advaita Acarya. He was born in the
year 1428 Sakabda. He was extremely dear to Sri Gaurasundara. When Lord Caitanya
came from Puri to Santipur, Acyutananda was only 8 years old.

"The small son of Advaita who was without any clothes, came to the lotus feet of
Sri Gauracandra. Though his body was covered with dust, Prabhu picked him up and
placed him in His lap. He spoke to him, 'Acyuta! Acarya is my father. Therefore
you and I are brothers.'" [C.B. Ant 1.216]

According to Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika he is Kartikkeya. According to others he is
Acyuta-gopika.

Advaita Acarya had three sons by Sita devi: Acyutananda, Krsna Misra and Gopala.
By his wife Sri Devi he had another three sons: Balarama, Swarupa and Jagadisa.
The three sons of Sri Devi were adverse to Mahaprabhu and were smarta mayavadis.
Acyutananda was the disciple of Gadadhara Pandit. Until the disappearance of
Mahaprabhu, Acyutananda resided at Nilacala. He used to dance in the kirtana
party of his father before the chariot of Lord Jagannatha during the Ratha
Yatra.

From his childhood he was deeply devoted to Mahaprabhu. One time a sannyasi who
was a guest at Advaita Acarya's house inquired, "What is the relationship of Sri
Caitanya with Kesava Bharati?" The Acarya replied, "Kesava Bharati is the guru
of Sri Caitanya."

Acyutananda who was then only a child, overheard this and in an angry mood
approached his father, "When you have said that Lord Caitanya has a guru, there
can be no other explanation than that you have become deluded by the external
potency. By his own desire unlimited universes merge into the pores of the body
of Caitanya Gosai. How can you state that He who is the original source of all
knowledge can have a spiritual master? You are my father and whatever I know I
have learned from you. As you are my siksa guru how is it that now you are
speaking something different?" [C.B. Ant 4.161]

Advaita replied, "I think that you are the father, and I am the son. Just to
teach me you have appeared as my son."

Acyutananda never married. He had one sister named Nandini. Krsna Misra had two
sons: Raghunath and Dola Govinda. The descendants of Raghunatha still worship
the Deity of Madana Gopala in Santipura. Dola Govinda had three sons who resided
at Malda. Acyutananda was present at the Kheturi Utsava. Towards the end of his
life he resided at Santipura.

Appearance: 1428 Sakabda.

"A big branch of Advaita Acarya was Acyutananda, His son. From the beginning of
his life he engaged in the service of the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya.

"When Acyutananda heard from his father that Kesava Bharati was the spiritual
master of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he was very unhappy. He told his father,
`Your instruction that Kesava Bharati is the spiritual master of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu will spoil the entire country. Lord Caitanya Himself is the spiritual
master of the fourteen worlds, but you say that someone else is His spiritual
master. This is not supported by any revealed scripture.'

"When Advaita Acarya heard this statement from His five-year old son
Acyutananda, He felt great satisfaction because of his conclusive
judgement." [Cc Adi 12.13-17]

