Śrīla Gaurakiśora Dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja

(November 17, 1838 – November 17, 1915)

Śrīla Gaurakiśora Dāsa Bābājī Mahārāja, born as Vamśī Dāsa in the village of Vagyana near Tepakhola, Faridpur District (now Bangladesh), was a highly revered ācārya of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava tradition, celebrated for his profound devotion, humility, and ascetic lifestyle. He hailed from a modest merchant family.

At the age of 29, following the passing of his wife, he renounced worldly life and embraced the path of a bābājī, fully dedicating himself to bhajana — chanting the holy names of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa — in sacred places such as Vṛndāvana and Navadvīpa. He was considered the parikāra (eternal companion) of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, embodying the ideal of pure bhakti, free from any material contamination.

Śrīla Bābājī Mahārāja was a contemporary and close associate of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, who revered him as a mahā-bhāgavata (great saint). His simple and austere lifestyle included living in humble huts or even under bridges, subsisting on alms offered with compassion, while rejecting all honor, wealth, or comfort. His heart was aflame with unquenchable love for the Lord.

Importantly, Śrīla Gaurakiśora Dāsa Bābājī was the spiritual guru of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, who received initiation from him under the name "Vārṣabhānavī-devī-dayita-dāsa." This initiation profoundly shaped Bhaktisiddhānta’s spiritual path and led to the founding of the Gauḍīya Maṭha, a mission that has since spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness worldwide. Through this lineage, Śrīla Gaurakiśora Dāsa Bābājī is also linked to Śrīla A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

After spending his final years in deep internal samādhi, Śrīla Gaurakiśora Dāsa Bābājī departed this world on his 77th birthday, November 17, 1915, leaving behind a timeless example of absolute devotion that continues to inspire millions of truth seekers.

“A true devotee cares not for honors, wealth, or fame — he seeks only the mercy of Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Such was Śrīla Gaurakiśora Dāsa Bābājī.”
— Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura