71. ষোড়শ-সপ্তদশ শতাব্দীতে বঙ্গদেশে বৈষ্ণবতা: ঐতিহ্য এবং স্বাতন্ত্র্য

Anupama Karan
Ph.D. Scholar, Dept. of Bengali
University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal, India 
Email: meetwithanupama@gmail.com

Abstract: Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanyadeva embodied the spirit of Bhakti and transformed Bengal’s religious and cultural landscape in the fifteenth–sixteenth century. His Vaishnavism rejected caste-based hierarchy and sectarianism, promoting an inclusive path of devotion. In a society divided by rigid social norms, Chaitanya’s liberal approach empowered marginalized communities and made spiritual practice accessible to all. His neo-Vaishnava philosophy differed from earlier traditions and inspired a mass movement. Bengali literature flourished under his influence, with most sixteenth–seventeenth century poets belonging to the Vaishnava tradition. The first Kheturi Mahotsav marked a milestone, introducing Gaurachandrika in Leela-kirtan. Biographical and theological texts of Gaudiya Vaishnavism enriched Bengal’s devotional aesthetics. Chaitanya’s legacy shaped Bengali identity for centuries, blending spiritual egalitarianism with literary excellence.

Keywords: Sri Chaitanyadeva, Vaishnavism, Leela-kirtan, Kheturi Mahotsav, Nityananda, sixteenth–seventeenth century.