Rare Panch Tatva Shaligram

In Gaudiya Vaishnavism the five features of Lord Krishna are believed to have incarnated on Earth as five people in the late 15th century which are ,Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara Pandita and Srivasa Thakura. They are also known as Pancha Tatva and they famously spread the Hare Krishna mantra, and the practice of devotion / bhakti to Krishna throughout India.
 

Gauranga is a term popularized by the Hare Krishna movement in the 1970s. It is derived from Sanskrit gaurānga "having a golden body", a “Bahuvrihi” compound from “Gaura " white, yellowish, reddish" and “anga" limb, member; the body". Gaurānga is a name of Krishna in Puranic literature, and in Gaudiya Vaishnavism in particular a name of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (considered a reincarnation of Krishna).Within Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition it is taken to refer to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's golden skin complexion. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Mayapur, West Bengal, in 1486.

Nityananda was a Vaishnava saint, famous as a primary religious figure within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Bengal, is an expansion of Balarama. Nityananda was Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's friend and disciple. They are often mentioned together as Gaura-Nitai (Gaura, "golden one", referring to Chaitanya, Nitai being a shortened form of Nityananda) or Nimai-Nitai (Nimai being another name of Chaitanya). Followers often refer to Nityananda as 'Sri Nityananda', 'Prabhu Nityananda' or 'Nityananda Rama'. According to Gaudiya-Vaishnava tradition Nityananda is an incarnation of Balarama, with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu being his eternal brother and friend, Krishna. He is considered the 'most merciful' incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Gadadhara Pandita was a close associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, spending the majority of life since his teenage years alongside the saint. In later life he took initiation from Pundarika Vidyanidhi on the request of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Within Gaudiya theology Gadadhara is a member of the Pancha Tattva, within which he is considered as an Avatar of Radharani, Lalita (gopi), or a combined incarnation of both.

Adwaitya Acharya In his later years Adwaitya Acharya became increasingly saddened by the pursuit of materialistic goals that, he believed, lead to a dysfunctional, unhappy society and concluded that the only solution was to offer prayers, begging his Supreme Lord Krishna to come as an Avatar and attract people back to the joy of the spiritual life. Advaita Acharya is a combined incarnation of Lord Vishnu & Lord Shiva (Harihara). Adwaitya Acharya is said to have prayed for several months, crying out and worshipping him in the form of his Shaligram Shila with sacred Tulasi leaves and Ganges water. At the end of thirteen months during an eclipse of the full moon, his prayers were answered when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born.

Srivasa Thakura was a close associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and a member of the Pancha Tattva. Srivasa Thakura is understood as “Tatastha-Shakti”, a marginal energy of Bhagavan, Krishna in person. The devotees who are headed by Srivasa Thakura are described as 'parts' of transcendental body of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (his eyes, ears, hands, disc/chakra, etc.). They all participated in His transcendental pastimes. They all helped to spread Krishna consciousness, “Sankirtana-Yajna”. On the other hand, Srivasa is also Narada - an eternal transcendental associate of Lord Krishna. Srivasa was studying Srimad-Bhagavatam with Adwaitya Acharya, who was at that time in Navadvipa. They worshiped Krishna, who as an answer to their prayers, appeared as Caitanya Mahaprabhu and converted many atheists and others who were opposed to pure devotional service - making them all His loving devotees.