Bijoy Krishna Goswami (; 2 August 1841 – 4 June 1899) was a prominent Hindu social reformer and religious figure in India during the British period.
Brahmo Samaj was started at Calcutta on 20 August 1828 by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Debendranath Tagore as a reformation of the prevailing tradition of the times (specifically Kulin practices). From the Brahmo Samaj springs Brahmoism, the most recent of legally recognised religions in India and Bangladesh, reflecting its foundation on reformed spiritual Hinduism with vital elements of Judeo-Islamic faith and practice. Gosaiji's disillusionment from Brahmo Samaj led him to study the Chaitanya Charitamrita, a biography detailing the life and teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534), a Vaisnava saint and founder of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya.
Bijoy Krishna Goswami belonged to the "Advaita parivar" (family), as the 10th-generation descendant of Advaita Acharya, personal teacher and associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Prophecy of appearance
The prophecy of the appearance of Prabhupad Sri Bijoy Krishna Goswami can be found in the text, Chaitanya Mangala written by Lochana Dasa and in the text, Adwaitya Abhisaap written by Paramananda Dasa. It is written by Lochana Dasa and Paramananda Dasa that during his Leela at Nabadwip, Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was travelling towards Sri Vrindavan in divine ecstasy, Nityananda Prabhu, however, diverted the lord from Sri Vrindavan and took him to Sripad Advaita Acharya's residence, in Shantipur. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in Shantipur for ten days and then ignoring the tearful eyes of Shantipur's residents and grief-stricken requests from his mother Sachi Devi, he left Shantipur for Jagannath Temple. Advaita Acharya could not bear the pangs of separation from Mahaprabhu, and in anticipation of parting, Adwaitya Acharya in a fit of grief cursed Mahaprabhu saying - "You have stayed here for ten days, but in this incarnation, your work will remain incomplete, you have to re-incarnate in my family as my tenth generation."
Gosaiji appeared in Shantipur as a tenth generation successor of Sripad Adwaitya Acharya.
Early life
Prabhupad Sri Bijoy Krishna Goswami (Gosaiji) was born on 2 August 1841 Shikarpur (Nadia), to Ananda Kishore Goswami and Swarnamoyee Devi. Desirous of a child, Ananda Kishore Goswami Prabhu travelled from Shantipur to Jagannath Temple, Puri, performing dandavat prostration all along the way. This method of travelling took him one and a half-year to reach Puri. The night he arrived at the Jagannath Temple, Puri, it is believed that he dreamt of Jagannath Swami, who promised him that he would take birth as his son. Thus, assured Ananda Kishore Goswami returned home to Shantipur. It is a typical pattern for saints to be born outside the confines of homes. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born under a neem tree, Lord Jesus Christ was born in a manger, and Gautama Buddha was born in Lumbini garden likewise Gosaiji too was born in a colocasia thicket at Shikarpur (Nadia).
The family deity worshipped in the Goswami household was Sri Shyamsundar. Gosaiji later recounted that as an infant, Shyamsundar would appear before him and became his playmate. This sakhyabhāva (the attitude of a friend) with Shyamsundar would remain with Gosaiji throughout in his life.