From a philosophical standpoint, Sri Nityānanda Prabhu is the root of our Bhajan and Family Tree (bhaje nityānandaṁ bhajana-taru-kandaṁ niravadhi), and the central trunk from which all branches of the parivar expand. However, for ease of understanding, we have here depicted our Nitai/Jahnava at the top of our Parampara Tree, and later generations descending downwards. Please refer to the below texts for a detailed description of our Parampara and the nature of Disciplic succession within lord Nityānanda’s bloodline and diksha lineage.

Srimati Jahnava Mata Thakurāni is the origin of our Dīksā line (aka Nityānanda Parivar)

Nityānanda Prabhu gave two children to Srimati Vasudha Mata but He gave millions of children (disciples) to Srimati Jahnava Mata by telling her to give dīksā and bestow her special blessings to one and all. Our line is therefore a matriarchal one and dīksā is usually given by the mother. (In exceptional cases, such as if the mother dies when her son is too young to receive dīksā, he may receive it from his father or grandmother).

After our three Prabhu (Nitai Gaur Sitanath) ended their manifest pastimes, all their close associates and devotees were feeling intense seperation. Some of them also entered Nītya Lilā while others went into secluded places to engage in deep bhajan.

The preaching stopped completely and a dark period began for our Gaudiya Vaishnav Sampradaya. The envious smartha Brahmins started harassing the Vaishnavas and misguiding the common people about our sampradaya. And as there was no proper guidance, many bogus sects started rising in the name of our sampradaya. Hence during that period, Gaudiya Vaishnav Siddhānta (philosophy) and practices were considered very cheap and the sampradaya lost its reputation in society. It was our Srimati Jahnava Mata Thakurāni who took charge of our sampradaya by preaching, establishing the proper siddhānta and spreading the glories of Nitāi Gaurānga. Under her leadership, a big festival of Gaur Purnima (appearance day of Sriman Mahaprabhu) was celebrated in Kheturi (the birth place of Narottama Das Thākur Mahāshaya) and the reunion of all the Gaudiya Vaishnavas from all over the world took place. Today we all are able to chant Mahāmantra and the names of Nitāi Gaurānga only because of our Ma Jahnava. Hence, she is considered the Mother of our whole Gaudiya Vaishnav Sampradaya. She is also the one who installed Srimati Radharani’s deities in every Krishna temple. Before her, there was only Krishna (Govind, Gopinath, Madanmohan) alone in the temples. It’s by her causeless mercy that we can have darshan of Radha Krishna together in every temple.

In Krishna Lila, Srimati Jahnava Mata is Ananga Mañjarī, Srimati Radharani’s younger sister and the head of our guru pranali (mañjarī) line.

Śrī Krishna Caitanya / Gauranga Mahaprabhu

Śrī Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the combined form of Rādhā and Krishna. He is Swayam Bhagavan (Sri Krishna) who has appeared with the Complexion and Bhav of Śrīmati Rādhārani. That is why our Sriman Mahaprabhu is also known as ‘Gauranga’, the Golden Avataar of Prema. Srimati Radharani is the complexion of nava gorochana, She wears a nilambara (blue) outfit, and She is 14 years, 2 months, 15 days old. Her character is vamya madhya and Her bhava is ujjvala prem. Śrī Krishna is the complexion of indivara (Sapphire), He wears a pitambara (yellow) dress and is 15 years, 9 months and 7 days old. His character is dhira lalita (the care free, expert lover who is controlled by the love of His beloved) and His bhava is also ujjvala prem.

1. Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrīmati Jahnava Mata Thakurani (The Head of our Dīksā Line)

Sri Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrīmati Jahnava Mata are both Ananga Mañjarī in Krishna līlā (Ananga Manjari is 12 years old). They are the origin of our dīksā line (aka Nityānanda Parivar). Ananga Mañjarī is the head of our guru pranali (mañjarī) line. Nityānanda Prabhu’s other wife, Srimati Vasudha Mata, is the origin of the Nityānanda bloodline (aka Nityānanda Vamśa). This Nityananda Vamsha line is therefore a matriarchal one, where Dīksā is usually given by mothers (In exceptional cases, if the mother dies young when her son is too young to receive dīksā, he may receive it from his father or grandmother). Śrī Jahnava Thakurani (dīksā line) & Śrī Vasudha Mata (Vamśa line, mother of Birchandra Prabhu and Ganga Mata Goswamini) were the two consorts of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. The dīksā line is (usually) through the mother, the bloodline is traced through the father.

Śrī Birchandra/Virabhadra Prabhu

Bīrchandra Prabhu is the son of Nityānanda Prabhu and Vasudha Mata and the spiritual son (disciple) of Jahnava Ma. He is a second manifestation of Mahaprabhu as well as a manifestation of Ksīrodakśāyī Visnu (the Supersoul in the heart). He is inconceivably both Visnu tattva and bhakta tattva (and therefore not easy to comprehend). He appeared on the ninth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Kartik. He is the disciple as well as son of Jahnava Thakurani, who led the Gaudiya Vaishnav Sampradaya after the disappearance of Nitai-Gauranga. (Srimati Ganga Mata Goswamini, the daughter of Nityānanda Prabhu and Vasudha Mata, was Birchandra Prabhu’s younger sister. Her husband name was Madhava Ācārya (aka Madhavananda) and from them comes the Ganga Mata branch of the Nityananda line).

2. Śrīmati Narayani Mata Goswamini 

Śrīmatī Narayani Mata was the wife of Sri Birchandra Prabhu and dīksā disciple of Srimati Jahnava Mata. Sri Birchandra Prabhu had two wives, Narayani Devi and Śrīmatī Devi (Viṣnupriya). Birchandra Prabhu and Śrīmatī Devi had three sons, Gopijanavallhava Prabhu, Ramakrishna Prabhu and Ramachandra Prabhu, and one daughter Bhuvana Mohini (according to some sources they had three daughters).

3. Śrīmati Govinda Priya Mata Goswamini

Śrīmati Govinda Priya Mata was the wife of Prabhupāda Srila Ramacandra Goswami, the third son of Sri Birchandra Prabhu & Śrīmatī Devi. (He is not the same as Ramacandra Goswami the adopted son of Jahnava Ma, better known as Ramai Thakur, the author of Ananga Mañjarī Samputika)

4. Śrīmati Kadamba-mala Mata Goswamini

Śrīmati Kadamba-mala Mata was the wife of Prabhupāda Srila Radha Madhav Goswami, son of Srimati Govinda Priya Mata and Prabhupāda Srila Ramacandra Goswami.

5. Śrīmati Navakumari Mata Goswamini

Śrīmatī Navakumari Mata was the wife of Prabhupāda Srila Rajendra Goswami, the son of Srimati Kadamba-mala Mata & Prabhupāda Srila Radha Madhav Goswami.

6. Śrīmati Kalindi Mata Goswamini

Śrīmati Kalindi Mata was the wife of Prabhupāda Srila Hari Govinda Goswami] the son of Srimati Navakumari Mata and Prabhupāda Srila Rajendra Goswami.

7. Śrīmati Annapurna Mata Goswamini

Śrīmati Annapurna Mata was the wife of Prabhupāda Srila Sarveśvar Goswami, the son of Srimati Kalindi Mata and Prabhupāda Srila Hari Govinda Goswami.

8. Śrīmati Taramani Mata Goswamini

Śrīmati Taramani Mata was the wife of Prabhupāda Srila Laxmikanta Goswami] the son of Srimati Annapurna Mata and Prabhupāda Srila Sarveśvar Goswami.

9. Prabhupāda Srila Krishna Kishor Goswami

Prabhupāda Srila Krishna Kishor Goswami was the son of Srimati Taramani Mata and Prabhupāda Srila Laxmikanta Goswami.

Śrīmati Kishori Mata Goswamini

Śrīmati Kishori Mata was the wife of Prabhupāda Srila Krishna Kishor Goswami who was the son of Srimati Taramani Mata and Prabhupāda Srila Laxmikanta Goswami.

10. Śrī Śarada Sundari Mata Goswamini

Śrīmati Śarada Sundari Mata was the wife of Prabhupāda Srila Alakmohan Goswami, the son of Srimati Kishori Mata and Prabhupāda Srila Krishna Kishor Goswami.

11. Prabhupad Śrīla Prangopal Goswami

Prabhupāda Srila Prangopal Goswami was the son of Srimati Śarada Sundari Mata & Prabhupāda Srila Alakmohan Goswami. Prabhupāda Srila Prangopal Goswami’s wife was Srimati Sarojini Mata (who left the world early when Yadugopal Goswami was too young for dīksā).

12. Prabhupad Śrīla Yadugopal Goswami

Prabhupāda Srila Yadugopal Goswami was the son of Prabhupāda Srila Prangopal Goswami & Srimati Sarojini Mata, and Husband of Srimati Gita Mata Goswamini. He is the dīksā guru of Srila Pran krishna Baba. (He left the world soon after giving young Prankrishna Baba dīksā and Srila Madangopal Goswami became Prankrishna Baba’s main śiksā and Siddha Pranali Guru).

Śrimati Gita Mata Goswamini

Śrīmati Gita Mata Goswamini was the wife of Prabhupāda Srila Yadugopal Goswami. She is the grandmother and dīksā guru of Prabhupāda Srila Premgopal Goswami.

13. Prabhupad Śrīla Madangopal Goswami

Prabhupāda Srila Madangopal Goswami was the son of Prabhupāda Srila Yadugopal Goswami, and the Husband of Srimati Maya Mata Goswamini. He is the father, śiksā and siddha pranali Guru of Prabhupāda Srila Premgopal Goswami, and the śiksā and siddha pranali Guru of Srila Pran Krishna Das Baba.

14. Prabhupad Śrīla Nityagopal Goswami

Prabhupad Śrīla Nityagopal Goswami is the elder son of Prabhupāda Srila Madangopal Goswami and the older brother of Prabhupāda Srila Premgopal Goswami. He is married to Srimati Soma Devi and is the father of Prabhupāda Srila Govindagopal Goswami.

Prabhupada Śrīla Premgopal Goswami

Prabhupada Śrīla Premgopal Goswami, our dīksā Guru, is the dīksā disciple of Srimati Gita Mata Goswamini. He is married to Srimati Upasana Devi (Respectfully addressed as Guru Ma) and is the father of Srimati Alankrita Devi. His father Prabhupāda Srila Madangopal Goswami is his śiksā Guru. His śāstra (ācārya) Guru is Srila Nishit Kumar Goswami, considered one of the greatest Vaisnava scholar of his time.

15. Prabhupāda Srila Govindagopal Goswami

Prabhupāda Srila Govindagopal Goswami, the 15th generation descendant of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, is the  son of Prabhupāda Srila Nityagopal Goswami & Srimati Soma Devi. He is the husband of Srimati Manisha Devi. He received Dīkshā by his mother, śikshā by Prabhupāda Srila Nityagopal & Premgopal Goswami. 

(The mañjarī identities of the Gurus in the guru-pranālī line above are revealed by one’s Guru at the time of receiving one’s siddha-pranālī – mañjarī svarūpa identity, aka ekadasa bhāva).

Jai Nitāi! Love Nitāi!