February 18

Births - Religious Figures & Clergy

1486day.year

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

(1486 - 1534)

Indian monk and saint

15th-century Indian saint and social reformer who introduced congregational chanting of Krishna's name.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, born in 1486, was a revered Indian saint and spiritual leader. He revitalized the Bhakti movement through ecstatic kirtans and a message of universal love. Founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, he emphasized devotion to Krishna as the highest spiritual practice. His life and teachings inspired countless followers across Bengal and beyond. Legends of his divine pastimes are preserved in texts like the 'Chaitanya Charitamrita.' He is celebrated as an incarnation of Krishna and a unifying figure in Hindu devotional traditions.

1486 Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

1836day.year

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

(1836 - 1886)

Indian mystic and yogi

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a 19th-century Indian mystic and yogi whose teachings revitalized Hindu spirituality and inspired the Ramakrishna Movement.

Born in 1836 in the village of Kamarpukur, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa served as a temple priest at Dakshineswar near Calcutta. He practiced various religious disciplines, experiencing profound visions and states of divine ecstasy. Ramakrishna taught the underlying unity of all religions and emphasized direct spiritual experience through devotion. His foremost disciple, Swami Vivekananda, carried his message to the West and founded the Ramakrishna Order. Ramakrishna's simple yet powerful teachings on love, devotion, and tolerance continue to influence millions. He passed away in 1886, leaving a legacy of universal spirituality.

1836 Ramakrishna Paramahamsa