Jagannatha Dasa Babaji

Who was Jagannatha Dasa Babaji?

Jagannātha Dāsa Bābājī was an influential leader in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, and is respected as a Mahatma or saint by followers of his lineage. He accepted initiation from Jagadananda Goswami of Vrindavan, and later accepted Babaji initiation from Madhusudana dasa Babaji. For the rest of his life, his example as a Gaudiya Vaishnava devotee was an inspiration to many in the community. Bhaktivinoda Thakur is quoted as called him "the commanding chief of the devotees".

Jagannatha Dasa Babaji was born in a small village within the modern day Tangail district of Bangladesh. His birth year cannot be pinpointed exactly with accounts from several different Gaudiya Vaishnava groups giving years from 1750 to 1800.

Jagannatha Dasa Babaji met Bhaktivinoda Thakur in 1880, and the latter subsequently accepted the former as his instructing guru, adopting a guru disciple relationship. Jagannatha Dasa Babaji was also the initiating guru of Bhagavat Dasa Babaji and Gaurakisora Dasa Babaji; the latter of whom would become the initiating guru of Bhaktivinoda's son, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.