[8] Advaita Acharya (1434–1559) was a prominent figure in the early Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition and is closely associated with Nabagram in Bengal, where he was born to Sri Kubera Pandit and Srimati Nabha Devi.

Revered as an incarnation of both Maha Vishnu and Sadashiva within Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Advaita Acharya played a foundational role in the spiritual and social life of the region.

He was a disciple of Srila Madhavendra Puri and earned the title “Acharya” from his studies of the Vedic scriptures under the tutelage of Santacharya in Phullavati village.

Spending much of his adult life in Shantipur, near Nabagram, Advaita Acharya hosted regular gatherings of Vaishnava devotees and actively spread the practice of bhakti (devotional service) to Krishna.

He famously worshiped shaligram shilas (sacred stones) with Ganges water and Tulasi leaves, imploring the Supreme Lord to deliver people from the degradations of the age of Kali.

Advaita Acharya’s principal deities and family line continue to be honored in Shantipur and surrounding areas, preserving his legacy as a revered saint and teacher linked indelibly to Nabagram’s spiritual heritage.