Gaura Purnima is the day of appearance of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna. He appeared in Mayapur, West Bengal in 1486. Gauranga Mahaprabhu belongs to the ancient Vaishnava tradition, which is called the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya disciplic succession.
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to teach by His own example how to serve Lord Krishna. He spread the Sankirtana movement, or in other words, the congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra (Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare). He predicted that this Sankirtana movement will spread to every town and village. In his youth, Mahaprabhu (aka Nimai Pandita) was a Sanskrit teacher and gained a reputation as a great scholar. But unexpectedly, only at the age of 24, He gave up family life and became an itinerant monk (sannyasi) so that He could fully immerse himself in sharing the good news of loving God. His students and Followers have continued in his footsteps, and have also set foot on other continents to share the philosophy of bhakti and the happy way of life throughout the world.