Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534), the great Vaishnava saint of Bengal, championed the path of pure bhakti through the ecstatic Sankirtan movement. He popularised congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra as a simple and joyful way to attain divine love. By emphasising emotional devotion over complex rituals, he made bhakti accessible to all, irrespective of caste or social status. His teachings laid the foundation for Gaudiya Vaishnavism and deeply influenced the devotional culture of eastern India.