Keshav Kashmiri ( 15th century) also known as Keshavacharya and Keshava Kashmriri Bhattacharya () was an Indian philosopher, theologian and poet. He was a Gauda BrÃÂhmana of North, born in the province of Maharashtra, in the village of Vaidà «rya-pattanam, also known as Pratiá¹£á¹ÂhÃÂna. He was a disciple of Mukunda and GÃÂá¹ gala Bhaá¹Âá¹ÂÃÂchÃÂrya. He became the 33rd ÃÂcÃÂrya of the NimbÃÂrka SampradÃÂya. According to tradition, he thrice conquered all learned men of his time, which earned him the epithet 'Jagadvijayë.
Keà Âava KÃÂà Âmërë, originally known as Keà ÂavÃÂcÃÂrya, earned the epithets "Bhaá¹Âá¹Âa" and "KÃÂà Âmërë Bhaá¹Âá¹ÂÃÂcÃÂrya" in recognition of his contributions to religious propagation, his triumphs in philosophical debates, his efforts in countering heretical sects, and his time spent in Kashmir as a pilgrim. However, he would personally refer to himself simply as "Keà Âava" with brevity. This preference is reflected in the concluding verse of his work KramadëpikÃÂ, a text composed in a cyclical style, where he identifies himself:"Keà Âavena ká¹ÂtàKramadëpikÃÂ" (This Kramadëpikàis composed by Keà Âava).
According to Agrawal (2000), Keà Âava KÃÂà Âmërë defeated VidyÃÂdharÃÂcÃÂrya of the à ÂÃÂkta school of thought in Kaà Âmëra, and gave him the name Vrajeà ÂÃÂcÃÂrya, the Yavanas of MathurÃÂ, and the scholars of Navadvëpa. He later settled himself in Kaà Âmëra.
Keà Âava KÃÂà Âmëri is linked with many extraordinary occurrences, The most renowned of these performing a miracle in Mathuràto free Hindus from these specific prohibitions and other conversional tactics of muslim rulers. An event famously recounted in the NÃÂbhàdÃÂsa BhaktamÃÂla chappaya 75.
NÃÂbhÃÂ dÃÂsa wrote that "Sri Keshava Bhatt Ji was the crown jewel of all people. His fame spread throughout the world. Due to his long residence in Kashmir, the epithet "Kashmiri" became associated with his name. He was a vanquisher of oppressors and sinners, and an ornament of the human race. With the axe of devotion to Hari, he uprooted the trees of opposing religions and eradicated them completely. In Mathura, he debated with the Yavanas (foreign rulers) and defeated those heretics. It is well known how the Qazis, who refused to yield to anyone, came to fear his spiritual power after witnessing it. This event is no secret; the saintly community bears witness to it."
Keà Âava KÃÂà Âmërë's works are:
Kramadëpikàis a work of eight chapters dealing mainly with the ritualistic parts of the NimbÃÂrka school of religion. This work deals very largely with various kinds of Mantras and meditations on them.
The Kramadëpikàwas influential in the rituals of the JagannÃÂtha temple in Purë, and is quoted in the HaribhaktivilÃÂsa of the Gauá¸Âëya GosvÃÂmins. It is also an authority on the Krsna worship quoted in the GopÃÂlarcanavidhi of Purusottamadeva (the first and the most standard work on the worship of Jagannatha-Krsna, 15th c.) explicitly refers to the bijamantra of Krsna-JagannÃÂtha as being a "Pradyumna-Mantra" (a Mantra of Pradyumna or KÃÂma) and designates it as jaganmohana-bewitching the world. âÂÂmantrah pradyumno jaganmohano'yamâ (kramadëpikà2.12)