Pancha Tattva (Devanagari: पञ्चतत्त्व; IAST: pañca-tattva, from Sanskrit pañca meaning "five" and tattva "truth" or "reality") in the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism refers to five 15th-century religious figures, venerated as the five aspects of the god Krishna.
Background In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, these five features of God (Krishna) are believed to have incarnated on Earth as five people in the late 15th century: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda, Advaita Acharya, Gadadhara Pandit and Srivasa Thakur. They famously spread the Krishna mantra and the practise of devotion (bhakti) towards Krishna throughout India. Chaitanya is regarded as manifestation of Krishna (Svayam Bhagavan). Nityananada is Krishna's first personal expansion with the combined power of the god Balarama, brother of Krishna. Advaita Acharya is the combined power of the deities Vishnu and Shiva Srivasa is Krishna's pure devotee and symbolizes devotion (Bhakti). Gadadhara is the combined power of Krishna's internal energy (Shakti).
Pancha Tattva mantra Within the Gaudiya tradition, a mantra formed from the names of the five members of the Pancha Tattva is often spoken or sung as a means of devotional worship, or japa. Often, this mantra is sung or chanted prior to the Krishna mantra.
jaya sri-krishna-chaitanya prabhu nityananda sri-adwaita gadadhara shrivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrindaPancha Tattva mantra
An alternative version features another name for Chaitanya, "Gauranga":
śrī-gaurāṅga nityānānda, śrī-advaita-candra, gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda
See also Bhakti Yoga Chaitanya Charitamrita Panchatattva (Tantra) Six Goswamis of Vrindavan Vaishnavism
References
Rosen, Steven J. Sri Pancha Tattva: The Five Features of God 1994 Folk Books, New York