Gangamata Gosvamini, the daughter of a king, lived two or three generations after Lord Caitanya. Her childhood name was Saci. At an early age Saci showed signs of being a great devotee of Lord Krsna. She began her education by studying the usual academic subjects but soon became immersed in the Vedic scriptures. She was so fascinated with Krsna consciousness that when her father wanted to arrange her marriage, she said she would not marry any mortal.
When Saci's parents passed away, she was left in charge of the kingdom. Once, on the plea of touring the kingdom, she went on pilgrimage, first to Jagannatha Puri and then to Vrndavana. In Vrndavana she wanted to accept as her spiritual master Haridasa Pandita, a grand-disciple of Gadadhara Pandita, one of Lord Caitanya's chief associates. Only after she had shown extreme renunciation unheard of for a queen did Haridasa accepted her as his disciple. Saci then lived on the banks of the sacred Radha-kunda for some time, until her spiritual master asked her to go to Jagannatha Puri to spread the teachings of Lord Caitanya.
In Puri, Saci lived in the former house of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, whom Lord Caitanya had converted from monism to Krsna-bhakti. She became famous for her talks on Srimad-Bhagavatam and attracted the attention of the king of Puri, Mukundadeva. Inspired by Lord Jagannatha, the king built her a beautiful bathing place on the bank of the White Ganges (Sveta Ganga). The Ganges once miraculously carried Saci into the Jagannatha temple. Having witnessed this event and being again inspired by Lord Jagannatha, the king along with many of Lord Jagannatha's priests accepted Saci as his spiritual master. She then became known as Gangamata Gosvamini.