Sri Bhugarbha Goswami - SRI KASISVARA GOSVAMI

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SRI KASISVARA GOSVAMI

 

Kasisvara Gosvami, in pursuance of the order of Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu, established the Deity of Sri Gaura Govinda within the temple of

Sri Sri Radha Govinda in Vrindavan.

 

When Srila Rupa Gosvami discovered the Deity of Sri Govinda within

the hill at Gomatila he immediately sent word to Mahaprabhu, Who was in Puri

at the time. Mahaprabhu then requested Kasisvara to go to Vrindavan to

assist in the worship of Sri Govinda.

 

Kasisvara replied, "Prabhu, to give up Your association will cause

my heart to split in two. Therefore please consider how I can honour Your

request without giving up my life at the same time."

 

Sri Gaurahari could understand the heart of Kasisvara. He solved the

problem by giving a Deity of Himself to Kasisvara. Then He sat down with

that Deity to take His meal. Kasisvara was in complete ecstasy to see this.

Prabhu told him that the name of this Deity is Sri Gaura Govinda. [bhakti

Ratna, 2nd Taranga]

 

Kasisvara brought this Deity of Sri Gaura Govinda and installed Him

to the right of Sri Govinda. This Deity is still present with Sri Govinda at

His present residence in Jaipur. The disciple of Kasisvara Gosai, Govinda

Gosai, was the very dear servant (pujari) of Sri Govinda. [CC Adi 8.66]

 

There is a very ancient temple in Catara, near Ballabhapur which is

reputed to be the temple founded by Kasisvara Gosvami. Nearby is the temple

of Sri Sri Radha Ballabhajiu, founded by Kasisvara's nephew, Sri Rudraram

Pandit. Kamalakar Piplai's temple of Lord Jagannath is also very close by.

All three of these temples are within a few minutes of the Sri Rampur

railway station near Calcutta.

 

Kasisvara Gosvami was known in Vraja as the sakhi called Sasi Rekha.

(Gaura Gannodesa Dipika 166)

 

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SRI BHUGARBHA GOSWAMI

 

As there is not much mention of Sri Lokanatha Goswami in Vaisnava

literatures, similarly there is not much mention either of Sri Bhugarbha

Goswami, who was his very close friend. Following Mahaprabhu's order, they

both came to live at Vraja-dhama. Their hearts were inseparable.

 

Srila Bhugarbha Gosvami and Srila Lokanath Goswami were one, only

their bodies were different. [bhakti Ratnakara] The brahmana Bhugarbha and

his brother's son, Lokanatha, were among the pioneers who settled in

Vrndavana. Caitanya Caritamrta mentions that Rupa Gosvami, along with

Bhugarbha and other followers, visited Sri Krsna in the house of

Bitthaleswar at Mathura.

 

According to CC and Jadunatha, Sri Bhugarbha Goswami was the

disciple of Sri Gadadhar Pandit. He in turn had a number of disciples,

namely: Sri Caitanya Das (the pujari of Sri Govindadeva), Sri Mukundananda

Cakravarti, Premi Krsna das, etc.

 

In the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, it is mentioned that Sri Bhugarbha

das and Sri Bhagavat das came to Vrndavan and took up residence there. [CC

Adi 12.81]

 

In the Gaura Ganoddesa Dipika, Sri Bhugarbha Gosvami's identity as

Prema Manjari in Krsna lila, has been given. According to Prema Vilasa (7),

at the command of Lord Caitanya, Bhugarbha unearthed all the buried lila

sites in Vrndavana.

 

His disappearance is on the 14th day (caturdasi) of the bright

fortnight in the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov). His samadhi is near the samadhi

of Srila Rupa Gosvami, within the courtyard of Sri Radha-Damodar temple.