Srila Rupa Goswami's Disappearance Day - 11th Aug '2000

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Srila Rupa Gosvami

 

In 1517, Sri Rupa Gosvami and Sri Sanatana Gosvami, his elder brother, came to

Vrndavana to fulfill four orders of Lord Caitanya's: (1) Uncover Sri Krishna's

lost pastime places. (2) Install Deities, start puja. (3) Write bhakti-sastras.

(4) Propagate the rules of bhakti-yoga.

 

Wearing only kaupina (loincloth) and kantha (patchwork quilt), Sri Rupa Gosvami

lived a mendicant's life absorbed in hearing, chanting, writing about

Radha-Govinda's sweet loving pastimes in Sri Vrndavana-dhama. More details of

his conduct and character are mentioned in Sanatana Gosvami's biography.

 

Sri Rupa Gosvami wrote practical yet profound transcendental books. He

established Sri-Sri Radha-Govindaji, the beloved Deities of the entire Gaudiya

sampradaya. Through extensive Vedic research Sri Rupa Gosvami proved that Sri

Caitanya's teachings present the highest philosophy and the perfection of

religion.

 

Gaudiya Vaisnavas are known as rupanugas, followers of Sri Rupa Gosvami. Every

raganuga devotee aspires to become a servant of the servant of the lotus feet

of Sri Rupa Gosvami. Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura sings, sri-rupa-manjari-pada'

se more sampada, sei mor bhajana pujana: "The feet of Sri Rupa-manjari (Rupa

Gosvami's eternal form as Sri Radha's maidservant in Vraja are my only wealth.

They are the only object of my service and worship."

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu commissioned Sri Rupa Gosvami to write on the science

of rasa-tattva. In Caitanya-candrodaya, Sri Kavi Karnapura says that Sri Rupa

Gosvami is the form of true love and devotion. Sri Caitanya empowered him to

explain His own love and devotion, and to propagate it to the world. Lord

Caitanya manifested His own pastimes through Sri Rupa Gosvami. He received the

title bhakti-rasacarya (guru of devotional mellows) for his devotional

classics, Bhakti-rasamrta sindhu, Ujjvala Nilamani Lalita Madhava and others.

Bhakti-rasamrta sindhu gives the essence of all Vedic scriptures regarding the

kingdom of bhakti. In great detail it explains how to advance in Krishna

consciousness and attain prema-bhakti, pure unalloyed love for Radha-Govinda in

Sri Vrndavana.

 

To understand the loving affairs of Radha and Krishna, says Narottama Dasa

Thakura, you must serve the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Gosvami with intense

eagerness. Serving means hearing (studying), chanting and strictly following

the teachings of Sri Rupa Gosvami. Serving also means praying to, crying out

to, meditating upon, and dedicating your entire life to the lotus feet of Sri

Rupa Gosvami (Sri Rupa-manjari). Sadhana Dipika states that those on the path

of devotional service must always associate with Sri Rupa Gosvami's doctrines

on prema-bhakti. By the grace of Sri Jiva Gosvami one can understand the

transcendental truths of Rupa Gosvami's teachings.

 

The following quote shows the incredible potency of Sri Rupa Gosvami's

transcendental writing:

 

"When Sri Rupa Gosvami would sit in his bhajana kutir at Ter Kadamba

(Nandagram, Vrndavana), and write about the pangs of separation that Sri Radha

and Sri Krishna felt for one another the leaves of the Kadamba tree would fall

off;just like tears running down the face of someone in pain. And when Sri Rupa

wrote about Radha and Krishna's ecstatic loving reunion, that overjoyed Kadamba

tree immeditately sprouted new leaves and blossoming flowers. By the mercy of a

pure Vaisnava like Srila Rupa Gosvami this Kadamba tree could understand and

appreciate the intimate and confidential subject matters which remain beyond

our comprehension." (Sripad B.V. Narayana Maharaja)

 

Sri Rupa Gosvami established the Deities of Radha-Govinda in Vrndavana.

Bhakti-ratnakar quotes one song from Srinivasa Acarya to describe the beauty of

Rupa Gosvami's beloved Govindaji Deity: "Having seen the incomparable beauty of

Sri Govinda, Sri Radhika begins describing it to Her sakhis: 'Who has

sculptured that moon-like face and who has sculptured those two lotus eyes?

Only My heart knows how I feel when I see Him. Who has shaped His earrings, cut

carefully in gems? My mind is fixed on them. His nose pearl surrounded by a

golden ring looks like a moon-like white flower surrounded by lightning,

smiling from behind some blue clouds.

 

'His forehead is decorated with sandal tilaka and beautiful mind-enchanting

designs. He shines within My heart. Yet My heart aches being incapable of

beholding His beautiful face to My full satisfaction. If God had given Me the

power I could continually enjoy His sweet voice. His arms are stronger than the

trunks of elephants. My youthful body longs for the touch of His fingers. His

graceful movements rival the gait of a maddened elephant. He is an ocean of

beauty."'

 

Today in Jaipur, Rajasthan Sri Rupa Gosvami's original Deities of

Radha-Govindaji are forever expanding their unlimited beauty. Everyday

ten-thousand devotees run to attend Their mangala arotika. A prati-bhu Deity of

Govindaji resides in "new" Govindaji temple behind the historic masterpiece of

architecture that once served Radha-Govinda in Vrndavana.

 

Sri Krishna Dasa Kaviraja says the Deity of Radha-Govindaji shows us how to

worship Radha and Krishna. Radha-Govindaji accept our service and give

inspiration to increase our surrender on the path of bhakti. Acting exactly

like the siksa-guru, Govindaji directs us and gives us opportunities to serve

Him.

 

Some authorities claim that in 1564 Sri Rupa Gosvami entered Radha-Govindaji's

nitya-lila, just twenty-seven days after the disappearance of Sri Sanatana

Gosvami. Sri Rupa Gosvami's samadhi and bhajana kutir are in Seva Kunja within

the courtyard of the Radha-Damodara temple.

 

The glory of Sri Rupa is endless and whoever describes that glory in any form

can be praised everywhere.285

 

In Caitanya Candradaya Sri Kavi Karnapura Gosvami states that Sri Rupa Gosvami

is the most suitable person as the inheritor of Svarupa and of Sri Radha, and

he is the ultimate resting place of Sri Radha. Sri Rupa is the form of true

love and devotion. Prabhu Caitanya empowered Sri Rupa to explain his own love

and devotion and propagate that within the world. Prabhu Caitanya manifested

his own lilas through Sri Rupa.286

 

Sadhana Dipika states that the followers of the bhakti cult must not keep the

company with those who have divorced themselves from Sri Rupa's doctrine on

love and devotion. Simply by the grace of Sri Jiva, one can understand the

truths of his philosophy. Again and again I worship the lotus feet of Sri

Rupa.287-288

 

In Prema Bhakti Candrika Sri Narottama says that Sri Rupa has occupied a place

in the heart of Sri Krsna Caitanya. "O Prabhu Rupa when will you give me a

place beneath your feet?"289

Sadhana Dipika also says, "O tongue, always sing the name of Sri Rupa. O mind,

always remember Sri Rupa, the personification of kindness. O head, always bow

to Sri Rupa, the embodiment of grace. Simultaneously remember to worship Sri

Raghunatha Gosvami, the unseperable for of Sri Rupa."290

 

The wonderful attributes of Sri Rupa Gosvami havae been described by learned

men in various ways.291

 

If Rupa were not born in the Kali Yuga who would distribute love of Krsna

throughout the world? Who would renounce all pleasures, worship Vrndavana and

discuss the books of the the Bhakti cult? Only the swans can seperate the milk

from the water.

 

Simultaneously who could have understood the activities of Krsna in Vrndvana

and who could explain the love of Sri Radha and Krsna? Sri Krsna is pleased

with anyone who attempts to praise him through Rupa.292-295

 

Not only lay men but even Sri Caitanya himself liked to praise the qualitie of

Sri Rupa.296

It is well known that Sri Rupa Gosvami was the life of the associates of the

Lord.297

A large number of the associates of the Lord tried to sing the glory of

Sanatana and Rupa but could not describe them completely.298

 

All glories to Sanatana and Rupa - my very life - who gave direction to

countless people. They were the only persons who knew the Vaisnava rituals.299

 

Within Vrndavana they were the resivors of natural love and mercy; they were

oceans of kindness and friends of the poor. They were the foremost amongst

devotees.300

 

Only Sri Rupa and Sanatana knew how to behave according to the teachings of the

Bhagavata and other Bhakti scriptures. All three worlds praised their

character.301

 

The dust of their lotus feet cooled the earth from the scorching rays of the

sun of Kali. They continually worshipped Sri Vyasa deva and the holy feet of

Sri Radha.302

 

All glories to Sri Rupa and Sanatana, the jewels of all ascetics, who had

unflinching devotion to Sri Radha and Krsna. Giving up all worldly pleasures

they sang the glories of the groves of Vrndavana and the feet of Sri Radha.

Therefore these two brothers were gifts from Sri Caitanya, the ocean of mercy,

and in their absence I have become an orphan.303-305

 

It becomes apparent that the position of Srila Rupa Goswami is very special,

even among the six Goswamis, including Srila Sanatana Goswami who was his

spiritual master:

 

vrndavaniyam rasa-keli-vartam

kalena luptam nija-saktim utkah

sancarya rupe vyatanot punah sa

prabhur vidhau prag iva loka-srstim

 

"Before the creation of this cosmic manifestation, the Lord enlightened the

heart of Lord Brahma with the details of the creation and manifested the Vedic

knowledge. In exactly the same way, the Lord, being anxious to revive the

Vrndavana pastimes of Lord Krsna, impregnated the heart of Rupa Gosvami with

spiritual potency. By this potency, Srila Rupa Gosvami could revive the

activities of Krsna in Vrndavana, activities almost lost to memory. In this

way, He spread Krsna consciousness throughout the world." (Madhya 19.1)

 

There are some other verses from the same chapter: (Madhya 19.118-121):

 

kalena vrndavana-keli-varta

lupteti tam khyapayitum visisya

krpamrtenabhisiseca devas

tatraiva rupam ca sanatanam ca

 

"In the course of time, the transcendental news of Krsna's pastimes in

Vrndavana was almost lost. To enunciate explicitly those transcendental

pastimes, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, at Prayaga, empowered Srila Rupa Gosvami and

Sanatana Gosvami with the nectar of His mercy to carry out this work in

Vrndavana.

 

yah prag eva priya-guna-ganair gadha-baddho 'pi mukto

gehadhyasad rasa iva paro murta evapy amurtah

premalapair drdhatara-parisvanga-rangaih prayage

tam sri-rupam samam anupamenanujagraha devah

 

"From the very beginning, Srila Rupa Gosvami was deeply attracted by the

transcendental qualities of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus he was permanently

relieved from family life. Srila Rupa Gosvami and his younger brother,

Vallabha, were blessed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Although the Lord was

transcendentally situated in His transcendental eternal form, at Prayaga He

told Rupa Gosvami about transcendental ecstatic love of Krsna. The Lord then

embraced him very fondly and bestowed all His mercy upon him.

 

priya-svarupe dayita-svarupe

prema-svarupe sahajabhirupe

nijanurupe prabhur eka-rupe

tatana rupe svavilasa-rupe

 

"Indeed, Srila Rupa Gosvami, whose dear friend was Svarupa Damodara, was the

exact replica of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and he was very, very dear to the

Lord. Being the embodiment of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's ecstatic love, Rupa

Gosvami was naturally very beautiful. He very carefully followed the principles

enunciated by the Lord, and he was a competent person to explain properly the

pastimes of Lord Krsna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu expanded His mercy to Srila

Rupa Gosvami just so he could render service by writing transcendental

literatures."

 

We can also appreciate from the point of view of the position of Srila Rupa

Goswami as Rupa Manjari.

 

So Srila Rupa Gosvami received knowledge from Lord Caitanya just like Lord

Brahma did from Lord Krsna ( see first quote above), and then he wrote many

books, out of which Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu is the best known, and is one of the

first books Srila Prabhupada chose to translate.

 

Srila Prabhupada refers to the Bhakti-ratnakara, which gives a list of Srila

Rupa Goswami's most popular books as follows: (1) Hamsaduta, (2)

Uddhava-sandesa, (3) Krsna-janma-tithi-vidhi, (4 and 5)

Radha-krsna-ganoddesa-dipika, Brhat (major) and Laghu (minor), (6) Stavamala,

(7) Vidagdha-madhava, (8) Lalita-madhava, (9) Dana-keli-kaumudi, (10)

Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (this is the most celebrated book by Sri Rupa Gosvami),

(11) Ujjvala-nilamani, (12) Akhyata-candrika, (13) Mathura-mahima, (14)

Padyavali, (15) Nataka-candrika and (16) Laghu-bhagavatamrta.

 

Srila Rupa Gosvami Sucaka Kirtana

 

are mor sri rupa gosai!

 

gauranga-candera bhava, pracara kariya saba,

janaite hena ara nai

 

vrndavana nitya-dhama, sarvopari anupama,

sarva avatari nandasuta.

 

tanra kanta-gana-dhika, sarvaradhya sri radhika,

tanra sakhi gana sanga juta.

 

raga marge taha paite, jahara karuna haite,

bhujilo pailo jete jana.

 

emona dayalu bhai, kothao dekhiye nai

tanra pada koraho bhavana.

 

sri caitanya ajna paiya, bhagavata vicariya,

yata bhakti siddhanter khani

 

taha uthaiya kata, nija grantha kari yata,

jive dila prema cintamani

 

radha krsna rasa keli natya gita padavali

sudha-parakiya-mata kori.

 

caitanyer mano vrti sthapana karila ksiti

asvadiya tahara madhuri.

 

caitanya virahe sesa, pai atisya klesa,

tate jata pralapa vilapa

 

se saba kahite badi dehe prana rahe nai

e radha-vallabha hiye tapa

 

Sri Rupa Gosvami Sucaka Kirtana (translation)

 

O. My Sri Rupa Gosvami!

 

(1) Your presentation of the devotional mellows of Lord Sri Gauracandra is

unparalleled.

 

(2) In the eternal spiritual world of Vrndavana, which is mathchless and

supreme, the source of all avataras sports as Nanda Maharaja's son (Sri

Krishna).

 

(3) He always enjoys with thousands of gopis, and especially with His most

beloved and best worshiper Sri Radhika.

 

(4) Sri Rupa, you mercifully reveal the path of raganuga bhakti. By adopting

this anyone can attain the spontaneous love the gopis have for Krishna.

 

(5) Dear brother, nowhere will you find such kindness. So just meditate upon

the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Gosvami.

 

(6) Receiving Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's order, he thoroughly studied the Srimad

Bhagavatam and extracted the essence of prema bhakti (pure devotional service).

 

(7) Rupa Gosvami wrote many books which give love of God and fulfill everyone's

desires.

 

(From HH Mahanidhi Swami's book & other sources)

 

Vaisnava dasabhas

Nayana-ranjana das