Guest guest Posted July 31, 2001 Report Share Posted July 31, 2001 I AM NOT SURE WHETHER THIS MESSAGE HAS REACHED YOU OR NOT BECAUSE THE PAMHO CONNECTION GOT CUT ABRUPTLY WHILE UPLOADING, SO I AM SENDING IT AGAIN. PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF YOU RECEIVE IT TWICE. Srila Rupa Goswami's Disappearance Day 30th or 31st July 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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